THE SUNLIGHT TAX BLOG:
Tax and Money Education for Creative People, Freelancers and Solopreneurs
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The Zen Journey of Small Business
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This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m sharing personal lessons from running a small business and exploring what it means to build a business that supports your life.
I talk about aligning business goals with your values, protecting your mental health, practicing ethical accountability, and embracing the spiritual side of entrepreneurship while giving practical insights on negotiation, feedback, decision-making, and navigating external challenges while staying grounded in what matters most.
Listen and Subscribe Here
This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m sharing personal lessons from running a small business and exploring what it means to build a business that supports your life.
I talk about aligning business goals with your values, protecting your mental health, practicing ethical accountability, and embracing the spiritual side of entrepreneurship while giving practical insights on negotiation, feedback, decision-making, and navigating external challenges while staying grounded in what matters most.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:10 Introduction to Hannah Cole's journey and insights
01:48 Aligning goals with personal life and values
04:04 Small business as a spiritual and ethical journey
07:06 The importance of mental health and self-care
10:07 Receiving and managing feedback effectively
13:02 Negotiation strategies and contract clarity
16:55 Understanding external forces like economic shifts
20:04 The role of happiness and fulfillment in business
23:08 Ethics and accountability in client relationships
30:10 Building a sustainable and responsible business
32:58 Upcoming offerings and closing thoughts
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
Episode Links:
Join the 2-Day Business Setup Intensive Waitlist
Check out my program, Money Bootcamp
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book:Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Set Up Your Business Intensive: Behind the Scenes
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In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I explain how self-employed people, including freelancers, creatives, consultants, and small business owners—can build simple, effective tax and legal systems for their businesses. I also introduce a new 2-day intensive program designed to help you set up your business structure, organize your taxes, strengthen legal compliance, and create a clear plan for moving forward.
With personalized guidance, practical tax planning, and community support, this intensive is designed to make the often-overwhelming process of setting up your business feel simpler, more manageable, and more human.
Listen and Subscribe Here
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I explain how self-employed people, including freelancers, creatives, consultants, and small business owners—can build simple, effective tax and legal systems for their businesses. I also introduce a new 2-day intensive program designed to help you set up your business structure, organize your taxes, strengthen legal compliance, and create a clear plan for moving forward.
With personalized guidance, practical tax planning, and community support, this intensive is designed to make the often-overwhelming process of setting up your business feel simpler, more manageable, and more human.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
02:04 Who I serve: Creative and non-creative small business owners
05:12 Common overwhelm and challenges faced by self-employed individuals
07:08 Choosing the right business entity and legal setup
08:44 Understanding quarterly taxes and avoiding surprises
09:51 The importance of trust and accuracy in tax information
12:04 Details of the two-day intensive format and community aspect
13:57 One-on-one guidance and privacy considerations
15:33 Risks of AI hallucinating tax law and how to get reliable info
16:54 Features of the new program: database, implementation, and support
18:46 Invitation for feedback and how to join the waitlist
20:56 Matching cohorts by business stage and profession
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
Episode Links:
Join the 2-Day Business Setup Intensive Waitlist
Check out my program, Money Bootcamp
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Amelia Hruby: How to Build a Successful Business Without Social Media
Listen and Subscribe Here
This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m joined by Amelia Hruby, feminist writer and host of the Off the Grid podcast, for a conversation about building a successful business without relying on social media.
Amelia shares her personal journey away from social media dependence and explains how she created a sustainable, relationship-centered business through community, creativity, email marketing, and intentional audience growth outside the attention economy.
“The idea that you have to be on social media to have a successful business is provably false.”
This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m joined by Amelia Hruby, feminist writer and host of the Off the Grid podcast, for a conversation about building a successful business without relying on social media.
Amelia shares her personal journey away from social media dependence and explains how she created a sustainable, relationship-centered business through community, creativity, email marketing, and intentional audience growth outside the attention economy.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:10 Introduction to Amelia Hruby
01:24 Journey to Feminist Podcasting and Authorship
03:40 Personal Experience with Social Media
07:26 Navigating Business Without Social Media
10:17 Building Relationships Beyond Algorithms
18:24 Reframing Attention: From Scarcity to Ecology
25:29 The Art of Noticing and Attention
27:57 The Impact of Social Media on Creativity
30:30 Navigating the Challenges of Social Media
34:35 Reclaiming Attention and Relationships
38:32 Deciding to Leave Social Media
44:49 Finding Connection Beyond Social Media
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
“Leaving social media doesn’t mean you stop marketing, it just means you do other things and figure out what works for you.”
About Amelia Hruby:
Amelia Hrubyis a feminist writer and podcaster with a PhD in philosophy from DePaul University. Over the past decade, she’s been a university professor, a community organizer, and a radio DJ. Now, she is the founder and executive producer of Softer Sounds, a podcast studio that supports women and nonbinary small business owners.
Since leaving social media in April 2021, she’s also launched the popular podcastOff the Grid, where she interviews artists, writers, business leaders and former influencers. Amelia is a platform critic, an AI skeptic, and an advocate for a non-extractive internet. Her new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Mediais out now.
Check out Amelia’s work:
Download Amelia’s FREE Leaving Social Media Toolkit
Get Amelia’s Book: Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media Use code SUNLIGHT for $5 off the book (paperback, ebook, or audiobook version)
Episode Links:
Get my Tax Help onSubstack.
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
What Makes Your Business “Official?”
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In this episode of the Sunlight Tax podcast, I share how solo business owners can set up or tune up their businesses to create legal protection, stay compliant with taxes, and actually feel at ease. I walk through what makes a business “official” in the eyes of the IRS and break it down in a simple, practical way.
I’m also introducing an upcoming workshop called “Set-up or tune up your business” designed to help you get your business organized and set up the right way.
Listen and Subscribe Here
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax podcast, I share how solo business owners can set up or tune up their businesses to create legal protection, stay compliant with taxes, and actually feel at ease. I walk through what makes a business “official” in the eyes of the IRS and break it down in a simple, practical way.
I’m also introducing an upcoming workshop called “Set-up or tune up your business” designed to help you get your business organized and set up the right way.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:00 Embracing the Human Element in Teaching
03:11 Navigating Business Setup and Legal Essentials
05:48 Understanding Tax Obligations and Business Protections
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
Links:
Sign up for theSetting Up (or Tuning Up) Your Business Workshop
Get my Tax Help onSubstack.
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Change is Coming: How I Use the Feedback Loop to Shift My Business
Listen and Subscribe Here
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I take you behind the scenes of a challenging season in my business and share what it really looks like to navigate change as an entrepreneur. I share insights on the power of feedback, confronting financial realities, and the critical shift from simply learning about taxes and business to taking actionable steps that drive real results.
I also introduce new workshops and community-building initiatives designed to make learning tangible, supportive, and actionable. If you’re a small business owner, creative, or entrepreneur looking to grow with confidence and clarity, this episode shows how to shift from overwhelm to empowered action.
Listen and Subscribe Here
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I take you behind the scenes of a challenging season in my business and share what it really looks like to navigate change as an entrepreneur. I share insights on the power of feedback, confronting financial realities, and the critical shift from simply learning about taxes and business to taking actionable steps that drive real results.
I also introduce new workshops and community-building initiatives designed to make learning tangible, supportive, and actionable. If you’re a small business owner, creative, or entrepreneur looking to grow with confidence and clarity, this episode shows how to shift from overwhelm to empowered action.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
01:00 Navigating Difficult Times in Business
09:37 Embracing Change and Taking Action
17:56 Building Community and Future Workshops
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it!
Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
Links:
Join my Free Class on 3/4: Make Money Easier, Starting With Taxes
Order my book, Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Check out my program, Money Bootcamp
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