Ep. 69 with Rachel Frosch | Founder & Owner, Mom Badge

Moms, Startups, and Holy Grit

What if a $5 coffee and a little confetti could change a mother’s day? We sit with founder and mom of four, Rachel Frosch, to unpack how a hand‑stitched idea became Mom Badge—a simple, beautiful way to see, support, and celebrate moms right when it matters. Rachel traces the journey from education and professional development to the startup world, revealing how her knack for championing teachers now fuels a platform built to honor the invisible work of motherhood. You’ll hear how fabric badges turned digital, why beauty makes care feel real, and how small, timely gestures—paired with gift cards and video messages—become lifelines during the hardest weeks.

This conversation goes beyond product into the marrow of building: faith as the practice of taking the next step, the “manna in the desert” seasons, and the very real tech hurdles of shipping, bugs, and platform changes while bootstrapping. We talk Twin Cities Startup Week, ILT Academy, and the Empower Her community that’s creating honest, non‑competitive spaces for female founders. Rachel shares advice on problem–solution fit, The Mom Test, and guarding your early vision from advice overload. She also gets candid about identity, the line between Founder‑You and Real‑You, and the kind of self‑care that actually refuels—morning runs, planned joy, and presence with family.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between calling and capacity, motherhood and metrics, this story will meet you where you are. Expect practical insights for entrepreneurs, tender reframes for parents, and a nudge to send that tiny kindness today. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who could use a little confetti and a lot of encouragement.

Resources:

TC MN Start Up week

Stella Foundation

Connect with Rachel:

• IG: @mombadgeapp
• LinkedIn(Personal): Rachel Frosch
• LinkedIn(Business): Mom Badge
• Download Mom Badge App HERE

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: info.ryh7@gmail.com

Get Connected/Follow:

• The Hue Drop Newsletter: Subscribe Here
• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
• Facebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook Page
• CAKES Affiliate Link: KELLYKIRK

Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!

Chapters

• 0:10 Welcome & Mission: Reclaiming Your Hue
• 2:59 Serendipity: How Kelly Met Rachel
• 5:54 Motherhood Before Entrepreneurship
• 8:20 What Mom Badge Is and Why It Exists
• 15:35 From Fabric to Digital: Designing Badges
• 21:56 Rachel’s Education Career and Transferable Skills
• 27:47 Faith, Risk, and Taking the Next Step
• 32:45 The Spark: Invisible Work of Motherhood
• 38:26 Finding Community in the Startup World
• 46:30 Empower Her: Female Founder Support
• 52:10 Faith in the Desert: Provision and Manna
• 59:24 Village, Mentors, and Praxis
• 1:05:24 Boundaries, Self-Preservation, and Family Harmony
• 1:12:20 Tech Realities: Apps, Bugs, and Bootstrapping
• 1:19:42 Advice: Problem-Solution Fit and The Mom Test
• 1:26:02 Don’t Overshare Early: Guard the Vision
• 1:31:12 Self-Care That Actually Refuels

Transcript

Kelly: 0:10

Welcome everybody to Reclaiming Your Hue, where we are dedicated to empowering women to embrace and amplify their inherent brilliance. Our mission is to inspire mothers and entrepreneurs to unlock their full potential and radiate their true selves. I'm your host, Kelly Kirk, and each week my goal is to bring to you glorious guests as well as solo episodes. So let's dive in. Good morning, Rachel. Good morning. How are you? I'm good. I'm good. Good. Uh just one quick note. Your pants are a vibe.

Rachel: 0:45

Thanks. I love these pants. It's like when you go into anthropology and I'm like, I can only go to the back and go to the sale section. I found them and I was like, I'm going for it.

Kelly: 0:53

They're in my a woman after my heart. I love it. Like, don't even look. Don't I know? Just I'm like, just walk past it, get the stuff that's probably coming out of season. Yep. It's okay. There's a a time and a place for that, right? And and that's the reason we're we're smart uh you know, shoppers. We we kind of have a flow with it, right? Yep. We know where we're supposed to go. So for our listeners, I just want to quick share. She's wearing these absolutely cool green, uh, it's a Kelly Green pants, and I love it. It feels like a fresh, summery, happy thing. It it fits and it fits the mold perfectly. All right, so let's go ahead and dive in. Yeah. The first question that I want to ask you is we we've got to share this with listeners. How is it that you and I got connected?

Rachel: 1:45

Well, I I was thinking about this on the way, and I'm like, I don't completely remember. I just remember that um you I'm in the startup world. I have a lot of friends in there, and I think you know, we have cross-section things, but how did you meet Katie? I don't even remember.

Kelly: 1:58

Yeah, great question. Um, and so for the listeners, yeah, Katie is her last name is Shaehan. She Han. Well, maybe Shanahan. We're like, okay, I I think it's so Katie, if you're listening, our our deepest apologies. But Katie and I got connected. Um, I used to do a different podcast, and it was through Rotary. Okay. Are you familiar with Rotary? And we would record at AM950's radio station. Oh, and she has a radio show there. And she has a radio show there. And the owner, his name is Chad Larson. Okay. When I told him, I asked him just a few questions about like getting everything up and running with the podcast. Um, and I was like, I'm sorry, I'm not gonna be able to do it here at the radio station, but what would it need to look like? And he was like, Well, what's you know, he asked for some background information about the, you know, the niche of the podcast, what I was looking to achieve with it. And he goes, You should really meet Katie. Yeah. And I he had this forethought, forethought of um Minnesota Startup Week was coming up, and this was last year. Okay, and he he was like, She does, she puts on events during that, and I think just in general, she puts on events really around this startup. And so he made the introduction, and then when I met Katie, I met Katie at your guys' empower, empower her, empower her event that was right in the midst of Minnesota Startup Week. So when I was there, I was like, I mean, I just I started a podcast, you know, maybe five months ago, and I've got some bigger, broader visions of what this could grow from and how to build a community. But I kind of went in there like, this is what I'm doing. I I don't have like a formal business, but it was so fun to hear other people's stories. Yes. Okay, so that's how Katie and I met. And then when Katie and I I was like, we've got to meet. Yes. I went up to her after the event and she was like, hi, hi, hi, okay, fine, let's get something on the calendar. Yes, yes. And then I, you know, we met for coffee and she was like, you have to meet. Katie is an amazing connector. You have to meet Rachel. Yeah. So she gave me your contact information, and truth be told, I sent I sent an email, but I think I had your like Gmail account. Okay, okay, not the mom badge one, which oops, I just kind of like spilled the beans here.

Rachel: 4:29

But um, yeah, I on probably days startup week, it's such a it's like a whirlwind. It's like the startup super bowl of the twin cities, and yes, and I just feel like it's like this everybody's meeting, and then I the follow-up is really hard sometimes because you're like, oh my gosh, how do I? Yeah, anyway, right.

Kelly: 4:44

It's great. It's totally a delicate balance. And listen, I've been doing the podcast now for a little over a year. Yeah, and I s I mean it's growing and it's continuing to grow. And I'm I feel so blessed that I've got individuals who have been on the podcast who continue to introduce me to more and more and more and more people, but keeping track of its own time like stuff's coming through on different emails, stuff's coming via text message, stuff's coming via LinkedIn, and I'm like, oh my word. Yes. So I can't even imagine coming at it from your perspective, where you know, you're many years into this. Yeah, learning a lot and all the different uh modes of communication and who's communicating with you is quite challenging, which actually I'm gonna table the question that just popped up in my head for later. Okay. Um, but so we we've shared with the listeners how it is that we got connected. Yeah, long story kind of not really short, but what came first for you? Was it motherhood or was it entrepreneurship?

Rachel: 5:54

Um, motherhood for sure. I um I have four kids. Um, my oldest just turned 14. Um, I have three boys and a girl. So 14, 11, 9, and 6. I got that pretty quick. Um and my so my youngest is going into first grade, and that's my daughter. So um yeah, so that came first because I've probably been doing this. Started thinking about the idea of what I was building in like 2020, not related to COVID or anything, it was before that, but um yeah, so about five years of thinking about it, about more like three years of really diving into um building and all this, um, and and now trying to make things grow and build and everything. But motherhood definitely was first.

Kelly: 6:34

Okay, okay. And when when you decided that you were gonna move forward with the business that you have now, what were the ages of your children? Good question. Because it was twenty you said you mentioned 2020. Yeah. So um, let me think.

Rachel: 6:50

I probably had no, it's like math. I'm just thinking because during COVID, my youngest was so she was born in 2018, and I just remember that the first shut, the first week of the sh of like doing school from home, she had just learned to crawl on the top of a table. And I was like, oh my gosh, we're all gonna sit at the table and do school together, and she's gone. And I was like, no, everyone's gonna spread around, go to the ends of the house and be away. Um, I thought I was gonna do like a one-room schoolhouse. No, um, but so yeah, I would say I had two um that were in school, like maybe like second grade in kindergarten, and then one um, and then two preschoolers or like, you know, not even in preschool, but younger than me. So um, but actually, I think that that's what probably what led me to feeling like I had not permission, but like the ability to use my margin to do something creative like this. I always did extra little things, but being like, oh, I think because I'm like after my fourth is when I um officially like stepped away from my teaching job or like my job working in schools. Yeah. And um, I wasn't teaching, I was doing professional development stuff for teachers. But anyway, but after my fourth, so I was like, okay, I have, you know, you don't have a lot of time with four little people at home, but any little extra energy in my mind, I was like working on this. Yeah. Um, so yeah, yeah, it was kind of wonderful.

Kelly: 8:11

Yeah. Now I would love for you to share.

Speaker 04: 8:13

Yeah.

Kelly: 8:15

You mentioned that you were in professional development in the school district, which school district? Anokahinepin. Anoka Hennepin? Yeah. Okay. And do you feel like were there takeaways from what you were doing in that career for sure to what your business is now? Um, and then let's share with the listeners what your business is. Should I start with that?

Rachel: 8:36

Or okay, so um, so yeah, so I am the founder of a it's a it's an app, but it's our dream is that it's a digital platform to see, support, and celebrate moms and help people be good friends for moms. And so what that means is right now it's a digital gift card marketplace. So we have like I literally stitch these badges that represent the moments of motherhood, like up all night, or these rites of passage. Some of them are moments, some of them are like, you're just a great mom, but they're out of fabric and thread. And then I make them digital, and then you can send them through text or email to make like a more beautiful experience for what you know about a mom's life.

Kelly: 9:10

Wait a second. So on the app, because I downloaded it shortly, I want to say it was before maybe a few weeks before we actually met in person. Okay. And I actually utilized it a couple of times. I oopsied on a um calendar date with one of I feel terrible. And Emily, if you're listening, I love you dearly, but I messed up on like the timing of us meeting for coffee. Yeah. And we met at Rustica, or we were supposed to meet at Rustica, and I noticed on the app that there were gift cards. So I sent her a gift card from there, but I didn't realize that you on the front end of it create the badge itself.

Rachel: 9:58

Yes, yeah. So I I decided like a while back that if I was gonna make a whole company called Mom Badge, I like had to loan the badges. Like I was like, I can't like I was drawing them on a digital drawing program. That's actually like a really kind of a momental, a monumental, there you go. Um, part of the story is that like, you know, when you're building a brand and figuring out who the, you know, the core values and everything, but just like what it feels and looks like. When I went to the fabric store with my daughter after drawing them on a drawing program, and then we came home. And you know, when you're sitting next to your kid on a computer and they're like, and you're like, I'm just getting some work done. It's it's so different than if you're actually like doing something with actual real things. And so I started trying to make some, and um, she was like, Mama, we're makers. And I was like, We're makers. And I was like, Yes, this is gonna take longer to make these badges in out of real things, but like being a mom is in the real world, it's not digital. And like what we're trying to do is bridge that gap, right? Like the in I I'm not really trying to build something. There's a lot of platforms for finding another mom with three boys and a girl that's out there in the world, or and and what I'm trying to do is help people that in the actual networks of who they are, their friends and family, um, make those experiences deeper and better. And I was like, that is such a physical embodied thing. And so, um, so yeah, so I I make them, and then I'm a photographer too. So then I just like photograph them and finish them digitally. I try, I like don't do the words out of fab out of thread because it was like too hard to read them. And I'm not that I'm like and also that yeah, that's next. That's intense. Yeah, so anyway, so I do them and then I put them in there, and yeah, it's it's really I also feel like we've you know we've partnered with a few brands, and it's like an honor to like like take their brand and be like and make them a badge that's out of their brand to be like your brand, like really does like help spark joy in moms' lives.

Kelly: 11:44

So yeah, it's it's really I have some really fun ideas that are just rolling around right now for kind of bridging this like when I have guests on, and I'm not gonna even say anything beyond that, but we'll talk after.

Rachel: 11:56

Yes, yeah, little teaser for our guests. For sure, for sure. Um, but yeah, that's just I didn't get back to the education thing. Do you want me to okay? So, anyway, so yeah, I mean there's a lot more with the company. We also just added video messaging, which is fun, so you can be like, you had your baby, and here's a had a baby badge and a DoorDash. And it's really just like trying to like reach into the moment and like do the elevated group, the text thing that you can't anyway. So that's mom badge. But um, and then okay, so then I but what I did is I was a teacher for three years, and then back in the 2008 recession, like I wasn't tenured, got cut, yeah, and um was like the youngest person, and so I was like, I don't know what I'm gonna do. But I was coaching at the school, I was a varsity lacrosse coach, and I just loved the environment. I had met my husband there. We I'm like he was teaching there. We got married um within the year and a half from then. And then I love it. It was awesome because I had dated somebody for like almost like I think like seven years, like college, high school. And then I was like, I met him, and I was like clearly like, you know, actually our second third time we hung out. We were like, he like asked me to dance in my kitchen in my apartment, and he was like, You're finally here. And I was like, What? And he was like, I've been looking for you for a really long time. And I was like, oh my gosh. I was like, this is all happening. Like I was like, I thought people like this were so stupid, and now here I am. Like I was like, You were sharing the story, and I love it.

Kelly: 13:15

It's so like I've I can feel myself just like getting so like emotionally worked up because of how sweet it is.

Rachel: 13:22

Well, and just like so, like this clear anyway. So he was at working in the same place, and then um, and I think this is a lot maybe of the whole theme of all of motherhood, entrepreneurship, and everything is like I didn't know what I was gonna do next, but then a job, just one job opened up in our school that was about like it was called like a professional learning community coordinator. So, like I quickly read the book on whatever PLCs were, and I was like, went to the interview, and it pretty much what it was is for like the next nine years, I got to be the person in the building that was helping bridge the gap between what the school and the administration and the district wanted teachers to do and helping them feel empowered to do it and inspired to. So, um, and I got to set my own. I mean, there was meetings on the calendar, but most days I would be like, what does the school need? So I created like um interesting resources like podcasts and things like that, interviews of teachers, interviews of students, impact pieces, and did a lot with data that wasn't like my jam, but you know, trying to help teachers. You all teach chemistry. This is what your kids are, this is what is the result of what you did. Talk to each other, you know, but really trusting the teachers to um use each other as resources. And it was it was a great job. Like I loved my principal, I love my school. It was so fun. Um, and people were so I didn't have to be the expert teacher because I had only taught for three years high school social studies, but um, I got to be like, you're amazing. Like, look at what you just did. And like so many teachers are doing that work in hiding, or like not in hiding on purpose necessarily, that's just the nature of the job. And so then I wasn't 2009, so I had my first son in 2011, and I think that the teaching and um and parenthood is just so similar, right? It's like you're doing this work, it's every day, it's diligent, you're like working forward to to towards something good, but it's it's very unseen. And so I got to like so that yeah, kind of go, and then so that along with the work of like deciding my schedule every day and like doing what needed to get done creatively, I think that really worked well for entrepreneurship.

Kelly: 15:18

So oh my word. Yeah, I can totally connect those dots. Yeah, I'm like having all of these little light bulb moments too, like, uh-huh. That totally like taking how you were empowering these teachers to really kind of step into you know, it it was probably a better version of themselves too. Yeah.

Rachel: 15:41

Well, and I and I I like to say like one of the gifts or like one of the things that I definitely feel like if somebody was like, What's your call in life is is to mirror back the goodness in people and help them notice it. Both like what I believe God has put in them, but also like what they might like it like spurs on the tinder of the fire. Like it's like you are incredible at that thing. Like I just saw it, like, whoa. And then they're like it's like um makes them crawl out and be brave. And so um, I think that that that bravery, that hope that okay, maybe I can do tomorrow, maybe I am doing something incredible here, um, is that's the mission along all the things. So okay.

Kelly: 16:17

Yeah, okay. So my next question then is how did you take what you were doing just in this, just in this very moment that you were talking to me about and apply it to making the leap into entrepreneurship for yourself?

Rachel: 16:34

Um, I think that well, no, yeah, like I think it's it's similar to like, you know, at the end of any chapter, what's next? And whether it's a big chapter of your life or a small thing, you definitely feel like you're waiting. Um and I feel like for me, every new um leap or every new step, I I always disappointed because I'm like, oh no, it's another Indiana Jones bridge. Like, you know, when he steps out and he has to without knowing what he's gonna step. And for me, entrepreneurship wasn't this big like decision, like, I'm going to be an entrepreneur. It was like, I am gonna take the next step and trust that, like, I listened to a podcast yesterday and it said the Holy Spirit gives us enough light to take the next step. And I'm like, that is, and we are and another, another thinker person I really love is Andy Crouch, and he talks about how we are supposed to live, we are called to live at the intersection of like the most vulnerable and the most risk we can live. But that's really scary. And so I just kind of I wasn't like, we're just gonna do a huge thing, but I just kept asking questions and getting people to help me. So I'd be like, Can I make an app? And then somebody was like, sure, you can make an app. And I was like, okay. And I just didn't know what I didn't know. Um, but people come along and help you in the things that you're not good at, similar to parenthood. They send you home with a baby. Do you not know? You know, I'm not qualified for this. You know, maybe some like I see you, or not Nick you, sorry, like maybe some like nurse is qualified for this moment or some amazing pre like early childhood educator. I am not qualified to take care of that sweet little precious thing. Right. But that doesn't mean it's not a call that I can become something different. So I think that it's all very, very interrelated.

Kelly: 18:10

Oh my word, are you speaking to my heart and soul right now? This is just this is illuminating. I love that you I love what you said from the podcast that you were listening to is the Holy Spirit finish it for me.

Rachel: 18:24

Um, gives us enough light to take the next step. Like we don't have a whole, I'm like, I told my mom, I'm like, I want a flashlight for the whole path. Like, yeah, don't we all? Yeah, and I think the other thing I was processing is that I think the urge in our whole selves is to someday get to the point where we never have to trust. And I think like it's like, oh, once I arrive, I can just take a deep breath. Whether it's arrived financially, it's arrive at whatever season we think we're striving for. And I think it's both like completely unsettling and overwhelming to realize that's what living is. Like, and it's and really like there are moments of pausing and celebrating the new moment, but really like I've just been it's so clear that in parenthood, in entrepreneurship, in life, that each new thing just calls us to again stop and be like, okay, I don't know what's gonna happen, but I trust, like, and I don't trust because I know the outcome, I trust because I I know that I can trust that God is good, you know, and loves me. Yeah, you know, yeah.

Kelly: 19:20

So what was the initial um like tinder for you that sparked mom badge?

Rachel: 19:30

Yeah, so I think just the journey of parenthood, like right, like there's just I think I honestly I do think there was one specific moment. Like, I think our oldest was one and a half, and and like it sounds so awful, but if there's moms listening, you know, it's like I got thrown up all over and I was in the bed, you know, he was sleeping on me, he like pulls his head back, one and a half year old, whatever little guy. And I was like, whoa. And I was like, I bet I'm not the only person that's experienced this. But for me, it was like, oh, this is a rite of passage. Like everybody does this, but it feels so crazy. And it's not like people always say, you know, to parents, like, whoa, how do you do it? And it's like, you don't, you just do it because you're not gonna not clean the kid up, you're not gonna not do the thing, or not go to the emergency room, or not make them a birthday cake or whatever. You know, we're all doing the best we can. But I was like, I love the idea of spurring people on in hard things and how like you're taking the risk and being vulnerable. Literally, when you're pregnant, your your whole body is showing the world that you're hoping for life. Yeah, like you can see that that person is super pregnant, and you're like, and that's very vulnerable. Yeah, but I I was like, I want people to be met in that vulnerability, in that scary thing with support, love, and the confidence that they will be transformed, but they can do it. And so, yeah, so my kids, um, as they just kind of would go through these different phases, I was like, I'm not the only one, and I bet everyone's just trying to do their best. And we just we don't need competition. I was like, it doesn't actually fill me up to get a like on Instagram, it fills me up when my friends see me and the like in a in a deeper way and when I share authentically. So anyway, I was like, I think we can just make like a beautiful way to respond to what we know about each other's lives on the marathon of motherhood, you know.

Kelly: 21:12

So what I think is so cool, and I'm just gonna sort of connect this to that very moment of vulnerability that I was having when I was pregnant with Maddie. The first one was I I was like, I'm not even sure that I want to continue down this career path that is mortgage because that's what it was previous. And that was a that was a nice eight-year, um almost nine-year stretch of being in that career, and I thought this is my NLBL, you know what I mean? And until I got pregnant, yeah, and it started to really waver. And I think in moments like that, even where it I wasn't vocalizing that. Yeah, a matter of fact, that vocalization didn't happen until you're gonna think that my husband and I are such a dweebs, like such dorks, but we were doing like visioning and goal, um, like setting, working on a goal board for what you know, five, ten years looked like, and I just couldn't see it. And it was in that moment that I just broke down. And I think to tie that in kind of full circle moment, it is truly in moments, and that's just one example of an opportunity to go, hey, I see you. Yeah, you know, this is a really exciting endeavor. Yes, being pregnant, yeah, and you know, hope is right, it's it's literally right there at your fingertips, and it's a completely different adventure. Yeah, but I see you, yeah, but it's so scary.

Rachel: 22:54

And you're you know, and from moment, I think the other thing is parenthood, like moment to moment, you can feel like, oh, I think this is gonna be a good day. We got this. And then as my kids have, I mean, both toddler years and even now, I'm like, no, this is not gonna work. Like this day is not okay. We are not all right. And like, and I but I think the other way, like survival and thriving, that line is just so thin. And I think like somebody reaching in with like a coffee, I'm like, okay, you know what? Yeah, we're gonna go through the drive-thru. I'm gonna get myself a coffee, we're gonna have a restart. Whew! And I just think like that power to do that in another person's life is just like, I don't know, it's just a it's it's transformational. And I think like I, yeah, I always, yeah, I just think it's it's a really amazing thing to be able to do for someone else.

Kelly: 23:35

So yeah. All right. So you had mentioned that you are pretty heavily involved in that startup world. There's somebody else who's been on the um podcast to Ashley Mooneyham. Okay, yeah. And she, I mean, she's she was the first person on the podcast that is really in that, like really involved in that world. You, however, were the first person that I met that was really heavy in that world. Yes. And so, how did that come into the picture for you as you were starting with Mob Badge?

Rachel: 24:10

Yeah. So I went to um my brother-in-law suggested that he's like, there's this thing called Twin City Startup Week. So 2021, I went and um like beta is a program that I eventually ended up doing, but um, I went to an event, I was just like, hey, I want to start an app. And they were like, okay, I'm like, who should I talk to? And I just started asking people questions. And then I realized like these are like my people. Like, I didn't know quite yet. I wasn't the better. That is literally what I said. Yes, yeah.

Kelly: 24:37

I got back, I was like, these are my people. Yes, I like it.

Rachel: 24:39

And so it's just so fun to be like, you know, these people are taking risks, they're like thinking about new things, they're hopeful, they're like, I mean, it takes a lot of hope to, you know, set out or whatever. And then um, so yeah, I just started going to more things and then getting connected. And then um, I think the programs I did, I did a program called ILT Academy, which was pretty foundational, um, kind of help you like problem solution, what are you doing? And then I did beta later, but just you know, making friends that were like, and I think it's a lot similar to being a mom because it's like you find mom friends that understand you, you find um startup friends that understand you, and it's really like I need to see those people again. So I just kept going to stuff. And then um my friends started meeting, and then we were like, Oh, we should see if anyone else wants to join us. And so we started, um, we just like threw out like maybe we'd do a happy hour or something, and then we started our group Empower Her. Um, and that just kind of we got support from VCs and different people who wanted to be sponsors, and now Ashley is one of the people who's um on our um leadership team. So like it was she uh she was I didn't know her back then, but um, but she yeah, she's so wonderful, and like we've had a lot of conversations that were like it's just such a gift to be able to be completely honest with each other about the journey.

Kelly: 25:52

So yeah, totally now, and Ashley was so the event that I went to, your guys' event, um, she was on the piano. And I was sitting next to her. Actually, when you guys had had us um kind of rounds, yeah, yeah, round round table, small groups. Um, her co-founder was in that with me. Yeah, and I was talking to her about the podcast, I was sharing about the podcast. She's like, You have to meet Ashley. And of course, like you were on the list to meet because Katie had mentioned that, and then Jen, it's Jenny, right? Jenny, yes. Jenny. Jenny was like, you have to meet Ashley. And I literally got kind of stuck talking to this person. Yeah, I shouldn't say stuck. No, I felt very, very fortunate and blessed to like just talk to all the people that were there. And then before I knew it, Ashley was gone. And I think that you were buzzing around. And I'm like, I'm gonna just circle back to this, right? But but I do think that there is something to be said for for the listeners to understand that should they be in this position of beginning the journey of entrepreneurship with a business, right? Let's just start there. There's this whole wide world, yes, that is the startup world, yeah, and all of these events that are happening, and I think it's in October, right?

Rachel: 27:15

Yeah, this year is on October, but then also well, we realized, I mean, there is there was more things throughout the year, but not very much.

Speaker 03: 27:21

Yeah.

Rachel: 27:22

And so, and there's a lot more now, and even in the last like year and a half, there's a group called Communiful that's come and they run amazing events. Beta has a decent amount of stuff, and then, but we felt like having a space for female founders that is like um that you're not having to like pitch yourself all the time, it's just founders. So it's not like you have to go and be nervous, you can come and say, like, I don't even know if my company's gonna survive, you know? Like and just the risk of the scariness, but also like celebrating each other's wins and like a really non-competitive way, like yeah, you know, and also just I think that it's it's just a unique lifestyle to be like, I'm doing something that you know isn't maybe paying me right now, but I'm feeling like it's worth doing, and then to meet with other people who are maybe taking that same crazy journey as well. Um, and so yeah, yeah, that's definitely the people that have helped me a lot through it. And and we we invite people, even if they just are thinking about doing it. So to our groups, it's super like we want to be the entry point for women that are like gonna jump.

Kelly: 28:19

You guys just recently or is it coming up that you have an event happening is at a at a vineyard?

Rachel: 28:26

Oh, we did. We did that on the yeah, yeah.

Kelly: 28:28

I was like, I really, really, really, really badly want to go to this, but timing, I I wasn't gonna be able to work in the schedule. Yeah, but gosh, I thought that how cool is that? That's that's cool. Um, just in in regards to I think the format of it reminded me of the like what I'm gonna do.

Rachel: 28:47

Well, no, so yeah, we just well again, I think a lot of this is just so amazing because you set out and then some people come alongside you and they're like, we want to not only support you, but like make a really special thing. So, like Idea fund from lacrosse. Um, they were like, How about we hope help not just fund your event, but like host it at a vineyard? And the woman who owned the vineyard was like all about helping female founders. And so we just went down there and um, you know, got to know each other, but then also had a moment, like an informal, but like prepped pitch, like so people could like because there's a lot of moments that you need to do like a like a I can't remember if it was 60, 90 second pitch, but like anyway, we got to all do that, give each other feedback, practice that, and um yeah, and just spend time to the thing I'm the most excited about though is um people are voting right now, is um for Twin Citi Startup Week sessions, and we're bringing in um there's an organization called Stella, and it's mainly out of Southern California, but they also have a chapter in New York. But they um this woman named Sylvia Ma, she is just she's a woman of faith, she's been done TED talks, she's like an investor, she's just incredible and just like such a champion for FEMA founders. And we're bringing her, she's coming to in in October to startup week, and she'll speak. And I'm like anyone that can get a minute of her. Time you will, it's just trans, it's really awesome. So people have to vote for her session, but it's yeah, it's really, really great. And then there's a group of us going out to Stella in um September. So um to fall. Yeah, so there's there's just a lot again when you're stepping out, and then this support around you is just it's really cool when people step up.

Kelly: 30:17

So I'll have to um, I'm just making a mental note to drop some of this information into the show notes um so that our listeners can get tapped into first Minnesota Startup Week and then that event as well. You said that there's something that they have to vote for.

Rachel: 30:33

Well, I don't know if by the time it comes out, maybe not. But like, um, but for sure, if this is out before October, come to Startup Week. Um, because it's just a really great place to connect with people. And I think that I my big biggest thing is like you don't have to be like, I have it all figured out and I'm super fancy. You could literally come and it's like the first week of college where you're like, hey, who are you? And like just a friendly environment. Some people are like totally fancy, have done all the things, raised millions of dollars, exited, blah, blah, blah. And some people are like, I just am curious about this community of people, and everyone's welcome.

Kelly: 31:03

So okay. Yeah. I don't, I think it's probably seven weeks from what when I hit record with my guest to when the episode actually drops. So we might be on the the barrier there. But I'll go vote. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's great. Um, okay, so we've talked a lot about the journey. Um, and I want to hear a little bit more because you've kind of you've you've dropped these little seeds. Yeah. I want to hear and share with the listeners what has faith looked like through all of this for you.

Rachel: 31:39

Um, for sure. Yeah, I feel like the you know, we yeah, like you said, we kind of like hinted at everything, being that the foundation is that you can't know the outcome of anything. Um, and I think that for me it's it's again this this juxtaposition of being super vulnerable, saying I care about this, which is a very vulnerable thing, and then risking and then saying to God, like, I believe this is what you've called me to do, but why would it be this hard if you call me to do it? And um, and then saying, you know, also it's not about me. So, like, if this isn't gonna work, like, then take it. Like it's yours. And I just, I feel like it's just an open-handed invitation to use my life. And I'm like, okay, God, I am your instrument of of like of good in the world for what I believe you've called me to do, but I have to watch for you in each next step. And um, you know, and he's provided such amazing things that it's it's been, it's just been a really complex journey because these things have happened. Like, I went to a program in California and um met these developers or through somebody there, met these developers that are like the best in the world from Notre Dame. They're a married couple, Catholic couple. And they literally, like, I told them about my idea. I had built like we'd started trying to build a website, and then they like they were like, I met them on a Monday, and then Wednesday they text me. They're like, Hey, can you meet tomorrow? And I was like, I'm not gonna be able to pay you guys, but if you can help me a little bit with some ideas, and they're like, We just built your app. And I'm like, what? They're like, we haven't slept, we just and at that point I had friends that have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to build their app, and these guys, and I was like, all I have is five thousand dollars in the bank, like for this, like I can't do anything else. And they're like, This had to happen. Well, I get chills because like there's so many moments that I could not have done that by myself. I couldn't have become like an amazing coder. I like I couldn't have done that, but like that, there's so many moments that I'm like, okay, God, I will keep going. But then the like another founder, actually, the owner of Rustica is one of my favorite people. He's now retired from that job. His name is Greg Hoyt, and we talked one time, and I was like, but Greg, so many seasons of this feel like the desert. And like, like, how do you and he's like, and you can't fast forward the desert. And so my journey has felt like God is providing enough mana for me. But meanwhile, I like watch my friends who are like having brunch and I'm drink eating manna, and I'm like, but the mana's enough. And I'm like, okay, God, like, how do I know how to trust that you want me to keep stepping forward? But you are providing enough. There is enough light to take the next step. Um, but I'm also open to like, if none of this is gonna work, if it's not gonna blow up and I'm not gonna sell it and I'm not gonna like, you know, not that I wouldn't necessarily even need to exit, I just want some more support financially and all that stuff. Like, I will give up, like I will stop. But you have to show me. And then, like, right as soon as I'm like, maybe I should stop, then I'm like, oh, that's a big moment. I will keep going. And so it's just trying to balance that. But I think that he has, I think all of life is just the like choosing to in the moment trust. It's not about the outcome, it's that he is kind and he is good and he is with me. And so, um, and then trying to get on the sync with my family and my husband to be like, should I keep doing this? Is this killing us? You know, yeah. So, um, but I I'm just blown away by all that he has provided when I look back at the journey of it and how it's transformed me, like parenthood. You know, like you wouldn't choose the hard, but so and I always say motherhood and being entrepreneur and everything is like running a marathon. You don't start it because you're like, Yay, I'm gonna have so much fun. But you're like, Whoa, I'm really a lot stronger, or like I can speak into other people's lives and give them hope and to continue. So I don't know, that's kind of all spinning around, but yeah, the gift of it is to trust that like that he is with you, not that the outcome is all wrapped up in awesome.

Kelly: 35:29

That was beautiful. I want to speak to Greg with Rustica. He's so wonderful. So he was he visited our rotary, and for the life of me, I can't remember when this was, but I'll tell you something that stuck out about him is that he one is a forever learner.

Rachel: 35:52

Yes.

Kelly: 35:53

And two, he got curious, which is a theme that is like very evident with who you are as an individual. I think it's just the the innate uh capabilities of us as like deep downward educators at heart, right? But he he emphasized in his presentation the power of surrounding yourself with people who are um one to share very similar core values to you, but that can give you this like a tug, right? I've been there, I've done that. I want I want to see you thrive and be able to avoid um my husband's business coach just says this, avoid the real estate heart attack like I did, right? So I loved and I I mean clearly he's he's been doing the right things, right? Because Rustica is chef's kiss. Yes, for sure. Chef's kiss. But the reason I bring that up, Rachel, is I want I want to hear from you what has what has your village looked like? Um how have you seen the evolution of that as you transitioned into entrepreneurship and and as mom badge has continued to grow.

Rachel: 37:23

Yeah, I think for me it's and I'm sure people I I think it's similar to who you maybe reach out to in hard parts of parenthood, right? Like it's like who like I there's probably seasons of life that you're like talking to like 20 people, and then there's like for me, I've found that like the core core people, like my husband, my mom, and my sister, like they both want what's good for mom badge, but they want mostly what's good for me. Yeah, and like that's a hard balance. Like my husband's like, I love what you're doing. I believe this is what we you have been called to do, but I'm gonna talk to Rachel, Rachel, right now, right now, Rachel the founder. And I'm like, oh, and he's like, she's gonna be pissed at us. And I'm like, Yeah, you know, and I think so it's like people that will advocate for you. And so that, so it's kind of my core type people. I have my startup people, and then the different people, like, you know, throughout the years, someone like Greg or different people that I've reached out to that like have that core value, like you've said. Um, they're like this organization I have gotten more involved with, and then they're coming to the Twin Cities praxis. I don't know if you've heard of it, but they're this like the Center for Redemptive Entrepreneurs. Um, and I've yeah, they're just incredible. And um anyway, but I feel like I've found friends through those things, and then my startup girlfriends that really get what the journey is like, and you know, you just kind of like being really real with them, and when it's hard and similar to parenthood, you're not like you're not saying like this, I don't even know if this is gonna be okay with this one kid, the situation, but you you bold like kind of vulnerably reach out, they meet you with honest like thoughts back, and then you kind of you know keep going. But um, yeah, I feel like what was I gonna try to say? Yeah, I think that just kind of being being willing to be vulnerable and really honest when it gets really hard, and then and then balancing, like it's not always good to just keep fighting and keep pushing. Like, I I think that's probably the thing I've been trying to learn is like I do have a personal boundary. Like, I can't give everything to this because at the end of the day, I'm like, God, only you can make it grow. Like, I can't, you know. I don't know if you've ever read with your kids the frog and toad books, where like he's okay, so it's these little characters, but anyway, the frog like talks to these seeds and like yells at the seeds in the ground, like, grow, you can grow. And then like he sings to the seeds and he does all this stuff, but really at the end of the day, they're just gonna grow in their time. Yeah. And I think that that's what's like, yeah, it just has made me like, how do I keep going? But yeah, anyway. But not demand it when it's not its time. Yeah.

Kelly: 39:48

Okay, so something that just came to mind is this um I love the word that you use, this juxtaposition that we we find ourselves in, and there's many moments that that happens, right? So I'm gonna go a little off script. Okay. Yes, I'm looking at it. So the I I want to hear from you, and this is I have never asked this question. Um, so it's it's a relatively new thing that I would love to hear from somebody like yourself, where you understand the importance of surrounding yourself with call it relatively like-minded people, but that are are doing the thing that you want to do, right? Um they've been there, they've done that. But then also there are these other individuals who are looking at you and going, she's doing what I want to do. Yeah. How do you how do you personally balance those two things? Because there, there are, like I think of you didn't have to take time out of your morning to meet with me at Lynn Hall.

Speaker 04: 41:03

Yeah, yeah.

Kelly: 41:03

Right. But I'm the type of person right now that's really kind of in this, I'm I'm an entrepreneur with my husband. We're in business together. But when it comes to the podcast in the community that I want to build, I'm in a I'm in a startup phase. Yep, yep. Right? And so I'm I'm that person that's going, hey, this is uh me being a little vulnerable right now, too. So it's for the listeners, but it's also for me. Yeah, I'm in this spot right now. Yes, I'm curious. Yep. I have the drive and the stamina and wanting to be able to like get to where this can be something, right? And I also under understand the importance of surrounding myself with people like yourself.

Rachel: 41:51

Yeah. So, but for you, and I'm I think you're saying like instead of just making it about my own growth, it's like like kind of reaching back to the city.

Kelly: 42:00

Sort of like a mentorship, but then on understanding too, like you have to protect your time also. So, what have you been in this position and what has it looked like? And if not, do you have any advice?

Rachel: 42:13

Well, I think for me, um, one, I'm just a person that likes to say yes to almost everything because I'm like, I don't know, maybe this is what God wants for me today. So I'm very curious, like you said. And I'm also, I think because it's it's just really clear to me that I don't have it all figured out. Like, you know, if somebody I I'm not really aspiring to be um an expert at anything, I'm just doing what I'm called to do. So I feel like I, it's interesting because I think the juxta example of, you know, going out and meeting other people, growing my own like network, moving things forward for myself, like going and building community for other people, helping them be inspired to continue. I think all of that, it kind of goes back and then says, you need to have a strong voice with inside yourself. That like, you know, there's my mom always says she's she's like um, she meets with people, she prays with them and stuff, and she's been a pastor for a long time. But she always says you have a knower inside of you, and that I think that is God like telling you. And so I think like, I think me even processing this with you today or the empower her stuff I do, or even just you know, going out and networking and gathering with other people that are doing this work, it's it, it's like mirroring out or like pushing out what I'm processing and then coming back to myself and being like, I can ask everyone in the world for advice. I can try to give advice, but at the end of the day, what do I know? And it's I think the same, same thing for parenthood, right? It's like, I think it was very clear early on with like my son, like my first kid, you're trying to figure out sleep or something, and you're like, I don't know, I don't know. Like, am I gonna be somebody that picks them up? Am I gonna be like a sleep trainer? Am I gonna like go in and like you know, and like you can read every expert book. You can like do all these different things, you can call all your friends. And at the end of the day, I was like, I'm his mom. Like, I know what to do. And like he is built out of the same things my husband and I are built for him. So I, if what it just is gonna work for me, I'm gonna go in. I'm not gonna pick him up, I'm gonna touch him, I'm gonna hold hold my hand on him. And I think the entrepreneurship journey is so similar. It's like I am building the type of company I've been called to build because it's my brand, everything is me outside of myself. Like it's like what I'm building. So only I and God really know what I need to do next. And so I think that both those paths of going out and networking and then also maybe like reaching back and like talking to people that are just bravely starting, I think it's all super inspirational to me to be like, oh yeah, I I have learned some things, but I can trust that voice. And I want other people to trust that voice in themselves. Yeah. Especially in parenting for sure, and in my entrepreneurship too.

Kelly: 44:44

Okay. That was wonderful. Yeah. That was really wonderful. Something else that I caught was um your husband had mentioned at one point, like, I want to talk to Rachel Rachel, not founder Rachel. So what have been some of the speed bumps that you've encountered? And whether that's, you know, you know, directly with your spouse or it's just been with the family as a whole or circumst and not specific, right? But like just circumstantial encounters where you're like, okay, that was really, really tough. And it was again, you talk a lot about the juxtaposition or the the cross of being a mother and an entrepreneur. And I for me, I don't love using the word balance. I like to use more of like harmonizing because balance indicates that everything is perfect and evil, right? And that's just simply not true. Yeah.

Rachel: 45:48

So yeah, I think that for me, um, it's I always I've been saying lately that like I feel like when I started this, I didn't start it with like I knew like what the plan was, the financial plan. I was just like, I'm just gonna do this because it's the right thing to do. And um, and then for a while, that that margin I was putting in was in nap time and different like moments like that. But as it's gone on, um, and it would mainly affect me. And what I didn't realize is until like the last year and a half, two years, is now it's like it can negatively affect everyone around me because I'm super stressed. I can be super stressed, I can be super stressed out about money. My husband and I are like, what is the plan? You know, like you know, and all this, and I'm like, some of it we have to wait, some of it we need to be more like pull back and be like, I can also just kind of like get some side hustles, you know, along the way and things like that. But I think that that general pressure, I was totally fine risking so much and like not doing fun things in life for myself, but I'm not willing to do that for my kids. Like, I'm like, oh shoot, like I don't want them to have to miss out on things because I'm doing this fun experiment. Like, yeah, that's that's like all of a sudden I'm like, no, like I need to pull back and like protect them, protect me. Like, and even though there's so much like potential and hope and all this stuff, like I have to like really pay attention to that. So I would say, like, just that, and that's hard for me because I'm not I'm really into like the Enneagram, which is like the personalities, and like what's your Enneagram? Um, don't like anyway. I'm an eight, but I I love being an eight. Um, but I also know some people have like eights that have really like bulldozed them. So I'm like, sorry if that happened, but I'm I am I'm I'm a little Leslie nope, but anyway, but I also like can see where we need to go. But actually the thing I was talking about, my sister's really into this is that you're either like a self-preservation type of person, a bonded type of person, like you're mainly about your people, or you're about um what's the last one? Um, social. Yeah. And so they're ranked. And for me, self-preservation is my bottom. Like I don't even see it, like I don't take care of, I don't think to take care of myself. I have to like force myself to think. And like that sounds like, oh, I'm so selfless. But it's actually a bad thing because you can't, if you're not taking care of yourself, you can't take care of other people. And so, but I'm all about taking care of my people, like my kids, my if you're in my life, I'm gonna like I would come get you on a mountain or whatever. And then like I'm all about the world and social, but like myself. And so I have to kind of check that and be like, okay, I have to take care of myself, like I have to like be in a good spot. And so um, I don't even know if this answering the question, but yeah, I just feel like the speed bumps, yes. So the speed bumps have been to try to pay attention to enough of how this is affecting me. Sure. So that I'm a decent human to my people, yeah, my husband and everything. And um, and then honestly, just kind of give like a story with it. This summer we were on a walk um on a trip, and I I like did this very therapy thing, which I like I didn't mean to, but like I was like, I'm gonna pretend mom badge is in front of us, and I'm just gonna talk to it. And Andrew, my husband was like, ooh. And I was like, Okay, you're awesome. You've taught me so many things, but like you don't get to do this, this, and this to our life. Yeah, you like, but I'm so grateful, you know.

Speaker 01: 48:58

It was like, but I really think it was helpful. Like, I was like just kind of putting it in place. That's fascinating.

Kelly: 49:05

Oh my gosh. Okay, so you that was really that was really wonderful. I think some of the listeners are gonna go, yeah, I should probably do that too. Put it out in front of you, go on a walk.

Rachel: 49:16

You might have to yell at it a little bit. Yeah, but it's not you, you're not you're and that's what my husband always says. He's like, You are you are not just this brand. Like you, you are a separate person, and like you are first, you know. And I'm like, I know, but like you are first a per a daughter, like a child of God. Like you are my wife, you are the mom. And I'm like, and he's like, Oh yeah, and you also built this company. And I'm like, okay, fine.

Kelly: 49:39

Yes. Well, and that is, it sounds like he's a big cheerleader for in all of this. Would you say he's your number one cheerleader?

Rachel: 49:47

Oh, for sure, because he's in it with me. And I I think it's actually more amazing that he's been willing to take all this risk, and he's still a cheerleader because I'm like, it's taken from him too, because it is a risk and financially and and time and okay.

Kelly: 50:01

So let's let's kind of dive into this a little bit.

Rachel: 50:04

I'll be like, Andrew, listen to this part of the podcast.

Kelly: 50:07

Also, you're not off the hook for the self-care piece. So we'll circle to that as well. It obviously took a leap of faith to go from being in a school district, right? Like I came from that too. Yeah, right. So for the listeners, my degree is in elementary education. That is what I I thought and kind of sought to do after I graduated from college. Yeah. I was in the Minnetonka school district, which we kind of like you're out in that area too. But it's it's cushy.

Speaker 03: 50:44

Yeah.

Kelly: 50:44

And you've got really wonderful benefits for the most part, depending on school district.

Rachel: 50:49

I'm not gonna say, you know, you don't get paid in the summer, but you get to be home with your kids, and yes, it's a it's a life that can work, yeah.

Kelly: 50:57

It totally is, it totally is. But taking the leap of faith and having to have that conversation with your spouse, which is important, yes, incredibly important. What did that moment look like for you? Well, but and I think what really gave you the like, all right, we're gonna do this. And then what did that mean and sort of the financial scope for you too?

Rachel: 51:22

I mean, we're definitely still in it. Like, and it wasn't because I different than some people, I'm not like, let's set out the five-year, ten-year plan, like you said. Like, I'm kind of like, I'll just watch for the next step that God's giving me. And so I need to almost, along with the self-care, be like, what's where is this going? What are we doing?

Kelly: 51:40

Do you write stuff down?

Rachel: 51:41

Um, I write like, I mean, day to day, I write stuff down. But as far as like the larger plans, I have some of that for sure. But like for me, it's more like um, I believe these next things are what I'm supposed to do. But we because I had little kids, like I it this was all part of like the leave I was doing. Like this wasn't like when I started. I think that's what's so different when I was talking to somebody lately. I'm like, I might not have quit my full-time job to do this, but because I started it when I had little kids and it's slowly taken more of my time, yeah, it happened in a very organic way.

Speaker 03: 52:16

Okay.

Rachel: 52:16

Um, as opposed to being like, there's this moment that I'm like stepping away from my full-time job. Like we haven't did, we had didn't do that. So now I'm at this moment where like because we're still growing, we're still super in the world of tech, very small, still in learning. Um, I mean, I have I have one outside like family and friends investor of not very much money at all, you know. So I really um I haven't had to make that moment. So I'm either gonna like get outside investment and really like figure out, iterate, make this better, grow in all the ways I dream for moms and the world, or um figure out financially, like, okay, how can we make this stopgap work? And I think that my husband's always very generous about being like, it's not like a binary decision. We don't have to be like, are we gonna shut everything down or keep going? And I I really appreciate that. Um, in practice, that's really challenging because entrepreneurship can take every minute of every day, of every hour, and you still feel like it's not enough because you're not growing at the pace you want to grow. And I remember Greg, um, our first Mother's Day, he was a partner. Um, we were in the Star Tribune on the cover of the business section. I was like, oh, everything's gonna work out and be perfect, and it was great. But after that Mother's Day, I was so nervous because we, you know, we have Starbucks and DoorDash and Target, like built in. But then he was like one of our first partners that and um we and I was so scared because I we sold 15 of his gift cards, and I was like, oh my gosh, that's like nothing. I'm so scared to call and tell him after Mother's Day. And I wrote to him and I was like, Thank you so much for partnering. And I was like, We and I he I was like, just want to give you like the rundown after Mother's Day. We sold 15 gift, and he was like, That's awesome. I was like, Okay, really? And I was like, I feel like I'm running you with a failure, you know. Like, and he was like, Rachel, that's so cool. And I was like, he knows because he's been there and he knows that growth is small. And I always like maybe kind of summary summarizing this moment up. I always I like to say, and I think I maybe said that at the session that you were at, you don't look at a newborn child and think, why aren't you running? That's very disappointing. I remember this. Yes, and you're you're you're not disappointed with the stage of growth your child is at. And even if they're developmentally disliked, you're like, you are you, and I'm gonna like love and care for you. And so I feel like I at moments am trying to figure out am I a newborn? Am I going to college? And like with tech, you could you could be a newborn one day and then quickly go to college, you know. So it's a challenging thing mentally.

Kelly: 54:38

All right. So um, again, you're not off the hook for the self-care part because I'm I'm just reminding this. Is a simple reminder for me. Like, don't forget to come back to like self-care. I'll put it back on my head. Um, so the the tech world that you're speaking to, yeah. Let's talk through like the um the ins and outs of what that looks like, and maybe perhaps the challenges that you've experienced, and then the like, oh wow, this is really cool as well. So that's kind of like a couple questions in one.

Rachel: 55:11

Yeah, so tech. I I didn't have a background in anything except that I realized with my job and education that I liked I could learn things really quickly. Like you watch a couple YouTube videos and you become pretty good at Adobe Premiere products, and like I still don't really like um what is it? Not uh, it's not the photo one, it's illustrated. I don't like that one. I like like um other design programs, and there are people that are probably awesome at that. I am not, but I I really love like learning things. So I'd be like, I need to learn how to video edit it. So I used iMovie for a lot of years, and then I was like, okay, I gotta level this up. And so I taught myself Premiere and I was like, you know, it was a little bit of a learning curve, but anyway, just kind of leaned into things. And so when I was trying to figure out if I could build an app, it was very quickly like, what do I need to learn? And I had no idea the complicated ridiculousness of this. And now, I mean, with AI, it is getting a little bit more straightforward for people. Yeah, you definitely I wouldn't set out completely without any tech support because there's just a lot of things that, you know, with hackers and different things and like integrations with finances that I just would think you need some technical help, but we'll let the people experiment and figure out what's right for them. But for me, so again, when I got different people to come along and help me to try to build a website at first, to try to learn. Um, I just kind of kept doing the next thing and then realized like there's so much I don't know. But then the people would come and support me. I had these developers from Google and Square that went to Notre Dame that were so lovely, and they they're they were just like wizards. Like, I mean, if people are into the Lord of the Rings, I was like, they're like Gandalf and here he is. Like he's just making it happen, like a light. And then they would come and then they would have to like like they do like some work for me over like a leave for paternity, maternity leave, and then they'd have to go back and do their jobs, and I was like, oh no. And I didn't know that even tech, the the infrastructure um how you have to keep it up. Like something breaks, there's a bug, or you know, there's like we're just going like I didn't realize that once you have an app in the app store and in Google Play, oh my gosh, there's so many things to keep up to keep it live, or Google Play has a Google Play has a new policy thing that you have to make sure that you're and I'm like, oh my gosh, and all that costs money. And it's just, you know, so it was I quickly I was very excited when they first built it, but then quickly got overwhelmed. And then I also realized like I did a lot of the design work and like taught myself all the programs, and they were like, You're really good at that. I was like, okay, great. I didn't know that I was gonna be good at that. But then there's just a lot of technical and like iterations that cost money, and that's it's just a lot more that I didn't know. But um, but I've had people come alongside me and now I have a really stellar, like they're the top in the world at the tech that my app is built in of it's called Flutterflow, but they are like the best in the world at doing that, and they're helping me right now. So, and I have enough to pay them for this current season, and then we'll just move forward. So I don't know. I mean, yeah, that doesn't really answer all the questions, except I've just learned a lot and then having the people that know more than me, and I'm like, oh my gosh, you're incredible.

Kelly: 58:02

Well, there's just iterations of what um whatever, whatever it is that your business is, right? Whether you're selling a product, selling a service, um, selling a lifestyle, whatever that might look like, there's just iterations of what of what learning looks like.

Rachel: 58:22

And well, having to go at a different pace than you want to to, I think that like being bootstrapped for so long, it's probably been, it's been very painful, but it's been good for me because I have, as a founder, I mean, I'm sure different people have different like reasons why they're the founder. I love to build and be like, ooh, that's cool. And I do think I have a good gut. Like, I want to add it when you sign up for mom badge. If you're a mom, you have a registry of like your favorite things. And then your friends are like, oh, okay, when she's really just needs a quick pick-me-up, this is what she would like. And just things that I'm like, that's what I want to build. But because and then there's other things, but I because I haven't been able to build every idea I have, and I really want to listen to the users and really only build what's like truly of value to them and to our partners, I've had to like slow it down. Sure. And now I'm at the point where I do really feel like I'm at a good moment for like taking out a little bit more outside investment and like growing this because the business model is clear and all these different things, but like it's just been so refining.

Kelly: 59:19

Yeah. What do you think is probably the so say there's somebody who's um this is usually the question I ask towards the end of the interview, but I'm gonna ask it right now. So somebody who's nibbling on the edge of entrepreneurship, yeah, what's a piece of advice that you would give them? Um like what do you think is probably the first or or so twofold advice? But then what should actually be their first logical step forward?

Rachel: 59:49

Well, for sure, figure out like people always say, like, make sure you're building a um a painkiller, not a vitamin. And I I think that's interesting. So solve a problem that actually is like people really want that problem solved. And and then talk to them. Like I and there's a book called The Mom Test. And it's not related to it's just that moms are like, oh, I love that idea. If you tell them what it is. But the mom test suggests, and it's I think it's really good to go to people and talk to them about the problem you're solving, but don't tell them what you're doing. And try to get information from them in a really authentic way. Sure. So I did that early on, and people would say things like, Oh, I just I love being a mom. It's but it's the most important work I do, but it's the most invisible work I do. And I was like, mm-hmm. And like, and then I was like, and they're like, also it doesn't take very much for my life to go from like not okay to okay. Like it's just like a small breath of air. And I'm like, okay. And so I would like take that information. So for sure, figure out the problem solution. That's the first class I did when I was talking about that program. And then the other thing is um remember that don't talk to too many people when you're early, honestly. Like, because it gets cloudy. You have a vision, you have a passion for why you're doing this. And a lot of people are gonna give you advice that's not necessarily helpful, similar to parenting. Like if you talk to everyone about your kid and you're like, what is even going on? I don't even like there is a moment to get outside advice, but at the early stage, just be quiet and listen to your knower. Like you know the vision of like you are the one that's supposed to do it. So you can't listen to outside stuff, and then bring in a couple people that you really trust and then iterate from that first version and really let go of the advice. Like, don't take the advice the feedback personally.

Speaker 03: 1:01:32

Yeah.

Rachel: 1:01:32

Um, yeah, not that you shouldn't continue with what your core per like POV is or like point of view, like you know why you're building this, especially if you're the user. Yeah, but um, yeah, just really anyway. It's both it's such a balance between taking outside impact, like feedback and like really. Oh, I'm with you.

Kelly: 1:01:49

Yeah, I'm wholeheartedly with you. And I think that there is something to be said about you sort of get to this place, and there's there's different seasons of what that place looks like. And this it's you're so close to the puzzle, yes, that you can't figure out what's that last puzzle piece for me to kind of get this grand vision. Yes. Well, that's just that's the circumstance. Like you're too close. You gotta like sometimes you gotta go, who's the outsider that can look at this from a different perspective, yes, a clearer vision. Yep. But I love too the advice of like don't don't seek too much. Yeah. And there was somebody else who was on the podcast, um, Margie Duncan.

Rachel: 1:02:39

She's more of the manifest world.

Kelly: 1:02:42

Okay, yeah, manifestation. And she she calls it the me method. That's what her business is. But she had said do not talk to people as you're building.

Rachel: 1:02:54

Yeah.

Kelly: 1:02:56

I I agree with you. Like, there should be some ideas bounced, right? It's just like, how else are you gonna move forward if you don't get a little well, because you have to build, especially in tech, you have to build the smallest version.

Rachel: 1:03:09

And that was so hard to take, like, I'm like, I want to transform motherhood. You start with these badges that you can send to one person, you know, like but yeah, so you kind of need to think what is the distilled smallest start.

Kelly: 1:03:19

And where Margie was coming from, because I want to do her a service while I'm sharing this, is that there's just gonna be people who kind of poo-poo. Yeah, and they don't understand and they don't see it. And if you if you're perhaps seeking advice from people who are just like they're not in that world or they just don't get it, right? Because there also has to be some discernment around that too.

Rachel: 1:03:42

Um well, and you I always say, like, I have wonderful friends with very different family makeups. And if I go to them for if they don't have any sons and I go to them for advice about parenting, they're again, and there are some families with like four boys that have very chill boys. So I'm not saying all boys are wild, but mine can be a lot of days. And if I go to my friend with one daughter, she I don't know her life and she doesn't know mine. And like I don't need to pretend I'm an expert at hers, but like it might be helpful to talk to somebody with a similar family. And businesses are so different. Like, I'm running a consumer-facing tech company with that's probably B2B, really B2B, B2C, whatever. Like we're having these partners. But if I talk to somebody that is a CPG product that, you know, it's like, yeah, no, like you are gonna give me different advice. Can you um name that acronym? Oh, CPG, uh, consumer package goods. So, like, sorry, like the idea of like if somebody is making like a food item on the cat on the shelf that is very different than like I'm building something that needs to surprise and delight. Like, I've gotten different advice, like um about like what I'm building. I'm like, I just want to surprise and delight moms. I just want them to have go on there and be like, oh, fun, it has confetti, and I can send a video. Like, I don't want that to be anyway, and just when I've gone to like different things, startup stuff. We Katie and I went to New York startup week, and then we went to California. And those people are like, I get completely what you're doing. You're awesome, keep going, you're killing it. And I'm like, okay. Minnesotans are a little bit more cautious sometimes, and they're like, What's this? And I'm like, guys, it's gonna be okay. You know, so but I felt like I was like talking to a bunch of boy moms when I went to New York, and I was like, Yes, New York.

Kelly: 1:05:19

That's incredible. Well, also, there is something about getting outside of your environment too. And and we do this all the time with our E Dinah bubble, and I'm sure you get that with the Minatonka bubble too. It's like, get outside the bubble and just realize that there's such a bigger world out there. And to that point, like New York of all places. Yeah, yeah, you're gonna, you're just yeah.

Rachel: 1:05:40

Well, I loved how non-competitive it felt. Like it was like everyone's doing a big thing, and your big is not too big for me. And I was like, this is so refreshing. I'm not trying to compete with anybody, I'm just trying to do what I believe I'm called to do. That doesn't mean that your call on your life to like do something else and be a teacher or whatever. Like you do you, yeah, for sure.

Kelly: 1:06:01

Well, there is something also with, and and I'll give you the purest example. Um, people having a really clear understanding of what it is that you're doing with mom badge, right? And that's you do such a fantastic job of you're very clear with that, right? And this is what it is, and this is why I'm doing it, and this is who it serves. Yeah. So the purest example I can give you is I know about mom badge. I'm a user of mom badge trying to explain it to my husband. He was like, uh, but when he listens to this, yes, he'll get it. Yes, you know, yeah, and it that's a little bit of my fault for not kind of going, there's there's something bigger happening here. And when I'm as the guest or sorry, the the host, yeah, listening to what you're talking about and having an epiphany of like, oh my God, yeah, I've been failing miserably at using mom badge.

Rachel: 1:07:03

Oh well, gosh, and it's really what it is, is I feel proud. Like it's version 1.0 that is a bootstrap version of a tech product that I'm like, yay, the vision for it, and like it's not a sticky product yet. Like you don't, unless you think of it, it's not, I want to make it so that like you know, you're prompted, your best friend's daughter's turning two, and you're like, oh my gosh, amazing. Like those kind of things that like help you because it's intuitive, yeah. Yeah, and like I mean, I think, but but the core of it, and like I think this is why I kept going, is I really think it's very simple. It's like when we see other people in moments that we feel forgotten, like when I am seen in a moment I feel forgotten in life, that reminds me that I'm not like God sees me. Like, I feel like the moments that are so desperate in life are when you feel like you're doing all this stuff, you're so overwhelmed, and it doesn't matter, or you're forgotten. And it's like, but we can see each other, and then that's that's like okay, I can keep going. Like, and I so I I do think that the core of it is transformational for the giver because they're like, I am doing this activity, and that generosity changes me. And then the receiver being like, Okay, like my kid just got diagnosed with some crazy thing today. But rather than just like a so sorry text, it's like something more beautiful in that moment. One of my favorite quotes, um, it's from the uh it's what's it called? Gratefulness, the heart of prayer. And it says, We are only grateful for what we're awake to. And adults, it's really hard to wake them up, but like a rainbow. He uses that example. He's like, a rainbow is like we all look up and we're like, whoa. And so what I'm trying to do is make these mini rainbow moments for people, like because beauty pushed into normal life wakes you up, and you're like, oh my gosh, like, and that thing is really beautiful, and wow, my friend, like that's really nice. Like the surprise of it. So you're not doing anything wrong. We're all, I mean, I I need to use it more, and I made it, but it's it's getting better, and we're learning things though.

Kelly: 1:08:50

Let me let me back up and do a bit of correction. I I've used it in the right way, but I had this epiphany of um kind of tying it into what I'm doing here with the podcast. And that's where I go, how did I not see that? Yes, yeah. So sometimes you just have to get outside your normal like environment a little bit outside of what you're looking at and go, oh my gosh.

Rachel: 1:09:18

Okay. When I trust the timing of those things, you know, for sure. Like it's like you can do the same thing Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and then all of a sudden Friday heaven opens up and it's like, okay, I have been shown. Yeah, anyway.

Kelly: 1:09:32

Yes, yeah, yeah. Again, it's the we're so close to like what yeah, yeah. It's it's such a pain, too. It's such a pain in that you know what? All right, self-care. Yeah, yeah. We're circling back to it. So tell me, you you mentioned that that's probably uh bottom of the barrel for you for lack of better words. But you acknowledge it, you recognize it. And so, what are some ways that you in acknowledging this have started to go, okay. I sometimes I do need to pour into the cup so that I can pour into other people.

Rachel: 1:10:11

I think so. This is probably very typical for the Enneagram Eights, and if anyone's listening, but I rest for me is movement. Like, I if I go running, that's where I'm resting. So like I love, I love to run. Like I listen to a podcast and I'm like in my zone, and it's something that is like I almost feel like I'm like, oh, it's so selfish. I'm like, no, this is this is I am allowed to do things that are for me that feel really good. Yeah. That I come back and I'm like all day, I'm a different person. So um probably 2022 through last year, like I literally, unless it was like negative 20, I ran every day in the morning. I run the same three miles and I'm like, I'm a different human. Um, I haven't been quite like I probably run like five times a week, which is still still fine. But I I I love it. And it's not actually, I never tie myself. It's not for the outcome. It's like just about getting in nature and being outside. So that um, and also just like I really, I don't know if it's self-care, but like the thing that makes me feel like inspired to live a new day is getting excited about something in the future. So I like try to plan um like things with my family, like being like this summer, like we got to go up north and do like different or like this summer or the winter, we'll go up and we do a cross-country ski weekend with like the whole extended family. And like those kind of things, they might not be traditional self-care, but they're what give me like joy, you know, and like hope. And then um just trying to be like more present one-on-one with my kids when I can, because there's so many of them and they're all doing running from place to place. But four, four, four, on the activities as they get bigger, right? Like it's so much. We're in that, yeah.

Kelly: 1:11:45

Like we're just we're like just stepping into all of the activities with the boys, and I tell you what, there's some rude awakenings with the cost around that too sometimes. I know.

Rachel: 1:11:57

What? I know, I know. Well, and I feel like I'm like, is there like a middle ground somewhere if we just kind of like it? But yeah, I know, yeah, I know.

Kelly: 1:12:06

Well, and especially if they're just starting to dip their toe into something, to try it out. It's like, okay, but with these two boys, frankly, we know that they're pretty darn good in those specific areas and activities that it's like. Let them thrive, feel joyful, and give them yeah, yeah.

Rachel: 1:12:25

It's good for them, like it's great.

Kelly: 1:12:27

Well, and you mentioned something early on in the interview about your approach with the kids. It's like I I don't wanna see, I don't want because I'm building something over here, doesn't mean that my kids have to sacrifice with stuff that's happening for them on a day-to-day basis. And we think about that too. It's like, okay, well, it if we've got to do a little bit of budgeting, yeah, I thought to ensure that that works, then that's what we gotta do.

Rachel: 1:12:54

So I again, who knew? Greg, if you're listening, this is all about you. But one time I met with Greg and I was in tears, and it was like maybe a year and a half ago, two years, and I was like, I can't even pay for them to go to camp. I can't pay for the things I want them to do. And he was like, Okay. He's just like sitting in a rustica. I'm like crying, and he's like, What are your kids saying about what you're doing? And I was like, Oh, well, actually, in the last month, and I always tell this story, but it's like my favorite. Um, we were sitting around the dinner table and everyone, you know, dinner with three boys and a little girl, it can be busy. And I was like, everyone's screaming, being wild. And I go, Everybody stop talking. And I was like, Stop, be silent. I was like, pray for someone that's not yourself right now. Go. And so my little third guy goes, God, I pray for great grandma because she's alone. And then my second, who bless you, John. But he's wonderful, but he can be challenging. And he goes, God, I just pray for my mom because she's trying to make the world a better place and it's really hard. And I was like, Oh my god, I go, Oh my gosh. And Greg goes, you can't buy that. And he goes, You are teaching your children that the their life is not for themselves. They're our and I get chills because I believe that my husband's, and I wrote this in this application, I just wrote to this program, but I was like, the only thing that we can take with us is what we give away. Like, that is all like we cannot go into heaven with the fanciest things or you know, the newest e-bike or whatever. Like, we can and like, and really, I want to give them the world. They're all fluent Chinese. I want them to travel, and I love traveling and all this stuff. But I but like we just spent this weekend up with my family and my their cousins, and they're all like older, and they're just amazing young people. And there's just magic about sitting in a 1950s, not really fancy cabin, but in the most beautiful place in the world. Yeah, we don't even have a boat that we can drive besides like this little pontoon that's like broken down, and they're all swimming and like laughing together. And I'm like, and I'm like, that is what this whole thing's about. It's hard to remember when I grew up with a lot. Like my dad was in finance, we just lived a big life, and I want that for them. But it, I think for me, it's like if they if the experience of their mom and their dad, you know, he's in this with us in this entrepreneurship thing, think that it is worth sacrificing for other people. Yeah, like our lives are not for ourselves, like it's not about the six of us, it's about you going out and figuring out how to use your gifts in the world to bless and and love each other. Like, okay, okay.

Kelly: 1:15:24

But uh I am speechless right now. I don't even know. Like, what was my original question? I don't know. Okay, I can go up and say it was so yeah, oh, that was like heart-wrenching and just beautiful, all in one fell swoop. Like, I'm like, okay, Kelly, compose yourself. But you know, this is this is truly what it's about is like finding those moments where you're like, okay, this is this is worth it. I I want to continue to do this and um pursue this passion. But I love also your emphasis on uh faith and how important it is to just have trust. Yeah, have trust that what you're doing is I know it it really is.

Rachel: 1:16:13

Well, because we don't know. And but I was on the way here, I was calling my mom and I was like, I just and I think I said this earlier, but like I just keep thinking, and all of us I think do, that someday we will arrive and it will we won't have to trust anymore and it won't be scary. And uh and like like well how and I'm like, it's not gonna happen. It's just you know, and I think there's just moments in parenthood and different things where you're like, all right, it's just the new season. And I haven't been trained for this. I I will say I did have one sweet friend who she didn't mean to be offensive, but she goes, What makes you think you're qualified to do this? And she didn't say it as a sassy thing, she was genuinely like she's just somebody that a little bit more type A. Yeah. And you go and get a job based on what your degree is in and stuff. And I was like, and I feel the same way about somebody who was like, I don't know if I should have kids because I don't know if I'd be a good mom. And I'm like, maybe you'd become one, and maybe you'd have to ask God to help you or somebody else. Yeah, you know, um, and it's overwhelming. Like, there's moments of parenthood, I'm like, gosh, I don't know how to deal with this one, you know. But you rise up, and that's what's so incredible. Like, you're like, I guess we're going to the ER today, or I guess I'm getting you a help at a doctor.

Kelly: 1:17:17

I'm you know, yeah, but it's not fun all the time. No, it it certainly isn't. Speaking of um that particular instance, right? Those moments of just it feels mucky, it feels icky. I I would love for you to share, and if you're willing to be vulnerable, maybe the the moment where you were like, this is what am I doing? You know, entrepreneurship. With entrepreneurship, or just I mean frankly, I'm asking you to be vulnerable and sort of raw because I do feel for the listeners in moments like that, we all have them. Yeah, we all have them. And sometimes those valleys are way deeper. Yeah, and sometimes they're not. And it just it's all relative to who you are as a person. But I mean, I think it happens to grow through that.

Rachel: 1:18:16

Um, because it's at the end of the day, it's not if it becomes about you, it it's it's like, what am I doing? Why am I you know? And I'm like, okay, I it's not this ego thing, like, I'm supposed to do this and sacrifice our life and do all this. Like, I'm like, okay, God, like seriously, if I'm building an arc because then it's not raining yet, that's fine. But if if you want me to stop building it, I will stop. Like, just tell me what to do. I will uh one moment that comes to mind, um, and I think it was just one of the first valleys because the everything at the beginning was like boom, boom, boom, we're doing it, we're doing it. I love beginnings, right? Everything's so fun. Um, but so you know, these developers had come, they built the app, they were, and I I just was like, everything's just gonna like everything's working, so it's gonna be so awesome. And then I think it was like we launched and we got in the app store, which is an endeavor. I mean, to get in the app store, you get denied, and then you have to fix things, and again, I just knew nothing. And then right after we launched, it was, you know, I'm putting stuff out, I'm building my little social media thing, and then it was like crickets. Like I'm like, oh my gosh, maybe nobody wants to do this. Like, and I hadn't, I mean, at that point, I hadn't even put that much time in. I mean, I I had what from my perspective, I put so much into it. And I had, I mean, a year and a year, year and a half, maybe, but I was like just devastated. I was like, oh my gosh. And and maybe I didn't do enough work to figure out if this is actually a need, you know? Yeah, and and really like, like, maybe this whole thing's stupid. Like, I, you know, I think it's a beautiful, earnest offering, but like, what am I doing? Like, this is I like I'm stupid, this is stupid, everything, you know, and like, and I think I didn't realize there was gonna be so many more moments like that, you know, like so many more times where I'm like, I don't even know. Like, and and I think in the people always say the creative process is you start and you think, I'm awesome, this is gonna be great. And then you're like, maybe this is awful, maybe I'm awful, maybe everything's terrible, maybe I'm gonna die. And then you're like, maybe it might work, and then you kind of climb out. Yeah. And they say the entrepreneurship journey is like you start in this high and then you enter the trough of sorrow until you reach product market fit. And I would say I'm still in the trough of sorrow. I mean, we have reached some product market fit. We're finding partners that really resonate, we're growing, we're building, but and then it's not just money, but you can't really do a lot where I'm at. I can't make a lot of changes that I need to make. And I'm like, oh, I gotta figure this out. But we're starting to climb out. But so I mean, I think that that moment for me was really like, this isn't just gonna all go up and be happy to the right. This is going to be this journey of like, I don't even know why I'm doing this, and am I an idiot? Yeah, like, am I really stupid? Is my hope foolish? You know? And I have a friend who's like, because I was like, you know, at different times this year, I've even been like, I don't even know. And she's like, I, and she's just a grew a friend I grew up at at Wooddale at Youth Group with, and she's like, Rachel, I do not believe that God, and not that he trusts that everything's gonna go, and like she's like, I the only reason you started this was because it's gonna be as big as you dream. Yeah, but she's like, I don't think he's like playing with you. You were supposed to do this. And I'm like, I know, right? Like, I believe that. But like the desert's long and and people, you know, the manna doesn't feel like enough at a lot of times, right?

Kelly: 1:21:26

Well, and also I'm sure that there is for the environment that you're in, be it the startup world, right? Yeah, you see those moments where people do fail.

Rachel: 1:21:41

Yeah, right.

Kelly: 1:21:42

There like it's just it's a part of life, it's a part of the process. And so there there is a little bit of like oh my gosh, that could happen. Yeah, that could happen. I do because I'm a faith girly too. Yeah, yeah. I think a lot of faith has a really plays a really key integral part in um how we push forward.

Rachel: 1:22:08

Oh, for sure. Yeah, I mean, I think like again, they're so interrelated, but I so after our first baby, we had a miscarriage, and I just think I mean that's so similar to this journey because you're like, I don't, I still can't make sense of it. It's not like oh that makes sense because we wouldn't have our second kid, sure. Yeah I mean, but you're not I I just think some things in life are just really hard, and like and maybe and and and honestly, having that miscarriage, my dad fat passed 15 years ago, none of that is like, oh, that was a good thing. But when I have a friend that loses their parent, I'm like, well, I know what that's like, or like I have a friend that has a miscarriage, like somebody gave me a really meaningful, like um like a like a ornament kind of thing that was really beautiful. It was like a clear cross, and it's kind of like this was a life, you know. And I'm I'm like when now when I know somebody that goes through that, I'm like, yep, like yeah, it's not okay. Like it's not, there's nothing like it is broken. The world is broken, you know? So I feel like it's and and in my head, you know, with that pregnancy, I was already 40 weeks ahead. We were already having the baby, we already that whatever month, you know, you can't not do that. Yeah, and that's not wrong. It's just vulnerable and risky, you know. And so it's like, um, but risking loving, and that's again the whole premise of why the mom badge thing started, because I was like, I want people to be met in that moment with joy and kindness and support and like love because they're doing something that's really hard. Um, but it doesn't mean it's like not awesome and you're not and it and fun, and too, you know, like when you make that birthday cake for your kid, you're and maybe that's not your jam, but maybe you you did it for the first time and you like send a text to your friends and you didn't post on social media because you're not that person, but then your friends are like, Oh my gosh, you're so amazing! You're like, Yeah, yeah. My mother-in-law came over and it was awesome, you know, or whatever. I love my mother-in-law, but some people, you know, it's like you get that text and you're like, You were nice, good job.

Kelly: 1:24:09

Yeah, yeah, for sure. Oh my gosh. Well, thank you for sharing that and then expanding on it too, and sharing, you know, on a personal note what you went through with the miscarriage too, because that's that's gotta be so tough. I I I oftentimes speak to both here on the podcast, but then outside of the podcast too, which I think I took for like one of the things that I shared about this very thing and was and applied it in a personal setting. There's empathy and there's sympathy. And you can be both empathetic and sympathetic. Empathy means I've been there, yeah, I've done that. Yeah, and then you can be sympathetic to it, right? It's it's just all relative to what the circumstance is. But in moments like that where you share, I'm like, I'm so sympathetic. Yeah, I can't, I can't truly have empathy because I have not been through that. I can't even imagine.

Rachel: 1:25:16

My parents have gone through so many other things. I mean, friends that have lost so many trying to have their first baby, and just like you know, you're like, oh my gosh, like I can't well to experience that over and over. Well, and honestly, and I felt like it's it has been hard to try, like some people I feel like they don't quite they they don't understand what I'm doing, and I sometimes don't even understand it. But so it's hard been hard with some friends to try to have them be a part of this part of my life because I'm like, I don't know how to help you understand why I'm doing this when it isn't super fun or easy, and like and also when I'm in the desert, I can't tell you that I know that the promised land, like I believe that I'm supposed to do this, but I don't necessarily know that it's all gonna be rosy, or if you'll ever if you're all over. If you're ever gonna get to the promised land correct, like but that my hope can't be in the arrival, my hope has to be in like the journey. Well, and just like that, yeah. And the faith part of it is like, you know, it's not a feeling, it's obedience to this moment of what I'm supposed to do. Um, listening in this day, you know, like, and I think that's why the curiosity and saying yes to things, I'm like, who am I to say what I should do with my day? So I have one line, and maybe this is advice for anyone, but also entrepreneurs as I that are faith-based, like I always say, God, assign my minutes. Like, assign my minutes today, just give you my life. I don't know. Like, and genuinely saying, I don't know what I should do because there is a thousand things I could do today. I'm probably gonna make some wrong decisions, but yeah, you make them happen and like you know, help me use the skills I have. But yeah.

Kelly: 1:26:45

Yeah. Well, I think that this is kind of a beautiful moment to start to land the plane too. So you just gave really wonderful advice. And I know you mentioned that, you know, for somebody who's listening that is of faith, but I would love for you to share just advice in general. Um, actually, this is this is the question. What's a piece of advice you would give a younger version of yourself, knowing all that you know now? You're smiling. I'm looking at my things, I'm thinking about it.

Rachel: 1:27:15

Um yeah, I I mean I think it's all we've kind of touched on it all because I feel like the theme is like you you will be transformed in ways that like you don't you wouldn't have chosen, but like I don't know, it's like at the end of it all, you can trust that God loves you, is good, like and he loves you and he has the best for you. That doesn't necessarily mean that everything is going to work out, the timing is gonna be way different than you think, and um, but you know, just I don't know, like we've said, like every day to just reach into like this isn't about me. It's not it's about like a higher like calling of what God's doing in the world, and if I get to be a part of that, that's a gift. I think I don't know. I I'm I'm grateful and I so I would tell myself or other people keep showing up for other people. You can be generous with your time, like like this kind of thing. You can there is enough, there's abundance, even though as a startup person you're living with a lot of scarcity. Like, I think the reason I can do this is because I I had my parents, like my dad was like this larger than life, like six whatever foot tall finance man who was so generous, and not just because he had money, like some money, but like, and then my mom, and he was an eight too, so he had this vision, he would like bring everybody together. And then my mom was this quiet, like beautiful, mystic, like person who like knew the inside of my soul. But I feel like for me, I've always had this like confidence and that there is enough in the world, there's enough time in the day, there's enough goodness to give, there's enough, like, yes, I'll do that. Like, we can sign up and run a session, and like that it will come together, even though we don't really have enough money, like you know, and things that are stressful. So I think you know, if you're called to do something that doesn't feel like you have the resources to do it, that's not a good enough excuse. Like, you will be, if it is what you're supposed to do, you will be met with what you need along the way, and it is beyond anything you could imagine because like your father is the king of everything. Like, and I feel like like my dad, like I just wish he was here so much because he was, he just put that in my head, and he also had an awesome finance degree in like then this career and would be so helpful right now. But it's like I'm just constantly reminded that I as long like I had a father like that on earth, but I have a father like that in heaven, and he's still there every day, you know. So I think that there is enough to continue to do the work that you're assigned to do, and then for me personally, but also pay attention to how it's affecting you and um and care for yourself along the way a little bit because yeah, that's been a hard balance being like, I'm supposed to do this, like God wants me to do it, and then be like, oh yeah, I don't know how we're gonna eat.

Speaker 01: 1:30:00

Yes. Thank God for my husband. But yeah, bless him. Oh my goodness. Rachel.

Speaker 04: 1:30:07

Yeah.

Kelly: 1:30:08

I'm trying to compose myself. This is it's this has been great. It has it has been great, and we're not quite off the hook yet. Um, what's a piece of advice that you would just like in general speak to women who are listening right now? And and maybe they are, I know that we already kind of touched on this earlier in the interview. But they're in this, they're either nibbling on the edges. And would your advice be the same like from a faith perspective, or do you have like different kind of advice?

Rachel: 1:30:43

I mean, I think even friends that I know that like that they don't that they wouldn't describe themselves as somebody who's has a faith. I think that I believe God is speaking, that they can speak to them. So um, but I think that it's kind of trusting in the quiet voices, your curiosity, like trusting that when like the thing that you have been thinking about, that that's in that in your mind on purpose, and that you um you don't have doesn't mean you have to quit your job tomorrow. Like definitely don't actually, if you but um, but follow your curiosity because you are put here, I believe, to do something, and that might be to start something new in the world, that might be to help somebody else. Like you might be the perfect co-pilot for somebody else's vision, but you're like a crazy operations person. Bless those people. Um but but but don't be afraid of that, of the nagging or the quiet voice, because I think that people a lot of times are like, no, no, no, that's not practical, or something like that. So I think um, yeah, and just and and trusting that you can start today in like small ways. I I mean, I just think of the things I thought were so big I was doing at the beginning. I was like, I had one conversation with somebody, and they I think, and like it bless that naive, like naiveness that I was like, it's gonna be so fast and easy, and we're just gonna take over America. And now I'm like, well, you know, I'm definitely like a little bit more beaten down than that, but but sometimes spoken like a true entrepreneur. But sometimes there are things that you can't plan or see, and just show up with your full self. Maybe that's a good last piece, is like I talked to a lot of like kind of high school college students, and I was a high school teacher, but there was this one college student. No, she was going into college, and I invited her to an entrepreneurship event, and I said, Do you and she came and she was like, Oh, I think I are those people from that company? And she had heard of them before. And I was like, Yep. And she's like, Could I meet them? And I was like, Yeah, well, anyway, long story short, she goes over, I get somebody that that knows them to introduce them, and she was like, she came back and she was like shaking after 10 minutes. I was like, What happened? And she's like, They just gave me an internship for the summer. They're like my dream company. And I was like, and she goes, but I mean they're just really nice people. And I go, No, that was because you showed up with your full self, were curious, wondered what you could, and you were willing to vulnerably share that you loved what they did. Like you show up, you're vulnerable, you show full self, yeah, and you don't know what's gonna happen today.

Kelly: 1:33:06

Like, so show up. So beautiful. All right, two final questions, I think. Yeah. Uh, because I could keep rolling, but um, I want you to like really be bold and brave, and I want you to share, like, put this out there who would be the like ultimate connection for you in this moment. Who gosh, um the ultimate connection?

Rachel: 1:33:38

Um I I think for me, I don't know, there's kind of and maybe they're they don't seem bold enough, but like I would love to find like a killer operations person who is like like so as far as like a co-founder kind of situation who's like, Yep, you got it. I guess what I like making spreadsheets of financial projections. And I'd be like, really? Good for you. I'm so glad that like that is your gift to the world. Yeah. Um, so somebody that's like killer like that, that scaled something before. So that's more like internal, but external, like partnership-wise, I just I love what we're doing. And so I don't know if it's a specific brand or partner, but like, I mean, if someone at Delta or like some Sun Country is listening and they want to give every parent with a lap child a flying with little's badge and a five dollar Starbucks or caribou coffee, like that kind of connection would be so fun. Like, we will build some joy together. So, like, you know, some of those kind of big name brands to be like, let's come together and like you know, do this on a larger scale. So you put it out there, yeah, yeah.

Kelly: 1:34:41

See how you see how it's received. Yes, yes. Okay, so cool. Well, how how can people get connected to you? Yes, and to mom badge for sure.

Rachel: 1:34:49

So um, if you want like the more personal, like me, I didn't do a lot this summer because kids home and everything, but um, my Instagram is where like I'm like, hey, this is what's going on, and like so at Mom Badge app is where you can find my Instagram. I do put a lot, I tend to put a lot out on LinkedIn. So Rachel Frosh, it's f-r-o-s-c-h um Rachel without an A. Um, but yeah, so connect with me. I'll I'll accept any connection stuff. So Rachel Frosh on LinkedIn. Um, yeah, everything else they handle and follow Mom Badge on LinkedIn as well. But yeah, mainly Instagram, I would say, is the best place. And then download the app. It's free. Um, and you can send like I think it just the $5 gift card, $10 gift card to Starbucks is like, it makes a difference in someone's day. And people are like, what was that? You know, and the person receiving it doesn't need the app. So if you check that out, try it out, let me know if something's not good, I'll fix it, I'll do my best. You know, we're definitely a learning stage, but that would be awesome. Um, awesome, because yeah, it's all rooted in a lot of goodness, but we need people to try it out and spread the goodness.

Kelly: 1:35:52

Oh, my my cup just feels like it's overflowing right now. The nuggets of information that you dropped were just incredible. And the last thing that I want to say is how like cool and totally like I don't know why this surprised me, but like how you, Rachel, are infusing your talents into Mom Badge by creating the badge itself. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Right. Like that, that was just like kind of like oh my word. So cool. And so I am um, I'm I'm just so honored that you were here and that you took the opportunity to to come and just share your wisdom with everyone. So thank you. And I hope you have a great day.

Rachel: 1:36:33

Yeah, thank you. I was thinking this morning, I was just so thankful. I was like, wow, people asking you to tell the story. What a gift. So thanks.

Kelly: 1:36:40

Yep, you're welcome. Bye. Bye. Thanks for listening. And if you enjoyed this episode and know of any inspiring mamas who are powerhouse entrepreneurs, please help connect them with myself and the show. It would mean so much if you would help spread this message, mission, and vision for other Mompreneurs. It takes 30 seconds to rate and review, then share this episode with your friends. Until the next episode. Cheers to reclaiming your hue.