.png)
Business Over Cocktails - Behind the Business - Real Talk with Female Entrepreneurs
Welcome to Business Over Cocktails — the podcast where female entrepreneurs, founder stories, and soulful business growth take center stage.
Hosted by business strategist and community builder Lauren Najar, this show dives into the “why” behind the business, the real stories behind entrepreneurship, and the pivotal moments that shape women-led brands.
Expect candid interviews with creative entrepreneurs, behind-the-scenes reflections on small business growth, and bite-sized solo episodes inside The Business Chaser — where we explore authentic visibility, organic marketing, and building a business that actually feels good.
Whether you're scaling a service-based business, navigating a pivot, or craving real talk for entrepreneurs, this is your spot.
Pull up a seat. Pour your favorite drink. Let’s talk business.
Episodes
94 episodes
Why Turning 39 Hit Harder Than I Expected w/ Lauren Najar
What happens when you reach the age that changed your parent's life forever?As I reflect on my 39th birthday, I found myself thinking about a number that carries deep meaning. Thirty-nine was the age my mom was diagnosed with colon cance...
Your Brand Doesn't Feel Luxurious for This Reason w/ Erika Maram
Ever wonder why some brands instantly feel trustworthy, luxurious, and worth paying more for?Most business owners think luxury branding comes from expensive logos, fancy design elements, or following the latest trends. In reality, it's a...
The Success Trap Nobody Talks About w/ Erika Maram
What if the business you worked so hard to build became the very thing stealing your freedom? In this episode, Lauren sits down with brand and web designer Erika Maram to explore the journey behind her business, from learning to cod...
Why More Wellness Isn't Making You Feel Better w/ Jasmine Jafferali
You've tried the diets, workouts, supplements, and wellness trends, so why don't you feel any better? In this episode, Jasmine Jafferali shares what she learned after more than 30 years in the health, fitness, and wellness industry....
What Your Body Is Actually Trying to Tell You w/ Jasmine Jafferali
Most women are doing everything right on paper, and still not feeling well.Jasmine Jafferali has been in the health and wellness space her entire career, starting as a fitness instructor at 20 and eventually building her work around func...
How to Sell Without Feeling Yucky w/ Lauren Najar
If selling feels forced, uncomfortable, or just plain yucky, the problem probably is not your pitch.In this episode, Lauren breaks down why so many entrepreneurs feel gross when they try to sell and what to do instead. She shares why the...
What You're Getting Wrong About Building Relationships w/ Lauren Najar
You're probably working way harder at relationship building than you need to.In this episode, Lauren breaks down why so many entrepreneurs are getting relationships completely wrong online. From immediately viewing every new follower as ...
Why Manifestation Isn’t Working (And It’s Not the Tools) w/ Jen Gutfriend
You’re doing everything you’ve been told to do to manifest, so why isn’t it working?In this episode, Jen breaks down the part of manifestation most people completely miss. She shares her experience of doing all the “right” things for yea...
When Your Life Looks Perfect But Feels Wrong w/ Jen Gutfriend
You can build a life that looks perfect on paper and still feel completely miserable.In this episode, Jen Gutfriend shares the moment everything changed for her, from working 50 to 60 hour weeks and pushing through burnout to a wake up c...
Why Your Business No Longer Feels Like You w/ Jacquelynn Pilcher
You can build a business that looks good online and still feel completely disconnected from the life you’re actually living behind it.In this episode, Jacquelynn Pilcher shares what it has looked like to rebuild her life and identity in ...
She Built a Brand by Finally Being Herself w/ Jacquelynn Pilcher
You can build a brand that looks polished online and still feel completely disconnected from yourself behind the scenes.In this episode, Jacquelynn Pilcher opens up about the years she spent trying to fit into the online business world, ...
How to Actually Get ROI From Events w/ Lauren Najar
You can spend thousands of dollars attending events and still walk away wondering if any of it actually helped your business.In this episode, Lauren breaks down how to actually get ROI from events, whether that’s networking dinners, work...
I Created the Networking Space I Couldn’t Find w/ Lauren Najar
Most networking events leave you with a stack of business cards and very little real connection.After years of attending networking groups that felt surface level, transactional, or completely misaligned, I realized the kind of space I w...
8 Business Lessons From Building Multiple Businesses w/ Nichole DeMario
You don’t need another strategy. You need to pay attention to what actually holds up over time.After building multiple businesses and constantly looking for what connects them, Nicole realized the same patterns kept showing up. Not trend...
She Turned Other People’s Stories Into a Media Company w/ Nichole DeMario
She didn’t set out to build a media company. She just kept saying yes to the right opportunities.Nichole Demario started in journalism during a time when jobs were scarce and stability wasn’t guaranteed. What began as freelancing and pit...
Why You’re Still the Best Kept Secret in Your Industry w/ Lyndsey Akers
You’re showing up, creating content, doing the work, so why do you still feel invisible in your industry?In this Business Chaser episode, Lyndsey Akers breaks down what actually gets people featured, booked, and seen. It’s not the most q...
When Your Career No Longer Fits Your Life w/ Lyndsey Akers
At some point, you realize the life you built doesn’t actually fit you anymore. For Lyndsey Akers, success once meant climbing the corporate ladder, chasing titles, and building a career in high-profile spaces from Capitol Hill to n...
The Real Reason Selling Feels Icky w/ Lauren Najar
Selling feels icky when you’re trying to rush to the pitch instead of actually getting to know someone.If you’ve ever found yourself overthinking when to pitch, how to transition a conversation, or why selling feels unnatural, this episo...
Your ‘Why’ Will Change And That’s the Point w/ Lauren Najar
You don’t start a business because you have it all figured out. Most of the time, you’re just trying to solve a problem right in front of you.Today, I’m sharing the real story behind how my business started. I didn’t start this with some...
You’re Busy But Not Intentional w/ Alyssa Gawlinski
You’re showing up to everything but getting very little out of it.It’s easy to say yes, stay busy, and feel like you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing. But without intention, you end up scattered, drained, and wondering why nothi...
The Moment She Found Her Purpose in Serving Others w/ Alyssa Gawlinski
You didn’t plan to become the person others lean on. It usually starts with a moment that changes everything.In this episode, I sit down with Alyssa Gawlinski to talk about how personal loss and experiences with cancer shaped the path sh...
Your DMs Aren’t Converting to Sales & This Is Why w/ Lauren Najar
You’re sending messages, starting conversations, trying to sell and still not seeing results.In this episode, I break down what actually turns people off in the DMs and why so many common sales tactics feel forced, exhausting, and ineffe...
4 Years In. The Truth About Leaving My 9 to 5 w/ Lauren Najar
Four years ago, I made the decision to leave my 9 to 5 and build my business full time. And while that decision changed everything, it didn’t happen the way I thought it would.In this episode, I’m reflecting on what it actually took to g...
You Need to Fail Better Not Avoid It w/ Summer Borkowski
You’re not stuck because nothing is working, you're stuck because you’re trying not to fail.If you’ve been overthinking your next move, holding back from launching, or constantly questioning your decisions, today’s guest, Summer Borkowsk...
What Actually Happens When You Bet on Yourself w/ Summer Borkowski
You don’t randomly wake up and start a business that makes zero logical sense or do you?In this episode, I sit down with Summer Borkowski, founder of Summer Gold, a beauty and wellness club, to talk about what really happens when you fol...
