Episode 16: "The Startup Secrets No One Tells You About: Behind the Scenes of Building a Business"

Starting a business sounds cute… until you’re crying in your car between meetings, Googling “how to do taxes for adults,” and wondering why no one warned you about any of this.

In this episode of Work Wives and Real Lives, we’re pulling back the curtain on the parts of entrepreneurship that don’t make it to Instagram — the messy beginnings, the unexpected failures, the tiny wins that kept us going, and the things we wish someone had told us before we signed up for this chaotic, beautiful rollercoaster.

From diabolical catch-ups to brutally honest business talk, we’re breaking down the myths, the real costs, the emotional whiplash, and the identity crisis moments that come with building something from scratch. If you’re dreaming about starting a business (or you’re in the thick of one), this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone, you’re not behind, and the hard parts are actually the most transformative.

Real talk. Real laughs. Real lessons.
No gatekeeping — just two work wives keeping it WAY too honest.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – 0:00:31 — Intro

0:00:31 – 0:37:15 — Catch Up & Diabolical Conversations
Unhinged updates, chaos in its purest form, and all the real-life moments before we get into the serious stuff.

0:37:15 – 0:46:41 — Work Wife Opinions
Hot takes, questionable advice, strong opinions, and the business (and life) convos we’re definitely not qualified for — but talk about anyway.

0:46:41 – 1:17:18 — The Reality of Business Ownership
The myths people believe vs. what actually happens behind the scenes.
The failures, lessons, surprises, and the moments that made everything worth it.

1:17:18 – 1:37:24 — Reality Recap + A Brief History/Government Chat
Closing thoughts, unexpected tangents, and a hilarious/panic-inducing dive into the world around us.