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In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with Tess from Wealth With Tess, a former aerial acrobat turned investing educator, who’s helping creatives, makers, and small business owners take control of their money and build long-term wealth. 💰✨

Tess shares how she went from performing high above cruise ship decks to buying her first investment property after a single Google search—and eventually creating an entire brand to simplify investing for self-employed entrepreneurs.

We talk about:
⚡ The biggest money myths holding creatives back
⚡ How to start investing with as little as $10 (yes, really)
⚡ Why small business owners should open a Solo 401(k) or SEP IRA
⚡ Building wealth when you have inconsistent income
⚡ Finding the right financial advisor (and what red flags to watch for)
⚡ Tess’s free Founders Mini Course for business owners ready to invest smarter

This episode is packed with practical steps, relatable maker stories, and simple money tips that anyone—from side hustlers to full-time entrepreneurs—can apply today.

👉 Check out Tess’s free mini course at WealthWithTess.com/founders

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In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with Cindy from Saltwater Stitches & Hat Co., who went from bartender and busy mom of four to running a booming hat patch and leather business that’s making waves in the laser community. 💥

Cindy shares her incredible journey from buying her first laser while pregnant to building a loyal customer base, growing through local markets, and ultimately scaling her business online — all while balancing family life and major moves across the country.

Inside this episode:
✨ How a single market booth turned into a thriving hat patch empire
✨ The power of saying yes before you’re ready and learning as you go
✨ Why she pivoted from charcuterie boards to leather and hats
✨ Lessons from moving cities, starting over, and finding community online
✨ How she mastered airbrushed leather patches that stand out in a crowded market
✨ Building loyalty and trust so strong that customers literally defend her brand online

This episode is packed with laughter, honesty, and the kind of real talk every maker, mom, and entrepreneur needs to hear.

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This week on The Riley Black Project, we’re joined by Sara, the virtual assistant who has been saving businesses (and our sanity) one task at a time — and now she’s taking it to the next level with her new subscription service, My Social Companion.

We talk about:

How a VA can free up your time and streamline your business

Why most makers and small business owners post sporadically (and how to fix it)

The real benefits of batching content vs. posting daily

Why email marketing is still king — and how it can save your business

Pricing, planning, and perks of a done-for-you social media content calendar

The behind-the-scenes reality of creating and managing content

Plus, plenty of laughs, a few dog stories (shoutout to Joel 🐶), and some eye-opening talk about finding time for marketing when you’re running everything else.

If you’re a maker, entrepreneur, or small business owner looking to stay consistent online without losing your mind — this episode is for you.

Website: www.MySocialCompanion.com
FB: @MySocialCompanion
IG & TikTok: @My.SocialCompanion 

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This week The Downings with Downing Strings & Things join us 

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This week we are joined by Lauren of Lauren Mollica Woodworking

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This week we are joined by Kenny with Laser Shark

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This week the wonderful Heather Lynn joins us in studio

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This week Barbie from The Craft Room joins the fun

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This week we're joined In-Studio by long time supporter Ryan of Sprouts Creations LLC

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This week on the show Dawn from Sign Parties 101 stops on by.

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This week we welcome Kristina Miller from The Millers Co. 

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This week we went live after dark in the FB Group and told our story on how Riley Black the brand became to be and answered questions live. You don't want to miss it

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this week we're joined by Sumita & Anuj of Homebound Custom Decor

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This week on The Riley Black Project, we’re hanging out with Jess & Alex from JT Financial Studio — the power duo helping makers, laser owners, and small business hustlers finally get their books, taxes, and finances in order.

From filing your LLC without falling for scams, to knowing when to switch from an LLC to an S-Corp, to avoiding the most common (and costly) tax mistakes — they break it all down in plain English.

We talk:

The real startup headaches no one tells you about

How to protect yourself from “official looking” business scams

Missed deductions makers are leaving on the table

Why bookkeeping isn’t just for “big” businesses

What it’s really like starting a new business with your bestie

Plus… a few laughs, a MySpace throwback, and some very questionable bikini marketing ideas.

📌 If you’re a maker, small business owner, or creative entrepreneur who hates dealing with numbers — this episode will save you time, money, and sanity.

🎧 Listen, learn, and laugh with us — and maybe get inspired to finally get those finances handled.

Website: WWW.JTFinancialStudio.com

Socials: @JTFinancialStudio

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This week we're joined by Ken from the FB group: Trademark Watch Dogs. We talk all things trademark with a sprinkle of copywrite  

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This week we're back with Callie Goodwin of Sparks of Joy Co 

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This week our oldest JR comes back on the show and answers some of the same questions from when he was 4.

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This week Tabitha from Laser Llama and her daughter Paden join the fun. Paden was given the nickname Baby Llama on the show lol 

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This week Christine & Trish with Cest (say) Creative join us in-person

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This week we chat with David Brown of Creative Cut Supplies

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This week we talk tools/machines with Ryan Shults of Sprouts Creations 

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This week we thank you for all the support through this rough time and update y'all on life.

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This week we recorded our fist episode in the new house, we answer some listener questions and have our well known neighbor drop by. 

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This week we dive into party planning with Rachel of Celebrate You Events.

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In this wild episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with John and Mark of MakerFlo — two longtime friends turned laser biz legends. From being held at gunpoint at an international border (yes, really!) to building a thriving supply business for makers, their journey is full of laughs, lessons, and a little chaos.

We dive into:

Their insane border story (and how they got out of it 😳)

How their business started by accident (and what they learned the hard way)

The behind-the-scenes of sourcing products from China

Tips for laser makers thinking about sourcing their own supplies

Growing pains, unexpected costs (hello battery warning labels), and warehouse upgrades

Whether you're a laser maker, small biz owner, or just love a good entrepreneurial origin story, this episode is packed with gold. Stick around for life updates, laughs, and a sneak peek at what’s coming to Next Level!

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This week we finally let the big secret out. We are so excited to share it with all of you and bring you along.

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This week we have Sane Whitecloud with Team Valor on the show. Trigger Warning, we talk about some dark times in his life including Sexual Abuse. This episode is one you may not want to listen to with children around.

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This week Braden with GS2 Awards joins us on the show.

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This week the homies Will & MJ join in on the fun

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This week It's just the 2 of us talking business 

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In honor of Cinco de Mayo we went live on FB for another After Dark, enjoy

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This week the guys from LensDigital, Stan and Len join us.

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This week Artist extraordinaire in Trample l'oeil Natalie Featherston joins the fun 

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This week we recap The Next Level Laser Conference with the one and only Krystal and chat about her start with Mark as well as her 2 podcasts

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This week we take the show on the road. We recorded from The Next Level Laser Conference in Dallas.

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In this wild and hilarious episode of The Riley Black Project, we're bringing together two laser world favorites—Blake and David—for a bromantic showdown like no other. From Keychain Thingies to booth-building tips, trade show antics, crafting confessions, and an actual beard vs. beard charity battle, this one is packed with laughs, ideas, and behind-the-scenes hustle.

We dive into:

The origin of David joining the Keychain Thingies dealer squad (and announcing it... months later)

Their upcoming head-to-head at Next Level😬

Hilarious trade show booth stories and tips to make setup a breeze

Sourcing unique laserable blanks, running B2B gift shows, and stepping up your vendor game

Political-style “hate ads” and safe-cracking giveaways?! 😂

Plus…  forgotten barcodes, unmade pins, and questionable eyebrows 😅

@GreatLakeLaserSupply
@CreativeCutSupplies
www.DavidVsBlake.com

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this week we chat with Tabitha of Laser Llama

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This week Michael with Laser Engraving 911 joins in on the fun. 

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This week BA from Wobbly Arrow Sign Works joins us

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This week Madison with lasered Maple joins us all the way from Canada 

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This week we are joined by Lauren with Barley and Oak.

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this week  Keisha From K. Bromell Design joins us.

Laser- 10w xTool D1 Original, accessories-extension rails and air assist

IG-https://www.instagram.com/k.Bromell.design
xTool Affiliate Link-https://bit.ly/GETYOURD1

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Come party with us as we celebrated our 100th Episode with a youtube live. 

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This week we get organized with Aliz from Unmess My Nest

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This week we are joined by Missa with LaserDesigns ByMissa. It was a fun time with a few coughing breaks lol 

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This week Sam with Uncharted Customs joins the fun

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In this juicy episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with Alyssa of Lemon Squeezy Brands, a powerhouse branding expert who helps small business owners turn chaos into clarity through bold brand strategy and killer websites. 🍋

Alyssa shares her wild journey from leaving the news industry to launching a wood sign business, going viral for all the wrong reasons on TikTok, and turning it all into a thriving branding studio that makes it easy peasy for makers, creatives, and laserpreneurs to stand out with purpose-driven branding.

We dive deep into:

Why your Canva logo isn’t cutting it

What makes a logo "laser-friendly"

The emotional (and financial) cost of underpricing

How to attract clients who actually respect your value

The importance of pivoting when life throws lemons 🍋

Red flags in DIY branding (and what to do instead)

Building a brand that matches where your business is headed

Plus, Alyssa drops a ton of actionable tips for makers, Etsy sellers, and entrepreneurs who are ready to level up their visuals and stop hiding behind generic logos.

🎙 Whether you're one year in or fully scaling, this is a branding masterclass in podcast form.

🔗 Learn more at: https://lemonsqueezybrands.com
📱 Follow Alyssa: @lemonsqueezybrands
💥 Ready to rebrand? She’s booking for post-maternity projects NOW!

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This week we're joined by Heather Lynn and talk about all the goings on that happened at the Aeon Late Holiday Party.

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This week we're joined by Robin with Laser Focused Magazine 

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This week, it's all about The Next Level Laser Conference Pt2 with Mark and Will. 

To purchase tickets, click the link below! 👇🏼 Hurry, there are less than 100 tickets left!! 👀🎉 You won’t want to miss this! 
https://tnllc.ticketbud.com/the-next-level-laser-conference-dallas-tx

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