Shows / People On Purpose®
People On Purpose®
People On Purpose, the podcast that reminds you that your business doesn’t run on policies and processes alone... it runs on people. If you’ve been with us since the On The Up & Up! days, you probably remember the tactical HR tips, the “how-to hire” episodes, and my rants about I-9s and contractors vs. employees. And don’t worry, you’ll still hear the occasional HR compliance tip. But after years of working with hundreds of small businesses, I realized something big: It’s not the systems or the…
Episodes
- People On Purpose®
S3E9: When a Regulated Nervous System Is Actually the Problem
We're all for doing the work on your mental health here at Paradigm, but what if being calm and regulated is the thing holding your business back? Sometimes I…
- People On Purpose®
S3E8: Can You Be Happy and Successful? Or Are We All Just Faking It?
Everyone's an expert, everyone's confident, and everyone's posting about how well it's going. This week my friend Kaili, owner of Reveal Studio Co. and a…
- People On Purpose®
S3E7: When Marketing Is a Mystery, Trust What You Can Count On
Nobody really knows what's working in marketing right now, and Tayler Cusick Hollman, co-founder of Enji, is comfortable saying so. AI dropped a giant boulder…
- People On Purpose®
S3E6: The Iced Coffee Problem (and what it says about culture)
Were you online enough this week? If not, here’s what you missed: A recruiter posted that bringing an iced coffee to an interview is unprofessional and would…
- People On Purpose®
S3E5: Three Things That Make a Founder's Success Inevitable
Some things are just impossible to ignore, and after working with over 150 businesses at Paradigm, I’ve noticed a pattern too good to keep to myself. This week…
- People On Purpose®
S3E4: The AI Mistake Putting Your Business at Risk
If you're using AI to help run your business (and let's be honest, who isn't), there's a real chance it already has access to employee information it legally…
- People On Purpose®
S3E3: Contractors, Culture, and Connection with Braden Drake
This week we’re joined by Braden Drake: wedding industry lawyer and longtime friend. We cover a lot in this episode, but it all keeps circling back to one…
- People On Purpose®
S3E2: The Founder Bottleneck Nobody Wants to Talk About
Every founder bottleneck comes down to one of two things: First, capacity. You don’t have time to do everything (and it certainly doesn’t help that what you…
- People On Purpose®
S3E1 - What Does Your Business Look Like Without You In It?
Can your business run without you? This question is a bit of a two-parter. First there's the day-to-day. Your team, your SOPs, your business's ability to keep…
- People On Purpose®
S2E10: The Secret to $500 Million in Client Revenue? Actually Caring. With Stacia of Switch It Up Designs
This week we're sitting down with Stacia, founder and CEO of Switch It Up Designs, a seven-figure digital marketing agency, and co-founder of authority.io — a…
- People On Purpose®
S2E9: Your Team Already Knows Who Should Be Fired
Nobody wants to be in this position. But if you clicked on this one, you probably need it — and we're glad you're here. Nothing we say can make firing someone…
- People On Purpose®
S2E8: Why the Best Teams Feel a Little Bit Like a Cult
Not an actual cult. But kind of. The teams that show up fully, carry the business when things get hard, and genuinely care about the mission all have something…
- People On Purpose®
S2E7: The Real Reason Your Hires Aren't Working Out
If you've ever let someone go in their first 90 days and thought "another bad hire" — this episode is going to challenge that story. The real reason your hires…
- People On Purpose®
S2E6: Evolution of Culture
If something feels off in your business and you can't quite put your finger on it — culture could be the culprit. Company culture doesn't collapse overnight…
- People On Purpose®
S2E5: Having Difficult Conversations 2.0
If you're the one always delivering bad news, rejecting PTO requests, and handling every performance issue — even for people who don't directly report to you —…
- People On Purpose®
S2E4: Stop Treating HR Like a Necessary Evil
Most founders think HR = legal protection. A compliance checkbox. Something you have to “deal with” when a problem pops up — and something you try not to think…
- People On Purpose®
S2E3 Is Your Need for Control Costing You Money?
Let’s talk about how the fear of letting go is often the exact thing keeping founders stuck, whether it’s at a revenue plateau, in team chaos, or just…
- People On Purpose®
S2E2: Falling In Love With Your Business
If the idea of “falling in love” with your business makes you roll your eyes a little…same. But hear us out: In this episode, Kira talks through what that…
- People On Purpose®
S2E1: The Wake-Up Call That Shattered My Leadership Identity
Take a peek behind the curtain of the podcast’s brand-new direction that’s less “HR rulebook,” more “let’s talk about the wonderfully unpredictable humans…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 112 Sunsetting a Core Offer & Saying Goodbye to Set To Scale
Sometimes the best move in business is pulling the plug on something that’s “working” (ugh lol) This episode is more personal than usual because I’m opening up…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 111 Hiring your friends...? Listen to this first!
Let's answer one of the most common (and complicated) leadership questions: Should I hire someone I’m friends with? I'm sharing hard-won lessons from client…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 110 Staying Solo & Selling Smart with Copywriter Andrea Shah
In this episode, I’m joined by copywriter Andrea Shah for a conversation about messaging that works and feels like you. We’re talking about what drives buyers…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 109 The No-BS Guide to Legally Paying Your Employees
Pay and wages are hands-down one of the most confusing parts of hiring for the leaders we talk to. You’re not alone if you’ve found yourself wondering, why you…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 108 Why “Good Culture” Falls Apart Without a Shared Vocabulary
After coming off an inspiring in-person team retreat, I’m sharing the real markers of success inside a small business. This episode explores the…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 107 How I’m Using AI Without Selling My Soul (or Screwing Over My Clients)
Let’s talk about how I’m using AI in my business and my personal life to make things easier without losing the heart, ethics, or human-centered focus of my…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 106 How to Grow Without Losing Yourself with Sam Vander Wielen
What if your business was the least interesting thing about you? In this episode, Kira sits down with legal educator and author Sam Vander Wielen to talk about…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 105: Business Is Weird Right Now. Here’s What I’m Doing About It.
We made it to Q2, but not without some bruises. In this solo episode, Kira shares her raw, honest take on what Q1 of 2025 taught her as a founder, leader, and…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 104: Three Silent Mistakes Wedding and Events Pros Make With Their Team
In this episode, I’m diving into all things HR in the wedding and events world—because let’s be real, planning dreamy days doesn’t mean your backend operations…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 103 Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, & the HR Nightmare Of It All
Come gab with two pop-culture junkies with unhealthy celeb gossip addictions and an alarming depth of knowledge in HR and legal drama as we deep-dive into one…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 102 Hiring An Assistant – What I Wish I Knew Sooner!
This week, I’m diving into my journey towards hiring an assistant (mistakes were made) and how I intentionally created their role to sidestep the pitfalls I’ve…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 101: 2024 Recap and Lessons From A Growing HR Agency Founder
This one is for the entrepreneurs who are ready to get off the roller coaster. In this episode, Kira reflects on her journey through 2024 and sets the stage…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 100! Politics At Work?! Leading Through Tension With Empathy
We did it! We’ve hit the big 1-0-0! In what was originally planned to be a celebratory episode, we’re talking about something a little heavier, because we know…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 99: Behind The Veil Of Growing A Wedding Biz w/ Adrienna McDermott
Kira chats with Adrienna McDermott, founder of Ava and the Bee, about what it takes to build a successful wedding industry business. Adrienna shares about her…
- People On Purpose®
Ep 98: Is Social Media Marketing Worth Your Time? with Emma Tessler of Ninety Five Media
Ever wondered if social media is actually making a difference in your business, or if it’s just another time suck? 🤔 In today’s episode of On The Up & Up, we…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 97: Putting Hours Back On The Clock With Systems Expert Rachael Mueller
Did you know the average business owner wastes 250 hours a year on tasks that could be automated? Today’s guest, Rachael Mueller, Fractional COO & Systems…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 96: A Look Inside Small Business Recruiting with Ashley Mina
I always tell you to hire based on the role, not just the person you want... but today, I’m eating my words! At least I’m an honest hypocrite 😉 In this…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 95: Passing The Baton: How To Develop Leaders On Your Team
Leadership is one of the biggest responsibilities you’ll take on in your career. But when you nail it, you don’t have to do it all yourself. You can actually…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 94: There’s No Such Thing As a “Born Leader”
We’ve all been sold a big fat lie: that the ability to lead is something everyone’s born with. Let’s talk about this is not only untrue, but it’s also kind of…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 93: BTS People On Purpose®: The Leadership Program Built for Modern Managers
It’s here! The fifth edition of People On Purpose®, our signature leadership and management training program, has officially launched – and I want to dive into…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 92: Is Your Brain Sabotaging Your Leadership Success?
If the thought of having a tough conversation with someone you manage makes you want to bolt , you’re not alone - and there’s actually a ton of science behind…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 91: ‘She said what?!’ How To Build A Common Leadership Language
Most leaders don’t wake up planning to fail their teams, but sometimes it happens unintentionally. And one of the biggest culprits is a lack of common…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 90: [Part 2] 5 Steps To Go From Manager to Trusted Leader
Last week, we kicked off a 5 day plan to go from a day-to-day manager to a trusted leader who knows how to boost your team’s profitability and productivity. If…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 89: [Part 1] 5 Steps To Go From Manager to Trusted Leader
Let’s hit the reset button - on both your management and your team. As managers and leaders, it’s our job to get everyone on the same boat and moving in the…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 88: Lean Into Leading: LoriAnn Kuntz on The Power Of Learning Your Leadership Style
LoriAnn Kuntz, a finance expert by trade (and a legal eagle by necessity), never planned on hiring employees. She had properly classified contractors, and that…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 87: The Missing Link In New Hire Training & Development
Ever wonder why some new hires knock it out of the park while others can’t seem to find the ball, despite having all your training videos and SOPs at their…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 86: Biz Friends With Benefits: Building Community With Taryn Rachelle
How crucial is community for small business owners and entrepreneurs? So crucial that our friend Taryn Rachelle restructured her entire business into a…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 85: [BONUS Ep!] Something About Her Trademarks With Lawyer Kelli
Our legal (Bravo) correspondent is back for some BREAKING news about our girls Ariana and Katie and their former Menu Consultant and Karen of the sandwich…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 84: How To Create Seamless Employee Onboarding [Beyond The Paperwork]
There are two sides of the seamless onboarding coin: There’s the one most people think about, which is all the compliance stuff. Paperwork, forms, yada yada…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 83: Hot Take: Documentation Is The Dark Horse Of Accountable Company Cultures
Let’s talk about one basic skill (dare I say, the #1 skill) that every business owner and leader can bolster within their teams to cultivate a culture rich in…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 82: Are These 5 Biases in Hiring Sabotaging Your Dream Team?
As an entrepreneur, you’re not expected to magically transform into a professional recruiter overnight. Interviewing without letting bias crash the party is a…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 81: Diversity In Workplace Statistics: Why Inclusivity Boosts Business
If there's one conversation we're never putting on mute, it's about the real value of diversity on your team. Not because 'diversity' has been a trendy…
- People On Purpose®
Ep 80: Juneteenth Insights And The Role of HR in Advancing Racial Equity
Happy Juneteenth! Today we’re honoring the end of slavery, celebrating Black freedom, and celebrating the slow strides we're making. But part of our…
- People On Purpose®
Ep 79: The 40+ Founder: Writing Your Next Career Chapter with Encore Empire
Think your career's best moments are in the rearview? Think again! Join us as we dive into the transformative journeys of women who are turning decades of…
- People On Purpose®
Ep 78: Shifting From Creative Entrepreneur To CEO with Kristin Richards
As a creative entrepreneur, do you ever feel like your job completely transformed overnight? One moment, you’re working in your creative zone of genius, and…
- People On Purpose®
Ep 77 From Breaking Point to Breakthrough: Mary Beth Storjohann on Balancing Mental Health and Leadership
Are you checking in with yourself and your mental health? We know Mental Health Awareness Month has been all about how we, as leaders, can support our…
- People On Purpose®
Ep 76: "Can We Talk?" How To Address Underperformance Collaboratively In Remote Business
You know what feels ickier than having that awkward underperformance chat with an employee in a stuffy conference room? Having to do it over Zoom. We’re huge…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 75 How To Conduct Employee Performance Reviews That Don’t Suck
Say it with me: “My past experience in corporate America won’t dictate how I conduct employee performance reviews. I’m not here to give negative feedback just…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 74 Ditch The Drama: Performance Management And The Role Of Continuous Feedback
Performance management: Love it? Hate it? Wondering what the big deal is? It can be a real mixed bag. Maybe you skip into those meetings, giddy to shower your…
- People On Purpose®
Ep. 73 [Bonus Ep!] Bravo Legal Drama and HR Disasters Part 2
We're baaaack baby! Kelli Jones and I are at it again with more Bravo legal drama, more HR disasters, and more fun. And maybe a little snark. I mean, we ARE…