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Rebel Soul Media Musings

Quick life update before I get to his weeks digital marketing goodies:

 

I officially submitted my first few articles as a freelance reporter for a brand-new local community newspaper I’ll be contributing to.

 

It’s funny timing; because if I’m being honest, my days are already full. Between running my breathwork program, supporting web design and coaching clients, planning retreats, managing a household, and being married to another entrepreneur… it never really stops.

 

But when the opportunity came up to join forces with the publisher of this paper, I was like, OK! Partly because I genuinely want to be more involved in my local community. And partly because, let’s be real; when you work from home as an entrepreneur, it’s very easy to complain about not meeting people… while also not actually putting yourself out there.

 

I joked after my first on-site assignment that I already loved the gig because it forced me to get dressed, put on lipstick, and leave the house before 10 a.m. on a Wednesday. Otherwise? Pajamas. Laptop. Coffee. Noon.

 

So stay tuned; once the paper officially launches in March, I’ll likely share a few of the articles here when they overlap with the conversations we’re already having.

 

Here’s where this ties into today’s theme.

 

During my first newspaper assignment, I was on-site at a local business while CTV (a national TV network here in Canada) was also there filming. The business owner mentioned how nervous they felt about being on camera. And it got me thinking because I don’t think twice about recording video anymore. Not just because of social media… but because I’ve been on live television countless times.

 

It reminded me how easy it is to forget that what feels normal to us can feel wildly uncomfortable to someone else.

 

Which brings me to today’s focus: mastering the spotlight - without accidentally eroding trust through your language.

 

If you’re creating video content (which I still highly recommend - video is very much king), or writing sales pages, captions, or emails, your words are doing more teaching than you realize.

 

Here are a few language shifts that make a massive difference (thanks to my pal and this week's podcast interviewee, Tanya Memme!):

 

Pressure-based language creates resistance.Instead of “you need this if you want results” or “this is perfect for everyone,” try:“This is for people who are ready to…” or “If this resonates, here’s the next step.”

 

Over-proving yourself weakens authority.Instead of “I’ve been doing this for years,” try:“What I see consistently is this pattern…” or “Across clients, this shows up again and again.”

 

Self-protective softening dilutes impact.Instead of “I could be wrong, but…” or “This is just my opinion,” try:“If this feels harder than expected, that’s normal,” or “Most people don’t talk about this part — but it’s real.”

 

Over-explaining waters things down.Instead of “There’s a lot to unpack here,” try:“Here’s the part to focus on,”

 

Permission-seeking chips away at trust.Instead of “I just wanted to share…” or “This might not make sense, but…” try:“Here’s what matters,” or “This is the key point.”

 

The words we choose quietly shape how safe, confident, and trustworthy we appear. And especially as women, many of us were conditioned to soften, justify, and prove ourselves in ways that sound friendly — but also unsure.

 

In business, visibility asks us to stand in our power without becoming performative or aggressive.

 

Which is exactly why I’m so grateful to my dear friend Tanya Memme, who joined me on the podcast to talk about mastering the spotlight with integrity.



🎙️ New Podcast Episode: From Miss Canada to Mastering the Spotlight: Tanya Memme on Confidence, Reinvention & Finding Your Voice

 

Tanya has spent over 25 years professionally speaking and working in television, and her depth of experience shows; not because she tells you, but because you can feel it.

 

She shares her behind-the-scenes journey through Hollywood, career pivots, personal loss, and rebuilding after hitting rock bottom. We talk honestly about what confidence actually looks like when you didn’t grow up online — and why finding your voice is less about personality and more about skill, support, and self-trust.

 

Our convo explores:

  • Reinventing yourself after a major life or career disruption

  • Confidence on camera (and why it’s learnable)

  • Visibility without pretending to be someone you’re not

  • How community supports resilience and growth

  • Why so many women silence themselves — and how to stop

 

Tanya also shares insights from her work teaching public speaking and media confidence through her program Mastering the Spotlight, helping leaders and entrepreneurs show up clearly and authentically in a digital world.

 

And guess what? As a member of my community, you get $50 OFF the course! Just use coupon code: AGDW50

 

🎧 Listen to this week’s episode:From Miss Canada to Mastering the Spotlight: Tanya Memme on Confidence, Reinvention & Finding Your Voice HERE.



The life of an entrepreneur is an expensive and magical and challenging one!

 

It’s one that I would not trade in for anything.

 

Being an entrepreneur also means you wear a lot of hats and if you’re anything like me sometimes what it is that you want to do and create in the world doesn’t fit neatly into a box.

 

My web design business has really taken off and I am now booking clients into May and June of this year. (So if you have been considering reaching out to work with me in any capacity; web design, branding, strategy or otherwise - now is the time if you want to get in before the summer!)

 

I have recently added another gig to my résumé and took a job as a freelance writer for a new local newspaper. My first article went live on their website this week and I’ve got about four stories in the works and a column of my own that is in the early stages as well.

 

I’m excited to be contributing to my community here in small town Ontario and I see this already  evolving into much more than I anticipated!

 

Another area of my business that I have putting a lot of attention towards is speaking! I have been speaking professionally for over a decade; hired for my first corporate wellness talk in 2013 by the Ontario Teachers Federation. Back then I was put up in a swanky hotel for a weekend where I taught an inspirational workshop on my life story, as well as Yoga and a culinary education workshop to over 100 teachers from the region.

 

Over the following decade I spoke on live national television countless times and lead live group workshops at the plant Medicine retreat center I worked at for groups of 40 to 85 people every week for four years. Right now I’m in talks to be a part of several speaking opportunities for 2026!

 

You can check out my speaker page here if you might be interested in having me come to your work space, event, or join you on your podcast! I’m currently offering talks on Breathwork as a business and leadership tool, Career Pivoting (I am the queen of the pivot!), and digital marketing for humans, PLUS I’m happy to also curate a talk specific to you and your needs!

 

This brings me now to the real point of this email this week… Because my bandwidth is being so stretched with all of this other going on in my life don’t be surprised if my newsletter doesn’t drop into your inbox every single Thursday. I might take some weeks off here and there, and my podcast will now publish on a biweekly schedule rather than weekly.

 

May the serve as a reminder that you are allowed to adjust your flow to match your bandwidth in business my friends! Consistency is key but that doesn’t have to always mean CONSTANT. 

 

Happy biz building! And take peep at the playlist I'm currently jamming to while I work below!


This morning, Levi and I had Breakfast Television on in the background while the kids were doing what kids do best: being loud and chaotic.

 

We had the closed captioning on because it’s the only way to get the gist of the news when you’ve got toys clattering and negotiations happening over who touched whose Lego first.

 

Watching the captions roll by, I found myself wondering when live morning TV made the switch to AI captioning. I assume it has. It would make sense. Faster. Cheaper. More efficient.

 

But it unlocked a memory I hadn’t thought about in years. In my early twenties, when I worked in television, there was a woman (I think her name may have been Carol?) who did live closed captioning for the show. She worked from home. Typed everything. In real time. Every word the hosts said, every stumble, every laugh, every tangent.

And every once in a while, Kevin Frankish, who hosted the show for decades, would do a segment where he’d talk to Carole. She’d type her responses on screen. The audience loved it. It was human. Playful. Imperfect. Alive.

 

That memory stayed with me because it highlights something important about where we are now.

 

Yes, AI can caption live TV.Yes, it can write your emails, your posts, your blogs.Yes, it can help you stay efficient and relevant.

 

But Carole wasn’t just transcribing words. She was listening. Interpreting tone. Keeping up with the rhythm of live humans being human.

 

And that’s the piece I don’t want us to lose.

 

Use AI. Absolutely.But don’t hand it the wheel without bringing your own thoughts, memories, opinions, and lived experience into the process.

 

Because when you skip that part, everything starts to sound the same.Flat.Predictable.Like AI slop.

 

Time for this week's Digital Marketing Made Simple lesson of the week:

Peeps can tell when we overuse AI.

 

It's not just via the telltale M dash —

And I repeat - it's OK to be using it! I know I do! It's just important that we use it wisely. The internet rewards original content - and the stuff you get from AI without adding in YOUR perspective? Well, it's just the same sh*t regurgitated by every other person in your field who's not adding their unique spin.

 

A Simple Framework for Using AI Without Losing Your Voice

Here’s the framework I teach (and follow myself) so your marketing stays human, clear, and effective; not generic or soulless.

 

1. Origin First, AI Second

Start with you.

Before you open ChatGPT or any AI tool, ask:

  • What did I actually experience?

  • What do I believe about this?

  • What do I want to say that might not be popular?

 

Write the messy version first. Notes, voice memo, bullet points, half-sentences.

 

2. Use AI as an Editor, Not an Author

Once your idea exists, bring AI in as:

  • An editor

  • A structure builder

  • A clarity filter

 

Good basic prompts sound like:

  • “Help me tighten this while keeping my tone.”

  • “Organize this into a clear flow without adding fluff.”

  • “Make this easier to understand, not more impressive.”

 

3. Preserve Friction

Not everything needs to be smoothed out.

Your pauses.Your edge.Your weird analogies.

 

Those moments of friction are what signal:

“A real human is behind this.”

If AI removes all the bumps, put some back in on purpose.

 

4. Let AI Handle the Boring Stuff

This is where AI actually shines:

  • Formatting

  • Repurposing

  • Captions from long-form content

  • Subject line variations

  • Summaries and excerpts

 

5. Final Human Pass (Non-Negotiable)

Before you publish, read it and ask:

  • Would I say this out loud?

  • Does this sound like me on a good day?

  • Would my people recognize my voice?

 

If the answer is no, revise.

AI should never be the last touchpoint.


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