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In this little riff, I'm talking about what happened after I offered a photo shoot to a teenage girl who had been excluded from her prom experience and the reel that followed unexpectedly reached millions of people.

But this episode isn't really about virality.

It's about what happens when visibility shows up before alignment. It's about strangers suddenly thinking they know you. It's about ambition, being misunderstood, putting yourself out there, and why I think cringe is actually the price we pay for success.

I talk about why I connected so deeply with her story, why I think women often struggle watching other women become something, and why being brave enough to try matters more than being talented.

If you've ever felt awkward showing up online, starting something new, sharing your work, changing your life, or becoming a different version of yourself, this one is for you.

If you want to come hang out with me outside the podcast, you can find me over on Instagram at @leahclancyphotography where I share photography, business, behind the scenes life, and all the random things currently living in my brain.

You can also find me at leahclancy.com where you can learn more about photography, workshops, coaching, and everything I'm building.

And if you're in a season where you're trying to put yourself out there, grow something, get unstuck, or stop overthinking every move you make, I do offer one on one coaching and mentorship: https://leahclancy.com/coaching-application

And if this episode resonated with you, send it to a friend who needs the reminder that feeling a little cringe might actually mean they're doing something brave.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I explore the tension between coaching women on identity, confidence, and business — and photographing teenage girls in fun, styled sessions.

At first, those paths felt disconnected.

But the more I sat with it, the more I realized they share the same purpose: helping people feel confident, safe, and comfortable in who they are, just at different stages of life.

I also talk about the pressure teenage girls face today to not seem like they’re trying too hard, and how that impacts the way they show up.

If you’ve ever questioned your direction or felt like your work doesn’t fully make sense, this episode is about finding the deeper connection underneath it.

If you want to come hang out with me outside the podcast, you can find me over on Instagram at @leahclancyphotography where I share photography, business, behind the scenes life, and all the random things currently living in my brain.

You can also find me at leahclancy.com where you can learn more about photography, workshops, coaching, and everything I'm building.

And if you're in a season where you're trying to put yourself out there, grow something, get unstuck, or stop overthinking every move you make, I do offer one on one coaching and mentorship: https://leahclancy.com/coaching-application

And if this episode resonated with you, send it to a friend who needs the reminder that feeling a little cringe might actually mean they're doing something brave.

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when you build your business without following what everyone else in your industry is doing? In this off-the-cuff episode, I share why I’ve never been to a photography conference or workshop (even though I’m hosting one) and how staying outside the usual industry noise has actually been an advantage. I’m seeing more and more people overwhelmed from taking courses, following endless advice, and trying to build their business out of strategies that don’t belong to them, until they lose their own voice. We talk about the cycle of people teaching what they just learned, why strategy isn’t enough without self-trust, and why feeling “outside” your industry, especially as a woman in a new or second phase of life, might be exactly where your real voice gets built.

If you want to come hang out with me outside the podcast, you can find me over on Instagram at @leahclancyphotography where I share photography, business, behind the scenes life, and all the random things currently living in my brain.

You can also find me at leahclancy.com where you can learn more about photography, workshops, coaching, and everything I'm building.

And if you're in a season where you're trying to put yourself out there, grow something, get unstuck, or stop overthinking every move you make, I do offer one on one coaching and mentorship: https://leahclancy.com/coaching-application

And if this episode resonated with you, send it to a friend who needs the reminder that feeling a little cringe might actually mean they're doing something brave.

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is a year-end reflection, but not the polished, tie-it-up-with-a-bow kind.

I’m talking about the signals I couldn’t ignore this year, even when it would have been easier to keep going as usual. I share why the end of the year feels so loud, how easy it is to drown in other people’s opinions and expectations, and what finally made me stop negotiating with myself.

In this episode, I tell the story of a moment with a friend that landed as a full-body no and why that clarity, even when it came with anger, changed how I think about boundaries and self-trust. I talk about why I chose to set intentions on the winter solstice instead of making New Year’s resolutions, including the ritual my husband and I did around a bonfire and what it taught me about slowing down and actually letting gratitude land.

I also share what happened inside the biggest and most successful year of my business, and why listening to my signal meant letting go of things that were working beautifully to make room for what’s next.

This conversation is about discernment, endings, and learning how to hear your own signal underneath all the noise, especially if you’re standing at the edge of a new chapter.

If you’re moving into the new year feeling unsettled, pulled in multiple directions, or quietly aware that something needs to change, this episode will meet you right where you are.

If you want to come hang out with me outside the podcast, you can find me over on Instagram at @leahclancyphotography where I share photography, business, behind the scenes life, and all the random things currently living in my brain.

You can also find me at leahclancy.com where you can learn more about photography, workshops, coaching, and everything I'm building.

And if you're in a season where you're trying to put yourself out there, grow something, get unstuck, or stop overthinking every move you make, I do offer one on one coaching and mentorship: https://leahclancy.com/coaching-application

And if this episode resonated with you, send it to a friend who needs the reminder that feeling a little cringe might actually mean they're doing something brave.

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when your life falls apart… and you book a one-way ticket to Italy anyway? At 44, with no plan and no art background, Kippi Leonard did exactly that—and everything changed. In this episode, I talk to Kippi about the solo trip that sparked a complete reinvention. From her first emotional moment in front of Michelangelo’s David to selling her paintings for five figures, Kippi’s journey is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to become who you really are.

We talk about creativity, risk, finding your voice as a woman in midlife, and the realities of building a thriving art business after 40. Kippi shares how she taught herself to draw, built gallery relationships, navigated fear, pricing, and success—and what she’s learned about working hard, setting boundaries, and becoming unshakably herself.

If you're standing at a crossroads, this one’s for you.

If you want to come hang out with me outside the podcast, you can find me over on Instagram at @leahclancyphotography where I share photography, business, behind the scenes life, and all the random things currently living in my brain.

You can also find me at leahclancy.com where you can learn more about photography, workshops, coaching, and everything I'm building.

And if you're in a season where you're trying to put yourself out there, grow something, get unstuck, or stop overthinking every move you make, I do offer one on one coaching and mentorship: https://leahclancy.com/coaching-application

And if this episode resonated with you, send it to a friend who needs the reminder that feeling a little cringe might actually mean they're doing something brave.

Send us Fan Mail

In this solo episode, I’m talking about grit—the unglamorous, sweaty, get-back-up-again kind. The kind that shows up when your house burns down. (Yep, that happened.) The kind that keeps you going when your catalog business tanks spectacularly. (Also me.) And the kind that lets you smile through a massively awkward, under-attended ballroom event where you hired a band, belly dancers, and booked a venue the size of a Costco… for 30 guests.

I take you through the real stories that taught me what grit really looks like—plus why it matters more than talent, IQ, or even confidence.

You’ll hear:

• The surreal moment I watched my bedroom go up in flames
• How I lost money (and probably a little dignity) chasing a dream business in my 20s
• The ball that bombed—and the lesson that stuck
• Why failing big gave me the skills I needed to eventually succeed
• And the quote I come back to every time I want to crawl under a blanket and never try again

This one’s for anyone who’s ever failed, flopped, or felt like giving up. If that’s you—listen up. This is your sign to keep going.

Because your empire? It’s still waiting.
And you? You were built for it.

If you want to come hang out with me outside the podcast, you can find me over on Instagram at @leahclancyphotography where I share photography, business, behind the scenes life, and all the random things currently living in my brain.

You can also find me at leahclancy.com where you can learn more about photography, workshops, coaching, and everything I'm building.

And if you're in a season where you're trying to put yourself out there, grow something, get unstuck, or stop overthinking every move you make, I do offer one on one coaching and mentorship: https://leahclancy.com/coaching-application

And if this episode resonated with you, send it to a friend who needs the reminder that feeling a little cringe might actually mean they're doing something brave.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I’m talking with beauty influencer and author Lauren Hale, who went from teaching kindergarten in Idaho to building a thriving online business with nearly a million followers. She’s known for helping women feel confident in their skin through makeup that actually works for aging faces — but her story is about so much more than eyeliner.

We talk about:

• The moment she decided to quit her job and go all in on content creation
• The big break that helped her brand explode
• The personal values she refuses to compromise — even when it means turning down big money
• Why getting invited isn’t always as fun as not getting invited (yes, we went there)
• What’s next in the ever-evolving world of beauty influencing

Lauren’s journey is such a powerful example of what's possible when you take a risk, trust your gut, and build something aligned with who you really are.

If you want to come hang out with me outside the podcast, you can find me over on Instagram at @leahclancyphotography where I share photography, business, behind the scenes life, and all the random things currently living in my brain.

You can also find me at leahclancy.com where you can learn more about photography, workshops, coaching, and everything I'm building.

And if you're in a season where you're trying to put yourself out there, grow something, get unstuck, or stop overthinking every move you make, I do offer one on one coaching and mentorship: https://leahclancy.com/coaching-application

And if this episode resonated with you, send it to a friend who needs the reminder that feeling a little cringe might actually mean they're doing something brave.

Send us Fan Mail

In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my story — the whole messy, magical, not-always-pretty truth about how I went from single mom in survival mode to professional photographer with a thriving business.

You’ll hear about the freedom of my wild childhood, the influence of a fearless mother, and the power of curiosity and reinvention. I’ll take you through the leap I made when I left my marriage, the scrappy early days of building my business, and the moment I hung my work in Starbucks with no idea what I was doing (but knew I had to start somewhere).

This one’s for the woman standing at the edge of her next chapter — scared but ready. If that’s you, this episode is your sign.

If you want to come hang out with me outside the podcast, you can find me over on Instagram at @leahclancyphotography where I share photography, business, behind the scenes life, and all the random things currently living in my brain.

You can also find me at leahclancy.com where you can learn more about photography, workshops, coaching, and everything I'm building.

And if you're in a season where you're trying to put yourself out there, grow something, get unstuck, or stop overthinking every move you make, I do offer one on one coaching and mentorship: https://leahclancy.com/coaching-application

And if this episode resonated with you, send it to a friend who needs the reminder that feeling a little cringe might actually mean they're doing something brave.