Not Just Candle Talk: Burn the Rules. Build Your Legacy

Not Just Candle Talk: Burn the Rules. Build Your Legacy

This isn’t your average business podcast. Not Just Candle Talk is the unapologetic, unfiltered audio home for ambitious entrepreneurs, creatives, and side-hustlers ready to do business on their own terms — no fluff, no fake motivation. Founded on real experience and raw truth, this podcast dives into the real-life challenges behind the candle business and beyond. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your empire, every episode is packed with lessons, strategies, and mindset shifts to help you build a business and a life you don’t need to escape from. Hey, I’m Toni, and I know what it’s like to start from scratch. When I launched my candle business, I had big dreams but limited resources — no investors, no fancy marketing team, just grit, Google, and a lot of trial and error. I built my brand from the ground up, burned out more times than I can count, and learned to pivot, scale, and get smart about what really makes money in this game. Not Just Candle Talk was born out of my journey — the highs, the hustle, the hard lessons — and the deep desire to have conversations no one else is having in entrepreneurship. The stuff beyond the surface. The why behind the work. This Podcast Is For You If… You’re tired of overnight success stories with no receipts. You want to make real money while staying true to yourself. You believe business can be both profitable and purposeful. You’re building your brand while managing your real life.

Episodes

August 18, 2025 10 mins

Time management is the hidden CEO skill that determines whether entrepreneurs thrive or merely survive in their businesses. We explore how poor time habits silently sabotage success while introducing practical strategies to reclaim control of your schedule and accelerate progress toward your goals.

• Recognizing when you're "busy but broke, booked but burnt out, posting but not profitable"
• Understandin...

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Bad business decisions are not the end of your entrepreneurial journey; they're opportunities for growth and learning if you approach them correctly. The way you respond to mistakes separates successful founders from those who give up, with the key being to turn setbacks into valuable lessons that strengthen your business foundation.

• Understanding if your poor decisions were rooted in fear, ego, or desperation—the t...

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We're witnessing a significant shift as entrepreneurs increasingly return to traditional 9-to-5 jobs for financial stability, mental wellbeing, and work-life balance. This episode explores the data behind this trend, real stories from former business owners, and strategies for both employers looking to attract entrepreneurial talent and business owners considering a return to employment.

• Quit rates dropped from 2.7%...

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The rush of hitting your goals, watching your launch go viral, or finally receiving recognition feels incredible—until it doesn't. That's when Success PTSD kicks in: the anxiety after achievement, the burnout after breakthrough, the identity crisis after the win.

We chase milestones relentlessly, but nobody prepares us for what happens when the applause stops and the dust settles. Suddenly you're wondering: ...

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Collect all free downloadable checklist and access to other items including the featured Stanley on the go tumblers. https://linktr.ee/notjustcandletalk

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The sustainability revolution is reshaping how we do business, and for good reason. Whether you're running a product-based brand, offering services, or creating digital content, having a green strategy isn't just good ethics—it's smart business.

Forget the old narrative that sustainability is expensive or just for big corporations. The reality? Going green saves money. From reduced packaging costs to lower e...

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Feeling like your business is in survival mode 24/7? You're not alone. The numbers don't lie—41% of small businesses reported profit declines in early 2025, and we're experiencing what experts call a "consumer recession." People feel broke even when they're not, fundamentally changing how they spend money and interact with businesses like yours.

This raw, unfiltered conversation cuts through t...

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Ever looked at your bank account after a "successful" month and wondered where all the money went? You're not alone. Financial chaos isn't just common among entrepreneurs – it's practically a rite of passage. But it doesn't have to be.

Truth bomb: most entrepreneurs don't have business problems, they have money mismanagement problems. Behind those Instagram-worthy business moments – the i...

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Ever stared down a deal that seemed completely out of reach? You're not alone. In this gripping episode, I take you behind the curtain of my most nerve-wracking entrepreneurial moment — facing a five-figure deal that could either catapult my business forward or set me back months. With no industry track record and legacy competitors circling, my chances looked slim to none.

What happened next revolutionized my approac...

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Are you constantly leaving money on the table? The uncomfortable truth is that most entrepreneurs under-negotiate, guided by fear of rejection or a misplaced belief that accepting less somehow gets you through the door faster. 

In this compelling episode of Not Just Candle Talk, we dive deep into the psychology and strategy behind effective negotiation—not the aggressive, winner-takes-all approach you might imagine, but ne...

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May 19, 2025 9 mins

What happens when the lights go out but the entrepreneurial fire keeps burning? This captivating episode takes you on a journey to fictional Ebon Hollow, where three unlikely entrepreneurs—Rena, Jax, and Nova—transform darkness into opportunity when their town loses power permanently.

Their story unfolds as a powerful metaphor for building something meaningful from nothing. Without funding or fancy websites, these characte...

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Ever notice how entrepreneurs put peace on layaway? "Once I hit six figures, I'll rest. Once I scale, I'll breathe." But what if peace isn't a milestone—what if it's a muscle that needs daily attention?

Welcome to Part Two of Finding Peace, where we dive deeper into the boundaries, habits, and healing every entrepreneur needs to sustain success. After experiencing burnout firsthand and having ...

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Have you ever felt like you're pouring everything into your business but getting nothing in return? Today's story will resonate deeply with anyone who's experienced entrepreneurial burnout.

Meet Nina, a 34-year-old candle maker who started Wicken Flame with just $500 and a dream. Her initial success quickly gave way to the harsh realities of business ownership—shelves full of product, an empty bank account, ...

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Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right in your business, yet somehow it's still not enough? That feeling of running uphill, alone, in silence—even as you check all the entrepreneurial boxes everyone says lead to success?

This raw, unfiltered conversation pulls back the curtain on what entrepreneurship really feels like behind the highlight reels. We've all been sold a fairy tale that hard work...

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Ever found yourself asking, "Why am I even doing this?" in your business? You're experiencing what I call a purpose crisis – a critical turning point where the passion that once fueled your entrepreneurial journey seems to have disappeared.

Purpose isn't just some fluffy concept for vision boards. It's the backbone of sustainable business success and the antidote to entrepreneurial burnout. Through...

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Ready to break free from financial mediocrity? The wealth landscape has transformed dramatically, and what worked for previous generations won't cut it anymore. In this revealing episode, we pull back the curtain on the unfiltered blueprint to wealth that the 1% leverages but rarely discusses publicly.

The harsh reality we're facing in 2025 demands bold new approaches. AI is replacing jobs at an accelerating pace...

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The business landscape has shifted dramatically, and the message is clear: those not leveraging AI aren't just falling behind—they're already behind. This candid, eye-opening discussion strips away the hype surrounding artificial intelligence to reveal the stark reality entrepreneurs face in 2025.

From small candle businesses to creative agencies, the divide between those embracing AI and those resisting it grows...

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Ready to break through the boundaries of physical business and explore the new digital frontier? The metaverse isn't just buzzword territory for tech giants—it's rapidly becoming the next essential marketplace for entrepreneurs of all sizes.

Diving deep into this digital evolution, we unpack what the metaverse actually is: a collective virtual space where entrepreneurial opportunity abounds. Think of it as a 3D v...

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What happens when the business you started with passion becomes the very thing draining your energy and bank account? Beyond the glossy Instagram posts and six-figure launch screenshots lies a reality most entrepreneurs face but few discuss openly: the burnout, the financial strain, and the overwhelming pressure to maintain an appearance of constant success.

This raw, emotional episode cuts through the toxic hustle culture...

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Ever scrolled through those "quit your job and make six figures from your laptop" posts and wondered if they're selling a dream or reality? This raw, unfiltered discussion tears down the glamorous façade of entrepreneurship to reveal what's really waiting on the other side of your resignation letter in 2025.

Behind every entrepreneur flaunting success on social media, a hundred others are silently drown...

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