The System for Finding More Creativity, Joy, and Fun in Your Work with Julie Fried

Colie: Hey y’all. Welcome back. So a couple of years ago I attended this amazing conference Creative Educator by Laylee Emadi and I have been four years in a row. I was actually a panelist on this year’s conference and I’ve already bought my ticket for year five. But when I tell you that the absolute best part of attending this conference is the people that you meet in the room, hands down, this is why I attend every year.

I mean, it’s great to listen to the people on stage. ’cause Laylee does bring in some pretty awesome speakers. And I’m not just talking about myself [00:01:00] because again, I was a panelist. I didn’t do a keynote. See, Julie’s laughing at me. But today’s guest is Julie Free. And although I knew who she was before we attended the conference, I feel like now that I’ve gotten to like experience her awesomeness in person and I’ve gotten to give her a hug multiple years in a row, um, she’s definitely someone that I wanna have a conversation with.

And I hope that you enjoy today’s conversation because we’re really not gonna talk about business. So Julie, welcome to the podcast.

Julie: Thank you for having me.

Colie: Okay, so Julie has a podcast of her own now it’s called The Systems For Everything. And the funny thing is, I was on there last year and unbeknownst to her, she named that episode something that I started using in my own marketing going forward.

She

called, yeah, you called it pre-written emails. And I was like,

I don’t know why I’ve never thought of that term for what I do. I mean, ’cause email templates. Brings [00:02:00] up like some feelings and some thoughts

Julie: Oh yeah, a 

Colie: They’re like templates. And I’m like, no, you were like the system for having everything pre-written.

And I was like, oh my God, that’s like amazing. And so I started talking about email templates as simply pre-planned, pre-written emails everywhere that I started talking

Julie: Yay. 

Colie: like you mean it. So yes. Thank you.

Julie: Oh my gosh. You’re welcome.

Colie: So, but today Julie and I are gonna talk about her podcast because unlike someone like me and perhaps most of the other podcast hosts that I’ve had on business First creatives, julie does not host her podcast in order to bring leads into her business, I think you all know by now, I dreamed up business first creatives so that I could yap about what I wanna talk about and I could have amazing guests on.

But at the end of the day, my podcast is the biggest driver for leads specifically for my systems and session offer. Like right now, [00:03:00] like it, it’s surpassed referrals and all of the things, but Julie. You don’t do any of that on your podcast.

So first of all, tell me why you wanted to have a podcast. Like why does it bring you such joy?

Julie: oh my gosh. I had no idea the level of joy that it would bring me. I, so I met Hailey, our mutual producer, 

Colie: Mm-hmm. 

Julie: six years ago now. Like when Laylee did her first like beta mastermind group and we were both in it, and that’s how I met her. She would always be like, you need a podcast. You need a podcast. And it was one of those things where I was like, 

and 

Colie: gonna, I’m gonna jump in and say, is it the way that we all feel when someone tells us that I need something and it happens to be the thing that you can pay them for? I mean, like, I love Haylee, but if Haylee continuously telling me I needed a podcast,

Julie: only like 5%.

Colie: okay.

Julie: Yeah. Yeah. Because that is something that like in general, I’ve heard like throughout my life, like people say things to me like, oh, you need to do standup. Oh, you [00:04:00] need to, you should be on SNL. And I’m like, yeah, that’s how that works guys. For reference, I was a musical theater major, like in college.

I wasn’t just like a weird kid doing skit. Well, no, I was also a weird kid doing skits, but, um. Yeah, like, so she said that to me. A lot of other people said it to me and it was always one of those things where I was like, oh yeah, like, but there’s too many podcasts already about, you know, reality TV or too many podcasts already about Vanderpump rules or about, you know, bachelor Nation.

Like I was like, that’s something I would talk about, like that I’m obsessed with tv, especially reality tv. Like I could talk about it for days and days. And so it was just one of those things that I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, and I would always just make jokes about like, about it. And then at last year’s conference, I just was like, it kind of became more like, no, but like, what if I did it?

Colie: But What if you did? 

Julie: If [00:05:00] I just did it guys? And I literally, we had panel groups and I literally sat in my group and I was like, Hey guys, if I started this podcast and it was called this and it was about this, would you guys listen to it? And they were like, Yeah. 

but more so we would listen to it. ’cause you’re the weirdest person we’ve ever met.

And I was like, oh, thank you so much. And. So for me it just became like, okay, well I wanna talk about all these things ’cause I do wanna talk about business ’cause that is part of my life and I like it and I like learning and I want other people to learn. But I also am just so fascinated with.

Influencer culture and homeschooling and these people who, do these like intense meal preps and the moms who make insane, like amazing lunches for their kids. And like I just, I was like, how can I talk about all of those things, like without it being a complete mess? And so came [00:06:00] like the system for everything.

Like there are episodes on marketing, there are epi, well there will be an episode on. Meal planning. Like it’s just all of the things like how to be visible on social media or how to get more done while you’re in the carpool lane. Like all those like little things. And they’re not all mom related though.

I am a mom now. But it just became this like nonstop idea train and it’s since like again, I went to school for musical theater and this is the most. and I’m 40 years old now. This is the most I have ever felt creatively inspired in my life, and I launched the podcast in June of 2025. We just hit 20,000 downloads, and I’m like, it’s so much fun.

Unfortunately, because I don’t [00:07:00] really run a business anymore or. And my, you know, podcast isn’t geared towards getting leads or funneling people through, a system. It is a very expensive hobby now. So I hope that I will be able to, with season two coming up, bring in some advertisers and things like that.

But yeah, just, I, I love every little single piece of it. It’s, it is nuts how much I like it.

Colie: I mean, but just the angle of systems. I mean, you are a systems girl. That is how I knew

you before I met you at Creative Educator. So when you first told me the name, I mean, I literally blinked and I was like, why the fuck didn’t I think of that? I mean, literally, I mean, I don’t think I said that out loud to you based on the way that you’re laughing, but I mean, I literally

thought to myself, I am so sad.

I mean, there’s been two people. Who mentioned podcast names to me, and in, in both times I was like, oh, I, why didn’t I think of that? I mean, and I do, I do think that you took it. To an entirely [00:08:00] different level because systems are everywhere. I

talk about systems in your business. I talk about marketing systems, even though I don’t have an offer to sell you.

I talk about, you know, systems for taking time off in your business. I mean, I talk about a lot of systems related to business, but it’s all related to business. Even those systems exist everywhere, and I feel like. The fact that you are teaching everyone that there can be a system in every facet of your life is just one of the most amazing things. for me, listening to your podcast and I mean, you have such interesting topics with all the

people. So I think that’s what I wanna ask you next is, I mean, you invited me on the podcast

probably because we have the same producer, because you know, we’re conference friends now. I mean all the things, but like, how do you typically.

Decide to have someone and invite them onto your podcast.

Julie: So, yeah, so, uh, I mean this could change obviously as time goes on. But for the most part, like I have an application [00:09:00] up and like a couple people have applied that way. And I’ve then. Reframed what they said and been like, n no, this is what we’re gonna do. ‘Cause every single episode is super curated by me.

I haven’t taken any like, pitches, like I’ve pitched everyone and been like, I want you, I want you to do this. And everyone’s been like, thanks. You’re so easy. I didn’t even think, need to think of a thing. And like, it’s just that, that part is so fun for me. Like just like curating that. But yeah, I mean as far as like, how do I decide?

It’s a mixture of people I already know in my network in like my personal life and like my business network. So, you know, example, like business network would be you. Personal life is, I just, I did an interview with James Ortiz who played and voiced Rocky in Project Hail Mary, and everyone was like, oh my God, how’d you get that?

And I was like, we went to college together. I was like. 

Colie: I know people, that would’ve 

Julie: [00:10:00] in my 

went in those dms. I was like, what’s up James? And I just shoot big and go for it, because the worst anyone’s gonna say is no. Um, I have like a saved folder. Uh, on Instagram where sometimes, sometimes I’ll just see like one thing somebody posts.

That’s how I did Kate Rosenau and I did an episode of the system for dismantling Supermom culture, and that came from, I had followed her for several years, but it was one thing that she had posted that I was like that. And I, and I emailed her and I was like, can I please email you right now, like a pitch for a podcast?

And she was like, uh, who are you? Okay. And, and she came on.

Colie: and I do the same thing, Julie. I mean, I’ve said this on this podcast many times, but sometimes I’m listening to an episode of a podcast and like. I listen to the same podcast over and over again. I mean, you clearly are on my roster of podcasts that I listen to, but like sometimes the people that I listen [00:11:00] to and love have a guest

that I knew or didn’t know, but they say something in that episode that I’m listening to where I feel compelled to pull my car over. And like jot down the pitch in the Notes app. Sometimes I will email it while I’m sitting on the side of the road like, hi, I just heard you on so-and-so’s podcast. You just talked about this. I would love to have you on Business First Creatives, but again.

I’m all doing this from like a business perspective, so

I find it so fascinating that you and I are both, like, we see someone say some random ass shit and sometimes I do my solos about that too.

Like if you say something and I really wanna like clap back, but I don’t know you well enough to clap back on the internet, I’ll be like, you know what? I’m gonna take this to the podcast and record a solo episode on it where I can clap back and they won’t know it.

Julie: I, I love that. And I love, one of my, um, kind of favorite things so far has been. Taking people who are really well known for something and interviewing them about, [00:12:00] not that at all. 

Like I had, I did an episode, with Sarah Dunn, who is widely known in the wedding world as Sarah does SEO. She is an SEO person.

That is her thing. She has been on probably 50 podcasts talking about SEO in some form or another, and I had her come on and talk about the system for Snowbirding because she lives half a year. In one location and half the year in another. And I thought, that’s fascinating. I wanna hear about that. And like, next season, first season two, I’m having Stu McLaren come on.

He is not talking about memberships. 

Colie: Oh, I’m gonna tune in for that because, 

Julie: I pitched him in person. I was like, Hey, I kind of have 

Colie: At. 

Julie: And he, and I did. And he said, here’s my assistant’s email. He was like, I’ll tell her it’s approved. And I was like, amazing. So yeah, I just. I, it’s just been so cool to get to see like the, and the things other people are passionate about and the things other people love [00:13:00] systems on.

And I’ve gotten, you know, I’ve started, I feel like I’ve made it now I get like, you know, the daily generic like PR, pitches, 

whatever, from people who have, you know, and they don’t need to be listeners. Like, I am not saying like, how dare you not have listened to an episode, but like, you clearly don’t know, like.

What the vibe is. The vibe is nonsense.

Colie: I mean, people, people pitch me, and I’ve said on multiple episodes that like, I’m not really a money marketing girl. Like when I talk about my

own client results, I very rarely say, Hey, Roxanne, you know, sent four proposals and made $5,000 in 48 hours, like. Yes, that’s on my website, but that’s not my typical how I pitch the results of my service.

And so like the instant no for me is when people are in my dms basically telling me how famous or popular this person is and how they made millions off this one thing. I’m like, you have clearly never paid it. ’cause I, I would never [00:14:00] lead with any

of that on a podcast. And so I do think that not everyone has to be a listener, but like. It’s your job to do some fucking research and make sure that you know what the podcast that you are pitching is about.

Julie: Yeah, a hundred percent.

Colie: Okay,

so we’ve talked about how you get your guests now. Before we hit record and I asked you what your favorite part was, you said, I even enjoy the admin, which I think is hysterical. So let’s take a step back because you already admitted that both of us work with Haylee at Gaffin Creative

to produce and publish our podcast.

But so what does admin look like for you and why do you find it enjoyable?

Julie: For me, the admin part looks like, um, the Asana board, which is like. Okay, I have pitched this person. It’s a business episode, or it’s a lifestyle episode, or it’s a mix of both. Like, here’s the date I pitched them, here’s the topic. I pitched them, here’s the summary. I pitched them, you know, and then like checking off all the [00:15:00] things, like, okay, I sent them the form, they filled out the form.

And then I have notes that I send to people being like, Hey, here’s, you know, the link and all that. But also, here’s like an outline of our conversation. Like I really. Try to shape it. I, you know, I let things go kind of a little bit, but like I really try to have it in my head what it’s gonna be. And then I have on the other side of that is like my notes for it because I have, uh, different segments.

Like I do, I always start with the system reboot, which is just like three silly questions and like, they don’t get to know what it is, but it needs to be on my host notes and I have like a big document being like, okay. When was the last time I used this question? Because like as much as I would love to come up with completely unique questions for every single person, sometimes there’s gonna be a couple people that got asked, what’s your favorite or most used emoji?

Like if I can’t think of a third question, and it’s like, so I have like a spreadsheet that I’m kind of like, okay, this is over here, this is over here. [00:16:00] And I guess for me, the admin side of it too is also like the social media part of it and like. I wanna get a lot more intentional on like posting about it, posting clips, and I am going audio only for season two.

Colie: Okay.

Julie: I, I don’t have the money to spend on a video set up, and I don’t wanna be camera ready. I don’t care. So like, if I was a celebrity and somebody was paying me to sit in a studio, okay, fine, I’ll do video, but like, no. 

I’m out. 

Colie: I mean, I wonder if, ’cause there are lots of people that record the video but don’t actually produce a video podcast.

I’m 

Julie: So that’s what I’m doing. 

’cause I don’t wanna talk over 

Colie: not eliminating 

Julie: see them. Yeah. Yeah. I’m just not putting it out there.

Colie: Okay. Because then you can still have the video of your guests in case

Julie: Yeah. In case they want it. Yeah. 

Colie: on the [00:17:00] internet, on the

Julie: Yeah. And I’ve had people before be like, well, can I have like the raw footage? Like if I wanna post clips? And I’m like, sure. I don’t.

Colie: Mm-hmm. Look at you. I mean, and you, you hate social media though, right, Julie? I mean, you’re

enjoying it for the 

podcast. 

Julie: it. I mean, I like it as far as like, I like watching stories and scrolling and see what’s going on, but like just. The, I guess, art of social media. I’m just very bad at like, I have never kept up with trends. I don’t post reels. I not just that I don’t post them because I’m like, oh, it takes so longer.

I have to figure this out. Like literally, it would take me like four hours. Like I’m so elderly, I don’t even know where to go to hit. Like start real or play. Like, no, absolutely not. I’m too elderly. I’m too cantankerous. Get off my lawn on reels.

Colie: I mean, I stopped posting ’em. But I will say like in the last, ’cause I have completely abandoned my Instagram, but I would [00:18:00] say in the last year and a half that I, I was actively posting to Instagram. It was nothing but podcast content. It was nothing related to my business. It was

just the repurposed content.

And at the end of the day, I looked at my feed and I’m like. No offense, Julia. It’s full of white people. Like this is really weird that, I mean, and don’t get me wrong, I don’t just have white people on my podcast, but like I

just looked at it one day and I was like, okay, not only is it not me, but it’s it, I, I don’t know.

I got a really like weird vibe. And so what I did

that 

day, or it might’ve been the next day, is I went and I basically. Unpublished un whatevered my entire feed. Like, what, what was it? 12 years? 12 years of content. I

Julie: Woo. 

Colie: took, me a hot minute. Took a couple hours. But I basically got rid of everything and we are still producing the short form videos, but now we’re just sharing them on YouTube when they’re appropriate.

Occasionally I will share one on threads,

but again, it’s very 

rare because it felt really weird to me at the end of the day [00:19:00] to like go and look at my feed, which, I mean, my business is a personal brand business

and I was nowhere on there. I mean, even though I had some. Reels that were from the podcast, it just, it didn’t feel good.

It felt really weird. And so I was like, no, this is, I don’t need to do this anymore. We’re just gonna get rid of this. 

Julie: So a piece of season two and some moving forward stuff and me trying to get my butt on social media more and people are like, ah, I gotta get on TikTok. And I don’t know,

Colie: I mean, your stuff would do well on TikTok,

Julie: that’s what people say. Honestly, if I hadn’t had a, like a breakdown in Ben Comatose during the pandemic, I really think I could have capitalized and now been like an internet like weird comedian video person.

Colie: yes.

Julie: all of these things, like sometimes like, like our nanny who is young, like 26, like sometimes sends me videos and she’s like, you do this voice, you do this. I’m just like, 

I know. 

Colie: can we just talk [00:20:00] about the fact that your nanny is 26 and you think that’s young. We’re so old, Julie.

Julie: Well, she is like in the grand scheme of things, she’s still like in the first quarter of her life, basically.

Colie: I mean, but also like when I think of

Julie: Oh yeah. No, she’s a youth. 

Colie: 22. Like, do you know what I mean? Like our

perspective is changing now that we’re older.

Julie: I am currently accepting, uh, A A RP sponsorships if they want to get at me.

Colie: I am dying, Julie, I mean, and I’m older than you. I mean, sometimes I go into rooms. And it’s really funny to me, like I was at a, I think I’ve already said this on the podcast, but I was at Sabrina Gbb Hart’s Mastermind alumni dinner in, um. Palm Springs earlier this year, and one of the attendees said something to the effect of, oh, but I’m the oldest person at the table.

And I didn’t even hold my tongue when I was like, bitch, how old are you? I mean, I, I think in my mind, that’s what I said. I

don’t know that I called her that word, but I certainly thought it. And when she told us how old she [00:21:00] was, I laughed and I’m like, everybody at this table is older than you than one person. One person is younger than you at this table. I mean, because you know, you just, you never know. But also.

Julie: Yeah.

Colie: Like, that’s a whole conversation for a different day about how some of us, particularly photographers, um, you eventually age out of like

your current customers, right? Because, you know, as the children grow, they need less pho, uh, less photos.

And

then if you’re just continuously photographing the same people and they start coming less and less and you’re not marketing for new people, your, your client list gets, you know, dwindled down pretty

Julie: Yeah. 

Colie: I know we just got on a whole weird tangent about being old, but let’s, let’s bring it back to this podcast, Julie. So your goals for season two are

audio only. 

Julie: Yes. 

Audio 

only. 

Colie: to be on social media more, perhaps a little TikTok in your life, which you

should talk to Sabrina Gehart because she is currently on TikTok

and she refuses to do anything [00:22:00] business there.

And so she’s finding it very enjoyable in a way that she hasn’t felt, uh, about Instagram in quite some time. So that’s probably a

Julie: I love that.

Colie: have.

Julie: Yeah, so that’s kind of my twofold goal with this, that like I had, I had this idea while I was sitting at the conference and I walked over during a break and I said to Hailey, Hey, what if I did this? And she goes, oh my God, you have to do that. And the other person I have told is like one of the people who’s gonna, I come on season two, which is Tia Goff.

Colie: I love Tia. 

We 

Julie: had the idea, I know I had the idea because of her, because she is like a consummate host, like constantly throwing like theme parties, dinner parties, all those things. So we’re talking, we’re gonna do an episode about hosting, and that inspired me to be like, what if I learned one thing from each person?

Like not a huge [00:23:00] thing. Not something insane. But what, like if it was somebody that came on and talked about a recipe or some meal planning tip, or somebody talked about some exercise tip, like how they get more steps in their day or just like something like that. Like, and then what if I just did it? What if I did it and I documented it?

Colie: And you put it on TikTok. I’m sorry. That’s where I, I assumed you were going. This would be, okay. So the series girls are gonna like. Uh, they’re gonna attack you now, right? Not attack as in a

Julie: Oh no. 

Colie: they’re gonna flock to you. There we go. That’s a

different 

Julie: that’s a good way of 

Colie: Yeah. They’re gonna flock to you because I feel like

Julie: I love a serious moment. 

Colie: Yes, exactly.

People are really talking about content series in a way that they haven’t before. You know, whether it’s an extended one that you’re doing every week, every

other week, every month, or if it’s something that you’re gonna record, like a certain number, like, I’m gonna record 20, blah, blah, blah.

Whatever the blah, blah, blah is.

But no, I could totally see this as like a series that would take out for you and then you get the opportunity to pitch your podcast as like the part [00:24:00] one. And hey, if you would like to, you know, hear the 

Julie: Oh, that’s great. Yeah. 

Colie: person, natural lead in back to your podcast. You do have to do this, Julie.

Julie: Oh yeah. 

Yeah. 

Colie: Okay, So let’s get, let’s. 

Julie: I’m, also just saying it out loud so someone holds me accountable and is like, 

Colie: and you know 

Julie: get on there. 

Colie: We will make this go live after you have started doing this. So, you know, stay tuned. Let’s talk about advertisers. So what are

you looking for in an advertiser?

Julie: Money. the thing,

Just kidding.

Colie: oh my God, the way that I just belly laughed at you saying that because. For those of us that have podcasts that are

basically to promote our own services,

like I just run my own ads, right? I’m

constantly talking about my services. I, we’ve really slacked off on this. Hey Haylee, if you’re listening to this, we should put the ads back in the episodes.

[00:25:00] [00:26:00] 

Colie: I mean, for a while I had an ad at the beginning. I had an ad at the end. One of the reasons that I switched to Captivate as my podcast host was the. Ease of putting an ad in the middle of the episode and then we just stopped doing it for a while. But what are you looking for [00:27:00] in terms of advertisers?

’cause I will say, I hope that you’re gonna go, and I think you are, because again, you like curating everything about

your podcast, but nothing pisses me off faster than the people that are doing those advertising programs where you don’t know what’s gonna be on your podcast.

And 

I’ll 

Julie: get those Ashley Madison ass.

Colie: I mean, so the ones that I get that really like piss me off are the car dealership ads.

I’ll be

driving and I’ll be listening to a podcast and all of a sudden there’s like a, a car dealership for like the Mazda around the corner from my house, and I’m like, oh, that’s weird. Am I listening to the radio? And I, no, it’s the podcast episodes. And I’m just like, it’s so abrupt. the, the the what, what, what should I say?

The volume level between the ads and the people are never the same. And so

like there were some times that I’m listening and it’s like all of a sudden blaring and I mean, I practically wreck my car

trying to turn the volume down so that,

Julie: guys, podcasts can [00:28:00] be deadly. 

Colie: Yes.

Julie: We need safety on podcasts.

Colie: so what are you looking for in advertisers?

Like what would make it an easy yes.

Julie: Um, I mean, definitely something that I already utilize. I’m gonna pitch Flodesk, for me, there’s a lot of like other things out there that I’m like, what? Like aligns with my life right now. Like there are certain things, like there are several companies out there. Like I, I won’t like say a name in case I go with someone else, but like there are several companies out there that you know, do like pick up, drop off laundry services.

That’s a system right there for laundry. Why wouldn’t I wanna incorporate that? Like, busy people are listening to my podcast. You know, or meal service, like meal delivery services or, specific like business or like kid related, like subscription boxes or like, something to do with like reading but yeah, it’s just definitely [00:29:00] like.

Things that would feel very intentional. And I have someone, who like, she’s like a bigger person. I had to go through her agent and I pitched her agent and I, they said yes. And I was like, ah. And so I’m gonna try, she’s kind of an influencer on Instagram. I mean, that’s not like what her job is, but that is just also how she brings in income.

And I’m gonna pitch several of the companies that she 

Colie: She talks about. 

Julie: for. Because I’m like, well, that’s a tie-in, right. 

So we’ll 

Colie: all of this sounds super exciting, Julie. I’m like so proud of you for first of all,

you.

know, 

publishing, making it live and. I really enjoy the fact that your podcast is your creative outlet. And so I’m gonna ask you like one final question to make sure that I hit this.

Julie: Okay. 

Colie: Do you have any kind of, I hate to call it safeguards.

Do you have any safe

words? Do you have anything in

Julie: pine Cone. 

Colie: Yeah. To where you are gonna make sure that the podcast [00:30:00] doesn’t become a drain on your mental health or that it still

is your creative outlet?

Julie: yeah. Yeah, a hundred percent. So like right now, like. You know, wedding world, our April and May are so insane. I mean, back to, back, to back like destination weddings. And so for me, like taking a break, like I’m taking a break right now is, has been like. Great. ’cause it also then gave me time to just think and brainstorm.

I never like planned to do like seasons and technically my first season was like 47 episodes. Quite 

Colie: I don’t even do seasons. Mine is continuous, so I

Julie: Yeah. No, that was my plan, but I was like, I need a second to not even think about it. And that’s why I’m also running some reruns now, like for, i’m running eight weeks of reruns because I was like, I also did not give some of these incredible people that took the time to come on my podcast.

I did [00:31:00] not then give them their flowers on social media or promote the episode in a way that I did with other ones. And that feels very unfair and unacceptable to me. And so I was like, I need to like go back and like kind of like refresh some things. Really, I need to get a system in place, like a full social media system.

Colie: then, you know what? You can come back on my podcast and talk about that system. There you

go. I mean, I will also say, I love that you are doing the replays and that you’re doing these things, but I wanna bring it back to that idea

that you had about learning one thing from each of your guests and implementing it.

I mean, those could be your filler episodes, like

Julie: a hundred percent. 

Colie: okay.

Julie: Yeah. Then those could be also like, you know, just short and solo episodes and stuff, or extra episodes or, you know, I have this, this secret pipe dream and I say secret pipe dream, just because I feel like if I say it’s a real dream, people will be like, it can’t do [00:32:00] that. Which is to eventually have some sort of monetary thing from systems.

Like, whether it’s like a Patreon or a Substack and like I also have, you know, some bonus podcast episodes in there. I have specific templates and systems for moms, for families, like, and, and because I am a relatively new mom, like that is like where my passion extremely lies right now. And my biggest thing with that is like a already totally saturated.

Colie: Mm-hmm.

Julie: Uh, that exists. That’s not, uh, I, I’m not like 

coming up with this concept from the ground. That is so nice. Thank you. 

And then the, the other thing is, which I, if you know Kelly from with Grace and Gold, she and I actually recently talked about this because somebody had said to her on a video, like, ’cause she was saying like something like, oh, my kid did this and this and this, whatever.

And somebody’s like, wait till you have three. And she was like, why are you. Like invalidating my one child [00:33:00] and we’re one and done. 

We, we 

Colie: my kid’s 15 we’re we’re one and done. We’ve been one and done

for quite some time. Julie, no. 

Julie: announcement.

Colie: be no surprises. Don’t you worry about that. We took care of that. Uh, when I turned 40, we took care of

Julie: Well, 

Colie: like, until then if we had an oops baby. ’cause

I mean we had very difficult infertility.

All the, all the

things that we don’t need to end an episode on.

But it was really funny because when I named my photography business, ’cause Colie Janes is a completely made up name. I mean, Colie is my nickname, but

that is not my name. In real life. And I originally wanted to name my business, Chloe Reese Photography.

And everybody at that time was like, no, you can’t name your business after your child. When you have another child, they’ll feel slighted. And I was like, I’m not having another

child now. We went until we were 40, and if we were gonna have a oops baby, great. But we couldn’t put forth the same effort for child number two that we put forth for child number one.

And it didn’t happen naturally, and that’s okay. [00:34:00] But we have closed that door, Julie. There will be no surprises. Just so that you know, you will never get that message from me. Like, oh my God, Julie, you were right. No, sorry. That’ll never happen.

Julie: We, you know, we would, we infertility issues as well, and we adopted and adoption, my baby was very expensive to buy and so, you know, not really in the carts to buy a second. but, but also we just like, are so in love with our life right now. And like, yeah, maybe in like 30 years I’ll be like, Hey, I wish, but like, I’m not.

I’m not going to have another kid just for a maybe, like, 

you know, I just, I’m so happy. I was an only child. I loved it. I’m clearly amazing and thrive.

Colie: You are amazing. I need you to stop that. But also it’s a real thing because now I’m starting to feel, I’m just gonna tell you this, you’re, you don’t have

to feel guilty later ’cause you’re an only child.

I’m not an only child. I am one of.

Many [00:35:00] depending on what kind of conversation you wanna have. And my husband is one of four,

and so I am starting to get to the point where I’m like, you know, I wish it had been in the cards.

It was not. I mean, don’t, don’t get me wrong. I’m very happy that my child is here. She was great. She was very expensive, and I did not buy her. I mean, you know, I mean. It wasn’t that we ended up paying that much for her. We had really great insurance, but at

the end of the 

day, like without good insurance, I

definitely couldn’t afford another Chloe if I

had any of the same 

Julie: Oh yeah. 

Colie: time. But I mean, you know, we are very happy with our life and. You’ll understand this. Once your kid goes to school, once you get past that diaper bridge, there is no one that is like, oh yeah, bring me back the diapers. Like, no,

like we’ve we’ve gotten, they’re in school, we have our life back. Like all of the things and we’re like, yeah, let’s just, let’s just go with this.

I

mean, you know what?

Julie: Mm-hmm.

Colie: I know you have a system for everything related to adoption. You should have one related to being an only child. Like what does that [00:36:00] mean in terms of getting your child the interaction that they need And like, ’cause that was my only concern with having one child way back when, was how do I make sure that she gets

what 

Julie: am literally writing this 

Colie: Okay. When she doesn’t have someone else in the household. Um, and then also. If you wanted to like do another episode about later in life, like what is the system for taking care of your parents

when you’re an only child? So yeah, that would be great. I’d.

Julie: Oh my God, that’s such a good idea. Uh, that’s absolutely happening. Yeah, but like, I just, you know, the, the secret pipe dream, like there’s so many moms that have made it their identity. Not just identity, but like brand, like, I’m not gonna say her name ’cause I’m not going to get sued, but like. I’m obviously making fun of a very popular influencer right now.

You know who it is, mama? Five boys and like that’s, you know, people’s brand and I’m like, yeah, [00:37:00] no, I get that. There’s more systems than logistics, like when you added in more children. But like that doesn’t mean, I don’t know, systems for how to like meal plan for my child and how to apply for school and how to pick summer camps.

Colie: Oh my gosh. 

Julie: have to do all those 

Colie: on summer camps yet? 

Julie: No, not yet, but that is on my lengthy list. There are certain ones that I’m like, don’t touch them until you also experience them.

Colie: I mean, and if you want

a second perspective, when you do that, when you holler at me, I mean here it’s like, it’s funny, like when people are, I mean, here in Boulder County, I don’t know if it’s this way everywhere. I, I get the feeling that it

is, but like our camps are super expensive and they go on sale in like January, and

if you are not online, the moment that they released, they are all gone.

I mean, there were a couple years that I forgot to set. Little timer, and then I was like, oh my God, what am I gonna do with my child? Because I can’t send her, I mean,

art camp was her favorite. And yes, one, one time I went six hours too late and [00:38:00] everything was gone.

Julie: Oh

Colie: Yeah, it was at that, that summer was rough girl.

Actually, that was when we discovered sports camp and then she loved sports camp, but like that was also, I had a lot of mom guilt about

the fact that like, I couldn’t give her her art camp, which she was already talking about. She was already like wanting to do, I’m like, I’m sorry mommy was busy. I don’t know what else to say. Alright, so now that we’ve talked about everything under the sun, I feel like the only way to close this and you know, it’s not that I’m trying to like put a spotlight on you and be like, tell me who your favorite person is. But

out of all of the episodes that you’ve recorded, do you have one that is like your absolute favorite, that if someone wanted to dive into the podcast and listen to it for the first time, this is the episode that you should listen to.

Julie: yeah, uh, a couple. 

So one is I did an episode with Tyler Moore, also known as at Tidy [00:39:00] Dad on Instagram. That was one that, that one was really big for me because that was like a huge, like, oh my God, he has so many followers. I can’t believe I got him. And I got him because I just like did a story where I was like, Hmm, these are like my top 10 dream guests right now.

And he messaged me and 

Colie: and he messaged you, girl, 

Julie: and he said, I’ll do it. Let me know. And I was like. 

I 

had so much fun because not only is he like systems, but he’s just very interesting and like he’s also a huge Bravo fan. So we were just like, he had just gone to Bravocon. We were Bravo talking and one of my favorite ones is it was an early episode, the system for maintaining adult friendships.

Colie: Yes.

Julie: Um, and I did that with my girlfriend Lauren Smart, who I have been friends with for 20 years now, maybe more, maybe 21. And she and I very much so have [00:40:00] like, not within our friendship, but like just ebbed and flowed in our lives and we have very different lives, like where our lives have ended up.

And it was just like really fun to talk about, like, how do you really, not just. Make new friends as an adult, but like 

sustain the friendships that you have. So I would say those are a couple of my favorites.

Colie: and those are really good personal episodes, so I’m really glad that

you, you, chose those to share. So guys. This has been a very different episode. Like I said, we barely talked about business. I mean, just a little sprinkle here and there. But Julie is someone that I have been wanting to have on the podcast for a really long time

because I don’t listen to a lot of podcasts that are not like business.

I listen to podcasts and I am constantly in. Fired by what other people talk about in order to think of new things in my business, experiment, all of the things. And yours is one of the only podcasts that I just listened to it just because I [00:41:00] enjoy you and now I know the guest that you are secretly curating, like to the max.

And so, I mean, all of that is amazing. I really do hope that you guys go and you listen to the two episodes that Julie talked about. I mean, I’m gonna link my episode on her podcast

in the show notes as well. But like, I feel like a lot of what Julie and I talked about, in that episode are things that you guys have heard me say in the past, but also she asked me really like, insightful different questions.

Oh, and you know

what? We should mention what we talked about at the end because she likes to ask these. Very curated questions for her guests. And so we talked about systems for Disney.

Julie: Yes, I do. I always do a system shutdown and initially it was just gonna be full on nonsense, like me being like, I watched this episode of TV and here’s how I feel about it. But then I was recording episodes like four or five months before it came out and I was 

like, nobody cares that I read that book. And so. I, I tried. I I still keep it very [00:42:00] silly. You know, let’s end on a light note. Especially if it’s been a heavier episode, you know, ’cause I’ve done heavier episodes, you know, like the adoption story and things like that. , But, yeah, I like to do the, the system shutdown. And I think I did like, you know, five systems for Disneyland 

with 

Colie: talked about the bathrooms, guys. I mean, seriously, it was a really good episode. You should go listen to it. But all of that being said, Julie, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today. I mean, I, I knew I was gonna enjoy this. This conversation, but I definitely, you know, enjoyed it to the max.

And guys, I usually give you guys tips for like what you should do with what we talked about in this episode and apply it towards your business. I’m

gonna 

Julie: go find some joy.

Colie: You know what? I’m glad that Julie said that. What I was going to say was I really hope that you guys can find something as your creative outlet, just like Julie has with her podcast.

And if you need ideas, I mean, both of us are here. I mean, mine is definitely Disney. And now I’ve, I’ve, oh my gosh, Julie, I wanna talk about the systems for going on a Disney cruise. Oh my [00:43:00] God. Oh, she’s scribbling it down, guys. All right, 

Julie: Yeah, I’ve done very little like episodes. On travel. I have a ton of like travel idea ones. Like I wanna know, I wanna know how you pack your kid. That’s carry on. What’s in that? I wanna know how people are navigating credit cards to like 

Colie: Yes. 

Julie: at, airport lounges. 

Colie: You should have a whole series on travel.

Julie: yeah, no, for sure. The thing is I’m just, I hate travel, like I’m a horrible traveler.

I hate it. I love visiting my couch. It’s my favorite place in the world. and so that’s a little hard for me. I’m very interested in it. Like,

this is embarrassing, but I’ll say it anyway. when we were in our panel groups this year at Laylee’s conference, something came up where somebody was like, what kind of content do you like watching? And like, I happened to go first. And I was like, Ugh, I could watch a Costco haul for days and I don’t even have a Costco card.

And people were like, that’s, we meant [00:44:00] like business related. And I was like, again, I could watch a Costco hall for days.

Colie: You’re like I said, what? I said, I’m not changing my mind,

Julie: There’s just like things that I watch and I’m just like, oh, I’m fascinated by that.

Colie: Oh, Julie, you know what? You know what? I’m gonna tell you this and we’re gonna wrap this up. So my sister, I mean, I think, I’m sorry sister, I’m not gonna name which one so that she can kind of still stay anonymous. I have many sisters. I have one particular sister who likes to watch, people doing their receipts like. I, I don’t even know what to call it. It’s like they’re going through

Julie: Like balancing their checkbook. 

Colie: Balancing their checkbook or just talking about their expenses. Oh, I know what it is. It’s budgeting. She likes to watch the videos where people are telling you how much money they made, what they budgeted, what was left over.

Julie: Oh yeah, no, I’m super into that too.

Colie: Yeah. I, I

mean, but like you listen to it and I’m like, okay, that could be something to put me to sleep, but also,

Julie: it’s like part of it is so [00:45:00] interesting and part of it is so stupid and wonderfully disassociative.

Colie: Okay,

so you, you and my sister, you know what? Y’all live in the same, uh, metroplex. Maybe I should let y’all meet.

she’s 

Julie: let’s hang out. 

Colie: closer to you in age than me. I mean, uh, no, her child is, you know, her, her child is 11, almost 12,

Julie: Great. I 

need a 

babysitter. 

Colie: So, and again, she’s one and done as well, and so, oh, I guess I did just out which sister that was.

Oh, well. Um, okay, Julie, 

so. 

Julie: I think you’re cool, sister. Don’t even think you’re a weirdo. You’re cool.

Colie: you know what y’all, I don’t even have anything to close this episode. Alright, that’s it for this episode. See you next time.