Episodes

Mary and Melissa wrap up the Toast & Jam 20th Anniversary series with a little perspective, and a lot of gratitude. After 20 years in the wedding industry, they reflect on what it means to build a career around something they genuinely love: music, creativity, and making people dance. Have a question or thought for Mary? Leave us a voicemail for your chance to be featured on the show: https://www.allupinmyladybusiness.com/voicemail/ Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, then c...

Mary and Melissa are back for Part 2 of the Toast & Jam 20th Anniversary Q&A, and they’re bringing even more behind-the-scenes tea from 20 years in the wedding trenches. They chat about how the business has evolved, the growing pains, the wild ride of entrepreneurship, and the importance of strong relationships while building the biz. Have a question or thought for Mary? Leave us a voicemail for your chance to be featured on the show: https://www.allupinmyladybusiness.com/voicemail/ Don’t forge...

Melissa joins Mary to celebrate 20 years of Toast & Jam! They reveal the scrappy origin story, relive some truly unhinged wedding moments, and spill brand-building secrets that turned a side hustle into a staple. Along the way, they get real about authenticity, representation, and carving out space in an industry that hasn’t always offered female DJs the aux cord. Have a question or thought for Mary? Leave us a voicemail for your chance to be featured on the show: https://www.allupinmyladybusin...

Mary teams up with data queen Jean Clipperton to do what the internet has been trying to do for years: scientifically analyze Taylor Swift’s feelings. Yes, we’re talking spreadsheets, sentiment analysis, and emotional algorithms applied to pop’s most dissected discography. Because if anyone deserves peer-reviewed heartbreak, it’s Taylor. Mary and Jean dive into why studying women in music actually matters, how computational tools can map emotional landscapes across albums, and Taylor’s sacred an...

Legendary music journalist Jessica Hopper joins Mary to unpack the cultural shift that was Lilith Fair and why it still matters. They dig into Jessica’s journey through music journalism, the making of the Lilith Fair documentary, and how a festival led by women somehow became radical just by existing. It’s a love letter to community, a reality check on progress, and a reminder that women in music have always been the movement, whether the industry was ready or not. You can watch “Lilith Fair: B...

On today’s AUIMLB, we’re talking breathwork, body awareness, and the emotional side of pain with Katie Tomaszewski. Mary & Katie explore how tuning into your body can ease chronic pain, spark euphoric emotional releases, and boost mental clarity. The conversation also tackles the impact of social media on mental health, the importance of community support, and reflections on life and death that can deepen personal growth. To learn more about Katie’s business, visit her website: deeplinehealth....

In this episode of 'All Up in My Lady Business', Mary goes SOLAMENTE, answering questions sent in by listeners right off the dome. From musical influences growing up to the hard lessons learned in business, she shares insights on her life, balancing motherhood with her career (anyone else hate that phrase?), and her evolving definition of success. It’s a raw, funny, off-the-cuff deep dive into her personal and professional journey. Here’s the link to Mary’s short bio. Don’t forget to subscrib...

Mary is joined by Jen Martensen as they dive into all things women, work, and making it happen. From the power of community support for moms (because no one does this alone) to Jen’s bold leap from corporate life into consulting, the conversation is packed with real talk and practical insight. They break down why financial management and bookkeeping aren’t just “nice to have” for small businesses—they’re essential—and unpack the unique challenges women face while building and sustaining business...

On Today’s episode, Melissa Riddle (operations wizard at Toast and Jam) spills the tea on her business journey, from running her own show to joining someone else’s. She and Mary get real about the whiplash of going from entrepreneur life to team life, the highs and hiccups of working closely together, and why complementary skills (and mutual respect) are the secret sauce to making it all work. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, then come hang with us on Instagram & X! Have...

We are back after an impromptu hiatus! In this episode, Mary reflects on the process of battling imposter syndrome, taking a new approach to her business, and rediscovering why DJing lights her up. With honesty, humor, and a little hard-earned wisdom, Mary dives into the realities of entrepreneurship, the weight of the world around us, and why community, growth, and doing what actually brings you joy matter more than ever. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, then come hang w...

In the chaotic world we live in, it is increasingly difficult to lead healthy, slow-paced lives. Today, we are discussing the positive impact of yoga, meditation, and functional nutrition on so many people’s lives. Joining us in this conversation is the epitome of a ‘connector’, Claire Mark. Claire is a yoga teacher, meditation leader, and certified functional nutrition coach who is passionate about health, wellness, and fitness. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Claire’s life, working in television,...

In the chaotic world we live in, it is increasingly difficult to lead healthy, slow-paced lives. Today, we are discussing the positive impact of yoga, meditation, and functional nutrition on so many people’s lives. Joining us in this conversation is the epitome of a ‘connector’, Claire Mark. Claire is a yoga teacher, meditation leader, and certified functional nutrition coach who is passionate about health, wellness, and fitness. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Claire’s life, working in television,...

Running a business is incredibly complex and there are many ways a company can fail. Today on All Up In My Lady Business, we are joined by business coach, Loraine Hardin to discuss how the implementation of EOS can secure a company’s success. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how Loraine’s entrepreneurial family inspired her to become a coach, how she found EOS, why fear and scarcity should be replaced with love and abundance, the importance of hiring the right people in the right spots in your b...

Today on the show, we welcome the remarkable Sheila Buswell, Co-Founder and CEO of Buswell Biomedical. This pioneering company develops cutting-edge rehabilitation solutions, including the innovative UPMO™, an AI-controlled system that enables patients in rehabilitation hospitals to perform daily activities independently, traditionally requiring assistance from healthcare workers. Sheila is also the author of the insightful book Is This Seat for Me: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Everyday Life ...

We all loved the Pitch Perfect movies but did you know that they were inspired by a real collegiate Acapella competition? Today on All Up In My Lady Business we are joined by the owner of Varsity Vocals, the brains behind the biggest Acapella college competition, and queen of Acapella herself, Amanda Newman! In this conversation, you’ll hear all about how Amanda found her love for Acapella, how her competitive background led her to transform her college Acapella group, what led her to take over ...

Things have changed drastically for women since I grew up and it is interesting to take a look at what has improved and what still needs work! Today, my sister Jennifer DelMonaco gets all up in my lady business as she joins us for this episode to discuss her career, how our upbringings differed despite being raised by the same parents, what Taylor Swift has taught us, women’s relationships with their aging appearances, and so much more! Tuning in, you’ll hear about Jen’s makeup career and how it...

Divorce can often be shrouded in complexity and uncertainty, leading down a messy, prolonged, and frustrating path. It's crucial to ensure you have the right legal representation on both sides to navigate towards a smooth and amicable resolution. Joining us to shed light on family law, divorce proceedings, and more is Shaska Dice, a partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP. Shaska specializes in representing high net-worth clients in various family law matters, including divorce, custody, and pos...

Crafting a life that caters to essential needs while radiating into a fulfilling lifestyle ignited the entrepreneurial spirit of today’s remarkable guest. Joining Mary on the show today is Jana Kinsman, a beekeeper and an illustrator from here in Chicago. You’ll learn more about Jana’s companies, Bike a Bee and Doodlebooth, how she transitioned from corporate, and what got her started in beekeeping! She recounts how her involvement in the Chicago design scene has since opened numerous doors and ...

We are all shaped by our upbringing, and the coping mechanisms we adopt as young children can often follow us into adulthood, influencing our relationships with our own spouses and children. So how can we learn to identify these invisible patterns and write a new future for ourselves? Our guest today, Dr. Gertrude Lyons, has spent the bulk of her career pondering these questions in her quest to help both herself and others. She is a coach, educator, and founder of the groundbreaking podcast, Rew...

GTM, RevOps, the truth behind the numbers of the American economy – these are some of the things that had us confused, that is, until we had a chat with Jessica Schultz, the Founder & CEO of Amplify Group – a company that provides founder-led sales enablement, supports founder-led sales transitions, and accelerates GTM & RevOps maturity for startups. Jess is a people connector, angel investor, speaker, and consultant with a rich professional background spanning finance, banking, and sales. After...

Claire Zulkey is a writer and the Founder of the Substack, Evil Witches. She is also the Manager of the consulting firm, Inbox Collective. She joins the conversation today to share her story of finding success as a freelance writer, monetizing a newsletter, and prioritizing work according to a simple quadrant of priorities and values. Debating the merit of giving work away for free, we discuss the tricky world of freelance writing, keeping up with the latest social media platforms, and more. Fro...

We are responsible for the outcomes of our lives! During this episode of All Up In My Lady Business, founder and CEO of InspiHER Tech, Laurie Swanson joins us to tell us all about her unconventional path to coaching and her mission to help women become more tech-savvy. Tuning in, you’ll hear how Laurie’s mom encouraged her to become a tech person, an overview of her extensive career, starting her first business, navigating marriage and entrepreneurship as an addict, and how spiritual journeys he...

Finding your feet as a female entrepreneur in a patriarchal society is exceptionally difficult, and unfortunately, that has kept many women from pursuing this type of independent career path. Today on All Up In My Lady Business, the founder and CEO of the marketing firm Yakety Yack, Ashley Logan, joins us to discuss being a female entrepreneur and finding a way to balance out the world’s excessive masculine energy at the same time. Her earliest career experiences were clouded with misogyny and s...

What would it take for you to do just 10% more of what brings you joy? As an Alignment Coach for female entrepreneurs, today’s guest, Laura Aura, is all about guiding others so that they can learn to honor their energy and become attuned to what they truly want (rather than what they’ve been told they should want!) But it doesn’t stop there, Laura is also CEO of the acclaimed branding studio, Worx & Co, an author, speaker, all-round visionary, and host of a top 100 podcast, The Gutsy Podcast. In...