Step into the world of intentional business spaces as Amanda Dare welcomes Brigid, founder of The Root coworking space in New Albany, Indiana. What began as a simple workspace has blossomed into something far more meaningful – a community hub, business incubator, and support system for entrepreneurs across Southern Indiana.

Brigid shares her fascinating journey from college basketball player to business owner, revealing how she and her father (a former dentist) transformed a historic 1859 building into a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their mission? "To show the business world what love looks like" by creating a space where people can connect, collaborate, and grow.

The conversation explores the delicate balance of being "the vase that holds the flowers" – creating containers for others to flourish while building your own vision. You'll hear how The Root's vendor network functions as a concierge service for business owners, connecting them with everything from legal help to marketing support without leaving the building.

Amanda and Brigid also discuss the power of women-owned business communities, particularly in small towns like New Albany, and how these networks create opportunities for everyone involved. They share practical wisdom about funding models (including rent-to-own arrangements), designing spaces that inspire creativity, and the importance of flexible membership options that accommodate different working styles.

Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking community, a business owner looking to expand your network, or simply curious about the transformative power of intentional spaces, this conversation offers valuable insights on creating environments where people and businesses can put down roots and thrive.

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Two women are redefining how we teach children about complex emotional topics through the power of storytelling. Meet Amanda and Kim, the creative force behind Little Loving Lessons, whose friendship-turned-business partnership is creating ripples of positive change in children's education.

Amanda brings her expertise as a behavioral health therapist for children and families, having recognized a critical gap in resources while working with young clients. When she couldn't find appropriate materials to teach a four-year-old the concept of "want to versus have to," she didn't just complain—she created a solution. Meanwhile, Kim, a mother of two with a marketing background who learned about mental health from Amanda, had quietly held a dream of becoming a published author.

Their serendipitous collaboration has produced a collection of thoughtfully illustrated books addressing everything from anxiety to school transitions. Take their turtle story that teaches children about necessary behaviors versus desires, which Kim uses successfully with her own daughter to navigate morning routines without power struggles. Or "Forrest Fran," a character based on Amanda's childhood growing up in Jefferson Memorial Forest, who goes to school on "City Planet" and learns to manage anxiety while celebrating differences.

What makes their approach truly special is their commitment to diversity and representation, ensuring children from all backgrounds can see themselves in these stories. As Amanda explains, "We want this to be intentional, relatable lessons showing kids from different communities, different ethnicities, races and different socioeconomic environments." This inclusive philosophy extends to their business model too, where they prioritize community connection over profit margins.

Now, they're embarking on an exciting collaboration with Woman-Owned Wallet to create a children's book featuring Penny the Piggy Bank, designed to help children develop healthy relationships with money from an early age. Their vision continues to expand, with dreams of a physical location housing a bookstore, event space, and even therapy offices.

Ready to introduce the little ones in your life to stories that teach, heal and celebrate differences? Discover Little Loving Lessons at littlelovinglessons.com and follow their journey on Instagram @littlelovinglessons—because sometimes the most powerful lessons come wrapped in the gentlest stories.

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What happens when two marketplace founders decide to collaborate rather than compete? Magic, community, and economic empowerment.

Amanda Dare welcomes Nachand Trabue from MELANnaire Marketplace for a heartwarming conversation about building economic opportunities for marginalized communities. Their friendship began when they met at an award ceremony and instantly recognized each other as "salt and pepper on the same table" - complementary forces working toward similar goals with different focuses.

While Woman-Owned Wallet empowers women entrepreneurs and MELANnaire Marketplace champions Black and Brown-owned businesses with their "Spend Your Green on Black" initiative, their missions align perfectly around economic justice. Both women launched their platforms during 2020's pandemic and civil unrest, responding to urgent community needs they witnessed firsthand. The conversation reveals how their approach isn't about charity but about recognizing the inherent value and potential of underrepresented business owners.

Nachand shares exciting developments about the MELANnaire Achievement Center Academy, a retail academy helping Black entrepreneurs scale from market tables to major retail shelves. Their graduates are already appearing in stores like Publix and Kroger, demonstrating the tangible impact of combining marketplace opportunities with targeted business education. The women discuss how using your "wallet power" intentionally becomes a powerful form of everyday activism and allyship that creates ripple effects throughout communities.

Ready to make your spending more intentional? Follow both Woman-Owned Wallet and MELANnaire Marketplace on social media to discover amazing businesses owned by women and people of color. Your dollars aren't just transactions – they're votes for the kind of world you want to live in. Listen now to be inspired to shop with purpose!

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