Podcast
Beyond Better with Stacy Ennis
Hosted by Stacy Ennis · EN
Beyond Better is a podcast that explores a simple but profound idea: we all deserve to live lives that are not just better—but beyond better. I’m Stacy Ennis, an author, mom of two, and long-time location independent entrepreneur living in Portugal. Join me as I talk business, location independence, writing, travel, and so much more, all focused on building a life that is beyond better.
31episodes
Episodes
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252. How mini retirements can transform your career, creativity, and life
1w ago00:49:33Tap to summarizeWhat if you didn't have to wait until the end of your life to rest, explore, and pursue the things that matter most to you? That's the question at the heart of this week's conversation—and honestly, it's one that has stayed with me long after we finished recording.My guest, Jillian Johnsrud, never expected to retire early. So instead, she made a plan to retire often. By 40, she had taken over a dozen mini retirements.In our conversation, we dig into what mini retirements actually look like in practice, how to overcome the very real challenges of planning, negotiating time off, and financing these breaks, and why intentional pauses can lead to more creativity, career clarity, and even higher earnings. We also talk about using mini-retirements as a low-risk way to test a new country before making a big move abroad—something close to my own heart.If you've ever felt like life is passing a little too fast, or that you're waiting for someday to finally live the way you want, this episode is for you.Get to know Jillian:WebsiteInstagram @jilianjohnsrudLinkedInYouTube @JilliansJohnsrudBook recommendation:The Icarus Deception, by Seth GodinFollow me on:Instagram @stacyennisFacebook @stacyenniscreativeLinkedInYouTube @stacyennisauthorTo submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
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251. Your message is bigger than you (and that's the point)
2w ago00:43:21Tap to summarizeWhat is a brand? A brand is how you show up to the world. It’s how you articulate your unique voice and expertise to clients. If you’re new to promoting your brand, you may wonder where or how to start.Join me as I talk with Luna Battalia, an expert on brand strategy and design, about the ins and outs of how to discover and refine your authentic brand voice. Building your brand can positively impact your business—from vetting great clients to enhancing client engagement—and you can do it in a way that reduces stress through clear, distinct messaging.Luna is a leadership mentor and the founder of Caru Creative, a full-spectrum creative brand studio, and the creator of Animist Branding, a psychology-driven approach to marketing shaped by her master’s in spiritual psychology and 15-plus years at the intersection of digital marketing and buyer behavior. She partners with leading mission-driven women entrepreneurs building a personal brand world that reflects the depth and impact they lead with. Luna’s all about building legacies over businesses and seeing women communicate the value they bring with bold, unignorable confidence.Listen to this episode to learn more about how to pave the way for improved sales efficiency, attracting just the right client, and enhancing client experience—even before signing on the dotted line.Show notes:Get Luna’s signature course Messenger | Master the Art of Being Heard. The course supports entrepreneurs with Brand Messaging, content creation, and copywriting through storytelling. Use the code BEYOND for 10% discount.Get to know Luna:WebsiteInstagram @lunabattaliaLinkedInBook recommendation:The Invitation, by Oriah Mountain DreamerFollow me on:Instagram @stacyennisFacebook @stacyenniscreativeLinkedInYouTube @stacyennisauthorTo submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
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250. Writing as a tool for clarity for your personal life and business
3w ago00:14:15Tap to summarizeIf you’ve followed me for very long, you know that I love books, especially because they inspire change and spark conversations. As a book coach, I get to help authors create frameworks that organize complex thoughts and help them communicate their message effectively in various contexts. Their writing creates a lasting influence that extends into their personal and professional realms.Join me as I talk about the internal and external impact of writing—from transforming confidence and self-expression to refining the presentation of ideas and engagement with audiences.If you’re interested in turning vague ideas into clear, purposeful messages, and moving into true thought leadership, you’ll love this episode.Follow me on:Instagram @stacyennisFacebook @stacyenniscreativeLinkedInYouTube @stacyennisauthorTo submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
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249. Choosing Portugal even when it’s hard: 3 struggles right now
4w ago00:16:11Tap to summarizeThis week on the podcast, I talk about three struggles I’m facing right now: two of which you’ve heard me talk about in the past, one of which might surprise you. But first, let me be very clear that I love Portugal. There are so many things I’m grateful for in this wonderful country.But no country is perfect, and I’m a human being, which means life is not struggle-free. Life is life wherever you live. In sharing the hard parts, I hope you’re able to see the full picture in your own life too—to be grateful and contented in your everyday, but to also acknowledge the challenges and navigate them with a mindset of choicefulness.We choose to be here in spite of the challenges. But that doesn’t mean I need to ignore the things that cause me strife. Join me as I share three things that I’m struggling with right now in Portugal.Follow me on:Instagram @stacyennisFacebook @stacyenniscreativeLinkedInYouTube @stacyennisauthorTo submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
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248. How to use storytelling to lead better and grow your business
Apr 1500:52:50Tap to summarizeStorytelling shapes decisions. We’ve all been affected by stories in one way or another because they carry emotion and move us to action. It makes sense that using narratives in business can provide the same deep connection with our customers.Today I am joined by Gavin McMahon, CEO and cofounder of fassforward, who has learned the power of storytelling. In our discussion, we cover the various storytelling genres and how they address different business needs—from motivating teams to building trust with customers. Stories create a deeper, more impactful communication that moves beyond mere facts, and as neurological evidence shows, the engagement they foster leads to motivation.Gavin McMahon helps companies shape strategy, leadership, and culture through storytelling. A former engineer who once built submarines, sports cars, and steel plants, Gavin discovered that even the best plans fail without the power of story. After earning an MBA in innovation, strategy, and information technology from the Institute Theseus in France, he shifted his focus from engineering to business transformation. He is the author of Story Business: Why Stories Rule the World and How They Can Reinvent Your Business.If you are interested in growing your business in a profound and impactful way, this insightful episode is for you.Get to know Gavin:WebsiteLinkedInBook recommendations:A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel, by Amor TowlesGates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae, by Steven PressfieldFollow me on:Instagram @stacyennisFacebook @stacyenniscreativeLinkedInYouTube @stacyennisauthorTo submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
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247. How to use AI ethically and legally in your book
Apr 800:24:14Tap to summarizeToday’s episode tackles a very hot topic: using AI in writing. Human authorship, our innate creativity, is crucial to impactful writing—and impactful living. Storytelling has existed for thousands of years and is an inherent part of our nature. We don’t want to limit our originality or risk uninspired outcomes, which is what happens when we depend on AI for content. AI can also create sticky legal issues, with publishers rejecting works with AI-created text due to copyright issues.Yet there is a way to use AI ethically and legally in the process of writing your book (all with caution, I might add). After you’ve come up with your outline, AI can help with research by finding relevant content without generating text. You can also use AI to enhance your marketing—with definite controls in place—by repurposing your original content. The key to these efforts is to avoid AI-generated text.Join me as I discuss essential points on how to use AI properly in your writing project and experience a richer and more productive writing journey.Instagram @stacyennisFacebook @stacyenniscreativeLinkedInYouTube @stacyennisauthorTo submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.Follow me on:
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246. Why your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect
Apr 100:07:38Tap to summarizeCompleting the first draft of a book is crucial, and you want your manuscript to be the best it can be. It’s hard not to stop and edit what you just wrote. You start backtracking by making little improvements here and there, and perfectionism starts to creep in. Your writing stalls and burnout becomes a real thing. Publishing seems so far away! How do you keep moving forward?Join me in this episode as I discuss essential approaches to maintaining writing momentum—like establishing a solid outline and saving revisions for after the draft is complete. Even gathering community support plays a vital role, especially when struggling with self-doubt and lagging commitment to accomplish what you started out to do. With the right approach, you can successfully reach your goal—and complete that first draft without perfection getting in the way.If you’re struggling with momentum, this episode will help you narrow your focus and get you back on track in your writing journey.Follow me on:Instagram @stacyennisFacebook @stacyenniscreativeLinkedInYouTube @stacyennisauthorTo submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
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245. How to protect your focus in a distracted world
Mar 2500:18:28Tap to summarizeThings feel heavy right now—and if you’re an aspiring author struggling to focus, you’re not alone. In today’s episode, I get real about my own experience navigating the weight of the world while trying to write. I offer some practical habits to help you reclaim your attention and protect your creative energy—from limiting news intake to replacing scrolling with reading, from getting enough sleep to starting your day with morning meditation and changing your work environment. These are a few of the strategies I use to stay focused, creative, and grounded.If you’re a writer or author struggling to find deep focus in a noisy world, this episode will give you simple, actionable shifts you can start today.Book recommendations:Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel, by Anthony DoerrThe Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by V. E. SchwabThe Bean Trees: A Novel, by Barbara KingsolverFollow me on:Instagram @stacyennisFacebook @stacyenniscreativeLinkedInYouTube @stacyennisauthorTo submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
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244. Lean marketing for authors, with Allan Dib
Mar 1800:38:35Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Allan Dib and I explore the principles of lean marketing and the importance of integrating marketing throughout the business process. Allan shares insights on how to create valuable marketing content that resonates with your audience, the significance of implementation beyond delivering mere information, and the role of storytelling in nonfiction writing. We also discuss effective email marketing strategies and how to build genuine connections with readers.Allan Dib is best known as the author of The 1-Page Marketing Plan and Lean Marketing. His books have sold over a million copies worldwide and have been translated into over 40 languages. Allan helps businesses implement marketing best practices in-house using his 1-Page Marketing Plan (1PMP) framework and lean marketing methodology.Learn more about Allan:WebsiteInstagram @allandibLinkedInBook recommendation:How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life, by Scott AdamsFollow me on:Instagram @stacyennisFacebook @stacyenniscreativeLinkedInYouTube @stacyennisauthorTo submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
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243. Book Tip | How to write your first book without pressure
Mar 1200:02:10Tap to summarizeMost aspiring authors freeze before they even start—not because they lack ideas, but because the pressure feels impossible. In today's quick Book Tip episode, I share why your first book doesn't have to be the book, and how one simple mindset shift can finally get you writing.If you've been waiting for the perfect moment, this episode is your sign to start. Listen to the full episode here: SpotifyApple Podcasts
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