Podcast Summary: Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan

Episode: Confidence Classic: Grow Your Business with Ease, Intention, and Instagram Strategy with Natalie Ellis
Release Date: July 23, 2025
Host: Heather Monahan | YAP Media
Guest: Natalie Ellis, Boss Babe Co-Founder and CEO

Introduction

In this empowering episode of Creating Confidence, host Heather Monahan welcomes Natalie Ellis, the dynamic co-founder and CEO of Boss Babe, a rapidly growing online community of over 1.7 million ambitious women. Natalie shares her journey, strategies for business growth, and insightful tips on harnessing the power of Instagram to elevate your brand.

Personal Journeys and Building Confidence

Heather Monahan opens the conversation by reflecting on her past experiences and the roller-coaster of emotions that come with entrepreneurship. At [00:59], Heather shares:

"I want to be in a place where I am always calm no matter what's going on so that I can lead from that way because it's not just me anymore."

Natalie responds by highlighting her commitment to chasing goals, overcoming adversity, and setting up a better future for her audience.

Growth Strategies: Instagram Hacks and Beyond

A significant portion of the discussion delves into effective Instagram strategies. Natalie Ellis explains how Boss Babe has mastered Instagram growth, achieving over 1.6 million followers and gaining 28,000 followers weekly. She outlines practical steps for creating viral content:

• Viral Content Creation:
  Heather advises startups to create viral content to enhance visibility. At [24:32], she states:

  "Viral content is going to mean that you are pushed to the top of everyone's feeds... You're going to get seen by people who aren't even following you."

• Analyzing Successful Posts:
  By studying content that garners high engagement, Heather suggests dissecting and replicating successful elements to tailor original content that resonates with your target audience.

• Consistency and Frequency:
  Posting consistently is crucial. Heather mentions [26:07]:

  "I say story every single day and we post four times a day, which is a lot. But we're a brand, which I think you get away with."

Monetizing Your Social Media Presence

The conversation transitions to monetization strategies. Heather emphasizes understanding your ideal client and tailoring content to their needs. At [28:15], she explains:

"It really depends on how you monetize. If you're monetizing your own product... you can be monetizing from less than a thousand followers, as long as they are really targeted and engaged."

She advises focusing on quality over quantity, suggesting that a highly engaged smaller audience can be more profitable than a large, passive following.

Leveraging Multiple Platforms and Building an Email List

Natalie underscores the importance of not solely relying on Instagram. Heather highlights the value of building an email list as owned real estate for your business:

"I funnel people to my email list and really, really build that up. I think that's real estate that you own." ([32:32])

She discusses integrating messenger bots and text messaging to create more intimate connections with the audience, while ensuring these channels funnel back to owned platforms like email.

Balancing Highs and Lows: Creating Boundaries

A pivotal segment focuses on emotional resilience and maintaining balance. Heather shares her journey towards emotional stability:

"I don't want to be on that roller coaster anymore that I think I definitely have been on in the past because it's draining." ([38:08])

She elaborates on setting priorities—health, family, and business—ensuring that personal well-being remains paramount. This balance not only fosters personal happiness but also cultivates a positive work environment for her team.

Biohacks and Maintaining Well-being

Maintaining health and productivity is another key topic. Heather reveals her favorite biohacks to stay energized and focused:

• Breath Work:
  At [50:38], she passionately describes breath work as transformative:

  "Breath work takes everything away. It's incredible. It's phenomenal."

• Nutrition and Sleep:
  She emphasizes eating clean for performance and prioritizing sleep, tracking her rest with tools like an Aura Ring to monitor sleep quality.

• Meditation and Infrared Saunas:
  Incorporating meditation and regular use of an infrared sauna contribute to her overall well-being.

Overcoming Confidence Struggles

Reflecting on personal challenges, Heather recounts her struggle with confidence during university:

"I felt like such an imposter. And I had so little confidence." ([53:30])

She overcame these feelings by excelling academically and engaging in hypnotherapy, which played a crucial role in building her self-esteem. This journey underscores the importance of self-belief and continuous personal development.

Conclusion and Final Insights

As the episode wraps up, Heather encourages listeners to seek out resources and persist in their personal and professional growth. She highlights the importance of asking for what you want and maintaining open communication to foster respect and understanding in professional settings.

Heather concludes with a motivational note:

"Just keep going, keep asking great questions and keep showing up here with me every week. I appreciate you so much." ([64:17])

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

1. Heather Monahan:
   "I want to be in a place where I am always calm no matter what's going on so that I can lead from that way because it's not just me anymore."
   [00:59]

2. Heather Monahan:
   "Viral content is going to mean that you are pushed to the top of everyone's feeds... You're going to get seen by people who aren't even following you."
   [24:32]

3. Heather Monahan:
   "I funnel people to my email list and really, really build that up. I think that's real estate that you own."
   [32:32]

4. Heather Monahan:
   "I don't want to be on that roller coaster anymore that I think I definitely have been on in the past because it's draining."
   [38:08]

5. Heather Monahan:
   "Breath work takes everything away. It's incredible. It's phenomenal."
   [50:38]

6. Heather Monahan:
   "I felt like such an imposter. And I had so little confidence."
   [53:30]

7. Heather Monahan:
   "Just keep going, keep asking great questions and keep showing up here with me every week. I appreciate you so much."
   [64:17]

Key Takeaways

• Consistency and Strategy: Building a strong social media presence, especially on Instagram, requires consistent posting, strategic content creation, and understanding viral trends.

• Monetization Through Engagement: Focus on cultivating an engaged and targeted audience rather than solely increasing follower count to enhance monetization opportunities.

• Diversification of Platforms: Relying on multiple platforms, including email lists and LinkedIn, safeguards your business against changes in social media algorithms.

• Emotional Resilience: Balancing the highs and lows of entrepreneurship through setting clear priorities and maintaining personal well-being is crucial for long-term success.

• Continuous Personal Development: Overcoming confidence struggles and investing in personal growth are integral to becoming a successful leader and entrepreneur.

This episode offers invaluable insights for both aspiring and established entrepreneurs looking to enhance their confidence, optimize their social media strategies, and build sustainable, balanced businesses.