Podcast
The Teacher Biz Podcast
Hosted by Heather O’Donnell · EN
Hey there! Welcome to The Teacher Biz Podcast with Heather O’Donnell.
Each week, Heather shares strategies she’s used in her own online business to replace her teacher income (several times over) while working just 25 hours a week. Learn how a profitable teacher biz actually works (psst… we’re not throwing up resources on TPT) and how to get started without falling into the most common pitfalls and time wasters in the online business world.
Through a mix of interviews and solo episodes, you’ll learn about building an email list, creating and selling digital products, time management, a must-have mindset for success, how to run a profitable business on your own schedule, and much more.
Hit subscribe and get ready to learn how to build a profitable home business with a lot less effort than it takes to run a classroom!
Connect With Heather:
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
134: Thank You for Listening and Being Part of This Journey
Dec 3000:09:35Tap to summarizeHeather shares a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has listened, supported, and grown alongside The Teacher Biz Podcast. As the show takes a hiatus, she invites you to continue revisiting past episodes as a resource and to stay connected through email and Instagram. She also shares encouragement for anyone who’s been quietly wondering what might be possible beyond traditional teaching. Meaningful, flexible, and fulfilling work is possible. With gratitude at the center, this episode is about honoring the journey, the community that made it special, and the connections that continue beyond the mic.Key Takeaways:(02:20) Why the podcast is taking a break and what’s next(04:30) Navigating online business trends and staying resilient(06:30) Why business friendships matter more than you thinkGrab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/startConnect With Heather:teacherbiz.com/aboutinstagram.com/teacherbiz
Transcribe →133: How to Overcome Perfectionism
Dec 2300:14:27Tap to summarizeIf perfectionism has you stuck overthinking instead of moving forward, this episode is your permission slip to let it go. Heather shares how perfectionism (not lack of skill or strategy) quietly holds so many teacher business owners back, and why imperfect action is the real key to progress, clarity, and profit. Tune in and learn why done is better than perfect and how putting your work out there, even when it’s not flawless, is what actually moves your business forward.Key Takeaways:(02:30) Getting stuck in perfectionism(08:10) The myth of “A+ work” and why it rarely sees the light of day(10:35) Mantras to beat perfectionism and take action faster(11:40) Why mindset is the real foundation of successEpisodes Mentioned:#58: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a New Business Owner#94: Struggling with Imposter Syndrome? Here’s How to Stay Productive with Cait Keery#103: How to Ditch Imposter Syndrome and Finally Get Started with Lydia MartinGrab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/startConnect With Heather:teacherbiz.com/aboutinstagram.com/teacherbiz
Transcribe →132: The Hidden Reason Your Sales Are Slowing Down
Dec 1600:12:19Tap to summarizeIf you’ve ever had a sale fall flat and immediately wondered what went wrong, this episode is for you. Heather breaks down the quiet reason launches often underperform (it’s usually not your offer), and walks through a pattern she’s seen again and again in her own data. You’ll hear why selling to the same audience over and over loses momentum, why new subscribers convert differently, and how relying too heavily on Facebook ads can quietly stall your growth. She also shares how layering lead sources like YouTube, podcasting, social media, and smart content repurposing can bring in consistent leads without burning you out. PLUS, Heather shares details about a January business planning workshop designed to help you map out a lead-generation strategy before your next launch. If you’re tired of pouring energy into sales that don’t deliver, this episode will help you pinpoint what’s missing and fix it before your next launch! Interested in attending the business planning workshop? → Email Heather at hello@teacherbiz.comKey Takeaways:(02:00) The pattern behind slow sales: not enough list growth(06:10) Why YouTube is Heather’s next growth focus(08:55) How to repurpose content without creating more work(10:10) Invitation to a January business planning workshopEpisodes Mentioned:#123: How to Grow an Engaged Email List Using Facebook Ads#124: Testing New Facebook Ads to Find What Really ConvertsGrab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/startConnect With Heather:teacherbiz.com/aboutinstagram.com/teacherbiz
Transcribe →131: Heather’s Black Friday Results and the Pivot That Turned Everything Around
Dec 900:17:26Tap to summarizeGrab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/startAfter mapping out what Heather thought would be a strong Black Friday strategy, the results came back and they were some of the lowest she’s ever seen. Instead of spiraling, she pivoted fast. She brought back her “12 Days of Sales” promo, led with her bestselling Alphabet Kit, and immediately saw stronger results, including her biggest revenue day in months. Inside this episode, Heather breaks down exactly what went wrong, why memberships are a tougher sell right now, how offer complexity silently kills conversions, and why one-time purchases are outperforming recurring offers this season. If your recent promotion didn’t go the way you hoped, this is the behind-the-scenes clarity you’ve been looking for. Listen to the full breakdown now!Key Takeaways:(01:40) The original Black Friday plan and why she scheduled it early(03:00) How her tiered membership + multiple bonuses complicated the offer(07:30) Reviving her “12 Days of Sales” strategy(11:00) The mindset shift after a disappointing launch(15:00) Why the week after Christmas is an underrated selling windowEpisodes Mentioned:#27: How to Navigate December as an Online Business Owner#126: How to Plan the Rest of 2025 and Finish the Year Strong#127: A New Marketing Strategy Inspired by Olive & JuneConnect With Heather:teacherbiz.com/aboutinstagram.com/teacherbiz
Transcribe →130: How a Fun Reading Method Became a Business Helping Kids Learn to Read with Stefanie Hohl
Dec 200:21:34Tap to summarizeStefanie Hohl is the creator of ABC See, Hear, Do, an innovative phonics program that helps kids learn to read through movement and fun. As a literacy advocate, author, and educator, she has helped thousands of children develop a love for reading. Stefanie is passionate about making learning engaging, especially for active kids. In this episode, Stefanie shares how her son’s struggle with learning to read inspired her to create a reading method that worked so well she knew other families needed it too. What began as one book has grown into a seven-book series, a line of supplemental materials, and a business that’s helped thousands of kids feel confident picking up a book for the first time. She also talks about imposter syndrome, the power of growing slowly, and how working with a business coach gave her the confidence she didn’t even know she was missing. Now she’s expanding her reach into teacher development, applying to conferences, and gearing up to use LinkedIn and video content to grow even more. If you’ve ever wondered whether your teacher skills could become a business, Stefanie’s story is proof that your ideas matter and that slow, steady growth can take you farther than you think!Connect with Stefanie Hohl:abcseeheardo.comstefaniehohl.com@abcseeheardo@stefaniehohlKey Takeaways:(02:20) How teaching her own child sparked a full business idea(04:30) Why movement-based learning works and the problems Stefanie set out to solve(06:15) Digital vs. physical products(09:30) How Instagram and social media helped her find her audience(11:00) Overcoming imposter syndrome and mindset struggles(15:55) Stefanie’s next big push: LinkedIn and speaking opportunitiesGrab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/startConnect With Heather:teacherbiz.com/aboutinstagram.com/teacherbiz
Transcribe →129: How One Mom Built a Handwriting Business That Helps Kids Worldwide with Kelli Fetter
Nov 2500:24:39Tap to summarizeKelli Fetter is a Certified Handwriting Specialist and the founder of Handwriting Solutions, LLC, where she leads a team providing world-class virtual handwriting, reading, and spelling support to students worldwide. She’s also a respected educator for teachers and therapists, known for her evidence-based approach to handwriting, dysgraphia, and dyslexia. With a background in pediatric occupational therapy across clinics, schools, and early intervention, and inspired by her own daughter’s dyslexia and dysgraphia journey, Kelli is dedicated to empowering families and professionals to unlock every child’s potential.In this episode, Kelli shares how her personal journey with her daughter’s dyslexia and dysgraphia sparked a global virtual business that now helps students, teachers, and therapists understand handwriting on a deeper level. She talks about how her background as a pediatric OT and her determination as a mom shaped a company that offers assessments, tutoring, teacher training, and even reading and spelling support. Kelli also gets honest about the behind-the-scenes of growing a business: pushing through perfectionism, learning to delegate, building systems, and staying anchored in her mission to help more families. Hit play now to hear her story and the real work it took to get where she is today!Connect with Kelli Fetter:Black Friday WaitlistDysgraphia Course for TeachersExpectations FreebieKey Takeaways:(00:35) Meet Kelli: from OT to online business owner(02:35) What Handwriting Solutions does; support for dyslexia and dysgraphia(05:20) Niching down and helping teachers, OTs, and schools(09:20) Services breakdown: assessments, tutoring, reading support, and handwriting programs for students(14:25) Mindset blocks and overcoming perfectionism(20:25) Teacher trainings, therapist courses, a textbook, and new resources coming in 2026Grab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/startConnect With Heather:teacherbiz.com/aboutinstagram.com/teacherbiz
Transcribe →128: How to Keep Going When Your Business Hits a Slump
Nov 1800:17:08Tap to summarizeGrab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/startIf your business has felt a little wobbly lately (slower sales, quieter customers, strategies that used to work suddenly falling flat) this episode is the pep talk you need. Heather talks about the “trust recession,” how AI has changed buyer behavior, and why so many entrepreneurs are experiencing a slump. She opens up about her own recent setbacks and shares the honest behind-the-scenes of navigating frustration while still showing up for her people. But this isn’t doom and gloom! Heather walks through the mindset and simple next steps that actually move you forward: trying new ideas, trusting your best guesses, asking your audience what they want, and most importantly, not quitting before the breakthrough. Hit play for some reassurance, and the reminder that business is a rollercoaster and you will rise again!Key Takeaways:(02:20) The “trust recession” and how AI is changing online business(04:00) Picking yourself up after a slump and putting your offer out there(08:30) Testing new ideas and sales strategies(15:10) The #1 strategy that matters more than everView Heather’s Black Friday Sales Page → teacherbiz.com/krcEpisodes Mentioned:#119: Behind the Scenes of a Successful Funnel with Laura Kebart (Part 1)#124: Testing New Facebook Ads to Find What Really ConvertsConnect With Heather:teacherbiz.com/aboutinstagram.com/teacherbiz
Transcribe →127: A New Marketing Strategy Inspired by Olive & June
Nov 1100:19:58Tap to summarizeGrab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/startFeeling like your sales or emails have gone a little stale? In this episode, Heather talks about the experiments she’s running this season to breathe new life into her business. She’s ditching the copy-and-paste sales strategies, and questioning everything from why her emails land in the promotions tab to whether hitting “duplicate” is secretly tanking deliverability. Inspired by one of her favorite brands, Olive & June, she’s trying out a fresh new strategy and inviting you to follow along! This season is all about trying new things, learning as you go, and proving that growth comes from experimenting, reflecting, and refining!Key Takeaways:(02:30) Why Thanksgiving products get less attention and how she’s planning her seasonal sale(06:30) Repeating sales year after year; why business emails are landing in promotions(12:40) The Olive & June marketing strategy(14:55) How a “free gift with purchase” can boost value without lowering pricesEpisodes Mentioned:#121: Inside Heather’s High-Converting Funnel#126: How to Plan the Rest of 2025 and Finish the Year StrongConnect With Heather:teacherbiz.com/aboutinstagram.com/teacherbiz
Transcribe →126: How to Plan the Rest of 2025 and Finish the Year Strong
Nov 400:18:27Tap to summarizeIt’s the final countdown of 2025, and Heather’s here to help you finish the year strong. If you’re stuck on what to promote for Black Friday or wondering how to keep your audience engaged through December, this episode has you covered! Heather shares her go-to strategies for creating promotions without slashing prices, plus smart ways to warm your email list and boost sales during one of the noisiest times of the year. You’ll learn when to run your Black Friday sale (hint: not on Black Friday), how to turn December into your “give and grow” month, and what to track now so your 2026 plan practically builds itself. Tune in to learn how to sell smarter, serve better, and end the year with momentum!Key Takeaways:(03:15) Why planning ahead for November and December matters more than ever(04:00) Black Friday sales strategies; standing out when everyone’s running a sale(10:15) When to send your promo emails and how many to send(11:45) Turning December into your month of giving(14:00) Easy one-day sale ideas to weave into your December emails(16:10) Tracking your results and writing notes for your future selfEpisodes Mentioned:24: Tips for a Successful Black Friday Sale27: How to Navigate December as an Online Business Owner75: 5 Tips for a Successful Black Friday PromotionGrab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/startConnect With Heather:teacherbiz.com/aboutinstagram.com/teacherbiz
Transcribe →125: Real-Life Tech Troubles: How the AWS Outage Almost Derailed Her Launch
Oct 2800:16:59Tap to summarizeIf you’ve listened to The Teacher Biz Podcast for a while, you know Heather’s no stranger to tech troubles. But this past week took things to a whole new level when a major AWS outage hit the internet. Right in the middle of her membership launch, Heather found herself in the thick of it…payments failing, customers confused, and chaos unfolding in real time. She had no idea how much it would impact her business until everything started breaking. In this episode, Heather shares what happened behind the scenes and what she learned about staying calm through the chaos. Tune in for a relatable dose of real-life entrepreneurship and a reminder that even when tech fails, you’ve got this!Key Takeaways:(02:15) Heather’s current launch and summit prep(03:45) The large impact of the AWS outage(08:20) Handling customer issues during the outage(14:05) Lessons learned and plans for the next launchListen to Episode 124: Testing New Facebook Ads to Find What Really ConvertsGrab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/startConnect With Heather:teacherbiz.com/aboutinstagram.com/teacherbiz
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