The Nourished CEO Podcast

It's my 39th birthday, and instead of just reflecting on the past year, I'm sharing something that has completely shifted how I think about business, decision-making, and personal alignment. 
In this episode, I'm diving into how your birth chart can offer powerful insights into how you're actually wired to operate, and what that means for building a business that truly works for you.
We're unpacking why so many entrepreneurs feel stuck, burned out, or inconsistent (even when they're doing "all the right things"), and how misalignment, not lack of discipline, is often the real issue. 
I'm also sharing how this lens has transformed my own business decisions, from how I structure my offers to how I show up as a leader, and how you can start using it to build a business that feels as good as it performs.
⏱️ Timeline Highlights
[00:00] – Why my birthday always sparks a deeper reset (and why Q2 is when things actually take off for me)
[02:47] – The moment I realized birth chart data was scarily accurate and why I couldn't ignore it
[07:16] – Why I trust this more than most personality tests I've ever used
[10:01] – What a birth chart actually is (and how to use it without "spiritualizing" it)
[16:09] – The decision-making mistake that was quietly sabotaging my business
[19:57] – How outsourcing my decisions cost me time, money, and momentum
[22:10] – Why my energy works in intense bursts (and why consistency-based models failed me)
[24:05] – The real reason my revenue declined when I switched to an "evergreen" model
[26:11] – The uncomfortable truth about likability and how it was hurting my business growth
[31:21] – Why my business is designed for slow, sustainable authority, not fast growth
[33:26] – How I knew popular marketing strategies weren't a fit (even when they "worked" for others)
[39:16] – Why podcasting is my most powerful marketing tool and converts better than anything else
[44:56] – Why relationship-based selling works better for me than cold audiences or ads
[47:08] – The surprising way money is tied to my identity and how that shapes my pricing
[54:34] – The intuitive skill I've been underestimating (and how this tool validated it)
[58:53] – Why misalignment, not effort, is the real bottleneck in your business
[01:04:01] – The costly mistake of copying other people's strategies and how it pulled me off track
[01:05:01] – The key questions to ask yourself to uncover where your business is out of alignment
💬 Top Quotes from the Episode
"The level of clarity and accuracy that I found [in analyzing birth charts] was just something that I couldn't ignore."
"If I'm waiting and deliberating and seeking more input, this isn't something that actually makes my decisions better. If anything, it actually makes them worse."
"Most standard business models are built with the assumption that you should be able to put consistent, steady, daily output into your business, and that model is not a fit for me."
"If I want to kill my business and just run it into the ground, the goal is that I should try to be more likable."
"When your business model doesn't fit your design, you often experience it as a personal failure, rather than a failure of the business model."
🔗 Links & Resources
Apply for The Advisory
Take the CEO Type Quiz
Birth Chart Tools: https://astro-seek.com 
https://astro-charts.com

✨ Closing Thoughts
If this episode got you thinking about how you're actually wired to run your business, take that as a sign to explore it further.
And if you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to follow, rate, share, and leave a review! It helps more people discover the show and build businesses that truly fit who they are.

I'm unpacking a pattern I keep seeing with smart, successful entrepreneurs who are doing everything right, and still ending up burned out, stuck, or even making less money. 
I dive into what really happens when you commit to a business model that was never designed for you, and why following "proven" strategies can quietly pull you further away from your strengths.
I also share a very personal behind-the-scenes look at my own business evolution: what I changed, what I got wrong, and the moment I realized I had built something that didn't actually fit me. 
If you've ever questioned your direction, your decisions, or your ability to grow, this episode will help you reframe what's really going on, and show you a way forward that actually works for you.
Top Quotes from This Episode
"They didn't end up worse because they were lazy or gave up. They ended up worse because they were good students of the wrong formula."

"If you hired a coach, followed everything they said, and it didn't work… that's not a personal failure. It's a diagnostic failure."

"You can be working harder than ever, putting in more time, more money, more effort, and still be going a hundred miles per hour in the wrong direction."

"At some point, you stop trusting yourself… because you've outsourced your instincts and let someone else become the CEO of your business."

"It's not that you're incapable of building a successful business. It's that you've been trying to force yourself into a model that was never designed for you."

Timeline Highlights
[00:00] – Why successful entrepreneurs can still end up worse off

[03:06] – The hidden cost of implementing the wrong business model

[05:18] – Why "success leaves clues" can actually mislead you

[10:53] – The moment your business starts draining more than it gives

[15:49] – My personal experience with an Evergreen model that didn't fit

[28:25] – The trap of overbuilding teams too early

[36:20] – Losing trust in yourself—and how to rebuild it

[43:02] – Rebuilding your business around your natural strengths

[49:08] – Why profit, energy, and alignment matter more than revenue

Links & Resources
CEO Type Quiz: https://lauraschoenfeld.com/quiz

Apply for 1:1 Advisory

DM "advisory" on Instagram for more details

Closing Thoughts
If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to share it with someone who needs to hear this message. And if you enjoyed it, don't forget to follow, rate, and leave a review—it really helps more people find the show. See you next week! 🎙️

Would you walk away from a life that looked like your dream on paper?
In this episode, I'm joined by Sara Vezensek, and her story is one that I think so many high-achieving women are going to resonate with.
Sara went from growing up in Slovenia, where the luxury world felt like something out of a movie, to living what most people would call the ultimate success story — working on superyachts, flying private, managing million-dollar deals, and earning incredible money at a young age.
But behind all of it, she felt trapped, constantly on call, and disconnected from the freedom she thought success would bring.
We dive into how she walked away from that life and built a business on her own terms — one rooted in freedom, ownership, and intentional growth.
Sara breaks down how to create messaging that actually converts (without needing a massive audience), how to simplify your content strategy, and how to stop trading time for money by building scalable, high-impact offers. 
Timeline Summary
[00:01:58] - Sara shares how growing up in Slovenia shaped her perspective on money, freedom, and what was possible for her life.
[00:03:58] - She opens up about achieving "dream life" success on paper — and why it still left her feeling trapped and unfulfilled.
[00:07:27] - We talk about building an online business when no one around you understands what you're doing — and how she borrowed belief from others.
[00:11:10] - Sara explains why you don't need a massive audience to make sales and how specificity is the real key to conversion.
[00:15:42] - She walks through her content strategy for creating "aha moments" that help your audience see themselves in your messaging.
[00:23:24] - We discuss why vanity metrics can be misleading and how to use data to actually understand what's working in your marketing.
[00:33:38] - Sara breaks down how to stop selling your time and start building leveraged offers that create both income and freedom.
Top 5 Quotes from the Episode
"Whatever limits that we think we have just do not exist, and we're our own boundary to what is possible."
"I had it all on paper — I was super successful, making basically my yearly salary per month — but deep down I was so unhappy."
"You do not need a huge audience to make sales. It's not about getting more views, it's about speaking to the right person in an aligned way."
"If you're currently selling your time, you can't scale your time past what you already did — which is why your knowledge has to become the thing you sell, not just access to you."
"Being busy does not make you money. Simplify it and focus on the money-making activities that actually grow your business."
Links & Resources
Sara Vezensek on Instagram
Sara's Website
Masterclass: 100K in Sales in 45 Days
Take the CEO Type Quiz
Subscribe and Share
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the podcast, and I'd love if you took a moment to rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this. It helps more people find the show, and I'm so grateful you're here.

This week's episode is a short update and a behind-the-scenes look at what we just kicked off inside The Foundry.
If you've been following along—especially if you listened to the Own Your Authority masterclass—this is a peek into how that work is starting to come to life in a real-time container with clients.
I'm sharing what we focused on in week one, why we're starting with deep personal alignment (not strategy), and how this process is designed to help experienced business owners build something that actually fits their life and capacity.
I also talk about what to do if you missed enrollment, whether that's joining the waitlist for the next round or working with me one-on-one in the meantime.
And if you haven't finished the last episode yet, consider this your reminder to go back and listen... it's a good one.
Timeline Summary
[00:00] – Why this week's episode is shorter (and what to listen to if you're behind)
[00:00:55] – What The Foundry is and who it's designed for
[00:02:10] – A behind-the-scenes look at week one: orientation + preparation
[00:02:35] – Why we're starting with alignment, not strategy
[00:03:54] – The role of real-life constraints (capacity, family, health) in business decisions
[00:04:57] – Using personality and self-knowledge tools to guide alignment
[00:07:38] – How we're using AI to identify patterns and build aligned decision frameworks
[00:08:34] – What to do if you missed enrollment (1:1 support + waitlist)
Links & Resources
Own Your Authority Masterclass (previous episode)
Apply for 1:1 Private Advisory
The Foundry Waitlist
If you enjoy listening, make sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast—and share it with someone who could use a more aligned approach to building their business. I'll see you next week!

In this special episode of The Nourished CEO Podcast, I'm sharing the full replay of a live masterclass that might completely change the way you think about your business.
If you've built real expertise, delivered results for clients, and still feel like something isn't clicking the way it should, this conversation is for you.
I break down why talented experts often hit frustrating plateaus—and why the solution isn't more content, better offers, or another marketing strategy.
Instead, we explore a deeper root cause: authority misalignment. I introduce the Authority Effect Framework, walk through the four types of experts operating in today's market, and share the five-phase Authority Arc that moves you from plateaued and misaligned to fully sovereign in your business.
By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear lens to diagnose what's actually holding your business back—and what to focus on next to build a business that performs as well as it feels.
And if you're ready to go deeper through this full guided process, The Foundry is now open for enrollment through March 19th, 2026. Click here to review the program details and enroll now.
Top Quotes From This Episode
"The gap between your expertise and the results that you have currently is not evidence of a fundamental deficit in how skilled you are."

"This is not a "you" problem. This is a sequencing problem."

"Your expertise is necessary for success, but it is not sufficient."

"You might be executing perfectly—but in someone else's blueprint."

"The sovereign expert builds a business that is fully theirs, aligned with who they are and how they're meant to serve."

Episode Timeline Highlights
[00:00] – The core struggle many experts face: knowing what you're capable of, but not seeing it reflected in your business results.
[01:06] – Why this episode is different: a full replay of the live "Own Your Authority" masterclass.
[02:12] – Why experienced experts still hit plateaus even when their strategies technically work.
[05:26] – What it really means to own your authority in your business and your market.
[08:18] – The signs something structural is off in your business—even if it looks successful on the surface.
[10:20] – The real reason your expertise and results might not match yet: a sequencing problem.
[16:24] – Why expertise alone isn't enough to build a thriving business.
[19:20] – My personal story of realizing my own business had become misaligned.
[26:31] – Closing a $2M+ signature program to rebuild my business from who I am today.
[28:40] – Defining the two types of authority that shape your business: inner authority and outer authority.
[41:38] – Introducing the Authority Effect Framework and the four types of experts in today's market.
[42:16] – The Accommodating Expert: skilled but constantly undercharging and over-serving.
[45:04] – The Hype Expert: high visibility without real expertise behind it.
[47:37] – The Hesitant Expert: deeply skilled but not fully claiming their authority.
[50:04] – The Sovereign Expert: where inner and outer authority finally align.
[57:14] – The "Good Student Trap" and how it keeps experts stuck in someone else's blueprint.
[01:00:34] – Introducing the Authority Arc Sequence that realigns your entire business.
[01:03:23] – Clarifying who you truly are as a CEO and who you're meant to serve.
[01:08:41] – Designing offers around your highest-value work.
[01:11:19] – Selling from conviction instead of pressure.
[01:16:10] – Creating authority-driven content that pulls in the right clients.
[01:20:13] – Stepping into true thought leadership in your industry.
[01:26:29] – How to diagnose which phase of your business needs attention first.
[01:31:41] – Real client transformations after aligning their authority.
[01:36:00] – The hidden costs of running a business that isn't fully aligned with who you are.
[01:40:27] – Introducing The Foundry: the 10-week program designed to rebuild your business foundation.
[01:57:01] – The Chief Alignment Officer AI tool and how it helps guide future business decisions.
[02:05:00] – Why rebuilding your business from alignment creates lighter, more profitable growth.
Links & Resources
Enroll in The Foundry – 10-week business realignment experience (details mentioned in the episode)

Take the "What's Your CEO Type?" Quiz

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