Actually, I Can.

What if the voices that say "you can't" and "you shouldn't" are wrong? Actually, I Can. is a celebration of bold choices, courageous journeys, and the deeply personal stories of founders, visionaries, and leaders who dared to defy the doubters and choose "yes" even when the world kept saying "no." This isn’t about growth hacks or formulas—it’s about the raw, human moments that shape real leaders. Host Lindsay Tjepkema sits down with real leaders and digs deep into the grit, grief, and reinvention that turned real dreams into exceptional realities. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a dreamer, or on the edge of your next big move, Actually, I Can. will inspire you to trust your intuition, bet on yourself, and redefine success on your own terms.

Actually, I Can. is a business podcast hosted by Lindsay Tjepkema, with 36 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Lindsay Tjepkema hosts Actually, I Can., a business show with 36 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #15

  Build the Life You Actually Want with Hope Horner

  Sep 15, 202620 minS2

  What if the advice to “find work-life balance” is actually making you feel like you’re doing something wrong? In this episode of Actually, I Can., Lindsay Tjepkema sits down with Hope Horner, founder and CEO of Lemonlight, to unpack one of the most common pieces of advice founders hear: that success requires maintaining a healthy balance between work and life. For Hope, that advice created more guilt than clarity. In the early years of building Lemonlight, she was working 70–90+ hours a week, sacrificing much of her social life, and wondering why her experience didn't look like the balanced founder life everyone seemed to recommend. Eventually, she realized something important: balance isn't one-size-fits-all. The right balance depends on what you're building, what you want your life to look like, and what you're willing to prioritize in a particular season. Hope shares what changed when she stopped apologizing for her ambition, how she navigated the impact of entrepreneurship on her relationships, and why being honest with the people around you matters when you're choosing to go all in. The bigger lesson? You don't have to build someone else's version of success. You get to decide what you want—and then build a life that supports it. What You’ll Learn Why “work-life balance” can become a source of guilt for ambitious founders How Hope spent years working 70–90+ hours a week while building Lemonlight Why balance looks different depending on your goals and definition of success The moment Hope realized she needed to embrace her ambition instead of apologizing for it How to have honest conversations with friends, family, and partners about entrepreneurial demands Ways to integrate relationships into an ambitious life instead of treating work and life as completely separate Why there isn't one correct formula for building a successful company—or a fulfilling life How books, podcasts, and other entrepreneurs can help founders navigate the messy middle Why defining success for yourself is more important than following someone else's blueprint Subscribe to the newsletter Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn Follow Hope on Linkedin Learn more about Lemonlight

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  Episode #14

  Toxic Positivity Is a Leadership Strategy with Stephen Shedletzky

  Sep 1, 202632 minS2

  In this episode of "Actually I Can," host Lindsay Tjepkema sits down with leadership coach Steven “Shed” Shedletsky to unpack a piece of bad advice that taught him a powerful lesson about toxic positivity, organizational politics, and the importance of speaking up. Shed shares how he was once encouraged to coach a team member by deflecting an interpersonal problem with the advice, “Enough about them, let’s talk about you.” What sounded like a positive, forward-looking approach was actually a way of avoiding a difficult problem—and ultimately contributed to a valued team member being let go. Years later, Shed experienced the same tactic from the other side. When he raised concerns about leadership and morale, the conversation was redirected back toward him. Shed describes the experience as gaslighting and says it ultimately became part of what pushed him to leave. Lindsay and Shed explore what toxic positivity really looks like in leadership, why founders can fall into the trap of trying to fix people's emotions instead of listening to them, and how leaders can respond with compassion while still moving toward a bigger vision. They also tackle what to do when you're on the receiving end of unhealthy leadership. Shed introduces the idea of “Jedi leadership”—finding ways to influence ego-driven leaders without directly triggering their defenses—and explains why sometimes the most effective way to create change is to work within the system rather than fight it head-on. Shed shares a framework for healthier organizations built around mindset, actions, and systems, including the importance of consistent one-on-ones, creating genuine speak-up cultures, and designing systems that make empathy and psychological safety part of how a company operates. Because sometimes what looks like positivity is actually a strategy for avoiding the truth. What You'll Learn What toxic positivity really looks like in leadership How “positive” advice can become a way to avoid difficult conversations Why validating someone's emotions should come before trying to change their perspective How organizational politics and unhealthy power dynamics can silence concerns What to do when you're the person experiencing toxic leadership How “Jedi leadership” can help you influence defensive or ego-driven leaders Why founders need to recognize their own blind spots Why people should never be reduced to KPIs Shed's Mindset → Actions → Systems framework for organizational change Why consistent one-on-ones matter How to build a culture where people actually feel safe speaking up How leaders can turn empathy into an organizational system rather than an individual personality trait Subscribe to the newsletter Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn Follow Shed on LinkedIn Learn more about Shed Inspires

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  Episode #13

  Stop Holding Out for a Hero with Monica Stewart

  Aug 18, 202627 minS2

  What if the reason you haven't started isn't because you're not ready—but because you're waiting for a story that proves you deserve to? In this episode of Actually I Can , host Lindsay Tjepkema talks with Monica Stewart, CEO of MSP Consulting, about the advice that kept her from starting her business: that she needed a "hero story" to establish her expertise. Monica had watched other leaders build credibility through big-name credentials, impressive growth stories, and marquee clients. Compared to those stories, her own experience didn't seem extraordinary enough. That doubt led to false starts and years of questioning whether she had earned the right to build the business she wanted. Eventually, she realized she had been looking at expertise all wrong. The customer is the hero. Monica's value isn't that she has one spectacular success story. It's that she's seen patterns across dozens of companies and knows how to help B2B SaaS founders build sustainable sales teams. Lindsay and Monica explore the confidence dynamics behind claiming expertise, why some people seem comfortable stepping into authority while others wait for permission, and how building a "success bank" can help founders recognize the experience they already have. Because you don't need to become a hero before you're qualified to help someone. You just need to know what you know—and keep learning what you don't. What you'll learn: Why waiting for a "hero story" can keep founders from starting How comparison can distort your perception of your own expertise Why the customer, not the founder, is the hero Why pattern recognition can be more valuable than one big success How gendered confidence dynamics can influence who claims authority How to build a personal "success bank" to combat self-doubt Why staying current requires curiosity and critical thinking How to evolve your methods while staying committed to the outcome Why your existing experience may already qualify you to take the next step Subscribe to the newsletter Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn Follow Monica on LinkedIn Learn more about MSP Consulting

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  Episode #12

  Your Schedule Isn't Your Productivity with Jen Spencer

  Aug 4, 202632 minS2

  We've all heard the advice: wake up at 5 a.m., time-block every minute, and stick to a rigid routine if you want to be successful. But what if that advice is actually holding you back? In this episode of Actually I Can , Lindsay Tjepkema sits down with Jen Spencer, Chief Growth Officer at Booth and author of Lead Anyway , to unpack why one-size-fits-all productivity advice doesn't work for everyone. Jen shares how she spent years trying to force herself into someone else's version of success before realizing that great leadership starts with understanding your own energy, strengths, and values. Together, they explore the importance of self-awareness, creating space for creativity, leading through changing seasons of life, and building a career that aligns with who you are—not who you think you're supposed to be. Whether you're a founder, manager, or individual contributor, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on leadership, productivity, and giving yourself permission to lead your own way. What you'll learn: Why rigid productivity routines don't work for every leader The difference between managing time and managing energy How an honest energy audit can reshape your workday How to build flexibility around your life instead of forcing your life around work Why creativity requires intentional white space How to stay fully present by defining your role in every meeting How self-awareness creates better leadership Why founders should invest in understanding themselves before scaling a company Subscribe to the newsletter Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn Follow Jen on LinkedIn Learn more about Booth

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  Episode #11

  You Can Have Both with Sam Yarbrough

  Jul 21, 202632 minS2

  There are few pieces of career advice more damaging than the idea that success requires sacrifice. For Sam Yarbrough, that message came during a job interview. When she explained that she was committed to both her career and her family, she was told, "Well...you chose to work." It was a mindset she'd encounter again and again—that ambitious professionals, especially working moms, should expect to trade time with their families for career success. But instead of accepting that belief, Sam used it as a filter. If an organization couldn't respect her values, it probably wasn't where she wanted to lead. That perspective eventually led her to walk away from a prestigious executive role, navigate an unexpected identity crisis, and co-found Arcadia—a leadership community built on a different philosophy: you don't have to choose between building a meaningful career and living a meaningful life. In this episode, Lindsay and Sam unpack the myths we've accepted about ambition, boundaries, and leadership—and why the best leaders are whole humans, not just high performers. What You'll Learn Why "you chose to work" is one of the worst pieces of career advice working parents receive How boundaries reveal whether a company's culture truly aligns with your values Why leaving a prestigious role led to an unexpected identity crisis How to separate your worth from your title and paycheck What "whole-human leadership" really means Practical ways to identify your priorities before making career decisions Why harmony—not balance—creates more sustainable leadership How Arcadia is helping leaders grow without sacrificing what matters most About Sam Yarbrough Sam Yarbrough is the co-founder of Arcadia, a leadership community that helps executives and go-to-market leaders build successful careers while staying connected to what matters most. After years leading high-growth teams in the corporate world, Sam left a prestigious executive role to create a new model of leadership—one that prioritizes career, family, health, relationships, and purpose instead of forcing people to choose between them. Through Arcadia and its immersive Leadership Experience, she helps leaders grow as whole humans, not just professionals. This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like they had to choose between career success and the life they wanted outside of work. Whether you're a working parent, an aspiring leader, or simply questioning what success should look like, this conversation is a reminder that you really can have both. Subscribe to the newsletter Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn Connect with Sam Yarbrough Learn more about Arcadia ️ Learn about the Arcadia Leadership Experience

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