In this episode of Queens Lead, Amy sits down with creative powerhouse and fellow Okie, Crystal Oakes—founder of Oakes Creative House. From discovering her love for design in high school to running a successful boutique agency, Crystal opens up about the challenges of entrepreneurship, mental health, chronic pain, and navigating life as a high-achieving, type-A mom.

She shares how her perfectionism and OCD tendencies shaped her leadership style—and how they nearly led to burnout before she learned how to transform them into superpowers. Amy and Crystal dive into identity, intuition, the pressure of perfection, and how reconnecting with your inner child might be the breakthrough your business and body need.

You’ll also hear about Crystal’s free marketing masterclass built specifically for small business owners and the importance of understanding foundational strategy before spending a dime on ads.

This one is real, refreshing, and rooted in honesty. Don’t miss it.

📝 Show Notes:
In this raw and insightful episode, Amy Singleton interviews Crystal Oakes of Oakes Creative House about:

👩‍🎨 Her early love for order and creativity—and how it shaped her design career

💥 Mental health, chronic migraines, and turning OCD into her entrepreneurial advantage

🧠 Somatic massage, nervous system regulation, and the power of self-advocacy

💻 Why foundational marketing strategy beats shiny-object tactics every time

🧰 Crystal’s FREE Marketing Masterclass for small business owners

👶 Balancing business, motherhood, and mental health without burning out

Whether you're building a brand, battling burnout, or searching for the next step in your personal growth—this episode is for you.

🌐 Connect with Crystal Oakes:
Website: oakescreativehouse.com
Facebook: facebook.com/oakescreativehouse
Instagram: instagram.com/oakescreativehouse
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/oakescreativehouse
Pinterest: pinterest.com/oakescreativehouse
Free Masterclass: Available via the website or follow Crystal on social for live event access

What the heck is going on at work?!
On this episode of Queens Lead, Amy Singleton gets real with certified leadership and career coach Katie O'Malley, founder of (en)Courage Coaching. From childhood loss to a corporate identity crisis that sparked a total career pivot, Katie shares how breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs. They talk about how middle managers are not okay, why pizza parties don’t fix burnout, and how women can start reclaiming control of their careers—on their own terms. You’ll also hear about Katie’s upcoming TEDx talk, her mission to transform workplace mental health, and what she really thinks about “work-life balance.” If you’ve ever felt like your job was draining your soul, this episode might be the spark you need to rise, reign, and reclaim your crown.

💬 In this episode:

How Katie pivoted from breakdown to boldness.

What’s really driving the “WTF is going on at work?” vibes.

Why leadership coaching isn’t just for execs.

The hidden cost of neglecting middle management.

Shifting from burnout culture to people-first performance.

Real talk on “work-life balance” vs. integration.

Katie’s TEDx prep, and her insights on reclaiming clarity, courage, and control.

🌐 Connect with Katie O'Malley:

Website: encouragecoaching.org

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kateomalley

Instagram: instagram.com/encouragecoachchicago

🌟 Rate & Review:
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform.

📢 Connect with Amy:
To learn more about Amy, hire her to speak at your event, or work with her team on your marketing, visit www.amysingleton.net.

In this powerful episode of Queens Lead, host Amy Singleton sits down with Marisol Solarte-Erlacher, a renowned trauma therapist, leadership coach, and expert in building resilient teams.

Marisol shares her incredible journey—from growing up with teenage parents to becoming a sought-after speaker and consultant. She dives deep into how past trauma shapes our professional and personal lives, how leaders can create supportive workplace cultures, and why resilience is the key to navigating challenges.

Marisol also opens up about her transition from private therapy to coaching organizations, her experiences with burnout, and the lessons she’s learned in redefining her identity beyond her career. If you're ready to embrace change, build resilience, and lead with authenticity, this episode is for you!

🚀 Plus, Marisol has a free resource to help leaders assess their teams’ well-being—don’t miss it!