The Dirty Heifers
Get ready to laugh, learn, and lather up with The Dirty Heifers, the ultimate podcast for soap makers, crafters, and small business enthusiasts! Hosted by Margaret from Warm and Fuzzy Soapery, Jessie from Country Lather Soapworks, and Shauna from Bawauna Bath and Body. This trio of entrepreneurial experts dives deep into the soapy suds of running a small business. From crafting tips and market trends to the challenges and triumphs of creative entrepreneurship, The Dirty Heifers delivers candid conversations, hilarious stories, and valuable insights to inspire and empower makers everywhere. Tune in and join the herd!
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Episode 64: Heifer Huddle
<p>Welcome back to the Dirty Heifers podcast for a "Heifer Huddle"—where things get real, raw, and a little bit chaotic. This week, the heifers are diving deep into the "wins and woes" of the soapmaking life.</p><p></p><p>In this episode:</p>The "Woes" of Creativity: Shauna opens up about her struggle with airbrushing bath bombs (and why she's currently selling "hot messes").Business in the Dining Room: Jessie shares the reality of outgrowing her workspace and moving her entire shipping department into her house.The End of an Era? Margaret talks about the emotional weight of...
Episode 62: Your Reputation is CURRENCY: How to Build (and Not Destroy) Your Brand 💸
<p>Your reputation is the only thing people see before they ever buy your product—and in 2026, it's more fragile than ever. In this episode, Margaret, Shauna, and Mini Heifer dive deep into why reputation is the ultimate "currency" for small businesses.</p><p></p><p>We’re getting real about:</p>The #1 mistake entrepreneurs make when a customer order goes wrong.How to build a bridge of trust with complete strangers online.The "Reprobate" behavior that is quietly killing your brand’s value.Why we refuse to talk politics on our business pages (and why you might want to stop t...
Episode 61: Heifer Huddle: Wins, Woes & What’s Warshin'
<p>Is this the most honest small business episode we’ve ever recorded?</p><p>Welcome to our very first official Heifer Huddle: Wins, Woes & What’s Warshin’ — where we pull back the curtain on what’s actually happening inside our businesses this week.</p><p>From record-breaking wins to TikTok ad frustrations… from AI comment drama to fragrance formula fails… we’re talking about the real-life vicissitudes (yes, we used the word correctly 😏) of running a handmade product business.</p><p>In this episode:</p>Jessie launches a brand-new product 👀Shauna battles a fragrance dupe that just won’t cooperateMargaret goes O...
Episode 60: "My Competition is Unilever" — Scaling a Rugged Soap Brand with Redneck Engineering
<p>What happens when you outgrow your kitchen… but you’re not quite ready for a warehouse?</p><p>In this episode of The Dirty Heifers Podcast, we sit down with Joe from Kingston Oak Soap Company to talk about the real side of scaling a handmade business — the stuff nobody warns you about.</p><p>We get into:</p><p>• Master batching oils (beer brewers, oil drums, and redneck engineering included) • When to ditch products that won’t scale • The pricing anxiety that keeps makers stuck • Hiring help before you feel “ready” • Wholesale vs. retail vs. full-time job escape plans • Social media b...
Episode 59: Shopify Hacked & HSCG Cancelled: Is the Maker Community in Trouble?
<p>What happens when the pillar of your industry vanishes overnight? In this heavy-hitting episode, Margaret, Jesse, and Shauna dive into the shocking cancellation of the HSCG 2026 conference and what it signals for the future of the handcrafted soap and cosmetic industry. We discuss why in-person connection is the "secret sauce" for makers and how grassroots meetups and events like SoapCon are stepping in to fill the void.</p><p>But the chaos doesn’t stop there. Margaret shares a terrifying first-hand account of being hacked on Shopify, revealing the exact tactics thieves use to drain bank accounts and redirect pa...
Episode 58: Nothing Day, Everything Talk: Maker Life, Platform Burnout, Snowstorms & Soapy Superpowers
<p>In Episode 58 of The Dirty Heifers Podcast, a “nothing day” turns into a whole lot of everything. The Heifers dive into real-life maker chaos — from TikTok shop changes and platform burnout to snowstorms, supplier struggles, website headaches, and the weird mental spirals that come with running a handmade business.</p><p>This episode is part business, part therapy session, and part comedy hour. We talk about: • Platform fatigue & where creators are shifting next • TikTok Shop changes and ad burnout • Snowstorms, hospital call shifts & life interruptions • Supplier wins & website frustrations • Soapy superpowers, scent graveyards & market madness • The random thoughts that live rent-free in...
Episode 57: Don’t Get Sued! A Maker’s Guide to ADA Website Compliance with Cindy Collins
<p>Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/stop-frivolous-ada-lawsuits-targeting-e-commerce-small-businesses</p><p>In this episode of the Dirty Heifers Podcast, hosts Margaret, Jesse, and Shauna tackle a serious topic that often stays in the shadows until it’s too late: ADA website compliance. We are joined by Cindy Collins of Euphoric Herbals, who shares her firsthand experience of facing a legal summons and the reality of being targeted by "litigious" law firms.</p><p></p><p>Cindy pulls back the curtain on the world of "serial plaintiffs" and automated scanners that hunt for tiny errors on small business websites. We...
Episode 56: Negligence vs. Learning Curve: Why Good Business Practices Aren’t A "Vibe"
<p>In this episode of the Dirty Heifers Podcast, we’re tackling the uncomfortable truth about what happens when "bare minimum" standards aren't met. Inspired by recent TikTok drama involving a creator shipping out moldy clay masks, hosts Margaret Connor, Shauna, and Jesse (Mini Heifer) dive deep into the fine line between a beginner’s learning curve and flat-out negligence.</p><p></p><p>Is social media making it too easy to start a business without learning the rules? We discuss the importance of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), how to handle pet hair and cross-contamination, and the "misfit" product dilemma. Plus...
Episode 55: Stop Waiting for Perfect: Why "Ready" is a Myth (And How to Start Anyway)
<p>Are you waiting for the "right time" to launch your dream? Spoiler alert: the right time is never coming. In Episode 55, Margaret, Shauna, and Jessie (the Mini Heifer) deconstruct the Myth of Ready—the dangerous idea that everything must be flawless before you hit "publish".</p><p></p><p>In this episode, we explore:</p>The "Propaedeutic" Approach: Why treating your first steps as "preparatory training" is the only way to actually learn the ropes.Safety vs. Aesthetics: Why you can start with "messy" packaging but can never compromise on product testing and safety.Real-Life "Fails": From "scratcher" walnut so...
Why We Don’t Do Resolutions (But Still Have Big Plans) 🐮 Dirty Heifers Podcast
<p>Hook: Is it "Circumspection" or... something else? 😬 Welcome back to the Dirty Heifers Podcast! In this episode, Margaret, Jesse (the Mini Heifer), and Shauna are ringing in the new year the only way they know how: with honesty, humor, and a little bit of chaos.</p><p>+1</p><p></p><p>Summary: As we stand on the edge of 2026, we’re ditching the arbitrary "5lb weight loss" resolutions for something deeper. From Margaret’s "Word of the Year" that Jesse immediately misinterpreted, to the massive moves happening in our personal lives and businesses, we’re talking about what it really lo...
