Hot Smart Rich with Maggie Sellers Reum

Jaclyn Johnson built her company, Create & Cultivate, from nothing - and later sold it for a $22 million exit! 

But life changed completely when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025. The success she worked for left her burned out, depressed, and forced to start over.

What followed was a total reset. Divorce. Moving cities alone. Hiring a dating coach. Rebuilding her identity at 40…

Today, Jaclyn has successfully bought her original business back, has launched 2 more and continues her work as a longtime angel investor, having backed and championed female founders throughout her career. She reveals how she spots winning startups, why staying bootstrapped was her biggest business mistake, and how money changed the way people treated her.

Jaclyn Discusses: 


Your Body Keeps the Receipts: How her breast cancer diagnosis made her realise health is her real wealth and what she wishes she’d understood earlier.


Reinventing Yourself: How she rebuilt her identity at 40 and how you can do the same when the life you’ve built no longer fits.


Angel Investing Wins: How she approaches angel investing, what she looks for in founders, and why one small check can change everything.

Timestamps

00:00:00  Intro

00:02:57  Why Starting Over At 40 Felt Like A Gamble

00:05:35  Dating Again At 40 “I Was Too In My Masculine”

00:07:29 Lessons From A Dating Coach - From Anxious Attachment To Secure 

00:10:24  I Sold My Company… And My Life Fell Apart

00:13:44 The Strange Sadness After Selling A Business

00:14:53 Can You Build A Huge Business Without Sacrificing Your Life?

00:16:36  Growing Up With Entrepreneur Parents

00:18:47 “You Won’t Build Real Wealth From A 9-5” Jaclyn's Money Rules

00:20:37 The $12,000 Angel Investment That Paid Out Millions

00:22:39 beehiiv Ad 

00:24:01 What The Perfect Employee Actually Looks Like Today

00:27:12 I Sold My Company - Then What?

00:33:45  Why Jaclyn Refused To Be CEO Again

00:35:01 Some People Are Built For Stress - Others Aren’t

00:36:29 Jaclyn’s Biggest Regret - Not Raising Venture Capital

00:38:12 Why Women Must Talk About Money Openly

00:40:45 The Money Rules Jaclyn Lives By

00:44:48 How Men And Women Think About Money Differently

00:46:46 How To Pitch Investors Without Selling A Fantasy

00:48:05 Cozy Earth Ad

00:49:11 Should You Start Angel Investing? Here’s How To Know

00:51:29 How To Spot Winning Startups Early

00:52:45 The Smallest And Biggest Cheques She’s Ever Written

00:53:25 How To Break Into Angel Investing Without Capital

00:56:14 Getting Equity By Advising Instead Of Investing

00:57:10 Jaclyn’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis

01:02:41 How Cancer Changed Her Relationship With Money And Success

01:03:53 When Your Body Forces You To Pay Attention

01:05:28 The Advice She Says Could Save Your Life

01:08:18 How To Stop Falling Back Into Dark Periods

01:09:30 Rapid Fire: Credit Cards, Therapy & First Class Flights

01:12:21 Where To Find Jaclyn Online

Episode Sponsors:

. beehiiv - http://www.beehiiv.com/hsr?utm_campaign=hsr-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=hsr&utm_term=2026-01-14

. Cozy Earth - http://cozyearth.com with code HSR

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Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich

Maggie Sellers Reum:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreumLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellersShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellersAmazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers 

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Follow Jaclyn Johnson:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnson

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Steven Bartlett, the host of The Diary Of A CEO, opens up about something he rarely talks about: his relationship. He’s just announced he is engaged to be married! And his take is simple: independence isn’t the flex we think it is! If you want that dream life, you’re going to need someone to build it with!

We dive into the mental frameworks that have made Steven the success he is today and why his quitting framework is your 2026 super power.

And if you're a creator or an aspiring creator you’re going to want to listen to this! This is the perfect episode for setting your goals and intentions for your most ambitious year yet.

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Timestamps

00:00:00 Intro00:02:26 Why Steven Never Wears Shoes
00:03:46 Handling Pressure: The Lesson Padel Taught Steven00:07:28 Confidence Rituals That Work00:08:40 Steven’s Mental State (Cold + Rational)00:11:03 Why Steven Stays Emotionally Neutral00:12:19 Making Decisions Without Certainty00:14:49 Your Best/Worst Decision Is People (Hiring Truth)00:16:56 The Culture Test Steven Swears By (FlightStory)00:19:43 “Paper Walls”: The Invisible Rules Holding You Back00:26:54 Childhood Failure Creates Adult Confidence00:28:05 People-Pleasing Keeps You Trapped00:30:01 Shopify Ad00:31:23 Maggie’s First Upload (Online Ridicule)00:32:56 Steven’s 3 Rules for Hot Smart Rich00:36:58 Why Thinking About Death Is Liberating00:38:25 How to Find Your Mission (Stack Small Wins)00:44:39 Can Anyone Be a Creator?00:45:28 The 1% Rule That Built a Global Podcast00:49:24 Steven’s Quit Framework00:53:50 Embarrassment Is the Price of Entry (Creators)00:56:01 First Principles: How Steven Thinks01:00:10 How to Build Yourself Into a Top Creator00:58:07 Those 3 Pinned Posts Explained01:01:19 Bilt Ad01:02:23 Cozy Earth Ad01:03:29 Why Those 3 Photos Are Pinned (Meaning)01:04:40 A Voice Note From Mel01:06:32 “Romantic Independence” Is a Mistake01:09:33 Make Dependency Sexy Again (Relationship ROI)01:11:50 What a Successful Relationship Actually Takes01:14:27 Conflict Resolution That Works01:16:00 “I Felt Like the Failure” (Steven’s Childhood)01:17:01 Youngest Sibling Energy: Bend the World01:20:42 The Spider & The Barrier (Breaking Paper Walls)01:23:14 Why Advice Doesn’t Land01:23:55 Not Knowing Early Is a Superpower01:26:08 Rapid Fire: Last Thing You Bought01:26:24 “WAIT… YOU’RE ENGAGED?!”01:26:57 Why Steven Finally Chose Commitment01:28:29 The Engagement Ring Story01:28:58 Describe the Ring (Details)01:30:09 Avoidant Attachment & Changing Your Pattern01:31:53 Modern Dating: Too Many Options, Less Love
01:35:11 Fatherhood: Trusting the Next Chapter01:37:29 How Marriage Changed Maggie01:40:03 Love + Ambition Can Coexist01:42:54 More Rapid Fire01:43:19 Steven’s Favourite DOAC Episode01:44:35 Eggs or Watermelon Forever?01:44:52 Working With a Superfan01:46:24 Steven’s Favourite Podcast01:47:03 What He’d Call This Season of His Life01:47:54 Steven’s Biggest Achievement (Explain Like You’re 10)01:49:16 How Can Hot Smart Rich Help You Right Now

Shopify - http://Shopify.com/HSR

Bilt - http://joinbilt.com/hsr

Cozy Earth - http://cozyearth.com with code HSR

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Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe

Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc

Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/

YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich

Maggie Sellers Reum:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/

Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers

ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers

Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers 

⸻

Follow Steven Bartlett:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven

Diary Of A CEO: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDiaryOfACEO
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What engagement rings are actually worth investing in through 2026? And is lab-grown worth it?

Ring Concierge founder Nicole Wegman - who built a $100M+ jewelry brand with diamonds - joins Maggie to break down the trends shaping engagement rings right now, the lab-grown vs natural diamond debate, and why “engagement season” creates so much pressure. She also shares the real founder story behind Ring Concierge: starting with $2,000, bootstrapping to $100M+ in sales, and what it takes to scale from scrappy entrepreneur to CEO without losing the aesthetic, the community, or yourself.

We also talk about the unspoken side of success - how money and reputation can change the people around you - and why Nicole built a nine-figure business without outside investment by designing around what women actually want: clarity, taste, trust, and a brand that feels like you.

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Timestamps

00:00:00 Intro
00:01:50 Why Engagement Season Feels So Intense
00:02:43 The Social Media Ring Pressure Nobody Admits
00:04:30 Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez & The New Ring Trends
00:06:12 Designer vs CEO: What Nicole Calls Herself
00:07:30 The Most Expensive Rings I’ve Ever Sold
00:08:14 The Ring Styles That Hold Their Value
00:08:34 Lab-Grown vs “Real” Diamonds: The Truth
00:11:36 The Real Average Cost of an Engagement Ring
00:12:28 How De Beers Shaped “Real” Diamonds
00:13:48 Engagement Rings Are Status Symbols (Let’s Be Honest)
00:14:31 How To Tell Your Partner You Want A Different Ring
00:15:46 Starting Ring Concierge In The Diamond District
00:17:05 Entering A High-Cost Industry Without Big Money
00:18:11 How Nicole Turned $2,000 Into $100M+
00:19:18 Building 1M Followers On A Luxury Brand Account
00:21:09 Why I Didn’t Build A Personal Brand Until Now
00:23:00 Personal Brand: Honest, Unfiltered, And A Working Mum
00:24:17 How To Stay “Luxury” While Showing Real Life
00:25:18 Why You Should Test New Opportunities
00:26:30 Who Ring Concierge Is Really For (And Why It Works)
00:27:24 Beehiiv Ad Read
00:28:46 Influencer ROI: How We Choose Who To Work With
00:31:07 Why I Shared $100M Revenue (And What It Changed)
00:33:46 Bootstrapping & Why I Didn’t Raise Money
00:35:06 The Sacrifices No One Talks About (Including Kids)
00:35:59 The Real Advice: Hard Work, Luck, And Timing
00:37:06 Two Entrepreneurs, One Marriage: How We Make It Work
00:39:05 People Treated Me Differently After $100M Went Public
00:41:42 Taking Investment: Why Webster Capital Made Sense
00:43:15 When Men Started Treating Me Differently
00:45:00 I Don’t Have A Board… And That Might Be A Mistake
00:45:59 The Book That Made Me Start With $2,000
00:46:31 The Scaling Books I Recommend Now
00:48:40 The $500K Mistake I’ll Never Repeat
00:51:08 The Jessica Alba Lesson: Your Team Must Evolve
00:52:41 What I Look For In Every Hire: Grit, Pivot, No Ego
00:54:56 Rapid Fire Questions

Sponsored by:
Beehiiv - Use code HSR30 for 30% off

Link: https://www.beehiiv.com/hsr?utm_campaign=hsr-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=hsr&utm_term=2025-12-31

⸻

Hot Smart Rich:
Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe
Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc
Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/
YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich

Maggie Sellers Reum:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/
Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers
ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers
Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers

⸻

Follow Nicole Wegman:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnicolewegman
Ring Concierge: https://ringconcierge.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michelle Battersby has built a career around creating products that improve the lives of women. From launching Bumble in Australia, to building and selling her own tech company to Fanfix, and now becoming President of the largest women’s network for moms, all while 30 weeks pregnant, Michelle has consistently disproven the 86% of women who believe motherhood will jeopardize their career.

Raised in a hyper-competitive household with Olympian parents, Michelle reflects on how her identity has been shaped by ambition and challenged by cultural expectations, tall poppy syndrome, and motherhood, while building apps for women, by women.

Plus, Michelle brings her 7 week old baby, Bobby, on the podcast to live breastfeed to prove that yes, women really can do it all. 

Michelle discusses:


Tall Poppy Syndrome & Female Visibility: How cultural discomfort with ambitious women shows up as judgement, self-policing, and pressure to stay small - especially in Australia.


Motherhood, Career & the Myth of ‘Having It All’: What pregnancy and postpartum taught Michelle about leadership, resilience, and why motherhood doesn’t weaken ambition - it sharpens it.


Women’s Bodies, Confidence & Control: Why society sexualises women’s bodies but shames their biology - and why reclaiming ownership is an act of leadership.

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Timestamps

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:02:13) Finding My Purpose Building for Women

(00:04:19) Growing Up with Olympian Parents

(00:06:06) How I Changed My Relationship with Failure

(00:07:48) The Power of Naivety at Bumble

(00:10:11) Building a Personal Brand Before You’re Ready

(00:14:53) Tall Poppy Syndrome Explained

(00:18:16) Did Moving to the US Change Me?

(00:19:21) Being a Woman in Australia vs the US

(00:20:32) Matrescence: Losing Yourself After Birth

(00:26:17) BeeHiiv Ad[00:27:38] Why I Built a Business for Women

(00:30:48) Sunroom: Pushing Boundaries Online

(00:33:07) Posting My Body and Being Respected

(00:34:38) Breastfeeding Live on a Podcast

(00:37:07) The Fear of Pressing Upload

(00:38:40) Investor Pushback?

(00:39:28) Why Breastfeeding Is Still Shamed

(00:40:49) Disclosing Pregnancy During Interviews

(00:43:42) 3 Leadership Lessons from Motherhood

(00:45:14) Pregnancy Didn’t Kill My Ambition

(00:47:49) I Thought Being a Mum Would Ruin My Career

(00:50:27) You Can’t Achieve with an Incompetent Partner

(00:53:28) Man's Role In First 1000 Days of Parenting

(00:56:46) How Motherhood Makes You Better at Work

(01:01:20) Going From Founder to Employee

(01:09:18) How Can Someone Be Like You? Final Advice

(01:12:11) Quick Fire Questions

Sponsored by:
Beehiiv - Use code HSR30 for 30% off

Link: https://www.beehiiv.com/hsr?utm_campaign=hsr-2026-Partnership&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=hsr&utm_term=2025-12-24

⸻

Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc

Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/

YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich

Maggie Sellers Reum:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/

Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers

ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers

Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers 

⸻

Follow Michelle Battersby:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellebattersby/

⸻

Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers Reum, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Set Active founder Lindsey Carter opens up about how to build a cult-like activewear brand for gen-z and millennial women that can do $1M of sales in an hour built on the back of an authentic founder-led brand. 

Lindsey isn't afraid to face the controversies and challenges that followed her brand’s rise - including TikTok backlash in 2023 and the recent breast cancer donation misstep. She shares hard-earned lessons on accountability, female business mindset, and why building a company with friends can cost more than it’s worth.

Known for her entrepreneurial spirit, Lindsey built Set Active from the ground up, navigating the highs and lows of building a business in the public eye while offering valuable insights on success, leadership, and personal growth.

Timestamps:


[00:00:00] Intro

[02:37] Hustling at 8: Lindsey’s First Deal

[04:36] Becoming An Entrepreneur

[05:45] Lindsey’s Identity Struggle: Living for Herself, Not Dad

[06:59] Dad Controlling Her Money

[08:23] Money, Power, and the Dynamic with Her Husband

[10:37] Set Active: Before the Brand

[11:49] Lindsey’s Biggest Challenge as a Founder

[12:58] 2023: The Year Lindsey Almost Quit

[15:45] Dealing with Backlash And Online Criticism

[18:32] Why Mistakes Are Essential for Growth

[20:54] Making Workers Scared Of Her

[22:49] Want to Grow as a Founder? Here’s What You Should Do

[23:53] Facing Harsh Online Feedback: How Lindsay Deals with It

[26:27] The Breast Cancer Donation Backlash

[29:27] Bad Press: Does It Hurt or Help a Brand?

[31:04] Building a Cult Following with Authenticity

[33:46] Forbes 30 Under 30: What It Really Takes

[35:31] $1 Million in One Hour: How It Felt & What She Learned

[37:46] Lessons from Making $1M in an Hour

[39:25] The ‘Drop’ Model: Lindsey’s Strategy for Success

[40:30] Flopping Drops: The Risks of 2023’s Bold Moves

[40:51] Trends & Brand Building

[42:04] Lindsey’s Entrepreneurial Superpower

[42:46] Advice for Struggling Founders: How to Overcome Hard Years

[43:55] Friendship & Business: Why Lindsey’s Circle Is Tight

[48:01] How to Keep Business Relationships Collaborative, Not Competitive

[49:41] Business and Friendship: Lindsey’s Boundaries

[52:28] Losing Friends While Growing a Business: The Reality

[54:08] What’s Next for Set Active: The Dream Moving Forward

[55:15] Rapid Fire Questions

[57:35] Where To Follow Lindsey and Set Active

⸻

Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich

Maggie Sellers Reum:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreumLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellersShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellersAmazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers 

⸻

Follow Lindsey Carter & Set Active :

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindseycarter/?hl=en

Website: https://setactive.co/

⸻

Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers Reum, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices