Side Hustle GROWTH - podcast cover

Side Hustle GROWTH

Heya Heya Heya Friend, Welcome to the Side Hustle GROWTH Podcast! THE ultimate destination for ambitious women juggling full-time jobs and side hustles, who are READY to turn their passion projects into profitable businesses. 

Hosted by Christen N. James (CJ)—a Certified Life Skills Coach, Master Mindset Coach, and Creator of the Shine to FIVE™ Method—this podcast equips you with the tools, Mindset shifts, and strategies to quit the 9to5 and embrace entrepreneurship with CONFIDENCE.  

In this Side Hustle podcast, CJ’s mission is simple: help you step into your Power, overcome self-doubt, and design a life where you go from having a boss to BEING THE BOSS.  


With years of experience coaching women who dream of freedom and flexibility, CJ has helped hundreds of side hustlers stop “throwing spaghetti at the wall” and instead build businesses that work for them.

Her holistic approach—rooted in Emotions, Mindset, and Strategy—means she’ll meet you where you are while showing you the steps to where you want to go.  

With her real talk, compassionate coaching, and signature 3D Exit Strategy™ (DEDICATE, DECIDE, DEPART), CJ gives you the clarity and tools to transform your life.  


Here’s what sets THIS Podcast apart:  

✨ Real-Life Business Lessons: Learn practical tips to earn extra cash, build systems, and embrace a money mindset.  

✨Women-Centered Conversations: Episodes tailored to the challenges women face balancing a full-time job and growing a second income.  

✨Holistic Approach: With CJ, it’s not just about the hustle—it’s about your emotions, mindset, and self-care.  

✨Diverse Topics: From passive income strategies and simple marketing tips to accountability hacks and time freedom, there’s something for everyone.  

✨Inspiring Stories: Hear from CJ’s guests—entrepreneurs and side hustlers who’ve been where you are and found success.  


New episodes drop every Thursday, filled with actionable insights and stories to inspire your journey. There's a mix of solo episodes with CJ keeping it real and candid, plus interviews with Side Hustle pros and Small Business owners.  

Popular Topics:  

  • How to build a second income without Burning Out
  • Passive income ideas for busy professionals
  • Time freedom through better Systems
  • Shifting to a Six-Figure Mindset
  • Overcoming fear of judgment, failure, or uncertainty.



Listeners rave about CJ’s ✨energy, relatability, and practical advice✨. Whether you’re commuting to work, unwinding after a long day, or brainstorming your next business move, this podcast feels like a motivating chat with your Homegirl and Business Coach all rolled into one!  

Expect to feel:  

💡 Inspired to take ACTION with practical steps you can implement immediately.  
🧘🏽‍♀️ Grounded with a HOLISTIC approach that prioritizes your well-being.  
🔥 Empowered to own your journey and create the life you TRULY want.  


Subscribe to the Side Hustle GROWTH Podcast for weekly episodes packed with tips, strategies, and motivation to help you SHINE and THRIVE.  

DON'T DO IT ALONE! Become part of a community of like-minded women who are chasing their dreams and building businesses they love. 

👥 Check out the Side HustleHER Club https://www.sidehustleherclub.com to connect with other driven side hustlers, access exclusive resources, and level up together.  

For more tools, insights, and to learn more about CJ’s coaching, visit https://www.christennjames.com .  

Let’s SHINE and thrive together!  

Subscribe now and take the first step toward being YOUR OWN Boss!  

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Episodes

Mastering Facebook Ads for Business Growth, with Stacy Reed.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down” - Toni Morrison. Crafting a successful social media ad involves more than just content creation and funding. Learn the art from Stacy Reed, our expert on Facebook & Instagram Ads, in this week's episode: Avoiding the top blunder with Facebook Ads. Navigating the ideal timing for a Facebook Ad strategy. Key considerations for calculating your ad expenditure. Stacy Reed is obsessed with...

Sep 14, 202331 minEp. 139

Unpacking the Top 5 Fears about Leaving your 9to5.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Let's keep it real. We all know that take the leap from your 9to5 is terrifying, especially when your comfort zone is tied to being an employee. Plus, there are SO many factors to take into consideration. Trust me, I've walked that path, and I've got your back! Here are highlights from this week’s episode: The #1 Fear That Held Me Captive. The Sneaky Fear That Many Dodge. The Game-Changing Solution. ___________ Feeling stuck building your business without a su...

Sep 07, 202317 minEp. 138

The 3 Essential Steps to a Successful Digital Product Launch, with Rajeena Nizamudeen.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Creating a digital product can be an easy way to attract clients and position yourself as an expert in your field. There are easy steps that you can take to ensure you create something that they WANT. Here’s what my guest Rajeena Nizamudeen, Website & Launch Expert, covers in this episode: how to decide what type of a digital product to sell to your audience. what to do before you work on creating a digital product. how to ensure that your digital product ...

Aug 24, 202323 minEp. 137

How I avoided Burnout as a New Entrepreneur.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “I started to remind myself that I did turn down that other job offer and decided to step into this world because I was ready for it. This meant letting go of many thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve me and open myself up to the possibilities.” The transition into a world as thrilling and unpredictable as Entrepreneurship can be quite the adjustment, especially after spending most of your time in a 9to5 setting. Here’s what I cover : How I was able to re...

Aug 17, 202321 minEp. 136

Improving Time Management to Boost Side Hustler Efficiency, with Sade Kelly.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! "You can do it all, just not all at once." - Sade Kelly. When you listen to today’s guest Sade Kelly, Time Management Coach, you’re going to wonder HOW she did it all. For her, it was quite simple - understand how to manage your time so that it works FOR you and not AGAINST you, and then ACTUALLY implement it into your daily life. Grab your pen and notebook, because Sade shares: The #1 reason why you are not properly managing your time. The importance of Minds...

Aug 10, 202329 minEp. 135

3 Productivity Tips for Busy Side Hustlers with Limited Time.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Your biggest challenge of having a side hustle is TIME. You already have a full-time job and a life, and then add turning your passion into profit and you find yourself wishing there were more hours in a day. Unfortunately there aren’t! So what do you do when life gets to busy and your priorities seem too scattered to feel productive? In this SHORT episode (because… time is of the essence ), I share 3 simple tips that also work as reminders that you’re HUMAN a...

Aug 03, 202312 minEp. 134

How Starting as a Contractor Led to Full-Time Entrepreneurship, with Lata Hamilton.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! It all starts with Confidence, that is what opens up doors and opportunities to you. - Lata Hamilton. Did you think that you’d be a “lifer” in the corporate setting? This episode’s guest is a Bustle to Boss Success Story, Lata Hamilton Change Leadership and Confidence Expert, had NO plans of venturing out on her own. In fact, her vision board of 7-year plan had career and salary goals. But what she soon realized was not only could she leverage her skils to ear...

Jul 27, 202335 minEp. 133

Steps I take to Prioritize Self-Care as a Solopreneur.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Have you ever wondered HOW people talk so much about Self-Care, when your life seems to be in shambles? Just when you get one thing under control, something else comes up. AH LIFE! I had to learn very quickly that in order to maintain my mental health, I had to prioritize my self-care. But it wasn't easy, especially coming from a stressful job and being a people-pleaser. Here are episode highlights from 6 things I did to prioritize my Self-Care: How I figured ...

Jul 20, 202317 minEp. 132

Building Financial Confidence for Side Hustle Success, with Shantae Cunningham.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take, so take the shot!” You hear it all the time: your Mindset is everything! But how much Mindset is involved in charging and making what you’re worth in your side Hustle. Spoiler alert: A WHOLE LOT. That’s what my guest Shantae Cunningham, Founder of Cobella Financial, is here to talk in this episode. Highlights: Why you need to celebrate every win in your side hustle. Where the “struggle mentality” comes from and ...

Jul 13, 202329 minEp. 131

5 Helpful tips to prepare your Side Hustle for the Summertime.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! As a busy professional with a side hustle, it can be challenging to maintain your motivation and momentum, ESPECIALLY when the weather is warm and there are so many fun activities to enjoy. In this episode, I share 5 super simple tips (that you really should have already done months ago) to help you have guilt-free fun in the sun Highlights: The must-have tools before you get started. Who you should be turning to once the planning is underway. A surprising tim...

Jul 06, 202312 minEp. 130

Creating a Winning Digital Marketing Strategy for Your Side Hustle, with Nicole Gonzalez.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “Step outside of FEAR because you have it in you and can totally do it.” At this point, anyone with a business needs to be in the Digital space. Point blank period. But that space has so many components that it can be daunting, especially when trying to figure out Marketing. This goes beyond creating a social media account and sharing some posts, then keeping your fingers crossed. Like any part of business, you need a Strategy, and while terms like “digital ma...

Jun 22, 202327 minEp. 129

Turning my Setbacks into Success to thrive as an Entrepreneur.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “Once you can accept some things - like other people’s actions - are beyond the scope of what you can control, then you can completely shift your focus to your business goals and needs." In this "In My Business" episode of The Shine to FIVE Method for Side Hustlers, I do what I do best, and turn a negative into a positive - this time it's about setbacks that we will encounter as Entrepreneurs. I touch on: - How to manage your expectations so you are prepared t...

Jun 15, 202314 minEp. 128

The Legal Factors to consider BEFORE using AI in your Business, with Girija Patel.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “Keep moving forward boldly, God has your back” - Girija Patel. Everyone has been hearing more and more about ChatGPT and other AI tools that seem to have completely taken over how we communicate. While they are great tools that come with many pros (even I can’t deny that), what about the cons? Is there actually a wrong way to use AI? Omgoodness has anyone considered how using it can impact you legally? That’s why I’m happy to have Girija Patel, Founder and At...

Jun 08, 202335 minEp. 127

Overcoming your Limiting Beliefs to Achieve Side Hustle Success.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “Success is a relative term; how one person defines it is not (or should not be) how another person does.” In this episode of The Shine to FIVE™ Method for Side Hustlers, we explore the concept of limiting beliefs and how they hold us back from reaching our true level of success. Buckle up! We're getting into some really deep stuff this time by looking at: - What limiting beliefs actually are, and what caused you to have them. - What you need to start doing to...

Jun 01, 202320 minEp. 126

The Power of a Digital Community for Business Growth, with Sherley Joseph.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “It’s important to identify who your target audience is and their interests, so you can create content for them." - Sherley Joseph. Networking is a key ingredient of any successful business, and as Entrepreneurs it can take us beyond where we could have ever imagined. But what happens if you notice a gap in the type of network you need? You create one! Well, that’s what this week’s guest - Sherley Joseph, Founder of Black Canadian Creators - did when she notic...

May 25, 202342 minEp. 125

In My Business: 10 Insights I wish I had known about my WORTH in my 9to5.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! I remember feeling unfulfilled while working at my 9to5 job and being overlooked for recognition despite my hard work. IT. SUCKED. BUT I wanted to be able to turn a negative experience into a positive one when I started reflecting on my 9to5 experience, especially since it wasn’t ALL bad. I promise you that there is a lot that you can take away from it. It’s all about perspective. This episode of The Shine to FIVE Method for Side Hustlers is for those of you w...

May 18, 202317 minEp. 124

4 Ways to Monetize Your Social Media as a Side Hustle, with Kris Bryant.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “Mindset plays a huge role in becoming a successful Entrepreneur but it can also hold you back. Start surrounding yourself with like-minded people and don’t be afraid to invest in yourself.” - Kris Bryant. No matter the industry, Social Media can play a huge part in establishing yourself as a business owner. The thing is, the opportunities are endless and the ideas can seem either easy or daunting. So it takes a certain amount of strategy and discipline to be ...

May 11, 202331 minEp. 123

Top 10 Side Hustle Ideas that Empower 9to5 Women to THRIVE IN 2023.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Most people already have a side hustle, but not everyone who wants to start a side hustle has it all figured out. So what about those who are still trying to figure out how they can find something that aligns with their life, skills and Entrepreneur goals ? In this episode of The Shine to FIVE™ Method for Side Hustlers, I share the top 10 Side Hustles that I have observed trend among my clients, along with what I found through research. So if you WANT to start...

May 04, 202323 minEp. 122

The Journey From Teaching to Coaching, with Tenagne Turner.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “Take the time to develop your own Philosophy. You should be able to articulate your own philosophy around Money & Success. Think about what you hold to be TRUE.” - Tenagne Turner. How do you make the transition from doing what you know to doing what makes you HAPPY. It takes grit and intention, but if you want to do it you WILL. That’s why Tenagne was able to retire as a Teacher after she tripled her teaching salary in her network marketing Business. As s...

Apr 27, 202340 minEp. 121

In My Business: 5 Entrepreneurial Lessons I Learned from my 9to5.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Do you feel unfulfilled, stuck, and demotivated? Is corporate life not made for you? If the answer is yes, that’s OK! Although you can’t guarantee success, shifting your mindset can play a big role. Taking the knowledge, you’ve gained while at your 9-to-5 can give you a head start on your journey towards entrepreneurship. In this episode of The Shine to FIVE™ Method for Side Hustlers, you'll hear how to: Why it's important to use your 9to5 to your advantage. H...

Apr 20, 202316 minEp. 120

Avoiding Common Mistakes when Starting Your Side Hustle, with Monica Allen.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Don’t know if quitting your 9to5 is the best next step for your growing business? There are some questions you can ask yourself before deciding, if you’re ready. It is important to remind yourself that the perfect time does NOT exist, but if the decision feels right, you should make it. Here we have Monica Allen, a serial entrepreneur and co-owner of Allen Profession, to talk about her experience when she was going through this big decision, the mistakes she m...

Apr 13, 202330 minEp. 119

Effective Methods that help Business Owners Conquer Overwhelm.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Are you struggling with consistency? Creating a routine isn't always the easiest task, nor is time management. Unfortunately, life can get in the way of your goals, but remember that it is OK to ask for help! Certain things take a village. Identifying your priorities can aid in the process when achieving goals. No matter how small the achievement you are still ONE STEP CLOSER! Let's improve your focus & reclaim your time! In this episode of The Shine to FI...

Apr 06, 202315 minEp. 118

Bouncing Back Strong after a Layoff.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Ever found yourself in the tough spot of being laid off? It can feel a lot like navigating through a rough breakup, can't it? But fear not, because it's time to master the art of BOUNCING BACK! We've all heard about the 5 stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Typically, we associate these stages with the loss of a loved one or the pain of a breakup. Yet, guess what? These very stages can rear their heads when we're faced with ...

Mar 30, 202322 minEp. 117

How to Define YOUR Success to make it Sustainable, with Felecia Etienne.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “If you are not failing, you cannot win! When you fail it is an opportunity to learn” – Felecia Etienne Are you willing to fail? Knowing how to learn from failures is an important step towards growth, which can then lead to winning. Acknowledging that changes always need to be done in order to get to the next step. In this episode of The Shine to FIVE™ Method for Side Hustlers, my guest Felecia Etienne, High Performance Success Coach and I cover: • the REAL be...

Mar 23, 202330 minEp. 116

Going from Difficult Conversations at my 9to5 to Entrepreneurial Confidence.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Thinking about leaving your 9to5? Have you ever had to have DIFFICULT conversations? So, ask yourself, can you pick up on verbal cues? Because knowing how to objectively listen and adapt your communication is only half of the battle. In this episode of The Shine to FIVE™ Method for Side Hustlers, you'll hear: •the unexpected similarities between negotiating with an employee and a client. •the BIGGEST lesson that I learned about myself through having difficult ...

Mar 16, 202320 minEp. 115

The benefits of hiring a Virtual Assistant for your Side Hustle, with Marsha Watson.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! “Dream BIG, Write the Vision and Build the Empire…Hustle smart, not hard” – Marsha Watson When should you start thinking about hiring a VA? There are a few things to take into consideration when debating taking this next step and getting an assistant. Is it in your budget? What help are you looking for? The list can go on, but finding the right person for YOU can help take your business in the right direct! In this episode of The Shine to FIVE™ Method for Side...

Mar 09, 202324 minEp. 114

The Importance of Knowing your Ideal Client to Attract your Target Client.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! Do you really know who your IDEAL client is? Is there such a thing as an ideal client? There are question you can ask yourself to ensure that your client benefits from you and that it is a great match. As there is nothing that can truly be perfect, let's establish a way to NOT work harder, but work SMARTER to get the right client for YOU! In this episode of The Shine to FIVE™ Method for Side Hustlers, you'll hear how to: - The difference between Ideal Client a...

Mar 02, 202312 minEp. 113

The Power of Leveraging Pinterest for Business Growth, with Presh Rodgers.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! "Always give yourself grace, ease and flow, because you don't need to hustle in order to be successful" - Presh Rodgers. Did you know that there's more to Pinterest than finding inspiration for your wardrobe, home or travel? It can be a great discovery tool for your Business, without having to constantly churn out new content that is expected on some other social media platforms. Your content becomes evergreen, and you can continue to land in front of a new au...

Feb 23, 202330 minEp. 112

3 Hacks That Increase Your Motivation to STAY Energized.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! One thing's for sure - being an Entrepreneur is TOUGH. And that means that there will be times that you just can't seem to get moving. Or want to, for that matter. While it's GREAT to hire a Coach, it still has to start with YOU. But what do you do when you don't want to DO anything? Well since you're In My Business again in this episode of The Shine to FIVE™ Method for Side Hustlers, you know that I won't shy away from sharing what I like to do when I find my...

Feb 16, 202316 minEp. 111

How to create a Simple System for Small Business Success, with Sasha Belle.

Text Me, I'd LOVE to hear from YOU! "When it comes to systems, you don't have to wait until you "blow up"! Just because you're a small business doesn't mean that you can't run like the big corporations do." - Sasha Belle Having a system should be a given for any business owner, but where do you even start when you're new to the game? What is all this talk about a System, anyway? It sounds complex, right? It's NOT! It's supposed to make things easier. In this episode of The Shine to FIVE™ Method ...

Feb 09, 202336 minEp. 110
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