Episode 300: 300 episodes!!

Welcome to the 300th episode of the Female emPOWERED podcast! I never imagined we’d reach this milestone, and I want to use this special moment to honor the women who made this possible.

In this heartfelt solo episode, I’m reflecting on the incredible journey from launching the podcast in 2021 to now. But more importantly, I’m celebrating the designers, mentors, team members, clients, business besties, and podcast guests who helped me grow not just a podcast—but a movement for women in wellness who are building profitable, sustainable businesses.

Whether you've been a guest, a teammate, a listener, or simply shared this podcast with a friend, this one is for you. It's a celebration of women supporting women, and how collaboration—not competition—is the secret to real growth.

💬 In this episode, I share:

• How Female emPOWERED got started and why I resisted launching it
• Shoutouts to my first mentors, mastermind sisters, and clients
• The behind-the-scenes team who helped build Fit Biz Strategies and Pilates in the Grove
• Personal stories of support, growth, and being lifted by other women
• Why this milestone isn’t just mine—it belongs to all of us

🙌 Featured Mentions & Shoutouts:

• Team members past and present: Michelle Fernandez, Kristen Kaplan, Latasha Doyle, Darcy Smith, Amanda Rashford, Sarah (Catch Creative Labs), Courtney Moody
• Mentors and mastermind leaders: Nikki (The Cocktail CEO), Isha Hawke, Claire Pelletreau, Ashley Brock
• Clients and collaborators from Inner Circle & Fit Biz community
• Special thanks to Mitch McGinley and Kristen from Boutique Fitness Broker
• And all the amazing podcast guests who’ve shared their stories

✨ Thank you, listeners.
300 episodes wouldn’t have happened without your support, your shares, and your belief in this mission. I can’t wait to bring you 300 more.

🎧 Tune in, celebrate with me, and tag someone who’s empowered your journey too!

📩 Work with Christa or join a mentorship group:
fitbizstrategies.com

📱 Follow along on IG:
@christagurka

Transcript

Christa Gurka (she/her): 0:51

Hey there everyone. Welcome back to another episode of the Female Empowered Podcast. This is the show for women in wellness who are building. Profitable, sustainable businesses that they can be proud of and make as much of an impact in their communities as possible, as well as in their own family. So today's episode is a super special one. I never thought we'd get this milestone, but we're I am now recording my 300th episode. It's crazy. 300 episodes. I remember back in 2021 when my team at the time, consisted of Michelle Fernandez. She was helping me with social media. Kristen Kaplan was my project manager. And Latasha Doyle, who still my content strategist, were saying, I need a podcast. And I was like, no. I can't have one more thing on my plate that I have to be responsible for. And they said. All you have to do is record, record the episodes and we will take care of the rest. And basically that is what sparked the Female Empowered Podcast. It started with, I was doing these series called Female Fridays, where I was featuring, just women in wellness and fitness and it, transformed itself into a podcast and I'm on my 300th episode. It's crazy. So today what I'm gonna do is I am going to. Shout out a bunch of other people, specifically women who have helped me make this podcast as well as my business, what it is today. So rather than spotlighting myself, I wanna use this episode to spotlight all of the women that helped me get to where I am today. the designers, the mentors, the business besties, my podcast guests, my clients turn collaborators, my Pilates in the Grove team, and women who empower other women every single day.'cause I truly believe that it's all about collaboration over competition. And so. Tune into this episode. Maybe your name will be featured on this episode, and so today is a celebration of you, a celebration of all of you, a celebration to my listeners, a celebration to the women who have helped me get to where I am today. So let's get started. How about it? So first off, I. Would be re miss if I didn't. First and foremost, thank my mother, Maria, Christina Ramirez, Nina, who brought me into this world and showed me what. Real work ethic is, single mom raising three kids without a college education. And I certainly would not have the opportunities I have today if she had not paved the way, set the ground rules sacrificed for herself so that we could have more. So, mom, I don't think you listen to my podcast, but I just wanna give you a shout out and say, none of this. Would be what it is today without her. secondly, I wanna give a huge shout out to my mother-in-law, Leslie Gurka, who's no longer with us. we miss her every day, but she. Gave me one of the first checks when I was, expanding from Pilates on the beach to Pilates in the Grove. She cut me a check, no questions asked. She was one of our biggest supporters, a client, and she was an amazing, amazing mother-in-law. Mother to my husband and my brother-in-law, Seth, and an amazing grandmother to my two children. so those two women certainly were impactful in my life, as was my grandmother, my mom's mom, who again, is no longer with us, who made us laugh. Every single day of her life who took me to Vegas many times. And actually there's a funny story. Some of my closest friends know the story. She brought me a diamond ring one time at the middle of the blackjack table, which was very, funny and confusing to everyone else at the blackjack table. And just said, Christa, she had a Latin accent. Christa, I think you want this. This is, this is beautiful like you, and this is for you. I love you, Christa, so my grandmother, I love you and miss you all the time. And now I'd like to start with women who've poured into me as my own personal mentors and coaches. The ones who held space for me, who taught me. To see bigger than the vision I had of myself who challenged my thinking and who reminded me that I did not have to figure it out all by myself. So back in 2013, I think it was, my first. Business experience and business coaching was with Nikki. I can't even remember her last name at this point. her company was called the Cocktail, CEO. And she's the one that actually, I, I think I was on a webinar, and I'll never forget this. I've told a story a bunch of times. They were talking about brick and mortar businesses and I didn't even know what a brick and mortar meant. I had to Google it while we were on the call. What does brick and mortar mean? And so that was my first, experience with business coaching. And she was amazing. And she really, really showed me what it was like to have a business, to own a business. she helped me design my core values with my team. And so. That was my first realization that this could be bigger than myself. other people that I have learned from, people whose mentors, mentorships or masterminds I've been a part of, Isha Hawk. I was part of her mentorship back in, 2020, Claire Paltro, who did get paid marketing her, I did her mentorship. Mastermind twice. I'm currently in Ashley Brock's, win with paid Ads Mastermind. and all led by women and so also all ran their businesses a little bit different. So it was really exciting for me not only to learn from these women, but also to see how they run their businesses from the inside out so that I could take what. Worked for me and leave what didn't. And it's always great, to really to sit in space with other business owners and just see, recognize that the issues and the problems that we're, we have, we all have and that everything is figureoutable. yeah. Definitely, I learned a lot from all of these women and I feel like I'm a lifelong learner and so I love being in learning mode. those were great mentorships also, I've been very transparent. I loved my boutique fitness mastermind that I was in. Coming outta COVID. There was, the seven figure tier and that is where I met some of my. business besties, which I will shout out and highlight a little bit later. But I really appreciate everything that I learned in the Boutique Fitness Mastermind and the lifelong friendships that will, I will certainly, I feel have for the rest of my life. I wanna acknowledge also the women behind all of the spreadsheets and contracts, the financial minds, the legal experts who helped me make smarter informed decisions and build a business that's both profitable and protected. So these women have brought clarity to the chaos and helped me own my role as CEO. Shout out to Sandy York, a Fit Money Coach, who's been my bookkeeper for. The last four years maybe I, everything again, blurs together after 2020. But I believe the last four years she really, really helped me and was a huge, integral part of the transition and my acquisition, sitting in on calls and helping explain the books, doing the quality during the quality of earnings report. She is a. An amazing asset to any team. So shout out to Sandy Fit Money Coach and also to Danielle Hayden and her team, Aubrey and Kelsey, and all of them over at Kickstart Accounting. They're the money team inside my mentorship programs, so they have helped the businesses inside my program tremendously, and I've also been great sounding boards for me when I've had some questions. Their company is a full service bookkeeping, and they even offer accounting services as well. So Sandy York Fit Money Coach and the women over at Kickstart Accounting Inc. Have really been integral in the growth of not only Pilates in the Grove, but also Fitbit strategies and my Christa Gurka brand. Now for the creatives, the women who helped bring my vision to life and helped me really clarify my vision from websites, to brand photos, to messaging that actually resonates with me and my ideal audience, the women that helped me look as professional as I was. Growing to feel in my professional life. So my website, my branding, my visual identity, Jess Creatives, Jessica Freeman from Jess Creatives. She built my website at Pilates in the Grove and really brought that business, that brand to life. and then My Ride or Die, Latasha Doyle, founder and CEO of uncanny content. I truthfully don't know where I would be without this woman. she will be featured on an episode very soon because I'm flying out to Denver to have a VIP day with her and work on more branding and marketing and content for everyone. So she literally has been with me since, right after the inception of, my Christa Gurka brand. and has made Christa Gurka what it is today. She's my sounding board. She helps me with a podcast, with the words, with the messaging, with a website copy, with my emails, with my ad copy. I mean, literally, I really don't know what I would do, without her. She's also one of the coaches in the group. She's expert. She's helps with these women with. SEO with website copy, with email promotions, and she is a plethora and a wealth of knowledge. And like I said, I don't know where I'd be without her and her business. She writes, for the most part, all the words that you read on my website and in my emails. And so it has been a tremendous honor to work. For these last four years, this podcast wouldn't be what it is without the women who said yes to being on the mic with me. Truthfully, each guest brought her own perspective, her wisdom, her vulnerability, and. Their stories have not only inspired me, but countless of women who listen every week. And you as listeners have reached out to me and let me know how it's affected you. And it's just really, really amazing that some of these women, what they shared and I'm so grateful to them. So anyone who has been on my podcast, some are repeat guests. Thank you to all the women who've had a voice, took a seat at the mic, and volunteered their time to be on this podcast with me. Next I'd like to give a shout out to the women who have mentioned my name, shared my work, shouted me out in rooms. I wasn't in and believed in what I was doing, even though they didn't have to. Your support to me, your referrals. Our price list. So shout out to Shante Colefield, AKA, the movement maestro. She has sent me more referrals and shouted me out on her socials. I appreciate you. Lex Lancaster, who's been a huge supporter of mine as well. people that have added me to their websites and have shared my name and my podcast, each and every share is. It is just so appreciated by me, and if it gives me the platform and the ability to help one more woman in wellness and help them create a business that accomplishes what they want in life. I'm just so, so appreciative for all of you that are always sharing my podcast. There's a lot of you out there that share my podcast. Katie Dato, balanced by Katie. She's always sharing my podcast. Laura Sommer. She's always sharing my podcast. Carrie Pages shares my podcast a lot. there's so many of you out there that share my podcast. I really, really appreciate it. Beth, from Balance Yoga and Pilates, there's just so many of you that I am, I'm so incredibly appreciative of, you know, the opportunity to share my wisdom with you and that you find it valuable enough to share it with other people. There are then women I've learned from some from afar, some through books, courses, different online content, and you may not realize the role you've played, but you've made me a better therapist, a better business owner. A better mom, a better leader, a better Pilates instructor. And so some of the women that I've learned from, Anna Hartman, from Movement Rev, she's one of the smartest people I know. Anna. I hosted her to teach one of her courses at our studio at Pilates in the Grove. Sherry Berkowitz, Madeline Black, Carrie Pages. There are so, so many people in the Pilates and physical therapy realm that I have learned from that leveled me up to be a better practitioner, a better instructor, a better. Business leader and coach. And so there are so many of you I really, really appreciate. And like I said, the women that I learned from before, Claire Paltro, from on marketing, Ashley Brock, who I'm learning from right now on paid ads. There are so many people that I am honored to be in the room with, and. And I hope to be that for other people as well. Then there, there, there are the women that I talk to on the regular, my business besties, my mastermind sisters, the close friends who hear the wins and the meltdowns. The ones I Voxer with on the treadmill or zoom with late at night or FaceTime with from time to time, you've all kept me sane, grounded, and courage always. So the women that were in my BFS Mastermind. Amanda Freeman, Carrie Seitz, Felicia Alexander, Hagen Willie, our sole male who was always there and is currently always there. Lisa, hers, Solomon, Beth Bishop, all of you guys. I know that if I picked up a phone and needed something, you would all be there. Carrie, Felicia, Lisa, you guys have been my rock during the acquisition during the hard times. Maybe some tears along the way. I really don't know where I'd be without your friendship, without your inspiration, without your stand by me ness. I'll never forget entering the room, the zoom room of that mastermind. I'm thinking, damn, I'm in this room with the founder of SLT and the founder of, fitting Room and Jennifer Mane, the founder of Physique 57. I was I am, what am I doing in this room? And the kindness and the fact that we have now become, again, what I think is lifelong friends. I really, don't know where I'd be.'cause I think it was you women that showed me what was available to me in terms of selling my business, in terms of growing my business, in terms of being able to step away from the day to day. And whether you know it or not, I'm eternally, eternally grateful. For all of you, so thank you so much. the behind the scenes heroes, every successful business is built with a team. And if you don't think that's true, you're kidding yourself. So I've been lucky to work with women who truly care, whether it's podcast editing, scheduling, onboarding, operations, this. Is takes a village to do what we do. You guys deserve more credit than I could ever give in one episode, but I'm gonna shout you out anyways. Now, Sarah was my very first VA. I hired her back in 2020. Catch Creative Labs is her company. She's based outta the Philippines. She did my podcast, editing my video, editing my website. She built my first website. She built, one of the Pilates and Grove websites. She and her team were instrumental in me growing to where I was able. To get to and, I couldn't imagine that we would've worked together more than three months, let alone she was on my team for like three and a half years. So Sarah, I'm eternally grateful to you and your team, Courtney Moody, my, current VA who we've been working for over a year now. So thank you so much for everything that you have done. Kristen Kaplan, who was my very first project manager, she was the one that. Helped me streamline, get myself on Asana, you know, get myself on different Airtable and different types of platforms. That really, really helped me streamline my operations. My current executive assistants, Darcy Smith and Amanda Rashford, there really, really. Helpful to me. I can text them on a weekend at night, ask them to help, and they're always available to help me out. Again, Latasha is currently still on my team and I couldn't imagine what I would be doing without her. Thank you to Kia. Kiko, PPC, who helps me. When I need help running ads. She has also helped some of the women in the group. I'm always eternally grateful for your support and your guidance. and then finally the, when the people on my Pilates and the Grove team, I mean, there are. So many women and men that helped me get to where I was when I exited the company. I'm definitely gonna forget some names here, but I'll try to see if I remember as many people as possible. So, Tracy, Deandra, Terry, Alex. Kelsey. Kelsey. Kelly. Kelly. We had a lot of Kelsey's and a lot of Kelly's. Claudia Marisha, Tiffany, Marvin, Imani, Lauren, another Lauren, couple, Stephanie's. We had Stephanie and Stephanie. Becky my very first. Hi. Well, she was an intern from, back when I opened in 2010. Becky, I still remember you. You were so inspiring back then. So, Marcia, Lisa, Steve and Josh. My COOs, Steve, the first COOI ever hired. I mean, so, so instrumental in helping me turn Pilates in the grove around Marilyn, Julie, Kristen, Kaitlyn, gosh. There's so many people, so many people, Courtney, two Courtney's, we had Ashley. So I just, I'm eternally grateful for everything you all have done. putting up with me when I was difficult. I recognize I was a lot, I, and sticking with me seeing the vision all the way through and how all of you have really handled the, Transition with me transitioning out, other people transitioning in. I'm just really proud to have worked alongside you for, you know, over the years and getting to watch what Pilates in the Grove has come to be over, the 15 years that we were. Open and working together. I would be re miss if I didn't thank Mitch McGinley and Kristen from Boutique Fitness Broker who helped me get my deal across the finish line. Thank you guys for sticking with me through thick and thin. I really, really appreciate all of that. I'm quite sure that there are people that I am missing, but I wanna thank also the, the women who have I. Seeing the value in what I offer, the women that have signed up for my groups, my current inner circle members, Beth and Carol and Rosie, and, Amanda and Karen and Jen, Donna, Erica. Lauren, Amy, Audrey. There are so many. Nicole, there are so many of you women that the first women in the inner circle. Lauren and Katie, my women in the Fit Biz community, Melissa, Amanda. Kristen, Molly, Laura. oh my gosh, there's so many of you, Bridget. I'm definitely forgetting names at this point. Molly. Megan, there's just so many of you and I just wanna say thank you. Thank you, thank you so much for believing in me for. Trusting in me to help you and your business journey. I am forever indebted to you.'cause without you, the Fit Biz strategies Christa, Gurka brand would not be here. Thank you to all of the clients that have, Come to Pilates in the grove that believed in me, all of the athletes that saw value in what I was offering, and were willing to work around my schedule to be able to work with you. I really am just so grateful. I have a wonderful, wonderful life, a wonderful business, a wonderful family. I am truly. lifted up and passionate about what I'm doing and without people that have trusted me, vested in me, lifted me up, shouted out my name, gave me a chance. That's one thing. People that have given me a chance to be in the room, I'm just so, so grateful. And if I forgot anybody, I apologize, but know that. If you've had any little bit of a touchpoint with me, I am grateful for all of you. So as I wrap up this 300th episode and looking forward to the next 300 more, I'm reminded that no woman builds a business alone. None of us do. We rise together, we. Fall together, we have breakdowns together, and whether we work together for a season or you're still by my side day to day, I thank you for being part of my story, for being a part of my journey. This milestone belongs to all of us, and until next time, my friends, bye for now.