We were lucky to catch up with Caitlyn/makenzie Mentzel/diffley recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Caitlyn/Makenzie, thanks for joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?
Makenzie and Caitlyn started their friendship in a Dick’s Sporting Goods isle about a year prior to launching their podcast. From a simple “hello, do you run?” to the podcast idea coming to fruition in a Home Goods isle, shopping is not a shortage with these two. Essentially they both lead intentional, purposeful lives and wanted to show that adult friendships do not have to be as hard as we make them. By sharing a variety of topics from their lives that relate to so many individuals they wanted to share that by being more intentional we can all start to live more fulfilled lives! From there they have launched the podcast and are going on year three of producing. Starting with episodes every other week to now delivering an episode weekly. They have brought on a variety of guests from so many backgrounds as well as host episodes just the two of them in very conversational format. Makenzie and Caitlyn had a couple brainstorming sessions to get the social platforms set up as well as researching audio, editing, and hosting programs. As technology continues to evolve the co-hosts stay fluid to learn and produce the best podcast they can. Eventually they would love to scale to video and beyond. They did do a small merch launch last fall with sweatshirts and hats. Always excited to hear what their audience wants next. The fun thing is that as Makenzie and Caitlyn’s lives change the podcast can continue to evolve.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Makenzie Diffley comes from a creative background with experience in Graphic Design, Marketing, Event Planning, and, now, Podcasting! When she’s not recording episodes with her co-host, Caitlyn, she works for the Wisconsin Humane Society as an Event Associate for the Kenosha Campus. She also owns and operates her home-based, cottage bakery, Lou Hou Sweets, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Makenzie’s happily married to her husband, Connor, and, together, they have a rescue pup named Dangle.
Caitlyn Mentzel started her career in the Food Regulatory space after graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran College where she met her now husband Jordan. Originally from Illinois they currently live in Milwaukee, WI. Obsessed with all things Disney or coffee you can find her at a local coffee shop or planning her next vacation. Soon after graduating she felt a pull to discover more, as a multi-passionate entrepreneur she loves helping people find their passion while living more intentionally. Caitlyn and her husband operate their marketing business Mentzel Group, marketing for a variety of private label brands. She is a podcast co-host for The Intentional Podcast and a first time author of More Than Conquering: A Season of Surrender.
We are most proud of how positively impactful our words and our guests’ insights have helped our listeners. It’s really reassuring to know we’re truly helping others live more intentional and fulfilled lives! We are also proud of maintaining our friendship and starting up this brand together, while it requires communication and boundaries it has been so rewarding to watch this branch of our friendship flourish as well!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Our mission for the podcast as a whole is to share how we can all be more intentional in each and every aspect of our lives to live a more fulfilled and purposeful one! Whether you are in a season of life where you just feel a bit stuck or you want to improve your friendships, your marriage, your finances, your health, or your mindset. This podcast is for YOU! We love the topic of friendship especially in adulthood because finding solid community is so important!
How’d you meet your business partner?
We were shopping in Dicks Sporting Goods in May of 2021 admist the pandemic wearing masks. Makenzie was looking at running shoes and Caitlyn asked her if she was a runner too? We hit it off right away in conversation exchanged numbers and stayed connected. Met up for a coffee/smoothie date and found our love for true crime, Disney, marriage and traveling. We both lived in the Milwaukee area at the time so we met up locally and with our husbands a few times. Now we are intentional to create meet ups as often as possible even with being a bit more at a distance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mentzelgroup.info/podcast
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_intentionalpodcast/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088071412583
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theintentionalpodcast?fbclid=IwY2xjawEl2dZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQLsKMQjsBzwTbkGGs-8RsmqJ6cLNL9IQuN0I8MeNjFd4gQOELVLFs_Eyg_aem_cDB1Asp7U3o4o-X8k2-Wjg
Image Credits
Libby Haydin of Libby Sue Photography