Episodes

If you’ve been dreaming about becoming a sleep consultant but keep getting stuck on the thought: “Why would anyone hire me when I’m brand new?” …this episode is for you. That “newbie fear” is completely normal — but it doesn’t have to keep you from starting. In fact, at The Cradle Coach Academy, we’ve built a process that helps you step into your new career already armed with experience, results, and credibility. Here’s the secret: before you even graduate, you’ll work with five real familie...

Accreditation isn’t just a fancy stamp of approval — it’s a deep, challenging process that ensures your training truly prepares you for the work you’ll do with families. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it took for The Cradle Coach Academy to gain approval from the Newborn Care Specialist Association (NCSA) for our NCS program and from the International Association of Professional Sleep Consultants (IAPSC) and the International Association for Complementary Therapists (IAOT...

Burnout isn’t a maybe — it’s a when if you don’t build your business with sustainability at the center. Whether you're a sleep consultant, newborn care specialist, or parent coach, (or aspiring one!) this episode is your roadmap to doing meaningful, impactful work without burning yourself into the ground. Marli shares real strategies and boundary-setting practices that will help you structure your business around your life (not the other way around). These are the same tools she’s taught to hu...

What happens when a burned-out educator turns her postpartum struggle into a thriving business? In this episode, Marli chats with Teal Chalek — a Cradle Coach Academy graduate and founder of Roots of Reverie — about her transition from special education to sleep consulting, how she went from zero to six clients in two weeks (without relying on social media), and what it really takes to build a business that supports your life and your family. This is for the mom mapping out her next move — and ...

In this episode, Marli reveals the true requirements for building a successful sleep consulting business. Spoiler alert: it’s not what you think! While many women believe they need healthcare or childcare experience to succeed, Marli shares what actually determines success in this field. She breaks down the two critical elements that separate thriving sleep consultants from those who struggle, and explains why your background matters far less than these essential qualities.

In this comprehensive episode, Marli breaks down the five critical factors you need to evaluate before pursuing a career in sleep consulting. She shares her personal journey from corporate burnout to building a thriving sleep consulting business and explains what it really takes to succeed in this field. If you’ve been wondering whether sleep consulting could be your path to freedom and fulfillment, this episode will help you make that decision. Next Steps Our Support+ Mentorship Track Sleep C...

In this episode, we sit down with Leslie, a Cradle Coach Academy graduate who successfully transitioned from being a stay-at-home mom for six years to building a thriving sleep consulting business. Leslie shares her unique journey, valuable sales insights from her corporate background, and how she built a successful local business without relying heavily on social media. Leslie’s Background & Journey Former sales area manager for major breweries on the East Coast Stay-at-home mom for 6 years ...

In this episode, Marli discusses why traditional marketing approaches often fall flat for sleep consultants and why focusing on relationship-based marketing leads to more success and less stress. She shares practical strategies for building genuine connections with clients and other professionals in the parenting space to grow a sustainable sleep consulting business. Listen to last week’s episode on building the Know, Like and Trust Factor for Sleep Consultants: www.thecradlecoachacademy.com/po...

In this episode, Marli explores why the "know, like, and trust factor" is amplified tenfold for professionals working with families during vulnerable postpartum and early childhood periods. She breaks down each component and provides practical strategi...

In this episode, we chat with Christina Carpenter, a Cradle Coach Academy graduate and founder of Everyone Is Sleeping. Christina shares her journey from corporate life to building a thriving sleep consulting business in just one year. As a mom of three (ages 6, 5, and 2.5), she discusses how she found the perfect balance between meaningful work and family flexibility through sleep consulting working just 10 hours a week. Schedule a call to chat directly with Marli or The Cradle Coach Academy g...

In this episode, Marli tackles one of the most common questions from aspiring sleep consultants: "How much will it cost to start my business?" Marli shares her personal experience of launching a sleep consulting business while working full-time and rai...

In this episode, Marli addresses the common challenge of imposter syndrome among sleep consultants. She discusses how nearly everyone experiences feelings of self-doubt when starting a new career path, especially in the specialized field of sleep consulting. Marli shares personal experiences and practical strategies to help listeners overcome these feelings and build confidence in their professional journey. Website: thecradlecoachacademy.com To learn more about certification programs by connec...

In this episode, Marli shares her expertise on selecting the right sleep consultant certification program. Drawing from her personal experience and insights gained from training over 500 sleep consultants since 2018 at The Cradle Coach Academy, Marli outlines five essential factors to consider when choosing a certification program, plus a bonus consideration that can significantly impact your success. Connect With The Cradle Coach Academy: Schedule a call with Marli or program graduate Michell...

In this special episode, we interview two Cradle Coach Academy graduates, Heidi Lovens and Alyssa Hempel, who combined their individual sleep consulting businesses to create Big Little Sleeper Co. They share their journey from solo entrepreneurs to business partners, how they navigate their partnership, and the challenges and triumphs they’ve experienced along the way. The Decision to Join Forces Met through The Cradle Coach Academy Facebook group around 2020 Developed a friendship that evolv...

In this conversation, Marli discusses the journey of becoming a certified sleep consultant, focusing on the time commitment required for certification, the structure of the coursework, and the process of building a business in this field. She emphasizes the flexibility of the program designed for busy moms, the importance of continuing education, and the relationship-focused approach to business building that allows consultants to thrive while managing their time effectively.

In this episode, Marli interviews Maeve, a successful Sleep Consultant program graduate who transitioned from a corporate accounting career to becoming a sleep consultant. Maeve shares her entrepreneurial journey, including how her obsession with her own child’s sleep in 2020 led to her passion for helping other parents. Maeve discusses her most significant accomplishment—consistently showing up for her business even without immediate financial returns—and reveals her marketing strategies that ...

This week's episode is a repost of an episode recorded in March of 2024 and features TCCA graduate, Lexi Teska. Since launching her business in late Sept 2023, Lexi has had an extremely impressive start to her Sleep Consultant career,

In this episode, Marli Klaus shares her personal journey from a 13-year corporate career to becoming a full-time sleep consultant. She details how she transitioned from feeling unfulfilled in her corporate role to building a successful business around her passion for sleep consulting, eventually replacing (and surpassing) her corporate income while gaining the flexibility and fulfillment she craved. “They had just paid me actual money to help them solve a problem I would have happily helped wit...

In this episode, Marli tackles one of the biggest fears that holds moms back from pursuing sleep consulting as a business: the fear of sales. If you’ve never done sales before and feel anxious about this aspect of business ownership, this episode provides the reassurance and practical advice you need. What You’ll Learn: Why prior sales experience is NOT necessary for success as a sleep consultant How to reframe “sales” as simply helping exhausted parents who are already searching for solution...

In this episode of the Moms Making Money podcast, Marli explores why The Cradle Coach Academy's sleep consultant certification prepares you to support families with children from newborn through age seven—a significantly wider range than most programs ...

In this inspiring episode of the Moms Making Money podcast, host Marli interviews Kim Rosales, a successful sleep consultant and graduate of The Cradle Coach Academy. Kim shares her journey from working in dentistry for 15 years to becoming a sleep consultant after her own experience with severe postpartum depression related to sleep deprivation with her first child. After finding help from a sleep consultant that “changed her life,” Kim discovered her true calling. Kim discusses how she paid o...

Ready to ditch the "trading time for money" trap? This episode busts open the myth that you need to work crazy hours to make good money. Marli shares her story of leaving the corporate world to become a sleep consultant,

In this episode of the Moms Making Money podcast, we address the common concern among aspiring pediatric sleep consultants regarding market saturation. In this episode, we will discuss: The fear of market saturation is common but unfounded. There is a high demand for sleep consultants due to the number of new parents. Parents seek personalized, compassionate guidance, not just generic advice. Successful consultants pave the way for new entrants in the market. Recognizing the frequency illus...

In this episode, Marli discusses the challenges of building a business, particularly in the field of sleep consulting. She emphasizes that while it is difficult, success is achievable with the right strategies and a focus on relationship-based marketing. Marli shares her personal journey and the importance of having a clear plan and support system to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship. If you’re ready to learn more about our programs, you can find all the information here: www.thecra...