TrailBlazeHERs Jan and Erin Johnson on Entrepreneurship, Legacy and Letting Go

Today’s guests are a mother-daughter duo who I’ve not only long admired but also make me miss my own mom and sisters!

I’m joined by the incredible women behind TrailblazHER Co., Jan and Erin Johnson — who together created TrailblazHER Magazine, a publication that’s become a lifeline and a love letter to rural women everywhere.

What started as an wild idea during the pandemic has grown into a movement—one that celebrates creativity, resilience, and the beautiful, often unseen stories of women living beyond city limits. Sadly (unknown to me before we recorded) they’ve announced they’ll be releasing their final issue of TrailblazeHER Magazine at the end of this year. A twist I didn’t see coming! (You can pre-order the final issue at the link below.) But Jan and Erin explain why they felt this was the right time to put a bow on their passion publication.

This episode is one that really speaks to the heart of what this show is all about—authentic storytelling, community, and the rural women we find so inspiring. Jan and Erin open up about their journey from urban life back to the farm, what it’s been like to build something so meaningful together, and how they’ve used their platform to spotlight and relate to other women. We talk about the challenges of entrepreneurship, the lessons they’ve learned along the way, and what it means to close one chapter while trusting in what comes next.

They’re creative, courageous, and completely genuine—and I know their words will stick with you long after this conversation ends. (They even have me tearing up!)

Let’s get dirty with Jan and Erin.

_________________________________________

Like the Dirt Diaries podcast? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Thursday! Please also rate and review to help us continue growing. We want to hear your feedback, favorite moments and dream guests for the show!

Resources