S2E15: Breaking Through a Professional Ceiling and Building Hinsley Circle with Emily and Tyler Hinsley

In this episode of ‘Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,’ hosts Kat and Ellen welcome their first married-couple guests, Tyler and Emily Hinsley, the duo behind Hinsley Circle in Napa. Between them, they’ve worked harvests, hit a professional ceiling, and built something new from the ground up. Tyler shares how his hospitality and wine background led to launching Hinsley Consulting, and how the two teamed up to create a private membership that plans vetted, customized Napa itineraries and brings people together through monthly virtual tastings with winemakers. They also get candid about who their ideal clients are (honeymooners to bachelorettes), why fewer wineries per day is the secret to a better trip, and how to connect with them.  Tyler and Emily Hinsley *are the founders of* Hinsley Circle*, bringing together their shared passion for wine, travel, and meaningful hospitality. With backgrounds spanning Napa Valley hospitality, vineyards, winemaking, and storytelling, they believe the best wine experiences are rooted in the people, places, and relationships behind the bottle.* *Together, they created Hinsley Circle, a private membership designed to help people experience wine country more personally while creating a place to learn, connect, discover, and share a deeper appreciation for wine.*  *Join Emily and Tyler for* "Napa and France Through the Lens of Grenache," a Hinsley Circle virtual wine tasting on October 27th, 2026. *Kat is the Founder of* kat&co*, helping interior designers create streamlined, sustainable businesses. She is also the Founder of* Back Office Design Support*, providing flexible, behind-the-scenes operational support to interior design studios, and the Co-Owner and Director of Operations at* Benchwork Fabrication*, a custom furniture and millwork company serving the design industry. With a background in psychology and deep experience in creative business operations, Kat is known for navigating the intersection of creativity and systems with both strategy and empathy. Join her newsletter,* The kat&co Download*.*  *Ellen Hockley is a three-time entrepreneur, small business consultant, community builder, and the founder of* Ellen Hockley Consulting *and* SAGE Women*. She guides female founders to build intuitive, values-driven businesses aligned with the life they want for themselves and their families. Join her Substack newsletter,* ⁠The Quiet Wins⁠*.* 00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:00 Meet the Guests 01:30 How They Connected 03:40 Napa Banter 04:22 Meet Cute to Business 06:29 What Is Hinsley Circle 08:48 Napa Culture and Craft 10:07 Tyler Wine Journey 13:19 Ideal Members and Offers 14:56 Virtual Tastings Explained 17:24 Texas Wine Surprise 19:50 Consulting Origin Story 21:34 From Texts to Hinsley Circle 23:48 Bridge Between Guests and Wineries 25:13 Napa Trip Planning Reality Check 26:33 Locals Nights and Perks 27:57 A La Carte Itineraries and Add Ons 30:37 Wine Collection Chaos 31:33 Parting Wisdom Show Up 36:00 Where to Find Hinsley Circle 37:33 Final Wrap Up