A LOT with Audra
Self-Improvement
About
"A LOT with Audra" is the podcast for women juggling big dreams and full lives. Each episode, host, Audra Dinell, Midwestern wife, mom and neurodivergent multi-six figure entrepreneur encourages women to embrace their many roles holistically by living a values-based life with confidence and joy. Through candid discussions, practical strategies and inspiring stories, this podcast is your guide to designing and achieving success without losing yourself in the process.
Episodes
- 71. The Power of Noticing with Executive Coach, Jeana Marinelli
Executive coach Jeana Marinelli joins Audra to discuss the power of noticing and being present, inspired by her extended trip to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. They explore reframing the spectator experience, the difference betwe…
- 70. The Identity Shift No One Can Fully Prepare You For with Taryn Zweygardt, Co-Founder of Flourish Wellness Collective
Audra talks with Taryn Zweygardt about the profound identity shifts, mental load, perfectionism, and potential ADHD diagnoses that can surface after becoming a mother. They explore societal expectations, the challenges of early motherhood,…
- 69. What Happens When You Realize You Don’t Want the Life You’re Headed Towards with Damon Young, Founder of DK Counsulting & CEO of LEAD Wichita
In this episode of A LOT with Audra, Damon Young shares his experience of realizing he didn't want the life he was headed towards. He discusses the process of choosing differently, embracing change, and stepping into his purpose.
- 68. The Courage to Create with Jill Luton
This episode features multidisciplinary artist Jill Luton, discussing creativity as a form of self-trust. They cover Luton's journey into art, the importance of play, and a self-portrait practice, redefining creativity for everyone.
- 67. A Powerful Moment for Ambition & Motherhood with Ashley Bowen Cook
Ashley Bowen Cook, owner of Alpha Charlie, shares her journey into full business ownership and how becoming a mother reshaped her definition of success and leadership.
- 66. Spring Ahead Vision Exercise
This episode of A LOT with Audra introduces the Spring Ahead Vision exercise, a 10-minute practice designed to foster intentional growth and seasonal living. It guides listeners through visualization, choosing a 'seed word,' and finding ac…
- 65. Rewriting Your Inner Rules with Amanda Mulsow
Amanda Mulsow discusses how she rewrote her inner rules at 40, facing personal crises during the pandemic. She shares her mantra, "No F*cks at 40," and emphasizes the importance of community, self-investment, and unlearning the need for co…
- 64. The Messy Beauty of Blooming Where You Are with Kelly Jackson Crabb, Author of Beyond the Bloom
Kelly Jackson Crabb, author of Beyond the Bloom, shares insights on finding the courage to pursue passions without external validation, drawing parallels from her cut flower garden to life lessons on growth, productivity, and self-worth.
- 63. The Truth About Growth
In "The Truth About Growth," Audra discusses how discomfort is a key indicator of progress and shares strategies for pacing growth without burnout. She emphasizes embracing challenges and considering the perspective of your future self to…
- 62. Choosing the Unknown: A Second Act Conversation on Work, Worth & Risk with Bryan Steele, Founder of Forge Podcast Co.
Bryan Steele transitioned from a 15-year career as an aerospace engineer to full-time entrepreneurship in podcasting, inspired by his daughter's question about retirement. He discusses his path, including setting financial milestones and m…
- 61. Encouragement for the Entrepreneur
This episode of A LOT with Audra focuses on entrepreneurship as an ongoing experiment, emphasizing the importance of iteration over inconsistency. Audra shares mindset shifts for navigating uncertainty, choosing advice that aligns with per…
- 60. You Are the Most Important Person You'll Ever Lead with Jeana Marinelli
In this episode of A LOT with Audra, leadership coach Jeana Marinelli talks about the journey from being a "good girl" to becoming an authentic leader by focusing on self-awareness rather than achievement.
- 59. Radical Honesty with Amber Dunn
In this episode of A LOT with Audra, Amber Dunn discusses the practice of radical honesty, differentiating it from simple honesty and exploring its sustainable application. The conversation delves into identifying safe spaces for authentic…
- 58. Feeling Behind in Life? Do This.
In episode 58 of A LOT with Audra, Audra discusses the common feeling of being "behind" in life, explaining it often comes from comparison and outdated timelines. She offers three tools to help listeners reframe this feeling by looking bac…
- 57. What Happens When You Stop Numbing with Life Transition Coach, Josh Luton
This episode features Life Transition Coach Josh Luton discussing his journey from daily drinking to sobriety. The conversation covers how removing alcohol uncovered unfulfilling aspects of his career and personal life, the importance of f…
- 56. Why I've Never Feared Getting Older
Audra's grandmother shares wisdom on aging, emphasizing growth and reinvention rather than decline. The episode explores the transformative nature of the forties, the importance of presence over judgment, and finding joy and acceptance thr…
- 55. Starting Small: Act Two Habits to Anchor You with Dr. Rebecca Culver-Turner
In this episode of A LOT with Audra, host Audra speaks with Dr. Rebecca Culver-Turner about the importance of listening to your body’s physical and emotional signals. They discuss systems theory, the courage to start over, and habits that…
- 54. When A Life Shift is Out of Your Control w/ Kristen Selby, Founder of Executive Assistance
Kristen Selby discusses navigating major life changes, including divorce and entrepreneurship, after a pivotal turning point. The episode covers rebuilding self-trust, setting boundaries, and finding authenticity after unexpected shifts.
- 53. Are You in Your Second Act?
This episode discusses embracing the transition into life's 'second act,' often starting around age 40. It explores redefining ambition, embracing softness, and living with intention, drawing inspiration from mentors and cultural shifts.
- 52. What to Expect from A Lot with Audra in 2026
This episode of A LOT with Audra focuses on embracing change and designing a life in your second act. Audra reflects on 2025, discusses the concept of a 'second act' often associated with turning 40, and shares insights on clarifying what…
- 51. The Art of Wintering with Jess Dunegan
In this episode of A LOT with Audra, Audra speaks with Jess Dunegan, an Ayurvedic nutritionist and yoga teacher, about the art of seasonal living. They discuss how to tune into nature's rhythms for improved well-being, practical ways to em…
- 50. 2025 Thread Team Review
Audra and her Thread team review the unexpected events of 2025, reflecting on challenges, lessons learned in business and personal life, and setting intentions for the new year.
- 49. 10 Things I Loved in 2025
In this episode of A LOT with Audra, host Audra Dinell reflects on 2025 by sharing 10 personal and professional highlights. Topics include the Values Bridge tool, emotional health resources, intentional work shifts, reading habits, and upd…
- 48. Stop Fixing Yourself: Why Owning Your Strengths Changes Everything with Kennedy Rogers
Kennedy Rogers joins Audra on A LOT to discuss the power of CliftonStrengths in navigating life's challenges. The episode covers how understanding your unique talents can transform career, relationships, and family life, with a focus on AD…
- 47. Embracing Resilience with Janice Perkins
In this episode of A LOT with Audra, Janice Perkins shares her experiences with resilience, self-worth, and community. She details her journey through challenges such as chronic illness and divorce, emphasizing the importance of letting go…
- 46. Balancing Act | Redefining Leadership and Ambition with Paige McPheely
This episode features Paige McPheely, CEO and Co-founder of Base, discussing how to redefine success, embrace help, and let go of perfectionism to transform work and personal life. Topics include managing expectations, the myth of "doing i…
- 45. Beyond Titles: Embracing Leadership at Kansas Leadership Center
This episode features Audra and COO Kendra Moody discussing their journey with the Kansas Leadership Center. They explore the concept of leadership as an activity rather than a title, share insights from KLC programs, and discuss practical…
- 44. When Goals Feel Chaotic
This episode of A LOT with Audra explores how to manage overwhelming goals by focusing on small, consistent changes called "quarter turns." It covers practical strategies for making progress in various aspects of life, even when feeling ch…
- 43. Crafting Your Ideal Week
In this episode of A LOT with Audra, host Audra discusses the concept of crafting an ideal week to improve productivity and fulfillment. She shares strategies for prioritizing tasks using the "big rocks" concept, balancing external request…
- 42. The Art of Letting Go: Finding Freedom in Simplicity
This episode explores the concept of letting go of self-imposed timelines, perfectionism, and traditions that no longer serve you to find more joy and presence. It offers reflections on releasing rigid plans and expectations to make space…
- 41. You Are Here
This episode helps listeners reflect on their current life situation, embrace insecurities, and find more joy in the journey. It offers four practical steps for self-reflection, discusses the impact of insecurities, and introduces a resear…
- 40. Five Years of Thread: Celebrating Milestones and Memories
This episode celebrates five years of The Thread community, sharing stories and lessons learned from building and sustaining an intentional community. It covers the origin story, team growth, community highlights, and reflections on suppor…
- 39. Discovering Human Design for Self-Awareness with Ashley Watkins
This episode explores Human Design with Ashley Watkins, discussing its core components like Type, Strategy, and Authority. The discussion covers personal transformations, team dynamics, and practical applications for decision-making and pr…
- 38. Unlocking Your True Self: The Power of the Enneagram with Mandy Shoemaker.
This episode features ICF Certified Personal Development Coach Mandy Shoemaker discussing the Enneagram as a tool for self-awareness and growth. The discussion covers the Enneagram's origins, its distinction from other personality framewor…
- 37. The Confidence Cure: Building Unshakable Self-Trust with Emily Stevens
In this episode, therapist Emily Stevens discusses the importance of self-trust for building confidence, sharing practical strategies and exercises to help listeners transform their lives and careers by managing their inner critic and owni…
- 36. The Power Skill: Building Emotional Intelligence with Nikki Beyrle
This episode features Nikki Beyrle discussing the power skill of emotional intelligence. They cover its importance for leadership and relationships, exploring the four quadrants of EQ and practical tools for development.
- 35. Share Your Work with Confidence: Reframing Self-Promotion
This episode of A LOT with Audra discusses overcoming self-doubt in self-promotion. The host shares advice on reframing promotion to be about the work and the people served, rather than personal insecurity, offering practical tips for entr…
- 34. Back to School Reset: Tips for a Smooth Transition
This episode of A LOT with Audra focuses on resetting for the back-to-school season. Audra shares her summer recap and introduces a new planner, offering practical tips for parents on self-care and organization, such as booking massages, s…
- 33. Navigating Leadership and Motherhood with Amber Bartomeo
Amber Bartemeo discusses her transition from feeling stagnant to embracing her authentic self, sharing experiences on balancing motherhood and career, overcoming self-doubt, and the significance of supportive relationships.
- 32. Unlocking Entrepreneurial Success with Dr. Megan Bengston
Dr. Megan Bengston joins Audra to discuss the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, the importance of community, and her holistic approach to business and healing. They cover essential skills, balancing ambition with family, and over…
- 31. Building Community and Navigating Loneliness in Leadership with Alyssa McGinn
Alyssa McGinn joins Audra to discuss the challenges of loneliness in leadership roles. The episode explores McGinn's journey in building community, particularly after global relocation and career transitions, emphasizing the importance of…
- 30. Finding Your Authentic Voice with Anetra Burton
This episode features Anetra Burton, a speaker coach and legacy builder, discussing the importance of authenticity and communication. Learn techniques to build confidence and find your voice, inspired by Anetra's journey and the Thread com…
- 29. Unpacking Your Inner Saboteurs with Amy Leslie
This episode features Amy Leslie discussing internal saboteurs that hinder personal and professional growth, particularly among high-performing women. It covers identifying patterns like fear and perfectionism, understanding the 'Judge' sa…
- 28. Mid-Summer Reflections and Surprises: Embracing the Unexpected
In this episode, Audra, Kristen, and Kendra reflect on their summer plans, sharing personal updates. Kristen discusses unexpected turns and self-compassion, while Kendra explores balancing parenting and personal fulfillment. The conversati…
- 27. 2025 Part 2
In episode 27, Audra shares five lessons learned halfway through 2025, covering health, evolving dreams, self-discovery, and the 'soft girl era,' while also discussing the myth of quick fixes and reflecting on personal growth.
- 26. Whose Timeline Are You On?
In episode 26, Audra addresses the feeling of being behind in life due to societal expectations and comparison, especially in the digital age. She shares two reflection questions and discusses strategies like intentional living and gratitu…
- 25. Getting Over the Fear of Starting a Business
In this episode of 'A LOT with Audra,' Audra discusses the fear and vulnerability associated with starting a business. She shares her own experience since August 2020 and provides three actionable tips: talking about your business, committ…
- 24. The "Maybe" Mindset
This episode uses the story 'The Farmer and His Horse' to explore the benefits of a 'maybe' mindset, which encourages pausing before judging situations, staying open to unexpected outcomes, and building resilience. It offers practical mant…
- 23. Doable Summer Self-Care Tips: Prioritizing You This Season
This episode of A LOT with Audra focuses on actionable self-care strategies for summer, emphasizing the importance of sleep, morning routines, healthy eating, skincare, and setting boundaries. The host shares tips for creating accessible a…
- 22. Defining and Living Your Core Values
This episode of A LOT with Audra discusses the significance of core values as anchors and guides in life. Audra and her team share personal stories and practical strategies for identifying, articulating, and living in alignment with your v…