A LOT with Audra

Cohort 11 for The Thread is open now! To apply, visit www.thethreadwichita.com/apply

What happens when you finally stop pretending to be fine? When you peel back the layers of people-pleasing, workplace masks, and self-abandonment, what's left? This conversation explores the messy, beautiful work of radical honesty—not the loud, dramatic kind, but the quiet, everyday practice of telling the truth to yourself first. Through the lens of Alison Espach's novel The Wedding People, Amber Dunn and I unpack what it means to stop performing, start listening to your body, and create safe spaces where you can show up fully as yourself. Whether you're navigating workplace dynamics, cycle syncing, or simply trying to ask for what you need, this episode is an invitation to stop abandoning yourself and start living aligned with who you really are.

Highlights

• The difference between radical honesty and just being honest—and why the softer approach might be more sustainable
• How to identify safe spaces where you can unmask and why you need them to recharge
• The workplace trap of "don't let them see you sweat" and what happens when you finally let people see you as human
• Cycle syncing, rest as a gift, and why busyness is often a numbing mechanism
• The powerful question "Can I have?" and how it opens doors to support, rest, and joy
• Self-abandonment: what it looks like, what it costs, and how to stop doing it

Chapters

[1:02] Introduction to Amber Dunn and The Wedding People
[1:55] Book Club Discussion: The Wedding People
[2:33] Themes of Radical Honesty
[4:22] Personal Reflections and Safe Spaces
[13:03] Workplace Dynamics and Authenticity
[22:00] Self-Abandonment and Personal Growth
[28:40] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources Mentioned

• The Wedding People by Alison Espach - https://www.alisonespach.com/novels
• Brené Brown's Dare to Lead - https://brenebrown.com/book/dare-to-lead/
Want to learn more?
The Thread

Be sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedIn

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.

Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.

Cohort 11 for The Thread is open now! To apply, visit www.thethreadwichita.com/apply

Ever catch yourself thinking you should be further along by now? That quiet fear that everyone else has it figured out while you're still trying to catch up? Here's the truth: being "behind" isn't a personal failure—it's a misdiagnosis. Whether you're hitting a milestone birthday, navigating a career shift, or simply comparing your life to others, that nagging feeling of not measuring up is more common than you think. Let's talk about three powerful tools to help you reframe this story and show up from a place of abundance instead of scarcity.

Highlights

• Why the feeling of being "behind" often stems from outdated timelines and comparison traps
• The power of looking back to recognize how far you've actually come
• How to identify who you're comparing yourself to and why it matters
• Bill Gates' wisdom on overestimating one-year progress while underestimating decade-long growth
• The danger of building a life that works for other people but not for you
• Four essential questions to examine your thoughts: Is this true? What else could be true? What am I making this mean? What neutral thought could I choose instead?
• Why your 80-year-old self has better perspective than your current anxious mind

Chapters

[0:00] Introduction: Are You Feeling Behind in Life?
[1:30] Personal Anecdote: Cooking Misadventures
[6:45] Reflecting on Milestones and Progress
[9:20] Tool 1: Looking Back
[15:45] Tool 2: Looking Up
[22:30] Tool 3: Looking Ahead
[25:15] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources Mentioned

• Super Simple cookbook by Tieghan Gerard (Half Baked Harvest)
• How We Feel app
• Rachel Hollis podcast

Want to learn more?
The Thread

Be sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedIn

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.

Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.

Cohort 11 for The Thread is open now! To apply, visit www.thethreadwichita.com/apply

What if the thing you use to cope is actually keeping you from truly living? I sat down with Josh Luton to explore his journey from daily drinking to sobriety, and how removing alcohol revealed parts of his life that weren't working—his career, his presence with family, and his disconnection from himself. We talk about the courage it takes to feel your feelings instead of numbing them, why overwhelm is actually rooted in fear, and how small decisions (like buying a sauna) can lead to life-changing transformations. Whether your "thing" is alcohol, busyness, social media, or something else, this conversation will challenge you to get curious about what you're avoiding and what might be waiting for you on the other side.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Why alcohol (or any numbing behavior) keeps us from feeling discontent in our lives
• The connection between overwhelm and fear, and how to get curious about your emotions
• How sobriety opened up space for Josh to discover what he actually wanted
• The three-year journey from stopping drinking to becoming a full-time entrepreneur
• Practical tips for tracking what energizes vs. drains you
• Why you don't have to tell everybody everything, but you should tell somebody something
• How to live a regulated, honest life by listening to your body

CHAPTERS

[0:00] Introduction to Josh Luton
[2:30] Josh's Journey with Alcohol
[6:45] The Shift to Sobriety
[8:15] Current Life and New Career
[14:30] Understanding and Feeling Emotions
[20:00] Emotional Sobriety and Internal Family Systems
[28:00] The Promise and Reality of Sobriety
[32:45] The Impact of Sobriety on Life and Career
[34:00] Connecting Sobriety to Entrepreneurship
[35:15] Discovering Unfulfilled Aspects of Life
[38:30] The Role of Writing in Sobriety
[43:00] Exploring New Ventures and Self-Discovery
[49:00] Practical Tips for Self-Reflection and Growth
[56:30] Living a Regulated and Honest Life

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• One Year No Beer - Challenge program for taking a break from alcohol
• Laura McKowen - Author of "We Are the Luckiest" (sober memoir)
• Julia Cameron - Author of "The Artist's Way"
• The Feelings Wheel - Tool for identifying and naming emotions
• Josh's Substack: Gone Dry
• Josh's Coaching Website: joshualuton.com
Want to learn more?
The Thread

Be sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedIn

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.

Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.

Cohort 11 for The Thread is open now! To apply, visit www.thethreadwichita.com/apply

What if the best decades of your life are still ahead of you? My grandmother has spent her life proving that aging isn't about shrinking—it's about clarifying. From starting her first business in her fifties to becoming a master gardener in her late seventies, she's shown me that life doesn't have an expiration date on growth, reinvention, or joy. Today, she shares the wisdom she's gathered across eight decades: why your forties are transformative, how to stop judging yourself, what it means to be truly present, and why the past doesn't define your future. If you've ever felt like it's "too late" for something, this conversation will change your mind.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Why the forties are the best decade—and what makes them so transformative
• How to learn from your mistakes without living in regret
• The connection between judgment and presence (and why you can't have both)
• What it takes to build character traits like integrity at any age
• Why moving outside your bubble creates exponential personal growth
• How to let go of worrying about what other people think
• The importance of forgiving yourself—and others
• Why women need to stop judging themselves and start saving for their future
• What a good life actually looks like: health, presence, and acceptance

CHAPTERS

[1:04] - Introduction: Why I'm Not Afraid of Aging
[1:58] - What Mattered Then That Doesn't Matter Now
[3:50] - The Power of Being Present
[7:53] - Remembering the Good Shots: Life Like Golf
[9:33] - Seasons That Surprised Her
[11:48] - Moving to Atlanta: Starting Over in Your Forties
[14:23] - Building Integrity in Your Forties
[16:08] - It's Never Too Late: Starting a Business at 50
[19:05] - Letting Go of Hesitation and What Others Think
[20:26] - What I Want You to Know at 40
[21:57] - One Kind Truth for Your Younger Self
[23:03] - What to Be Proud Of: Integrity and Acceptance
[24:53] - What Women Worry About Too Much
[26:17] - What Women Need to Worry About More
[26:52] - What a Good Life Actually Looks Like

Want to learn more?
The Thread

Be sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedIn

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.

Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.

Cohort 11 for The Thread is open now! To apply, visit www.thethreadwichita.com/apply

Are you listening to your body, or just pushing through? Discover how tuning into your physical and emotional signals can transform your leadership, career, and personal fulfillment. Join the conversation with Dr. Rebecca Culver-Turner, a seasoned therapist, educator, and founder, as we explore the power of systems theory, the courage to start over, and the habits that support meaningful change.

Highlights
Dr. Rebecca’s journey from academia to entrepreneurship and what inspired her leap
How systems theory applies to both therapy and organizational leadership
The impact of the pandemic and demographic shifts on higher education
Recognizing the physical signs of stress and the importance of listening to your body
Internal Family Systems therapy and the challenge of suppressing emotions in professional life
The three identities: personal, professional, and positional—and how to balance them
Habits for personal growth: pausing, journaling, community, and strength training
Overcoming self-doubt and embracing lifelong learning at any age
Practical ways to apply systems thinking to leadership and team dynamics
Chapters

00:00 – Meet Dr. Rebecca
02:21 – Dr. Rebecca's Professional Journey
04:02 – Challenges in Academia
04:47 – Applying Systems Theory
05:30 – Impact of the Pandemic
06:48 – The Perfect Storm and Transition
08:09 – Listening to the Body
10:03 – Recognizing Stress and Seeking Therapy
14:13 – Internal Family Systems Therapy
15:21 – Suppressing Emotions in Professional Life
16:27 – Emotional Agility and Energy Drain
17:44 – Identity Shift and Personal Realizations
18:31 – Balancing Personal, Professional, and Positional Identities
21:15 – Listening to the Body for Professional Decisions
22:06 – Finding Joy in Personal and Professional Life
23:00 – Listening to Your Body
23:35 – Postgraduate Supervision in Therapy
24:18 – Journaling and Self-Reflection
25:01 – Discovering Professional Joy
26:21 – Mental Notes and Casual Reflection
27:46 – Balancing Work and Personal Life
28:33 – The Importance of Pausing
29:20 – Supportive Habits for Personal Growth
30:11 – The Role of Community and Connection
31:17 – Prioritizing Physical Health
32:16 – Starting Over and Lifelong Learning
32:57 – Overcoming Self-Doubt
35:23 – Applying Systems Theory to Leadership
36:19 – Understanding Triangulation in Systems
39:28 – Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Resources
Culver Turner Institute: culverturnerinstitute.com
Dr. Rebecca Culver Turner on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile
Book: The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté: Amazon Link
Book: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: Amazon Link
Martha Beck (on following joy and authenticity): marthabeck.com
Diana Chapman (on professional decision-making and body wisdom): conscious.is
Susan David (on Emotional Agility): susandavid.com

Want to learn more?
The Thread

Be sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedIn

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.

Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.