Boldly Grounded

Folllow Kylie @boldlygroundedpodcast or @kylieepperson_
www.kylieepperson.com
Host Kylie Epperson shares her ongoing journey of self-discovery, faith, and recovery from intense mental and physical burnout that deepened after the emergency C-section birth of her third child, in December 2020. She describes severe postpartum struggles, feeling overwhelmed by caretaking and motherhood demands, and reaching a point where she admitted she wasn't okay, began low-dose anti-anxiety medication, and later pursued therapy (including EMDR) and functional medicine testing. Kylie recounts a major anxiety spiral in 2022–2023 when she feared she had a brain tumor, leading to an emergency MRI that showed nothing serious. She reflects on repeated "fix it" patterns, disappointment when test results didn't show dramatic improvement, and a new perspective: healing may not be the endpoint, but a lesson in slowing down, replenishing, and trusting God's timing while continuing to grow in faith.
 
00:00 Welcome to Boldly Grounded
00:48 Why This Episode Matters
01:07 Emergency C Section Story
02:56 Postpartum and Hormones
04:14 Caretaker Weight of Motherhood
06:33 Burnout and Needing Space
08:28 Admitting I Was Not Okay
10:15 Medication Therapy and Testing
12:48 Health Scare and Anxiety Spiral
14:41 Stepping Back to Recover
15:23 Repletion Era Not Perfection
17:41 Maybe Healing Is the Lesson
20:29 Closing and Next Steps
 
Listen to Kylie's full Postpartum Journey here

Kylie Epperson shares why she took a week off the podcast after a hectic February and uses the episode to process a recurring challenge in rural communities: how to handle rumors and knowing others are talking about you, especially when you or your farm business are doing things outside the norm. She explains how her response has shifted over time from defensiveness and shrinking back to caring less about others' opinions, particularly when integrity feels questioned. Kylie outlines three reasons people talk negatively—insecurities and comparison, projection of their own "not enough" feelings, and discomfort with disrupted social order when someone changes. She shares a friend's reminder that what someone says about you reveals more about them than you, and encourages listeners to keep growing, trust themselves and God, and not let criticism reinforce their own insecurities.
 
00:00 Welcome to Boldly Grounded
00:43 Back After a Break
01:58 Small Town Rumors
05:06 Why People Talk
06:41 Insecurity and Comparison
08:06 Projection Explained
10:30 Disrupting the Norm
13:42 Sally and Susie
15:55 Keep Growing Anyway
18:41 Closing and Farewell
 
To connect with Kylie @boldlygrouded  or @kylieepperson_

Follow @Bouldygroundedpocast or@kylieepperson
Kylie Epperson talks with interior designer Tara Miller, founder of Heartland Interior Design, about building a commercial and residential firm in Nebraska that now has national and international projects. Tara shares her path through UNL's interior design program, graduating into the 2013 recession, learning sales as an architectural/design rep, and eventually going full-time in her own firm as client work grew. They discuss entrepreneurship realities like backend operations, hiring support (like bookkeeping), sticking with business long-term, and why social media and founder-led branding matter today. Tara also расскаunts how an Instagram connection led to designing Boot Barn's corporate headquarters, including a fast timeline and material-themed floors (stone, leather, iron, timber).
 
00:00 Welcome to Boldly Grounded
00:48 Meet Tara Miller
02:05 Design Passion and Roots
04:32 Tubing Nebraska Style
08:06 Why Start a Business
09:03 Interior Design School Path
11:47 Early Career and Pay Reality
14:10 Bootstrapping the Firm
20:51 Entrepreneur Strengths Mindset
24:27 Social Media as Sales
25:16 Social Media Burnout
26:20 Founder Led Branding
29:15 Follow to Grow
31:04 Internet Overload
33:15 Dopamine and Mental Health
35:52 Postpartum Reality Check
39:19 Boot Barn Design Story
47:45 Designing by Materials
50:52 Where to Find Tara
51:56 Closing Message

Connect with Kylie @boldlygroundedpodcast or @kylieepperson_.  Or check out her website at www.kylieepperson.com

Launching on Fat Tuesday during her birthday month, Kylie Epperson reflects on turning 35, explains what Lent is (a 40-day Christian season of preparation for Easter rooted in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving), and shares how her faith has deepened over the past 4–5 years. She talks through practical Lent fasting ideas she's seen (including social media, negativity, speed/busyness, and comfort fasts) and outlines her personal plans: giving up refined/added sugars and artificial sweeteners, considering going gluten-free, and letting go of the weight of other people's opinions and negative self-talk. Kylie also shares what she's adding in—weekday Mass, confession, a Blessed Is She Lent devotional (including a kids version), and prayer support through the Hallow and Ascension apps (including rosary walks). She encourages listeners to share what they're giving up and adding in for Lent, mentions the tradition of Catholic fish fries, and closes by inviting listeners to connect on Instagram.
 
00:00 Welcome to Boldly Grounded (Show Intro)
00:48 Fat Tuesday, Turning 35 & Lent Around the Corner
02:18 What Lent Is: Ash Wednesday, 40 Days, and the 3 Pillars
03:56 From "Checking Boxes" to a Real Relationship with God
07:00 Fasting Beyond Food: Social Media, Negativity, Comfort & More
09:23 My Lent Plan: Giving Up Sugar (and Maybe Gluten)
12:05 Catholic Fish Fries: A Friday Tradition & Community Builder
13:14 Letting Go of Others' Opinions + What I'm Adding In (Mass, Confession, Devotionals)
15:35 Wrap-Up: Why We Do Lent & Invitation to Share Your Plan
16:46 Final Outro & Stay Boldly Grounded

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 Follow Kylie @boldlygroundedpodcast or kylieepperson_

Kylie Epperson, host of Boldly Grounded, reflects on the transformative experience of the first Rural Rising Retreat. She discusses the importance of trusting one's gut and staying true to personal values. Kylie recaps the retreat, which brought together female rural entrepreneurs to share insights, support each other, and seek the next right steps in their journeys. Key takeaways include the importance of clarity through action, understanding discomfort as valuable information, and being present in various aspects of life. Kylie also emphasizes the unmatched energy and support from the retreat and encourages listeners to take bold steps in their own lives.
 00:00 Introduction to Boldly Grounded
00:43 Reflecting on the Rural Rising Retreat
03:06 Purpose and Impact of the Retreat
09:01 Key Takeaways and Lessons Learned
15:55 Final Thoughts and Future Plans
18:57 Closing Remarks and Stay Connected