A LOT with Audra

Audra Dinell
  • 5.0 (47)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

"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.

  1. 4d ago

    74. Starting Over on a New Continent with Carolina Freeman

    What does it actually take to leave behind everything you've built — your career, your country, your circle — and start over from scratch? Carolina Freeman did exactly that when she moved from Argentina to Wichita, and what she found on the other side is a story about identity, resilience, and the courage to finally live life on your own terms. Carolina is the chef and owner of Argentina's Empanadas in Wichita, Kansas — and she is one of those rare people whose wisdom hits you soul deep. In this conversation, we talk about the grief of starting over, the surprising difficulty of making friends as an adult, and why the journey itself is the actual reward. HIGHLIGHTS Why moving around as a child builds the kind of resilience that sticks with you into adulthood — and how to give kids that same gift without leaving the countryThe emotional reality of immigrating as an adult: leaving behind a career, a neighborhood, a university identity, and friendships — and arriving somewhere no one knows your storyWhy making friends past 35 is genuinely hard (and why it has nothing to do with you)The two types of people you'll find after 40: those who are completely settled, and those who are just starting to discover who they really areHow Carolina left a career in HR to build a business that bridges her past and her presentWhy the second act isn't about age — it's about waking up and taking agency over the life you actually wantThe difference between chasing an end result and learning to find reward in the daily processThe emotional nakedness of entrepreneurship — and why feeling your emotions is not weakness, it's dataThe concept of "emotional agility" from Harvard psychologist Susan David and how using emotions as information can guide better decisionsWhy success, for Carolina, means freedom, harmony, and peace — not a yachtHow small, consistent action — a "grain of salt" every day — is what builds something big over time CHAPTERS 0:00 — Welcome1:50 — Second Acts and Identity3:25 — Moving to Wichita4:35 — Culture Shock and Language5:35 — Resilience Through Change7:22 — Making Friends as Adults9:46 — Defining the Second Act10:57 — From HR to Empanadas13:02 — Authenticity and Acceptance14:15 — Loneliness and Starting Over16:22 — Community-Driven Business17:39 — Taking the Leap19:07 — Journey Over Outcome20:34 — Live How You Want22:26 — Show Up Daily24:05 — Support and Emotions27:32 — Emotional Agility Tools29:42 — Redefining Success31:17 — Freedom and Brand Legacy33:09 — What's Next and Where to Follow RESOURCES MENTIONED  Argentina's Empanadas — Instagram | Facebook | Location: Clifton Square, College Hill, Wichita, KS | Food truck at the Saturday Farmer's Market 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.

    34 min

  2. May 25

    73. The Art of Celebration with Jen Christian

    What if your birthday celebration wasn't really about your birthday at all? Jen Christian turned 40 with one of the most intentional, fun, and friendship-forward celebrations I've ever seen — and it started not with a party plan, but with a personal reckoning. After navigating a postpartum fog that hit during COVID, Jen found herself asking: Who am I now? What do I value? And who are my people for this next decade? The answers led her to create "40 Things for 40" — a curated list of experiences, meals, adventures, and connections she organized into a Google site and sent to the people she loves most. No pressure. No spotlight. Just an open invitation to show up and share life together. If you're approaching a milestone birthday — or honestly any season of life where you're ready to come back to yourself — this conversation is going to spark something in you. HIGHLIGHTS Jen shares how coming out of postpartum and the COVID season prompted her to ask the big questions: who am I, what do I value, and who are my people?Why loneliness can sneak up on you even when you're surrounded by wonderful people — and what to do about itHow Jen's eclectic friend group actually inspired the format of her celebrationThe four "buckets" she used to organize her 40 things: places to dine, things she loves most, things to discover, and an evolution of JenWhy she chose a Google Site to host the list (hint: her husband's class reunion inspired it)How a Google Form made logistics effortless and her social calendar full for the next decadeWhy celebration isn't about the spotlight — it's about pausing, reflecting, and connectingJen's definition of celebration: "It's about pausing. It's about reflection. It's about accomplishment, and it's about connection and relationship." CHAPTERS 0:00 – Welcome and Meet Jen 1:04 – Why Turning 40 Matters 3:10 – Reclaiming Identity After Motherhood 6:47 – Pulling Back and Finding Your People 9:57 – The 40 Things for 40 Idea 12:07 – Building the List and Buckets 17:03 – Sharing It Out and Timeline 20:11 – Favorite Picks From the 40 21:37 – Why Celebration Matters 23:05 – Template Offer and Wrap Up RESOURCES Jen's "40 Things for 40" TemplateSaltwell Farm Kitchen — between Topeka and Lawrence, Kansas (https://www.saltwellfarmkitchen.com)Google Sites — the free platform Jen used to build and share her celebration list (https://sites.google.com)Google Forms — used for RSVPs and tracking signups (https://forms.google.com)ChatGPT — Jen used this to help brainstorm ideas for her final bucket of five (https://chat.openai.com)Pinterest — also used for inspiration while building the list (https://www.pinterest.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.

    24 min

  3. May 18

    72. The Importance of Detours with Career and Development Coach, Jenna Bottolfsen

    What if the path that didn't work out was actually the one preparing you for exactly where you're supposed to be? Career and leadership coach Jenna Bottolfsen joins me for a conversation about the unexpected pivots, restarts, and pauses that shape us — and why the thing you thought was a setback might actually be the most important step in your story. Jenna went from 25 years in corporate HR to a failed first attempt at entrepreneurship right as COVID hit, back to corporate, and then into the unexpected opportunity of purchasing an established business. She now runs Wallace Associates, helping people navigate career transitions, clarify their value, and take confident next steps. This conversation is full of practical tools and permission-giving perspective for anyone sitting with uncertainty about what comes next. Highlights Why "detours are signs too" — and how Cleo Wade's poem frames the entire conversationThe difference between a failure and a learning opportunity, and why Jenna refuses to use the word failureHow letting go of a corporate title is often the hardest — and most necessary — first stepThe role values and purpose play when someone feels stuck or out of alignment in their careerWhy Jenna starts every client conversation with, "What got you into this field in the first place?"The power of "five seconds of insane courage" — and how you don't have to be brave for long, just long enoughTwo practical tools: the "You Are Here" exercise and the Worst Case Scenario spiralWhy "expectations are the killer of joy" — and how loosening them opens the door to forward movementThe mindset shift from "this has to be forever" to "what's my next right step?"How a friend's grief over a missed promotion led to the realization that the job she didn't get was actually protecting what mattered most to her Chapters 0:00 — Introduction & About Jenna 2:02 — Detours Are Signs (Cleo Wade poem) 2:44 — Milestone Catch-Up 3:44 — Jenna's COVID Leap & Return to Corporate 4:52 — Buying Wallace Associates 6:07 — Resilience After Setbacks 8:10 — Five Seconds of Courage 10:26 — Audra's First Business Lesson 12:35 — Detours & Alignment 15:39 — Questions for When You're Feeling Stuck 20:09 — Letting Go of Identity 24:55 — The "You Are Here" & Worst Case Scenario Tools 28:19 — The Next Right Step Mindset 31:33 — Closing: Loosen Your Expectations Resources Mentioned In a World of Sunrises by Cleo Wade — the book Audra references and from which she reads the "Detours are signs too" poemWallace Associates — Jenna Bottolfsen's career and leadership coaching businessThe Next Right Thing 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.

    33 min

  4. May 11

    71. The Power of Noticing with Executive Coach, Jeana Marinelli

    What if the most powerful lesson from the Olympics has nothing to do with the athletes? Executive coach Jeana Marinelli joined me for a conversation straight from her last days in Florence, Italy — capping off nearly 90 days abroad that started as a one-week trip to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. What began as a trip to see snowboarding turned into an extended season of rest, community, curiosity, and unexpected self-discovery. We talked about what it really means to be present in an experience, why we're all at risk of being passive consumers of our own lives, and how the smallest act of noticing — and then sharing what you notice — can change everything. Highlights Jeana packed for one week and stayed for 86 days — following curiosity, awe, and wonder every step of the wayMilano Cortina 2026 was the first gender-equal Winter Olympics (and Paris 2024 was the first gender-equal Summer Olympics) — and Jeana attended bothThe Olympic spectator experience is completely different from watching on TV: no commentators, no play-by-play, just raw emotion and crowd energyJeana reframes "spectator" — she wasn't watching the Olympics, she was participating in a communityThe difference between consuming community and contributing to it is one of the episode's central threadsA chance encounter with Jaelin Kauf's family at dual moguls — sparked by offering to take their photo — turned into a full day of celebrationHow "noticing + sharing what you notice" is a simple, accessible way to build connection anywhereWhy slowing down is always the starting point for meaningful change — whether in personal life or organizational leadershipTurning 40 and the lessons of living in the gray (not everything is black and white)The National Equity Project's definition of leadership: taking ownership over something that matters Chapters 2:35 — Birthday Reflections 5:35 — From One Week to Ninety Days 7:52 — What the Trip Gave Her 10:29 — Handling Transition Seasons 12:37 — Spectator Experience Reframed 16:58 — Gender Equal Olympics 18:30 — Bringing It Home Through Writing 21:37 — Consumption Versus Contribution 29:38 — Noticing Wonder Daily 34:09 — Final Threads and Farewell Resources Mentioned 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 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.

    36 min

  5. May 4

    70. The Identity Shift No One Can Fully Prepare You For with Taryn Zweygardt, Co-Founder of Flourish Wellness Collective

    What if becoming a mom didn't just change your schedule — it changed you at your core?  I sat down with Taryn Zweygardt, a therapist specializing in perinatal mental health and co-owner of Flourish, to talk about the identity shifts, the mental load, the perfectionism, and the ADHD diagnoses that so many of us didn't see coming — until motherhood cracked us open and showed us what was really there. This is a conversation for anyone who has ever wondered why it feels so hard, why they feel so different, or why the life they carefully organized before kids suddenly feels like it belongs to a stranger. Highlights Motherhood often doesn't feel "natural" at first — and the shame that comes with that is real and incredibly commonBecoming a mom can act like a rock thrown into a still pond, bringing everything that's settled at the bottom rising to the surfaceSociety sells us a timeline — married, then kids, then house — but the cost of following that script without self-reflection can be highBoth Taryn and Audra were diagnosed with ADHD after becoming mothers, and motherhood was the thing that illuminated itThe mental load isn't just "feeling busy" — it's a specific and invisible weight that needs to be named, shared, and actively redistributedAsking for help requires being direct — "I'm overwhelmed" isn't enough; specific asks like "Can you handle dinner on Tuesdays?" are what actually shift the loadThe "hell yes or hell no" framework is a powerful filter for deciding what deserves your limited capacityNot every ball is glass — knowing which ones are plastic (and can bounce if dropped) is a game-changer for managing motherhood and business simultaneouslyStandards can and should shift with seasons — giving yourself permission to let the grass grow a little longer isn't failure, it's wisdom Chapters 1:03 — Motherhood Changes Everything 2:08 — Expectations vs. Reality 3:02 — When It Doesn't Feel Natural 4:42 — Normalizing the Hard Parts 7:03 — Social Media and Real Life 8:45 — Identity After Becoming Mom 10:23 — Perfectionism and ADHD Revealed 11:53 — Her Motherhood Timeline 17:27 — The Pond Rock Metaphor 20:49 — Choosing Your Parenting Path 22:51 — Trust Your Parenting Gut 23:17 — ADHD Meets Business 24:38 — Capacity and Boundaries 26:48 — Hell Yes or Hell No 28:43 — Mental Load Reality 29:31 — Asking for Direct Help 31:36 — Sharing the Invisible Work 34:09 — Fair Play in Practice 36:58 — Glass vs. Plastic Balls 38:13 — Standards for This Season 39:06 — Closing Advice and Where to Find Her Resources Mentioned Reproductively Speaking podcast — hosted by Taryn ZweygardtTZ Therapy — Taryn's therapy practiceFlourish — Taryn's collective (also on Instagram: @flourishict)Taryn on Instagram: @tztherapy 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.

    41 min

  6. Apr 27

    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

    What does it actually take to wake up, choose differently, and become someone new? Whether you're staring down a milestone birthday or quietly sensing it's time for a change, this conversation with Damon Young will meet you right where you are. Damon is a civic leader, executive mentor, public speaker, and founder of DK Young Consulting — and he sat down to talk candidly about what it looked like to go from heads-down in construction to stepping fully into his purpose as a connector of ideas and people. We covered the grief of letting dreams die, the power of writing something down with a shaking hand, and why 10% improvement might be the most radical thing you can do. Highlights The "roots before fruit" framework — why focusing on the fruit actually prevents it from growingWhy 10% improvement is more transformative than trying to nail it 90% of the timeThe real cost of living with intention — and what you have to let go of to get thereHow the 12 Week Year changed the trajectory of Damon's life and careerThe shaking-hand moment: writing down a buried dream for the first time in 15 yearsWhy regret is a powerful motivator — if you let it illuminate instead of sink youLetting fantasies and alternative lives die so you can fully choose the one in front of youWhat Damon's son said at his rehearsal dinner that made all the intentional living worth itThe Kia story: a small, symbolic decision that said everything about who Damon was becoming Chapters 0:00 – Choosing to Wake Up 1:18 – Meet Damon Young 2:58 – Turning 40 and 50 4:30 – Kids Grow Fast 7:38 – Roots Before Fruit (don't focus on the fruit — get in the soil) 11:22 – Shiny Objects and Grace 13:37 – The Power of Ten Percent 16:17 – Advice for Your Forties 19:42 – Damon at Thirty-Five 27:40 – Stress and Self-Soothing 31:13 – The Cost of Intention 33:54 – Letting Dreams Die 35:48 – Marriage and Becoming 24:57 – Facing Regret in New Decades 25:56 – Regret and Finite Time 26:42 – Heidi and the 12 Week Year 27:52 – Writing Down the Dream 29:34 – From Baby Steps to Paid Speaking 31:15 – Assessments and Finding Your Magic 33:57 – Regret as Motivation and Experiments 36:28 – Letting Go of Comparison 42:35 – The Kia Identity Shift 44:30 – Kids Notice Your Growth 45:52 – Where to Find Damon Resources Mentioned The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran & Michael Lennington — the goal-setting framework that helped Damon write down his dream for the first time: https://www.12weekyear.comArthur Brooks — author and social scientist; Damon references his concept of the "reverse bucket list": https://www.arthurbrooks.comWhen Everyone Leads — https://kansasleadershipcenter.org/when-everyone-leads/Designing Your Life — Stanford framework referenced for experimenting and "renting" ideas before committing: https://designingyour.lifeDK Young Consulting — Damon's boutique consultancy focused on vision casting, executive mentoring, and public speaking: https://dkyconsulting.comLead Wichita — civic leadership organization where Damon serves as contract CEO: https://leadwichita.org 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.

    47 min

  7. Apr 20

    68. The Courage to Create with Jill Luton

    What if the most creative thing you ever did had nothing to do with a paintbrush? Creativity isn't reserved for the artists with the fancy titles — it's a way of moving through the world, and it might be the most powerful form of self-trust you have. I sat down with Wichita-based multidisciplinary artist Jill Nicole Luten to talk about what happens when you stop performing creativity and start practicing it honestly. We covered everything from how she stumbled into photography through a food blog, to why play is non-negotiable for a creative life, to the one-word-a-month self-portrait practice that changed how she sees herself. HIGHLIGHTS Jill shares how she didn't recognize her own creativity until her late twenties — and why that's more common than we thinkThe food blog that accidentally launched a photography career (and what her mom's unused camera had to do with it)Why other people's belief in you can unlock what you can't yet see in yourselfHow motherhood and therapy led Jill to claim the identity of "artist" for the first timeThe difference between seeing your own creativity and noticing creativity in the world around you — and why both matterCreativity isn't just for visual artists: Jill's definition — "something didn't exist, and now it does" — changes everythingWhy play is scientifically backed to improve self-confidence, intuition, and problem-solving — and why our culture makes it a battle to prioritizeThe pressure vs. play distinction: you can create under both, but only one fills you upHow Jill gives herself big, bold projects (like a solo art show or a year of self-portraits) to force herself to share her workThe one-word-a-month self-portrait practice — and how non-photographers can adapt itThe biggest creative advice for anyone stepping into a second act: go after it loosely, boldly, and with low expectations CHAPTERS 1:03 — Creativity as Self-Trust 1:54 — Meet Jill Nicole Luten 2:57 — Early Signs of Creativity 4:39 — Food Blog to Photography 6:46 — Others Reflect Your Gifts 9:39 — Motherhood, Therapy, and Core Self 11:26 — Seeing Creativity Everywhere 14:50 — Redefining What Counts 16:48 — Why Play Fuels Creativity 19:01 — Play as an Adult and Mom 20:14 — Books That Spark Play 21:34 — Pressure vs. Play 24:05 — Making Creativity Sustainable 26:39 — Trust Yourself and Share 29:36 — Going Big to Be Seen 30:16 — Year of Self-Portraits 30:54 — One Word a Month Method 32:30 — Non-Photographer Options 35:16 — Small Creative Practice 37:04 — Where to Find Jill RESOURCES MENTIONED Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert — https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/big-magic/Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee — https://aestheticsofjoy.com/the-book/The War of Art by Steven Pressfield — https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/Jill Nicole Luten on Instagram: @sincerelyjill and @jillnicolelutonJill Nicole Luten's website: jillnicoleluton.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.

    38 min

  8. Apr 13

    67. A Powerful Moment for Ambition & Motherhood with Ashley Bowen Cook

    What does it look like when a leader stops splitting herself in two? Ashley Bowen Cook, owner of Alpha Charlie — an aviation-focused marketing firm based in Wichita, Kansas — stepped into full business ownership in January 2026 after nearly 23 years with the agency. The moment she did, something unexpected happened: a candid photo of her and her 10-year-old son Charlie, taken on a snow day in her office, ended up on the cover of the Wichita Business Journal — and it sparked something much bigger than a rebrand announcement. Women who saw it exhaled. In this conversation, Ashley walks us through her three-year transition into ownership, the meaning behind the Alpha Charlie name (hint: it's deeply personal on multiple levels), and what it truly means to hold motherhood and ambition and leadership all at once — not in separate boxes, but together, exactly as they are. She shares how becoming a mom completely rewired her definition of success, why she leads her team with grit, grace, and gratitude, and the practical, tactical wisdom she's gathered for ambitious women who refuse to leave any part of themselves at the door. HIGHLIGHTS Ashley purchased Greta Group — now rebranded as Alpha Charlie — from founder Sonya Greta after a deliberate three-year ownership transition planThe name Alpha Charlie carries layers of meaning: Ashley's own initials, a nod to "Air Capital," the concept of being a leader and a new beginning, a faith reference, and a tribute to her son CharlieA spontaneous snow-day photo with her son became the cover of the Wichita Business Journal — and sparked an outpouring of gratitude from women who felt seenAshley shares how the photo communicated "permission to stop splitting ourselves in two" — a message she didn't even know she was sendingSuccess, post-motherhood, looks like raising a kind human being who contributes positively to the worldShe reflects on the shift from women competing against each other to genuinely cheering each other on — and why that matters for leadershipMotherhood has directly shaped how Ashley leads her team: empowerment over micromanagement, flexibility with accountabilityThe Wichita Children's Business Fair became an unexpected classroom for teaching her son that losing is part of entrepreneurshipHer non-negotiables: Sunday church, morning workouts with a mom friend group, and unstructured time just for herselfFinal wisdom: You don't have to own a business to be a leader — leadership is about impact, not management CHAPTERS 0:00 — Meet Ashley Bowen Cook 2:05 — Second Act Ownership Leap 3:42 — The Three-Year Transition Plan 6:27 — Alpha Charlie Rebrand Story 7:06 — The Cover Photo With Charlie 9:50 — Permission to Be Whole 13:39 — Redefining Success as a Mom 15:06 — Dropping the Instagram Myth 16:16 — Women Supporting Women Shift 18:39 — Men and Caregiving Culture 22:12 — Raising a Leader Son 23:25 — Grit, Grace & Gratitude Lessons 26:03 — Flexibility With Accountability 28:36 — The Ambitious Motherhood Toolkit 32:06 — Non-Negotiables and Self-Care 35:07 — Final Leadership Wisdom RESOURCES MENTIONED Alpha Charlie — Ashley's aviation-focused marketing agency (formerly Greta Group), based in Wichita, KansasWichita Aero Club WIBA (Wichita Independent Business Association) 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.

    37 min
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5
out of 5
47 Ratings

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Audra Dinell
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Forge Podcast Co. 2025
  • Show Website
    A LOT with Audra

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