A LOT with Audra

Audra Dinell
  • 5.0 (48)
  • 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. 3d ago

    82. The Second Act of Parenting: How to Stay Close While Your Kid Becomes Themselves w/Wild Feelings Founder, Megan Saxelby

    What if the story you've been told about the teenage years is just... wrong? My guest today, Megan Saxelby, founder of Wild Feelings, spent 15 years teaching middle school and 4 teaching high school before becoming a parent coach — and she's here to make the case that adolescence isn't something to survive, it's a season to actually enjoy. We get into what parents misunderstand before the tween years even start, what it really costs us when we buy into the "terrible teens" narrative, and how to stay close to our kids as they pull toward independence. Highlights The "terrible teens" narrative is a socially constructed story — and believing it primes you to see your kid's behavior through a negative lens.Adolescence, by current research, spans ages 10–25 (early adolescence 10–14, adolescence 14–17/18, late adolescence 18–25).Believing the bad narrative costs you connection and self-trust as a parent.Separate "connection" from "administration" (logistics) — they are not the same relationship currency.Happiness isn't the goal — resilience and contentment matter more than chasing a feeling.The research-backed parenting style that works best: high expectations + high support (authoritative parenting).Anxious kids need validation of their feelings paired with high expectations — not accommodation of the anxiety.Little-kid connection tools (playfulness, silliness, jokes) still work in the teen years — you just have to apply them differently.A single family "anchor behavior" (like a weekly dinner or movie night) is linked to a 20% reduction in anxiety and depression in youth.Family shorthand phrases (inside jokes, references) become powerful emotional shortcuts that last for decades.A "family care chart" — a shared, visible list of everyone's comfort items and needs — is Megan's top back-to-school tip. Chapters 0:00 — Meet Megan Saxelby 2:11 — The Teen Myth 4:30 — Beyond 18 Summers 6:03 — Happiness Isn't the Goal 9:26 — Defining Adolescence Ages 10:17 — Cost of the Bad Narrative 10:32 — Connection vs. Logistics 12:10 — Trust Your Kid 14:54 — Boundaries Without Shame 17:55 — High Support, High Expectations 19:29 — Helping Anxious Kids Grow 20:20 — Holding the Line 21:02 — Discomfort Isn't Failure 21:17 — Capitalism and Parenting Pressure 22:09 — Tween Parenting: A Second Act 22:58 — Keep the Playfulness 23:43 — Stay a Full Person 26:38 — Build Connection on Purpose 27:36 — Weird Questions and Anchor Rituals 30:25 — Family Shorthand Moments 34:11 — The Story You Tell Yourself 35:55 — High Expectations, High Support (Revisited) 37:48 — Back-to-School Encouragement 38:50 — Family Care Chart Tip 39:46 — Wrap Up and Where to Follow Resources Mentioned Wild FeelingsMegan Saxelby on Instagram, LinkedIn and Substack 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.

  2. Jul 20

    81. The Business Behind the Brave Leap with ACTION Coach, Lee Gray

    Ever feel like your best years might already be behind you? Lee Gray would tell you they're just getting started. At 50, Lee was laid off from her corporate marketing job — and instead of it breaking her, it became the launchpad for the most successful chapter of her career. Today she's a business coach, entrepreneur, and podcast host who's helped over 100 business owners build companies that don't depend on them for everything. We talk about the mindset shift from employee to true owner, why "busy" isn't the same as "business," the sales and marketing muscles every entrepreneur has to build, and the simple, almost anticlimactic traits that actually predict success. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start over, this conversation is your permission slip. Highlights: Lee's story of getting laid off at 50 — and turning it into fuel instead of defeatWhy most "second acts" start with a gift, not a planThe mindset shift from employee thinking to true ownershipWhy business owners buy themselves a job instead of building a business (and how to avoid it)The three simple traits Lee has seen in every successful entrepreneur she's coachedThe difference between being "busy" and actually doing "business"Lee's DGLPA formula for turning a dream into a planWhy telling the world about your second act is the most important first step Chapters: 0:00 – Dream Becomes Real 1:30 – Meet Lee Gray 3:36 – Laid Off at 50 5:39 – Gift and Retaliation 8:34 – Ownership Mindset Shift 11:58 – Why Second Acts Work 14:07 – Traits of Winners 15:44 – Passion vs Business 17:15 – Sales and Marketing Muscles 19:03 – Busy vs Business 19:59 – Scaling Fears and Stories 21:56 – Dreams, Goals, Learning, Action 24:56 – Stop Buying a Job 27:13 – Make It Public 28:27 – Closing and Connect Resources mentioned: Action Coach Business Coaching with Lee GrayThe Second Act Business Owner podcast, available on Apple, Spotify and YouTubeThe E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber 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.

  3. Jul 13

    80. The Bridge: Honoring What Was, Building What’s Next with Sapahn Co-Owner, Molly Motsinger

    How do you inherit someone else's dream and make it your own? Molly Motsinger built a 21-year career in healthcare before walking away to become CEO of Sapahn, an ethical fashion brand she didn't found but fell completely in love with. We talk about what it's like to step into a mission you didn't create, why she got "obsessed" with Sapahn before she ever considered leaving healthcare, and how founder Brooke is learning to hand off her 15-year-old baby without losing what makes it special. Molly gets honest about the fear of disappointing investors and mentors, the guilt of not working "100 hours a week," and why she believes there's never actually a good time to take a leap. If you've ever felt torn between honoring where you've been and stepping into who you're becoming, this conversation is for you. Highlights Molly spent 21 years in healthcare, starting as a dietary aide at age 15, before pivoting into fashionShe founded Superb, a healthcare tech company giving nurses scheduling flexibility and advocacyMolly met Sapahn founder Brooke through the same entrepreneurial accelerator where she met AudraShe describes getting "obsessed" with Sapahn as a signal that a bigger change was calling herMolly and Brooke essentially became "each other's equal" — each needed what the other loved doingMolly reframes stepping back from Superb's day-to-day as growth, not giving upShe unpacks the guilt of not working 50-60 hours a week and equating time with worthHer advice: stop making up stories about disappointing others — most people are quietly doing the same thingAs Sapahn's CEO, her job isn't to fix a broken business — it's to protect what works and grow what's next, especially shifting into e-commerceKey advice to women: there's never a good time to take the leap, so take it anyway Chapters 1:03 — Meet Molly Motsinger and Sapahn's mission 3:32 — Molly joins the show 4:13 — Molly's 21 years in healthcare and building Superb 6:06 — How Molly met Brooke and fell in love with Sapahn 10:08 — Recognizing "the bridge" and the divine timing of the decision 15:02 — Letting go of guilt around time, hours, and disappointing others 19:56 — Leading Sapahn forward without losing its soul 25:40 — What Molly has learned watching Brooke let go and grow 28:01 — Advice for women standing on their own bridge 30:41 — Closing and where to find Sapahn Resources Mentioned SapahnSuperb 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.

  4. Jul 6

    79. 3 Lessons to Help Welcome in the Second Half of the Year

    What if the real reset you need this year isn't about a new planner or another five-year plan — but about getting brutally honest with who you are right now? In this solo episode, I'm walking through the psychology-backed "fresh start effect" and sharing the three lessons I'm personally carrying into the second half of 2026: why the real work always starts internally, why it's time to let go of who you used to be (and what used to work for you), and why choosing to believe life is happening for you — not to you — can change everything about how you move through overwhelm. Highlights The "fresh start effect" is a real psychological phenomenon — meaningful dates and transitions (New Year's, birthdays, Mondays) boost our motivation to pursue goals by giving us psychological distance and a mental clean slate.Lesson one: no matter the goal, the work always starts internally — chasing external milestones (a new job, a relationship, a certain income) means your sense of purpose stays tied to a constantly moving goalpost.Practices that support "internal work" include therapy, examining thought patterns, meditation, journaling, self-compassion, and visualization.Lesson two: get honest about who you are now, not who you were 6 months or 10 years ago — habits and structures that worked in a past season (like working from home) may no longer serve you.Lesson three: life happens for you, not to you — reframing overwhelm as something you have agency over, rather than a fixed state, helps break negative patterns.A personal story about a birthday slumber party with her team, where a bracelet reading "for you" became a symbol of choosing agency over victimhood. Chapters 1:04 — Fresh Start Effect 2:33 — Midyear Reset Setup 3:19 — Work Starts Within 5:28 — Tools For Inner Work 8:07 — Be Honest Now 9:48 — Life Happens For You 11:02 — Breaking Overwhelm 12:60 — Three Lessons Recap 14:02 — Wrap Up And Share 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.

  5. Jun 29

    78. My Summer of 100 No's

    What if the key to growth this summer was intentionally chasing no's? That's exactly what I've been doing — and it's changing how I approach risk, rejection, and going after what I want in business and life. After working with a coach last fall on vocational dreams, I was introduced to a goal that stopped me in my tracks: collect 100 no's. The idea is simple but powerful — the more asks you put out there, the more opportunities you create. This episode unpacks that concept, explores why "no" is actually clear and kind, and walks through how I've gamified rejection for myself this summer using a tracking spreadsheet. Highlights Rejection doesn't mean you're not good enough — it means "not right now" or "not for me," and those are two very different thingsA "maybe" is actually worse than a "no" — a no is clear, and clear is kindReframing "no" as a doorway to an eventual yes from somewhere else shifts everythingThe Summer of 100 No's has two goals: get comfortable taking risks, and get okay with rejectionCollecting 100 no's means you'll likely find 10 yeses — and those yeses move your business forwardThe mistake in my first business wasn't the branding or the website — it was avoiding the ask out of fear of rejectionWhen I started The Thread, I did it differently: I ran a focus group before building anything and made the ask to everyone I metMarketing pulls people to you; going out and asking brings people in — and that's the skill worth developing Chapters 0:00 – Summer of 100 No's 1:45 – Gamify Rejection 2:10 – No Is Clear & Kind 3:18 – Spreadsheet and Asks 4:22 – Two-Part Goal 6:59 – Expect Yeses Too 7:34 – First Business Lesson 10:55 – Building The Thread 12:21 – Challenge and Wrap Up Resources Mentioned Summer of 100 No's SpreadsheetConnect with Audra on LinkedIn — @AudraDinellWant 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.

  6. Jun 22

    77. Monday Morning Pep Talk: Do The Thing

    What's the difference between a dream that changes your life and one that just lives forever in your Notes app? That gap might be smaller than you think — and it starts with one risky step. We're at the midpoint of 2026, and it's time to stop waiting for the "right" time. This week's short pep talk is a challenge to every woman who knows what she wants but keeps pushing her timeline out. Whether you're sitting on a business idea, a creative project, or a life change you've been planning "for someday" — this one's for you. HIGHLIGHTS The most dangerous place for a dream to live is in your Canva account or your journal — not because it's safe there, but because it can be perfect thereKeeping a dream in the "no-risk zone" means it never has to face the messy, criticized, real world — which also means it never gets to be realYou don't need the whole plan. You just need one bold, stomach-flipping action stepLong timelines feel realistic but they're often just fear wearing sensible shoes — shorten itIf you don't have clarity yet, that's okay: keep moving, keep experimenting, and release the timeline until the vision becomes clearOnce you do have clarity, taking risky action isn't optional — it's your responsibilityThe #1 regret of the dying isn't failure. It's not trying.CHAPTERS 0:00 – Midsummer Pep Talk 1:03 – Dreams Stuck on Hold 2:31 – Danger Zone Perfection 3:35 – Take One Risky Step 4:05 – Shorten the Timeline 5:35 – When Clarity Is Missing 6:11 – Messy Middle Momentum 7:29 – Regret and Courage 8:20 – Do the Thing Today RESOURCES MENTIONED The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware https://www.amazon.com/Top-Five-Regrets-Dying-Transformed/dp/140194065X 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.

  7. Jun 15

    76. When Parenthood Rewrites the Dream with Alex Kuhn

    What if the thing standing between you and the life you actually want isn't your circumstances — it's still thinking in terms of “or” instead of “and”? Alex Kuhn, founder of Born Leaders (now rebranding to All In Worldwide), joins me for a conversation about ambition, identity, and what it really means to go all in — on your career and your family, your dreams and your present moment. Alex was the guy who left home at 12 to chase Olympic swimming dreams, became one of the fastest-rising college swim coaches in the country, then lost it all — the job, the relationship, and his sense of self — in the span of a few months. What came out of that rock bottom was a total identity resurrection that has shaped everything he does today. Whether you're a dad navigating how to be fully present at home while still building something meaningful, a parent wondering if going after your dreams is selfish, or someone stuck in binary thinking about what you can and can't have — this one is for you. And yes, this episode is releasing Father's Day week, but the message is for everyone. Highlights Why Alex chose a $20,000/year swim coaching job in Iowa over a Nike management training offer — and what that decision taught himThe "or to and" shift: how identifying yourself by your title keeps you stuck in binary thinkingGetting fired, losing the relationship, and eating bananas and popsicles on his sister's couch — Alex's rock bottom storyWhy the first step out of rock bottom isn't belief — it's actionWhat self-trust actually means (hint: it's not about having all the answers)The "selfish vision" framework Alex uses with his whole family — including his 7- and 4-year-oldsWhy parenthood doesn't have to be all sacrifice, and the powerful modeling that happens when kids watch you chase your own dreamsRedefining "juggling it all" — and giving yourself permission to drop a ballBoundaries as subtraction, not addition: stop adding to your life and start dumping what doesn't serve youShutting the business down four weeks a year — and why it worksThe story Alex's dad told him at a swim meet that became his life's mantra: fight for yourself Chapters 1:03 — Meet Alex Kuhn 2:51 — Fatherhood and second acts 3:52 — Early ambition and swimming 5:58 — Chasing legacy and empire 8:29 — From "or" to "and" 11:04 — Getting fired and the identity collapse 13:37 — Climbing out of rock bottom 16:22 — Self-trust and the messy middle 19:04 — Redefining ambition today 20:29 — The family vision weekly ritual 21:18 — Family vision sync 22:17 — Team family mindset 23:50 — Kids follow actions, not words 25:51 — The selfish parenting reframe 28:21 — Juggling without perfection 30:09 — Boundaries and seasons 33:35 — Seasonal business shutdowns 35:35 — Fight for yourself 37:57 — Where to find Alex Resources Alex Kuhn's websites: :https://bornleaders.com/ and  allinwithalex.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.

  8. Jun 8

    75. Your Next Chapter Doesn’t Require a New Life with Monica Packer, Habits & Identity Coach

    What if your second act isn't about changing your life — it's about finally showing up in the one you already have? Monica Packer, founder of the About Progress podcast and a certified habits and identity coach, joins me to talk about the version of personal growth nobody talks about: the quiet, internal kind. Monica spent years as a self-described aspiring perfectionist — achieving on the outside while disappearing from herself on the inside. What she discovered in her 30s (after two early midlife crises and a decade of recovery) is that sustainable growth doesn't come from hustle or apathy — it comes from progress. And it starts by asking: do I even know who I am? We talk about why perfectionism isn't just about striving — it's just as alive in the people who've stopped trying. We explore Monica's "Do Something List," the three Cs of change (curiosity, compassion, and courage), why habits built for men don't work for women, and what it means to stop waiting for arrival and start trusting the process. Highlights Monica's "costume life" realization at 30 — loving the life she'd built but not recognizing herself in itWhy perfectionism lives on both sides of the spectrum: the overachiever AND the person who's given up tryingThe connection between ADHD, all-or-nothing thinking, and the perfectionism spectrumWhat the "Do Something List" is — and why never completing it is the whole pointWhy there is no arrival, and the mantra that will help you stop waiting for oneThe Three Cs of Change: curiosity, compassion, and courageWhy popular habit methods fail women — invisible labor, less time, less energy, less predictabilityThe inner comparison monster: comparing your current self to a past version of yourselfIdentity isn't static — and that's actually freeing Chapters 1:03 — Introduction & episode premise 1:28 — Meet Monica Packer 2:55 — The "costume life" realization: living life on the sidelines 8:35 — Perfectionism as a spectrum — it's not just overachieving 12:40 — Starting the experiment: the internal and external work 14:06 — The Do Something List 18:46 — There is no arrival: the transformation lies in the process 22:30 — The Three Cs of Change: curiosity, compassion, and courage 26:34 — Sticky Habits: the book written for women, not men 31:08 — Comparison and the inner critic 33:52 — Where to connect with Monica 35:02 — Identity keeps evolving — and that's a good thing Resources Sticky Habits: A Woman's Guide to Reclaim Happiness, Ditch Perfectionism, and Create Habits That Last by Monica Packer — pre-order at stickyhabitsbook.comDo Something List free training: aboutprogress.com/dslAbout Progress podcast on Apple or Spotify 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.

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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
    82
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Forge Podcast Co. 2025
  • Show Website
    A LOT with Audra