Be Love

This week we have the hilarious Melissa Radke (comedian, author, viral video sensation, and star of the show Radkes on USA Network.  I am so excited to share this interview. She is not only everyone’s immediate best friend because of her realness, but she teaches us about persevering when others have torn you down. Melissa grew up as a talented singer, but after multiple producers turned her down and told her awful things about her appearence, she fell into a depression. And then when she turned 40 she had a change of heart. She was making a commitment to live ONE WHOLE YEAR of BRAVE, no matter what, she wrote the  best selling book EAT CAKE, BE BRAVE out of her experience.  Her hilarious videos have been viewed more than 40 million times worldwide and her family just finished with the first season of The Radkes on USA network.  She inspires us to be unapologetically ourselves. She teaches us to be brave even when others try to keep us small. I promise you will laugh out loud after listening, but also be enco

Today’s podcast is a little different. Many of you asked if we would have someone interview us and tell our story, so we said, “Sure”.  Today my friend Kari Sowers is interviewing me. We had such a fun interview, with some kids interrupting, snoring dogs and meowing kitty cats. We talked about how our company and podcast came about. How a little lunchbox note changed our families’ life, became our family mission, and inspired our company and podcast. We talk about my former jobs that had nothing to do with what I do now, think White House, and fitness trainer, but how they all have prepared me for what I do now.  We talk about kids of course, and how we are trying to raise good, loving humans and not psychos. Time will only tell (sarcasm).  We hope you enjoy our interview. We love being your host, but it was fun having the tables turned.  Our podcast sponsor is Atlas Coffee. If you live near Atlas Coffee you can bring in a friend and get one drink for you and one drink free for them. They are also offering a

Today I talk with Megan Tamte who is the founder and Co-CEO of Evereve, a fashion brand she created because of a disastrous trip to the mall soon after having her baby. So she created a place for mothers to feel beautiful and special. Evereve’s tag line is “with heart,” we talk about how loving others is the most important part of their business. They hire people who love fashion but who love people more! We take leadership lessons and the “tiny behaviors” they teach their employees, and how we can train this behavior in our own life and pass it on to our children. These are ways we can see people the way they need to be seen. Simple behaviors like remembering a name or looking someone in the eyes and being genuinely concerned for others. She talks about teaching her kids about empathy, how they can think beyond themselves and see others as masterpieces. She has some amazing nuggets for parents about showing her kids that they are loved no matter what they do, or what they achieve. Instead of celebrating the

Today I am talking with Dave Hollis, CEO of Hollis Co. He is just as down to earth as you may think he is. We had such fun talking about what it was like this year as his wife Rachel’s bookGirl, Wash Your Face, was a topseller and what that felt like.   We talk about what it looks like to have patient trust, their journey of adoption and fostering, and how that experience set them up for what they are doing now. We share our hearts for helping our kids get out of their comfort zone so they can be exposed to other people’s stories, and show love and empathy for those who have had different experiences.   We also discuss something he has never talked about which is the Hollis Co. Foundation and how they are giving back with their success.   3 ways they are showing up for different communities: Veterans Women Children in Care (foster care)   You won’t want to miss this one.   We look to the future and see what is coming down the pipe for Hollis Co. and Rachel Hollis this year. Full show notes here with links to

Today I am talking with my dear friend Becky Conzelman, Pro-cyclist and Crossfit Games athlete, mama to two of my favorite kiddos, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of FAITH RXD Since the airing of this episode It is with very heavy hearts we share that our beloved Becky passed away on April 6th. This interview was Beckys last. We interviewed Becky a month ago, but when this was ready to go on air, Becky suffered a brain aneurysm and brain bleed. Thankfully she was rushed to the hospital and her life was then spared.  I wanted you to hear this podcast of her story, because I wanted you to know who Becky is, her heart, her passion for others. Everyone should know Becky and her story of hope through crushed dreams of not making the Olympics, to finding her identity in something other than competing. Her faith has never faltered. I think you will love the incredible story of my dear friend Becky. If you would like to encourage or show appreciation to the Conzelman family I encourage you to donate to FAITH RX

Today I talk with Noonday Founder and CEO Jessica Honegger. She is so fun and funny to talk with. We talk about how she is courageously accepting herself and in turn that helps her celebrate others well. Celebrating our own flaws and loving our whole selves helps us have freedom to love others well.    We laugh a lot, but there are so many nuggets of truth about loving ourselves with authenticity so we love others well.   We talk about rest and hustle, and she tells a great story of loving others intentionally when we may feel insecure ourselves. We talk about staying in the uncomfortable and being vulnerable.   She gives us some practical steps to accept ourselves and others.   Jessica has written a book all about this calledImperfect Couragewhich is one of my favorite books of the year.   Click here or full links and show notes

Today I interview Lauren Carpenter who is a breath of sweetness and compassion to others. Lauren is Co-founder of Branded Collective, a jewelry company that partners with those who are survivors of sex trafficking. Listen in as we dive into how each of us can use our talents, maybe the ones we didn’t even know we had, to help others.    We talk about the power of encouraging one another and recognizing the gifts of others and telling them about these gifts.    Some other things she talks about:   Not being afraid to jump into something new, to use your skills in creative ways.    The skills she learned along the way lent themselves to what she does now, but she needed someone to nudge her and encourage those.   When you actually know the story and know the person it changes you.    Sometimes it just takes one person to call out our gifts and change the trajectory of our lives.    We talk about the signs of sex trafficking and how this happens right in our own neighborhoods. It’s not just a far away th

Emma Hicks is a 27 year old powerhouse who wears many hats: wife, mother of 3, entrepreneur, chef and baker (solely for her family ;), aunt, Rising Tide Society QC Tuesday's Together co-leader, antique picker, and 1st generation hobby farmer.  She is the host and founder of Camp Climb (a retreat for females with a creative business or looking to pursue a creative passion) and Iowa Gathering (highly curated, intimate vintage market; brought to life because of HGTV). Craving a disconnection from the online world, building ‘in real life’ relationships, creating experiences, and being a part of positive community, she bet on the fact others were hungry for it too. She acknowledged her gifts, talents, and expertise: planning/coordinating, bringing together communities, running a small business, and igniting powerful connections. After countless brain dumps and a few sketchpads later, she is climbing her mountain to make an impact. You will love hearing her story of how she went from professional “picker” to HGTV p

Branden Harvey is a storyteller focused on the good in the world. If Branden’s learned one thing from his work, it’s this: There's no shortage of good news in the world. You just have to know where to look. He's the host of the podcast Sounds Good, the creator of the Goodnewspaper, a printed newspaper full of good news, and has built an online community over more than 250,000 world changers. He's helped brands like Disney, Square, Southwest Airlines, and (RED) tell meaningful stories with heart all over the world. He's been written about and featured by media including The Washington Post, Seventeen Magazine, Fortune Magazine, and Mashable. Branden looks for the helpers, he celebrates the helpers, and his company gives us all tangible steps to get involved.  In this episode Branden helps us look for the helpers and be the helpers. Branden was a humanitarian photographer where he traveled the world hearing others stories and seeing others perspectives. He gives us tangible steps of how to get involved in our c

Our guest today is Heather Boersman, a speaker, author and life coach who loves to adventure with her husband Alex and their three kids Cohen, Claire and Byron. She has been speaking to teen girls and women for the past 12 years in Canada and the USA. She has  recently published her second book, Letters from a Big Sister, where she collaborated with other authors like Jamie Ivey, Jessica Honegger who was on our show and Jenna Kutcher to share letters of advice they would write to their younger self. Today we talk about what we would say to our younger self now. All the struggles we went through as teens and how sometimes those insecurities and struggles follow us into adulthood. We discuss the cycles that all of us deal with when it comes to how we find our worth and significance. How can we  remind ourselves daily that we are worthy and significant. We talk about the difference between rest and striving. She gives us her red flags for when she needs rest and needs to stop striving. She teaches us ways to see

Today we are talking about one of the best, when it comes to caring for those in the margins. She defines the marginalized as those who are not in the main narrative. Some people can be obvious and some not as much. Danielle talks about no matter where we live or what we do it is our responsibility to find and learn from those who have been pushed out of the main story. This has to be one of the most important interviews I have ever done. She gives us practical ways to listen and learn from those we may have never known. Whether it be refugee, homeless, those in foster care, etc... Danielle’s goal is to live a life of love and she gives us very practical ways in how to take the first steps in becoming love in our communities. As a 20 year veteran of the Salvation Army, Danielle has fought for those who are marginalized or have felt less than. Danielle Strickland is currently based in Toronto, Canada. Her aggressive compassion has served people firsthand in countries all over the world. From establishing Justi

Today I am interviewing Rian Smoak. Rian is a Triathlete and has competed in multiple marathons and triathlons, including the Ironman Championships in Hawaii, which is the Mecca of all Ironmans. After Rian crossed the finish line in Kona he knew he needed to provide an opportunity for someone else to have that feeling, who maybe couldn’t finish on their own. This started the partnership with his teammate Bryce. Bryce has Cerebral Palsey and is in a wheelchair. CP makes him unable to walk or use his legs. Through an incredible friendship they are taking the triathlon world by storm. Rian is giving Bryce the opportunity to cross finish lines. Rian and Bryce have competed in multiple races together. This consists of Rian pulling Bryce in a boat on the swim portion, pulling Bryce behind his bike, and pushing him in a race stroller on the run. This Saturday they will be tackling a FULL Ironman at IM BOULDER. You will be so inspired to hear Rian talk about why he knew he had to use his passion for racing to help s

Michelle McKinney is our guest today and she brings the FIRE and inspiration to know what our purpose is and live in it. She helps women design, define and bring their God-given dreams to life. She believes that every woman can fulfill her God-given purpose, and she is on a mission to help them get there. That’s why she started her company,  Dreams Unleashed, to help others pursue their dreams. My favorite piece of advice is when she says, “Our dreams are never about ME, they’re always about others”. When we live into our gifts and purpose we are making others better and serving others. She talks about advocating for ourselves which in turn helps us advocate for others. If you are squelched in your dreams or don’t know what your purpose is, this is the podcast for you. And if you know your purpose this podcast will inspire you to stick with it. Michelle gives us some tangible ways to know our gifts and steps to live into them. She is literally coaching us through this podcast and you can use many of the tips

Justin Kruger founder of Project Helping and KYND KITS talks about how his struggle with mental illness helped him be passionate about serving. Justin hospitalized himself twice without a soul knowing. He even won the sales rep of the year at his former business the same year he went into the hospital and no one knew. We talk about the stigmas of mental illness, why it is so hard to talk about it, and how some silently struggle for years. After years of struggling silently Justin went on a service opportunity with his then new girlfriend, only because he didn’t want to look like a jerk for not going. After he experienced serving others - his whole world changed. It led him to lead a life of service and use that passion to help heal others with the same struggles he had. This is a beautiful story of the silent struggles many of us face and how one man came through the other side and is helping others along the way.

Jennifer accidentally became a restaurant owner when she was researching for a school project. It was something she loved and then realized that she could create a space that was nourishing for others bellies, but also for their soul.   Jennifer founded JUST BE KITCHEN, a place for overall wellness for body and soul. Just BE Kitchen is a 100% gluten, grain, & refined sugar free fast-casual committed to nourishing guests with PALEO, Whole30, KETO & AIP friendly comfort food! From her past fear of abandonment, she teaches us how to turn our pain into passion and how to bring our vulnerable selves out into the world. I know so many will resonate with her stories of a place of self-love and self-discovery. She talks about nourishing our whole self by learning to love ourselves first because we were all made for connection. This episode is about putting yourself out into the world, learning about nourishing your whole self, and using your pain to fuel passion and well-being in others. For ways to connect w

Welcome friends, today we are talking about one of my favorite topics, LEADERSHIP. You can tell how excited I am because I am talking SO fast the whole time I am interviewing our guest Jeremie Kubicek.   His former companies and current company GIANT WORLD WIDE has the mission to raise up liberating leaders who change their leadership culture in every sector. He is one of Incs  top 100 leadership speakers.   No matter if you are leading a company or one person, all of us are leading in some way or another. We talk about how a title doesn’t mean much, but influencing others is what leadership is all about.   He talks about his near death experience that changed everything for him. It changed his entire definition of leadership. You will have goose bumps after this story.   We talk about how a leader is  someone who fights for the highest possible good of the person they lead.   We talk about the 100X leader, which is his new book and blueprint to help us understand our health as a leader.   He takes us through

Today I have Theresa Mazza with me. She is currently the volunteer director of Hope House of Colorado. Hope House metro-Denver’s only resource providing free self-sufficiency programs to teen moms, including Residential, GED, and College & Career Programs. She talks about the stigma of being a teen mother, and how to see people without judgment, but get to know the story behind the person. We talk about living out our calling to love our neighbors well. She talks about how to be in relationship with others and how we can serve one another. She teaches us how we can sometimes see serving as a project instead of experiencing the humanness of others. Theressa reminds us all to love without an agenda. That sometimes the best thing is to just show up for someone. Find all Theresa’s show notes and info here: https://www.bestrongstory.com/be-love-podcast

Today’s podcast is with my sweet friend Cathryn Shaw. It started with one homeless couple and keeping her eyes open to others. She started asking what they needed after trial and error and started to become part of the homeless story. She has become an advocate for the homeless but now has created a true kinship with the homeless.  She is founder and director of ALL AMONG US. THE MISSION OF ALL AMONG US IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DESIRE TO TRANSITION FROM GENERATIONAL POVERTY TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. She shares her heart for the homeless and how we all can provide dignity to others. She shares her unlikely path to founding an organization called ALL AMONG US and Women’s Care Center. This is such a powerful conversation of the power of one person. Finding your one person to come alongside and build a relationship with. Make sure and listen to the end when she talks about the 10%. It is so important. Find how to connect with ALL AMONG US AND CATHRYN HERE https://www.bestrongstory.com/be-

People may know Ben best from his time on season 20 of ABC “The Bachelor” . “ The Bachelor” has allowed Ben an enhanced platform to share what he is most passionate about which is his faith, his hope for humanity. Ben is using his platform to change the world. We dig into some of his heart projects which include Generous International, a company dedicated to giving profits to social issues around the world starting with coffee. He also works closely with Humanity for Hope United, an organization that assists underserved villages in remote parts of Honduras. We talk about no matter the size of our influence we can serve others right where we are.  Every person has the capacity to love another and change another’s life. We talk about life after the Bachelor and what that has looked like with his work with charity. Find everything we talk about and links here: https://www.bestrongstory.com/be-love-podcast

Today I talk with Susan Rameriz, founder of Austin Angels. Austin Angels is a non-profit that helps improves the lives of foster care children. We talk about how to come alongside all children so they feel worthy and loved. Susan left a high paying corporate job to do something that gave her purpose and to do work on behalf of others.  We talk about what that looks like, and how to lean into a calling for our lives even when we don’t have all the answers. She was invited to a foster care conference and it changed her entire life. Listen to this powerful story. Susan also gives us some simple steps to love vulnerable children well and we talk about the ins and outs of the non-profit world. Complete show notes here: https://www.bestrongstory.com/be-love-podcast