What if the things holding you back perfectionism, over-responsibility, and the pressure to achieve aren't character flaws, but rather trauma responses that have become culture?

As business owners and thought leaders, we often focus on the "ascending path" of growth: creating new patterns and positive self-affirmations. But what happens when that work feels hollow? My guest today, Erica Bonham, author of "Always Enough, Never Done", explains why we need to embrace the descending path of deep work the messy, necessary process of healing trauma and decolonizing the way we think about success and self-improvement.

Erica, a therapist, breaks down the concepts of Big T, Little t, and even ancestral trauma, explaining how seemingly innocuous "drips" of unresolved experiences can shape our personality and culture. We also dive into the vital importance of finding a therapist who is attuned to you and why therapy should be an evolution toward equity and community. This is a must-listen if you're writing a book or building a business and realize you need to clear out the root cause of what's keeping you stuck.

Inside this episode, you’ll discover:

Resources Mentioned:

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Erica Bonham's story.

Ever feel like your presentations or meetings aren’t landing the way you want? Dr. Christie McMullen shares how to make every interaction memorable using her four-part “Learning Can Stick” framework: Safe, Logical, Fun, and Memorable.

In this episode, we break down how business owners, coaches, and authors can turn any learning moment — from sales calls to team meetings — into engaging experiences that actually stick. Christie also explains neurosignatures (Slinky, Paperclip, Magnifying Glass, Teddy Bear) and how understanding them helps you communicate better and get stronger results from your team. We also dig into “flooding vs. dripping” information and why it matters for marketing your book or message.

What you’ll learn:

• How to make presentations and conversations truly memorable

Resources Mentioned:

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Dr. Christie McMullen's story.

Does your online presence reflect who you really are? Executive and author Victoria Pelletier shares how to build a personal brand that attracts high-level opportunities — from executive roles to eight-figure deals.

Do you ever feel like you second-guess everything from the small choices to the big ones?

Therapist-turned-author Emily Romero says you’re not alone. In her newest book, You Can Trust Yourself, Emily walks us through the beautiful, lifelong process of reconnecting with your intuition, your body, and ultimately, your truth.

In this episode, Emily joins me to unpack what self-trust really means, why so many women lose it, and how we can begin to build it back one honest promise at a time. We talk about the moment she realized every client’s story traced back to the same root issue, the framework she created to guide women home to themselves, and how entrepreneurship and solo travel became unexpected teachers of trust in her own life.

We dive into:

What if the same tools CEOs use to run thriving companies could also help you design a more intentional, joy-filled life?

That’s exactly what today’s guest, Lisa Druxman founder of Fit4Mom and author of Level Up Your Life believes. After more than two decades leading a national fitness company for moms, Lisa realized that the key to avoiding burnout isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing the right things, the ones that truly align with your values.

In this conversation, Lisa and I dig into what it really looks like to:

Lisa also shares candidly about her own journey, how she built a business while raising kids, what it looked like when her life and calendar didn’t reflect her values, and how she course-corrected to design a life that feels both purposeful and joyful.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the grind, drowning in your inbox, or like you’re living on autopilot, Lisa’s wisdom will inspire you to make small, powerful shifts that move you closer to the life you really want.

When life knocks you down, it can feel like the story is over. But what if it’s just the beginning of a new chapter?

In this powerful and deeply moving conversation, Kelly sits down with Julie Barth, author of Notes from a Blackberry, to talk about navigating unimaginable loss, raising a child with a rare medical condition, and finding purpose through pain. Julie shares the story of losing her first husband to pancreatic cancer, caring for their four young children—including Tatum, their daughter born with primordial dwarfism—and how documenting everything on her BlackBerry became a lifeline.

This isn’t just a story about tragedy. It’s about resilience. It’s about light in the darkest places. And it’s about how Julie turned her lived experience into advocacy, community, and hope for other women walking through hard seasons.

We dive into:

✨ How Julie processed grief through writing and why she chose to publish her story

✨ What it was like fighting through the medical system for her daughter’s care

✨ The powerful reminder that there is life after unimaginable loss

✨ How she’s helping women in crisis through her nonprofit work

✨ Why her daughter Tatum continues to be a bright light in the world

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Julie’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

What if the “dream job” isn’t where you’ll ever find your true purpose?

In this episode of Beyond the Bestseller, Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Charley Cramer, author of The Purpose Myth, to talk about why purpose doesn’t live inside corporate careers, and how you can create it on your own terms.

Charley shares the story behind her nonprofit Crack + Cider, how a coffee in Berlin sparked a global movement, and why corporations that promise to “help you find your purpose” are selling a myth. Together, Kelly and Charley explore:

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a job that didn’t fulfill you, or wondered how to align your work with what matters most, you’ll find Charley’s perspective both refreshing and empowering.

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Charley’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

What if the hardest years of your life weren’t wasted, but instead the foundation for your strength, resilience, and purpose?

In today’s episode of Beyond the Bestseller, I sat down with Christine Sadry, author of 13 Years Lost: An Unbelievable Story of Fleeing Communist Poland and Traveling the World Serving the United Nations. Her story is nothing short of remarkable—one that begins with unimaginable loss and abandonment, but unfolds into resilience, discovery, and ultimately, empowerment.

Christine takes us through her journey of leaving Poland as a child, surviving years of abuse and isolation in the United States, and eventually carving out a life of purpose and adventure through her work with the United Nations. From peacekeeping missions in Africa to reconnecting with her long-lost sisters, Christine’s story is about more than survival—it’s about building a life you choose, no matter where you come from.

If you’ve ever felt like your past defines your future, this conversation is proof that you can write your own story.

We dive into:

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What if your imperfections were actually your superpower? In this episode of Beyond the Bestseller, Ally Dalsimer shares the story behind her book It’s Okay Not to Be Fabulous Every Day that started as a gift for her children and evolved into a message for the world.

Ally opens up about the loss, healing, and self-discovery that shaped her journey and how writing the book helped her embrace a new chapter as an author and speaker. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to “have it all together,” this episode is your permission slip to drop the expectations and pursue joy on your own terms.

We dive into:

Links & Resources Mentioned:

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Ally’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com