I have been thinking about an episode on the farm but had a hard time coming up with something new.  A friend reached out with some ideas and I knew you needed to meet my friends Nicole and Lauren.  Lauren is a farmer.  Nicole is not.  But the three of us found common ground between our lives on and off the farm in this episode.  For answers to questions that we missed, reach out to any of us on Instagram. 

It's summer.  It's time for vacations and beach reads and a different type of reading.  I brought together two of my favorite readers to share books we love and books we are excited to read this summer.  Kari and Jamie are two of my most trusted reading friends and I am excited to share these people and books with you. 

Lady Tan's Circle of Women By Lisa See

The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J Ryan Stradel

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hildebrand

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

The Secret Book of Flora Lea

Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman

The Eden Test by Adam Sternbergh

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Infinity Gate MR Carey

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan

Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin

Paper Names by Susie Luo

My friend Randi Braun is a coach and author who just published a new play book for women at work.  Her book is filled with light bulb moments, tips and stories of women who are not only accomplishing great things in the world, but women who are overcoming the small things that hold us back.  Our language and our world and our time are something that can make a major change in our lives.  I hope you love listening to her as much as I did.

We have talked about changing seasons and prepping for new things, but transitions sometimes trip me up.  I have been thinking about what I am going to do differently and how I am going to make the most out of summer this year and thought you might want some of my processes, too.  

Roz is one of the kindest and smartest women I know.  We talk about being intentional, using out time wisely and the people who influenced us on our path to success.  I hope you learn as much from her as I did. 

I am walking through the middle of a big process right now and it's prompted me to think about what's important and what I want to remember as I am working towards this big goal.  I hope my thoughts help you gain some peace while you are in your own middle  

Samantha Markum writes YA romance that's smart and witty and full of great banter and friend groups.  I have loved both of her books and needed you to know her as well.  We talk about writing YA, writing fanfiction, reading and all the things.  

Life with big kids is something that we just don't talk about enough.  I have made it my personal mission to bring all of the things that I am learning to you so that maybe you can walk through these seasons a little bit more prepared.  This episode is less about them and more about you and how you feel and what you can do to feel better during this big kid phase.  May the force be with all of us.  

Katie Steele Danner is the executive director of the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation.  She is a leader, a woman of many experiences and just fun to be around.  As I have looked for leaders to share with you in my inner circle, Katie is a must know.  She shares with us her path through the world as a self titled "generalist" and how Greater Missouri is lifting up women across the state.  

Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge

After talking with a friend recently, I realized that I have not finished the conversation with you on my year and how I am walking through it.  This short episode is just that.  I hope you enjoy.