After a long hiatus, Becky and Ashleyne are back with a new episode about writing a book! Ashleyne published her first novel in 2024 (Violindy: a Hilarious and Cozy Heist Novel) and learned all about publishing, making tough decisions, and what it's like to be a published author! In this episode, Becky asks Ashleyne about the origins of the wild and unexpected story, the ins and outs of the publishing process, and what you should know if you're dreaming about writing a book.

You can find Violindy on Amazon or order a signed copy at Ashleyne.me. Follow @shleyne on Instagram for more content about writing and what's next for the ragtag crew from her debut novel!

https://www.amazon.com/Violindy-Hilarious-Cozy-Heist-Novel/dp/B0DJY9YGGG?crid=BMCED7FB0O9Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.BJoWWW34vfWWgeDr4W9o_w.vsjGGlF7nMNHqTPxASJMwk5kYq_QmbhSoLpd7RKiu3I&dib_tag=se&keywords=violindy+book&qid=1736368027&sprefix=violindy%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1

Ashleyne Seitz wraps up the Obstacle Courses series with her observations and gives some important updates on the Living Box-Free Podcast and On the Rise Group!

At different points in our lives we all have to make an incredibly difficult choice: do we do the easy thing or the right thing? And sometimes those choices sneak up on us in ways we never expected! In this week’s episode, Ashleyne sits down with her friend Brooke Carnes to talk about the decisions that Brooke has had to make that have had a huge impact on both her own life and on others. Whether it’s a little thing or a life-altering decision, the obstacle of doing the right thing is difficult to navigate and can have both painful and rewarding consequences.

Brooke is a Jesus-loving single mom to two amazing humans & two cute puppies. She is a Chicago native who will always root for the Cubbies. After leaving church ministry to drive a school bus, she now feels like she has her own little ministry on wheels!

Consistency is the key to making lasting changes in our lives - but it's so difficult! We get distracted, we forget our goals, we get worn out by life, and the next thing we know we've missed three weeks of something we were supposed to do every day! In this episode, Ashleyne Seitz sits down with Lauren Wagner to talk about the importance of consistency, why it's such a difficult obstacle to navigate, and some tips and tricks to becoming the person you want to be.

Lauren is a Special Education teacher in Indianapolis, where she lives with her two cats. She loves CrossFit and having fun, and is passionate about justice, health, and her friends and family.

At some point in our lives, we all experience the obstacle of tragedy. We rarely expect it, and never know exactly how to deal with it, but it happens all the same. Sharing our stories and experiences can help us understand one another and feel seen, so Ashleyne sits down with Tiffany Jordan to talk about Tiffany's experience with motherhood, loss, pain, and healing.

Tiffany is a wife, mother, and Project Manager by profession. Serving others, and finding creative solutions to problems, both business and personal brings her joy. In her spare time, she enjoys time with her family, serial killer TV, craft beer, and french fries.

Trigger warning: this episode includes a discussion of miscarriage and grief surrounding childbirth.

After a ridiculous failure involving the podcast, Ashleyne chats with Shilah Larison about the obstacle of failure - something we all hit eventually. The two laugh over how terrible failure feels and how they each deal with it.

We can all struggle with low self-esteem at different points in our lives, but we don't always recognize it. Insecurity and low self-image can come out as jealousy, anger, meanness, or a wide variety of other reactions which are rarely welcome in our lives. So how do we pay attention to our self-esteem and encourage high self-esteem in those we love? In this episode, Ashleyne chats with recurring guest Tifani Goen about the way we view ourselves and the effect that has on our lives.

Becky Fouard returns to the mic to interview Ashleyne about the obstacle of creating. Ashleyne published her first e-book in 2022, Writing for Real: how to be authentic and vulnerable in your writing without destroying your life, and she digs into the things that held her back. From self-doubt to asking for help to others’ calendars, these common obstacles to creating and finishing a project can plague every creator! Ashleyne relates how she dealt with and navigated the obstacles to finally finish the project.

You can find the e-book here: https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Real-vulnerable-authentic-destroying-ebook/dp/B0BPV69GPD/ref=sr_1_5?crid=RIXUQCE0S8ZB&keywords=writing+for+real&qid=1679095271&sprefix=writing+for+real%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-5

And Ashleyne’s personal blog here: ashleyne.me

Our brains and bodies have limited energy, but we need energy to deal with every single thing that comes up in life! So how do we replenish our energy in order to accomplish our goals, process unexpected emotions, or just get out of bed in the morning? Ashleyne sits down with Michael Anderson to talk about our internal “Power Bank,” how we fill it, and what difference it makes!

Michael is a visionary adjunct professor, coach, and consultant who finds numerous ways to interact with people to help them find and forge their path to success. He has certifications in CoreClarity, Positive Intelligence, Action Learning, and Sherpa executive coaching, and has designed communication training that is used around the world. When you are looking for answers for your growth, Michael is ready to give you the resources you need. 

You can find Michael at AndersonLR.com

Ashleyne sits down with Sydney Dressler, a transgender male and an advocate for the queer community, to talk about the obstacles that have come up as he navigates a binary world. From finding hormone treatment to buying shoes that fit, transitioning has brought up a slew of unexpected things for Sydney to deal with, and he graciously shares his story with Ashleyne.

Sydney is a husband, foster parent, and School Coordinator for Indianapolis Public Schools. Sydney shares his personal journey and the obstacles he has faced coming out and openly transitioning in hopes of better educating the world around him to be a safer and more inclusive space for all.