Friends, 29 episodes and >1,600 downloads later, I present to you for your listening pleasure, the last episode of “The Conversation Network”, at least for a little while.  Life is happening for all of us, and the time has come to take a break for a bit.  We still have some fun this week, as there’s a few “Ask Me Anything” questions in there to keep you entertained (i.e., famous people dinner guests, books on an island, REGRETS), followed by my final thoughts of love and gratitude.  

This project, this journey, this validation could not have been possible without all of you, and I will never be able to say “Thank You” enough.  I hope to come back soon, maybe with a fresher format or new concept, but until then “It’s not goodbye, it’s see ya later!” 

It’s “Ask Me Anything” week on “The Conversation Network”!  Thank you to everyone who submitted their questions on social media and via text, trust I got way more than I bargained for!  These are always so much fun and interesting to read from other people way cooler and more interesting than me.  I’m hoping that by jumping on the bandwagon and dipping my toes in the water here, I can get the 73 Questions guy from Vogue to make a pitstop in the Midwest and help me become YouTube famous, at the minimum.

Here's a sneak peek of what you’ll hear: What’s my skincare routine?  Who are my favorite workout partners at the gym? What motivates me? What’s the best date I’ve ever been on? Backstreet or *NSYNC? And most importantly, HOW DID I GET SUCH BIG CALVES?  I hope you enjoy this episode and thank you for allowing me to share!  Another opportunity will be coming again if you missed this one.

This week on “The Conversation Network”, I caught up with two very special friends of mine, Wyatt and Julie Williams.  Wyatt and Julie share with us their story about how they built Auburn Acres Farm, an agricultural business right in their backyard from the ground up since their separation from the military almost seven years ago.  We talk about chickens, turkeys, and an elderly goat named Homer who we have plans to make Insta-famous, and Mentor Bob who continues to help them navigate the ever-changing industry of farming and agriculture. 

It truly was such a heartwarming conversation about how Wyatt and Julie are building their own legacy and brand to pass to their children, and how their children are already on their own paths to entrepreneurship.  BONUS: Julie and I have been in the Shonda Thursday fan club as evidenced by our years of endless text threads about Meredith Grey, Olivia Pope, and the upcoming Bridgerton spin-off, Queen Charlotte (much to Wyatt’s annoyance).  Hear our ideas for how we think Grey’s Anatomy could and probably should end! 

This week on “The Conversation Network”, it’s “The One Where I Pay Tribute To Friends!”  Despite being late to the party with the show as I usually am, I’m excited to pay homage and share why this show is so important to my family and me and talk about some of my “favorites” of the series.  

I’ll share what my favorite episodes of the series are, who my favorite guest stars are, who my favorite Friend is, and my fantasy casting selections if I was in charge of rebooting the show, since ya know, that’s the thing to do these days. So, grab your coffee, your bedtime penguin pal Hugsy, throw on your leather pants if you own a pair, and let’s have some fun! 

This week on “The Conversation Network”, I caught up with someone who I’ve been so excited to bring on the pod, the fabulous and talented Auntie Traci.  We both served together when I was stationed at Travis, and she’s been serving big Auntie energy from the moment that I met her. Auntie shares with us her own experiences navigating the post-military life following her retirement in the midst of Covid back in 2020, and how that led her to some really exciting opportunities to build new relationships using her talents and skills (can we say Stage Boss???).  It wouldn’t be a convo with Auntie without dish on some reality TV, so you’ll hear us debrief on season 3 of Love Is Blind and some other pop culture happenings!

SIDEBAR: Zoom was NOT kind to us this session, and unfortunately, we lost some audio of our conversation due to connectivity and tech issues.  Nevertheless, what I was able to save is still a very special conversation, so please tune in!

My friends, it’s the season 3 premiere week of one of my favorite shows, Ted Lasso, and we are celebrating its return this week on “The Conversation Network”!  I have been waiting very anxiously since binge watching both seasons over Christmas break in 2021 for this show to return, and TODAY it finally has!  This show is known for its witty one-liners, and in celebration of the hilarious dialogue compliments of Coach Lasso and the AFC Richmond football club, that drives our theme for this week.  I take some of my favorite quotes from the show and integrate stories from my own life about my difficult journey with finances and learning how to be better about making snap judgements.  Friends, this show is very special, and I found great comfort in re-watching it to help write this episode this week.  I hope I scored a goal with this one, and that you enjoy!

71 “Ted Lasso” Lines That Might Make You Laugh, Cry, or Do Both Simultaneously: https://www.buzzfeed.com/evelinamedina/ted-lasso-best-quotes-jokes

Hello to all the wonderful listeners out there, and welcome back to “The Conversation Network”.  On this week’s episode, I chat with my beautiful friend from Colorado, Angela Keith.  Angela has been a licensed attorney since 2016 after passing the Uniform Bar Exam on her first try, and is now working as a Corporate Lawyer for an eCommerce software company.  Even though she and I have been close friends for years now, I realized I don’t know much about her journey to becoming a lawyer, and wanted to take this unique opportunity to learn more about that part of her life.

We have a fantastic conversation about her experiences in law school and her journey to where she is now, and of course I couldn’t let her go without asking about the realities of Hollywood’s depiction of the legal industry in shows like Legally Blonde and Suits.  We have an honest conversation about some sensitive topics, particularly what she would change about the legal system if she could, and who her legal heroes are.  You even get to hear our delightful, backhanded banter which is a big part of our friendship! 

This week on “The Conversation Network”, in my continuing excitement of my favorite movie from 2022, Top Gun: Maverick, I do a deep dive into an article I found written by Simon Lovell called “Want To Be  Leader Like Tom Cruise? 4 Supersonic Leadership Lessons from Top Gun: Maverick”.  The article listed four themes from the film that encompassed ideas and thoughts about how to lead teams towards success while finding a balance between work and play, letting go of the past, and discovering the impossible when you in the words of Mav himself “Don’t think, just do!”  

I step out of the box a bit and give my perspectives on the article not from a leadership angle, but more from a navigating life in general viewpoint.  This one’s kind of deep folks, but I’m excited for you to hear it.  I share some raw and honest thoughts about my time in the military (particularly my separation) and how I’m still on the journey of finding out what’s possible in my life through learning new skills and trusting what my capabilities are.  This conversation was somewhat therapeutic for me, and I’m glad to continue having this platform to share my thoughts with you.  

Article Link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/want-to-be-a-leader-like-tom-cruise-4-supersonic/429134  

Yo wonderful people, it’s a party on the podcast this week, because we’ve got not one, not two, but THREE fantastic guests for you on this week’s episode of “The Conversation Network”. I’m so excited to introduce you to some of the folks who have been helping me get back into shape since my move back to Missouri, the coaching staff from F45 South Springfield! 

Chloe, Ben, and Lori are such a diverse group of trainers with extensive education and backgrounds in fitness, from personal training to collegiate athletics to physical therapy. These folks have all been fantastic motivators for me and encouraging me to challenge myself and helped me rediscover parts of fitness that I had given up on altogether.  It was really a great opportunity to chat with them when they’re not kickin’ my butt with burpees and pull-ups! 

Y’all, this was such a fun conversation, and I had a great time recording with these folks.  I’m excited for them to share their goodness, and I hope they can inspire you the same way they have inspired me.

This week on “The Conversation Network”,  I’m joined by an old buddy of mine from my active-duty days, Adam Overbay.  The last time I saw this fella was at my farewell ceremony when I left California in 2017.  He’s such a great conversationalist that we pick right back up where we left off when we were just a couple of young Staff Sergeants.  We share an appreciation for the opportunity the military gave us to hear all the unique stories and journeys of others, and how that helps up break down our biases and preconceptions. Best part: you’ll hear what our AOL screennames were from the early 2000s (mine is cringy).!  A true honor to have a bonus brother from back in the day on the pod with me, and I hope you enjoy this episode!