TheUPside Podcast

In this year end episode of TheUPside, Theresa and her husband Tommy Flood sit down to review the books that most shaped their thinking, leadership, business and faith this year. They talk about why leaders must be readers, how AI can be a true thought partner rather than just a shortcut, and why your digital reputation might be one of your most important assets heading into 2026.

Together they unpack big ideas from books like The AI Driven Leader by Jeff Woods, The Science of Scaling by Dr Benjamin Hardy and Blake Erickson, Wealthy and Well Known by Rory and AJ Vaden, Endless Customers by Marcus Sheridan, Build a Business You Love by Dave Ramsey, Beyond the Leader by Dr Tony Bridwell, The Benefit of Doubt by Craig Groeschel plus Theresa’s experience reading the Bible cover to cover this year.

You will hear practical takeaways on

•  how to think more strategically with AI
•  why impossible goals and short timelines can change who you become
•  how to build a trustworthy personal brand that both people and AI can recommend
•  what it really means to build a business you actually love
•  how doubt can be an honest part of a growing faith

They wrap with encouragement to uplevel your reading by just one percent in 2026 and an invitation to share your own favorite reads for Theresa’s upcoming reading list.

Tune in and get inspired to build a book list and a life that keeps you living on TheUPside.

In this Thanksgiving week episode, Theresa invites you to pause and reflect on the power of gratitude. Whether this season feels full of blessings or heavy with struggle, she reminds us that gratitude is not about pretending everything is perfect. It is about recognizing the undeserved favor, the grace, and the goodness that still exist even in hard moments.

Theresa shares the surprising Latin root of the word gratitude and its deep connection to grace. She walks through four ways that practicing gratitude reshapes us from the inside out. Gratitude keeps us humble by reminding us that no one succeeds alone. It strengthens our relationships when we express appreciation to the people who matter most. It makes us more gracious and compassionate toward others. And it increases our happiness by shifting our focus from what is missing to what is present.

She also calls out the biggest enemies of gratitude including entitlement, self pity, and comparison and shows how choosing gratitude becomes the antidote that changes everything.

As you gather with family and friends this week, Theresa encourages you to slow down, reflect, pray, and speak your gratitude out loud. A grateful heart will always expand your joy.

Keep Living on TheUPside.

Clarity, Vision, and Momentum: Your End-of-Year Reset

Description:
 The final months of the year aren’t just for finishing strong—they’re for creating clarity, vision, and momentum for what’s next. In this solo episode, Theresa Flood shares 10 powerful reflection questions to help you celebrate wins, learn from challenges, and reset your focus heading into 2026.

You’ll learn:

• Why sitting with questions can be more powerful than rushing to answers
  
  
  
• How to celebrate and double down on your biggest strengths
  
  
  
• What unfinished goals reveal—and which ones to release
  
  
  
• How to identify the habits, relationships, and bold moves that will shape your next year
  
  
  
• The one question that determines who you must become to reach your goals
  
  
  

Take time with these questions. Let them recharge your vision and prepare you to step into 2026 with clarity and momentum.

 Smokey Garrett—founder of The GO Network and owner of the largest Keller Williams franchise brokerage in the U.S.—joins Theresa for a candid conversation on leading through disruption, building a culture that competes and cares, and why speed is a core leadership value. They cover Smokey’s unconventional path (yes, cutting horses 🐴), rookie year lessons, rebuilding a failing market center into #1, and how agents and leaders can adapt faster than the market. You’ll learn: Why orgs “start to look like their leader”—and how to make that a good thing The two real reasons people change (and how to lead both) How to translate vision into culture, momentum, and results What will actually matter for agents over the next 5–10 years (AI, service, communication) 

What happens when your confidence takes a hit? Whether it’s a job loss, a hard year in business, or just that quiet self-doubt that creeps in when things get tough—confidence loss can leave you feeling unsure and stuck.

In this episode of TheUPside, Theresa shares 7 truths to help you rebuild your confidence from the inside out. You’ll learn how to:

• Keep the promises you make to yourself
  
  
  
• Stop comparing your insides to everyone else’s outsides
  
  
  
• Do hard things on purpose
  
  
  
• Step out with courage (even before you feel confident)
  
  
  
• Borrow someone else’s belief in you until yours returns
  
  
  

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build. And if yours has been shaken lately, this episode will help you start rebuilding today.

We all face fear—but how we respond to it determines whether we stay stuck or move forward.

In this episode, Theresa shares a funny (and slightly terrifying) story from SeaWorld’s Halloween Fright Fest that led her to uncover how fear shows up in everyday life. From running for the exit to avoiding tough conversations, she breaks down the 4 Fear Responses—Flight, Freeze, Fight, and Fawn—and how to recognize them in yourself.

You’ll learn how to:

• Identify your default fear pattern
• Break the cycle of avoidance, overthinking, or people-pleasing
• Replace fear with intentional, courageous action

Courage doesn’t mean being fearless—it means moving forward even when fear shows up.

Listen now and step into your next challenge with confidence and clarity.

#TheUPsidePodcast #MindsetMatters #FaithOverFear #PersonalGrowth

In this episode of The Upside Podcast, Theresa Flood tackles the mental exhaustion that comes from making too many choices. With research showing we make over 35,000 decisions per day, it's no wonder we experience decision fatigue. Theresa explores how decision-making drains our energy and willpower, causing the quality of our choices to deteriorate over time. She shares practical strategies to reduce decision fatigue and make better choices when they matter most.

Key Quote: "When you're born, you look like your parents, and when you die, you look like your choices."

What You'll Learn

• What is decision fatigue? Mental exhaustion from making too many choices, which depletes energy and willpower throughout the day
• The science behind it: Studies on judges show decision quality decreases as the day progresses and energy wanes
• The paradox of choice: While choice is a gift and freedom, there is no choice in life but to choose
• Core principle: Every choice you make shapes who you are becoming

Four Strategies to Reduce Decision Fatigue

1. Pre-Decide

Make decisions ahead of time when your energy is high, not in the moment when you're tired or stressed.

Examples:

• Plan meals for the week on Sunday
• Decide your workout schedule in advance
• Pre-plan lead generation calls (who, when, what to say)
• Set house rules and boundaries ahead of situations

2. Get Clarity on Your Core Values

When you're clear on your values and beliefs, every decision flows through that filter, making choices less burdensome.

Framework:

• Know your values
• Know your priorities
• Know your seasons
• Make decisions based on faith, not fear
• Establish decision-making structures (e.g., major financial decisions together)

3. Make the Choice – Don't Delay

Remember: no decision is still a decision. Delaying decisions drains energy because you're essentially making the same decision multiple times.

Action: Stop kicking the can. If you can decide now, decide now.

4. Prioritize Important Decisions Early

Make your toughest and most important decisions when you're at your highest energy level—well-rested, nourished, and not distracted.

Action Plan

This Week's Audit:

1. What can you pre-decide?
   • Identify recurring decisions that drain your energy
   • Plan them in advance (meals, workouts, work tasks, routines)
2. What are your core values?
   • Write down your top 3-5 values
   • Create a filter: Does this decision align with my values?
3. When is your peak energy time?
   • Identify when you're at your best (morning, afternoon, evening)
   • Schedule important decisions during this window
4. What decisions are you avoiding?
   • List decisions you've been putting off
   • Pull the trigger on at least one this week

Remember: Life is a series of choices strung together. If you want a different life, make different choices. If you want a better life, make better choices.

Resources:

Visit www.theresaflood.com to get weekly training guides for all episodes—perfect for team leaders and coaches who want to share these concepts with others.