First of all, thank you for reaching up to this blog post! This is another milestone: We are celebrating a year of podcasting and blogging that I never knew I could pull off! This is big for us, so I invited Drew to be my co-host for this episode. For those who don’t know, Drew is my husband, best friend, and very much partner in this podcast. He often helps me brainstorm episode ideas and distill leadership topics into their most important, core pillars worth understanding. Since day one, he has been cheering me on and I’m so grateful for him.

10 questions with Drew on how everything started

(plus get to know me more!):

1. Why did you start the @bestyoucanbpodcast?

There were a series of events leading up to a light bulb moment when I decided to start the podcast, but it all started in college. Drew and I went to the same school – VMI (Virginia Military Institute) – where we took a required class on leadership. I thought it was interesting and, to my surprise, really enjoyed learning just how leadership works in our society and how we can hone in on our unique gifts in pursuit of becoming better leaders. This school also happened to just be 10% women at the time, and I saw this stark contrast between how men lead and how women generally approach leadership. As a woman striving to lead in this environment, I grew to see the more feminine characteristics I brought to leadership as valued, critical, and powerful in their own way, but I remember how tough it was for some other women in the same environment to view their style of leadership as such. My goal with this podcast is really to encourage everyone to be comfortable truly being themselves, which is something far easier said than done. If you are nurturing and bubbly, those traits can be just as effective as boldness or decisiveness and other characteristics we often think of as associated with a powerful leader. 

2. You designed this podcast specifically for women. Why is that? What in your mind makes women’s leadership unique?

A lot of our leadership style depends on what we are good at (for example public speaking, management, inspiring others), and what we are bad at or maybe insecure about. Men and women tend to have different strengths that dictate those leadership skills. I wouldn’t have started the podcast if it wasn’t unique, but that also doesn’t mean it is dramatically different either. Women are naturally better (and research supports this) at things like being relational, providing emotional support to people who need it, actively listening, nurturing friendships, being understanding or empathetic. Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and generally speaking, women are more naturally programmed to be better at that.

In an effort to help us all bloom where we are planted, so to speak, I’d like to encourage us to see the things we are good at as gifts, not hindrances that we need to hide or constantly criticize and fix. Honestly, I’ve benefited so much from mentorship from other women in this area of growth that if I can encourage just one person in this way, my job is done!

3. So, this episode marks a full year of making episodes. How do you think the podcast is going so far?

I love it, I’ve learned a lot, I’ve gotten really positive feedback from friends listening to episodes and cheering me on and leaving reviews, and I’ve done a lot of daydreaming. I have high hopes for this podcast becoming a community and for listeners beginning to, with enough consistency, application, and engagement, excitement and enthusiasm, to see results in the fluidity with which they can pour into others and the confidence with which they can get up and speak about something that they couldn’t before.

4. You’ve produced 27 episodes and have had 7 guests so far, which of your episodes has been your favorite? And have you had a favorite guest? 

Favorite Episode: Episode of Chronic pain (Listen here) – I had friends reach out to me after this episode and share stories of their own chronic pain I hadn’t had any idea of!

My favorite guest? Rebecca Bender (Listen here) – She has a compelling story of resiliency and faith, super personable and we clicked immediately.

Dr. Tanda Cook (Listen here) – I loveeee talking about nutrition and ways for us to feel our best. I’ve noticed leaps and bounds in my energy, day to day mood, and health by fueling my body the right way and that totally translates to how I show up every day. I know feelings are not a solid foundation and can change on a dime, but I do believe there is a tie between how we feel and how we show up for the world, how confident we are in taking on the next big mountain in our lives, and how much energy we have to pour into others.

5. Who are the top three guests you’d like to have on the podcast over the course of year 2?

I have a running list of Olympic athletes I admire for their character and leadership on such a public platform, and I’d love to have Danielle Walker (Written cookbooks, says she finds “Finds Health and Hope Through Lifestyle and Diet”)

6. Shifting gears a bit–I know you were an International Relations major in college and probably didn’t receive much training on how to do a podcast. What have you learned so far? How to do a podcast, continue to improve speaking. What did podcasting teach you so far?

Starting a podcast definitely taught me how to do a podcast. I’m not a techy person, by any means, but I’ve enjoyed learning and now edit all my episodes and now the ins and outs of editing software which is really fun and rewarding. While I’m not in front of anyone, I also really enjoy the public speaking practice. I feel like I get better at communicating my thoughts and ideas each time I record, and that is a lifelong learning process in my opinion. With each episode, I definitely learn a ton. Each topic requires quite a bit of research and I love going down rabbit holes to learn everything I can before I share my thoughts in an episode! 

7. Your slogan is inspiring confidence through leadership and wellness, how do leadership and wellness complement one another? Firsthand experience (confidence tied to how we feel)

In my experience, and I think a lot of people can relate to this. Confidence happens to be strongly correlated with how we feel, and a lot of how we feel happens to be strongly correlated with our nutrition and exercise. I know what it’s like to not like my reflection in the mirror, and that lacking in self confidence absolutely does not put someone in the position to put him or herself out there in a leadership outreach role. I’ve been hyper critical about parts about me and given too much attention to insecurities and that also doesn’t put anyone in a good spot to reach out to others. On the other hand, when I am feeling good and fueling my body in a sustainably holistic (but also fun!) way, I’m full of energy and I can just go go go, reach out to others, check in on them, and show up with positivity.

That’s why I’m so passionate about both leadership and wellness put together to be our best. 

8. What are 3 fun facts about you?

I have a freckle on my lip, I can eat blueberries forever, and I’m obnoxiously stubborn. I love blue, and my sister and I have regular dates on zoom to do our nails.

9. What do you like to do for fun?

 I love to run, go outside, make chocolate chip cookies, and experiment in the kitchen! 

10. If you had one message for every girl/woman who listens to you?

I think you’re amazing. I really do. And I think leadership is critical. Being a good leader is a life-long study and process. I think if you commit to being on that journey, you will find ways to flourish as a leader with your gifts, your talents, your experiences that you get to bring to the table that no one else has! You are already such a blessing to those around you, but you can have even more positive influence by learning how to apply yourself with leadership skills. I say at the end of most episodes that our world needs more leaders and we definitely need yours. I really mean that! 

Keep going, keep growing and keep becoming the best you can be. 

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Did we miss something else? Let me know what you else you would love to discover about the @bestyoucanbpodcast in the comments below.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE: