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"A LOT with Audra" is the podcast for women juggling big dreams and full lives. Each episode, host, Audra Dinell, Midwestern wife, mom and neurodivergent multi-six figure entrepreneur encourages women to embrace their many roles holistically by living a values-based life with confidence and joy. Through candid discussions, practical strategies and inspiring stories, this podcast is your guide to designing and achieving success without losing yourself in the process.
Ep50
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[00:00:00]
Audra Dinell: Hey everyone. So excited to be back with you on this Monday, the last working Monday for our team before Christmas break. We always take a few weeks off over Christmas to just be with our families. And let's be real, the kids don't have school, and so that means we're home with them doing all the festive things.
Team Podcast and Year Wrap-Up
---
Audra Dinell: So this is a team podcast today. Kendra and Kristen are both on with me. Hey ladies. And we are just gonna do a wrap up of our 2025. It's been really fun recording together this year, [00:01:00] you know, from the beginning and the middle and the end. And we had a lot of feedback on our summer episode. People, you know, are interested in hearing what other moms are doing those big breaks, so I just thought this would be a beautiful way to do a team wrap up for the year.
Love it.
So let's jump in. Okay.
Personal Reflections and Surprises
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Audra Dinell: What surprised you about yourself this year? Let's just kick it off. Were there any surprises in your 2025 and like you all can't see, but there's a lot of smiles.
Kristen Selby: It is always so fun to look back over the last year and think about your, like my January 2025 self. I'm like, sweet baby girl. You had no idea. What was about to transpire. And so I think the biggest surprise for me was on the personal side.
Navigating Personal Challenges
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Kristen Selby: lost my mom on October 9th this year, and so navigating that from [00:02:00] and miles away, she was in Texas and I was here the surprise being I was able to
Audra Dinell: To,
Kristen Selby: really well through that and travel more than I have in many years and still be for my business and present for. This team, team. I hope you all would say that too. And present for my partner and my kids. And I think looking back like that feels like a big surprise to me.
'cause I'm like how that was a, that was just a lot. There was a
Audra Dinell: yeah.
Kristen Selby: And I can say I'm proud of how I showed up imperfectly to be sure. But I showed up how I, wanted to, so, yeah.
Audra Dinell: You know, I, yeah. Walking through that with you, I would totally agree. I think I said about half a dozen times, like, you're so good at being human because you just show up so. Dang it. wanna cry. Literally
Kristen Selby: I,
Audra Dinell: two minutes in. [00:03:00] Got a whole day of podcasting. You showed up so well during one of the hardest things that happen and you had big ambitious goals for your. Business this year, and you still knocked it out of the park, but in a more, like a softer, just I don't wanna say accepting, but just like in a softer way. It was just I don't know, really felt like an honor to watch you and be in your life during this tender time. Okay.
Kristen Selby: Well, thank you. Yeah. I mean, I think you both were such anchors for me through this entire year, and I remember Audra, we had many conversations when, you know, there are so many
Audra Dinell: Many times.
Kristen Selby: where it was like. There's a really hard choice. Do I fly home? Do I stay here? Do I attend this? Is my business gonna fall apart? Like, there were so many, you know, or do my [00:04:00] kids need me? Like, is it really important that I go to this for them? And, you know, you had challenged me to use the, like, how will I feel about this in five minutes? How will I feel about this in five months? And then five years. And I,
Audra Dinell: And I
Kristen Selby: was such a,
Audra Dinell: such a gift to
Kristen Selby: to use as a tool throughout this year.
Yeah, so thank you for that. And just, yeah, both of you create like just holding so much space for me.
Kendra Moody: I feel like you
Beautiful doesn't seem like the right word to use for how you navigated this year, but I felt like you honored so much of yourself that it was beautiful to watch how much you honored yourself, which was so inspiring too.
Kristen Selby: Thank you.
Audra Dinell: I think that's the good way to say it. Like going through something challenging, having, and surprise isn't even really the right word for this. It's like. The expectations that you had for the year, or the hopes that you have had for the year [00:05:00] were, it's like that unmet expectations, you know? Which, I mean, of course it's life.
We can't plan. but I just think watching you not abandon yourself and hold true to who you are and who you wanna be through, that was like,
Kendra Moody: Yeah.
Kristen Selby: Thank you.
Audra Dinell: Now we're all crying.
Kendra Moody: I know.
Audra Dinell: I should have opened with a different question. Oh, Kendra, what about you?
Kendra Moody: Yeah.
Embracing Simplicity
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Kendra Moody: I would say the thing that surprised. Me the most this year was the realization that I crave simplicity. And I'm sure both of you are like, that is zero surprise to us. Why do you not know this about yourself? And I think that where this showed up is that I also love things that are beautiful and fun and new, but when I feel most settled both personally and [00:06:00] professionally.
Is when my life feels simple. And so that's, making sure my yeses are yeses that are right for me and being okay with saying no not overcommitting and, making my calendar crazy. Not overcomplicating some of the things that I'm trying to do in my business or over-complicating our processes, just sticking to what is simple and what works.
I think sometimes I can try to make things bigger or more difficult than they need to be, and I, it just surprised me that when things are simple, I feel very settled and I love that feeling.
Audra Dinell: It's almost like that connection surprised you. Not
Kendra Moody: Yeah.
Audra Dinell: elements, but like the connection that you found of like, oh, feel maybe it's like I'm thriving or I feel at my best when things are simple.
Kendra Moody: Yeah, no, that's totally [00:07:00] it. And when things aren't simple, it's always me that's done it to myself. And so I think that, yeah, I mean you or Wes, let's be honest though. But I do feel it was Al you're right. It is that connection of I love simplicity and also that simplicity is okay.
Kristen Selby: Hmm.
Kendra Moody: that it doesn't mean that because it's simple that it's bad or boring, that that's okay.
That that's the life that I want to lead. And sometimes that can be hard when you see other people doing all the fun things. It so it, it's a, it's a comparison component too that No, I like simple. Simple is what feels good in my body and feels good for our family, and that's okay.
Kristen Selby: Yeah, I
Audra Dinell: Yeah, I was
Kristen Selby: you
Audra Dinell: when you were.
Kristen Selby: just if it was giving yourself permission just to be okay with that. Right?
Kendra Moody: Yeah.
Kristen Selby: you know, it's not big and shiny and exciting every single [00:08:00] day, but like that's not you.
Kendra Moody: Right.
Kristen Selby: it's, again, it's honoring who you are. And also hopefully, I just think that's the beauty you bring to the world and certainly to this team. And in the spaces that you're creating in your business. I just think that consistency and like people around you know what to expect
Kendra Moody: Yeah.
Kristen Selby: you show up so authentically as yourself in such a consistent way that that feels safe, I think to people and welcoming.
Audra Dinell: Hmm.
Kendra Moody: thanks. Thank you guys. What was yours, Audra?
Pursuing Big Dreams
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Audra Dinell: You know, I was surprised this year when I did my focus lab and it was my day and we spent a lot of the day talking about a sexy business side that I actually did not, that was not the [00:09:00] biggest dream in my heart.
Kristen Selby: Hmm.
Audra Dinell: So. It surprised me to just realize like, dang it, I am playing small at this thing that I really, really wanna do. Many people who are close to me know I really, really wanna do it. but I am sort of saying too many yeses, too goods in my life and not giving myself not only the space on my calendar and the energy to pursue like the great big dream in my heart, but. When I had some one-on-one time in the focus lab, that wasn't the first thing that came outta my mouth.
And so like it surprised me that it was a surprise that that was the thing. And so it just made me, I don't know if that makes any sense, but. What it made me realize was, dang it, I am playing so small on this dream, and it's like the thread. I was talking to a good friend about this and she was like, Audra, when you were building the thread, like the thread [00:10:00] was the dream and you've built it and it's good and it's, know, living and breathing and we all love the work. In the next chapter of my life, I have an additional dream that I want to pursue. So. It is just the next evolution, the next chapter. Separate from the thread, but it still needs more than I've been giving it, I guess. And you know, it's just so funny, right? Because courage is a value of mine and I'm all about, let's dream big.
So I guess that surprised me this year to realize, dang it, you are playing small. You're busying yourself because you're scared, because this might not happen. And that's why it makes it a big dream.
Kristen Selby: isn't that wild that you, even after building a successful business. You still have those thoughts, you know, you would think that as an entrepreneur that gets easier. We're like, oh, hey, I had this big dream and then I went and I did it and it's successful, [00:11:00] and like, why wouldn't I be able to do that again?
But you have all of these limiting that pop up that you really have to challenge.
Audra Dinell: Yes. And how quickly my brain went, there and how it took me so long to see it,
Kristen Selby: Hmm.
Kendra Moody: Mm-hmm.
Audra Dinell: so long. I mean, 10 years ago maybe. I wouldn't think this is so long. But yes, that, that was a surprise I think
Kendra Moody: I think,
Audra Dinell: once you've done a thing, you can still feel. Like a beginner again at the next thing
Kendra Moody: yeah.
Audra Dinell: and really have to do mindset work.
Kristen Selby: Mm-hmm.
Kendra Moody: I think too, it speaks to the the power of being able to step out of the day to day and pausing, because my guess is when you're. Thinking about all the things that need to be done and you're excited about the things that we're working on, the thread, the things in your other areas, you know, personal, all of those items, you may not have been able [00:12:00] to have that realization had you not had your focus lab and been able to pause.
And so I think sometimes it's easy for us to just continue to go, go, go but then when we're able to pause and stop, that's where we allow that to kind of bubble up, and then we can get curious and understand why.
Audra Dinell: I think that's such a good point. And honestly I had not thought about that in that way. Like I'd been looking forward to the focus lab, couldn't wait to see what came out of the focus lab, but I had not attributed just that pause to really getting So. You know, really that that kind of takes me to a lesson that I would want to carry forward into 2026. And it's similar to what you were talking about, Kendra, just choices make with our time and our yeses and our nos. so important, and I know this, but it has just, this is the, [00:13:00] the hardest thing in my, I mean, I wouldn't say the hardest thing in my life, but this is my, thorn or cross to bear. I don't know what analogy I'm trying to share, but do you know
Kendra Moody: Mm-hmm.
Audra Dinell: always been my thing is like I want to do a lot of things and. I can't do everything I want to do, so I have to make a choice to let go and lose out on the potential of doing something so that I can pursue the things that feel most important to me. So I feel like the lesson I'm taking from this surprise into next year is. This quote that a mentor shared with me once she shared Audra, just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean you should, and I've liked that, but I've updated it to feel more relevant to my struggle. And that just because I can and want to [00:14:00] doesn't mean it's in alignment with my goals and the highest vision I have for my life.
Kendra Moody: I love.
Audra Dinell: that And. feels like, okay, this is the shift I have been trying to get to I feel like I'm on a tipping point of it. Please God, let me be on a tipping point of it. and so that's the lesson I wanna take from that surprise from this year into next year and just have it. Shape the year truly, truly in a way that like people from the outside and you all, who know me and see me, can see a difference, can feel a difference.
Kristen Selby: Hmm.
Audra Dinell: What about, what about you all? Any lessons that you.
Kendra Moody: I, the lesson that I am taking into next year.
Lessons from Motherhood
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Kendra Moody: So we, our two oldest are nine and five, and they could not be more opposite as both of you know. And I [00:15:00] would say as we navigate. I love the season of being a mom and prioritizing my family and getting to be home with them more. That was the ultimate goal.
So I'm spending more time with all of them, which I love dearly. And the lesson I've learned is that it is never worth it to engage in a fight with them when we are all elevated. And so I feel like that. Kristen, I know you mentioned the lesson that you keep learning. I feel like I learned this lesson six times a day.
And sometimes I'm like, whatever, I'm engaging, I'm going right in. But I, I feel like I continue to be surprised when I can manage myself in situations when they're battling each other, when they're battling me. If I can manage myself. The situation blows over so much easier. But when I try to like white knuckle it [00:16:00] or say the thing that's gonna put them in their place and make them come back to me and be like, mom, you're so right.
I'm so sorry. Which never happens. Like, I, I feel like that's when I make it worse. So I think the lesson that I'm taking into next year is. It's, it's not worth it to jump into the lava with them.
Audra Dinell: Hmm.
Kendra Moody: Take a step back.
Kristen Selby: Hmm.
Kendra Moody: it's funny, I was preparing for this and so yesterday the boys got home and fought over.
They had a can of chips and there's only a few left, so Meyer took it and was just gonna finish it. Well, that did not set well with Madden, so they literally were in our living room screaming at each other for probably 20 minutes. And I took Murphy and went into my bedroom, locked the door, and folded laundry.
And I did not say a word. Like I could hear them yelling, I could hear them kicking each other, punching each other. Maybe a few things got knocked down and I was just like, [00:17:00] I'm, and literally it took a while, but they came back in and they were just fine. Yeah. They, Madden found another snack and then they shared.
So
Audra Dinell: Oh.
Kendra Moody: I know it was just a le I'm like, this is why I don't need to intervene like they, they were getting physical with each other, but they needed to do that to get it out. And then they found their own resolution. So
Audra Dinell: Oh my gosh,
Kendra Moody: it
Audra Dinell: might,
Kendra Moody: might not work every time, but it was like even Murphy was in our bedroom going because he kept hearing him scream.
And I think it startled him.
Kristen Selby: Mom.
Audra Dinell: I
Kendra Moody: Like, shouldn't you go out there? I feel like that's what I just need to continue to remember as a mom, which is hard.
Audra Dinell: gosh. That's good. How about you, Kristen?
Kristen Selby: well first of all, I want updates. And just any of your learnings because I feel like I could use some [00:18:00] of the, those two.
Balancing Ambition and Contentment
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Kristen Selby: My lesson I'm taking into next year is that I am a human being and not a human doing. This is something, this is like ara, you said this is ACEC challenge. Don't ever expect to resolve because it's just how I'm wired. I love to work, I love to do, I love to achieve. And this last year has really, forced me to take a slower pace and to lean into my team and my husband and ask for help. These are lessons that I've learned before, but I, feel like they deepened for me this year. So in January I was in therapy and was just kind of feeling some start of burnout a little bit.
And I know I can recognize those symptoms now, and I know kind of, I have a toolkit to, to help me through them. But my therapist suggested I take one Friday a month. The afternoon [00:19:00] just for myself and as she said that my body, like I had a physical reaction.
I was just like, I cannot do that. Like I could probably do an hour if that feels like that would be successful because I, half a day is a hundred percent. no And so was like, I feel like we have some things to dig into which we have. And so now I am just finding myself taking walks on a random Tuesday afternoon or going to the bookstore.
And I know this is like the privilege of a but I just, I have this freedom and space in my schedule even when I don't feel like I have that. I'm learning that sometimes that's more important than what I am labeling as urgent typically
Audra Dinell: Yeah.
Kristen Selby: And so I think taking that into next year and you know, that this kind of crazy year is coming to a close with [00:20:00] all of the travel and emotional whiplash. I just don't want to fall back into this pattern of, okay, January, it's a new year. I don't have to deal with all of these things. This is off my plate, so what can
Audra Dinell: Yeah.
Kristen Selby: like? I just wanna continue that ease,
Audra Dinell: Mm.
Kristen Selby: in my life.
Kendra Moody: I love that. I feel like I would be like every Friday. Sure. Yeah. I can do that. Where you're like, I don't think I can do one Friday.
Kristen Selby: I mean, it really was a, like, I know that sounds ridiculous, but it was like this. Like something bubbled up in me, like a panic, you
Kendra Moody: Yeah.
Kristen Selby: Yeah, we're working on that and I feel like I've come a long way.
Audra Dinell: Well, you know, and I think I, I talk about this all the time and, and just. In-person relationships, and probably, I've talked about it on the podcast too, but just that tension between ambition and dreams and goals and achieving and doing and feeling productive, and [00:21:00] the tension I want to have personally of rooted in contentment and gratitude for what I do have. I think you talk about being versus doing, that's a struggle I have. In a similar way in a different way because I, I would have a blast if someone told me to take every Friday to myself. But think, yeah, for me is just kind of like, instead of focusing on the next thing, the next thing, the next thing, the future. Just looking around at the present and being like, even right now, just being like, I am doing a podcast that I have wanted to do for years with my team, who I love, and Brian, my producer, who's gonna clean up all the mess. Yay. You know? And just being just really content while also being like, oh, I'm so excited for what we have planned for the podcast next year.
You know, like it's just that tension of like. [00:22:00] That you said?
Balancing Motherhood and Career
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Audra Dinell: We'll, never. It is not a box to check. It. It, there's, it's always gonna be attention, especially when we're in the, the season of mothering and career building, working
Kendra Moody: Mm-hmm.
Audra Dinell: so good. You know, you said something about not wanting to.
Finding Flow and Productivity
---
Audra Dinell: January and just like leave this rhythm behind, like you really want to take this new rhythm of learning to be as well as do into the new year. And I feel like I really found my flow this summer with batching and with having off weeks and on weeks, I feel very productive. I feel really on purpose. I'm saying the nos I need to because I know I only have so much time because I'm limiting my time for productive and work [00:23:00] yeses so that I can be present and with my, my kids this summer. And I feel like that's something that has slipped. You know, I thought, oh, I'm gonna try and figure out a way to take this into the fall.
Back to school is here. I'm so excited to have, you know, my days. It's been a lovely summer and I'm excited to have my days back to jump into work that I love doing and then it's like totally threw that out the window and just went back into kind of like crazy mode. So, I love that I found that flow and I feel like that's a step I do hope. That there is a way I can make my 2026 look a little bit more like my summer looked. What about you? When are you most in flow or when have you found yourself most in flow this year?
Business Strategies and Delegation
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Kristen Selby: This was a hard one for me. I was trying to think, this year just felt like so many highs and lows. I don't know that I, I found a flow really, but something that has helped tremendously is that in [00:24:00] March of this year, I brought on a fractional COO in my business and just the standing weekly meeting with her strategizing and, you know, there were times that she stepped in when I was traveling it has allowed me to zoom out and take on more of that CEO founder role and get out of the weeds. And that feels really. Good to me, which is interesting 'cause I am a detailed person and I love the processes and systems, but when I handed that over, that felt so spacious and it allowed me brain space for and for, visioning and just the ability to look at this. Business that I've created and look at the viability and scalability and where are we going in a year and where can we go in three years and what does that really take? And so just the having those conversations every week has really gotten me into into a great mindset [00:25:00] around my business flow versus trying to wear all the hats, which is funny because it's like that's what I preach to all the people we support, but it's like when it's your own. It's different. So, having experienced that, I think me to get into a flow, at least on the business side of my life.
Audra Dinell: And what a gift that that was something that you started before
Kristen Selby: Mm-hmm.
Audra Dinell: really needed it,
Kristen Selby: Yeah. Yeah. It was the perfect time.
Audra Dinell: but it felt like a risk at the time. Like when you say it was perfect time, it still felt like a big, risky, scary move. Is this the right thing?
Kristen Selby: Yes. I can
Audra Dinell: And in retrospect.
Kristen Selby: Yes, hindsight says, perfect timing. Then it was so scary. And honestly, still it feels like, anytime you take a risk and you're investing, you know, resources or you're, vulnerably sharing all of your systems and processes and financials like that, that is really scary.
Audra Dinell: Mm-hmm.
Kristen Selby: I'm glad it's come up [00:26:00] in conversations with potential clients too, where it's like, I can have this. Deep seated empathy too with, with them now of like, Hey, this feels scary, this first like hire or first time you delegate to whoever that, that's a scary place to be. And I've lived that. But looking back, it's like I don't know that I would've survived this year without that role.
Kendra Moody: Mm-hmm.
Audra Dinell: So good job taking that, calculated, scary move, taking that risk. What about you, Kendra?
Personal Health and Routine
---
Kendra Moody: I would say so I did a winter program with the store where I had a group of clients go through. Nutrition, coaching and personal training, and I decided to commit myself to doing this program with them. So I almost kind of did the things that I was asking them to do, and not that I don't, I tried to live at a healthy, balanced life anyway, [00:27:00] but I think I had gotten away from some of the habits that I really.
Love doing. And so I recommitted myself to, you know, I kinda set macros for myself. I really tried to pay attention to how I was fueling my body based on the days that I was working out, and it was such a good reminder that. Well, yes, it's fun and I love having the freedom to not do those things. I feel the best physically, mentally, I sleep better.
My work feels better when I am structured and have those things in place for myself. So it was just a great reminder for me that. I don't have to live by those things 24 7, but when I do, the way I show up as a mom, as a coach, hopefully as a team member, I just feel so much better about [00:28:00] myself and feel like mentally I'm clear.
Because my sleep is better. I'm not cranky. So I feel like that has been one.
Parenting and Time Management
---
Kendra Moody: And I also feel like now that Murphy's home with me, the flow that I've been able to get into with him, it was really important for me to balance. How I show up for the thread, how I show up for Murphy, how I show up. I mean my other children as well, but they're at school how I show up for Restore.
And so it's been really nice kind of saying, okay, Fridays are for restore. Wednesdays are our team meetings. Thursdays are our event days. So I almost have days of the week blocked and batched, like you mentioned. But then also throughout the day. I do certain things in the morning while Murphy's playing, then I'm able to really crank certain things out in the afternoon while he naps.
[00:29:00] And so I, feel like I have found a great flow there and routine for us that has allowed me to really be present and intentional in the three spaces that mattered most to me, which was restore the thread and then being a mom.
Kristen Selby: Hmm.
Audra Dinell: I love that. I'm so glad you found that too. I mean, when you were contemplating that, Kristen and I were sharing our experiences those seasons of life, juggling work with. A kid or kids at home.
Kendra Moody: Hmm.
Audra Dinell: So it's just so cool to
Kendra Moody: Yeah.
Audra Dinell: that, like, yes, at the end of the year you feel like, oh, this was a really beautiful choice and I have found a flow.
Kendra Moody: I also feel like it helps, and I think we were talking about this yesterday, Audra, when you called and you were like, how many kids do you have at home? And I was like, just one. But he had both his Tony's playing and the TV on. And so I do think having as the third child, I [00:30:00] appreciate him being able to be self-sufficient and play with himself.
I feel like maybe my first two, I would've been like. Oh, I need to be playing with you every second of the day. You're here. Where now I realize that if he's in his room ripping books apart, that's okay. Like he's, he can entertain himself. And so I, I do feel like it's something where 10 years ago I would've, this would've been a hard thing.
But now that I feel like I have my mom training wheels off I'm like, he's, he's fine. Doing. Doing whatever he needs to do, ripping his books apart or blasting his, it's no big deal.
Audra Dinell: Yeah, it's good. Just jamming out. No big deal.
Kendra Moody: Right? Probably prefers that way.
Audra Dinell: Okay.
Choosing a Word for the Year
---
Audra Dinell: So as we wrap up this conversation, thank you. Just thank you for time reflecting together on the year. I want to know if you have chosen yet word for 2026 [00:31:00] or if you haven't chosen no pressure while we're recording this. It's the beginning of December, so you may
Kendra Moody: Yeah,
Audra Dinell: it yet, but I'm just curious if you'd share what you're contemplating.
Kendra Moody: I haven't chosen my word yet, but I have given myself a deadline of our alum vision boarding workshop, which is January 8th, because I like to put my word on my vision board for the year. I love that you asked this question because I thought, oh my goodness, I haven't even given it a thought yet.
So I'm getting ready to start my process and I'm gonna try to have a decision made by our alum workshop so that I can include it on my vision board.
Kristen Selby: Hmm.
Kendra Moody: But I'm so excited to hear your guys' words because I feel like you both have one. You guys always work so much faster than I do in this. Yeah.
Kristen Selby: I didn't think I had one until Ara sent these prep questions. And then it, I don't know, I think some years words come to me quickly and then other years [00:32:00] I'm kind of like, eh, like even through January. So last year, my word or 2025, my word was trust, which is so
Audra Dinell: Hmm.
Kristen Selby: because when I chose that, I had no idea. But there was so much trust that went on this year and maybe it, maybe surrender is a better word. But kind of same vein. So I think I'm starting this year feeling like, there are a lot of things out of my control. And so I feel little wobbly
Audra Dinell: Hmm.
Kristen Selby: into next year. I'm also reading Brene Brown's book Strong Ground, which is so beautiful and I'm just savoring it.
I'm going so slow through it. So I think that my word, I'm like 90% set on this, so don't hold me to it if I change, but I am 90% sure my word is gonna be grounded. For 2026, [00:33:00] and here are my thoughts on that. I feel like I have done so much work in the last five years to like have this self-awareness and we've done values work and we've done strengths work, and through the thread, I've just been given the gift of this, like getting to be introspective and dive in and know myself really well. And now it's kind of like, okay, I have all of, I have all of that knowledge, and now I just wanna root into it. It's like
Audra Dinell: Hmm.
Kristen Selby: I'm not in a season where I want to take more assessments. I want to better myself and obviously be curious and rethink things that need to be rethought.
But I know who I am and I know what's important and so now I just wanna ground into that my youngest in 26 will turn 11. So we're about to be a household of tweens and teens. And I know with all the books that I've read and the research I've, done, I know that they need rooted parents, right?
And so I just wanna be. Glennon Doyle calls it the houseplant parent, right? [00:34:00] Like they, you just need to be there. Like they want you to
Audra Dinell: Hmm.
Kristen Selby: You don't necessarily have to like interact a ton, but they just need you. That solid presence. So I'm
Audra Dinell: Hmm.
Kristen Selby: be grounded in parenting and then in my business and like knowing the lane we're in and knowing the value we provide and not having to prove myself anymore.
Like I, you know, and just knowing. How amazing my team is. So those are kind of the things that I'm thinking through. She also, Brene also talks about calmness. Much like our speaker, Emily Stevens talks about confidence that it's a trait that you can work on. That
Audra Dinell: Hmm.
Kristen Selby: a skill you can
Kendra Moody: yeah.
Kristen Selby: amazing because in our household we always kind of joke that my husband's like the calm anchor, just like kind of a little bit of a tornado around him we for that. Like, good lord, the four of us needed [00:35:00] that. And it's like, maybe I can, here's an idea, maybe I can also be calm grounded. CBD.
Audra Dinell: See,
Kendra Moody: I love that.
Audra Dinell: that, it's, but as you're saying that, I'm like, see, you are the calm, I
Kendra Moody: So calm.
Audra Dinell: Yes. So I'm like, man, what's my house then? Like a hurricane, a tsunami, you know what I mean? Like
Kendra Moody: It's
Audra Dinell: eruption.
Kendra Moody: I, yeah.
Audra Dinell: Extinction of the dinosaurs. I don't know.
Kendra Moody: a meteorite or something. Yeah.
Kristen Selby: the anxiety, it's the anxiety piece. Maybe it's a
Audra Dinell: I hear that.
Kristen Selby: A different, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I don't think I'm like a all over the place hyperactive person, but I, I do feel calm in a lot of ways, but like up here
Audra Dinell: Yeah.
Kristen Selby: is where
Audra Dinell: I just, I love that and that's why I just feel, always feel so grateful when I have people in my life who are steps ahead of me [00:36:00] on a same journey that I'm on AKA parenting, that's what I'm talking about right now. And to hear that thought of just being there and being a house plant and, and I think I've thought about those years, tweens, you know, but my oldest is nine, he won't be 10 until. August of next year. Right. So we have time, but I've thought about just like, yeah, wanting to be around. And it won't be needed in the same way, but just how important it's going to be to just be there. But I just love, yeah. Hearing your thoughts on being grounded in parenting and the why behind it, and then Yes.
I, do think it's so, it's like we don't need, we don't need to be. In the assessment season forever. It's like if we always want to grow ourselves, we're not always asking the same questions. Like, I guess that's what I hear from you is saying that I've spent five years doing the reflection and doing the work and things can change down the road, but I know myself well.
There are different questions that I [00:37:00] could ask myself to grow in different ways at this time. It's not, what do I want? am I? What do I value?
Kristen Selby: Yeah. It's like now I get to lean into that and live it out like that feels. That's, I mean, yeah, that just feels exciting to me.
Audra Dinell: Mm. Live it out. Love that.
Reflections on 2025
---
Audra Dinell: Well, my word of this year was stewardship. And it did come from a place of gratitude and contentment. It came from a place of. Just look at this beautiful life and I wanna steward what I've been given really, really well. this year hit some bumps in business, in family, in different ways.
And stewardship played out differently than I thought. And I think in a more beautiful, cracked, open, honest way in a way that like kind of put a mirror up to myself more than I. I realized it was going to, before I picked that 2025 word, I was toying around with this phrase from Greg [00:38:00] McKeown's book Essentialism.
Kristen I don't know if you remember this, but I told you for 2026 perhaps. Yeah, that is the leading phrase of the year that I'm like, you know, sometimes I just need less, less coffee dates on my calendar, less activities in my day, less decisions less choices. Maybe I don't need to see a hundred options. Maybe I just need to see three. You know, over Thanksgiving break I did a really good job of not overscheduling us and it just felt amazing. And it just gave space for like the goodness of what is already there to be organic and, and bubble up. So I don't know if that makes any sense, but I'm, I'm kind of going back to that.
Less but better might be. My of the air for 2026.
Kristen Selby: I love [00:39:00] that. And I think you've put that into practice already for your January. Like we were talking about, you valuing your future time as
Audra Dinell: Hmm.
Kristen Selby: you value your time. Like that's a
Audra Dinell: Yeah.
Kristen Selby: hard lesson for a lot of people to learn and lean into, but I just see you doing that for January when you're keeping it so simple and open and spacious versus.
Okay, it's January 1st, new year, new me. Let's new ideas.
Audra Dinell: Yes. Yes. It's like, and we talked about, you know, this is what I came back from the focus lab implementing in the thread of we're gonna be doing less, we already do. These two things really beautifully, really well. How can we take them up a notch and do them even better? Because we're not focusing on three additional things, we're just focusing on, you know, these few initiatives. So I, I agree. Like, I feel like I have [00:40:00] already started like, implementing less but better.
Looking Forward to 2026
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Audra Dinell: Chris and I, during that conversation, I was comparing me, valuing my future time. Like, someone asks if I wanna do something, if I wanna do it, I say yes. But then afterwards I look at my calendar and I'm like, oh my gosh, wait. How am I gonna do all these things I wanna do? It's like instead of saying that impulsive Yes. Sort of like. Honoring myself a little bit more and loving myself in a different way, in the way I love my kids. So one of my kids wants a Christmas gift that is fast and, okay, I'm just gonna say it, it's an electric scooter.
One of our
Kendra Moody: Oh.
Audra Dinell: an electric scooter. They're so fun. I love them. You know, adults have broken their arm on
Kendra Moody: Mm-hmm.
Audra Dinell: I am not anti electric scooter, but this kid of mine in particular, like se seriously can concuss himself just walking in our home [00:41:00] and this is the number one thing on his list, y'all.
And I have battled myself, but I'm like, I love you too much to buy you an electric scooter for Christmas because I really don't think it's safe for you right now. Valuing my future time in the same way, telling myself like. Oh, I
Kendra Moody: I love you so much.
Audra Dinell: say yes
Kendra Moody: Mm-hmm.
Audra Dinell: 10 things this day. I know. Hmm.
Kendra Moody: That's so good.
And that's such a like you knowing your maximizer and wanting to be in all the different spaces, I think it's such a good realization to realize. When you commit to less, you get to do the things you want to do better, because I think sometimes you can think that committing to everything is the better or the well, but it really [00:42:00] is pulling back to be able to then show up, maximized in the spaces that you are in.
Audra Dinell: yeah.
Kendra Moody: it.
Kristen Selby: And.
Audra Dinell: Last but better. We'll see. Okay. Happy 2025.
Kendra Moody: Yay.
Audra Dinell: Yay. Thank you for ending end the year with this podcast team wrap up. And thank you everyone for listening. be back next week even though it's holiday week. We've got some really cool episodes coming out to wrap up the year. So thank you so much for listening.
If anything that you heard resonated with you today, oh my gosh, will you share it with us? DM us, DM me on Instagram share this podcast. With anyone that you think might find value in it, and of course we appreciate your subscribe so much. Have a great last working week of December [00:43:00]