What if the thing standing between you and the business — or life — you want isn't skill, experience, or money... but the way you talk to yourself? Confidence coach Emily Stevens joins me to unpack why so many talented women hold themselves back, how to stop "shoulding" all over yourself, and the small daily shifts that build real, lasting confidence from the inside out.HIGHLIGHTS• Stop "shoulding" yourself — it sets up expectations that aren't even yours• Confidence comes from self-trust, and self-trust is built through small daily actions• "Outsourcing your confidence" to loved ones is one of the biggest confidence killers• Self-compassion is the #1 indicator of self-esteem — science backs it up• One bad appointment doesn't equal a wrong career — that's catastrophic thinking• Confidence on camera is a skill, not a talent — you get better by doing it• When women build themselves up, they stop competing and start collaboratingCHAPTERS0:00 Meet Emily Stevens1:10 Confidence for New Owners1:59 Women and Confidence Myths3:02 Stop Shoulding Yourself4:31 Building Self Trust Fast6:12 Action Creates Confidence7:54 Support Systems and Doubts9:43 Outsourcing Your Confidence11:24 Self Compassion Practice13:06 Confidence vs Self Esteem14:32 Money Mindset and Success18:24 Values and Core Compass19:18 Confidence Earlier in Life22:52 Daily Confidence Habits23:53 Stop Catastrophic Thinking24:36 Reframe With Self Compassion26:09 Three For Me Framework27:59 Collaboration Over Competition31:15 You Are The Genius34:43 Confidence On Camera39:57 Closing And Contact InfoRESOURCES• Laid Back Achievers — Emily's website with all courses, socials, and contact info: https://www.laidbackachievers.comTo learn more about Utopia Modern Salon Suites, visit our website at https://utopiamodernsalon.com/ or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn!If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe and share with a friend!

What if the prairie — that "flat, boring" stretch you drive through on I-70 — is actually one of the most critical and disappearing ecosystems on the planet?Matt Bain, Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy in Kansas, makes a compelling case that the Kansas prairie isn't just beautiful — it's the foundation of clean water, healthy soil, thriving wildlife, and the ranching culture that holds it all together. A born-and-raised Kansan who grew up farming in Ness County, Matt brings 22 years of professional conservation experience and a deep personal land ethic to this conversation. From the dancing mating rituals of the Greater and Lesser Prairie Chicken to a 10,000-year-old kill site hiding in plain sight on the Smoky Valley Ranch, this episode is packed with the kind of stories that make you see Kansas differently.HighlightsConservation isn't non-use — it's wise use, and Kansas farmers and ranchers have been living that land ethic for generations62% of all North American grasslands are gone; Kansas has only 20% of its native prairie remainingThe three ecological drivers that created and maintain Kansas prairie: grazing, drought, and fireTwo-thirds of all Lesser Prairie Chickens on Earth now exist in a narrow strip of land between Hays and the Colorado borderPrairie Chickens are a "canary in the coal mine" for ecosystem health — when they disappear, so does clean water, healthy forage, and soilThe Flint Hills alone loses 2.2 million acre-feet of water annually to encroaching trees and shrubsThe 12 Mile Creek site on Smoky Valley Ranch rewrote North American history — a spear point embedded in a 10,000-year-old bison skeleton proved humans were here far earlier than anyone believedEcotourists from 20+ countries visit Smoky Valley Ranch annually for Lesser Prairie Chicken viewing toursKansas was the first state to ban sport hunting of feral hogs — a counterintuitive move that actually workedHow to support conservation: become a member of The Nature Conservancy, buy a duck stamp, or purchase a hunting or fishing licenseChapters0:00 — Cold Open: Prairie Chickens doing their thing1:56 — Meet Matt Bain4:37 — What Conservation Actually Means5:52 — Why Matt Chose This Path8:38 — Grasslands Are Disappearing Fast10:25 — Misconceptions About Conservation12:37 — Cattle, Fire, and Prairie Balance17:46 — Raising Kids with a Land Ethic20:49 — Why Prairie Chickens Matter28:32 — From Kansas Wildlife & Parks to The Nature Conservancy32:49 — Ecotourism and the Wonders of the Prairie37:11 — Smoky Valley Ranch: History Beneath Your Feet41:56 — Tracing Spring Water Back to Its Source43:38 — The Audio Tour at Smoky Valley Ranch44:11 — How to Support the Nature Conservancy46:14 — Hosts Wrap Up & Key Terms Defined48:25 — Segment: Name That Kansas Even-Toed Ungulate50:15 — Bison & Whitetail Deer53:35 — Mule Deer & Elk56:18 — Pronghorn & Feral Hogs1:02:28 — Wrap Up & Credits1:03:17 — Subscribe, Merch & NewsletterResourcesThe Nature Conservancy in Kansas — nature.orgKansas Mammal Atlas — Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State UniversitySmoky Valley Ranch — Nature Conservancy property and Lesser Prairie Chicken strongholdConservation Reserve Program (CRP) — USDA Farm Service AgencyDuck Stamps — Purchase at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceAsk a Kansan Episode 29 on the Ogallala Aquifer featuring Rex BuchananLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

What does it look like when a leader stops splitting herself in two?Ashley Bowen Cook, owner of Alpha Charlie — an aviation-focused marketing firm based in Wichita, Kansas — stepped into full business ownership in January 2026 after nearly 23 years with the agency. The moment she did, something unexpected happened: a candid photo of her and her 10-year-old son Charlie, taken on a snow day in her office, ended up on the cover of the Wichita Business Journal — and it sparked something much bigger than a rebrand announcement.Women who saw it exhaled.In this conversation, Ashley walks us through her three-year transition into ownership, the meaning behind the Alpha Charlie name (hint: it's deeply personal on multiple levels), and what it truly means to hold motherhood and ambition and leadership all at once — not in separate boxes, but together, exactly as they are. She shares how becoming a mom completely rewired her definition of success, why she leads her team with grit, grace, and gratitude, and the practical, tactical wisdom she's gathered for ambitious women who refuse to leave any part of themselves at the door.HIGHLIGHTSAshley purchased Greta Group — now rebranded as Alpha Charlie — from founder Sonya Greta after a deliberate three-year ownership transition planThe name Alpha Charlie carries layers of meaning: Ashley's own initials, a nod to "Air Capital," the concept of being a leader and a new beginning, a faith reference, and a tribute to her son CharlieA spontaneous snow-day photo with her son became the cover of the Wichita Business Journal — and sparked an outpouring of gratitude from women who felt seenAshley shares how the photo communicated "permission to stop splitting ourselves in two" — a message she didn't even know she was sendingSuccess, post-motherhood, looks like raising a kind human being who contributes positively to the worldShe reflects on the shift from women competing against each other to genuinely cheering each other on — and why that matters for leadershipMotherhood has directly shaped how Ashley leads her team: empowerment over micromanagement, flexibility with accountabilityThe Wichita Children's Business Fair became an unexpected classroom for teaching her son that losing is part of entrepreneurshipHer non-negotiables: Sunday church, morning workouts with a mom friend group, and unstructured time just for herselfFinal wisdom: You don't have to own a business to be a leader — leadership is about impact, not managementCHAPTERS0:00 — Meet Ashley Bowen Cook2:05 — Second Act Ownership Leap3:42 — The Three-Year Transition Plan6:27 — Alpha Charlie Rebrand Story7:06 — The Cover Photo With Charlie9:50 — Permission to Be Whole13:39 — Redefining Success as a Mom15:06 — Dropping the Instagram Myth16:16 — Women Supporting Women Shift18:39 — Men and Caregiving Culture22:12 — Raising a Leader Son23:25 — Grit, Grace & Gratitude Lessons26:03 — Flexibility With Accountability28:36 — The Ambitious Motherhood Toolkit32:06 — Non-Negotiables and Self-Care35:07 — Final Leadership WisdomRESOURCES MENTIONEDAlpha Charlie — Ashley's aviation-focused marketing agency (formerly Greta Group), based in Wichita, KansasWichita Aero Club WIBA (Wichita Independent Business Association)Want to learn more?The ThreadBe sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedInThis show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.

What's standing between you and your first paying customer?You've put in the work. You've served your beta clients, collected your reviews, and proven you can deliver. Now it's time to stop practicing and start getting paid. This episode is graduation day, and it's time to take those receipts and turn them into real revenue. Whether you're building a service business or selling a physical product, the path to your first dollar is closer than you think, and it starts with the people already in your corner.HIGHLIGHTS• Why your beta clients are the easiest first paying customers — and how to approach them without the awkward money conversation• The one question that removes pressure from your sales pitch: "Who do you know?"• How to use a warm introduction to instantly build credibility with someone who's never heard of you• Why you need a before-and-after post on Facebook and LinkedIn (and you don't need a website to do it)• The best platforms to sell physical products (Etsy, eBay, Facebook Marketplace) — and why you shouldn't build your own store yet• The "gut check": why selling at a farmer's market or craft fair can be a massive mindset shift for new entrepreneurs• The 90-day rule: how long to commit to one approach before you pivot• Why celebrating small wins — even a $5 sale — is essential to long-term momentum• Done is better than perfect: why your minimum viable product is already good enough to sellCHAPTERS0:00 – Graduation Day Mindset0:19 – Service Business First Clients1:01 – Warm Referrals: Who Do You Know?3:08 – Ask for Introductions4:46 – Show Social Proof Posts8:08 – Embrace Sales Discomfort9:49 – Product Business Selling Channels12:41 – In Person Markets: The Gut Check15:56 – 90 Day Consistency & Pivot18:05 – Celebrate First Dollar Wins19:50 – Done Beats Perfect20:51 – Final Pep Talk & Next StepsRESOURCES MENTIONED• Etsy – https://www.etsy.com• eBay – https://www.ebay.com• Facebook Marketplace – https://www.facebook.com/marketplace• Episode 5: Prove Your Worth: Building a Solid Portfolio | https://thesidehustle.dad/5• Squarespace – https://www.squarespace.com• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.comBe sure to subscribe and leave us a review!For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dadRemember, build the business, but be the dad!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

What would it look like if Kansas became the healthiest state in the nation — and what would it take to get there?In Chapter 5 of Leading Health, we cast a bold vision of what Kansas at #1 in America’s Health Rankings could mean for real people. It would look like fewer Kansans going hungry, more kids reading at grade level, and hundreds of thousands fewer people struggling with substance use, just to name a few. We're joined by Kenny Wilk, former Kansas legislator and member of the Kansas Board of Regents, and now Vice President of Governmental and Community Affairs at the University of Kansas Health System. Alongside Ed and Susan, he shares what it means to cast a vision bold enough to be risky, and why that's exactly what leadership requires.HighlightsIn 1991, Kansas was ranked #8 in America’s Health Rankings. Over the next 30 years, we’ve drastically slipped to our lowest at #31 and today, #27. Our goal is #1. If Kansas matched New Hampshire (currently #1), 105,000 fewer Kansans would face food insecurity, 32,000 more kids would read at grade level by 4th grade, 173,000 more Kansans would exercise regularly, and 183,000 fewer Kansans would engage in non-medical drug use.The distinction between capital H Health (everything that helps people thrive) and lowercase h health (healthcare) is central to understanding why this challenge requires more than hospitals and clinics.Kenny Wilk draws on his experience leading the Kansas Economic Growth Act and the Bioscience Authority to show how bold, long-term visions can outlast the individuals who cast them.Understanding that a vision is "imagining what you cannot see" — and being comfortable that casting a bold vision invites scrutiny. How the Kansas Health Foundation’s research on the Economic Case for Health shows that Health is not only an outcome of a great economy, it’s a driver. Progress should be celebrated — incremental wins keep people engaged and moving toward a long-term goal. Chapters1:25 – Kansas at Number One Vision2:52 – Pragmatism Meets Idealism3:31 – The Coins and the Climb4:51 – What Kansans Told Us8:04 – If Kansas Matched New Hampshire11:21 – Up to the 30,00011:53 – Meet Kenny Wilk12:55 – Capital H vs. Small h Health16:42 – Hospitals' Role in Thriving18:41 – Casting a Risky Vision21:31 – Players Change, Vision Stays22:47 – Imagining the Unseen23:50 – From Concern to Aspiration24:32 – Listening Then Challenging26:56 – Authority to Set Direction28:51 – Scrutiny and Staying Steady29:58 – Quiet Confidence and Decisions32:01 – Kansas Number One Impact34:51 – Health Drives the Economy39:14 – Takeaways and Celebrate Wins43:04 – Next Episode Leadership ChallengeResourcesAmerica's Health RankingsThe Economic Case for Health Report University of Kansas Health SystemLeading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealthAnd be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.