Living Box-Free

After a long hiatus, Becky and Ashleyne are back with a new episode about writing a book! Ashleyne published her first novel in 2024 (Violindy: a Hilarious and Cozy Heist Novel) and learned all about publishing, making tough decisions, and what it's like to be a published author! In this episode, Becky asks Ashleyne about the origins of the wild and unexpected story, the ins and outs of the publishing process, and what you should know if you're dreaming about writing a book. You can find Violindy on Amazon or order a signed copy at Ashleyne.me. Follow @shleyne on Instagram for more content about writing and what's next for the ragtag crew from her debut novel! https://www.amazon.com/Violindy-Hilarious-Cozy-Heist-Novel/dp/B0DJY9YGGG?crid=BMCED7FB0O9Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.BJoWWW34vfWWgeDr4W9o_w.vsjGGlF7nMNHqTPxASJMwk5kYq_QmbhSoLpd7RKiu3I&dib_tag=se&keywords=violindy+book&qid=1736368027&sprefix=violindy%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1

Ashleyne Seitz wraps up the Obstacle Courses series with her observations and gives some important updates on the Living Box-Free Podcast and On the Rise Group!

At different points in our lives we all have to make an incredibly difficult choice: do we do the easy thing or the right thing? And sometimes those choices sneak up on us in ways we never expected! In this week’s episode, Ashleyne sits down with her friend Brooke Carnes to talk about the decisions that Brooke has had to make that have had a huge impact on both her own life and on others. Whether it’s a little thing or a life-altering decision, the obstacle of doing the right thing is difficult to navigate and can have both painful and rewarding consequences. Brooke is a Jesus-loving single mom to two amazing humans & two cute puppies. She is a Chicago native who will always root for the Cubbies. After leaving church ministry to drive a school bus, she now feels like she has her own little ministry on wheels!

Consistency is the key to making lasting changes in our lives - but it's so difficult! We get distracted, we forget our goals, we get worn out by life, and the next thing we know we've missed three weeks of something we were supposed to do every day! In this episode, Ashleyne Seitz sits down with Lauren Wagner to talk about the importance of consistency, why it's such a difficult obstacle to navigate, and some tips and tricks to becoming the person you want to be. Lauren is a Special Education teacher in Indianapolis, where she lives with her two cats. She loves CrossFit and having fun, and is passionate about justice, health, and her friends and family.

At some point in our lives, we all experience the obstacle of tragedy. We rarely expect it, and never know exactly how to deal with it, but it happens all the same. Sharing our stories and experiences can help us understand one another and feel seen, so Ashleyne sits down with Tiffany Jordan to talk about Tiffany's experience with motherhood, loss, pain, and healing. Tiffany is a wife, mother, and Project Manager by profession. Serving others, and finding creative solutions to problems, both business and personal brings her joy. In her spare time, she enjoys time with her family, serial killer TV, craft beer, and french fries. Trigger warning: this episode includes a discussion of miscarriage and grief surrounding childbirth.

After a ridiculous failure involving the podcast, Ashleyne chats with Shilah Larison about the obstacle of failure - something we all hit eventually. The two laugh over how terrible failure feels and how they each deal with it.

We can all struggle with low self-esteem at different points in our lives, but we don't always recognize it. Insecurity and low self-image can come out as jealousy, anger, meanness, or a wide variety of other reactions which are rarely welcome in our lives. So how do we pay attention to our self-esteem and encourage high self-esteem in those we love? In this episode, Ashleyne chats with recurring guest Tifani Goen about the way we view ourselves and the effect that has on our lives.

Becky Fouard returns to the mic to interview Ashleyne about the obstacle of creating. Ashleyne published her first e-book in 2022, Writing for Real: how to be authentic and vulnerable in your writing without destroying your life, and she digs into the things that held her back. From self-doubt to asking for help to others’ calendars, these common obstacles to creating and finishing a project can plague every creator! Ashleyne relates how she dealt with and navigated the obstacles to finally finish the project. You can find the e-book here: https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Real-vulnerable-authentic-destroying-ebook/dp/B0BPV69GPD/ref=sr_1_5?crid=RIXUQCE0S8ZB&keywords=writing+for+real&qid=1679095271&sprefix=writing+for+real%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-5 And Ashleyne’s personal blog here: ashleyne.me

Our brains and bodies have limited energy, but we need energy to deal with every single thing that comes up in life! So how do we replenish our energy in order to accomplish our goals, process unexpected emotions, or just get out of bed in the morning? Ashleyne sits down with Michael Anderson to talk about our internal “Power Bank,” how we fill it, and what difference it makes! Michael is a visionary adjunct professor, coach, and consultant who finds numerous ways to interact with people to help them find and forge their path to success. He has certifications in CoreClarity, Positive Intelligence, Action Learning, and Sherpa executive coaching, and has designed communication training that is used around the world. When you are looking for answers for your growth, Michael is ready to give you the resources you need.  You can find Michael at AndersonLR.com

Ashleyne sits down with Sydney Dressler, a transgender male and an advocate for the queer community, to talk about the obstacles that have come up as he navigates a binary world. From finding hormone treatment to buying shoes that fit, transitioning has brought up a slew of unexpected things for Sydney to deal with, and he graciously shares his story with Ashleyne. Sydney is a husband, foster parent, and School Coordinator for Indianapolis Public Schools. Sydney shares his personal journey and the obstacles he has faced coming out and openly transitioning in hopes of better educating the world around him to be a safer and more inclusive space for all.

Do you have a dream - maybe starting a small solo business, maybe launching something with a few employees - that’s been hanging around in the back of your head? Well, Ashleyne and Amanda VanHorn are here to tell you that you can make that dream happen! You can do what you want to do and be happy at work! But - it’s not without obstacles, so plan ahead! Amanda talks about the obstacles that popped up when she started her own meal prep company and how she’s navigated and overcome those problems and unexpected elements of chasing her dream. Amanda VanHorn is the owner and operator of the Lilac Kitchen in Indianapolis, Indiana. She lives in New Palestine with her husband Rodney and enjoys doing CrossFit and drinking coffee.

The question, "what if?" can be inspiring or frightening, and sometimes both simultaneously! In this episode, Ashleyne sits down with Kristin Glassburn to discuss risky business - change, development, growth, and a mindset that embraces challenges. Whether you love risk or hate it, there's something here for you! Traveling the nation for multiple years and living in 14 different states, Kris continues to find her roots back in Indianapolis where she was raised. The culture, people, and lifestyle continue to drive her passion to help others find their roots in Indy. Being an entrepreneur, starting her own property management company with her husband, and being in the top 1% of realtors in Indiana, she is a career-driven individual. Outside of work, with a risk-taking, adventurous personality, you could find her traveling often, at CrossFit, enjoying family/friends, walking her bulldog, or exploring downtown Indy where she resides.

In our complex modern world, how do we pursue wellness and authenticity within the workplace, especially in rural communities? And how do we create a safe place to discuss mental health when deadlines and budgets are on the line? During this episode, Ashleyne sits down with Meghan Mueseler, Kate Wheeldon, and Alex Wheedenhoff, employees at Cargill, where efficiency, finance, and food safety are all obstacles to navigate when it comes to helping employees pursue wellness in the workplace. Through personal stories and explanations of Cargill's innovation, Ashleyne, Kate, and Meghan talk about anxiety, facial piercings, human-grade pet food, their favorite wellness resources, and more.

What better way to launch our new Obstacle Courses series than with an episode about feelings and communication? Ashleyne sits down with Shilah Larison to talk about the "aha" moment where Shilah realized her family didn't talk about feelings, and how and why she learned to process that realization. If you have discovered unhealthy or difficult things in your family or upbringing that impact your life now (isn't that all of us?!) this episode is for you! Shilah Larison is a Regional Manager for the Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department and has lived in Indiana most of her life. She enjoys the outdoors, iced lattes, CrossFit, and her friends, and she dislikes talking about her emotions but she's working on that.

New year, new series! Guest co-host Ashley Pitkin Howard joins Ashleyne Seitz to introduce our new series: Obstacle Courses. We all encounter obstacles in life - unexpected things that pop up - whether positive or negative. How we respond to these obstacles can change the course of our lives and has a huge impact on our happiness! Ashley shares some of her unexpected life obstacles, and the two discuss the importance of sharing stories, accepting that the unexpected happens, and why we might want to have a strategy for the obstacles coming next.

Ashleyne pops in with a quick episode with updates, assurances, and an encouraging story to boost you through the January blues!

2022: what a year! This is a great time to ask ourselves questions like, "What have I learned?" and "What worked this year, and what didn't?" In this episode, Becky and Ashleyne reflect on lessons learned in 2022, both personally and professionally. As a bonus, Ashleyne and Becky celebrate Living Box-Free's top followers, and give a sneak peek into what's coming next for Living Box-Free and On the Rise Group in 2023!

Behold, the great return of co-host Becky Fouard! After almost an entire series apart, Becky and Ashleyne laugh about the chaos of the last few months and then dive right into a difficult topic - accepting others as they are! It's incredibly difficult to accept someone as is and to also leave room for them to grow and change, but we may find it beneficial for our own health to work through that balance!

Accepting responsibility can feel depressing, offensive, and all kinds of complicated, but it's how we grow as people and gain the trust of others, so how can we approach it simply? Continuing our Acceptance Policies series, Ashleyne and guest co-host Shilah Larison dive into the difficulties and actions steps of facing up to our mistakes and discerning what we are NOT responsible for.

A lot of us are walking around in 2021 feeling exhausted. How many of you are tired? (Big hand raise over here.) Whether you’re doing too much, not doing the right things, or constantly dealing with worry, anxiety, and stress, it is tough to keep moving through exhaustion! Ashleyne and Becky dive into the reasons why we get tired in life (beyond just being sleepy) and what are some simple things we can do about it.