Beyond the Bestseller

To Your Health: Breaking Free from All-or-Nothing Thinking with Esther Avant

What if the problem isn’t that you don’t know what to do—it’s that you’ve been trying to do it all, all at once? In this episode of Beyond the Bestseller, Kelly talks with Esther Avant, author of To Your Health, about the mindset shifts, habit-building tools, and compassionate approach that help busy women finally make health a priority.

With nearly 20 years of experience coaching women through weight loss, nutrition, and wellness, Esther knows firsthand that the “I know what to do, I’m just not doing it” mindset is more common than we think. She shares how to get curious about your roadblocks, tame the all-or-nothing spiral, and build a health routine that works with your real life not against it.

We dive into:
• Why all-or-nothing thinking keeps us stuck and how to overcome it
• How to approach health goals with compassion, not punishment
• Tips for creating routines that adapt to your season of life
• How small tweaks and self-awareness create long-term consistency

Links & Resources Mentioned:
• Get Esther’s book, To Your Health on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3JBRxCH
• Listen to her podcast, To Your Health - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-your-health/id1543658046
• Visit her website - estheravant.com
• Follow Esther on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/esther.avant/
• Join the Author Power Circle – https://kellyschuknecht.com/author-power-circle

 

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Esther’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

Estranged: Understanding Female Friendships and When to Let Go with Susan Shapiro Barash

Have you ever felt the sting of a friendship that faded or blew up entirely and wondered what really happened? In this episode of Beyond the Bestseller, Kelly sits down with Susan Shapiro Barash, author of Estranged, to talk about the complexities of female friendship. With more than 200 interviews and decades of research, Susan explores why women hold friendships so dear, why some fall apart, and how to know when it’s time to mend or end a relationship.

We dive into:
• Why estrangement among women is more common and more complicated than we think
• The emotional impact of friendship breakups and how they mirror romantic relationships
• How COVID, Me Too, and cultural shifts have changed the way women approach friendships
• The difference between being the one who walks away versus the one left behind
• How Susan’s research and storytelling reveal patterns, healing, and hard truths about connection

Links & Resources Mentioned:
• Get Susan’s book, Estranged on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3Jfpadv
• Visit her website - https://susanshapirobarash.com/
• Connect with Susan on Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/SusanShapiroBarashasSusannahMarren
• Explore the Author Power Circle - https://kellyschuknecht.com/author-power-circle

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Susan’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

Artpreneur: Building a Creative Business Without Relying on Social Media with Miriam Schulman

Can you really build a thriving business as an artist, without going viral on Instagram or dancing on TikTok? Miriam Schulman says yes, and in this episode of Beyond the Bestseller, she shares exactly how. As the author of Artpreneur and host of The Inspiration Place podcast, Miriam helps artists step into their role as business owners with mindset shifts, pricing strategies, and marketing tools that actually work.

Whether you’re a painter, photographer, fiber artist, or creative entrepreneur of any kind, this episode will remind you that you don’t have to starve to make a living from your art.

We dive into:
• How Miriam landed a traditional publishing deal by believing in her message and her audience
• Why mindset is the first and most critical step for creative entrepreneurs
• What the “death of the scroll” means and why social media is no longer a reliable sales tool
• The five-part Passion to Profit system and how it helps artists price, package, and promote their work
• The one belief that’s holding many creatives back—and how to overcome it

Links & Resources Mentioned:
• Get Miriam’s book, Artpreneur on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4miAILz
• Explore her workbook and bootcamp - https://www.schulmanart.com/
• Listen to The Inspiration Place Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-inspiration-place/id1431934450
• Connect with Miriam on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/schulmanart
• Learn about the Author Power Circle - https://kellyschuknecht.com/author-power-circle

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Miriam’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

Memories Matter: Writing Through Alzheimer’s and Honoring Caregivers with Dawn Wirtz

What happens when the person you love begins to slip away and you still have something to say? In this episode of Beyond the Bestseller, Kelly interviews Dawn Wirtz, author of Memories Matter, about her deeply personal journey as a long-distance caregiver for her mother with Alzheimer’s. Dawn shares how the emotional weight of caregiving led her to write a book not just to process her experience, but to support others walking a similar path.

We dive into:
• How Dawn’s search for emotional connection led her to write the book she couldn’t find
• The therapeutic writing process that helped her cope with her mom’s Alzheimer’s
• How opportunities unfolded through genuine relationships and volunteering
• What it means to share your story without trying to build a brand or business
• Why community, feedback, and the Author Power Circle played a key role in her journey

Links & Resources Mentioned:
• Get Dawn’s book, Memories Matter on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4lfengz
• Follow Memories Matter Facebook Pages - https://www.facebook.com/people/Memories-Matter/61574697579278/#
• Join the Author Power Circle - https://kellyschuknecht.com/author-power-circle
• For more book marketing resources, visit https://www.kellyschuknecht.com

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Dawn’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

What Color Is Your Elephant: Embracing Inner Truth & Transformational Conversations with Joyce Kyles

What if the elephant in the room is actually a mirror of what’s going on inside of you? In this episode, Kelly talks with author, speaker, and coach Joyce Kyles about her book What Color Is Your Elephant and the deeper conversations it inspires. Joyce shares how elephants both external and internal, can hold us back when we don’t name them, and how self-awareness, empathy, and communication are the keys to transformation.

We dive into:
• How the idea of the elephant in the room evolved into a metaphor for internal growth
• The link between personal experiences, bias, and the conversations we avoid
• Why identifying your inner elephants is essential for healing and self-leadership
• The power of assessments, core values, and communication in team and personal development
• How Joyce uses the elephant metaphor in retreats, corporate workshops, and coaching

Links & Resources Mentioned:
• Get Joyce’s book, What Color Is Your Elephant on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IRiL7U
• Visit Joyce’s website – https://www.joycekyles.com
• Connect with Joyce on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycekyles/
• Check out the Author Power Circle – https://kellyschuknecht.com/author-power-circle

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Joyce’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

Start Your Second Act: Creating Fulfillment Beyond the 9 to 5 with Shannon Russell

What if your second act could be the most fulfilling chapter of your life? In this episode, Kelly sits down with Shannon Russell, author of Start Your Second Act, to talk about leaving behind a successful career in television to embrace entrepreneurship, coaching, and authorship. Shannon shares how midlife reinvention is not only possible, but powerful—and how women can find purpose by leveraging the skills and experience they already have.

We dive into:
• What led Shannon to leave her career in television and open a STEM education franchise
• How her experiences shaped a coaching business helping women find their second act
• Common myths about career change and why you’re more qualified than you think
• Inspiring stories of women who used their skills to pivot into businesses and new careers
• Why your second act doesn’t have to be a business, it can be anything that lights you up

Links & Resources Mentioned:
• Get Shannon’s book, Start Your Second Act on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GXEt9C
• Visit Shannon’s website - https://secondactsuccess.co/
• Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonrussellcareercoach/
• Join the Author Power Circle - https://kellyschuknecht.com/author-power-circle/

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Shannon’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit https://kellyschuknecht.com/.

I See Your Genius: Turning Your Story into a Brand and Business with Shelby Jo Long

What if the hardest chapter of your life could become the foundation of your next chapter? In this inspiring episode, Kelly talks with Shelby Jo Long, author of I See Your Genius, about how a traumatic accident in high school shaped her journey and ultimately led her to help others discover their unique brilliance. Shelby shares how she transitioned from college professor to multi-business entrepreneur, using her personal story as the catalyst to build a brand, a book, and a platform that empowers professionals to monetize their ideas.

We dive into:
• Shelby’s powerful recovery story after a traumatic brain injury and how it shaped her future
• Why your lived experience is the key to your personal brand and business
• How to know when it’s time to pivot out of a career that no longer aligns
• What it means to build a business rooted in your genius and personal story
• The real-world steps Shelby took to grow multiple businesses and become a paid speaker

Links & Resources Mentioned:
• Get Shelby’s book, I See Your Genius on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ltwNLm
• Learn more at https://www.shelbyjolong.com
• Connect with Shelby on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelbyjolong/
• For more book marketing resources, visit https://www.kellyschuknecht.com

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Shelby’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

Breaking Boxes: Breaking Free from Expectations and Owning Your Life with Betsy Pepine

What if the labels you carry are holding you back from the life you actually want? In this episode, Kelly sits down with Betsy Pepine, author of Breaking Boxes, to explore the invisible walls we build around ourselves. Betsy shares how societal roles, family expectations, and our own limiting beliefs create metaphorical boxes and what it takes to break free and live with authenticity and purpose.

We dive into:
• How family, career, and societal roles box us in and limit our choices
• Why awareness is the first step toward freedom and personal fulfillment
• How to face fears of failure, change, and loss in order to step into the life you want
• Practical ways to tune into your feelings and use them as a guide
• What it really means to create a life that feels meaningful beyond external success

Links & Resources Mentioned:
• Get Betsy’s book, Breaking Boxes on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4nD0ESY
• Connect with Betsy on her website – https://www.betsypepine.com
• Follow Betsy on social media – @betsypepine on all platforms
• Join the Author Power Circle - https://kellyschuknecht.com/author-power-circle/

 

If this episode resonated with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with those who might need to hear Betsy's story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.