Beyond the Bestseller

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.

Succeeding as a Solopreneur: How to Launch, Grow, and Own Your Path with Liz Steblay

Ever wondered if you could ditch the 9–5 and build a business on your own terms? In this episode of Beyond the Bestseller, I sit down with Liz Steblay, author of Succeeding as a Solopreneur: Six Keys to Taking the Leap, Winning Clients, and Building Wealth, to talk about what it really takes to run a thriving business without a traditional team—or a boss.

After being laid off in 2004, Liz launched her first consulting business and never looked back. From founding the Proko Agency to creating the Professional Independent Consultants of America (PICA), Liz has helped thousands of professionals navigate the transition from corporate life to successful solo entrepreneurship. She shares powerful strategies from her book, including how to tame your FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt), build a memorable niche, and leverage 1099 contractors without crossing legal boundaries.

Whether you’re dreaming of going out on your own or already navigating the solopreneur life, this conversation is full of practical tools, mindset shifts, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from lived experience.

We dive into:

• What solopreneurship really means (hint: you don’t have to do it alone!)
• The difference between solopreneurs, freelancers, and entrepreneurs
• How to tame the “FUD monster” (fear, uncertainty, and doubt)
• Legal and tax tips for working with independent contractors
• Why your LinkedIn profile should act like your storefront
• The biggest mindset blocks solopreneurs face—and how to move through them

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Get Liz’s book, Succeeding as a Solopreneur: Six Keys to Taking the Leap, Winning Clients, and Building Wealth – https://amzn.to/4iRN8bt (affiliate link)
• Visit the book’s landing page – SixKeys.info (works with both SIX and 6)
• Learn more about the Professional Independent Consultants of America (PICA) – Available via the SixKeys.info site

If you’re building (or dreaming about building) a business of your own, this episode is a must-listen. Liz’s real-world advice and approachable strategies will leave you feeling empowered and equipped. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow solopreneur. For more tools to support your journey, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

Find Your Food Voice: Rejecting Diet Culture and Reclaiming Peace with Julie Duffy Dillon

What if the problem isn’t your willpower, but the culture that profits from making you feel broken? In this empowering episode, Kelly talks with registered dietitian and therapist Julie Duffy Dillon, author of Find Your Food Voice, about why diets fail and how to heal your relationship with food. Julie shares the science behind diet culture’s long-term harm, why restrictive eating backfires, and how we can reclaim body trust and peace.

 

We dive into:
• Why dieting rarely works long term and the emotional and physical toll it takes
• The difference between nutrition and diet culture, and how to spot the sneaky messaging
• How trauma, stress, and systems of oppression fuel our disordered relationship with food
• Real steps you can take to stop the cycle and reconnect with your body’s wisdom

Links & Resources Mentioned:
• Find Your Food Voice on Amazon - https://amzn.to/45EL96K
• Visit Julie’s website - https://www.julieduffydillon.com
• Check out Julie’s podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/50BgXZyk84mygNoEAqxrag?si=66fce01d6b54471e
• 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 Julie’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

Truly Seen: Breaking Free from Perfectionism and Pressure with Tara Whitney

What if everything you believed about success, body image, and being “the perfect woman” was actually holding you back? In this powerful episode, Kelly Schuknecht sits down with Tara Whitney, author of Truly Seen, to unpack the deeply ingrained cultural expectations women face—and how to break free. From boardrooms to bake sales, Tara shares how the pursuit of thinness and perfectionism impacts our careers, parenting, and personal well-being.

We dive into:
• Why women are applauded for overachieving and how that comes at a personal cost
• The link between body image, leadership, and self-worth
• How perfectionism shows up in everyday choices—from hair styling to PTA meetings
• What it really means to be “truly seen” and how to live by your own definition of success

 

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Truly Seen on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4lcTGSG
• Check out Tara’s projects, books, retreats, and free downloads - https://whitebirchadvisory.com/
• Connect with Tara on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-whitney/
• 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 Tara’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.

Grit and Tenacity: Women Transforming Leadership in Business and Community with Cathy Derksen

What if you could step into authorship, expand your visibility, and join a global movement one chapter at a time? Cathy Derksen is doing just that. As the curator of Grit and Tenacity and 17 other anthologies, she’s helping women around the world share their stories of growth, reinvention, and leadership.

In this episode, Cathy shares how she transitioned from a traditional career to creating her own publishing model that elevates midlife women through storytelling and community. We dive into the power of anthologies, the confidence and credibility that come with being a published author, and how this work is changing the narrative of what’s possible in the second half of life.

We dive into:

• Why anthologies are a powerful and accessible path to authorship
• How Cathy selects themes and builds global book communities
• The role authorship plays in building visibility and opening doors for speakers
• How Inspired Tenacity supports women in their 50s and 60s to pursue what’s next

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Grit and Tenacity on Amazon - https://amzn.to/45zOpA7
• Check out Cathy’s projects, books, retreats, and free downloads - https://www.inspiredtenacity.com/
• Connect with Cathy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyderksen/
• 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 Cathy’s story. For more resources to help you write and market your book, visit kellyschuknecht.com.