The Tried and Truth Podcast with Annica Fischer

2022 Wrap Up: Guest Highlights and Favorite Takeaways

It's a wrap! This year's final episode includes my favorite "truths and takeaways" from episodes this past year.  Thanks to all the guests, including entrepreneurs, authors, artists, coaches, therapists, change makers, mentors, and friends for sharing their stories and some of their greatest tips, encouragement, and lessons learned along the way. Let these practical and simple insights serve as a launching pad for your new year! 
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How to Become ”Famous at Home” with Joshua Straub

This week Josh Straub, co-founder of Famous at Home, joins us on the podcast. In this episode w/ Josh we’re talking all about what it means to be "famous at home" as he shares more from the latest book he and his wife, Christi, co-authored. We talk about the chase we’re all on, what gets in the way of what matters most, and how our chase often leaves us empty-handed and wanting more. You’ll be encouraged and challenged to shift your perspective on how you view “parenting” as Josh unpacks the research findings on how to get the outcomes we most desire out of our kids.  
“The greatest red carpet  you’ll ever walk is through your front door.” 
Josh is an author/co-author of multiple books, including children’s books, marriage and leadership coach, and podcast cohost w/ his wife, Christi. They both lead Famous at Home, a company that equips leaders, corporations, and families in emotional intelligence and relational connections.  
You can follow Josh & Christi on Instagram @famousathome and on Facebook @famousathome and at famousathome.com
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[5:16] Paying attention to how we view our families
[6:00] What is the atmosphere of our home?
[7:40] What do you chase, what gets in the way, and what kingdom are you serving?
[9:01] The dopamine bump (not at home)
[10:35] We all have a chase (an “idol”)
[12:56] The greatest red carpet you’ll ever walk on
[15:46] What is it all REALLY about?
[17:14] “How do you help coach people to reground on where their true significance is?”
[18:32] Why we’re still left wanting when our pursuits are reached
[19:50] “You have to a purpose bigger than just accomplishing something.”
[22:48] God allows us to fumble in our chasing because…
[25:07] The relationship between how we feel loved and how we love at home
[26:02] "Parenting" vs. "Becoming" 
[26:21] Findings from a research study on how to get the outcomes we most desire out of our kids 
[29:48] A quick tip/the low hanging fruit
[32:47] Guest perspective: What does success look like to you?
[36:34] Truths & Takeaways
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Mentioned in this episode: 
Famous at Home: 7 Decisions to Put Your Family Center Stage in a World Competing for Your Time, Attention, and Identity
Additional Books by Josh & Christ to Help You and Your Kids Build Healthy, Emotionally Safe Relationships can be found here > www.famousathome.com/resources

Better Together: Pursuing Our Best Life with Lara Burnside

What does it actually look like to authentically support one another and cultivate the relationships we actually want but don’t actually pursue? How can we live our best lives? How can we elevate performance in our businesses? What if today we don't have much to give today? 
We’re answering all of these questions (and more) in today’s conversation with Lara Burnside.  Lara has spent the last 25 years as a coach, speaker, leader in cultural transformation and excellence, and executive all over the country, and has been a personal mentor, friend, and boss over the course of the last decade. 
In this conversation, you’ll find some tried and true tips on becoming your best self (which in turns helps others become theirs), the encouragement to push aside ego and create a better impact right where you are, and lean into the grace and inspiration to become “better together”. 
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
5:42 The first thing we must do before we can give back to others
6:23 Creating elevated performance levels @ work
8:19 Start with “Who are you and what makes you tick?”
9:10 The 4 steps to living your “BEST” life 
10:52 Be “BOLD” enough to try something new 
11:35 Find the moments in life you “ENJOY”
12:36 Cultivate tremendous “SUPPORT” for each other 
13:41 Taking “TIME” for yourself 
14:17 When burnout happens...fast!
17:48 What does courage look like?
22:52 Pushing our egos aside 
30:00 Guest perspective - what does success look like? 
32:49 What we need to think about amidst the chaos 
38:19 Truths & Takeaways
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Books Mentioned in this Episode: 
Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday 
What if It's Wonderful? by Nicole Zasowski 
 

Letting Go of Plans and The Writer’s Journey with Kimberly Stuart

Today we’re sitting down with Kimberly Stuart, author of eight novels, speaker, host of two podcasts, and executive writing coach w/ Bob Goff.  This conversation is everything you didn’t know you needed!  Kim invites us into her own “accidental” story of becoming a writer and shares behind the scenes insights from both writing and coaching hundreds of other writers. Her stories are packed with encouragement and tips for your own creative, personal, or professional pursuits. We're talking about finding freedom and letting go of trying to master that perfect plan, knowing when it's time to abandon or release a project, what holds people back, and how she stays inspired to keep writing. Whether you simply need a dose of humor, a bit of courage, a nudge to make (or not make) that next move, or have a desire to write, you’ll find what you need in this conversation.  
You can follow along and find more of Kim’s books and resources: 
on Instagram @kim.stuart.writes or kimberlystuart.com
Podcasts - 
For Real with Kimberly Stuart   and 
The Writing Room with Bob Goff and Kimberly Stuart 
Books - 
https://www.kimberlystuart.com/books
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Episode Highlights
(2:09) Kim’s story - finding her path “on accident”
(7:00) The gift of feeling “seen”
(10:28) The myth about having and executing a plan
(12:15) You don’t need a 20 pt plan. Relax!
(14:34) How do you stay inspired?
(17:30) When the brain does its best work 
(18:33) The beautiful responsibility of getting better
(21:29) Favorite book you’ve written?
(22:44) How do you know when a book is finished?
(26:26) Knowing when it’s time to release or abandon a project 
(34:43) Wading in and out of the waters of guilt 
(37:07) What do you wish you’d known sooner?
(41:17) The checkerboard analogy we all need
(46:38) Guest Perspective - view on success 
(51:52) Truths & Takeaways

Behind the Brand with Mallory Martin, Founder & CEO of Mended

Mallory Martin, Founder and CEO of Mended, a social impact brand that economically empowers survivors of modern-day slavery, joins us this week to share the story behind the brand. 
From corporate work in sports marketing to her role with International Justice Missions to starting her own brand, you’ll be inspired to hear how each door opened up the door to the next. As the story of Mended unfolds, Mallory shares simple truths and entrepreneurial lessons learned along the way, the essential skills worth having, the importance of building a life around curiosity, her business litmus test, and how she finds joy in creating an impact in both motherhood and her work. 
Whether you’re a globally conscious consumer, enjoy a good story, have an entrepreneurial spirit, or love supporting those who do, you’ll enjoy this truth-filled conversation. 
- Episode Highlights -
The story of Mended (1:45)
Becoming self aware and understanding your strengths (14:30)
Helpful skills to have (15:18)
Entrepreneur Tip: What do you wish you’d known sooner? (19:20)
An honest truth about entrepreneurship (20:50)
Creating a litmus test for your pursuits (28:11)
Failing forward - how to live like you’re "bowling with bumpers" (33:09)
Having both/and (work + home) (34:29)
Defining Success: Guest Perspective (38:45)
Truths & Takeaways (42:40)
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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Mended - https://mended.co/
Follow Mended on Instagram @mended_co
 

How To Find Freedom and Favor In Our Expectations

In this episode, we’re talking about our relationship with expectations, the paradox behind them, and how we can find both freedom and favor in them. Whether it’s self-imposed expectations you might struggle with, the unspoken expectations, the big dreams you’re working towards, or your expectations of others, there’s something for you in this week’s episode.  
 
-EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS- 
Questions to ask yourself (0:45)
The toxic cocktail (1:41)
The paradox of expectations (3:29)
What we ALL do (4:57)
What is productivity (11:21)
Truths and Takeaways (13:50)
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Mentioned in this episode:
Books:
Boy Mom by Monica Swanson
Let it Be Easy by Susie Moore 
Episodes: 
Expectations, Pressure to Perform, and a New Perspective w/ Ruth Chou Simons
 

Reimagining Motherhood w/ A Modern Mom Muse - Mary McConville

We’re having a momversation this week with modern mom muse, Mary McConville.  She’s sharing her story of creating a community of support through her illustrations on her @growupbrite Instagram page one mom moment at a time. We’re talking about reimagining motherhood right where you are and the need to clean out the closest of motherhood beliefs and expectations that are no longer serving you.  
Episode Highlights
How it all started (1:30)
A turning point in her work (4:20)
Creating a community of support (7:47) 
Reimagining motherhood where you are (11:35) 
The goal in parenting (13:16)
When you feel like things are messy and “unproductive” (17:20) 
Cleaning out your closest of motherhood beliefs (19:25) 
Leaning into the pockets of motherhood (20:00) 
Lessons learned (21:41) 
We all forget lunch (24:47) 
The people we can choose to “be” (28:06)
What is success - guest perspective? (31:16) 
Truths and Takeaways (35:56)
 
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Website: growupbrite.com
Instagram: @growupbrite
 

Ruth Chou Simons - Expectations, Pressure to Perform, and A New Perspective

Ruth Chou Simons, bestselling and award-winning author, artist, entrepreneur, speaker and owner of GraceLaced.com joins us in this week’s episode. She shares more on her story of finding freedom from striving and how we, too, can be free from the burden of performing and bettering ourselves to be “good enough”.  Through conversations about her latest book, she invites us to experience the upcoming holiday season with greater meaning and new perspective. 
Episode Highlights
What the internet causes us to think (4:28)
How we’re wired to view self worth (7:48)
What we underestimate and the journey we’re actually called to (8:46)
The pressure to perform (9:10)
The root of our unhappiness (14:27)
A tip from Ruth on raising kids and staying grounded today (24:05)
What success looks like (29:22)
Truths and Takeaways (36:09)
 
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
https://ruthchousimons.com/
Books: 
Emmanuel www.emmanuelbook.com
When Strivings Cease https://ruthchousimons.com/whenstrivingscease/
Follow Ruth Chou Simons @:
https://www.facebook.com/gracelaced
https://www.instagram.com/ruthchousimons/
https://www.instagram.com/gracelaced/

How to Become the Biggest Fan of Those You Love and Lead w/ Jason Patterson

If he could only have one conversation with someone, he knew what it would be (and so he wrote a book about it) and we’re talking all about that in this episode. James Patterson, author of From Your Biggest Fan: Discovering the Potential of Those We Love and Lead, joins us to share more on his latest book. Whether those you “lead and love” include friends, neighbors, staff, co-workers, classmates, a spouse, or kids, he’s unpacking simple habits for you to help others around you discover their true worth and fullest potential.
In this episode, Jason talks about the challenges we face with our own insecurities and shares insights on why and how to overcome them.  He speaks to his own story of choosing voices wisely and how we, too, can take practical steps to do the same.  You’ll hear his take on what to do if you want to leave a life-long impact and learn the three things that help you become a better leader (and the biggest fan) to those you love and lead. 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Book: From Your Biggest Fan: Discovering the Potential of Those We Love and Lead
Website: https://biggestfanleaders.com/
Follow Jason on IG @jasonmpatterson

What to Do When Anxiety and Fear are Holding You Back w/ Bessie Ann Christenson

In today’s episode, we’re talking all about anxiety with licensed professional counselor, Bessie Ann Christenson. She shares the paradoxical truths about anxiety, the #1 question you can ask yourself when anxious thoughts begin to creep in, and how to re-engage when you feel disconnected at work and home.  You'll hear her tips on what to avoid and not avoid when fear and anxiety set in and practical steps to move past the anxious thoughts that are holding you back from making decisions, moving forward, and taking healthy risks. 
You’ll be encouraged by her words and practical tips, knowing you’re not alone and can have simple tools at your fingertips. 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Rehope Counseling - www.rehopecounseling.com
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Looking for interactive reflections, inspiration, and truths that will help you go get the clarity you need to take that next step? You can now grab a free copy of the Getting Unstuck e-book for free at https://annicafischer.com/e-book