We were told that convenience was the goal—but what if it’s the trap? Today’s food system has made us dependent, disconnected, and overwhelmed. In this episode, we share how our family left behind the hustle, started homesteading, and reclaimed not just our food—but our rhythm, our values, and our voice. It’s not about going off-grid. It’s about choosing a life that actually fits.

In this episode:

• Our Homesteading Journey Begins [02:09]
• Scaling Up: From Backyard to Farm [03:30]
• The Historical Shift in Food Systems [05:37]
• Reclaiming Our Food Story [08:48]
• Naming the Farm: Eureka Moon [18:16]
• Vision and Values: Building a Legacy [20:45]
• The Egg Business Struggle [28:26]
• Scaling Down and Reclaiming Our Why [29:29]
• Shifting Perspectives on Sustainability [31:43]
• Lessons from Homesteading [36:18]
• Homeschooling and Real-Life Learning [43:20]
• Connection and Legacy [46:46]
• Wildly Recommended [48:59]

Why it matters:

Because this isn’t just about chickens or compost—it’s about reclaiming freedom in a world that profits off your dependence. When you start living differently, you realize: the systems weren’t built for your wholeness—and you don’t have to follow them.

Wildly Recommended:

• Books mentioned
• Getting Started With Chickens Guide [Coming Soon]

Reflection Questions:

• What’s one part of your life you’ve outsourced… that you’re ready to reclaim?
• What would your version of "less convenience, more connection" look like?

Resources + Links:

• McMurray Hatchery [Sponsor]
• Joel Salatin
• Justin Rhodes
• Roots & Refuge Farm

If this sparked a “why has no one said this before?” moment for you, send it to a fellow cycle-breaker. Share it with someone ready to stop playing by the old rules — and start writing their own.

As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you.

I didn’t expect to be moved so deeply by the men I asked to share—but they showed up with honesty, grief, and grit. This episode holds their voices, their silence, and the quiet weight they carry every day. It’s for the dads—and for anyone who wants to understand them better.

In this episode:

• The Struggles and Sacrifices of Fatherhood [01:23]
• A Call for Understanding and Healing [04:01]
• The Emotional Weight Carried by Fathers [07:07]
• The Need for Recognition and Support [11:43]
• Redefining Fatherhood and Legacy [15:00]

Why it matters:

When we see and hear the fathers in our life more clearly, we start to heal what hasn’t been said for generations.

Reflection Question:

What role did your dad model for you? What role are you modeling now—for your partner, your kids, your own sense of self?

If you know a dad who needs to hear this, share it with him. Send the link. Text the episode. Tell him: "This made me think of you." Let him know: You’re not alone in trying. You’re not alone in hurting. And you don’t have to have it all figured out to be doing a great job. You are the D.A.D.= Devoted and Doing your best. Happy Father’s Day.

For generations, we knew how to heal with what grew around us. In this episode, we’re reclaiming that lost wisdom with herbalist Jasia—exploring simple, practical ways to bring herbal medicine back home. If you’re craving a gentler, more rooted way to care for your body, this is where it begins.

In this episode:

• Meet Jasia: Herbalist and Healer [02:32]
• Starting Your Own Apothecary [09:39]
• Herbs for First Aid [18:45]
• The Power of Teas [26:18]
• Incorporating Herbs into Daily Life [29:43]
• Cooking with Herbs: Easy and Delicious [32:52]
• Herbal Remedies for Beginners [33:31]
• Favorite Herbalists and Their Teachings [35:12]
• Rapid Fire: Must-Have Tinctures and Dried Herbs [36:30]
• Golden Milk: A Nourishing Postpartum Drink [40:29]
• Herbs for Stress, Sleep, Digestion, and Hormonal Balance [41:46]
• The Importance of Personalized Herbal Remedies [44:43]
• Seasonal Herbs: What to Use and When [49:43]
• Lemon Balm: The Elixir of Life [54:22]
• Reconnecting with Plant Wisdom [55:29]

Why it matters:

In a world that often treats symptoms instead of root causes, remembering how to work with the earth’s medicine is both radical and restorative. Reclaiming this wisdom isn’t just about herbs—it’s about trusting your body, your intuition, and your ability to heal.

Wildly Recommended:

• Books mentioned

Reflection Question:

Which herb are you feeling called to connect with this season?

Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear what’s showing up in your apothecary or your heart.

Resources + Links:

• Jasia's Family Herbal First Aid Kit

Connect with Jasia:

Jasia is an herbalist with over a decade of experience working with medicinal plants. She has studied herbalism from a diverse range of teachers, along with dedicated self-study through numerous books and courses. She is passionate about holistic healing, and focuses on treating each person as a unique individual, helping them overcome illness through personalized, plant-based remedies. She offers in-person and virtual consultations and has an online apothecary shop (gracefulbearwellness.com) Jasia lives with her family on a small acreage in southeast Iowa and enjoys spending time gardening, homeschooling her children, and taking care of the animals on her homestead.

• @gracefulbearwellness on Instagram
• Jasia 's Website

If this episode lit a spark of remembrance in you, pass it on. Share it with a kindred spirit who’s also craving deeper roots and ancient rhythms. Let’s bring the lost wisdom back — together.

As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you.

We’ve been sold a version of success that’s rooted in hustle, structure, and stability—but what if it’s costing us presence, curiosity, and connection? In this episode, we challenge the scripts that keep families stuck and explore what it really means to unlearn, unschool, and uproot. If freedom doesn’t have to be flashy, what could it look like for you?

In this episode:

• Meet Ayla Will [00:11]
• Redefining Success [02:35]
• Ayla's Journey: From Exhaustion to Change [04:00]
• Choosing Family Over Performance [05:47]
• Unschooling and Learning Through Life [08:06]
• The Bigger Picture [12:00]
• Books that Inspire [14:37]
• Call to Question [15:19]

Why it matters:

In a world that still measures worth by productivity, perfection, and performance—this conversation is a reminder that presence, intention, and love are radical acts of resistance.

Wildly Recommended:

• Books mentioned

Reflection Question:

What’s one script you’re ready to rewrite?

Connect with Ayla:

• Meet Ayla Will—wife, mama of three, and an adventurer at heart. She’s passionate about unschooling her kids, embracing the freedom of life in a renovated RV, and soaking up as much time outdoors as possible. With a deep love for intentional living, Ayla strives to find balance in a holistic lifestyle—one that honors simplicity, curiosity, and connection. For the Will family, life isn’t about following a script—it’s about writing their own. Together, they’re choosing freedom over convention, learning through experience, and embracing the beauty of an unconventional life. Whether it’s the quiet moments or the wild adventures, they’re crafting a life that reflects their values, their dreams, and their own definition of balance.
• Instagram: The Willderness Family
• Facebook: The Wilderness Family

If this sparked a “why has no one said this before?” moment for you, send it to a fellow cycle-breaker. Share it with someone ready to stop playing by the old rules — and start writing their own.

As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you.

When someone close to me passed away tragically, I paused everything—including this episode. But what started as a story about helping a stranger in a strawberry patch became something much deeper: a raw reflection on grief, gossip, community, and what it means to truly show up for each other. This is an invitation to rebuild the village—one moment of presence, truth, and heart at a time.

In this episode:

• The Importance of Showing Up [01:46]
• Erica's Story: A Ripple of Kindness [08:02]
• Rebuilding the Village: Addressing Gossip [17:18]
• The Power of Human Connection [24:22]
• Closing Thoughts and Call to Action [29:51]

This one matters because the world is heavy, and people are carrying more than they let on. It’s a reminder to choose SOUL over SCROLL, to trust your gut, and to start rebuilding the village—one moment, one check-in, one real connection at a time.

Reflection Question:

Am I building the kind of village I’d want to be part of—if I was the one in crisis?

If today’s episode stirred something real in you, pass it on. Send it to the friend who gets it — the one who’s walking their own brave, messy, beautiful path. We’re not meant to unlearn and rebuild alone.

In this episode of Unrule the World, Mandy sits down with longtime collaborator Aaron Proietti to unpack the real story behind the frameworks and tools that changed how they live, work, and lead. From co-creating QUEST and GUIDE to walking away from corporate consulting, this conversation reveals what innovation looks like when it starts at the kitchen table—not in the boardroom.

Together, they explore how Today’s Innovator was built to empower people to think differently on purpose—and how their own personal paths shaped, challenged, and ultimately redefined that mission.

In this episode:

• Meet Aaron Proietti: Collaborator and Innovator [02:18]
• The Journey of Professional Growth [04:27]
• The Countdown to Corporate Escape [12:17]
• Life After Corporate: Coaching and Writing [27:32]
• Developing the Innovator Framework [30:41]
• Values and Flexibility in Today's Innovator [35:49]
• EXERCISE: Personal Growth [37:02]
• Venturing into the Nonprofit World [39:18]
• Developing Empathy [42:07]
• Founding Today's Innovator [43:47]
• Shifting Focus to Individual Coaching [48:10]
• Navigating Post-COVID Organizational Changes [51:27]
• The Role of Innovation in Organizations [53:34]
• Introducing the QUEST Workbook [01:00:03]
• GUIDE got us there! [1:02:17]
• Embracing AI for Positive Change [01:05:38]
• Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions [01:11:17]

Why it matters:

This isn’t just a story about business—it’s a blueprint for reclaiming agency, aligning your life, and choosing to build on your own terms. We didn’t just rethink work. We rewired how we live.

Wildly Recommended:

• Today's Innovator Workbooks

Reflection Question:

When were you most alive, aligned, and creating impact? What did those moments have in common—and what are they calling you toward now?

Resources + Links:

• Your QUEST Awaits: A workbook for bold, soul-led action
• Your Facilitation GUIDE: Lead meetings that matter
• Becoming Today's Innovator: A workbook for everyday changemakers
• Today's Innovator: A leader's guide to unlocking innovation potential

Connect Further:

• Aaron is the author of the books Today’s Innovator, Becoming Today's Innovator, and Your QUEST Awaits. He is an innovation and artificial intelligence expert with nearly twenty years of experience driving change in fast-paced, complex organizations. He is a sought after speaker, facilitator, coach, and strategist. He frequently speaks on topics related to AI, disruption, and systems change. Aaron currently sits on several nonprofit boards and works closely with summer camps under the brand Shout.Camp. Aaron has served as Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Customer Advocate at Transamerica, a multinational financial services company.
• @todaysinnovator on Instagram
• Aaron's Website

If this sparked a “why has no one said this before?” moment for you, send it to a fellow cycle-breaker. Share it with someone ready to stop playing by the old rules — and start writing their own.

As an affiliate, I...

The land holds stories we often overlook—memories of those who came before, and the lessons they left behind. By listening to the land’s quiet witness, we can reclaim lost wisdom about healing, legacy, and our place in the larger story. This episode is an invitation to remember what we were never meant to forget.

In this episode:

• Unexpected Journey to the Farm [1:01]
• The Land Chooses Us [03:00]
• Living with the Land's History [04:14]
• Challenges and Changes [05:51]
• Uncovering the Past [07:37]
• Connecting with the Past [12:52]
• Healing and Legacy [17:36]
• Reflections on Land and Healing [24:27]

Why it matters:

Stories like this remind us that healing isn’t just personal—it’s generational, communal, and tied to the land beneath our feet. By honoring what came before, we create space for something better to grow.

Wildly Recommended:

• You don’t need a tragedy to start listening to your land. Maybe it’s holding grief. Maybe it’s holding joy. Either way— it’s holding you, too. Walk your property. Notice what feels light. What feels heavy.
• Ask yourself: What stories are buried here? And more importantly— how can I be in relationship with this place?

Reflection Question:

What places have shaped you? Where do you feel most connected— to the earth, to your story, to your truth?

Resources + Links:

• Julia Madsen's writing

If this episode lit a spark of remembrance in you, pass it on. Share it with a kindred spirit who’s also craving deeper roots and ancient rhythms. Let’s bring the lost wisdom back — together.

This is your permission slip to pause, breathe, and be seen. Whether you're a new mom, a cycle-breaker, or a daughter still untangling what came before—this Mother’s Day reflection is for you. We’ll honor the mothers who shaped us (without blame), recognize the ones carrying it all right now, and name the truth: mothering isn’t just what we do—it’s what we pass down.

Featuring a powerful M.O.M. mantra, a spoken blessing for the ones in the thick of it, and a reminder that even in the mess—you are making magic.

In this episode:

• Honoring the Women Who Came Before Us [02:26]
• The Realities of Modern Motherhood [05:21]
• The Invisible Load of Motherhood [06:30]
• Affirmations and Encouragement for Moms [08:38]
• The Legacy and Power of Mothering [12:45]

Why it matters:

Because behind every permission slip signed, every meltdown soothed, and every quiet sacrifice is a woman shaping the world in unseen ways. When we honor the weight mothers carry—and the love they give—we start to rewrite what legacy truly means.

Reflection Question:

What do I want to carry forward?

And what can I choose to lay down?

Mother Reflection Mantra: “She gave me what she could. I carry what I choose.”

M.O.M. Mantra: “I am the Maker of Magic—not because I do it all, but because I show up with love.”

If you’re a mom or know of one who needs to hear this, share it with them. Text this episode to your sister-in-law. To your mom. To the mom friend who’s been juggling it all quietly. Remind them of the magic she’s making. Let her know: she’s not alone, she’s in the thick of it.