Simply Authentic Podcast

No, not that B, we’re talking boundaries and balance! Though, not figuring out how to set boundaries and have balance can be a b*#*@!! With age comes wisdom and we’re throwing out a lot of it in this episode. Do you say yes too much to things you don’t want to do for fear you’ll disappoint someone? Or, is it because you have a fear of missing out? Or maybe, you just don’t know how to say no. How are you doing with the ever illusive balance? Working through dinner, skipping plans with family, not engaged and present? We’re guessing a lot of you can relate to all of the above. We’ll discuss some methods we’ve employed to combat the urge to say yes to everything. And when it comes to balance, let’s just say, it’s a work in progress. What we truly believe is this, it’s critical to tackle both of these to have a meaningful, rich, productive life. Taking small steps everyday to set boundaries and improve the balance in our lives, will help us all avoid another big B, Burnout!

Overseeing the operation of The Coffee Ethic and Cherry Pickers became a full time responsibility for owner Michelle Billionis when her husband passed away suddenly at the age of 44. Immediately her world shifted. She had to find a way to grieve, take care of her family and run a business. Michelle’s story is one of resilience, perseverance and the ability to adapt. She describes overcoming staff challenges by changing her perspective to one of alignment rather than conflict. When everyone is in alignment the collaboration that can happen is amazing. Her people are her passion and she empowers them to create and think for themselves. Through COVID she had to reinvent again. For every negative there is a positive and she found it by bottling and canning her product for delivery. AND, there are lots of great things in the works. Be sure to listen to the very end to hear some exciting announcements about what’s next for this dynamic leader!

Part 2 of this topic digs deeper into the relationships we create. Not all friendships are meant to last a lifetime, in fact most aren’t. People come into our lives for a day, a season, a year and we must do our best to embrace the lessons they are there to teach us. Obviously, some of those lessons are more painful than others. However, they are a necessity for our development. They help us to grow so that the next bond we create will be stronger. There are times relationships run their course and we naturally drift a part. Other times, it’s necessary to “break up” with a friend so that each of you can take a different path. It doesn’t mean you don’t still love that person, it’s just that you realize it’s better to love them from afar. If we’re lucky in this life, we eventually find our people, our tribe, our Sisterhood!

Whatever you want to call them, we need them. It’s important to have that fun group of friends where the conversation never goes deeper than Netflix, Botox and shopping. But, what we all fundamentally need and crave is a deeper connection. Surrounding ourselves with a tribe of people that is our safe haven is essential. A tribe where we can be ourselves without judgment and discuss the deep meaningful topics that are important to us. But, who can also tell us honestly and with love, “girl, put that trash back where it belongs and don’t ever wear that in public, EVER!” However, finding that tribe is difficult at times. Moving to another state, getting divorced, changing jobs, etc can push us to create new tribes. In this episode, we mention Lori Harder’s book “A Tribe Called Bliss” that gives a step by step approach to creating new tribes. Additionally, we recount personal stories of finding new tribes while saying goodbye to others. This is such a big topic that there is a part 2 to follow on Friday.

417 Magazine has a rich history in 417 land. This year the publication is celebrating 25 years in business. Its current leader, Logan Aguirre, takes the role of telling the story of 417 very seriously. She may not be a native of Springfield but she certainly has become its biggest cheerleader. After a career in New York, she moved to Springfield to join the family business. Her first roles included sales and the launch of Go Magazine. Eventually, she bought the business from her parents. With 4 separate publications under the 417 brand and 3-4 major events to plan throughout the year, this busy entrepreneur knows a thing or two about the importance of time management. And yet with all this on her plate she still finds time to volunteer and serve her community. This conversation tackles the importance of mindset and downtime to be the most effective and productive leader.

Life sometimes throws us curveballs. In this episode, Angie and Tonya share a couple of stories about transitions, pivoting and evolving to knock those curve balls out of the park! Where would the fun be in living if our life events went exactly in the direction we expected? Every curveball is an opportunity to grow and learn to adapt. The alternative is to have a constant pity party for ourselves and whine about our circumstances. If the goal is to live our best lives, we must learn to appreciate these twists and turns for what they are…….opportunities!

Long time REALTOR Vanessa Howe had suffered with pain for years. Finally, on a trip to Dallas and in tremendous pain from helping her sons move, she found something that would be life altering. Her sons encouraged her to try Cryotherapy and she was hooked. After doing extensive research, she decided to open BelowZero Cryo Spa in Springfield. But it didn’t happen overnight. Listen in as Vanessa discusses the why, the how and the challenges associated with this new adventure. It might just give you chills.

In this episode of In the Neighborhood, we visit downtown Springfield. You may be aware of the bars and nightlife center city has to offer. But on this beautiful, summer day we had the opportunity to explore what else it had to offer. We enjoyed coffee, pastries, desserts and lunch. Yes, we did desserts before lunch, just because we could! Sometimes not following the norm is a delightful treat and there were plenty of those to find as we quickly learned.

In addition to being your safe haven, a place to call your own and raise a family, your home is a key component to building wealth. In this episode Angie and Tonya explore the benefits of home ownership and building equity. They discuss the importance of REALTORS understanding the market, advising their clients and offering solutions for clients that have experienced setbacks. The services REALTORS offer are invaluable if you have homeownership goals. #ThatsWhoWeR

Derek Shimeall, part owner of 4 By 4 Brewing Company, takes a look back at how it all began. How a conversation amongst friends led to them becoming a major player in the Ozarks craft brewing space. Starting in a small taproom across from Sequiota Park, they have grown that space and recently opened their second location in Fremont Hills. This entrepreneurial endeavor was about friends, family and community. Throw in some hops, grains, yeast and a little H2O and you’ve got a recipe for success.

In this episode, Angie and Tonya continue to explain how this project came together and the “why” behind it. They’ll share the challenges of starting something new and being in an uncomfortable space. Staying true to the name of the podcast, they describe how they want to tackle the tough topics, goals, challenges, disappointments, success and failure in a vulnerable, authentic way. Business owners, entrepreneurs, community leaders, educators and leaders in their fields are just some of the interviews you’ll hear as this podcast progresses.

Angie Mullings and Tonya Murfin have a combined 50 years experience in the real estate industry. Searching for a way to share their knowledge about real estate, entrepreneurship, leadership and life, they’ve created the Simply Authentic Podcast. In this episode, which is part one of a two part series, they share their individual, unique backgrounds. They unfold the story of how they met through their leadership journey and how that eventually led to the creation of this podcast.