

Episode 039 – Melissa Urban, Author and Co-Founder, Whole30
On this episode of the Executives’ Exchange, we hear from Melissa Urban, Co-Founder of Whole30 and author of The Book of Boundaries. Urban tells the story of how hitting rock bottom with her addiction led her to build the Whole30 brand and mission. Her journey taught her to honor her limits in all situations, a lesson she shares in her recent book. Enjoy this conversation with Melissa!
00:00 – Introduction 00:55 – Urban details her upbringing 03:31 – Urban talks about her hobby of rucking 05:45 – Mission of Whole30 08:30 – Urban discusses struggle with drug addiction, beginning of health and fitness journey 11:06 – Urban’s self-work practices 13:15 – Urban’s decision to hire a president for Whole30 17:25 – Championing DEI; how to adapt when you know more 20:50 – Sponsor message from Shure 21:33 – Why Urban is known as “the boundary lady” 23:45 – Summary of The Book of Boundaries 27:35 – How saying no is a kindness 29:15 – Workplace boundaries 33:15 – Personal life boundaries 36:25 – Clear expectations of favors 42:30 – Holding boundaries; not taking on others’ emotions 44:22 – Saying no and relearning healthy communication habits 46:10 – How to navigate allyship, boundaries, and family 49:47 – What Urban hopes readers remember 50:30 – Rapid fire questions 51:25 – Outro
Episode Link: Whole30 | Book of Boundaries
Host: Margaret Mueller, CEO & President, The Executives’ Club of Chicago Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago
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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated. For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones.