Bound & Determined

Have you ever been working on a big project that spawns lots of little project ideas? This recently happened to me while looking for a new bed for my son. It turned into an entire room remodel and started giving me ideas for changes to make in my own room and entryway, new organization for the kitchen, and more. I see it happen with books, too–working on the proposal, then deciding to start a Substack or a podcast. Creativity begets creativity. Recently, one of my Book Proposal Blueprint students reached out to let me know how much the program benefited her business with new products and writing gigs, even though she was still working on the “Big Book” idea. We decided to bring the conversation to the podcast for a few reasons:  I LOVE catching up with former students I think it’s important to hear different timelines and processes when it comes to publishing It’s important to focus on the value of what you’re learning, even if you apply it elsewhere To bring creative inspiration to people who may feel their book journey is taking too long Listen in as Jenna Zaffino and I chat all things success and obstacles when it comes to chasing your big dream. With more than two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry, Jenna is a board-certified health coach, movement expert, and inspiring keynote speaker. She is the founder of JZ Wellness, a platform dedicated to helping individuals live well despite limits™️, navigating the challenges of chronic conditions in midlife to find a support plan that works for them in the long term.  An author of two self-published books, Jenna has a gift for making complex ideas accessible. Her first book, the children's story Horatio Moves, encourages young readers to embrace their individuality through movement. Her second, You're Doing a Great Job: The Movement Teacher's Guide to Fearless Movement, is a resource for fellow movement teachers to identify their strengths, establish their vision, and rise above the abusive power dynamics that often frequent fitness training spaces.  As a freelance writer for the American Lung Association’s Patient and Caregiver Network, she combines her deep knowledge of wellness with a passion for empathetic communication.  Currently, she is channeling her expertise into her Book Proposal Blueprint project, which is close to being determined…  I hope you’ll tune in!  

This week on Bound + Determined, I’m beyond thrilled to introduce you to my editor and book collaborator, Hannah Robinson. She has been an integral part in helping me make Do the Thing all that I want it to be for you. I have 3 weeks until my manuscript deadline, and I’m right on time! In this episode, you’ll hear how we worked together, and some of the challenges I came across in my writing. Hannah and I crossed paths many times over the years, as she was previously at Simon & Schuster and Hachette, where many of my clients have published. Now, Hannah is out on her own and eager to shed light on how editors can support authors in diverse ways. Hannah is an absolute stand-out talent at what she does, and she’s breaking down all the ways an outside editor/collaborator (someone beyond your Publisher’s editor) can enhance your writing experience and the final product. Don’t miss it!  

You know that ol’ Salt-N-Pepa classic “Let’s Talk About Sex”? It begs the question…have we, ever?  Do we really understand our own sexuality?  This week on Bound + Determined, I’m chatting with esteemed “sexpert” Dr. Juliana Hauser as she discusses how she distilled her extensive experience in counseling and education into her new book, A New Position on Sex. Addressing a wide range of topics, from sensuality, pleasure, and ethical non-monogamy to LGBTQ+ and other intersectional identities, she takes you on an intellectual, emotional, and soul-searching journey of self-discovery in this necessary, powerhouse book. You’ll learn: why it’s important for all people to re-educate themselves on sex and sexuality why sexual agency is so important how to reconnect with pleasure why holistic sexuality is the final frontier of self-development You’ll also hear about Dr Juliana’s road to hybrid publishing and her message for those authors just starting out. Join us, but maybe don’t listen to this one during school dropoff!  

What happens when you put two Leo Queens in a room–well, this week’s podcast for one. But mostly, you get a lot of laughs, massive helpings of honesty, and loads of hard-earned wisdom. This week on Bound + Determined, I’m chatting with Beatriz (Béa) Victoria Albina, NP, MPH, SEP, all about codependency, perfectionism, and people-pleasing– OH MY! And from what I know about myself and the women around me, this episode couldn’t have come soon enough. Béa is a UCSF-trained Family Nurse Practitioner, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Master Certified Somatic Life Coach, and author of the forthcoming book End Emotional Outsourcing: a Guide to Overcoming Codependent, Perfectionist and People Pleasing Habits (Sept 30, Hachette Balance) with a passion for helping humans socialized as women to reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems and rewire their minds, so they can break free from codependency, perfectionism and people pleasing and reclaim their joy. She is the host of the Feminist Wellness Podcast, holds a Masters degree in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health and a BA in Latin American Studies from Oberlin College.  Basically, she’s here to save us from our own downfall. Tune in!  

When it comes to publishing, I like to explain the process as a little bit of science and a little bit of magic. We can do ALL THE THINGS, and follow all the “rules”, and still have to hand that work over to someone to assess, to review, and to judge. The work is the science, but it’s the relationships that are the magic.  I’m a big believer in alignment. When I work with my clients, I tell them that their book proposal is the biggest piece of self-advocacy they have, which will allow them to find the right-aligned partner in an agent and a publisher. And one of the ways I help people find that alignment is by introducing them to the best people in the biz! This week on Bound + Determined, I’m sitting down with literary agent and author, Lucinda Halpern. In this episode, we go behind the scenes to discuss what she loves about the job, her unique views on authorship, and how to land the agent of your dreams.  

This week on Bound + Determined, we’re chatting pelvic floor health with Dr. Sara Reardon, aka The Vagina Whisperer!  This episode is full of laughs AND love–because when it comes to peeing when you sneeze, or understanding what’s happening to your body at every age and stage–both are needed! For over 18 years, Dr. Sara Reardon has been caring for people’s pelvic floors as a board-certified pelvic floor physical therapist. She is the Founder of The V-Hive, an online pelvic floor workout platform for pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, painful sex, and pelvic floor strengthening.  As The Vagina Whisperer on Instagram and TikTok, she has hundreds of thousands of followers who depend on her for all the facts and fun about our changing bodies.  FLOORED: A Woman’s Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage, available for order and releasing June 10! For far too long, the American health care system has normalized pelvic problems, leaving women feeling hopeless, ashamed and suffering in silence. Sara helps women prevent and overcome common pelvic floor issues so they can trust and enjoy their bodies again.  Floored is a rallying cry for women’s health and the authoritative guide for the pelvic floor, a critical group of muscles involved in day-to-day functions from peeing and pooping and sex and childbirth to menstruation and menopause.  I hope you’ll listen in to hear valuable information and hear about Sara’s twisty-turny book process!

You know that feeling when you meet a new friend and it’s an instant love match? Friendship love at first sight? That’s how I felt when I met Stacy Ennis. A few years ag0, we met at Farnoosh Torabi’s book launch for A Healthy State of Panic. She’s a book coach living abroad with her family, and…well, you know the work I do. Don’t miss this episode of Bound & Determined–there’s so much shared wisdom, and a lot of comfort around the sticky parts of being a writer. Stacy is a best-selling author, coach, and speaker on a mission to help leaders clarify their ideas and harness their unique story to make an impact. Along with being the founder of Nonfiction Book School, an accelerated author program, her background includes ghostwriting for a Nobel Prize winner in medicine and leading as executive editor of Sam’s Club’s Healthy Living Made Simple, a publication that reached around 11 million readers.  Her best-selling book, co-written with Ron Price, is Growing Influence: A Story of How to Lead with Character, Expertise, and Impact. She’s also the host of Beyond Better, a podcast that explores how to create a business and life you love. Enjoy!

This week on Bound and Determined, I’m sharing how my own book deal came to be, the process of getting it to the right idea that lit me up, and all that I’m learning about myself along the way.  This is the first installment and there will be more as I move deeper into the process! Join me for the ride! And as I say in the close of the episode—it’s all for you. This book is a love letter to your creative soul and an action plan for bringing it to life. Whether it’s a book, podcast, new business, program offering, stage talk, etc… you will find home in these pages. I can’t wait to continue to share the process with you as the teacher becomes the student!  Oh! And P.S. I have not had a new podcast review in OVER A YEAR! What?! So many of you tell me how much you love the pod and all that you’re learning and appreciate. If you haven’t rated and left a review yet, I’d be so appreciative!   

This week on Bound + Determined, Sam Vander Wielen joins me and we dig into what business owners may be missing, what’s working right now, and how to really build a business that sustains you through life’s hardest moments. While writing her book and continuing to run her business, Sam tragically lost both of her parents back to back. In fact, she was offered her book deal the day her Mom passed. We talk about running a business through grief, and how she managed to reach this finish line of Pub Day. Oh, and did I mention she also recovered from a brain tumor in the early days of her business?  She knows a thing or two about the rollercoaster of life. I’m grateful to call her a friend and am so happy she’s someone I have on speed dial for all my business brainstorms. I hope you’ll give this episode a listen!

Life is made up of billions of tiny decisions. The poor decisions can lead to a lifetime of laughter. Maybe it’s the bad perm you got as a teenager, or the tattoo of a dolphin eating a cheeseburger. Maybe it was the horrible guy you dated in college, or the spontaneous weekend trip that ended in disaster. I, myself, am not a super spontaneous person. I sit somewhere in the middle “meh” of it all.  I’ve never boarded a plane the same day (or even the same week) to take advantage of a trip deal. I’ve never signed up for a class on a whim. I never even ditched school. I research restaurant menus in advance because I like to know what I’m getting before I’m there. I study the weather in an hour-by-hour breakdown each morning before leaving the house. I could never live a nomadic life–I even cross-reference review sites before booking a hotel. I think the best way to describe me is measured. But even if you are measured like me–that doesn’t mean you’ve honed the skillset of making strategic decisions. Most of us don’t think through big or small decisions with any particular level of strategy, which is why my guest on this week’s episode of Bound + Determined is going to shed light on why we SHOULD be making decisions in a more thoughtful way.  Abby Davisson is the Founder and CEO of the Money and Love Institute and an expert on holistic decision-making. As a former Fortune 200 executive and after two decades of making change from within organizations, she launched her own business, focused on helping leaders make smart choices for lasting success in work and life. Abby’s professional experience includes strategy-focused roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, including nearly a decade at Gap Inc., where she served as president of the Gap Foundation and co-founded the company’s employee resource group for working parents. She's also the Co-Author of MONEY, AND LOVE: AN INTELLIGENT ROADMAP FOR LIFE'S BIGGEST DECISIONS, a guide for navigating life’s most consequential and daunting decisions using research-based insights road-tested in a popular Stanford University course.  Abby has immersed herself in endless research that shows us how the decisions we make around love (and otherwise!) have financial consequences. Tune in to learn her framework that can be used for better decisions in love and life!