Writing a book as an entrepreneur can grow your business. But what if the biggest impact happens before the book is even published?

How do you know when your story is worth sharing, especially when self-doubt shows up halfway through writing it?

Amanda Wilson-Ciocci, co-founder of The Monarch & Co. and a three-time bestselling author, joins me to explore the personal, professional, and lasting impact of writing a book.

There's a moment in this conversation that challenges the way we think about telling our stories: Amanda believes we're not necessarily the keepers of our stories. We're the messengers.

I love the shift that creates. What if the experience you've spent years making sense of could help someone else make sense of theirs?

We explore why writing a book can be both illuminating and uncomfortable, what Amanda calls the messy metamorphosis of becoming an author, and how focusing on one person you're writing for can help you stay connected to your purpose and inspired throughout the process.

We also get practical about the publishing journey, including the differences between traditional, self-publishing, and hybrid publishing models, why preserving an author's individual voice matters, and how a book can create business opportunities long after launch day.

Because there's a difference between creating content for today's attention and creating something that reflects what you want to be known for.

If you've been thinking about writing a book, building your authority as an entrepreneur, or sharing your expertise in a way that lasts beyond social media, this conversation will give you something to think about.

EXPLORE AMANDA'S WORK

Learn more about The Monarch & Co.: https://www.themonarchandco.com

Masterclass (*NEW DATE* October 28th): https://www.themonarchandco.com/LeadershipBooksBuildYourBusiness

I’ve always been fascinated by the things we use to understand ourselves.

Sometimes we look to psychology. Sometimes we look to our bodies. Sometimes we look to other people. And sometimes we look up.

That’s where this conversation with author and astrologer Shannon Hugman gets really interesting.

Shannon doesn’t approach astrology as a set of predictions telling us what’s going to happen or who we're supposed to be. She sees it as a mirror. The moon, the stars, the cycles and the symbols can give us something to notice, reflect on and explore within ourselves.

Which got me thinking about how easily we can hand our authority over to something outside of us when what we're really looking for is a way to hear ourselves more clearly.

We also got into the changing rhythms of our bodies, menstrual-cycle awareness, journaling, intuition, Shannon's work with young people and her beautiful insight that we are stardust.

Key Takeaways

• Astrology can be used as a tool for self-discovery rather than a system for predicting the future.
• The moon offers a natural metaphor for cycles, change and the emotional experience of being human.
• Journaling can turn an external observation into a practice of listening inward.
• Becoming aware of our body's rhythms can change the relationship we have with ourselves.
• We can engage with astrology without making ourselves passive recipients of planetary influence.
• “You are stardust” becomes a reminder of our connection to something much bigger than ourselves.

If Shannon's approach to astrology sparks your curiosity, you can explore her books, services and Making Sense of the Universe Substack at shannonhugman.com.

Pre-order books here:

Dear Stardust: https://a.co/d/07OCvREk

Moon Cycles & Me Journal: https://a.co/d/00JpAnrB

shannonhugman.substack.com

If you’re enjoying this podcast, follow the show, leave a rating, drop a comment, and share. It truly helps more people discover it. Thank you!

Say hi on Instagram @diveheartfirst, join the Monthly Newsletter, and hop into the Community & Conversation over on YouTube.

The Dive Heart First Podcast has been on a little holiday for the past few weeks.

I started this podcast completely unbridled and unfiltered, following whatever felt alive that week. And I loved it.

But then I felt a shift. It felt time to get clearer about who this podcast is for and what I really want it to offer.

So I’m giving that idea some space to brew.

In the meantime, I’ll be releasing at least one interview episode a month. These are conversations I genuinely want to have with fascinating people, and I think you’ll love them too.

The first one drops next week.

And I’d love to hear from you. What are you curious about? What are you wrestling with? What would you love to hear me explore?

The solo episodes will return once the next idea is fully baked.

Could be January 2027. Could be sooner.

Who knows? 😂

Until then, come join me for some coffee chats.

And I’ll keep you updated!