Allergic to the Ordinary
Allergic to the Ordinary is a podcast for people who refuse to live, think, or create on default settings. Hosted by Jamie Gasparovic, the show explores identity, ambition, creativity, and reinvention through unfiltered conversations and sharp personal insight. It’s for those who feel the itch for more, and are ready to design a life that actually fits them.
Allergic to the Ordinary
15. Treating Grammy Winners, Studying Across Continents, and Building Lumara Concierge (with Dr. Audra Lance)
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Dr. Audra Lance doesn't run a typical chiropractic practice. She's built a unique methodology, studying techniques across continents—from Prague to Italy to Thailand—and turned it into something that defies categorization. Her clients fly in from around the world, she tours with Grammy winners, and gets annual invites from Team USA. But here's what matters: she refused to accept the default path, and it paid off. This conversation is about what happens when you chase excellence that most practitioners never pursue—and why being "just a chiropractor" was never going to be enough.
WHAT WE COVER
[0:18] The rebrand to Lumara Concierge—what it means to "gracefully light up the body" and why involving clients in the naming process cracked everything open
[5:20] Why she didn't open a practice in her hometown—moving to Nashville as a nanny, getting rejected by 11 banks, and building something completely different
[10:23] The seven-figure education most practitioners skip—and why convenience, cost, and comfort keep people from seeking out global techniques
[14:07] "Our issues are in our tissues"—why surface-level symptom treatment misses the neurological patterns keeping you stuck
[17:32] The Four Seasons intensive offering—what happens when you dedicate four days to flooding your system with treatment instead of spacing it out over months
[23:21] Where Western medicine fails and Eastern medicine excels—and why marrying both is the only approach that makes sense
[26:38] Building something no one else is doing—why everyone will tell you it can't be done, and how to use that as fuel
[29:10] Signature questions: superpowers, refusing mediocrity, and the one thing you can do today to live more allergically
QUOTES WORTH SAVING
"Our issues are in our tissues and people forget that."
"Everyone's gonna tell you you can't do it. Use that as motivation of like, really watch me."
"You don't know how good it's going to get. Like on those days you're crying in your car worried, keep going and like enjoy the ride a little more."
ABOUT DR. AUDRA LANCE
Dr. Audra Lance has built a distinguished reputation treating elite performers worldwide—from Cy Young Award winners and Grammy artists to Team USA athletes. Her approach combines rare certifications and techniques studied across continents, including a proprietary vocal cord method now used by touring musicians globally. She's the founder of Lumara Concierge in Nashville, where she offers both traditional appointments and luxury intensive experiences.
Find her: Instagram @draudralance | Learn about the intensive: https://www.experiencelumara.com/intensive
YOUR TURN
Go outside and walk. Twenty minutes, fresh air, no agenda. Let your brain think. Dr. Audra says the neurological benefits are backed by science, but you already know this works—you've felt it. So stop convincing yourself the desk is more productive and go.
If ordinary has ever felt suffocating, you’re in the right place.
Follow Allergic to the Ordinary for conversations on identity, ambition, and designing a life that doesn’t play it safe.
Hosted by @jamiegasparovic
A Studio Gaspo production
Well, first, everyone's gonna tell you you can't do it. Um and you like use that as motivation of like, really, watch me. Instead of just getting beaten down. People told me who I respect and listen to and mentors in my field. They were like, okay, good luck. Um and now they're calling me for advice.
SPEAKER_01Uh today we're talking to Dr. Audra Lance, founder of Lamara Concierge, a unique chiropractic care practice based in Nashville. She treats elite performers worldwide from Grammy-winning artists to professional athletes and gets annual invites to work with Team USA. Her rare approach is backed by certifications most practitioners never pursue, including a proprietary vocal core technique she developed studying across continents. She doesn't treat symptoms, she identifies and resolves foundational dysfunction. Today we're talking about a seven-figure education. Most practitioners skip why she had to study through a bunch of different continents to find what Western medicine was missing, and the story of what happened when 11 banks told her no. Plus, the luxury intensive experience she built and why treating symptoms is completely backwards. Let's get allergic to the ordinary with Dr. Audra. Dr. Audra, welcome to Allergic to the Ordinary. I'm so happy to have you here today. Uh, we had technical difficulties last time we tried to record, so it's long overdue. Welcome.
SPEAKER_00Thank you. I'm so grateful to be here. Yeah, that was funny. It was like, it was never meant to be the right time.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so our conversation's gonna be even better today than it would have been. I'm so excited. Okay. Something speaking of, like last time we talked, this had not happened yet. So I want to talk about it. Your rebrand that you just did for your office. Can you tell me a little bit about what was behind that and your new brand?
SPEAKER_00Well, it was a twofold process. One, I've been in business, the practice 12 years. I think the map's right there. And, you know, you grow in your change and learning more things how I practice medicine now is very different. Not like a different aspect of it after studying around the world and doing some of these residencies and everything than what the name was when I first started. So I really had this like inkling inside of like this name doesn't fit the practice. The second part was I got a business audit done because I'm constantly worried I'm doing something wrong and don't know it and don't want to, like, I'm always I have dreams sometimes that I'm like, oh my god, they're taking my house, they're taking everything. And I just was like, this was kind of simple, dot the eye, you know, kind of thing. Yeah. Um, so I paid last summer to do a business audit, and they brought up they're like, listen, you have people flying in from around the world to see you. Like, you guys, you you're just an established practice. And if you ever, you know, something happens or you want to sell, like from a business perspective, you need a trademark name. And of course, it was Spine and Sport Rehabilitation Institute.
SPEAKER_03And obviously, there's so much yes, not at all.
SPEAKER_00So then we went through the journey and the process of coming up with a new name, which is really wild. It kind of like cracks you open and really makes you think. And it was hard, and there's not many trademarks left. Like that is something. And long story short, it was really fun to talk to some of my clients about this and make them part of the process and hear their reflections and how they see us. And it was actually one of my clients who came up with the name, and it's Lumara Concierge. And Lou means to light, light up, and it also means gracefully. And the root word aura is body, and this is Latin language, which is you know the language of medicine. So basically, to bring your the light out of your body, and it just felt so good and so on brand.
SPEAKER_01So appropriate for what you do.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so that's awesome. That's the short version of how we got there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that is so cool. And I love that you involved your clients and that one of them is the one that ended up coming up with it. I feel like that's so smart on your part, though, because it's hard sometimes to see when you're inside the bottle, see the label, and they probably have a much better handle on like this is what you're actually doing, and this is how you're transforming our lives, you know, than you might even.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's so true. And everyone kept saying, like a version of I feel lighter after I see you or the doctors. Um you are such a light, you're kind of a lighthouse. Like we want to be in there, we relax, like so many of those versions that putting it all together. And it was really cool that's it's Latin. So that's like all of the medical language.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I love how meaningful that is all the way around. I feel like my my favorite word is intention. So I feel like that's a very intentional name. And I love that for you. Um, okay. I posted something a while ago about AQ, which is agility quotient. And for people that don't know what this is, it's like your ability to handle change and uncertainty. And there was kind of different archetypes of what kind, you know, how you handle that. And you told me that you were the astronaut type. I don't know if you remember this. It was it was in Instagram. Okay. And so that is like astronaut type was motivated by passion and enthusiasm. And that enthusiasm kind of drowns out your fear for things. You're quick to evolve and pivot. So, why do you feel like you resonated with that archetype? Does that does that describe you well in business?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it does. And I think for me, like as an entrepreneur, I would love to know your, you know, take on it too. You're changing all the time. And I think you think in your head, hey, once I get the business here, it's gonna be just we'll be good. Like cruise control. Yeah, and that's never it. And you have to accept that, and times are changing. What people want changes. You learn stuff. There's just so many different aspects of where you're have to just be like, all right, I'm hopping in the roller coaster and you know, going along for the ride with my hands up, excited, ready to go, and open to it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yes, that's so true. I think, yeah, if you're a good entrepreneur, you are constantly evolving because, like you said, you hear different things, you learn things, you adapt to client feedback, like all of these things. So that's awesome. Astronaut was probably the archetype of the entrepreneur. So that makes a lot of sense. I think, okay, also, you you did not do the typical like open a chiropractor in your hometown, like stay small situation. You have a very different business than most chiropractors I know, if not all. Um, can you talk about what kind of drove you to not go the typical route and like open this really unique and concierge type of business? Yeah. How long do we have?
SPEAKER_00So I start at the beginning. Yeah. Started as a kid. I was uh sick a lot. So I was always in the doctor's office. And when I would come home, I would play with my Barbies and pretend to be doctor and healing. So it was from a young age, I knew I wanted to do something in medicine, not sure what. Fast forward, I went to Ohio State, pre-med, all the things, and I put myself in situations whether it was like to shadow other doctors or to call them and ask them a bunch of questions because there's just so many specialties and so many directions to go. Ended up working for a chiropractor, and he was phenomenal. And he wasn't your typical rack and crack, which there's nothing wrong with that. But that wasn't really like I knew in my head what I kind of wanted to do because I love people and I just like there's so there was so much more out there, and I just had this like intuition, I guess you would call it. And he goes, You can specialize as highly as you want in whatever you want. And I've already wanted, I knew I wanted to be the boss. That was already like I knew I couldn't really want to we knew that. Um, and so I pivoted and went that direction because it's it was able to be more of an art and a dance too. I was a dancer growing up, of you know, that creative outlet, um, as well as like the science medicine. Yeah. Uh, and then ended up doing residencies at the VA and Northwestern Benedictine and the sports department and just like seeing all these different aspects and ways to go and specialized, of course, on the weekends on top of that and all these things. And so, as I learned from people who are way smarter and developed other techniques, I was able to take these techniques from around the world and kind of put them all together into one my own version. And that is something where you spend a lot of time with patients and you really listen and hear, and you're adapting the whole body, not just where the pain is or just not where it's like, hey, I want to increase my performance of my speaking ability or my foot so I can run faster. It's like, well, then we have to look at the whole picture and what you know our body's telling us. And that's essentially, you know, what I've built upon. Uh, I moved to Nashville, didn't know anyone, and I was a nanny when I went to all the banks that told me no about opening a business. And the 12th one, like said, we'll give you a line of credit if your parents co-sign. Luckily they did. And I used my computer from school and just a girl with a dream. And it was the best decision I ever made.
SPEAKER_01That's amazing. I did not know that about the nannying and the banks.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I got on care.com as I was moving down here, and I didn't know anyone down here. I just knew I wanted to move south away from like the gray and the cold. And I was down here for seminar, did a bunch of research. I was the only girl and a lot of only certifications I hold um in the south.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And knew, like, let's try it. I'm already used to living on water and crackers and peanut butter and jelly.
SPEAKER_01Like, if you're gonna try it, just go for it. Yeah, that's the time. Yeah, but it's a study.
SPEAKER_00And it is hard to describe. I just had lunch with um one of my clients the other yesterday, and we were talking about that. She's like, I don't even like, you're not a chiropractor. She's like, you're so much more, you're not a practitioner, you're a contributor to the whole like medicine realm of how you do things. And I thought that was really cool, like reflection because it is hard for me. People are like, you're a chiropractor, and they think of something in your head, and it's like that experience is great, but that's not what we're doing. It's so much more. It's Eastern medicine, it's the neurologist I studied under Prague in Prague, it's stuff from Italy and fascial manipulation, it's stuff from New Zealand and nerve flossing, and there's nervous system things, there's things from Thailand, like it is from all over globally, like tapped into one thing.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that is so cool and unique. And I think it is hard when you're doing something very different and you're being a trailblazer, that it's hard to name that because you don't want to make up this thing that no one has a reference point for, but also you're like, but I'm not just a chiropractor either. So I I feel like that is a tough line to walk in explaining like we do all of these things that are not just the traditional, you know, chiropractic.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I totally agree. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, okay, so you have gotten again tons of certifications, studied all over. Why do most medical professionals like not bother doing that? Do you think? Is it like, is it inconvenient? Is it expensive? Like, why are why do so many people operate in the same way versus like doing what you're doing and getting all these different touch points to kind of make their own methodology?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, it becomes a seven-figure education. That's and then it's a lot of time. So it depends where people are in their life, if they have kids and you know, a different and you have to kind of seek it out. And like it's not just like handed to you of like, hey, you should go take this. Hey, you should go specialize in this. It's just really good that crave to like learn more, which people have, but it's just not marketed, I guess.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Well, and I feel like this is exactly why I think you are allergic to the ordinary, because it's like you either have that drive to like go find different things and different and better and unique, or you just do the default thing. And so many people just do the default thing. So I love that your whole practice is proof of like walking a different path and doing your own thing and seeking out more, I think.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and you do it too in your industry, which is amazing, and that's what sets you apart.
SPEAKER_01Thank you. I try. Quick pause. You're building a life that's allergic to the ordinary. So why settle for a home that plays it safe? If you're creating a home you want to be obsessed with and want zero builder grade regrets, Studio Gaspo is who you call early. We've spent over a decade designing high-stakes construction projects, custom builds, gut rentos, event boutique commercial spaces, and we're experts at delivering the creative vision and the execution to back it. We create identity-driven environments that feel like who you're becoming, not who everyone else already is. If that hits, go to studiogaspo.com to learn more. So on your testimonials, people have literally called you a miracle worker. Why do you think that is? Like, what are you doing in there that is having people leave that kind of testimonial for you?
SPEAKER_00Oh, um, yeah, that truly like that's why we do what we do, right? Is like that fulfillment. Like, I am so grateful that I have a career that I am obsessed with, probably unhealthily. Um, so I do not take that lightly every day. I'm excited to go help people and go to work. Uh, I would just say, like, I feel like I am really good at being present and really sitting there and being able to see and hear and put together things that people are going through of like the random connections that maybe other people missed and being very honest with people. Listen, this is what I'm seeing, but we might have to try this or this. And or you're not supposed to be in my office, but I have a good place, like you need to go see this person because I've made those relationships and really knowing um when to do that. And I just think people like if you really prioritize time, time is the most sacred thing we all have. Um, and that is something from the beginning of the practice. Like, you get time with us so we can actually hear you and figure it out. And I think there's so much power in that, no matter what industry you're in.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. I think listening and actually seeing people is the biggest thing. Like everyone just wants to feel seen and like you actually hear them and you're not just treating them like everyone else. And I think it's far too uncommon in, like you said, every single industry. And I know you are working with people at the top of their game as far as like athletes, entrepreneurs, like all over the board. Is there a common thing that you see in all of these people as far as like a dysfunction of their body, or like everyone has nervous system dysregulation, or everyone like is there something that a lot of them have in common?
SPEAKER_00Well, it's funny. That's what I'm so grateful for. I have the personality of my ideal like client. So like I can fully relate. And I think like we were you were saying earlier, we all include like have this drive and this like wanting to be better. And it's like separate about money or fame or the trophy. There's just something more that it's like we could change, you know, we can be with and be the contributor, not just the practitioner. Um, something that a lot of people struggle with overall. Uh our issues are in our tissues and people forget them. And I preach that all day. Yeah, I preach that all day. And a lot of people on the surface see, like, oh, well, that is stomach pain, or that is your low back. And it's like, yes. And we need to address that from a mechanical standpoint, but we need to look at the neurology piece that why is your brain trained to just like light that up when you're stressed out? What is that compensation pattern? And then from like, I know nervous system is such like a buzzword, right? Now, buzzword right now, but there's so many different um aspects to that of like, are you breathing correctly? What are you like, what are the stories in your head you're telling yourself? Um, and the Vegas nerve stuff, like all of that, that whole system, how is that reacting? How have you trained it? Because most of us have trained it to like get, you know, you get sick, you are um not sleeping, you are in just that such fight or fighting. Like push through and white knuckle everything. Yeah. Yeah. Can you take yourself down? Because that's where the power is. And that feels like we're slowing down, but it's not. It's just like giving yourself a little space to get in that power mode of where you just catapult forward. But including myself, and I've been through that myself. So it's nice to relate of like burnout, whatever you want to call it, of okay, we need to retrain this whole system, not just the injury, the whole neurological mechanical system.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So do you find yourself doing a lot of mindset work then with these people too? Because again, all of your clients are very high achievers. They're probably used to go, go, go, go. And are you kind of stepping into that like that role with them too?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And I've studied a lot of the stuff with, you know, mindset stuff, whether that's like the neuroscience behind meditation, the neuroscience, um, like from a chemical standpoint, too. So yeah, some of that definitely comes up in the treatment. And sometimes it's just rephrasing something. Oh, well, did you think about it this way? Yeah. Um, for example, I had a client, um, a singer, and don't quote these numbers, it was something like this, and we were on tour or out for the show, and they were upset because it wasn't sold out, whatever that may be, 20,000 seats. And they were just like, Man, I suck. Like, what am I not doing? Not good enough. And I was like, but you sold 18,000 tickets.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's a lot of seats. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Did you ever think that your career would get here? Well, you have 18,000 people coming to listen to you to, you know, bask in your music and heal or have that experience where they get to check out and you're bringing that much joy and emotions to people where they're paying to see you. And they were just like, Oh, I've never thought of it that way.
SPEAKER_01And yeah, uh it's a great reframe.
SPEAKER_00Yep.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. That's, I mean, I think everyone again can benefit from that. Like you're getting you get so wrapped up in your own stuff internally. And then it's like to have that outside perspective is probably super helpful no matter who you are.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And then from like a physiology standpoint, you instantly like even listening to that, you're like all stressed, like, oh my gosh. And then, oh, your body can exhale, like you get a little extra space where we can, oh, what about this muscle? What about this nerve? How are you feeling? Working all of that together.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, that's awesome. So I know that you have an intensive offering that's pretty unique. Can you talk about that? Like walk me through what it is, who it's for. Uh maybe some of your like, you know, if you have an example of a story about it, I want to hear all about it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'm so excited to talk about it. It's so fun. So we the practice has partnered with the four seasons. Um, because we, if you're gonna heal and come somewhere, you might as well have a luxury experience and act be able to relax. So you fly in, if you live in Nashville, a black car driver will pick you up from the airport, take you to the four seasons. And then whether you come in the night before or the morning of, I come knock on your door. And we have a long session of where we dive deep and get into the history. What are you feeling? What are your goals? So a lot of our clients were who this is ideal for. It's either whether they're struggling with an injury or chronic something that is annoying, or we have a lot of business owners who want to come and just like, hey, let's focus on my body right now, because for the next six months to a year, I'm just gonna feel my very best. And you know, we put high test gas in all our cars, but we don't take care of our bodies like this. So they really just are like, this is my pit stop for the year or twice a year. And then we do treatment, all the things, and in the afternoon, we book you a spa service. Um, we have a client concierge who can make dinner reservations for you, uh, tell you about like tickets, whatever is going on. And then the next day you come to the clinic, we have Uber discount codes, and you're paired with another one of the practitioner doctors. And I oversee the whole treatment plan and you spend your morning with them. And then the afternoon, you're go do a lymphatic drainage um massage. Then the next day, same thing, you meet with that doctor again, and then at lunch afternoon, you look before you come, we do blood work and sometimes hormone testing. Just depends. Once again, this is very individualized to you and your goals. Yeah. And then you meet with and go over those results. And then the final day, you go back to the clinic, you get your plan, treatment, all the things, and you're gonna get like a playbook of just the very few things because we don't want to do 10 things a day. Like what is specific to your goals? Yeah, like one or two things, and then you go, the black car picks you back up, you go back to the um airport, fly home, or get driven home, and then from there you get two virtual visits with your doctor to alter that plan within 30 days, change that plan, because sometimes it's ideal. When you're going from the four seasons and then implementing that in your life, and we want to provide that support. And it has just been game-changing for people. And it's so fun of you know giving your body that intensity. We had um a business owner come in and they, you know, were twofold. They're like, Yes, we want the performance optimization stuff. Like, I feel like I'm brain foggy, I can't concentrate. I know I'm not doing my best work running my business. But then they did have these other issues of like, you know, reoccurring back pain, you, you know, some jaw pain and like everything that was connected. Um, and they came in October and I just spoke with them actually on Monday, and they're like, we haven't had pain since. And um, they're like, we definitely want to come do another one. And one of the reflections she had when she was here was I, you know, she's like, I thought I didn't realize how relaxing this would all be because it's called intensive. So I think everyone can see it would be like white white and the steering wheel, but it's called the intensive because we can get so much done focused on you in those three and a half, four days. Yeah. Um, so that is like the skinny of it. And it's just so cool to see um in other cultures. This is where I got this from in Eastern medicine. If you are sick, if you are injured, if you're recovering from something, I mean, like postpartum, you had your three kids and now you're like, oh my gosh, what do I do with my body? Um, they do back-to-back treatments. It's not just, hey, here's once a month or whatever. It's like if we want to get ahead of this and even get better than before we started, yeah. We really need to set aside. Yeah, we need to set aside time to do this. And it's been really, really amazing and miracle, miracles to see.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's amazing. And I think, again, people, it's like so hard for people to take that time. But if you're like, okay, I'm booked in, I'm doing this, I'm dedicating these four days to improving my body and my mind and all of these things, getting this tune up. I'm not worried about work or running here and there. Like the magic that can happen in that time when it's actually dedicated and you're, you know, focusing on that is awesome.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and the cool thing is like another person still worked. They scheduled their meetings around their appointments, but they're like, it was so much easier.
SPEAKER_01And then working for the four seasons.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And then we we had a couple come together and it ended up being an amazing for their relationship because they're both getting treatment, they're getting worked on, but then they like get to, you know, just like chill together at night or go experience Nashville um for dinner. And it's like a little bit of therapy without anyone being there, like they were able to like come together themselves, which is really, really cool to see.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that yeah, that's a really special offer. And I have never heard of anything like that before. So super cool. Um, do you have like we can put a link or something where people could find out more about that in the show notes? Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00I will send it to you to add to the notes. Thank you.
SPEAKER_01Okay, yep. And you kind of just touched on this, but something else I wanted to ask you about like Western versus Eastern medicine. You said this idea kind of came from there, but is there something else that is like really integral or comes to mind that you're like, Western medicine has this wrong, and like I'm really influenced by Eastern medicine on this area?
SPEAKER_00I think where Western medicine excels, because we gotta look for the positives, is in emergency situations or like desperate, like intense, acute, like we gotta fix this now. Yeah, but if there's something that is more non-invasive, it's not to the point where it's crazy red flag yet. We, I mean, we kind of poop the bed. Um, yeah, from that standpoint. And I where I think that's where Eastern medicine excels is whether it's the prevention, the optimization, the chronic of, you know, like let's start least invasive and try all these things before we go over here. And I think marrying the two is just like so much better for us as people.
SPEAKER_01I agree. And I love that you do that. I think in my personal experience looking for healthcare providers, that's what I want is someone who's like, I want to know the root cause. I want to go from least invasive to most invasive, but it feels like a lot of people are either we're totally over here and we're not using any, you know, drugs or whatever, or here's a pill for everything. And so I love that you are like, we are along the spectrum and we, you know, look at both because I feel like that is that just makes so much more sense to me. And there's not a lot of people out there doing that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And there are cases where it's like, you have to have this surgery or you need to go get this medicine right now. Right. Um, like that is true. So yeah, you just gotta be open to both and like look at what's going on and hear what your client wants.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. So you also have a podcast. I do. It's been on hiatus, but yes, I do. What? Okay, I don't know many chiropractors in the podcast. So what made you decide to create that, whether it's on hiatus or not?
SPEAKER_00Um, well, my heart has always been of service and like charity. I was a candy striper in high school on the geriatric floor, and it just brought me so much joy. And, you know, I'm only one person and I have doctors in the practice who are incredible, but they're only, you know, two people, and we're in Nashville. How do I give back to the masses in a way where they have some sort of access to like learn about some of these things? And um, so that's really the premise behind it. And, you know, in the clinic, a portion of every visit or treatment or everything, we do give back to charities and just like how could I give back? Um, and that's where it came from. And I enjoy it. Like, this is so fun for me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, it I love that. And again, you're you're one person in one location. So you have so much knowledge and so much unique perspective that that's awesome. It's a great platform to share that with, you know, more people than just your clients who are very lucky clients.
SPEAKER_02So thank you.
SPEAKER_01You again, we've talked about you've built your practice in a very unique way with this combination of things that you learn from all over. And if someone else is trying to build a business in their field that is this trail blazing, unique thing, what advice do you have for them?
SPEAKER_00Well, first, everyone's gonna tell you you can't do it. Um, and you like use that as motivation of like, really, watch me. Um, instead of just getting beaten down. And it's people that like people told me who I respect and like listen to and mentors in my field. They were like, yeah, okay, good luck. Um and now they're calling me for advice.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, like how did you do that?
SPEAKER_00Wait, wait, yeah, yeah. So I even if it feels like this crazy idea, no one's doing it, try. Um, and then find your people. Like I love, you know, this group Maison where we met, like-minded people. We are in the same industry, but we have that same like drive, and you know, we're gonna do this. And that support system is really key of finding that, and people that are like, yeah, and you know, with on the days that suck, yeah, I can relate to you too, you know, both those things.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, even people that are well-meaning can be naysayers when you are trying to do something that's so outside of the norm that it's like, oh, that can't happen. And it can be easy to let that doubt creep in if you're not like really strong in what you want to do, and your why, I think, right? Like you have such a strong reason behind what you're doing that someone just going, Oh, you can't do that isn't gonna dissuade you from it.
SPEAKER_00Right, right. Yeah, yeah. And I think like you bring it back to the astronaut, like there's gonna be a lot of change, there's gonna be a lot of unknowns. How do you handle that? And figuring out a coping strategy and um staying true to like, I'm really gonna try this. You only get one life, you might as well.
SPEAKER_01Yep, yeah, and to expect those ups and downs, not be like startled by them when they happen and think something's wrong. It's like, no, that's it's just what's gonna happen. Like, get ready. Like you said, strap in for the roller coaster. You're on it. Yeah, yeah. What is something that you know now, 12 years into owning your business, that you wish you could tell yourself when you're first starting out?
SPEAKER_00You don't know how good it's gonna get. Like on those days you're crying in your car. Oh, I'm gonna get emotional. Um, as you're crying in your car, worried, like, is this gonna happen? Like, yeah, it will keep going and like enjoy the ride a little more. I'm preaching that now, and I'm really trying to savor the ride right now. And there are ups and downs, a lot of them. Yeah, like enjoy the ride and you don't know how good it's gonna get.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's great advice. Um, I want to hit you with some signature questions here at the end. So I'm a big believer in the thing that we think is weird about us or something we tried to hide in the past is one of our superpowers. What do you think yours is?
SPEAKER_00Well, two things. I still sleep with my blankies um at night and like I tear it, like one of them, I tear up and I knot, and I like my husband calls it twiddling. And I was so embarrassed of that for years. Um, but it's kind of like my anxiety, like it helps me calm my regulate your nervous system, probably. Yeah. And then I think people label which anxiety I have a lot of, um, but also it's my superpower because it's what like can fuel me sometimes if used in the correct way.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, that makes total sense. What is one thing that people accept as normal that you refuse to subscribe to?
SPEAKER_00Mediocracy.
SPEAKER_01That's a good one. Say more.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, like just being okay with half-assed work or not showing up and trying to be better, like that. Ew, that's boring.
SPEAKER_01Ew. Ew. I totally, I totally agree. Preaching to the choir. Um, what is something that you've changed your mind about in the last year?
SPEAKER_02This is a good one.
SPEAKER_00I think being even more intentional with my time. Like I don't have to say yes to everything. No, I'm saying that, but am I fully practicing that every day? No, like I'm human. Yeah. But really valuing of like enjoy this too. Um and if you really like my body saying no, I really don't want to do that, don't do it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, I think that's a great, a great one. And it can be hard to do because you feel like external pressure to do what you should do, but yeah, listening to yourself and what you actually need to do is much more beneficial, I think. Yeah, who is one person that immediately comes to mind when you think of allergic to the ordinary?
SPEAKER_02I feel like that's so many people. I mean, I'm sure you have a lot in your life, I'm sure. Yeah. Actually, uh God, I don't know how to pick.
SPEAKER_00Because I I feel like that's a lot of people that I'm surrounding myself with these days.
SPEAKER_01Which is amazing.
SPEAKER_00Can I like say it without saying their name since they're a client?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, sure.
SPEAKER_00Um, I met this new client and she, you know, was from New York. She's in the financial industry, she's been on TV all the time and like worked her way up. And then she kind of decided she was like, I want to enjoy my life and like did some boss moves, and it's making her even more money to take time versus what she was doing. And like she just has this like presence about her and confidence. And it's like I look up to her so much, and she you can tell is really savoring and enjoying her life, work, personal herself. And she's leaving today to go to Spain by herself, like telling her family I'm going by myself to like really enjoy. And I think that's so badass and allergic to the ordinary.
SPEAKER_01That is, and amazing that I feel like there's a lesson in there where it's like when you actually lean into what makes you happy, like hey, you might make even more money and be even more successful. Like that is a secret sauce, too. I think.
SPEAKER_00Yes. And that's like, I feel like a place in my business where I'm at right now is like, what is that? And yeah, like really lean in, even if it's scary.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I love that. All right. If someone listening wants to live a more allergic to the ordinary life, what's one actionable thing they could do today?
SPEAKER_00Go outside and walk in the fresh air. The clarity you get, it, I mean, there's studies over and over again for like the neurological part of how good that is for you. It also helps your lymph system drain and detox. It is just just walk and let your brain think and go. Um, it's amazing what can happen.
SPEAKER_01Okay. I'm so happy to hear that that's medically backed because I feel like that when I'm sitting at my desk and can't have a creative thought, I'm like, go walk for 30 minutes. That's gonna be a way more like productive use of your time. And I always have such good thoughts and like come up with content and analogies and designs and all of this stuff.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and fresh air and the sun. Like there are just so many things that are so good for you in that. And like you're saying, it's 30 minutes, 20 minutes, whatever you can do.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Okay, go take a walk while you're listening to this podcast. Um, Dr. Audra, thank you so much for coming on. It was great to talk to you. Where can everyone find you on the internet?
SPEAKER_00Um, well, I'm on Instagram at Dr. Audra Lance. Uh, we can link the intensive and the um practice um notes in there, but those are the easiest places to find me.
SPEAKER_01All right, amazing. Well, thank you so much. It was great talking to you. I'm glad we finally for having me. Yes. Thank you. Bye. If this episode sharpened your thinking, send it to someone who's allergic to the ordinary. And if you're a badass who's building or renovating a home and want it drenched in identity instead of boring default decisions, Studio Gasco's your go to. I'm Jamie Gasparovic, and this is Allergic to the Ordinary. I'll see you next episode.