Skip to Main Content

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

Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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.

Find Shure on: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

Just Connect

The Exec Club is at the nexus of people and information. Put yourself and your company in the middle of it.