#47 When Life Uncovers Strength You Didn’t Know You Had

In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace sits down with Andrea Irwin, owner of Empirical Sales & Marketing, to talk about resilience, advocacy, entrepreneurship, motherhood, and the unexpected challenges that can completely reshape your life. Andrea shares her journey through business ownership, motherhood, and navigating complex medical experiences with her daughter—an experience that ultimately uncovered a new level of strength, advocacy, and purpose she never expected to develop. Together, they explore the idea of “potential” in three different forms: the potential we naturally recognize within ourselves the potential we discover through growth and experience and the potential that is uncovered during life’s hardest moments. This conversation is an honest look at what happens when life takes an unexpected turn, how advocacy can become essential in navigating healthcare systems, and why asking questions, trusting your instincts, and seeking support matters. Important Note about this episode:  Andrea's diagnosis of C-PTSD came from a multitude of medical traumas, not just the ones discussed. She is a strong proponent of mental health care and recommends that everyone at some point in their life should see a therapist. If you suspect you have a mental health condition, please seek the help of a therapist or psychiatrist. If you are having a severe mental health crisis, please call 911. When Andrea refers to her daughter being too severe for Iowa City to handle, it was evident that they knew how to diagnose the condition but didn't have a lot of experience treating patients who suffered from chronic symptoms and were out of their depth. Andrea's daughter's condition varies greatly on a day-to-day basis and has experienced long periods of stability with minor breakthrough flares on occasion on proper treatment. The recent flare discussed on the podcast is being handled by the medical professionals on her team, and they are working together with Andrea daily to find and add suitable treatment options for this flare and her condition as a whole. Condition discussed: Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia - you can learn more about it here: https://tmsforacure.org/overview/hereditary-alpha-tryptasemia/ About the show:  Within is a podcast hosted by Nicky Wallace of The People Co. It explores what happens when organizations stop chasing surface-level solutions and start doing the real work from within. Each episode unpacks stories of leadership, burnout, growth, culture, and the messiness of being human at work. Whether you’re in HR, leading a team, or just rethinking how work fits into your life, Within offers a candid and refreshing look at how people-first business gets built. Connect with hosts & guests: Nicky - Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nwallace515/  Nicky - Instagram:  @Freedomtoleadwell Andrea -  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-irwin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreacirwin/ https://www.facebook.com/andrea.c.irwin1