Colleen Hoover, Community Care & Trusting Your Gut with Aurora Episode 7

She rescued six giant bookstore display books headed for the dumpster. One of them ended up changing everything.   That book was It Ends With Us. It became the unexpected breadcrumb that connected our two hosts, became a prop for book reels, a meetup mascot, and ultimately a catalyst for this entire podcast. This week, we finally sit down with the woman behind that moment: Aurora.   But Aurora isn't just the reason this podcast exists. She's also a reader, a Bravo devotee, a proud eldest-daughter-energy human, and the volunteer leader behind Austin's Volunteer Healthcare Clinic, a long-running charitable clinic that's been quietly changing lives in our city.   In this episode we get into: ✦ The full story of the giant book, the dumpster, and how a podcast was born ✦ Colleen Hoover as a gateway author (and whether the Goodreads ratings hold up) ✦ Recent reads: The Correspondent, Wild Dark Shore + audiobook recs ✦ Growing up in NYC, a Hallmark-worthy love story in New Orleans, and landing in Texas on a hunch ✦ What it really means to trust your gut — in your career, your community, and your life ✦ The Volunteer Healthcare Clinic: what it is, why it matters, and how you can help   This one is cozy, funny, and quietly profound. Exactly what a Wednesday needs.   🩺 SUPPORT THE VOLUNTEER HEALTHCARE CLINIC Donate: https://www.volclinic.org/donate.html   💊 This episode is sponsored by Dr. Kel — take her course Are You in Alignment with Your Dreams? or grab The Feel Good Workbook. Use code BREADCRUMBS10 for 10% off: linktr.ee/Dr.kelley (Affiliate link — we earn a small commission at no cost to you.)   ▶️ New episodes every Wednesday. Watch all videos on YouTube!    Want to be a guest? Fill out our Guest Interest Form!    Where's Waldough? Did you find the hidden loaf? Tag us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TikTok!    If this episode meant something to you, leaving a review takes 30 seconds and genuinely helps us grow. We read every single one.     ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Aurora — the woman behind the big book 01:45 Dumpster rescue: how It Ends With Us changed everything 03:11 The breadcrumb that became a podcast 05:47 CoHo merch, movie nights & fandom 07:54 No book snob energy here 10:41 Recent faves + TBR pile 12:50 Audiobooks that actually work 16:03 Growing up a reader in NYC 18:29 A Hallmark-worthy love story 21:36 Corner moms & community 24:38 From New York to Texas 32:53 College EMT pivot 34:17 The Feel Good Workbook (sponsor) 37:25 Healthcare career breadcrumbs 39:14 Moving on a hunch 40:09 Finding purpose in service 41:19 How the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic began 43:33 Volunteer stories & real impact 46:14 Why community care matters 48:45 How to support the clinic 50:03 Small choices, big turns 55:03 Flour hour hot take 55:23 Sound bath debate 01:00:57 Carb-loading & Bravo chat 01:04:06 Iconic quotes & fandom moments 01:07:07 Heartbreak & empathy 01:08:36 Breadcrumbs sign-off 01:11:35 Outtakes & banter     🥖 Go follow your breadcrumbs!