Audra is CEO and cofounder of The Family Thrive. She is also the CEO and founder MaxLove Project, a national childhood cancer non-profit that has served over 25,000 families since 2011.

She is a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, has a Masters in Education from Teachers College at Columbia University, and, as a young adult, worked professionally under top chefs after earning a certificate in culinary arts.

What does family mean to you?

To me, family means deeply bonded and committed connection that can come in many forms. My immediate family gives my life so much meaning and purpose. They are the humans and beings (includes our fur baby, Zeus) I care most deeply about in the world. There is no love like the love I have for my children and life partner.

What does thriving mean to you?

Living my best life, deeply engaged in the world, being present, feeling in the flow, making a positive impact, and vibrating at the highest level.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Paleontologist, architect, astronaut, anthropologist, and archaeologist. I loved history, earth science, astronomy, and the big questions about early life on earth as well as the meaning of existence.

When did you know you wanted to work in health and wellness? Can you tell us about that time in your life, and what it felt like to come to that realization?

When my son, Max, was diagnosed with cancer and I started to learn about health and wellness for our family. It felt like my back was against the wall and I needed to step into this new world for him.

When did you know you wanted to work with families?

When I started MaxLove Project I knew that working with families was something that I was deeply called to do. I’m sorry these answers aren’t longer, but it’s honestly not that complicated! It was a calling I discovered after starting MaxLove Project. That’s all.  

In your training, research, and experience, what do you see as the biggest factors in children thriving?

Two things immediately come to mind. First, and more complex, children thrive when their parents commit to working through their own issues, and really face the emotional wounds holding them back. The second factor is much simpler: access to resources. The more family, friends, and material resources parents have, the more they can work around the really tough challenges the modern world throws at us. Parenting is hard because the modern world is not designed for it. Resources make it easier.  

As a mom, what is one piece of parenting advice you’d give to The Family Thrive parents?

Progress over perfection. Seriously: perfection is self-defeating. Progress is what we want because it just builds and continues to open to new horizons.

What is one piece of self-care advice you’d give to The Family Thrive Parents?

Give yourself a round of applause. You’re doing an amazing job and you need to cut yourself a huge amount of slack. You are showing the F up every single day in the face of massive challenges. Parenting in the modern world is a damn hard job and you’re crushing it. So take a bow. You earned it.

What is your own most important self-care practice? Can you tell us a little bit about how you came to it, what it looks like, and how it helps you?

Probably walking. It’s always been my go-to reset, modulator, and meditation. I love being outside and there’s something about walking that helps me process, de-stress, and feel in balance.

What lies ahead for Audra DiPadova?

The thriving of our two communities—The Family Thrive and MaxLove Project!

If you liked this article, be sure to join Audra in our Nourish Live! events and Friday Expert AMAs.