85. What's Next for The Thread
Yes, we are still friends. No, the band is not breaking up.
Are you really ready to let go of something that isn't broken? That's the question at the heart of this episode, as Audra sits down with Kendra and Kristen to share the news: after 11 cohorts in Wichita and 3 in Kansas City, The Thread is holding one final cohort before evolving into something new—an alum-first community. They get into the "why" behind the pivot, the mixed public reaction, and what's coming for The Thread's 300+ alumnae in 2027.
Highlights
- The Thread will run one last cohort (Cohort 12) from October through March, with a welcome party in the spring for alum and new members
- After a year of curiosity and "itchy" feelings about what's next, the team decided to pause cohorts and double down on alum programming
- A "what if" brainstorming session sparked the idea: what if The Thread centered on alum instead of cohorts?
- A summer listening session with ~30 alumnae from Cohorts 1–11 confirmed the demand for deeper alum community and support
- New alum offerings in the works include mastermind groups and revamped book clubs
- The mission stays the same—building confidence and community—but the focus shifts from delivering a program to alumnae to engaging with them directly
- The team addresses public reaction (a mix of excitement and confusion) versus the alum community's overwhelmingly positive response
- They answer the most common question they've gotten: "Are the three of you still friends?" (Yes.)
Chapters
0:00 – Welcome and Updates
1:51 – Why Change Now
4:52 – Final Cohort Details
5:42 – Public Reaction and Emotions
10:35 – Alum Momentum and Vision
11:22 – What If Alum First
12:51 – Listening Session Insights
16:18 – New Alum Programming Plans
20:18 – Still Friends
21:22 – Join Cohort 12 and Next Steps
23:56 – I will be the Jessica Biel to your JT
Resources Mentioned
- Cohort 12 (deadline to apply: September 25, 2026)
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