The Creation

Every new beginning starts with a question.

Where It All Began

The idea for Groundwork first took shape in October 2024. At the time, I was working in the automotive industry, a career that would become a significant part of my professional journey. As I moved through that season of my life, I began navigating personal challenges with my mental health and questioning what I truly wanted my future to look like.

By late 2024 and into 2025, I found myself reflecting more deeply on who I was, where I was headed, and whether the life I was building aligned with the person I wanted to become. I wanted to document that process. I wanted to be honest about the uncertainty, the lessons, and the work it takes to rebuild your sense of direction.

But wanting to start and actually having the courage to start were two different things. For a long time, I kept the idea to myself.

Taking the Leap

Although the idea for Groundwork first took shape in October 2024, it wasn't until May 2026 that I finally found the courage to bring it to life. What had once been an idea I kept to myself became a podcast—a place where I could share my thoughts, explore the questions that mattered to me, and begin documenting my own journey of growth.

A few months later, in August 2026, I made another major change. After three years in the automotive industry, I decided to step away from that chapter of my career and begin pursuing my passion for psychology. I started working as a Behavioral Technician, taking a step toward a future that more closely aligns with my interests and the kind of impact I hope to make.

But this transition represented more than a career change. It was also an opportunity to create more room in my life for Groundwork.

I believe deeply in what this project can become and in the conversations it can create. I wanted to give it the time, energy, and attention it deserved—not simply treat it as something I worked on when everything else was finished.

For me, pursuing psychology and building Groundwork are connected by a common thread: a genuine interest in understanding people, exploring what shapes us, and helping others grow. One allows me to pursue that passion professionally, while the other gives me a platform to share ideas, ask questions, and connect with people who may be navigating similar experiences.

I'm still figuring things out as I go, and that's part of the point. Groundwork isn't a story about having all the answers. It's about having the courage to begin, even when the future looks different from what you once imagined.

Sometimes building the life you want means stepping away from the path you've been on, making room for something new, and trusting yourself enough to see where it leads.

The Conversations That Inspired It All

Long before Groundwork became a podcast, I was having these conversations with a few of my closest friends in high school. We'd sit together talking about ideas, challenging perspectives, questioning our beliefs, and exploring questions about life, people, and the world around us.

Those conversations were some of the first places where I felt free to think out loud, question what I had always known, and explore new ideas without needing to have every answer. I learned to embrace the fact that I might not have all the answers, and that there is value in being willing to ask questions, consider different perspectives, and remain open to learning.

Those conversations changed the way I saw the world and shaped who I was becoming. Looking back, they were the beginning of something much bigger. They laid the foundation for what would eventually become Groundwork, long before it was ever a podcast or a fully formed idea.

As life changed and those friendships naturally faded, I realized I no longer had that same space to share my thoughts, challenge ideas, and explore the questions that continued to occupy my mind. But I also began to recognize something: if I was asking these questions, questioning my beliefs, and trying to better understand myself and the world around me, there had to be other people doing the same.

If I was reflecting on what it meant to build a meaningful life, reconsidering what I believed, or searching for a deeper understanding of the person I wanted to become, surely someone else was navigating those same questions, too.

I wanted to create the space I had been missing—a place where curiosity is encouraged, difficult questions are welcomed, different perspectives can be explored, and personal growth doesn't require pretending to have everything figured out.

Ultimately, I started Groundwork because I want someone listening to feel less alone in their questions and curiosity. I want them to feel encouraged to think independently, challenge their own perspectives, and take ownership of the person they're becoming. Most importantly, I want them to recognize that growth doesn't always come from finding the right answer. Sometimes, it begins with asking a question you never thought to ask before.

That is what Groundwork means to me. It's about creating the space for the conversations that challenge us, the questions that change us, and the perspectives that help us see ourselves and the world a little differently.

What began as conversations with a few close friends has grown into a platform where those conversations can continue, reach new people, and create connections beyond the room where it all started.

Groundwork is my way of keeping those conversations alive—and inviting others to be part of them.

More Than One Thing

My background has never been limited to a single interest, and I don't believe our personal growth should be, either.

Before creating Groundwork, I spent three years in the automotive industry, worked in marketing for a year, became a certified personal trainer, and competed as a state-level powerlifter. Each experience has shaped the way I understand discipline, confidence, communication, and the relationship between who we are and who we want to become.

Fitness remains an important part of my life, but my interest in health extends beyond the physical. I believe taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body. The way we think, the habits we develop, the environments we create, and the beliefs we hold all play a role in how we experience our lives.

That's why Groundwork explores more than traditional self-improvement. We talk about personal development, mental health, motivation, relationships, fitness, confidence, and the everyday decisions that shape our futures.

Because becoming a healthier person isn't just about what you do in the gym. It's also about how you understand yourself, how you navigate your emotions, and how willing you are to grow.

Questioning What We've Always Known

Another significant part of my journey has been exploring philosophy and religion.

I grew up in the missionary church, and my experiences shaped many of the beliefs I carried with me. Over time, I began asking questions, examining those beliefs, and exploring what faith, philosophy, and community meant to me personally.

Eventually, I stepped away from the traditional church environment I had known and began looking for a broader sense of community while continuing to explore my own perspective.

That process taught me how important it is to give ourselves permission to ask questions—even when those questions challenge ideas we've held for years.

Groundwork is a space for those conversations, too. We can explore philosophical questions, examine religious beliefs, consider different perspectives, and discuss the experiences that influence how we see the world.

The goal isn't to tell anyone what to believe, convince anyone to agree with me, or pretend that every question has a simple answer. It's to make room for thoughtful conversations, independent thinking, and the possibility that learning something new might change the way we understand ourselves.

I believe we're better equipped to grow when we're willing to stay curious, listen to perspectives different from our own, and think critically about why we believe what we believe.

Why Groundwork?

I chose the name Groundwork because it represents the foundation we're constantly building within ourselves.

Before you can build the life you want, you have to understand the person building it. That means examining your beliefs, recognizing your patterns, developing self-awareness, and deciding which parts of your life you want to carry forward.

That foundation doesn't come together overnight. It develops through experience, reflection, honest conversations, uncomfortable questions, and the willingness to keep learning.

Groundwork is where all of these ideas come together. It's a podcast and a growing platform dedicated to self-discovery, critical thinking, personal growth, and the conversations that help us better understand ourselves and the world around us.

We talk about a little bit of everything because people are complex. Our mental health, physical health, relationships, values, beliefs, ambitions, and experiences don't exist in separate boxes. They influence one another, and understanding that bigger picture is part of becoming the people we want to be.

I don't want Groundwork to be a place where you simply listen to someone tell you how to live your life. I want it to be a place where you leave with something to think about, a perspective to reconsider, or a question that encourages you to look at your life differently.

Let's Build Together

Groundwork began as an idea I was too afraid to pursue. Today, it's my way of documenting my own journey while creating a space for others who are also questioning, learning, changing, and figuring things out as they go.

You don't need to have a five-year plan. You don't need to know exactly who you're going to become. And you don't need permission to question the path you're on.

You just need to be willing to start.

If you're navigating a transition, reconsidering what you believe, exploring new interests, or simply trying to understand yourself a little better, I hope you find something here that resonates with you.

We're all building something. We're all learning as we go. And none of us has to have it all figured out to take the next step.

Thank you for being here and giving me the opportunity to share this journey with you.

Let's keep building, one conversation at a time.

Grace McLavy
Founder & Host, Groundwork by GM