Make it Brave

Lauren Sikes understands that honest, courageous conversations can transform lives. She’s the founder of DesignEd, a company that guides leaders and organizations on how to build healthy, thriving and high-performing teams. In this episode, Lauren will share her story of leaving her job as a teacher to start a business, and she explains how companies can start to change their cultures for the better. SHOW NOTES:  https://makeitbrave.com/71 JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/

Ashleigh Marie Brown is working to destigmatize infertility challenges and help women feel less alone. She’s the founder of Claire Fertility, an integrated wellness platform for women who are navigating reproductive challenges. Ashleigh will share her inspiring journey of becoming a tech founder, along with some advice for anyone who hopes to one day start a company.  SHOW NOTES:  https://makeitbrave.com/70 GET A FREE COACHING CALL: https://makeitbrave.com/coaching/  JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/

Kirbee Miller has faced many incredible challenges throughout her life, along with working a demanding corporate job and starting her own business. Kirbee will share her moving story of dealing with childhood trauma, caring for her parents who were injured in a car accident, and becoming a brave and resilient business owner. She’ll also discuss her culinary experience company, KiNiMi Kitchen, and explain how she’s pivoted to virtual offerings during COVID-19.  SHOW NOTES:  https://makeitbrave.com/69 GET A FREE COACHING CALL: https://makeitbrave.com/coaching/  JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

When Erika Matallana moved to the U.S. at age 24, it essentially meant she had to start over in her career. She had a background in communications but didn’t even know the language in her new country. Erika will share what it was like to go from having a position of privilege in South America to becoming the minority in the U.S. We’ll also discuss her experience of climbing the corporate ladder as a woman of color and the ways in which that challenge helped her become more empathetic.  SHOW NOTES:  https://makeitbrave.com/68 GET A FREE COACHING CALL: https://makeitbrave.com/coaching/ JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/

Every year, I choose three words to serve as my guiding principles for the year. In this solo show, I’m sharing the three words for 2021 and why I chose them. Listen in and then let me know which word, words or themes you chose for this year! SHOW NOTES: https://makeitbrave.com/67  GET A FREE COACHING CALL:https://makeitbrave.com/coaching/  JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

Today’s guest, Tim Ash, will talk about his new book, Unleash the Primal Brain, and what we can learn about fear by looking at evolutionary psychology. We’ll also talk about the ways Tim has been brave in his own life––how he became an entrepreneur, left his successful business to start over and all the pivots he’s made throughout his career. This is such a fascinating conversation, you don’t want to miss it! SHOW NOTES: https://makeitbrave.com/66  GET A FREE COACHING CALL:https://makeitbrave.com/coaching/  JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

For years, Judith Bright ignored her creative calling. It wasn’t until she had turned 40 and had three kids that she decided to change careers and pursue her dream of jewelry making. That creative passion turned her super-successful jewelry brand, which has been featured on both television and film. Judith’s story is proof that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. If you have a dream that has been tapping you on the shoulder, you don’t want to miss this conversation.  SHOW NOTES: https://makeitbrave.com/65  GET A FREE COACHING CALL:https://makeitbrave.com/coaching/  JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

Karima Neghmouche’s road to entrepreneurship wasn’t an easy one. She was fired from her first job after college and was living out of trash bags in her car. She had maxed out her credit cards and was working at a BBQ restaurant to make ends meet. And when she finally landed a job, she was miserably unhappy. So, she quit. And found her way to being a business owner at the ripe old age of 22.  Today, you’re going to hear how she overcame the many obstacles she faced to become a top brand designer and host of The Creative Minds Think Alike podcast. Karima’s story is proof of the power of trusting your gut and following the work that lights you up and makes you happy. SHOW NOTES: https://makeitbrave.com/64  GET A FREE COACHING CALL:https://makeitbrave.com/coaching/  JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

What do you do when life throws you a curveball? I share why I took an unexpected hiatus from the show and some of the key lessons I’ve learned about what to do when life doesn’t go as you plan. EPISODE SHOW NOTES: https://makeitbrave.com/63 JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

There's no question that 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone––myself included. Here are three things I've learned about myself amidst these challenges.  EPISODE SHOW NOTES: https://makeitbrave.com/62  GET A FREE COACHING CALL:https://makeitbrave.com/coaching/  JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

More than 30 years ago, Barb Jordan’s older sister was murdered by her fiancé. Two years ago, when her sister’s killer was released from prison, Barb realized that she needed to help other women from becoming a victim like her sister, Beverly. She launched Always Bev, in honor of her sister, to remind women to always be vigilant and take control of their personal safety. This is a powerful conversation about navigating grief, trauma, fear and how to trust your intuition to keep yourself safe.

After watching her father struggle with addiction throughout his life, Ashley Surma set out on a mission to bring hope and healing to families facing their own battles with substance abuse. She now does that through the company and podcast she co-founded with her husband, For the Good. She’s also the author of The Mountains We Climb: And How We Conquer Them With Faith and Resiliency.  In today’s episode, we discuss how she navigated the challenges she has faced in her life and what she’s doing to empower others through similar difficulties.  

Jo Worthy is a speaker, empowerment coach and author of the book Love Worthy: 21 Lessons in Creating a Deliciously Divine Life.  She’s doing work she loves and is married to the man of her dreams.   But this wasn’t always her story. She struggled with low self esteem through much of her life. That’s why she spent years in jobs that she didn’t love and suffered through three terribly abusive relationships.   In today’s episode, Jo shares the secrets to finding your self worth and why that’s connected to everything we do in life.   EPISODE SHOW NOTES: https://makeitbrave.com/59 GET A FREE COACHING CALL:https://makeitbrave.com/coaching/  JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

Wouldn’t life and business look a little more beautiful if we built a strong community around us? Today’s guest, Pamela Slim, would say, "yes." Pamela is an award-winning author, consultant, coach and community builder who helps entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. And today, we discuss the power of connecting with people who are different from you and some of the common fears around starting and growing a business.  EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/58  GET A FREE COACHING CALL:https://makeitbrave.com/coaching/  JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/

You’re in for a treat with today’s show. Today, you get to hear the first episode of Antiracism in Action, the new podcast by my good friend, Stan Smith.  Plus, if you missed my interview with Stan in episode 41, I’m sharing an excerpt of that conversation where you’ll hear why Stan feels so strongly about educating and equipping White allies to take action against racism. EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/57 MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/   

Elizabeth Madeira never had aspirations to run for office. But now this teacher and mom of three is running for Tennessee state representative.  Elizabeth is running as a Democrat in a historically red district against an incumbent who has held the office for 20 years. Some might call it a futile effort, but to Elizabeth, it was important to jump into the race instead of sitting on the sidelines. Listen to hear what made Elizabeth decide to get involved in politics and hear how her beliefs, voting preference and even party affiliation has changed over the years. And while there's a lot of attention on the presidential election, we discuss why some of the most important votes we cast are at the local level. EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/56 MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/

Today, I’m bringing you an encore episode of the show by re-airing my interview with Matt Moreland, a farmer who appeared on Season 4 of Queer Eye. Not only was this one of my first episodes (episode #6), it’s also one of my favorites. So, if you’re a new listener of the show, I wanted to bring this one back so you could have a chance to catch one of my most popular episodes. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Matt Moreland did NOT want to appear on Netflix’s hit reality show, Queer Eye. In fact, when Netflix came knocking on his door, he said “no.” Repeatedly.  It wasn’t until a production crew came to visit Matt’s dairy farm and pumpkin patch, that he realized the opportunity in appearing on the show. We’ll talk about that moment and what made him finally decide to agree to be on the show. Plus, he gives us a behind-the-scenes look at shooting his episode, including one of his favorite moments with Jonathan Van Ness that didn’t appear on camera. Whether you’re a fan of Queer Eye or not, I think you’ll love hearing Matt’s story and how he’s handled failure, challenges and big decisions. If you haven’t already listened to this one, hit play now. You don’t want to miss it!

Katie Radel grew up working in her family’s funeral home. In this episode, she shares how that experience gave her perspective for navigating difficult situations later on in her life––such as losing her mother, leaving a difficult marriage, quitting her job and starting two different businesses.  This is such a beautiful conversation about learning through adversity and discovering what’s most important in life. I hope you get just as much out of this interview as I did! Hit play now to give it a listen. EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/55 MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/   

Brittany Cole left her job in corporate America to start Career Thrivers, a company devoted to creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive.  In this conversation, Brittany shares what it means to create brave spaces at work that goes beyond checking a box. Plus, we discuss entrepreneurship, pulling together a TedX talk in a week and thriving through grief and loss. Brittany shared so much wisdom in our conversation and it was truly an honor to talk to her. This is a terrific conversation you won’t want to miss. You know what to do––hit play now! EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/54 MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

For years, Kirsten Lee Hill suffered from panic attacks and debilitating migraines. And yet, through it all, Kirsten was able to get her PhD in Education and is now a researcher, entrepreneur and education consultant. In this conversation, Kirsten shares how she overcame her health issues and how she’s dealt with the criticism and imposter syndrome that has come along with pursuing an unconventional route with her degree.  Listen to this episode for an inspiring conversation about overcoming obstacles and pursuing your passion (even if it looks a little different). EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/53 MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/    MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

Building relationships with people who speak different languages and come from different places and backgrounds can be challenging, or even scary, for many people.  But for today’s guest, Chris Schirm, it’s all part of his job as a foreign service officer for the U.S. State Department. He’s on his fifth tour of service abroad, this time in the Republic of Congo.  Even if you have no desire to ever serve or work or even travel abroad, Chris offers some great perspective on the importance of surrounding ourselves with diversity of people and opinions. He also discussions how curiosity can help us build relationships with people who are different from us––right in our own neighborhoods. EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/52 MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/

Serina Bird is no stranger to making brave, but extremely difficult decisions. She stood up to bullying at her job. She left her abusive husband and took her two young children with her. And most recently, she left her stable public service job to focus on writing and podcasting––and this happened just a few months before the pandemic hit. And now, through her company, The Joyful Frugalista, it’s her mission to help Australians learn how to be financially resilient and learn to live on less––and be happy while doing it! Serina is a great example for what it means to be resilient. Her story is a powerful one and it’s a great reminder that we can, indeed, do hard things. My hope is that it will leave you with the inspiration and encouragement you need to be just a little braver. EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/51 MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/   

Welcome to the 50th episode of Make It Brave! In this solo show, I’m talking about why bravery isn’t about the start or finish of the journey, but pushing through the yucky middle. I’m also giving away some t-shirts and tumblers on Instagram and Facebook, so head to those channels to enter to win. Thanks so much for listening and for being the reason I keep doing this work. I’m grateful for you! EPISODE SHOW NOTES: https://makeitbrave.com/50   MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/  MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/   

Women are experts at juggling lots of plates––from work to childcare to household demands––just to name a few. And it can be overwhelming to manage it all.  That’s where Mridu Parikh comes in. She’s a productivity strategist who helps women overcome the overwhelm so they are not feeling so frazzled and stressed, which is especially helpful now as the demands of the pandemic make life even harder than normal. During our conversation, we talk about how fear plays a role in these feelings of stress, some practical ways to get outside of our comfort zones and what we can do to achieve balance, especially right now.  I think you’ll find this interview packed with useful tidbits of information that you’ll find helpful and encouraging. EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/49  MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ JOIN MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/    MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

Bravery isn’t always one big, courageous act. More often than not, it’s making a series of choices to stretch yourself, day in and day out. That’s definitely the case for Gina Miller. Gina is a music industry executive who has pushed herself throughout her life and career. Gina’s working on diversity and inclusion efforts in the music industry and has launched her own line of products.  During this powerful conversation, we cover many important topics, such as pushing past our limitations, finding the courage to speak out against racism in our own lives and identifying our passion and purpose. If you were looking for some encouragement today, you’re going to get it from Gina. Buckle up, friends! This is a good one.  EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/48  MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY:https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/    MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/ 

Decision-making can always be challenging. But thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, we are facing more complex and difficult decisions than ever before. Even the simplest choices are fraught with stress and anxiety. And as a result, it can be extraordinarily difficult to make choices that feel good and healthy for us.  In today’s solo episode, I’m sharing the framework I used to make a difficult decision and how it ultimately helped me choose myself. If you’re struggling through some tough choices, I’m hopeful this approach will help you too. EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/47 MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/ MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/  

Can you imagine moving to a country you had never visited before? And what about if you didn’t speak that country’s language? Sounds pretty daunting, right? That’s exactly what Naima Spencer did at the age of 24. She left her home country of Morocco and moved to the United States with only $500 and an English/French dictionary in her pocket.  Moving to the U.S. is something Naima dreamed about her entire life and she was able to make that happen. However, once she got here, life didn’t turn out as she had imagined. For years, Naima worked minimum wage jobs and she felt overwhelmed and lost. She wondered “is this really the life I wanted?” Naima decided to make a change in her life once again. And you’ll hear how she pushed through her fears and limiting beliefs to do the things she dreamed about. And now, Naima has the MBA she dreamed of earning and she’s a life coach who helps other people pursue their passions and dreams. Naima’s story is one of reinvention, hope and courage. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your life or your work, Naima’s story will give you some encouragement to make a change. Naima is proof that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. EPISODE SHOW NOTES:https://makeitbrave.com/46 MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS:https://makeitbrave.com/shop/ MAKE IT BRAVE FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeitbrave/ MAKE IT BRAVE INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/makeitbrave/  

Have you ever felt like you had to follow a prescribed set of rules to achieve success and happiness in your life? That’s exactly how Brittany Tucker felt. She did all of the things she thought a woman was supposed to do to feel loved, accepted and worthy. But even after doing all those things, she still wasn’t happy. And she realized that there had to be a better way. In today’s episode, you’ll hear more about her story and what it was like for her to ditch the checklist and start building a better way forward for herself. And now she helps other women do it too. Connect with Brittany Tucker Visit her website, Brighter with Britt Follow her on Instagram at @BrighterwithBritt Connect with Brittany on LinkedIn Like Brittany on Facebook Other resources mentioned on the show Untamed by Glennon Doyle Big Magic by Elizabeth GIlbert GET MAKE IT BRAVE PRODUCTS If you listen to this episode, you’ll hear that I announced the launch of our new Make it Brave products! You can now get posters or notecards at makeitbrave.com/shop. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there!

Although women have come a long way in the workplace, in many industries, women are still vastly underrepresented. That’s definitely the case with engineering. Depending on which numbers you look at, women only make up roughly 20-30% of the workforce in that industry. That’s why it’s remarkable that Laura Reinbold is in a position of leadership at a large engineering firm. In fact, she was just named Engineer of the Year by the Nashville Business Journal. But, this kind of accolade wasn’t common for women in her industry even as recently as a few years ago. In fact, she started the Power Women in Architecture, Engineering and Construction after seeing no women and people of color represented when the local paper highlighted leaders in the industry. During our conversation, we discuss Laura’s experience working in a heavily male dominated industry, her ongoing battle with imposter syndrome and the power of asking questions and doing internal work to question and challenge implicit bias in our lives. This is a wonderful interview for women in positions of leadership, especially since Laura talks a lot about how to build a more equitable workplace. Connect with Laura and her Work Connect with Laura Reinbold on LinkedIn Learn more about Laura’s work at Terracon SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there!  

Do you have someone in your life that you’ve always looked up to for their confidence and courage?  That’s how I feel about today’s guest, Kia Jarmon. Several years ago, I spoke on a panel with Kia. And ever since I met her, I’ve admired her confidence and courage. She knows exactly who she is and it’s evident in how she shows up in the world.  Kia is talented and gifted in so many ways that it’s hard to find the right words to describe her. Kia is an entrepreneur. A communicator. A speaker. A change agent. A philanthropist. A mentor. A mother. Ultimately, Kia is a strong, powerful voice in Nashville. That’s why you’ll often find her working on high-impact projects in our city. During our conversation, we talked about everything from how to be brave in business to the courage of motherhood to finding the bravery to address racism in your own life.  Kia is so wise and her confidence is utterly contagious. This was such a valuable, beautiful, honest conversation. I hope you’ll enjoy listening to Kia as much as I did. Connect with Kia and Her Work Learn about Kia’s boutique public relations firm, MEPR Agency Learn more about Kia’s work and speaking Black Philanthropy Initiative, Give Back, Give Black Follow Kia on Instagram Connect with Kia on LinkedIn SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there!

When it comes to being brave, are you stalling or are you starting? You can’t think your way into bravery. To be brave, you have to put our ideas into action. Today, I talk about why that can be so hard to do, along with some practical ways to push past that fear and get started. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!  

Stan Smith is a talented marketer who has started multiple businesses. He’s a writer and author of the book, Born to Blog. And he’s also a black man living in America. And in today’s episode, Stan shares what that is what makes him bravest of all. Stan recently started the Next Step Coalition, where he’s helping people have productive conversations about race and then take action on how to become anti-racist. Stan is doing valuable, heavy and important work with this group.  Stan is a dear friend, trusted colleague and one of the smartest people I know. This was such a powerful conversation with valuable insight on what it means to be Black in America. If you listen to no other episode on this show, I hope you’ll listen to this one. It’s that important.  CONNECT WITH STAN & HIS WORK Next Step Coalition Next Step Coalition Facebook Group Next Step Coalition on Twitter Next Step Coalition on Facebook RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Born to Blog Brené Brown’s interview with Ibram Kendi White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!  

Maria Tan has never fit in or conformed to what her family and society expected of her. And as a result, she’s faced a lot of harassment and discrimination throughout her life. As a child, her own family made fun of her for being fat, which was something that was not acceptable for female children to be in the Philippines. When she was in school, her own teachers talked about her behind her back to other teachers and students for being an outspoken leader. And in college, she was often referred to as an “overseas worker” in Chinese, which was a discriminatory word used to describe many Filipinos. And these are just a few examples. Maria will share many more during our conversation. Yet, through it all, Maria has maintained a positive attitude and goes through life with humility and grace. She now owns the misfit title with pride and coaches entrepreneurs throughout the world and reminds them, through her own lived experience, that you don’t have to fit in. And that, in fact, being a misfit is beautiful. CONNECT WITH MARIA To learn more about Maria and her work as a business coach, please check out her website.  Maria has graciously put together a free resource for listeners of the show about how to adopt a CEO mindset and integrate it into your life. You can grab your copy here. To connect with Maria on social media, here are all of the places you can find her: Facebook Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn Twitter SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!  

Have you ever changed a strongly held value or belief system? Or, have you ever changed your mind on something you’ve always believed to be true? For today’s guest, Melissa Greene, she has done that many times over. And Melissa credits her constant growth and evolution to her willingness to be curious and gain a deeper understanding about the world around her. But, Melissa wasn’t always this way. She grew up in a conservative, evangelical household in Florida. She believed that her upbringing as a Southern Baptist was the “right” way of doing life and believing in God. But as she gained exposure to other thinking and ideas, her worldview and beliefs changed too.  Melissa started her career as a Christian music artist and for seven years, she sang as part of the contemporary Christian music group, Avalon. She then went on to pastor a church in Nashville that was widely publicized for its decision to become an LGBTQ-affirming congregation. And now she leads Imaginarium, a non-religious space that makes room for all of humanity and spiritual journeys.   My conversation with Melissa took place four weeks ago. It was in the wake of the news about Ahmad Arbery and Breonna Taylor. We couldn’t have known when we recorded this that George Floyd’s horrific murder would follow a couple of weeks later.  During our conversation, we spent a good deal of time talking about racial injustice and finding the courage to speak up, which is more important than ever. If you’re someone who is struggling to understand or is looking for ways to help, I really hope you’ll take the time to listen. Melissa offers some great perspective and wisdom that I think you’ll find valuable. I could have easily talked to Melissa for hours. I learned so much from our conversation and I just know you will as well. Connect with Melissa Greene & Her Work To learn more about Melissa’s work, check out the Imaginarium website. You can also become part of the Imaginarium Facebook community here. Melissa’s personal website is in progress, but here’s where you can find it once it’s live. Here’s the Time article we mentioned about Melissa’s church becoming LGBTQ inclusive. Here are the ways you can follow Melissa social media: Follow Melissa on Instagram Follow Melissa on Facebook Follow Melissa on Twitter Here are the ways to connect with Imaginarium: Follow on Instagram  Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

During the past few weeks, you may have seen your social media feeds filled with outrage following the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, two innocent young black people whose lives were taking far too soon. But, you wouldn’t have seen that from me. I stayed silent. And I now realize just how hurtful silence can be. Listen I share what I learned in the wake of these events and why it’s so important to use our voices to speak out against injustice and racism. RESOURCES MENTIONED Be the Bridge to Racial Unity Thrive Together Leadership Conference The Great Unlearn Here Wee Read SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

One of the things I love about doing this show is that I get to highlight the many ways a person can be brave. And today’s guest proves that you don’t have to do massively heroic things––such as running into a burning building or performing a life-saving procedure in an emergency room––to be brave.    Sometimes, bravery can look a lot quieter. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less powerful or life-changing.   You see, for years, Sandra Booker had debilitating fear that kept her from meeting new people, leaving the house or even ordering a pizza. In fact, her fears would even make her physically sick.    For the longest time, she didn’t realize that fear had such a hold on her life. But finally, with the help of her husband, she realized that she didn’t have to live paralyzed by fear. That she had the power to make a change.   In our conversation, you’ll hear about how she made this transformation and how she even went on to start her own virtual assistant company. Sandra’s story reveals the power of everyday bravery, which is something I think we could all benefit from.   Connect with Sandra Booker   Here are a few places you can connect with Sandra and learn more about her work.  Any Old Task, Sandra’s virtual assistant company  Follow Sandra on Instagram Virtual Assistant Studio, Sandra’s program to help people launch and grow VA companies.  Follow VA Studio on Instagram   SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

Many people cite their faith as a source of strength and courage. That’s certainly the case for JJ Gutierrez.  But JJ wasn’t always a Christian. Even though she was curious about God, she didn’t grow up going to church or reading the bible. That came much later.  But when she looks back on her life, she definitely can see how God carried her through some extremely difficult circumstances. For instance, she had an tumultuous childhood from a mother who hopped from relationship to relationship. And at 18, JJ assumed the responsibility for her younger sister when her mother died of cancer.  It wasn’t until she hit rock bottom and completely fell apart that she cried out to God for help. This led her on a journey of transformation from a life filled with fear and anxiety to one marked by faith.  And ever since, JJ has learned how to embrace and face her fears instead of running from them. She’s even written a book on the subject, which we’ll talk more about in our conversation.  JJ is a great example of how you don’t have to let your circumstances or your upbringing define you. I think you’ll be inspired by her story. I know I was. Connect with JJ Gutierrez   You can learn more about JJ Gutierrez at her website, Chickening In. There you’ll find her blog, products and other free resources. Go here for all of the places you can buy JJ’s new book, Chickening In: From Fear to Courageous Faith.  Follow JJ on Social Media Instagram Facebook SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

Deb Palmer George had a difficult childhood. She was born in upstate New York to young parents who struggled to make ends meet. That’s why, from a very young age, Deb had a longing to not just survive, but to thrive.  In our conversation, you’ll hear how she went from working in retail to becoming a successful corporate HR executive and eventually going out on her own to become a coach and corporate trainer.  If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to work with a business or life coach, this conversation will give you a good taste of what that experience would be like. Deb shares her wisdom about what keeps people from thriving and why fear holds us back. She also gives some great exercises and offers up some insight into how we can all thrive––even during these challenging times. Deb Palmer George’s Work Deb is offering virtual professional development sessions on a wide range of topics including: Conscious Choosing in Adversity Conversational Intelligence Ⓡ building optimum relationships and results Whole Life Thriving Beyond Circumstances The Apollo 13 Attitude: practical ways to achieve breakthrough results She is also giving virtual keynotes to kick-off town halls and team meetings. To learn more about Deb and her work, please visit her website. Follow Deb on Social Media Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Making it Good - Jessica Pantino During this time, I think it’s important to highlight the people who are making an impact with their kindness, courage, empathy and positivity. And today, I want to give a shout out to my good friend, Jessica Pantino. Jessica is a nurse who left her travel nursing position to go work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.  She didn’t have to go. She volunteered.  She told me that there are nurses who are married, pregnant and with kids who are serving in New York. And she thought if she could prevent just one of those people from having to do that, it would be worth it.  I am both scared for her and so very proud of her for her bravery. Her selfless act to go where her skills are needed most just speaks to her character and heart.  To Jessica and all of the nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals who are tirelessly working to fight this virus, I thank you for your selfless service. I am so grateful for how you are caring for people during this extremely difficult time. Thank you. Do You Know Someone Making an Impact? Do you have someone you would like to recognize right now? Is there someone you know who is making a positive impact during this pandemic? I would love to hear about it and highlight them on the show. You can send your stories to feedback@makeitbrave.com or to makeitbrave.com/contact. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!  

Judging and shaming is easy. Especially right now when we love calling people out for not social distancing, not working hard enough during quarantine or not having a picture perfect Zoom background. But empathy? SO much harder. But it’s also much more powerful and valuable.  While empathy has always been valuable, it’s more important now than ever. In a time when we are feeling more disconnected than ever, empathy is the thing that can draw us closer together and help us emerge from the pandemic stronger. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode!CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

Creativity and innovation is in Beth Synder’s DNA. That’s why she’s started THREE creative businesses, including 1Canoe2, a successful paper goods and gift company and Hemlock Goods, an artisanal bandana company.  There are just so many interesting facets to Beth’s story. You’ll hear about how she’s pivoting her retail-focused business amidst the pandemic and how she’s even starting a new business right now.  Plus, we discuss how she has navigated various challenges in her life––from a devastating break up of her business partnership to a health scare when a tumor was discovered on her pancreas. And, as you’ll hear in today’s interview, she’s not just made it through these things, she’s actually grateful for them. If you want to learn more about starting a creative business, how to be a better leader or how to find the opportunities amidst this challenging time, you’ll want to listen to my conversation with Beth. She has so much wisdom to share. GOOD WORK - Marj Tieman and Erin McKeage During this time, I think it’s important to highlight the people who are making an impact with their kindness, courage, empathy and positivity. And today, I want to give a shout out to my mom, Marj Tieman, and my sister, Erin McKeage. When the pandemic hit and the recommendation came to start wearing masks, my mom and sister snapped into quick action… not to make a buck, but to donate them to local places that were scrambling to provide them. They donated them to the local hospital, to the school’s food service workers who were still handing out free lunch. They’ve made donations to the nursing home, to my nurse friend who is serving on the front lines in New York City.  They eventually started selling their masks, but for every set of masks they sell, they make another batch to donate to a place that needs them.  I am so proud of my mom and sister for seeing a need and using their skills to fill it. It fits perfectly with the theme of today’s show and finding ways to serve customers and they are definitely doing that.  To my mom, sister and all of the makers out there who are providing these products to the many people who need them right now, thank you!  Do you have a story like this to share? This is the perfect opportunity to give a shout out to the people who are making our world better right now. You can send your Making an Impact stories to feedback@makeitbrave.com or to makeitbrave.com/contact. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode!CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

I knew the challenges of the pandemic would come with many lessons. But what I didn’t expect is that I would get schooled on how to feel and process my emotions. If you’ve been riding a rollercoaster of emotions the past few weeks like I have, perhaps you can take some comfort in knowing that you’re not alone. Plus, I’ll share why it’s so important to stop and acknowledge your emotions. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Episode 28 - Coping with Collective Crisis Brené Brown’s podcast interview with Dr. Marc Brackett SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!  

Courtenay Rogers has held many roles in her life. She’s a mom, a navy veteran and former social enterprise founder and entrepreneur. But one role she never expected to take on was that of a politician. But after Courtenay got heavily involved in her daughter’s school, she received a phone call encouraging her to run for state representative.  In this conversation, you’ll hear about Courtenay's campaign for office and all of the other brave things she has done along the way, including leaving a bad marriage, raising her daughter by herself and starting a social enterprise. Courtenay’s story is proof that we are all capable of more than we think. And she’s made it her goal to encourage others––especially women––to believe in themselves. I hope you find my conversation with Courtenay as inspiring as I did. Connect with Courtenay Follow Courtenay on Twitter Follow Courtenay on Instagram Brave, Beautiful Stories - Aireka Harvell I’m introducing a new segment of the show to highlight and celebrate stories of bravery, courage, empathy and positivity. And today's episode features Aireka Harvell. Listen to the end to hear how she is helping Nashville seniors in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can check out a news story about what Aireka is doing here. You can join her volunteer group on Facebook here.  Do you have a story like this to share? This is the perfect opportunity to give a shout out to the people who are making our world better right now. You can send your brave, beautiful stories to feedback@makeitbrave.com or to makeitbrave.com/contact. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode!CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

Standing up for your personal beliefs can be challenging, especially if they don’t coincide with societal norms. That’s the story of today’s guest, Molly Kemp. Molly is an improv performer, instructor and coach, where she encourages people to take off the masks they wear in their lives so they can live with more vulnerability and authenticity. Additionally, she and her husband have chosen to follow gender-open parenting methods for the child they are expecting in June. We will discuss what it’s like to make a choice that doesn’t conform to societal beliefs and what that has been like for her. RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Connect with Molly on Facebook Email Molly at molly@thirdcoastcomedy.com Third Coast Comedy Club Unscripted Improv Additional Resources from Molly Zoomprov Breaks with Unscripted Improv - 20 minute improv sessions, no experience necessary, come and laugh! Gnu Tales Facebook Page: This is an improvised children’s fairy tale Molly produces at Third Coast. Their facebook page has been putting out content and ideas for keeping kids busy during social distancing. Imaginarium: A community that is imagining a better world and intentionally making it so. They gather to learn and discuss a variety of topics concerning social justice and personal wellness, emphasizing our inherent connectedness, responsibility, and magic as human beings. Currently meeting on Zoom every Sunday afternoon at 3:30pm. An article about how to be supportive of gender open parenting An article on gender neutral parenting and things that everyone can apply SHARE YOUR BRAVE STORIES We want to hear how YOU are making it brave! We are adding a new segment on the show where we share what listeners are doing to be brave in their daily lives, which is especially important right now. If you or someone you know is doing something brave right now, I’d love to hear about it. It can be anything from learning a new skill to making space for self-care to finding ways to overcome fear in this scary time. You can send what you are doing to make it brave to feedback@makeitbrave.com or you can go to makeitbrave.com/contact and submit your story there.  SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

When I was introduced to Jennifer Grimson and I invited her to be on the show, it was well before we were in the middle of a pandemic. And even though her story is compelling, I think it has even more relevance for the state we find ourselves in right now. Jennifer lost everything––TWICE. Each time, she had no money, no job, no car and no place to live and she was supporting her two children. She successfully rebuilt her life from scratch and has built several of what she calls micro empires. And now, she’s sharing her story and the steps she took to dig out of the hole she was in and to build wealth. As many, many people find themselves in financial hardship right now with the coronavirus,  Jennifer also shares some tangible steps people can take right now as they navigate these difficult waters. You can find some of those tips at the end of the show and I hope that this is helpful to you. RESOURCES MENTIONED   Micro Empires Podcast Listen to Micro Empires on iTunes Micro Empires on Instagram Micro Empires on Facebook Follow Jennifer Grimson on Twitter Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn Email Jennifer   SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!  

As a society, we are all experiencing the same massive challenge and crisis right now. And it’s overwhelming. Today, I’m sharing four things that have helped me grieve the loss of what we had and how I’m starting to rebuild a “new normal” during this difficult time. There is no right answer, but perhaps my experience might help you navigate this difficult time as we all look for ways to cope with this collective crisis and rebuild what life looks like right now. RESOURCES MENTIONED Brené Brown’s podcast Unlocking Us Brené Brown’s episode on comparative suffering JOIN OUR NEW COMMUNITY You’re invited to join our brand new Make it Brave Community! It’s completely free and it’s built to be a safe space to talk about our fears and the brave things we are doing to tackle them. If you’re looking for a community of support, this is it! You can join us here. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW Our brand new website is live! You can now find show notes for all of our episodes at makeitbrave.com! You can also sign up for email updates and find out more about the show.    You can also follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello in one or more of these places! SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

Today’s guest doesn’t think he’s especially brave. If you ask him, he just focuses on doing what’s right in front of him. But, it’s that very mindset that helped Tim Stoddart overcome addiction, start a blog and eventually become a successful entrepreneur who runs multiple businesses. He founded Sober Nation, a leading recovery site. He’s also the CEO of Stodzy, an internet marketing agency and a partner at Copyblogger, along with a number of other projects. Tim has such a fascinating story and his wisdom is especially helpful now as we are all experiencing a time of great challenge and loss. In our conversation, he shares how the lessons he learned in recovery can help us all cope a little better with fear and anxiety. He also shares some helpful marketing lessons that he’s learned from building multiple businesses.  There are so many wonderful nuggets of wisdom in this interview and I can’t wait for you to hear Tim’s story! RESOURCES MENTIONED   Sober Nation Tim Stoddart’s Website Stodzy Marketing Agency Follow Tim on Twitter SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode!CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

When you think of health and wellness, what comes to mind? If you’re like a lot of people, you might envision a young, super-thin person wearing some spandex. Or, perhaps you see lots of kale smoothies and protein shakes.  But today’s guests are on a mission to dismantle those images and change the way we think about health and wellness. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Ashley Brooke James and Elizabeth Moore believe that fitness and wellness are not the same thing. Instead, they want people to see that wellness is for everyone and that it should be fun too.  That’s why Ashley and Elizabeth left their jobs to create TriLuna Wellness, an experiential wellness company in Nashville. They offer retreats and events centered around cooking, health coaching and movement. Ashley and Elizabeth are both certified yoga instructors, but that’s not how their careers started. In fact, both of them have a background in marketing, communications and sales. Their path to wellness entrepreneurs is an interesting one and you’ll get to hear how it happened. It’s a great conversation that I hope will get you thinking about wellness a little differently.  I know it did for me. RESOURCES MENTIONED TriLuna Wellness TriLuna Retreats You’re Excused Podcast Follow TriLuna on Facebook Follow TriLuna on Instagram ADDITIONAL RESOURCES These weren’t mention on the show, but these have been made available since the recording and I want to make sure you check out these great resources: Meditation for Stress Management Workbook  Resources for Quarantine - Food, Yoga, Mindfulness, Working from Home and more SHOUT OUTS A huge thanks to The Russell for their support of the show. This episode was recorded in their fabulous studio. Also, thank you to Awesome AGG Rainbow for the kind review of the show on iTunes.  SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode!CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!  

In a time of crisis, it’s easy to focus our fears and anxieties. And with the coronavirus pandemic, it would be easy to panic and focus on all of the uncertainty in our lives right now. But, you don’t have to let fear and worry rule your thoughts. There is a better way. And in today’s episode, I share four practical ways you can shift your perspective to one of joy and happiness. Even though things are tough right now, there is still the opportunity to be happy. But, it’s a choice you have to make. I hope you’ll join me in choosing joy today. RESOURCES MENTIONED The Five Minute Journal JOIN OUR NEW COMMUNITY You’re invited to join our brand new Make it Brave Community! It’s completely free and it’s built to be a safe space to talk about our fears and the brave things we are doing to tackle them. If you’re looking for a community of support, this is it! You can join us here. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW Our brand new website is live! You can now find show notes for all of our episodes at makeitbrave.com! You can also sign up for email updates and find out more about the show.  You can also follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello in one or more of these places! SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode!   Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

Leaving a well paying job and starting a business is an incredible accomplishment. But doing so as a single mother of four children is especially noteworthy. And that’s exactly what today’s guest did.  Aireka Harvell launched a successful app called Nodat and left her job to pursue it full time. She’s also launched Twende, a summit and accelerator program for founders of color. Aireka is an extraordinary woman who has overcome a lot of obstacles to get to where she is today. She’s overcome drug addiction, she left an abusive marriage and she’s even a cancer survivor. Aireka is a shining example of someone who hasn’t let challenges get in her way. And I can’t wait for you to hear her story. One word of caution before you listen––there is some adult language and discussion of domestic violence in this episode. If this is sensitive for you, feel free to skip this episode or fast forward to the 15-minute mark. RESOURCES MENTIONED Download the Nodat app Learn more about Twende Learn more about Aireka and sign up for the Spiritual Entrepreneur Follow Aireka on Facebook Follow Aireka on Instagram Follow Aireka on Twitter SHOUT OUTS A huge thanks to The Russell for their support of the show. This episode was recorded in their fabulous studio. Also, thank you to Reese Spykerman for her kind review of the show on iTunes. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW You’re invited to join the brand new Make it Brave Community on Facebook to get support and encouragement as you work to live a braver life. I hope you’ll join us there! Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!  

Vulnerability is something that we often see as brave when other people do it, but it can be challenging to do ourselves. Or, at least that’s how I felt. Today, I’m opening up more about my story and sharing what led me to finally be more vulnerable. I’m hoping that once you hear my experience, you’ll find the courage you need to be more vulnerable too. Trust me, it’s worth it! JOIN OUR NEW COMMUNITY You’re invited to join our brand new Make it Brave Community! It’s completely free and it’s built to be a safe space to talk about our fears and the brave things we are doing to tackle them. If you’re looking for a community of support, this is it! You can join us here. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW Our brand new website is live! You can now find show notes for all of our episodes at makeitbrave.com! You can also sign up for email updates and find out more about the show.  You can also follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello in one or more of these places! SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode!Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!

Last week, deadly tornadoes ripped through Nashville and Middle Tennessee. My family made it through the storm without any damage, but that was not the case for many, many people.   Today, I’m talking about my experience with the tornadoes, how to process and handle trauma and also how you can help support relief efforts in Nashville.   Supporting Nashville Tornado Relief   Here are the organizations I mentioned on the show that are handling relief efforts in Nashville:   Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Gideon’s Army - Rebuild North Nashville On the Make it Brave website, I’m also sharing several GoFundMe campaigns for families who lost homes and loved ones. Please check out this page for the full list of campaigns to support. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Enjoying the show? Share your feedback by leaving a five-star review on iTunes. Your feedback helps others discover the show. Plus, I’ll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW For more information and for full show notes, please visit makeitbrave.com. Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram or Facebook to get updates about the show and more inspiration to help you Make it Brave through the week. You can also join our free Facebook community here. I love connecting with listeners. Drop by and say hello in one or more of these places! Thanks for listening! And just remember, whatever you do today, don’t forget to make it brave!