Own Your Truth Podcast

From his role as VP of Artist Development and A&R at A&M Records, to managing Korn, The Offspring, Social Distortion, and Taking Back Sunday, to becoming the CEO and Co-Founder of Fanscape—and now serving as the CEO of Beckett's, a non-alcoholic cocktails and spirits company, Larry Weintraub has lived a life shaped by his love for music and his passion for forging deeper connections between creators and fans. In this interview, we explore the transformative power of music, the challenges of navigating career transitions, and what it looks, feels, and sounds like to build a career and legacy you can be proud of.

Kathryn Morris is a mother, actress, producer, and genuine leader on a mission to change the narrative around Autism and how people on and off the spectrum live and work together.  As the founder and CEO of The Savants, a lifestyle brand for misfits, makers, and mind-benders, she's transforming isolation into connection and redefining what neurodiversity and inclusion truly mean. In this episode, we explore the unseen struggles of special needs families, the role of artistic expression in neurodivergent minds, and how finding your tribe can make all the difference. 

Jamie Castaño is the Founder of Just Breathe For Kids and a mission-driven entrepreneur with decades of school social work experience.  This episode is a raw and honest exploration of what our kids need to notice, feel, and be inspired to show up in the world as their most confident selves. 

Dr. Emily Masters Rosenthal, a lifestyle optimization expert and a leadership strategist, shares her journey of building Concierge Associates and redefining support networks. Listen to her insights on leadership, motivation, and creating a deeper impact while navigating entrepreneurial challenges.  Masters of the Day Connect with Dr. Emily on LinkedIn    

Terry Dry is the co-founder and CEO of Future Proof Advisors, a company that helps mid-market and emerging companies get “unstuck” and on the path to rapid transformation. He is also the co-founder and CEO of the Smarter Service, a leading provider of personalized technology concierge services for older adults who struggle with technology.  In this interview we explore the qualities of genuine leadership, the future of AI technology in modern business, and how to decide when it's time to pivot or push your vision forward.   

Christabelle Joseph is a global connecter, coach, CEO, and speaker who helps conscious leaders transform, expand, and express their vision through connection.  What's beautiful and unique about Christabelle's approach is that her work is informed by a powerful journey of healing and growth, which she courageously shares in this interview.  From addiction, drugs, depression, and burnout, to transforming her life, business, and personal relationships, we explore the story beneath the story that prevents so many of us from creating the life we deserve.   

As the founder of Ninety Five Media and the host of the Stop Scrolling, Start Scaling podcast, Emma Tessler and her incredible team help modern brands organically scale through high-converting content, social media, e-mail, and podcast management.  In my conversation with Emma we explore the journey of entrepreneurship, best practices for showing up authentically on social media, what it looks like and feels like to be a leader whose figuring it out on the fly, and also what it means to build a legacy beyond the brand.

Chris Valdheims is an entrepreneur, writer, podcaster, and lawyer who is dedicated to helping creatives bring their visions to life. As a client of Chris's innovative law firm, Counsel for Creators, I didn't just learn about how to protect my intellectual property or navigate contracts, I learned how to stop worrying about the legal unknown and make informed decisions about the future of my business.  What's really unique about Chris's approach is that he doesn't just understand creatives, he is a creative who is passionate about helping people who come from challenging or complicated circumstances to create freely and authentically by sharing their stories. In this episode we talk about how to break through the creative barriers of perfectionism and fear, how to turn challenging circumstances into creative fuel, and the journey of making creative decisions without being swayed by the influence of the external. 

Paris Davis is a former Division 1 athlete, who leveraged sports, a job, and real estate to become the founder of multiple businesses, a national educator, and an adjunct professor at Saint Xavier University.   Beyond his professional accomplishments, Paris is the kind of heart-centered human who also gifted his parents a house, and consistently dedicates his time to helping the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders boost their success using a goal-centric approach. In this conversation, we explore the art of delegation, time management, and the journey of finding the balance in business and life. 

At the time of this recording, Emily Hartstone will have been hospitalized twice to receive the vital treatments she needs for her ongoing battle with Leukemia and severe graves disease.  She also will have taken more than a few Zoom calls from her hospital bed and/or removed the IVs from her arm in order to meet her clients at an important event.  As the CEO of From The Hart Management LLC, a motivational speaker, and purpose-driven entrepreneur, Emily's extensive career in sales and event management for non-profit trade organizations is driven by something deeper than success or accolades. This episode is about the deeply personal and core beliefs that keep Emily grounded in her truth as she fights to make a difference every day.  After multiple surgeries, hospitalizations, and dark nights of the soul, her mission to empower the next generation of change-makers is stronger than ever before.   

Before I interviewed Chris Wright, I had the opportunity to learn about some of the pivotal moments that shaped his life, and when I discovered the depths of physical and psychological trauma he endured at a young age, the one question that came to mind was: “How did this guy survive?”  As the host of the In The Wright Mind Podcast, a mental health advocate, and a successful career in government sector sales, Chris is on a mission to help others rise above their mental health struggles and bring hope to those who feel stuck and alone.  In this interview we explore the power of mental health advocacy, finding gratitude for the dark moments, and what it really means to embrace the messy journey of being human. 

This episode is about the art and practice of shutting down the ego and deeply listening to the only truth that matters.  Because someday, we may get the most powerful insight and life-changing clarity we need, at exactly the moment we no longer have the patience or mental bandwidth to receive it. 

Monique Scott is a Law of Attraction Coach who helps single women over 40 recreate the lives they truly want.   Through guided manifestation practice, coaching, and affirmation muzic, Monique's work is about helping her clients to shift the negative paradigms in their lives and achieve their biggest goals.    Something that she shared with me during our interview was that we can manifest something that we deeply desire only to discover that it's no longer what we want or need.    This ability to embrace the unknown and unforeseen outcomes has informed the journey of a courageous human being who was able to find forgiveness, gratitude and healing within the most traumatic chapter of her life.    In this episode, we explore how to successfully manifest in alignment with your highest self, how to remain grounded in your spiritual journey, and how to navigate through the darkness with kindness and clarity. 

Our behavior, habits, and emotions don't just manifest out of the ether, it all comes from somewhere.  My conversation with Natalie Moore was such a fun and fulfilling opportunity to explore the source of where it all comes from and to take a deep dive into the steps, actions, and journey of healing and personal growth.  As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Natalie's holistic approach to therapy is about empowering her clients to make positive changes and exploring the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and body sensations that can influence their quality of life.  This episode is an honest and vulnerable chat about the origin of self-doubt, perfectionism, fear of judgment, and rejection, and the steps that we can all take to envision and create the future we desire. 

In 2021, I connected with Lu Bryant, an incredibly talented writer who found the courage to share her deeply personal story that quite frankly, changed my life.  Her book, Tortured to Triumph, is a journey through complex PTSD and the story of a child who was neglected, abused, starved, torn from her siblings before the age of three, survived a near-death experience at age 7, and was declared legally dead by age 33.  After eight months of conversations and learning about the heart-wrenching moments of Lu's life, I was inspired by her incredible capacity to find gratitude within the darkness, strengthen her connection with spirit, and overcome the kind of insurmountable odds that would have destroyed the strongest of souls.  This episode is a reminder that no matter how difficult the journey, we're never alone, we can prevail, and our path to healing may open up a space for others to do the same.

When you run a small business, you will inevitably face countless challenges and invisible battles that your customers may never know about.  As the co-owner of à bloc coffee and the head of all delicious treats and baked goods, Jenny Johnson's story of resilience and innovation, shed some much-needed light on those hidden moments of growth that the world just doesn't get to see.  This interview was such a rare, raw, and no-bullshit kind of chat that gets right to the heart of relationships, business, life, and how to stay grounded amidst the chaos. 

Emilie Given is the founder and CEO of She's A Given, a Seattle-based virtual assistant agency that specializes in matching high-level executive assistants with business leaders and their teams.  I was introduced to Emilie by a recent guest on the podcast when I realized it was finally time for me to hire my own virtual assistant but I had no idea of the incredible story I would discover in the process.  After a near-death experience that forever changed her outlook on life, Emilie decided to leave her 9-5 job at Amazon Corporate HQ and built her own thriving six-figure thriving business to achieve a more balanced life with her family.  This interview is as real, courageous, and vulnerable as it gets, as we explore how the pivotal moments in childhood, the strength of our relationships, and the will to survive those dark moments can forever change the course of life. 

While our stories have the power to shape us, it's the decisions we make that define us. However, for so many of us, it can be so easy to fall victim to the narrative of the past and all the roadblocks that have kept us from believing we deserve better.  Natalie Crawford is a confidence and transformation coach who is helping her clients to overcome those invisible but very real obstacles of self-doubt, fear, and empowering women to turn their pain into power.  This interview was such a rare and beautiful moment where I genuinely got swept away in Natalie's story and her incredibly vulnerable and courageous sharing of those defining moments in her life.  Natalie did not hold back in this episode and her ability to openly share some of the most painful memories in her life paints a truly inspirational portrait of resilience and grace.

When we become a parent, we are provided with two vital opportunities for growth and awakening. We can either consciously choose to confront the wounds of our past or unconsciously carry our generational pain into our relationships with our kids.  Yummii Nguyen is someone who chose to confront her emotional wounds and create her own expression of motherhood with intention, love, and purity.  As the founder and creator of The Motherhood Mindset, Yummii is a mindset coach who writes, teaches, and shares ideas on how to live a life guided by love and the journey of healing generational wounds through parenting.  This episode is as real, courageous, and inspirational as it gets, as Yummii's story of rising from a broken home to surviving immense grief and changing the trajectory of her life is such a beautiful example of what this human journey is all about. 

Lisa Winneke is the Founder of The Wholehearted Method, the host of the Good News Guide podcast, a speaker, author, and heart-centered visionary who has been deeply immersed in the personal development space for over a decade.  After years of struggling with depression, coping with an eating disorder, and ignoring those "tiny nudges" from within, she courageously chose to leave her 20-year marriage in 2018, and forge a legacy of truth and wholeness for her sons and the world.  Her ability to connect and transform her clients' lives and relationships is informed by her own journey of overcoming the doubt, judgment, guilt, and fear of crossing the bridge from half-hearted living into the wholehearted expression of her humanity.  This episode is about the courage it takes to let go of something “good” in search of something extraordinary and how to amplify your truth, alleviate suffering, and create a space for profound and loving transformation.

Imagine being a chef with a lifelong dream of opening up your restaurant, only to have it all stripped away by the pandemic and having to rethink your entire vision from the ground up. As the founder, chef, and chief “noodle head” at Orso Pasta in Los Angeles, this was the reality that forced Josh Buckwald to question his reasons for wanting to cook and the moment that clarified the new mission of Orso. In this episode, we talk about reimagining what entrepreneurship, relationships, and hospitality look like in the midst of uncertain times, and how keeping things simple can often provide the most powerful opportunities for growth and alignment.

When I learned about Kristin Swanson's journey of surviving breast cancer, coping with loss, and the personal, professional, and spiritual transformation that informed her life and the why behind her work, I was inspired to dig deeper.  As a strategy implementation consultant and business coach, Kristin specializes in helping thought leaders and entrepreneurs execute their “someday when” projects and turn procrastination into profit.  In addition to the impact of her coaching, she's also an incredibly resilient human being whose relationship with time and the ability to move through the dark moments of her life, is a powerful example of someone who is truly doing the work she's meant to be doing.  In this episode, we explore how to manage your energy in a world that demands it all, the give and take of entrepreneurship, and how to break free of the limiting beliefs that hold us back.

Peter Buck is a sustainability education advocate, an author, poet, musician, and award-winning teacher who has always had a strong sense of what should be righted and what has been wronged in the world.  His 2017 TEDx Talk: What's the Future Hold? Ask a Metalhead...opened my eyes to how heavy metal musicians can be voices of social consciousness and tap into the essence of what it means to be a human living in inhumane times.  My conversation with Peter was the peak expression of the mission of this podcast, as his courage and willingness to share so much of his soul, created a space for me to do the same.  Together we explore the pain of divorce, the journey of fatherhood, the sacrifices we make to create change, and how art, music, and heart-centered actions can guide us through the darkest chapters in our lives.

My 40th birthday will forever be known as the day I had my first bite of Baked by Sha Sha “funfetti” cake. That first bite was my “Ratatouille” / Disney movie moment where I was transported back to my childhood and fully immersed in the kind of delicious, sensory experience that happens when you can taste the love that an artist puts into their bake.  Sharon Phillips is the founder of Baked by Sha Sha and her bespoke creations of clean treats & cheat treats are not just highly addictive, they are chapters in a story of self-discovery, family, growth, and the moments that remind us of the simple joys in life. My conversation with Sharon was an insightful, incredibly fun, and vulnerable dive into the journey of entrepreneurship, being an introvert, honoring our unique gifts, and how to embrace the dark moments as fuel for success.

What if our perception of creativity was completely wrong? What if it’s not just something you’re born with, but a superpower that you can access by provoking your brain to get out of “shortcut mode” and think thoughts that have never been thought before?  As the founder and CEO of Just a Squiggle, a creative thinking company, Camila Kaul is dedicated to helping organizations & individuals turn their biggest problems into possibilities through the power of creative thinking.  With her background in neuroscience, marketing and strategy honed at Harvard Business School of Management and as the Head of Sales Development & Strategy at Google for over a decade, Camila deeply understands the global, economic, and personal impact of creative thinking and how it can be used to improve our everyday lives. In this episode we explore the process of kickstarting our brains to think differently, finding creative solutions to problems, and how to embrace moments of constraint as opportunities for growth and innovation.  "This episode is presented in Immersive Sound by Sound Designer and Producer Andres Borda (Decora Multisensorial Marketing)" ... to get the best audio experience possible, we recommend wearing headphones to fully enjoy this immersive sound episode. 

Michelle Chu is the founder and CEO of Kono’s Kitchen, a pet treats company that is helping dog parents to build stronger connections with their pets, one treat at a time. What I love most about Michelle’s story and the mission of her company, is that in addition to donating 10% of the profits back to the medical costs of rescue dogs, her focus, drive, and passion for sharing the imperfect journey of pet parenting has created a space for other pet parents to do the same. Her legendary work ethic and love of learning have turned Kono’s Kitchen into a powerful community of support, educational resources, and a safe space to embrace the reality of the pet nutrition and parenting journey, instead of the curated version. In this episode, we explore what it was like to launch a business in the middle of the pandemic, how to make heart-centered decisions as an entrepreneur, and what it means to live your definition of success.

Yuri Williams is the founder of the non-profit A Future Superhero and Friends whose mission is to provide essential support for the homeless, veterans, sick children, low-income families, and anyone in need of uplifting.    As a juvenile correctional officer for over twenty years, Yuri has restructured his entire work schedule to allow for three 16-hour shifts in a row, so that he can dedicate four days per week to his non-profit.    Then, he dresses up like a superhero and gets to work. He visits skidrow, cancer wards, and families in need to deliver toys, medicine, food, and anything he can to bring light, relief, and a little extra joy into people’s lives.    If you have never heard of Yuri Williams and his incredible organization, I hope this episode inspires you to dive deeper into the videos, stories, and interviews that have highlighted the life’s work of someone who I believe to be the finest example of selfless service and giving. 

Found Coffee in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, is not just my favorite local coffee shop, it’s the place where my son had his first babycino. It’s where I wrote, edited, and created hours of content for this podcast and it’s the place that made this Northeast LA neighborhood feel like home.  Annie Choi is the founder and owner of Found Coffee and her unique ability to build community, support local businesses, and create spaces for people to connect and collaborate is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.  She’s not just a local business owner with an inspirational story, she’s also a friend and someone I’ve seen grow and evolve through: four break-ins at the shop (in the first three years of business), personal struggles, physical exhaustion, and a global pandemic.  In this interview, we explore the silent sacrifices of leadership, how to adapt in the midst of COVID, and what it takes to build a legacy of community, growth, and connection. 

Imagine what it would look like to let go of the forward-facing image of your life, to leave your profession, and completely scrap reality as you know it?  As a lifelong entrepreneur and Certified Reality Transurfing instructor, Renée Garcia has ventured deeply into the metaphysical practice of transforming pain into growth, poverty into abundance, and turning down the volume of the external to embrace her unique gifts.  This interview is a personal and courageous story of a life that bloomed in darkness and the impact that we can have when we choose to share our light.  During our chat, one of the many powerful insights that Renée shared with me was: “Reality is simply a mirror reflecting back your attitudes and beliefs towards it, and when we give from an empty place, then our mirror will provide the same.”  So if you’re ready to dive into the practical metaphysics of creating your reality and discovering the ways you’re meant to give, this episode is for you.

For some of us, there are barriers that exist along the path of religious engagement, finding a sense of belonging, or cultivating wholeness in our lives.  Catharine Clarenbach is on a mission to remove these barriers and to nurture deep spirituality in those who are ambivalent about or alienated from religion.  As a Unitarian Universalist Minister and Priestess of Stone Circle Wicca, her love-driven mission is about nourishing the fundamental needs we all share as human beings: connection, love, and community.  My interview with Catharine couldn’t have come at a better time in my life, as it opened up space for me to reflect and remember that we are all doing the best we can with the tools we have.  So if you’re looking to find a moment to pause, breathe, and enjoy a meaningful conversation about authentic spirituality and self-discovery, this episode is for you.

Have you ever had one of those conversations that recharges you, inspires you, and reminds you of what this human journey is all about?  My interview with Radiah Rhodes was one of those conversations and her example of love, creativity, and kindness was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we are grounded in our purpose.  Radiah is an innovator, author, coach, engineer, and the founder of Evok Life, a well-being company that is cultivating lasting change and helping people to create the most aligned, intentional experience of life and work.  In this episode, we explore relationships, innovation, family, leadership, and the powerful impact we can make when we step into our power and find out who we truly are. 

This episode is about the unexpected clarity that comes from chaos and how we can build a brighter future with our partner.  When manifestation and communication meet strategic action, anything is possible.     

Early one morning, Jessi Shuraleff was brushing her teeth, when her husband looked over and asked: “Are you happy?” She looked back at him and the truth came out: “No.”  This was when everything changed. It was the end of Jessi saying “I’m fine” whenever someone would ask, and it was the moment she decided to stand completely in her truth. As the host of the This Is My Truth podcast, Jessi’s mission is to create a platform where others can speak their truth and embrace the healing that comes from sharing.  If you haven’t listened to Jessi’s podcast yet, it is an absolute must-listen for anyone looking to grow, connect, and discover some of the most beautiful, vulnerable, and authentic conversations within the audio landscape.  In this episode, we explore infertility, grief, motherhood, marriage, COVID-19, and the journey of becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable moments of life.

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of my interview with Eve Sturges, I highly recommend you go back and listen to Ep. 42 “The Layers of Our Identity” to get fully immersed in what you’re about to hear.  So, Imagine waking up one day, going about your usual routine, and receiving a phone call from a complete stranger who claims that he is your biological father. This is exactly what happened to Eve Sturges and it was the moment her entire world was turned upside down.  During my chat with Eve, I was fascinated to learn that these moments are not rare occurrences, and as the host of the Everything’s Relative podcast, Eve’s mission is to highlight the “DNA Discovery” stories of others and change the conversation around secrets, shame, family, and identity.  As a writer and a licensed marriage and family therapist, Eve’s insights into her own emotional process and the layers of her discovery are still unfolding, and her story is one that truly opened my eyes to the depth and complexity of what this human journey is all about.  As a host, this was such an incredible experience for me, as I had the opportunity to not only explore my own unconscious bias but also some of the blind spots that have prevented me from understanding the experience of others.  This interview is a raw, honest, and vulnerable discussion about family, identity, race, and the unexpected moments that can reshape our lives.

Aubree Nichols is a self-love advocate, writer, and organizational change consultant who is transforming lives and brands with the power of authentic storytelling. When I discovered Aubree’s work, her brilliant writing, and the many courageous and vulnerable podcast interviews she’s done, I was immediately drawn in by her natural ability to deliver self-love and realness with every piece of content.  This interview is an inspirational dive into what it means to explore and access the depths of our humanity, our essence, and our truth. https://www.aubreenichols.com/ https://www.instagram.com/aubree.nichols/  

What if our idea of happiness was wrong and there was actually a simple formula to get it right? As the CEO and Founder of The New Happy, Stephanie Harrison’s mission is to share this formula with the world and redefine what it means to live a good life.  Armed with over 300 studies, wisdom traditions, and real-life stories, Stephanie has cultivated a global community of support, educational tools, and practices to help people discover their unique gifts and make an impact. She is more than just a source of inspiration, she is a powerful example of resilience for the community she serves and someone who truly embodies what it means to unite in wholeness.  https://www.thenewhappy.com/

A few years ago, I had my first haircut with Kit Shields at the Blind Barber in Highland Park. Since that time, we've have had some truly insightful chats about life, work, sobriety, and pretty much the full spectrum of the human experience.  This is why for me, Kit is more than just my barber or the person I go to for grooming and self-care. She’s someone who creates a sacred space for genuine human connection and meaningful conversation.  In this episode, we explore identity, self-worth, sexuality, pivotal moments from childhood, and what it means to be a true example of vulnerability and courage. 

Maram Taibah is a children’s fantasy and steampunk author whose recent publication “Weathernose” explores the Cerulean Universe, a world that is only just awakening to scientific discovery and invention. Maram’s origin story as a writer is just as fascinating as the world she’s created with her fiction. From her early childhood experiences growing up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to the powerful lessons she’s learned from mentors along the way.  In this episode, we explore what it takes to build your creative fire, get grounded in your choices, and accelerate your personal and artistic growth. One of the many important insights Maram shared in this interview is how she was able to “turn herself inside and out creatively” and get to the place where she can fully embody and communicate her truth without hesitation.  Whether you’re a writer, parent, student, or someone who's just in search of that “missing piece” this episode is for you.

Some of us may spend our entire lives putting the needs of others above our own. But what happens when we define our self-worth based on how well we suppress our own needs, wants, goals, and dreams?  Monica Vandermeer chose to break this cycle within her marriage and set a powerful example of love, openness, self-acceptance, and truth for her family and loved ones.  As the host of the Front Seat - The Road Back to You podcast, she’s created a space for others to share their stories of transformation and explore the “Aha” moments when they realized it was time to make a change.  Monica’s natural ability to get right to the heart of parenting, relationships, mental and physical health, is what makes this such a special episode. Now, more than ever, it’s important for all of us to remember that if we can change our narrative, we can change our life.

When I first connected with Eve Sturges and learned about her journey, I realized that she was someone who truly understood the depths of human resilience and strength.  As a writer and licensed marriage and family therapist, her ability to explore difficult topics with bold and heart-centered wittiness made her the perfect choice for my next guest.  Eve is also the host of the Everything’s Relative podcast where she explores the modern landscape of DNA testing and how we can change the conversation around secrets, shame, family, and identity.  Her insights into parenting, marriage, sex, existential crisis and childhood issues were enough to fill two episodes, so that’s exactly what we did.  In Part 1 of my interview with Eve, we explore what it means to be a parent in the midst of COVID-19, how to effectively communicate with your partner, and how the layers of our identity can evolve over time.

Just because the future you had in mind may look different, it doesn't mean it's not gonna be a bright one.  This is a special message for all the graduates of 2020 who may be a little freaked out about what their life is gonna look like post-college.  In this episode, I talk about how to navigate the minefield of expectations, the dangers of the "should" mentality, and the importance of honoring your inherent strengths.  calendly.com/ownyourtruth/30min

Neil Spector, M.D. is one of the country’s top oncologists and a cancer researcher at Duke University School of Medicine. He’s also a Lyme disease survivor and someone who understands how a life-threatening illness can strip away the veneer and reveal the truth of our humanity.  At the age of 53, he almost died from a disease that should have been diagnosed and treated when he was 37. His memoir, Gone in a Heartbeat: A Physician’s Search for True Healing, explores his journey of misdiagnosis and despite being a medical insider, how he was often discounted by his fellow physicians.  On the day of this recording, Dr. Spector was experiencing chronic pain from post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and I suggested that we reschedule to give him some time to recover. Instead, he decided to move forward with the interview and shared some of the most vulnerable, raw, and inspirational insights from his battle with Lyme disease.

What if we could learn to rewrite the story of our life, heal our spirit, and connect to the essence of who we are? As a soul guide, healer, author, and inspirational speaker, Kerri Hummingbird has dedicated her life to helping others transform their challenges into gifts of wisdom. In this interview, we explore what it means to live in the now and how to navigate the deeper layers of ourselves without judgment or shame. Kerri’s insights on parenting, forgiveness, healing, and growth are a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we learn to trust our soul.

Barbie Parsons is Barbie the Welder. That’s not just her nickname, it’s the identity of a woman who has forged her dream life in the fire of adversity.  Barbie has gone from welfare and hauling scrap metal to support her family, to becoming a world-renowned metal sculptor and five-time author. Her YouTube channel has subscribers from over 53 countries and her story of resilience, love, and passion for her work has inspired a new generation of artists, creators, and entrepreneurs.  This interview is about the journey through self-doubt, fear, failure, and the incredible life we can create when we have the courage to believe in ourselves. 

In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, I struggled with the idea of releasing any content that wasn’t directly related to providing tools on how to cope and push forward in all of this chaos. Then, as I relistened to my interview with Craig Lewis I was hit with a powerful realization that his story and his message are needed now more than ever. Imagine being misdiagnosed with a mental illness at 14 years old, then being wrongly placed in Psychiatric care by your parents and given years of medication that would have a permanent impact on your physical and mental health. To say that Craig Lewis is a “survivor” is a gross understatement of someone who has become a living an example of resilience, empathy, and love for countless people across the world.

During times of crisis, look for the opportunities to deliver kindness and hope where they are needed the most.  Never forget the origin story of us and how we evolved as tribes. Small communities of people, who banded together for a common purpose: survival and strength. 

Life can often feel like a constant exchange of energy and time. From the moment we wake up, we are thinking, planning, eating, moving, and accomplishing the tasks required to keep our daily routine intact.  But what happens when we feel stuck, frustrated, or lose sight of the joy that exists in everyday life? This is when it’s time for a Cup of Casey.  As an Eating Psychology Life Coach, Casey Schmidt is helping women to finally get off the destructive diet bandwagon and arrive at a place of peace and ease around food and their bodies. The reason her approach is so effective is that it comes from a place of experience and navigating her own journey with food, body image, tragedy, and learning to grant herself grace for the struggles that would inform her work.  Casey’s insights on parenting, healthy living, and relationships, are a powerful reminder that our life is a direct reflection of the love we pour into it.

Tension is an opportunity for growth. When there is a feeling of discomfort, it immediately identifies where we need to work. Cyndi Otteson is someone who has embraced this tension and used it to cultivate a legacy of growth, change, and community empowerment. As a mother, a successful businesswoman, and a non-profit leader, her campaign to become the first councilwoman for Los Angeles City Council District 14 is rooted in reasons that reach deeper than career politics and into the heart of her community. When I learned about Cyndi’s mission to disrupt the status quo at City Hall by running a 100% clean money campaign, my first question for her was: “What kind of a battle are you facing here?” What she shared in response, opened my eyes to the truth and the real work that needs to be done. This episode is not about politics, it’s about parenthood and the silent sacrifices we make for our children’s future. It’s about the real cost of what it takes to create lasting change and the courage required to lead with compassion.

What does it take to hold space for others to heal and grow? Lindsay Burke is someone who can answer this question completely and understands the courage required to walk with someone through the darkest and most challenging moments in their life.  As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, her innovative approach to connecting with her clients is all about making therapy accessible and convenient.  Whether it’s through phone, video, group sessions, or webinars, Lindsay has cultivated a seamless therapeutic experience that removes many of the roadblocks that can prevent us from reaching out for support.  In this interview, she shares so many powerful insights on parenting, relationships, trauma, and how we can walk our own path of healing with awareness and gratitude. 

As a nationally-recognized strategic communications leader, social innovator, and the CEO of Tower26, Naomi Seligman has advised congressional leaders, entertainment visionaries, and advocacy groups on how to maximize their social impact and solve some of the most pressing problems facing our nation today. When I was introduced to Naomi and learned about the significance of her work and the impact she was making across so many industries, my first thought was: “How can one human being become such a powerful force for change in so many people’s lives and also maintain the balance in their own life?”  What she shared during our interview gave me a whole new perspective on life, work, family, and the choices we make to become the example that inspires the next generation.  Naomi’s story is the origin story of courage and this episode will open your eyes to the possibilities that you can create by taking meaningful action in your life.

The families of our nation’s fallen military heroes are known as the Gold Star Families. This is an honor that no one wants as the void left behind in the wake of this ultimate sacrifice is one that can never be filled. For the ones who made it back home, hanging up the uniform is often the beginning of a new battle with isolation, a lack of community, or a sense of purpose.  Combat veteran and former Navy SEAL, Perry Yee understands the difficulties and emotional roadblocks that many veterans face during the transition from active duty to civilian life.  As the founder of Active Valor, this incredible non-profit organization gives new purpose to veterans by pairing them as one-on-one mentors to Gold Star Children.   This powerful idea of mentorship and mission-based adventures has created an opportunity for veterans to pass on the skills they’ve gained during their military careers and make a significant impact within the Gold Star Community.  If you ever needed a moment to pause, reflect and put your life in perspective, this episode is it. It’s a reminder that there are good people out there who selflessly give their energy and their time to promote healing, build community, and create positive change in the world.