Podcasts about Empowerment

Author and advocate Ashley Spence joins "Mind Over Murder" co-hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss her new book "Silent Witness: How DNA Uncovered the Truth and Empowered My Healing."  Ashley, a sexual assault survivor herself, founded the DNA Justice Project to advocate how forensic DNA can change lives, transform justice and prevent crimes before they happen. This bonus episode of "Mind Over Murder"originally ran on March 3, 2025.CrimeCon:  We're going to CrimeCon again, folks! Join us in Denver for new merch, some MOM listener hangouts, and a lot of fun! Use the code MINDOVERMURDER to get 10% off your tickets between now and September! See you there!Goodreads:  Silent Witness: How DNA Uncovered the Truth and Empowered My Healinghttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222721460-silent-witnessDNA Justice Project:https://www.dnajusticeproject.org/RAINN:  Together, we will create a world free from sexual violence.https://rainn.org/WTKR News 3: One year after development in Colonial Parkway Murders, where do things stand?https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-community/historic-triangle/one-year-after-development-in-colonial-parkway-murders-where-do-things-standWon't you help the Mind Over Murder podcast increase our visibility and shine the spotlight on the "Colonial Parkway Murders" and other unsolved cases? Contribute any amount you can here:https://www.gofundme.com/f/mind-over-murder-podcast-expenses?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customerWTVR CBS News:  Colonial Parkway murders victims' families keep hope cases will be solved:https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/colonial-parkway-murders-update-april-19-2024WAVY TV 10 News:  New questions raised in Colonial Parkway murders:https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/new-questions-raised-in-colonial-parkway-murders/Alan Wade Wilmer, Sr. has been named as the killer of Robin Edwards and David Knobling in the Colonial Parkway Murders in September 1987, as well as the murderer of Teresa Howell in June 1989. He has also been linked to the April 1988 disappearance and likely murder of Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey, another pair in the Colonial Parkway Murders.13News Now investigates: A serial killer's DNA will not be entered into CODIS database:https://www.13newsnow.com/video/news/local/13news-now-investigates/291-e82a9e0b-38e3-4f95-982a-40e960a71e49WAVY TV 10 on the Colonial Parkway Murders Announcement with photos:https://www.wavy.com/news/crime/deceased-man-identified-as-suspect-in-decades-old-homicides/WTKR News 3https://www.wtkr.com/news/is-man-linked-to-one-of-the-colonial-parkway-murders-connected-to-the-other-casesVirginian Pilot: Who was Alan Wade Wilmer Sr.? Man suspected in two ‘Colonial Parkway' murders died alone in 2017https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/01/14/who-was-alan-wade-wilmer-sr-man-suspected-in-colonial-parkway-murders-died-alone-in-2017/Colonial Parkway Murders Facebook page with more than 18,000 followers: https://www.facebook.com/ColonialParkwayCaseYou can also participate in an in-depth discussion of the Colonial Parkway Murders here:https://earonsgsk.proboards.com/board/50/colonial-parkway-murdersMind Over Murder is proud to be a Spreaker Prime Podcaster:https://www.spreaker.comJoin the discussion on our Mind Over MurderColonial Parkway Murders website: https://colonialparkwaymurders.com Mind Over Murder Podcast website: https://mindovermurderpodcast.comPlease subscribe and rate us at your favorite podcast sites. Ratings and reviews are very important. Please share and tell your friends!We launch a new episode of "Mind Over Murder" every Monday morning, and a bonus episode every Thursday morning.Sponsors: Othram and DNAsolves.comContribute Your DNA to help solve cases: https://dnasolves.com/user/registerFollow "Mind Over Murder" on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MurderOverFollow Bill Thomas on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillThomas56Follow "Colonial Parkway Murders" on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColonialParkwayCase/Follow us on InstaGram:: https://www.instagram.com/colonialparkwaymurders/Check out the entire Crawlspace Media network at http://crawlspace-media.com/All rights reserved. Mind Over Murder, Copyright Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley, Another Dog Productions/Absolute Zero ProductionsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mind-over-murder--4847179/support.

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In this episode, Rachel Hollis reflects on the crucial lessons she wishes she had known 10 years ago. She emphasizes the importance of personal empowerment, not giving away one's power, and understanding that not everyone's opinions matter in the long run. Rachel also highlights the need for self-care practices such as proper hydration, sleep, and daily movement.Get your copy of Rachel's New Book Here: Audible, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Millon, Bookshop.org, or wherever books are sold!00:58 Welcome and Podcast Subscription01:55 Summer Podcast Vibes02:34 Planning Podcast Episodes03:46 Reflecting on 2015: What I Wish I'd Known09:11 Empowerment and Leadership16:45 The Power of Self-Belief17:31 Stop Giving Your Power Away18:20 The Dangers of Seeking Validation19:00 Advice to a Fellow Entrepreneur24:30 Building a Business and Self-Reliance25:50 The Power of Opinions and Outgrowing Them28:17 Health and Wellness Tips30:49 The Importance of Daily Movement34:29 Trust and Intuition37:58 Coping Mechanisms and Facing Reality42:21 Final Reflections and AdviceSign up for Rachel's weekly email: https://msrachelhollis.com/insider/Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (737) 400-4626Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RachelHollisMotivation/videosFollow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MsRachelHollis To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices.

NEW PATH WORSHIP - New Album Out Now Spirit-Led, Not Self-DrivenLetting go of control and following the Spirit's leadEpisode Title:Discerning God's Voice – Learning to Recognize When God is SpeakingWhy This Series Now?:In a noisy, distracted world, how can you truly know when God is speaking? This episode of the Spirit-Led series helps you cut through the chaos and lean into the whispers of the Holy Spirit. Learn the biblical patterns, practical tools, and heart postures that position you to hear clearly from God. Whether you're making big life decisions or seeking daily guidance, this conversation will help you develop a Spirit-tuned ear and a surrendered heart.Key Verse: Galatians 5:25 – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”Epsiodes In The Series:6/13 - Flesh vs. Spirit: Who's Really In Control?6/20 - Discerning God's Voice6/27 - Surrendering The Timeline7/4 - Walking In Spiritual AuthorityFree 5-Day Bible Plan:It's called “Breaking Free from the Idol of Productivity”Each day is short, powerful, and Scripture-based—designed to help you walk in freedom and trust God again with your work.GET YOUR FREE DEVOTIONALTake time to think about this, pray about it, and take one small step in obedience. Remember, divine interruptions aren't just obstacles—they're opportunities for God to do something amazing in your life.Links to Connect with Ron:Website: www.newpathnewyou.comInstagram: @rcooljrFacebook: Ron CoolYouTube: New Path New YouDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review to help us reach more men seeking purpose! Share your stories of bold obedience with Ron on social media, and let's encourage each other on this journey.Find your Community: Men DiscipleshipBecome a NPNY Supporter! - Now Tax Deductible!One TimeMonthly For Married Couples! - The Abundantly Expectant Marriage Podcast - with Ron and Rachel Cool Website: AEMARRIAGE.com

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We hold on to so many things in our life. Childhood trauma, embarassments, failures, disappointments all take up so much space that we leave little room for the successes, gratitude, hope, possibility. This meditation hopes to help the meditator remember that life is a process of letting go. One breath at a time.

Diane Brandon facilitates, teaches, reaches, encourages, and inspires others, often helping others transform their lives in positive ways. She works with others one-on-one and in groups via classes, workshops, and seminars and is an expert on Intuition, Dreams, and the Born Aware Phenomenon, a term she coined. Diane infuses her work with enthusiasm, her signature humor, and thought-provoking insights.Born and raised in New Orleans, Diane has been spiritually aware since birth (literally), has had a lifelong interest in metaphysics, and has been an avid student of it for over 45 years.She has been a member of Intelligentsia Metaphysica, Mensa, and the Institute of Noetic Sciences.She is an alum of a high school for the academically gifted in New Orleans (Benjamin Franklin Senior High School), has an A.B. in French from Duke University, did Master's work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures, and attended TUTOR, a language institute in Geneva, Switzerland for French studies.Diane hosted "Naturally Vibrant Living with Diane Brandon" on Web Talk Radio and Blogtalkradio.com and "Vibrantly Green with Diane Brandon" on Ecology.com, in addition to appearing as a guest on several radio and TV shows nationally. She regularly appeared as a guest dream interpreter on the syndicated radio show "Your Time with Kim." She formerly hosted "Living Your Power" on the Health & Wellness Channel of VoiceAmerica.com.Diane has facilitated a seminar on Business Intuition at the Rhine Research Center, in addition to speaking on dreams there, and has spoken on Intuition at the Mensa Annual Gathering.Diane's Intuitive Counseling work led to writing. She's cited in "The 10 Most Common Nightmares Interpreted" in Business Insider and has contributed articles to Connexions ("Wholism and the New Age," "Guided Meditation and Regression," and "Paths to Empowerment"), Innerchange Magazine ("The Dance of Personal and Spiritual Growth: Syncing Up the Levels," "Experiential Spirituality and Contemporary Gnosis," "Shamar's Journey of Love," a children's story, "Heart-Centeredness: A Healthy and ‘Whole'some Meeting of Science and Spirituality," "Unwrapping the Wonderful Gift of Dreams," "Musings On Ghosts, Apparitions & the Veil Between Realities," "The Misguided Imperative to Be Positive," "Intuition - An Intuitive's View," "Befriending Your Other Self -- Plumbing Your Depths and Amplifying Self," and "The Loss of Two Beloved Giants"), to The Art of WellBeing ("Exploring Your Dreams for Wellness"),and The Journal of Tar Heel Tellers ("Vocal Tips for Storytellers"), and is a Contributing Author to The Long Way Around: How 34 Women Found the Lives They Love (© 2000, Carolina Women's Press) and Speaking Out! (© 2005, Insight Publishing).She's the author of four books: Born Aware – Stories and Insights from Those Spiritually Aware Since Birth (which endorsements called "brilliant" and "groundbreaking"), Dream Interpretation for Beginners -- Understand the Wisdom of Your Sleeping Mind, Intuition for Beginners -- Easy Ways to Awaken Your Natural Abilities and Invisible Blueprints: Intuitive Insights for Fulfillment. She has also written insight pieces on "The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina," "Choosing Hope—Some Thoughts on September 11, 2001," and "Disasters in Myanmar/Burma and China — Thoughts and Lessons."Diane is also a Corporate Consultant, as well as an Actor, Singer, Voice-Over Artist, and Voice Teacher and is included in the 1997-1998 Silver 25th edition of Who's Who in the South and Southwest.She started working professionally with her intuition in 1992.Please enjoy my conversation with Diane Brandon.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/next-level-soul-podcast-with-alex-ferrari--4858435/support.

During the second week of Blackest History Month, we continue to seek insights from Carter G. Woodson to fuel the momentum of historical memory as a device for breaking through the noise, distraction, and disruption of contemporary events.Neely Fuller Jr. (1929-2025), an early proponent of what has been labeled “Anti-Racist” thinking, contended in 1971 that “If you do not understand White Supremacy (Racism)—what it is and how it works—everything else that you understand will only confuse you.” He, Woodson, and countless others' lives and thoughts should help us develop our best thinking on Governance by forming a fortifying genealogy in the face of serially hostile Social Structure activity. This includes strategies like the so-called “Bannon Strategy” currently at work in the US federal government—a barrage of manufactured crises designed to seize control of political and economic levers of power.Through all of this, the need for focus and deliberate action in the face of systemic distraction must be emphasized. A question emerges: How do we break from a punishing cycle of serial reaction, understanding how to use the interplay between study and practice? Answers can be found in applying the “momentum of memory” to propel forward action.Carter Woodson's approach of slow, deliberate study and organized community-grounded activity serves as a foundation for mass action and collective learning, urging us to build a compendium of knowledge to guide our future. The key is that study, when properly understood, will lead to anti-oppressive action, fostering empowerment.JOIN KNARRATIVE: https://www.knarrative.com it's the only way to get into #Knubia, where these classes areheld live with a live chat.To shop Go to:TheGlobalMajorityMore from us:Knarrative Twitter: https://twitter.com/knarrative_Knarrative Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knarrative/In Class with Carr Twitter: https://twitter.com/inclasswithcarrSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Mary Crafts as she welcomes Nate Randle to this week's episode of "Crafting a Meaningful Life." In a heartfelt conversation, Mary and Nate explore the transformative power of personal trials and how overcoming adversity can shape a person's commitment to serving others. With more than just professional achievements, Nate shares his dedication to supporting single parents and his personal story of loss and resilience. In this compelling discussion, Nate Randle reveals how his life experiences, including the loss of his mother and daughter, have driven him to become a beacon of support for those in need. Sharing his personal journey, Nate uncovers the profound impact that empathy and vulnerability have had on his life and leadership style. This episode captures some extraordinary life lessons and serves as a testament to the human spirit's ability to triumph over adversity. Nate and Mary delve into themes of choice, sacrifice, and legacy, emphasizing the importance of showing up for others and living a life of purpose. With a focus on empowerment, especially of single parents, Nate illustrates through his work with the Live Your Dream Foundation how giving back can leave lasting positive impacts on both individuals and communities. Tune in to discover how embracing one's journey with open-heartedness and authenticity can lead to a fulfilling and meaningful life. About the Guest: Nate Randle is a highly respected business executive and dedicated philanthropist. As the CEO of a major company, Nate blends his leadership acumen with a profound commitment to community engagement, particularly focusing on supporting single parents. He sits on the board of the Live Your Dream Foundation, an organization devoted to empowering single mothers through scholarships.  Key Takeaways: Nate Randle's life journey illustrates the profound influence of personal loss and resilience in cultivating empathy and commitment to community service. Nate emphasizes the importance of serving others as a means to honor the legacies of those who have passed and to uplift single parents genuinely. The conversation stresses the power of choice and the ability to prioritize family and community over professional pursuits when necessary. Authenticity and vulnerability in personal and professional realms can foster deep connections and open doors for meaningful impact. Living a life of purpose is a shared theme, with both Mary and Nate discussing the importance of reflecting one's values through everyday actions and commitments.   Resources: Nate Randle's LinkedIn Profile: Nate Randle on LinkedIn Live Your Dream Foundation: liveyourdream.org Stay inspired and continue to craft a life filled with meaning and purpose. Listen to the full episode for more in-depth conversation and insights, and make sure you subscribe to "Crafting a Meaningful Life" for future episodes that will empower your journey of personal growth and giving.

In Part 2 of this special episode of Community Live from High Vibe Women, Kristina, Marissa Teeter, Carlyn Bushman, and Palak Dave continue their conversation about what it really takes to build meaningful relationships in business.You'll leave this episode with:Tips on how to build real relationships through action, not just intention.Tools to improve your asks.Debunked myths about needing a massive community to see big business growth.Advice on how to claim your in powerful rooms and conversations.Simple but transformative entrepreneurial habits to change your life. Empowerment to FAFO (yes, we said it) in your community-building journey.You have the power to grow a community that will grow with you back! If you've been waiting for a sign to be bolder, less apologetic and more authentic, this is it.Ready to be part of a community that supports your growth? Join us at The Social Business Club and use the code PODCAST for your first month for just $1.Connect With The Panelists:Carlyn BushmanPalak DaveMarissa TeeterMentioned in the Episode:Big Idea To BestsellerSend me a text!Support the showFor Your Information: • Host your podcast on Buzzsprout! •Use Code ‘PODCAST' For Your First Month For $1 Inside The Social Business Club • Join our favourite scheduling platform Later • FLODESK Affiliate Code | 50% off your first year! Don't forget to come say hi to us on Instagram @thesocialsnippet, join the Weekly Snippet or follow us on any social media platform! Website . Instagram . Facebook . Linkedin

In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan are joined by Eric Erston, CRO of RegScale. They explore the characteristics of top sales teams and delve into the importance of focus, understanding the ideal customer and persona profiles, and the balance of technology and human connection in sales. The conversation also highlights the critical role of leadership in fostering vulnerability, accountability, and continuous learning within sales teams. Eric shares valuable lessons from his extensive career, emphasizing the importance of hiring the right people, empowering teams, and adapting sales strategies to evolving market demands. The episode is rich with practical tips and heartfelt anecdotes, making it a must-listen for sales leaders and professionals aiming to elevate their game.ADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Eric Erston:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericerston/Read Force Management's Guide to Embedding AI In Your B2B Sales Organization: https://hubs.li/Q03ldrzD0Download the CRO Strategy Checklist: https://hubs.li/Q03f8LmX0Enjoying the podcast? Sign up to receive new episodes straight to your inbox: https://hubs.li/Q02R10xN0HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:02:07] Qualities of Top Performing Sales Teams[00:05:37] Understanding the Ideal Customer Profile[00:07:53] The Importance of Persona Profiles[00:18:43] Creating a Culture of Vulnerability[00:34:17] Leadership Authenticity and Empowerment[00:35:18] Balancing Vision and Execution[00:37:14] Setting Standards of Performance[00:41:14] Accountability and Rewarding Overachievers[00:41:48] The Importance of Simplicity in Leadership[00:44:40] The Role of Coaching and Feedback[00:51:05] Adapting Sales Strategies[00:56:44] The Impact of Video Calls on Sales[01:00:43] Opportunities at RegScaleHIGHLIGHT QUOTES"You have to earn the right to get to that personal discussion.""Enablement without accountability is a failure to lead.""Get the right people, everything is so much easier.""Lots of sales teams aren't focused.""In order to know how to qualify out, we've gotta know what success is.""The most elite people devour the information provided by the company and then invest their intellect and curiosity into getting to know the individual human component.""How you sell can be just as important as what you sell.""In the old days, one of the best pieces of advice I ever got was if it's in print, expect that they expect you've read it.""If you're not making enough calls, you're not going to succeed.""Find a culture where it's comfortable being vulnerable."

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In this Mission Matters Milken Conference Series episode, Adam Torres interviews Veronique Forge, CEO of Business O Feminin. Veronique shares how she built a global media and executive network championing women in leadership, including her newest initiative the Female Leaders Club launched with support from the Milken Institute. Her mission: to create cross-industry collaboration, mentorship, and visibility for top female executives worldwide. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us a textShaun Murphy, known as Mr. Motivation, shares his journey of resilience, fatherhood, and the fusion of music and motivational speaking. He emphasizes the importance of living in the moment, embracing failure, and surrounding oneself with a supportive community. Through personal anecdotes and insights from his book 'Unbreakable Valor', Shaun inspires listeners to pursue their passions and overcome challenges with hope and determination.---TakeawaysSuccess is not just about the destination, but the journey.Living in the moment is crucial; life is unpredictable.Fatherhood is about creating the blueprint you wish you had.Music can be a powerful tool for motivation and connection.Experiences, not possessions, create lasting memories.Self-confidence is built through practice and preparation.Community support is essential for personal growth.Hope is found in shared experiences and storytelling.Resilience can be learned from those who have overcome adversity.Education should include life skills and financial literacy.---Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Mr. Motivation02:40 The Journey of Resilience05:24 Living Life to the Fullest08:22 Intentional Parenting11:14 The Fusion of Music and Motivation13:55 Overcoming Self-Doubt16:58 The Power of Confidence19:44 Inspiration from Childhood22:22 Chasing Possibilities: The Influence of Media22:50 Curiosity and Connection: The Power of Stories24:19 Overcoming Trauma: Personal Growth Through Adversity25:11 The Journey to Education: From Success to Service26:32 Life Skills: Essential Education for the Future28:32 Building the Breakthrough Bunker: A Community for Growth31:06 Embracing Failure: The Path to Growth34:49 Hope in Action: The Power of Storytelling38:47 Lessons from Resilience: Finding Strength in Adversity44:13 Messages for the World: Inspiring Change45:09 Wisdom for the Next Generation: Surround Yourself with LightConnect with Passing The Torch: Facebook and IG: @torchmartin More Amazing Stories: Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You InsecureEpisode 49: Ryan Hawk – Crafting a Legacy of LeadershipEpisode 52: Riley Tejcek – Mission of Empowerment and Endurance

It's painful seeing so much sickness and ill-health. And one of the big reasons for so much sickness is the pain so many people's guts are in. IBS, Chron's disease and ulcerative colitis are becoming more common for more people, and tragically as young as 6 months old. This episode is a true gut health masterclass , with someone who really knows his gut stuff and is having real clinical success with real people, Josh Dech.Josh Dech is a Holistic Nutritionist and IBD specialist who believes that doctors often miss the mark by simply prescribing medication that masks symptoms. He advocates for functional medicine, focusing on addressing the root causes of health issues rather than just treating the symptoms. With his Gut 911 approach, Josh aims to heal the gut, rebuild the microbiome, and restore freedom to his clients' lives by addressing the underlying causes of digestive diseases like Crohn's and Colitis. His success in reversing these conditions led him to partner with medical clinics across the country, and he now shares his expertise as a medical lecturer for the Priority Health Academy, teaching doctors to implement his approach. Josh's extensive background includes being a Physician's Consultant for IBD and IBS, a former paramedic, and the Scientific Strategist and Education Director for the Root Cause For Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.Join us as we explore:What is at the root of the continuous rise of gut imbalance conditions like Chron's and colitis, and why the North American population has over 50% of the GLOBAL cases of serious gut disease.How it's possible to cure - YES CURE - the most serious of gut imbalance in just 16 weeks by following Josh's Gut 911 approach.The three reasons you get gut disease, the three ways to treat, reverse and cure them and the specific detox protocols and tools Josh finds success with.How detoxing as principle is woefully misunderstood, leading to worse symptoms and outcomes.The difference between IBD and IBS, and why Josh doesn't believe a specific diagnosis between IBD, IBS, Chron's or colitis is critical to treating, reversing and curing it.Why your gut health is about a lot more than what you eat.Contact:Website: https://gutsolution.ca/aboutInstagram: @joshdech.healthSupport the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I'd be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

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Tom Llamas is the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News. He got his start in news at just 15 years old as an intern for Telemundo in Miami. After 30 years in the news industry, he says raising his hand for opportunities helped get him to the anchor chair. Llamas is the son of Cuban immigrants, who fled the country when they were young. Growing up in a Cuban American community, Llamas says his family didn't shy away from discussing politics and current events. He opened up to Hoda about his upbringing, his love for storytelling, and the responsibility of anchoring an iconic broadcast.

As we enter US Black History Month 2025, we face the most severe crisis in white global nationalisms since World War II. In the United States, white nationalists are making good on their promise to try to destabilize the federal government and redefine the country. As Carter G. Woodson originally envisioned, this time must serve as a moment for reflection—an opportunity to consider what we should have learned about African world experiences throughout the year, to inspire action, and to propel us forward.JOIN KNARRATIVE: https://www.knarrative.com it's the only way to get into #Knubia, where these classes areheld live with a live chat.To shop Go to:TheGlobalMajorityMore from us:Knarrative Twitter: https://twitter.com/knarrative_Knarrative Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knarrative/In Class with Carr Twitter: https://twitter.com/inclasswithcarrSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Laura's daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, her world stopped. What followed was a powerful journey through fear, resilience, and fierce advocacy. In this episode, Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree—a lifelong educator and now author of The Cancer Parent's Handbook—opens up about the most terrifying day of her life, how she transformed pain into purpose, and why parent-to-parent support is critical in the childhood cancer community. Her reflections are raw, heartfelt, and offer wisdom for every parent facing a medical diagnosis with their child. 

In this heartfelt episode, Heather Solomon explores the beauty of life's chaos and the empowering journey of growth it brings. Join her as she reflects on the fulfilling moments with her adult children, the challenges faced along the way, and the importance of embracing the so-called 'messy middleground' of life. Discover valuable insights on choosing self-awareness, understanding the significance of modeling behavior to raise empowered children, and finding strength in imperfect progress. From laughter-filled weekends to the transformative power of letting go of perfection, this episode is an uplifting reminder that true empowerment begins within and echoes throughout every aspect of our lives. Connect with me, I'd love any suggestions for future episodes. Email: listenupyoungerself@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.solomon.14 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherslmn/

Liberating Your Heart: Exploring Holistic Healing Modalities and Liberation with Nichole Lee In this Season 4 Finale episode of Impostrix Podcast, host Whitney Knox Lee engages in a profound conversation with guest Nichole Lee about holistic and non-Western healing modalities. Whitney shares her own experiences with traditional healthcare and her steps toward integrating alternative healing practices, including energy healing and ancestral awareness. Nichole explains her approach to heart liberation work, which aims to help women release feelings and emotions that are blocking the heart and reclaim their sense of self and empowerment. Covering topics from hormonal health to spiritual and emotional well-being, this episode offers valuable insights into expansive healing practices and self-agency. Join Whitney and Nichole as they delve into what it means to truly liberate our hearts and live our most fulfilled lives. This is the SEASON 4 FINALE~ What a ride its been. And a joy to go on this journey with you. Stay tuned to learn whats next for Whitney and Impostrix Podcast by subscribing to the Validating Voice newsletter here: https://impostrixpodcast.com/#newsletter 00:00 Introduction to Healing and Self-Empowerment 00:54 Welcome to Impost Podcast Season Four 01:38 Deep Dive into Non-Western Healing Modalities 03:27 Exploring Personal Healing Journeys 06:08 Understanding Holistic Healing Approaches 12:40 The Importance of Self-Advocacy in Medical Care 28:59 Self-Disappointment and Ancestral Connections 30:24 Heart Liberation Work Explained 31:58 The Process of Energy Healing 37:23 Personal Experiences with Heart Healing 44:09 Empowerment and Co-Creation in Healing 50:46 New Offerings and Retreats 56:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Learn more about Nichole and her liberated heart offerings at https://www.nicholelee.love Connect with Nichole on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamnicholelee/ Follow Whitney on IG @ https://www.instagram.com/impostrixpodcast DONATE to keep the show running! Donations can be made via Buy Me A Coffee here https://buymeacoffee.com/impostrixpod Purchase your I Planned For This: A Life Organizer for When It's Needed today! https://a.co/d/br1d3hJ Thanks Chris @ https://www.DigitalREM.com for editing this episode!

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Send a Text to the Moms - please include your contact info if you want a response. thanks!Guests Wyatt Forte, and his mom Denise ForteThose Not So Little Voices offers a unique narrative as it is authored over the course of three and a half years --- from the age of fourteen to almost eighteen --- by a teenager struggling to make sense of psychotic symptoms that he experienced since he was six years old.Wyatt's journey is an amazing story, filled with heart-wrenching moments and major setbacks, but most importantly, it's an uplifting story that shows the power of love, support and resiliency.Link: the book on Amazon - https://a.co/d/4i3kVkUThanks for liking and sharing the podcast! Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/Want to know more?Join our facebook page Our websites:Randye KayeMindy Greiling Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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Welcome to the Healing Codes Podcast with Julie Williams, where science meets soul to help you come home to yourself.  Today's episode is the next in the 7 Healing Chakra Series, focusing on the Heart Chakra. 

Send us a textJoin me for an enriching and empowering conversation with Chris Maddox, founder of The Wild Woman Project.Together we go on a journey through her profound poem "She Decided". We share stories, insights, life lessons and what it means to reclaim your throne!If you're feeling lost, uncertain, disempowered, unfulfilled, chaotic, or any other challenging emotions right now, I hope this episode brings you peace.Find out more about Chris Maddox and The Wild Woman Project here:https://thewildwomanproject.com/

Since the November 2024 U.S. Presidential election, it has become increasingly common for Africans in the U.S. and others to invoke the phrase “Fool Around and Find Out.” And the U.S. — along with the rest of the world — is certainly finding out. As serious observers and commentators have noted for years, Donald Trump represents a resurgence of global political intolerance, white nationalism, and nativism. Neither he nor his prominent supporters have made any effort to disguise it. The first “Hell Week” of Trump's second presidential term has made his agenda clear, marked by a flurry of executive actions heavily influenced by the Heritage Foundation's “Project 2025.”JOIN KNARRATIVE: https://www.knarrative.com it's the only way to get into #Knubia, where these classes areheld live with a live chat.To shop Go to:TheGlobalMajorityMore from us:Knarrative Twitter: https://twitter.com/knarrative_Knarrative Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knarrative/In Class with Carr Twitter: https://twitter.com/inclasswithcarrSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textEver feel like you're outgrowing the life you're in... but too scared to strip it all away?In this unapologetically raw and empowering episode, Andrea Knoche gets intimate with Annalie Howling—a fierce performance coach who went from burnout to badass. Annalie dishes on EMDR therapy, the sexy power of self-trust, and why high-achieving women still struggle with imposter syndrome.They get real about divorce, shame, and the sometimes seductive pull of self-sabotage. Annalie doesn't hold back as she shares what it means to be a single mom, a woman rebuilding herself, and a snake shedding old skin—because staying small is no longer an option.This one's for the woman who knows she's meant for more… and is finally ready to own it.Where to find Annalie Howling:Instagram: @AnnalieHowlingYouTube: @AnnalieHowlingTikTok: @AnnalieHowling"Unapologetic" Book: https://bio.to/unapologeticIn this episode...1. What happens when the life you've built starts to suffocate the woman you're becoming?2. Why do so many high-achieving women secretly struggle with imposter syndrome and self-sabotage—and how can we break the cycle?3. Can we truly reinvent ourselves after shame, heartbreak, and burnout?And so much more...Support the showInstagram: @from.mrs.2.msTikTok:@from.mrs.2.msWebsite: www.frommrs2ms.comEmail: Andrea@FromMrs2Ms.comYouTube: @FromMrs2Ms

Tamara Dunahoe is a member of the International Dance Council, a trauma-informed yoga teacher, holistic personal trainer & Somatic Dance Coach. Using mindfulness and ancient body-based practices, she empowers and supports women in creating powerful change so they feel good in their bodies, feel balanced in their relationships and experience true joy and peace in their lives. Formerly a marketing manager with over 15 years of experience in the corporate world, Tamara finally decided to take the leap in helping others find healing inside and out and she's never looked back!  Following the sudden loss of her mother, she would spend the next decade navigating the waves of grief and chronic pain in her body along with the everyday stresses of life. Tamara is also an advocate for those suffering in chronic pain and she uses her personal pain journey to offer support and guidance for those feeling lost and hopeless.  Masterfully teaching the art of true presence, Tamara is Certified in The Somatic Activated Healing (SAH) Method™ which combines meditation, movement/dance, breath and mantra for a deeply transformative in-the-body dance experience. She is dedicated to building a thriving somatic dance community in Texas. You can work with her privately or find Tamara co-hosting wellness retreats, teaching yoga on the beach and being a conduit for healing & growth in her weekly Somatic Dance Class at The Healing House-Galveston.Episode Highlights▶ Tamara's personal story of grief, depression, and finding her path through yoga and somatic dance ▶ The connection between emotional well-being and chronic pain, and the role of acceptance and movement in healing ▶ The significance of somatic dance as a safe space for processing emotions and releasing stuck energy ▶ Tamara's transition from the corporate world to building a business aligned with her authentic self through a mastermind program ▶ The concept of "betraying oneself" and how to identify and honor personal needs, particularly for women in their late 30s and early 40s ▶ The process of nervous system regulation in somatic dance, incorporating breathwork, mantra, and movement for emotional release and liberation ▶ The role of synchronicities and generational healing in one's journey of self-discovery and purpose Tamara Dunahoe's Links & Resources▶ Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/iYblH6▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamaradunahoe/▶ Email:  tamaradunahoecoaching @ gmail.com  Download Beth's free trainings here: Clarity to Clients: Start & Grow a Transformational Coaching, Healing, Spiritual, or Psychedelic Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/grow-your-spiritual-businessIntegrating Psychedelics & Sacred Medicines Into Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/psychedelics-in-business▶ Beth's Coaching & Guidance: https://bethaweinstein.com/coaching ▶ Beth's Offerings & Courses: https://bethaweinstein.com/services▶ Instagram: @bethaweinstein ▶ FB: / bethw.nyc + bethweinsteinbiz ▶ Join the free Psychedelics & Purpose Community: / psychedelicsandsacredmedicines

Achieving Success with Olivia Atkin Episode 139 "Achieve Clarity & Empowerment: From Legal Battles To Breakthrough Conversations with Lesa Koski"Olivia talks personal and professional achievements with Lesa Koski. Lesa Koski is a seasoned attorney and family mediator, specializing in helping clients navigate divorce and family law matters with clarity and compassion. As the President and Founder of Koski Law and Mediation, PLLC, she has spent over seven years providing expert legal guidance, while also serving as a State Qualified Neutral, ensuring fair and peaceful resolutions. In addition to her legal work, Lesa is the host of Saddle Up Live, a podcast dedicated to empowering women over 40 through conversations on faith, wellness, relationships, and personal growth. Drawing from her own life experiences, she offers practical advice and strategies to help women embrace life's transitions with confidence. Whether in the courtroom or behind the mic, Lesa is committed to guiding others toward resilience, success, and fulfillment.Join Olivia every Tuesday as she brings on top notch guests to talk about how they are Achieving Success! Career Development Book and More at Achieving-success.comStay Connected With Us:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/achieving-success-llcInstagram: @_achievingsuccessTwitter: @_achievesuccessFacebook: @Achieving SuccessYou can find Lesa Koski:LinkedIn: Lesa KoskiWebsite: familyandcivilmediation.com/ Email: lesa.koski@gmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/achieving-success-with-olivia-atkin--5743662/support.

Feel like you're lifting heavy but still not getting stronger? You might be missing the real markers of strength—and Angela Gargano (former D1 gymnast and 4x American Ninja Warrior) joined me to set the record straight.We're talking about the biggest misconceptions women have about strength training, how to train through your cycle without burning out, and why confidence in the gym translates to confidence everywhere else. Angela also shares her personal story of injury and recovery—and how it changed her entire approach to fitness.Whether you're working on your first pull-up or just trying to feel more powerful in your body, this episode will fire you up with tools, mindset shifts, and no-BS advice that actually works.Angela Gargano is a 4x American Ninja Warrior, former D1 gymnast, and certified strength coach. She's also the founder of Strong Feels Good and a leading expert in helping women conquer their first pull-up.We Also Discuss:03:22 – Why Angela stopped chasing aesthetics and started chasing real strength09:47 – What American Ninja Warrior taught her about confidence (and failure)17:05 – The pull-up mindset shift every woman needs to hear21:33 – The truth about upper body strength most women don't know26:42 – How to train pull-ups if you can't do any yet33:18 – Grip strength hacks that actually work44:11 – Why women hold back in the gym—and how to stopThank You to Our Sponsors:BROADS: The smart strength training app for women. Home and gym workouts built for progress (not burnout). Try it free at broads.app and use code PODCAST for 20% off your first month.Legion: Use code Tara20 for 20% off your first order and double loyalty cash back any order after that when you shop at LegionAthletics.comMomentous: Head to livemomentous.com and use code TARA for up to 35% off your first order. Because foundational health isn't optional – it's everything.Find more from Tara: Website: https://www.taralaferrara.com/Instagram: @taralaferrara @broads.podcast @broads.appYoutube: Tara LaFerraraTiktok: @taralaferraraFind more from Angela GarganoWebsite: https://www.angela-gargano.com/Instagram: @angela_gargano Pull-Up Revolution: https://www.pulluprevolution.com/

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, we sit down with Ilise Litwin—therapist, author, podcaster, and unapologetically authentic human—to explore how navigating anxiety, self-doubt, and toxic relationships can lead to personal empowerment. Ilise opens up about the healing power of empathy, the toll of social media on mental wellness, and what it means to truly show up for yourself. We're not just any podcast—we're the 2024 People's Choice Podcast Award Winner for Health, 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner for Best Mental Health Podcast, and we're proud to have over 1 million downloads. Your voice matters to us! Please share your thoughts or leave us a voice message here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a Mental Health Quote from the Episode: “You can be me-centric without being selfish. You can still give to others, but the focus should always come back to you.” — Ilise Litwin What This Episode is About: This episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a raw and empowering look at what it means to navigate mental health in a world that often tells us to “just keep going.” Our guest, Ilise Litwin, joins us to explore how anxiety, trauma, social media fatigue, and emotional burnout can evolve into tools for personal growth when we stop pretending to have it all together. With humor, heart, and unfiltered honesty, Ilise shares her story of reinvention—from working in locked psychiatric units to building a life grounded in radical self-care and the freedom to be playful again. We explore what it means to be empathic in a chaotic world, how boundaries can protect our joy, and why reconnecting with your inner child might just be the best therapy of all. Whether you're a parent juggling too much, someone struggling with anxiety, or simply feeling burned out, this episode will inspire you to redefine what it means to heal—and to do it on your own terms. Meet Our Guest – Ilise Litwin Ilise Litwin, aka "The Fiery Redhead," is a bold and dynamic podcaster, author, motivational speaker, and therapist. A graduate of the University of Florida with credentials as a Therapeutic Recreational Specialist, Ilise spent years working in acute psychiatric units, where she helped patients build coping skills to reintegrate into life. Her podcast Wide Open Spaces blends edgy storytelling with mental health truths, sparking honest conversations that challenge societal norms. Her book, Wanderlust Within: A Journey to Self-Discovery, distills her podcast's most impactful moments into a transformational guide. Ilise is known for her transparency, authenticity, and empowering message that healing begins with truth. Website: https://wideopenspaceswithilise.com Podcast: https://wideopenspaces.podbean.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/102097171634382 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wideopenspaceswithilise LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilise-litwin-3a04051b7/ Key Takeaways: Empathy is powerful, but protect your peace. Being empathic is a gift, but it can become a burden without healthy boundaries. Anxiety is not a flaw. It's often a result of external pressure or biology, not a failure. Learn to adjust your coping tools. Joy is healing. Reconnecting with your inner child through play, laughter, and creativity can be a powerful form of mental self-care. Actionable Tips: Set a Social Media Detox Routine. Schedule weekly screen-free days and use automation to reduce emotional overload. Reclaim Playtime. Draw, dance, wear costumes, or revisit childhood hobbies to reconnect with joy. Visualize Boundaries. Use mental imagery (like protective bubbles) to manage emotional overload and stay grounded. Chapters & Timestamps: [00:03:19] – Choosing authenticity over approval [00:06:30] – Mental health professionals are human too [00:10:27] – The anxiety of social media and how to manage it [00:17:14] – Empathy burnout and boundary-setting [00:20:22] – Redefining “me-centric” as healthy, not selfish [00:25:14] – Parenting, play, and presence [00:31:25] – Reconnecting with passions and creative joy [00:36:00] – Protecting your peace in a chaotic world [00:41:03] – Daily rituals and nature as self-care [00:43:16] – How to find Ilise and her work References: Wanderlust Within: A Journey to Self-Discovery by Ilise Litwin Ilise's podcast: https://wideopenspaces.podbean.com Mental health resource: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Subscribe, Rate, and Review! Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe for more real conversations that break stigma and spark healing. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit: https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews Got something to say? We want to hear it—drop us a voice or written message at: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #IliseLitwin #SelfCareTools #InnerChildHealing #EmpathyBurnout #SocialMediaAndMentalHealth #TherapistRealTalk #MentalHealthQuotes #WideOpenSpaces #WanderlustWithin #RecreationalTherapy #AuthenticLiving #HealingJourney #BoundariesMatter #MentalHealthSupport #PodcastInterview #NormalizeMentalHealth ***************************************************************************If You Need Support, Reach OutIf you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don't hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it's OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.orgCanada: Call or Text 988 — 988.caWorldwide: Find a HelplineMental Health Resources and Tools: The Help HubStay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty SkittlesOfficial Website: goesoninourheads.netFacebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheadsInstagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittlesLinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty SkittlesJoin Our Newsletter: Sign Up HereMerch Store: goesoninourheads.shopAudio Editing by NJz Audio

In this episode of the Manifesting Latina podcast, Dr. Norma Reyes explores the concept of resistance in the manifestation process. She identifies three sneaky forms of resistance: judging advice, perfectionism, and the fear of being late. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, she encourages listeners to recognize these forms of resistance and offers strategies to overcome them. The episode concludes with journal prompts to help listeners reflect on their own experiences with resistance and to empower them to take action towards their goals.TakeawaysResistance can be subtle and often disguised as logic.Judging advice from others can hinder your growth.Perfectionism is a form of fear that delays action.Divine timing means there is no 'too late' in your journey.It's important to stay open to inspiration, even from unfamiliar sources.Taking action is more important than waiting for the perfect moment.You can pivot and change direction at any time.Self-reflection is key to understanding your resistance.Journal prompts can help clarify your feelings about resistance.You are exactly where you need to be in your journey.     Schedule a Discovery Call Start Your Spiritual & Manifestation Journey Click Here to Join the Manifesting Latina Email List

Send us a textIn this conversation, Teal shares insights on gratitude, setting intentions, and the importance of self-worth in navigating relationships. She emphasizes the significance of personal growth, the power of intentions, and the need to embrace rejection as a part of the journey. Teal encourages listeners to recognize their value and to pursue their dreams with confidence, while also celebrating their progress and the support of their community.Takeaways:Gratitude and intentions are powerful tools for reflection.Setting personal goals can lead to significant growth.Rejection is not a reflection of self-worth.Self-love is essential for building healthy relationships.Embracing vulnerability can lead to empowerment.It's important to recognize and celebrate progress.Community support plays a vital role in personal development.Feminine energy can guide us in our creative processes.We must challenge the belief that others are 'too good' for us.Personal development work prepares us for healthy partnerships.Follow Teal on Insta Here:https://www.instagram.com/tealelisabeth_/Download Teal's Relax into Love Guided Meditations here: https://www.tealelisabeth.com/meditationsJump into the Love Life Accelerator Here:https://www.tealelisabeth.com/accelerator Learn more about her Soul Rebirth Course here: https://www.tealelisabeth.com/soul-rebirthLearn more about her Sacred Union Course here:https://www.tealelisabeth.com/sacred-unionEmail Teal anytime here: teal@relax-into-love.com

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For gay men, humor has long been a powerful tool for resilience, offering both a means of survival through marginalization and a way to reclaim joy and identity. As queer comedy evolves and gains mainstream visibility, it remains a radical act of authenticity, resistance, and connection—especially during Pride, when celebrating visibility and community is more important than ever.In this episode, Michael John Ciszewski joins us to share his journey as a queer comedian and explore how humor fuels authenticity, activism, and connection during Pride and beyond in today's ever-evolving cultural and political landscape.Related Episodes:Listen to Episode 33. Self-Deprecating Humor: Am I Crying or Laughing?Listen to Episode 34. GBF: Gay Best FriendListen to Episode 135. Don't Be A Mean GayAdditional Resources:Self-Deprecating Humor's Effect on LGBTQ+ Mental Health and Self-EsteemFrom Sidekick to Main Character: Unpacking the 'Gay Best Friend' Trope and Its Impact on Queer MenLearn More About Michael JohnFollow Michael John on InstagramFollow Michael John on TikTokSubscribe to Michael John on YouTubeFollow Michael John on TwitterSupport the showGet Your Merch

In this episode, Molly McGrath explores the mindset shift from employee to intrapreneur, emphasizing accountability as the foundation for personal growth and law firm success. With tools like daily progress reports and outcome-based systems, she shows how to build a culture of trust, leadership, and productivity from within your team.   Key Takeaways:   Employee vs. Intrapreneur Mindset: Understand the differences between waiting for instructions and taking initiative to drive firm success. Importance of Accountability: Effective accountability systems can transform firm culture, leading to increased productivity and trust. Clear Outcomes and Systematization: Define explicit goals and processes to ensure consistent team performance and achievement tracking. Empowerment through Initiatives: Encourage teams to proactively identify problems and suggest solutions to drive growth and impact. Tools for Success: Utilize resources and structured methodologies to maintain focus, such as the daily progress report and the daily huddle.   Quote for the Show: "Intrapreneurs proactively seek solutions, start conversations with 'here's the identified problem and here is my proposed solution for this.'" - Molly McGrath   Links: Website: https://hiringandempowering.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiringandempowering Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiringandempowering LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiring&empoweringsolutions/ Law Firm Admin Bootcamp: https://www.lawfirmadminbootcamp.com/ Get Fix My Boss Book: https://amzn.to/3PCeEhk   Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music - https://www.amazon.com/Hiring-and-Empowering-Solutions/dp/B08JJSLJ7N Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hiring-and-empowering-solutions/id1460184599 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3oIfsDDnEDDkcumTCygHDH Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/hiring-and-empowering-solutions YouTube - https://youtu.be/zGlbU3eljAg

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Thom Francis introduces us to poet and writer Alyssa Michelle. They talk about her poem “Introvert” and its inspiration, what convinced a self-proclaimed introvert to come out to open mics, and how personal experiences shape her writing. — Alyssa Michelle is a mother, poet, self-published author, and spoken word artist. Her poetry sheds light on life as a single mother, domestic violence, addiction, mental health, healing, and self-empowerment. Her chapbooks include “Growing Pains,” “The Awakening,” and “Blooming Season.” Alyssa read her poem “Introvert” at the Brass Tacks poetry and spoken word open mic on December 4, 2018, at The Low Beat in Albany. In our conversation, we talk about where that poem came from, what convinced a self-proclaimed introvert to come out to open mics, and how personal experiences shape her writing. Alyssa will be sharing her work as a featured reader at the Poets in the Park series on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Albany's Washington Park. Information on that reading and all of the writers featured this July can be found on the Hudson Valley Writers Guild website, https://hvwg.org.

This week's In Class session will explore the symbolic clash between two diametrically opposed worldviews—represented by Trump and King—and examine how challenging oppressive structures can lay the groundwork for dismantling them.JOIN KNARRATIVE: https://www.knarrative.com it's the only way to get into #Knubia, where these classes areheld live with a live chat.To shop Go to:TheGlobalMajorityMore from us:Knarrative Twitter: https://twitter.com/knarrative_Knarrative Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knarrative/In Class with Carr Twitter: https://twitter.com/inclasswithcarrSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Step into your power with this Empowerment Affirmations Meditation, designed to help you awaken inner strength, boost self-confidence, and fully embrace your potential. Whether you're beginning your day, facing a challenge, or simply need a moment to reconnect with your greatness, these empowering affirmations will uplift your spirit and remind you of the unstoppable force within you. In this episode, you'll be guided through a calming meditation infused with I AM affirmations for empowerment, self-belief, and courage. Each statement is crafted to help you rewire limiting beliefs, step into your authentic self, and align with the energy of confidence, clarity, and purpose. Repeating these positive affirmations daily can reshape your mindset and help you manifest success, abundance, and personal power. #affirmations #empowerment #empoweryourself #meditation Get ad-free access to the entire WMU catalog + bonus content + 25% discount on WMU courses by joining the WMU Premium Feed. Grab a 7-day free trial of Wake Me Up premium: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodpeoplestuff.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Wake Me Up Wake Me Up is the # 1 guided morning routine podcast. Our guided morning wake ups offer affirmations, mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and motivation specifically designed to help you get out of bed and start your day with a positive mindset. Stop pressing the snooze button all morning long, and turn on an episode of Wake Me Up instead. You will be happier and more successful at everything in life because of it! Try out our different kinds of episodes to see what you like. And add it into your morning routine every day. Each day, you will be happier than the day before :)   Check out my sleep meditation podcast, Sleep Escape on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Want to be more focused? Wish distractions would just melt away? Sign up for the WMU Focus Course! If you're interested in joining, all you need to do is sign up for the course here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wakemeuppod.gumroad.com/l/focus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Wake Me Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Say hi or request an episode at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.wakemeuppodcast.com/contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. See visual guides for the yoga and stretches in WMU episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.wakemeuppodcast.com/stretches⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. **Only partake in the physical movements suggested in Wake Me Up episodes if you are physically able and in safe surroundings. All movements are done at the individual's own risk. Be safe, and always consult a doctor if you have any questions or concerns.** Have a wonderful day

Daily Prayer DevotionIn this empowering episode of "Daily Warfare Prayers," Pastor Derrick Crosby inspires listeners to guard their hearts against the dangerous traps of the "lust of the flesh," "lust of the eyes," and "pride of life," as revealed in 1 John 2:15-17. Through spiritual insight and heartfelt prayer, Pastor Crosby encourages surrender to the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that true strength and fulfillment come from yielding to God's guidance. Listeners are uplifted to pursue a deeper relationship with God, overcome the dangerous traps of worldly temptations, and embrace a life of purpose, devotion, and spiritual victory.Takeaways & Scripture ReferencesIntroduction to the Three Traps (00:00:00)**  Overview of the episode's purpose and introduction to the three spiritual traps: lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life.  *Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:16*Explanation of the Lust of the Flesh (00:01:51)**  Defines "lust of the flesh," contrasts fleshly and spiritual natures, and explains their ongoing conflict.  *Scripture References: Galatians 5:16-17; Romans 8:5-8*How to Overcome the Flesh (00:03:39)**  Describes yielding to the Holy Spirit as the only way to overcome the flesh, using the escalator analogy.  *Scripture References: Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:13*Prayer for Empowerment (00:05:28)**  Leads a prayer asking for grace, wisdom, and empowerment to overcome the flesh and yield to the Holy Spirit.  *Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 12:9; James 1:5; Ephesians 3:16*Surrender and Seeking God (00:07:02)**  Concludes with surrendering desires to God, seeking His will, and affirming delight in the Lord through prayer.  Scripture References: Psalm 37:4; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 6:33*Call To Action Subscribe To Warfare Prayer Podcast for daily inspiration, devotion and prayer. Share this episode with someone going through trails and challenges Leave a review for Warfare Prayers Podcast. Support Warfare Prayers Here Other Prayer ResourcesClick here for prayer booksClick Here to follow on YouTubeTranscriptThank you for listening to Daily Warfare Prayers, a podcast created to empower your mind, soul and spirit through daily scripture, devotion and prayer so that you can walk in victory today. Today I want to warn you to avoid three dangerous traps. These traps will kill your love for God and your desire for his will. They are traps that Satan uses every single day.The traps are found in first John 215 through 17. The Bible says this do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the father, but is of the world, and the world is passing away and the lust of it.But he who does the will of God abides forever. So the dangerous devices, according to the word of God, that you must be aware of as you go about your day and as you go about your journey, are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

Welcome back to 'Don't Cut Your Own Bangs!'    In this lively and heartfelt episode, Danielle Ireland chats with Ashlyn Thompson from the Parent Empowerment Network. Ashlyn shares her journey from growing her nonprofit organization to the emotional rollercoaster of her daughter's complex medical journey.    Get ready to explore how pain can be an unexpected teacher, the magic of community support, and why tapping into creativity can be your secret weapon against anxiety. Filled with laughs, valuable insights, and touching moments, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom and joy. Tune in and enjoy the ride!   00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 00:20 Ashlyn Thompson's Journey and Nonprofit Growth 01:10 The Importance of Community and Support 01:37 Embracing Big Feelings and Finding Joy 02:52 Welcoming Ashlyn Back and Discussing Growth 05:44 Navigating Pain and Empowerment 09:51 The Power of Perspective and Decision Making 14:27 Balancing Life and Nonprofit Work 21:21 The Role of Pain as a Teacher 30:48 Finding Comfort in Movement and Nature 33:09 Returning to Basics 33:35 Reflecting on Past Decisions 35:20 The Role of Pain and Fear 38:20 Parent Empowerment Network 44:25 Creativity as a Lifeline 49:21 Embracing Emotions 53:07 Don't Cut Your Own Bangs Moment 01:01:20 Conclusion and Resources   Ashlyn Thompson interview links Ashlyn Thompson, a passionate advocate and storyteller, is co-founder of the Parent Empowerment Network, a nonprofit providing emotional and mental health support to parents navigating pediatric medical complexities. She also co-hosts theEmpowered by Hope podcast, which equips parents with practical tools, resources, and a strong sense of community—delivered with a heavy dose of humor and hope to empower them as their child's best advocate. Ashlyn's fire for advocacy was ignited by her daughter Emery, who was born with bladder exstrophy. After Emery nearly died following a major surgery at just seven weeks old, Ashlyn became a fierce voice for patient safety. Unwilling to accept the limitations of domestic medical care, she discovered a surgical option in the U.K. that wasn't available in the U.S. at the time. In early 2023, Emery became the first American to undergo this procedure—and thanks to Ashlyn's relentless advocacy, that surgery is now available in America. When she's not advocating or recording podcasts, Ashlyn moonlights as a budding driveway chalk artist, chaos coordinator for her spirited family, and an avid nature lover. Chocolate is her daily vitamin, ADHD is her superpower, spiders and small talk are her sworn enemies, and she firmly believes laughter and boldness are two of a parent's greatest tools.   Parent Empowerment Network:  The Parent Empowerment Network exists to support, encourage, and educate parents of children with medical complexities—empowering them with community, knowledge, and confidence to be their child's fiercest advocate. www.ParentEmpowermentNetwork.org Empowered by Hope podcast on all major podcast streaming platforms: https://parentempowermentnetwork.org/podcast/   Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Parent-Empowerment-Network/100083218456295/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentempowermentnetwork/   She is Charlotte book by co-founder, Emily Whiting:https://parentempowermentnetwork.org/she-is-charlotte-book/ DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below.   Website: https://danielleireland.com/   The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal   Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/   Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW   Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” is about creating a community around, and familiarity with, the messy middle—that uncertain and often chaotic and uncomfortable time in the middle of a process or journey. The messy middle is replete with ambiguity and challenges, but it's also where the hard and rewarding work happens.   Transcript [00:00:00] Danielle: Hello. Hello, this is Danielle Ireland and you are watching or listening to Don't Cut Your Own Bangs. I am so excited to be back in the interview seat. We've done some solo cast. It's been a blast. But Ashlyn Thompson is here with me today, and we just wrapped an incredible conversation. Ashlyn came on as a guest to talk about her work with Charlotte's Hope Foundation a couple of years ago. [00:00:26] She was about ready to embark right in the interview we were, she was. Days away from embarking on a trip to the UK for her daughter having a surgery with the only surgeon in the world who performed the specific type of surgery that her daughter needed. Her daughter's made a full recovery. It's a beautiful story we're gonna get into in this episode, but what I'm truly, if you could imagine even beyond that beautiful story, what I'm so excited to introduce to you and to that I was so grateful to witness and learn from. [00:00:53] Is that Ashlyn has grown her nonprofit organization, not no money in organization, but yes, a nonprofit organization that at the time, two years ago when we last checked in with her, was called Charlotte's Hope Foundation. It has grown. It's expanded, and it's evolved, and it's now the Parent Empowerment Network. [00:01:10] She and her co-founder also have a podcast for that same work, and what I love about the work that they do. They create community connection space and resources for parents and families raising children or any provider helping a child navigate medical complexities. And that sounds like such a hard and heavy and challenging topic. [00:01:33] And it is. But what Ashlyn embodies is. The work that I really wanted to bring to this season and this new phase of don't cut your own bangs, which I want big feelings to feel less scary. I want approaching them to feel possible. And then with that in mind, wherever possible, as much as possible, finding lightness, levity, and joy. [00:01:54] However we can do it. And I'm telling you, in this episode we did that. We accomplished that. We talk about important things, we talk about heavy things, and Ashland is vulnerable in a way that is inviting. But also something we can all learn from. And through the specificity of her life experience and what she's learned, there are universal nuggets that we can all find value in. [00:02:17] I know I did, and this was such a beautiful place to share, and we laughed. We had joy, we smiled . I hope that this topic invites you and encourages you to lean in and tune in because there are so many great nuggets of this. Thank you for being here, and I can't wait for you to sit back, relax, and enjoy. [00:02:38] Ashlyn Thompson [00:02:39] Hi. Yes, I know. Big jumps for both of us. I know. I feel like we're, it does feel like a lifetime ago. It I mean, in many ways it is. It's like we're, I mean, I'm still, me and all the key players are still playing. Right. But it does feel like a different life in a way. And I, with that in mind, I just wanna officially welcome you back. [00:02:55] Yes. Welcome. Ashlyn Thompson. Oh, thank. Don't cut your own bangs. I am so excited that you're here for many reasons, but the thing I'm most excited about is I think that. Building something or starting something creates a certain amount of effort and energy. Sustaining something, growing with it, breathing new life into it, that's a different part of a different element of a creative process. [00:03:17] And that's something I think specifically I'm really excited to talk to you about because you're parent Empowerment Network, which has it, it exists to support, encourage and educate parents and caregivers of children with medical complexities. And that was, it already was in existence when we, right, when we recorded the first time. [00:03:34] But it has grown. Grown. I went to a gala, people, she's throwing a gala fundraiser for her for her network. And so, I mean, I wanna hear about all the twists and all the developments of that, but more specifically the context I wanna provide for us and for this conversation. The thing that I'm really excited about, , and why I feel really passionate about bringing this to video. [00:03:57] Is that I want to help make big feelings feel less scary. Yeah. And I want to make, approaching them feel possible. And then with that in mind as much and as often as possible, laugh as much as possible. Amen. And so, right? So like, you are swimming in the trenches with people and even in your own life with people who are holding and making space for heavy things. [00:04:23] Yes. And yet there is a bright smile on your face. There's a twinkle in your eye. You laugh and you smile. And I wanna, and I don't know how to articulate what that is, but I want to, I wanna, that's something I wanna make space for in this conversation too. So it's important and it's big and it's emotional for sure, but also like, let's allow levity too. [00:04:42] Absolutely. I am so excited to be continuing our conversation, and I'm also really happy to know that. The person who's sitting here with you today is very much a different person from two years ago. And I feel like I have gone through multiple versions of myself just in the past two years. And that's one of the things that I truly celebrate about, not just the journey of parent empowerment network, but I think just growing and evolving as a human spirit, experiencing this life is recognizing that I say this phrase to only certain people, but I act, I feel compelled to share it now. [00:05:26] I feel like I have died a thousand times. And greeted so many versions of myself. But every time I rise into that extroversion and realize who I am, I like that person more and more. And. I feel like one of my greatest accomplishments just this past year has been truly settling into a, knowing a deep belief that life is meant to grow through, not go through. [00:05:58] And that change, that pivot of how I see the next big thing that comes up has been such a grounding force for me and has really helped me feel like I'm actually sitting in the driver's seat of my car. I don't know what I'm going to pass as I'm on this highway. In life. And sometimes life yanks me off on an exit I didn't plan. [00:06:23] And those exit ramps are typically the next lesson. But I'm grateful to be at a point where I can now see the next really hard thing emerging and not wanna hit reverse. Wow. Wow. Not that I like it all the time. No, God. But I can appreciate that this isn't out to crush me. This isn't here to take me down like I used to feel. [00:06:53] , Wow. There's a lot to unpack there for. Thank you so much for sharing that, but also not going in reverse. I wanna make a mental note, not going in reverse. The next version of me, I like better, and this is not here to crush me. Right. The, there's something, I got chills. I got full body chills when you, the la with the last thing that you said, because when I'm working with clients, there is this element and this is something. [00:07:18] I promise I'll come back to that original point there. There's an element of the work that I do where, and I'm sure you get this in your own way too, with like hearing stories from families who are holding really hard and heavy things. I think when I meet people for the first time, a common response is, wow, I don't know how you do what you do, or I don't know how you listen to that all day. [00:07:36] Or Oh man, and I think, yes, sure. There, there are certainly days and clients or moments where those stories are making space for people's big, heavy, painful experiences. Right. Is can be a lot at times. Far less anymore. But I think more than anything the va like, I feel so lucky to have the experience a hundred maybe even thousands of times over hurt people's pain. [00:08:03] And I know what pain sounds like. Yes. And there are different types and one thing that I absolutely believe to be true is that our pain is not personal. Our story is personal, right? But pain is not personal. And the events of our life, even things that happen to us, it's, there's it's almost shifting out of a, and I hope I can say this within the context that, that is heard with love. [00:08:27] But shifting out of a victim mentality right into it. Because being victimized or being stricken with grief or holding something hard like that is absolutely real. And also knowing that this is happening to me, but this is not gosh, what are the words I'm trying to find. It, what I'm hearing is you recognize how hard this is. [00:08:51] Whatever that insert blank. I recognize how hard this is, and I'm not going to make this pain so precious that I don't also see it as temporary. Yes, exactly. But there's something, so I think there's something really powerful and there's so much nuance to that because I certainly don't want to, people can be victimized, but the victim mentality is one of, in my professional experience it's one of the more challenging headspace to, for someone to walk out of. [00:09:21] Agree. It's really hard. Exactly. It shrinks your world. So, so much. That's well said. And we experience that very often. We really fo I mean we say all the time, you know, we are non diagnosis specific, non prognosis specific with the families that we work with, and we focus on the parents or the parent role, which could be performed by a sibling, a grandparent, a friend, an adopt, a lot of different people, but. [00:09:51] What we really found early in our journey and what helped us evolve into parent empowerment network was that recognition that, like you pointed out, pain is not it's not customized to your experience. The feeling, the emotional and physical experience relationship with pain is common through all of us, and it actually is a way that we can connect with each other when we recognize that. [00:10:18] When we stop comparing one another's pains. Now, don't get me wrong, if your kid got a bump on the head versus your kid needs a, you know, brain surgery. Right. Those are different. Yes. Very different. Yes. But most of the time we're not dealing with that. And what we have found is that when somebody is in that victim mentality, which is understandable, I think that's a, very important aspect to acknowledge when you're feeling like a victim, why is this happening to me? Or why is this happening to my child? Because I'll be the first to say, it's never okay when your child is hurting or sick or in harm's way or worse. I will never be okay with it. But when we say stuck in a victim mentality, our ability to problem solve goes from about here to here. [00:11:08] Yeah. And then your child is really the one who suffers. And I hate, it's a hard truth. But we have to face that truth because when we can help a parent start to find glimmers of hope, start to see that there's a way to build on quality of life rather than cure. Then you start to see this new version emerge where they are truly, you know, empowered advocates for their child. [00:11:45] There's something that I heard in what you said too, that a lot of times when I'm working with clients who are maybe knee deep in anxiety or depression, for example. I think why can be a powerful question, but I think a misplaced why is a really exactly damaging question. Like, why me? Why them? [00:12:02] Why this, why now? Because those are questions you can't answer that only lead to a defeating answer. Exactly. And usually another question or shame, but what I'm hearing a lot in when you. When you can kind of broaden your focus and sort of release that constriction from why you then can open yourself up to a different type of question. [00:12:23] How can I, exactly. How can I get through today? How can I get through this moment? What is needed most of me now? What do I need now? Right. And those types of the what and the how. Who do I need to show up for? Is it me? Right. Is it them? Who do I need to ask for help? Who has information that I need? [00:12:43] Those types of questions don't eliminate the pain, but it broadens the scope Yes. Of, of your field of vision. And I know that though, like, 'cause you are here in many ways. Oh, I hope it's okay to use this term. But I hope that you're here as an expert and you're also the executive Hope director of of the power impairment network. [00:13:05] And I think a lot of times. What we would imagine as the worst possible case scenario. Like the worst thing we could imagine would be something happening to our kids. This has been your lived experience. This has been your business partner's lived experience. And for, even though you have a podcast as well, where you really create a space and content and a community that helps people with that very specific set of circumstances, that Right. [00:13:33] I would imagine it's like. The best and worst club to be a part of. So we always say, we're so sorry you're in this club. Yes. But we're so glad you found us. Yes. Like it's the yes, we're really sorry, but at the same time, like, welcome home, welcome. And so I think a lot of the, a lot of the people who tune in to don't cut your own bang, I don't know how many would have this specific life experience. [00:13:57] Right. And if you do, oh my gosh, what a gorgeous resource you have in Ashlyn. Oh, thank you. And the Parent empowerment network and their podcast. But I do think that even in something like this, in within the specificity of everything you're saying, there is such a broad truth that I think we can all access and find value in. [00:14:16] And, yeah. So just thank you for all of that. And I want to, okay. I wanna shift a little bit to the growth of the parent Empowerment network. Right. Because, so when I originally started this podcast, what I was, what I really motivated me, one was I was terrified of becoming a therapist and having worked as a creative, and I just wanted to surround myself with other people who, who were building things, right? So that I could sort of sneak in my own needy questions. Like, how did you do it? How did you figure it out? What happened when you were scared? Like, what happened when your computer crashed? Oh my gosh. And you went from newly building something to, you have really grown. [00:14:53] Yes. You have really grown. And I wanna know having experienced the, you know, the gala that Right. That you that you threw that was so lovely. I wanna know . What led to the growth over the last two years? Because you're still momming, you're still life. Yeah. Your daughter is still being you. [00:15:08] I mean, like your life is still life and Yes. Life is still lifeing. How, in the midst of your lifeing, how have you also continued to grow this? And I really wanna know like what fueled your fire. And just tell me more about that story please. Yes, absolutely. So at the beginning of this, you know, when we started talking, you were very talking about how I'm sitting here smiling and I mean, I am fully, I am genuinely full of joy in this moment. [00:15:35] And I think I know actually that comes from being in something like we have with Parent Empowerment Network, which has been truly its own huge like business, right? We are called a nonprofit, but let me tell you, I mean, it is straight up business. [00:15:57] Is what it is in a lot of ways, and. That's the worst possible name for a tax category. It totally is. Because it's so confusing. Nonprofit doesn't mean no money. Right. Exactly. It's so confusing. We do not exist for free. Is great an idea as that sounds. I want that to be the slogan for every nonprofit. [00:16:16] I just, 'cause we don't exist for free. Right. You know the whole, you get what you pay for. It's, yeah. That's a whole other conversation. We're not gonna spend too much time there today. We should have a part two then. There we go. I'm okay with that. All right. So for that, what I think the biggest lesson that has. [00:16:33] Emerged from this journey just since we were, you know, you and I were talking a couple years ago when we were actually still called Charlotte's Hope Foundation. Yes. Which was our initial name. Yes. Because we had an idea for something that was this big at the beginning. And the name Charlotte's Hope Foundation fit that in theory. [00:16:52] But the thing I'm most proud of my, of Emily Whiting, who's my co-founder, fellow mom, fellow sister, fellow savior, at times the best thing we have done is allowed ourselves permission to grow and shrink as needed. And that's what we've done throughout this journey. It has not been a step process. [00:17:15] There have been countless times where we have grown two or three steps, been bigger, you know, working with international teams of surgeons, pulling together collaborations that have never been done, and then. There have been times where we have pulled back and we haven't released an episode for six weeks. [00:17:33] We have had maybe two or three social posts because our lives were on fire or just demanded all our attention, but it didn't mean we had to stop. I need to, oh my gosh. I don't know how many of you listening or watching can relate to that. I, there is a relationship I have with the expansion and contraction of output where if I'm not putting something out, producing something, making something that it really does a number on my sense of self worth. Right. And self esteem. And that is something that I'm still actively healing and repairing, because I definitely know the facts. I know. The really bumper stickery, self helpy sounding talk. [00:18:26] And I believe it. It's not that I, I don't hear it and think like, yeah. Right. It's just that there's a more practiced version of me, right. That has just had more at bats operating in a certain way. And then life in many ways rewards you for that. In theory. In theory. And I don't mean the like the laurels, like you get the the kudos pat on the back accolades but there is a cost, right? [00:18:47] There is a cost. And I think, in the I this past year I wrote a children's book called Wrestling a Walrus. And this the act of writing this book was something that I didn't realize that in the contraction, or even like in the I love the visual of the caterpillar becoming the butterfly. [00:19:09] 'Cause there's a two week process where the caterpillar is literally, we talk about the messy middle in this podcast and think, thank you Brene Brown, wherever you are for creating language and context for us for this very conversation. 'cause so much of this is inspired by that, but that gooey, mushy middle where it's not a butterfly, it's literally goo and it's Exactly, and it, and, but in that place, there is magic happening there. [00:19:33] Even if it, even though it looks like a pile of shit, right. Like, it's, there's magic happening there. I'll say the impetus or the inspiration, the. It was tough moments with my daughter, moments where I didn't feel like I was doing anything. Right. It like hitting the wrecking ball of, you know, being a parent of a toddler and a parent of an infant like that was, there's not enough grace in any space to help you go through that without serious, you know, support. [00:20:02] There were, I had some victim mentality at that point in time, even, and all things can be true at once. But all of that was what I experienced before I had the idea to write the book. And had I not had that experience, I wouldn't have been able to do that. Exactly. I don't think it would've been the same. [00:20:16] And [00:20:16] , and I promise this whole podcast isn't an ad for the book, but like, I really believe in this damn book and I love it so much. And I love that you talk about that expansion and contraction for yourself. And that you doesn't, it doesn't mean you have to stop. 'cause I think a big reason why I maybe avoided picking up the torch again and doing this podcast like I left it for so long, or I abandoned it for so long, or can I still do it right? [00:20:41] Like all of that stuff. And then yeah it. Yeah. Doubt doesn't mean you're done. No. And taking a pause doesn't mean you're stopping forever. But yeah. I mean, you can't just exhale forever. You can't just output like you eventually have to breathe in. Exactly. And that relationship is very necessary. [00:21:00] And so, I mean, everything you're saying is exactly what I need. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. You're welcome. And it, that lesson doesn't come easily. Nope. But I think another element of that, you know, building off of what you were just talking about, pain and discomfort and naturally shying away from it. [00:21:21] I challenge anybody in life to just take a moment to consider pain as a potential teacher, as a professor, rather than pain as an enemy, or pain as a destroyer. Right. If you ask yourself. Why does this feel painful? Because how many times do we all experience in our life something that really gets under our skin, but whether it's a spouse or it's a friend or a coworker and they seem totally unfazed by it, [00:21:56] and that used to be something that bothered me. I was kinda like what's, am I ever sensitive? Or like, what is my thing? And I grew up always hearing, not necessarily even from my parents, but I feel like. Teacher schools and saved by the bell commercials about find what you love in life and you'll never work a day in your life. [00:22:16] And that was great in theory, but I'm a very eclectic person. Yep. I love a lot. And all I was getting was a lot of burnout. That's also like saying like, love your kids and you'll never have a hard day with them in your life. You're like, no bs. No. I love my kids. But like, you know, oh my gosh, kids are the greatest, hardest thing of life. [00:22:33] Right. Right. But I think the same is true. Like , I never stopped loving this. Right. But I don't always have control over the life around. Right. But it's a, I think allowing things to be a part of you, not all of you, is really important. Yeah. And I think it's so easy to define ourselves by that output. [00:22:53] For me and Emily, the word is often it's impact. Are we actually making an impact? And the thing that helped us. Become okay with hitting the pause button when we needed to, and not officially throwing in the towel. Don't get me wrong, there were conversations about it, but we were always very honest with each other and we held each other accountable that if you are feeling like this is not jiving with your life, if it's not jiving with you personally, or it's not good for your family at this moment, let's hit the pause button and talk about it. [00:23:26] But realizing that if we only help each other while working on this, Emily and I, that's helping our kids, that's helping our families. And there's a domino effect from that goes from that. And if that's all we ever do, what's bad about that? You said something that I, it still stuck with me and it will probably be the title of this episode. [00:23:49] Pain is a Professor. Yes, it is. And I wanna go back to that because something that I talk about in my sessions a lot is that your emotions never lie to you. Now your thoughts are very different. Yes. Your thoughts can go a, now granted, we need to think critical thinking is important. [00:24:04] We probably need more critical thinking, but thoughts happen to us all day, every day, constantly. Right. I don't remember what the statistic is. I think we have roughly like eight thoughts a minute, something like that. I'm surprised it's not . Maybe that's just a DH adhd. And that could be too, like, yeah, there, maybe there's a spectrum. [00:24:18] Maybe it's eight to 80 thoughts a minute. Give or take. Give or take a hundred. But so thoughts happen to us now. We can certainly consciously choose what to focus on and what we think. But thinking happens, the emotions are in response to what we're thinking and believing. Exactly. And they never lie. [00:24:35] Right. And I But something you said like pain as a professor. And I like the thought that emotions are energy in motion. Yes. And they always have something for you to learn. There's something for every emotion. There is something it wants you to know. Right. And when you're not feeling good are we have more pain receptors in our body, unfortunately. [00:24:55] We have more pain receptors in our body than we do pleasure receptors. Like, and so when pain is activated, it just has a firmer grip. There's something that Martha Beck talks about that I love. It's called the, I think she calls it the Viper in the box of puppies. So if you were to imagine like, and enough said, right. [00:25:10] Done. You get it. But you hand, if I handed you a box full of like 15 adorable, gorgeous little puppies, I mean, it's, they're the most abundant, silly, loving, fuzzy source of love, safety, pleasure. I could really go for that right now. I mean, would it, that should be a, I'm hoping there's one hiding around somewhere. [00:25:28] We have a surprise for you, but if I were to then put a Viper in or a cobra in your box of puppies. All you're gonna see is the threat. Exactly. All you're gonna see is the threat. And I think in life, it's like we pop mo most of us more often than not, are probably living in lives with a lot of puppies. [00:25:48] But the viper, the threat is what consumes Oh yeah. So much energy and attention and shifting your focus from one to the other is easier said than done. And I wanna talk to you specifically about how you have found meaning or, and I, when I say success, I don't mean it in like a bullet point sense, but right. [00:26:12] Where you have found access to, you know, the viper, you know, or the cobra, you know, the box of puppies. Right. How you access that. I can certainly share how I have, but my emotions, I. I've learned in time. I don't always know exactly what they're telling me in the beginning, but I trust them enough to know that it's something. [00:26:36] And so the first place I try to access, if I'm not dissociating or avoiding, is to sit with it. Yeah. So usually it's like, I'm I'll just dissociate in my fantasy book or rewatching parks and recreation for the MPH teeth bajillion time. You know, it's just always a Sure bet. Yeah. It's just, it's hard for, life can only be so hard with Leslie Nope and little Sebastian, you know? [00:26:57] So anyway. But I wanna know where you find yourself in that shift. Yeah. Yeah. So you've got my head's like turning, I'm also still picturing puppies to be honest. That's okay. So I actually, I feel like I wanna give an example of something that I experienced last year, so two years ago. [00:27:11] It's crazy to think two years ago I went on this crazy journey to England. I went to London to take my daughter, who was not quite two years old yet to have a surgery over there for her ultra rare condition that was not available in the States. And I had talked to everybody in the States, of course, that had any knowledge about it and all they could tell me was, we don't really know anything about it. [00:27:35] We don't do it here. Kind of you're on your own, go for it. Or don't, we can't say that we would support you. All that matters is I went for it. And fortunately it did end up being the right decision, but I also knew that it could not be the right decision. And what I found on that experience was that I was originally desperate for picking the right way in life to move forward, that I could not make a decision. [00:28:06] I could not possibly move forward unless I was a hundred percent sure. But guess what? Life isn't real big on giving you a guarantee. Yeah. Guarantees with anything. And I think where I, that's where I started to learn that I don't have to have the answers to move forward. I can be looking at that box and I can see, oh my gosh, this could go terribly wrong. [00:28:34] But I think living with a hopeful mindset is something that allows me to keep my eye on that viper and then still interact with the puppies over here. My eye is still trained on it, but what I found is a peace in making my decision. And it was a, that feeling, that gut feeling. You know, it, I, it doesn't matter what you've gone through in life. [00:28:58] I can't believe that there's anybody out there who hasn't just had that. I call it just that knowing in your gut, it's a physical experience and that is something. That has helped me move forward in life. Because here's the thing, guys, nobody can ever stay truly still. And that's where a lot of our pain and discomfort comes from, is fighting moving forward without certainty. [00:29:23] Oh, let's pause right there. Oh my gosh. So there's something that Dr. Becky Kennedy who she has the good, she wrote the book Good Inside, and she's got her own beautiful podcast and work and content. She does. She really she focuses on kids, but she's really working on parents relationship with their inner child and by extension their parenting. [00:29:43] But she talks about something called, I've called it the Gap, but she calls it the learning space. So with kids, most of their frustration, tension and meltdowns happen between meeting a moment or. A moment arising and knowing how to meet the moment. And that learning space is usually the gap in knowing or understanding of this is what's arisen and I don't know how to meet this moment. [00:30:04] Right? And then if their context or their ability to meet it, if the moment exceeds their ability that's usually when there's a lot of pain or big feelings. Right. And I think with adults, that's usually where I see self-doubt, rumination anxiety, self-destructive tendencies. [00:30:23] Come in and you're right. You're, I love that you said we're never really still, I mean, one that's just true based on science and physics. We're never still that's actually one of the, like, there's like two necessary components, maybe three to being a living, being or a living entity. [00:30:36] I think, what is it? Movement, cell division, reproduction, and, I don't know, something else. Hey, anyone here pop off in the comments if you're a science boss, please gold star for you. Please. But but yeah, we're never truly still. And so even when you feel stagnant and stuck and even hearing you say that I'm actually processing in real time, one of the things that I have done that I, I discovered by accident, but probably because my body knew better than my mind did. [00:31:04] I would, it often does. I would take my feelings on walks. I would, I talked about that movement is essential if you are literally feeling stuck. I tell, that's what I tell everybody. Anytime they're spiraling. Which it's understandable. Go for a walk. Even if it is five minutes, walk up and down your stairs. [00:31:22] Or at the least one of my favorite things thank you Instagram reels for sucking up so much of my life at times in the hospital, but sometimes, but it's, sometimes it's, it is the perfect escape. It's okay to let the pressure off of ourselves. But there was this one that I saw it was this therapist who was like in her seventies and she was in Ireland and she's walking around in like this, you know, the quintessential Ireland landscape. [00:31:47] And she said, I tell all of my clients when you have a problem or a worry or something that's making you feel like you need to hurry, walk outside where you can see the sky and look up. Because the moment you remove a ceiling from your view, from your your line of sight, your mind opens with it. [00:32:08] And possibilities grow. And I have experienced that so often. And you think about it where you, when you're in a confined space. It only adds to those feelings of I'm stuck or I'm out of options, or I can't deal with this. But when you go outside and the world is just showing you how big it is and how small you are, there's actually a ton of comfort in that. [00:32:35] There's, I've also read and heard that there's something about the way that our eyes sort of gently move and follow and track side to side. Yeah. The movement around us that activates a similar calming sensation that our body experiences in REM sleep. Because if you're tracking a bird or tracking a squirrel, or just simply seeing like the trees and movement, track your kids. [00:32:55] Right. That'll keep you, your eyes all over the place. Girl. But like, 'cause right now we're facing a computer screen and we're in, we're under lights. Like, it's a very I mean, it's a lovely container, but it's a sterile container by comparison of being outside. And I Right. I do think that sometimes, like, like Lifeing. [00:33:11] It can be hard, and I never wanna oversimplify holding the challenges and moving through the challenges. Right. And yet I think sometimes when something feels overly, when something feels complex and impossible, it's almo. I, my instinct is to abandon the basics. And that is always the place to start. [00:33:32] That's always the place to start, is to go back to the basics. [00:33:35] Knowing what you know now what. Do you think the version of you, I wrote down three years ago, but I wanna go back to two years ago bef, like as you were navigating all the travel plans and the decision to go to the UK for your daughter's surgery, what do you think that version of Ashlyn needed to hear or needed to know? [00:33:55] And then the follow up question to that, after you answers, do you think she would've believed you? [00:33:59] It's really funny that you're asking this question because I actually had a conversation yesterday with a neighbor's daughter who is a film student, and this question has actually been going through my mind a lot lately about, I wonder where my life would be if I'd known this in my early thirties, if I'd known, or if I had known this in my twenties. [00:34:23] And I kept kind of going backwards like, I didn't know this then. Oh maybe if I'd known this. And I kept just, like I said, looking back and then what I realized is. It's so important that I didn't know those things because I had to experience them with the challenges. I had to climb the mountains for the first time to really understand the importance of gaining those skills for myself. So I actually think that Ashlyn, a couple years ago, I may have wanted to hear, I, what I wanted to hear was, you're making the right decision. I wanted to be validated by doctors, by people who I typically refer to as the ones who have the alphabet after their name. [00:35:06] Can somebody please just tell me, check, you know, you're making the right choice. Or this is what I would do if it were my child. And I wanted it so desperately that I, it did almost prevent me from going. But I am blessed that because of other experiences before that, right where pain had started to evolve into a guide for my life, a way of understanding what is most important to me. [00:35:37] It clarifies a lot. Exactly. Because often, you know, pain and fear are often about things we can't control, right? And what it showed me was that I don't need guaranteed outcomes to be able to sleep at night. I know that if I don't give it everything, including the kitchen sink, I won't be able to sleep at night. [00:36:03] I won't be able to look at Emery when she's an adult and tell her. We tried absolutely everything we could to give you the best quality of life, and that's what I needed to be able to give her. In order for me to feel good about the mom I am. And that's what was most important to me at that time. [00:36:23] So it sounds like maybe you trust in your ability to meet the moment enough that you don't think you would've gone back and told yourself anything? No, I think, and that's something that, like I said, I'd been thinking about a lot, like how many times if I'd only known this, if I if I'd only held my boundaries or if, or you know, these standards or, you know, all the things I could have done differently. [00:36:48] But as I said at the beginning of this, I feel like I have lived a thousand lives and become. A thousand new versions of myself, but you don't become your next self without going through something that carves away at you to reveal it. We don't grow through the easy no we stay stagnant. And besides small talk, my biggest fear in life is staying stagnant. [00:37:20] God, can we just let go of small talk? Oh my gosh. We all have a weather app and we all know the traffic patterns at this point. Like, do you know what's so funny about the weather app? I'm gonna use it every day. I treat my husband like the weather app, and we have an Alexa, like in, literally, like, I'll ask him what the temperature is and he'll be like. [00:37:41] Alexa. I just, oh my goodness. It's like those basic the basic like things of moving through life. I don't know why. It's like I've, I have this like faux that's of publicist. I'm like, I don't know what I'm, so what's the weather? I can't look out the window. I can't ask my own Alexa. [00:37:56] I always think, I think it's, I think it's more like, I think it's fair to acknowledge those as high. There's higher priorities that take up front of mind space. That's right. That's right. Things' so focused on the big things. Right? Yes. It's okay. We're not meant to like, you know, and I think that's another, that's one point I feel really compelled to bring up in this conversation based on all these things we've talked about, you know? [00:38:20] Yes. thank you for the chance to share what Parent Empowerment Network does, and the Empowered By Hope podcast is about addressing the real hard, the messy like, because as far as we're concerned, like once you get the news, your child is not okay. You're living in the messy middle from there on out. [00:38:36] And it can make you, or it can break you. And we're there to tell everybody, we promise this will make you. Even with worst case scenario, and that's a bold statement, but, you know, but it's one you've lived and I exactly. And I've seen countless others live, right? But I think it's so important that everybody, you know, I guess my dream would be if everybody could just realize we are not meant to carry pain and hardship and struggle by ourselves. [00:39:07] That's really what Parent Empowerment Network does. That's really what our podcast does, is it directly says to everybody who gets a chance to interact with us or who we have the honor to meet with. It just says, Hey, you are not expected to hold this alone. You know, put some of that on our plate. [00:39:24] Let's hold it together because it'll be better for everybody. It's not just you is like, again, that's what frees you from a victim mentality. You are not the only one who's ever experienced this. Right. You are not the only one who has suffered this way. And in by no means it's not to minimize. [00:39:40] Right. Exactly. It's not belittling it, it's not, it's definitely not dismissing it. But it's meant to serve as a lighthouse. Right. Our stories are unique. Yes, of course. And so that's, and I think that's what is endlessly, I will never be bored having an in-depth. Not small talk with the love of God, but like, I will never I will be endlessly fascinated by other people. [00:40:01] Because the stories are unique. Yeah. But there is a common thread that we can all see ourselves in or relate to. That, it's so enriching. Yeah. It's almost like, maybe because it's spring and, but I'm thinking it's like the pain is like the compost. Yeah. Something has to die in rotten decay in order to nurture something new. To grow. Yep. Exactly. And I, and that pain serves as fur. It's fertilizing the new, the next round of growth. Right. Yeah. It's not making anything vanish or destroying it, it's just, but it has to break down to build back up. I think that's why mosaics are my favorite type of art. [00:40:39] Yeah. I have such a strong connection to any piece that I see that's made up of a mosaic. And I remember that coming true for me when my dad had his massive stroke and. You know, he was completely debilitated, couldn't speak for himself, couldn't move his own body. He lived like that almost two years. But I remember getting really close to a couple key therapists in his life. [00:41:04] And I remember just after he passed, I got them both a small gift. It was these little mosaic art pieces for them. And I said, when I saw those, I knew that this was the right thing because you didn't see my dad as a destroyed person. You saw him as for the broken pieces. He was that to be put back, to be put together into something that was new and beautiful on its own. [00:41:33] And that's what I feel like pain has the ability to do for all of us. It's okay. And I to acknowledge that you are broken. But it's also just as important to acknowledge that you can be remade into something. You, the old you is gone. You know, when we go through something awful hard, unimaginable it's really easy to think that I will feel this way forever. There is a finality that we attach to painful experiences and it takes often somebody from the outside to gently help us realize that's not reality. I often, when I'm in that transition and I'm not aware or I'm just not ready to admit there are either, there's usually it's I there's usually things I wanna carry along with me. [00:42:28] Yep. It's like. Like an old dingy snugly blanket or like a stuffed animal that like has like holes worn in and like an eyes popped off. It's just but I when I've gone through those transitions, it's saying goodbye to maybe friendships that aren't serving me. [00:42:42] Yep. Or titles, roles levels of output expectations, stories, ways of being and the way, and to go back to pain as a professor, which is going to be the title. That it's only when I try to take the old way of being or the old relationship that is no longer serving into my new now reality. [00:43:04] When it feels anything other than good. Yeah. That's information exactly that it's showing me something and. That curiosity over constriction can also for me look like curiosity over criticism. And because that criticism is usually either dialed inward, what's wrong with me? Right. Or what's wrong with them? [00:43:25] Versus , what is happening Exactly. What's going on? What is this showing me? And I would say probably saying goodbye to relationships or friendships has probably been the hardest. Yeah. The hard, because there is this idea that I'm like if I like it, and it's like in a possessive way. [00:43:42] It's, if I like you forever. And I, and of course that is true. I mean, it, there's nobody who's been in my life that's added value that I don't appreciate. Right. But but I think that the shedding. Yeah. It's like I, I want the next thing, but I also don't wanna let the old thing go. [00:43:56] Right. And so it's, I think I've spent a lot of time and energy trying to like, pull that thing with me. Whatever it is and whatever that stage. But I think that there's when you can fully embrace, 'cause what I'm hearing from you is when you can fully embrace I am different now. [00:44:11] Yep. This is different. This mosaic. I'm not, I may not be able to carry water like I was as a vase. Right. But I'm gonna look really great as this. Yeah. And the other thing I wanna shift to before, before I get to your, don't cut your own bangs question. What I wanna ask you, you've mentioned art a couple of different times. [00:44:28] And this is to, to reference Dr. Martha Beck again. She has done a lot of incredible work in the last couple years where a way to. Step out of anxiety is not to try to access calm. 'cause we talked about going for a walk, right? So, because as much as I love these big conversations, it can be sometimes like, what is something tangible I can actually hold onto? [00:44:53] So walking with something we talked about community and connection with something else we talked about, but Art, I wanna talk about that for a moment because that is what my book was for me. Yeah. It was I created something that only that felt like it was to serve me. The process of interacting with that idea was so delightful and so delicious and so fun that I was like, I feel like I'm just the luckiest person that like this is, oh wow, I get to play with this thing. [00:45:21] Yeah. And it wants to play with me. And I don't feel that all the time. Like sometimes it's origami or doodling or coloring with my daughter. But to go back to Dr. Martha Beck's work that the opposite of anxiety is not calm, it's creativity. Oh, I love that. And you have by default really spoken through, like just healing through creating. [00:45:43] Oh, absolutely. And also there's something about, 'cause calm, there's something about calm that like, we must be still, and granted I love meditation, but like, I must be still, I must be calm. But when you are holding something that is buzzing and shaking or heavy or hot, like just some emotions are hot, like you, it's like you wanna move it through your hands or your words or your body and make something, right. [00:46:06] And you made me, she made me this bracelet before we started this episode. So like, it feels like you have a relationship with creativity too. A hundred percent. Creativity is a lifeline. And I feel like, and the most chaotic moments of my life have been the least I'm my least creative and I think it's a really. [00:46:29] Valuable, tangible thing for anybody to take from this conversation is if you are feeling out of control, lean into something as simple as I'm obsessed with those adult, you know, like the coloring books. Yes. You know, for adults to have like tons of different like lines all over the place that you have to be like really specific to keep the marker in there. [00:46:51] It can't, I do get a little bugged when it like bleeds over to the next section, but, , it's okay. I know I'm working through my, , my stressors at that moment. But yes, giving yourself a creative outlet, it's like taking a big drink of water after you've been exercising and you are so parched. [00:47:07] And I also agree that , calm sounds great in theory, but for me I feel like the more important, like the word that's become more important or I'm better able to. Absorb is the idea of am I grounded? Are my feet touching the ground? I can still have a lot going on, but when I'm like rising higher, you know, off the ground, 'cause like, I'm like a bird at this point, just flapping my arms so fast, right. [00:47:35] That I'm actually taking flight. I'm not in my best head space, but when I can just take a moment to literally just ground myself, make sure that my feet are, whether it's in the grass or sit down like this. And a conversation with a friend, somebody who really knows you is a great moment for that. [00:47:53] It's a great way to remind you who you are is somebody else. Sometimes I talk all the time about the value of when you can connect with somebody who feels with you, not just for you. Oh my gosh. It makes the world so much lighter and goodness. I mean, huh. That's probably if I could have answered the question I asked you a little bit ago, what's something that you could have if I could have told my former therapist self, like when I very when I first started, you're there to hold space for people to feel and feel with them. [00:48:23] Right. Exactly. You're not there. It's sacred. Yeah. It's there's nothing, one, it's like, there's nothing I can tell someone who's deeply in pain that they're actually gonna No. , That's, the words are just like, right. It's just noise. Yeah. And not to take anything. I'm sure I have clients who have been impacted by words. [00:48:40] But having a safe space to feel your feelings free of judgment. Is one of the reasons why I love journaling so much, but also doing that in communion Yeah. With another human right who expects nothing of you. I love Elizabeth Gilbert has language I love, like there's no precious outcome. [00:48:57] Like I can, that I can sit and have space with you or I can make plans with you or be, and there's no precious outcome. You don't have to perform for me. Right. You don't have to be anything for me. Like we can just be that is what a gift. Yes, that is. I just want to, this conversation has inspired way too many thoughts, but in the best way. [00:49:15] But something that hit me and then I think we could absolutely move on to Yeah. This the cut your bangs question. But what I've realized even in our conversation is that logic is not loud . our emotions are loud and they get louder and louder. The more we. Push them back the more we ignore them. [00:49:36] Think of your kids until they, when they need your attention. Because they deserve your attention. They do. The best thing we can do is acknowledge those emotions and just, even if it's as simple as, it's totally understandable. I feel this way right now. That is such a freeing sentence. Of course, I feel this way right now. [00:49:58] That was some serious shit that I just went through. Yeah . of course, I feel, and it doesn't have to make sense when those feelings hit the timing a lot of times feelings for me, I've found won't hit until I'm in a safe space much further down the road. Yes. And it's like being T-boned, like yes, totally out of the blue. [00:50:19] But that's also what happens to kids when they have tantrums. Ah, yeah. They'll hold. And then when they're finally either home at the end of the day or something, when the container is so full and they're finally in a place where they feel safe, they'll erupt over an orange peel not being peeled correctly. [00:50:32] Or , or a banana not being peeled correctly. Oh gosh. And it's not that, don't even start me on string cheese. God. Oh God. Parenting is fun. The best, but No, but you're right. Sometimes, I think that's probably why I cry almost with like every movie and TV show I watch. [00:50:47] Yeah. Because the emotions are just always right there and I just need a place to let it trickle out. Right. And that's okay. And I think, but just not judging ourselves for feelings. And then I think once we give that space or the feelings, the sooner we can do that, the sooner that logic, you know, like you, you mentioned multiple times, I know this, then you give logic. [00:51:13] The space that it needs to speak to you in a calm and quiet manner that you can actually trust. And that's where I think that those gut feelings truly come from. Those inner knowings are, when you've allowed space for the emotions first, given them their due. So then the logic can start to talk to you because it's never going to yell for your attention. [00:51:35] No. And I think we want it to, but that's not the way it works. And that's okay. A lot of times things make sense in hindsight, oh gosh, hindsight's 2020. Always. South Park has a great episode. If people if you have just like a dark sense of humor and you wanna laugh at, there's a character called Captain Hindsight and it's really funny. [00:51:54] . So yeah, a lot of times things don't make sense until we're. A little bit more removed from them. Yep. And some what I have found to be helpful, I've noticed you using your hands. Yeah. And I find when I am, when my mind is really active and I need it to stop or slow down or I just i'll sometimes even throw my hands up. Yeah. And I'll say, and even saying. I'm feeling something and just to myself in my kitchen. 'cause I'm almost always , because I work from home, I'm either like in my office or in my kitchen, like I'm feeling something. As soon as you did that, it's gonna show on video. [00:52:25] I like saw from the corner of my eye myself, naturally going, whew. Yeah. Just sound like inhale. Exhale. Yes. It's like something is being felt. Something's happening. I don't know what it is, but something's happening. And I think, in a lot of ways too, like that's how we have these internal smoke signals. [00:52:42] Yeah. And it's the same way, like your smoke detector in your house doesn't know the difference between burnt toast and something on fire, right? But it will beep when it senses. Yeah. When it senses something. And so my body is like sensing something. Is this a threat? [00:52:56] Are we safe? Yes, we're safe. Oh, we're likely. We just needed water. We're just dehydrated. Uhhuh. Or we just, yeah. So any number of things. But that was so good. Thank you. And yes, I would love, love, love to know your don't cut your own bang moment. And for anybody who is new to the podcast, 'cause I think there are some new people here. [00:53:15] Thank you for being here. Don't cut Your own bang moment is a moment where you went all in on something like cutting your own bangs, you grabbed some scissors, you watched a YouTube video, you're like, I got this. And you go, and then, oh no, this wasn't what I thought it would be. But the value in a don't Cut Your own Bang moment is not only that we can share in the silliness of humanity and mistakes, but also like maybe we learn something from it. [00:53:42] So, Ashlyn? Yes. I would love to hear your Don't cut your own bang moment. Oh my goodness. I think that there's probably a plethora of them. Oh, of course. And, let's see here. I'm even, I tried to have one prepared, and then I got excited about the rest of our conversation. Oh my gosh. Don't worry. So, okay I'll share one. [00:53:58] So what's a good, don't a good, oh. I invited my husband to record a podcast with me because I thought it would just be, , fun to bring him back on. And what I realized was I didn't prepare him for it at all. I just set up lights and set up a camera and asked him to sit. And he was so, visibly like he was trying, he was sitting, he was trying. [00:54:23] But I could just tell, again, something's happening. And I could tell he was a little uncomfortable and a little stiff. And I kept, because our eyes look out. My first assumption is, what's wrong out there? And I was like, what are you okay? What's wrong? And he he was , I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing. [00:54:41] And then I was like. Oh, no, it was snip the bangs. I didn't provide any context. I didn't give him any preparation for what we'd be talking about, why we'd be talking like he had no context. And the whole setup is different, uhhuh. And it was such a humbling, settling moment of context. [00:55:04] It's I'm writing something right now about this idea of play. I'm a freedom loving, freedom seeking play hungry, greedy person right now. I want more play. I could never get enough. But what makes play feel fun and safe is to understand the context. Yeah. , There's rules in a game. [00:55:20] Otherwise, what is it? And I, my first instinct is to buck. Rules. I don't like ingredient lists. I don't like recipes. I just wanna feel my way through it. But, if you wanna make a beautiful croissant, you can't just feel your way through that. There's a very exacting way to do it. And so, it, it was such a one, I'm endlessly grateful for him and his patients with me. [00:55:40] I'm grateful that , our dynamics not new, so he probably knew what was going on, but just did yeah he's pretty sweet that way. But I, it was such a refresher that , if I wanna create a space and container to play safely with people Yeah. I need to give them the context. Absolutely. And it doesn't matter how long I've known someone, how well I know someone. [00:55:59] I laughed at myself because I, the part of the reason why it feels funny to me, but in like a humbling way. I thought the problem was him for like the first 15 minutes. I was like, what dude? Relax. I was like, what? Is he doing it right? [00:56:12] Yeah. like come on. And I was like. Oh no. Context. Zero. Oh my goodness. So that was a great one. Thank you. Okay, I'm gonna do mine in like short seconds because this one just hap this that inspired me perfectly. So my 8-year-old son and I are both going to the same therapist right now. [00:56:30] I'm a believer everybody should have at least an annual checkup with a therapist, but that's a great endorsement. Everyone should have an you annual checkup. You welcome, reach out to Danielle, she's fantastic. If you live in Indiana, by all means. If not, we'll help you find someone. Yes. And also order the book. [00:56:44] Yes, order the book. Get resting the wall risk. Get treasured. Yes. But go on please. So anyway one, one of the things that my I, the reason I love the person we're working with is because she's the first therapist I've worked with when it comes to, with my kids, she actually tells me what I can work on rather than just , you're doing the best you can and like you just love 'em. [00:57:03] And like, yes, I know, but that is not helping me. And so one of the things that got pointed out to me. Was so Cole , has very low frustration tolerance, like more so than is necessarily healthy for an 8-year-old. And of course with all the trauma with our his sister, our journey, it's understandable. [00:57:22] So we're working on that. What she kindly pointed out to me was, okay, we could work on his, but do you also realize that your tolerance for acceptable emotions is about this big? Oh, she's , therapist, be therapist Uhhuh. She's , but there's like a whole lot more emo like, she's , it's like a whole rainbow. [00:57:42] We need a whole arc for acceptable emotions. She's so you need to stop making it your responsibility to control which emotions he experiences. And it's up to you to provide the solid ground for him no matter which emotion comes up for him. And I will say that has changed my parenting in the last week. [00:58:04] More than maybe anything has like faster than anything. Because all of a sudden I'm like, of course it's acceptable that his sister just made him extremely mad. Of course it's understandable that he's jealous or sad or excited or whatever the feeling is, but it also doesn't define him as right or wrong, what emotions he's experiencing in that moment. [00:58:28] And the big thing was the realization that every emotion he experiences is not a direct reflection of who I am as a parent. No. Because that was what I needed to let go of that any emotion that is considered negative that my child has doesn't mean. That I'm doing a bad job as a parent. Oh my God. [00:58:49] That is one. What a beautiful. Don't cut. Thank you. With Dr. Sarah. Yes. Thank you, Dr. Sarah. You'd be therapizing all up in that session. That was so good. And it's the, that to me is a great example that hard truths can always be delivered with kindness. Yeah. But I think the big important thing there is you had the right context. [00:59:12] Exactly. You went to her for that information. Right. It wasn't like someone on the street. But the thing that we can't give someone what we don't have. Exactly. And I actually think that what you just said, if there was ever an endorsement for what. Self-care actually is not the commoditized, right. [00:59:29] Faux sense of, I'm gonna create a problem and I'm going to prescribe collagen. Did you know that the reason why, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah is these things that you need to buy and, oh, my program for blah, blah, blah, blah. And I'm gonna, I have all that stuff. I'm not I'm wanna, I wanna keep it in perspective. [00:59:45] I am drinking the same Kool-Aid 'cause I'm getting sent the same algorithm ads that we're all getting sent. Like I'm doing colostrum now. I don't even know. Like, I just, because I was like, my gut might grow up I own, but anyway but I think self-care and the best possible context is when you nurture. [01:00:03] And heal yourself. It becomes the medicine. Yes. Yes. And the offering for the other people in your life that you love most. It's like as you increase your own palette of what you're able to allow yourself to experience, you're then also able to see it in your son and give it to him. That is so beautiful and it's hard. [01:00:26] Sometimes, but it's some God that a well timed, articulated loving truth like that can change your life. Yeah. That is amazing. Thank you. I don't know, we can't top that. That was good. We're good. That was real good. Ashlyn Thompson, thank you so much for coming back and we're going to have you back. [01:00:43] You have to come back. Yes. And you're coming over to Empowered by Hope very soon. I would love that so much. And Yes. And so all of the ways, if you or anyone you know in your life has been impacted by a little one with complex me complex medical issues and you want some support, you want some information, you want some resources. [01:01:01] The link in the show notes will have every way that you can connect with Ashlyn, her business partner, and what was formally Charlotte's Hope Foundation, what is now the Parent Empowerment Network. Pick up all the books, all the resources, everything I talked about too for my stuff is also in there. [01:01:16] But , it's all linked for you there. So I hope that you get what you need and. Thanks so much, . Oh my gosh. [01:01:21] If you've ever wanted to pick up journaling,

Episode Description: Awakening the Healer Within – A Conversation with Cheryl Stelte In this extraordinary episode of the Stuck In My Mind Podcast, host Wize El Jefe sits down with visionary healer, author, and spiritual coach Cheryl Stelte for an inspiring journey into the world of holistic healing, self-empowerment, and awakening the healer within. Cheryl's unique blend of experience, wisdom, and authenticity radiates throughout the conversation, offering listeners practical tools, profound stories, and spiritual insights that speak to those seeking transformation, purpose, and a deeper connection to their authentic selves. From Tragedy to Transformation Cheryl opens up about the pivotal spiritual experience that changed her life—the day her deceased brother visited her in a profound moment of love and guidance on a beach in Western Canada. Through an impromptu kinesiology session, Cheryl encountered a “ball of white light” and received a clear message from her brother: to begin meditating as a way to connect with him and herself on a deeper level. This encounter set Cheryl on an unexpected spiritual path—one that would lead to discovering the life-changing power of meditation, breathwork, and inner healing. She candidly shares the struggle of being lost after such an event, navigating a world that thirty years ago was less receptive to meditation and spiritual exploration, and the perseverance that helped her sustain these practices over the decades. Navigating Darkness: Overcoming Depression with Spiritual Practice Delving into her personal journey through depression and moments of despair, Cheryl reveals how her spiritual practices, particularly meditation, became her medicine and lifeline. Through consistent meditation, she began to process years of emotional trauma and unexpressed pain—gradually moving from surviving to thriving, and ultimately exchanging antidepressants for transformative self-care. Cheryl's story underscores the importance of self-compassion, honoring our emotional wounds, and the power of spiritual practice in finding light through the darkest times. Azaria's Energy Healing: An Integration of Traditions Listeners are introduced to Cheryl's signature healing modality, Azaria's Energy Healing—a powerful synthesis of meditation, Sufi breathwork, shamanic practices, Reiki, and acupressure. Cheryl recounts her journey through various healing systems from around the globe, studying with masters and embracing techniques that focus on deep, root-level transformation. A unique aspect of her approach is her commitment to teaching others to heal themselves, fostering lasting empowerment. Cheryl shares stories of working with clients who experienced breakthroughs where “no one else could go as deep,” highlighting the profound nature of her work and her dedication to those truly ready for healing. Heart-Centered Shamanism: Journey Inward Cheryl introduces the concept of heart-centered shamanism—an approach that contrasts traditional shamanic practices. Instead of “leaving the body” for spiritual journeys, Cheryl teaches going inward: connecting with the heart, the soul, and the body's innate intelligence. Citing her experience reading chakras—where she identifies both the superpowers and the wounds within—Cheryl explains the transformative and protective power of remaining grounded in one's own body during healing work. Global Insights: Lessons from the Maasai and Samburu Drawing on her time living with the Maasai and Samburu tribes in Africa, Cheryl shares deeply moving observations about collective and individual experiences of love, survival, and the absence of emotional connection in some communities. She explains how the realization that love—and the ability to both give and receive it—is the foundation for abundance, healing, and true well-being. Cheryl's stories provide a rich, cross-cultural lens through which to understand spiritual connection and the universal longing for love. Becoming a Client Magnet: Energetics of Authenticity What does it mean to become a “client magnet”? Cheryl explains the energetic mechanics behind it: when you release internal blocks and align with your soul's purpose, you naturally radiate the energy that attracts those who are meant to work with you. The episode details practical cues and signs for noticing energetic blockages—like throat chakra issues manifesting as difficulties expressing one's truth, struggling to be heard, or fearing visibility—and how to recognize the genuine call to become a healer. Stuck in the Mind—Finding the Path Forward The conversation takes a beautifully vulnerable turn as Wize shares his own struggles with doubt and launching the podcast, resonating with listeners who've found themselves “stuck” and afraid to step into their unique greatness. Cheryl affirms that such fears often point to our biggest potential, echoing the importance of “getting out of the head and into the body.” The supportive banter between Cheryl and Wize illustrates the healing force of authentic connection and community. Integrating Spirituality and the Practical World Cheryl offers wisdom for those feeling spiritually awakened yet lost in the practical world, identifying key signs such as being ungrounded or experiencing the “dark night of the soul”—a developmental passage characterized by a profound sense of disconnection and surrender. She details how energy healing can help individuals release subconscious blocks rooted in childhood, without reliving trauma, and move into a place of true empowerment. Virtual Healing, Daily Rituals, and Cheryl's Vision Emphasizing the power and efficacy of virtual healing, Cheryl and Wize both reflect on their experiences with digital energy exchange, reinforcing the idea that true spiritual connection transcends physical proximity. Cheryl graciously shares her daily practices—decades of meditation, mindful walks, the Five Tibetan Rites, and yearly personal retreats—and stresses the importance of evolving rituals as one's journey unfolds. Cheryl's ultimate vision with the Star of Divine Light Institute is to help people recognize their authentic power, become empowered beyond belief, and awaken to their true selves as radiant beings of light. Resources, Books, and Continuing the Journey At the end of the episode, Cheryl highlights her three books: Heal Your Neck Issues and Let Your Throat Chakra Shine Client Magnet From Blocked to Powerful She invites listeners for chakra readings and to access free resources on her website: starofdivinelight.com, and encourages connecting with her on Instagram (@stelte.cheryl). Why You Should Listen This episode is a deep dive into the interplay between spirituality and real-world challenges, a blueprint for awakening the latent healer within, and a heartfelt reminder that even in our most “stuck” moments, transformation is possible. Whether you are on your own healing path, aspiring to work as a healer, or simply seeking inspiration to move past doubt and step into your purpose, this conversation promises to spark insight, hope, and renewed motivation. Tune in and join the Stuck In My Mind community for a conversation that might just awaken the healer—and the greatness—already inside you.

Welcome to another episode of Menopause Mondays. In this new episode I'm joined by Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky who resides in Canada.  She is a certified family physician, certified menopause practitioner and expert in women's health. Together, we delve into the intricacies of menopause, discussing the journey many women face and the stigma surrounding it. We explore a wide range of topics, from hormone replacement therapy to lifestyle changes, all aimed at improving the quality of life during and after menopause. Learn about the myths, common misconceptions, and the science behind menopause symptoms. Dr. Zelovitzky shares her personal and professional experiences, providing invaluable insights into managing this natural phase in a woman's life. Join us for a candid conversation that aims to educate and empower, breaking down barriers and encouraging open discussions about menopause and women's health. It's time to embrace this stage with confidence and understanding.  Thank you to my Spotlight Supporters for June. Oasis Senior Advisors with Owner Ben Meyer. See below their link. https://www.oasissenioradvisors.com/locations/southwest-pa/ Heritage Seubert Financial with Brian Debbis. Link below https://www.heritageseubert.com/ If you or someone you know wants to be a guest or sponsor Contact Kelli Komondor at kelli@k2creativellc.com Check out my new website and my new tag line.... Real People. Real Stories: Heartfelt Conversations with Jenny D. https://www.spillwithmejennyd.com/ All episodes are on all the major Audio Platforms as well as my YouTube page. Please Subscribe and Follow. www.youtube.com/@Spillwithmejennyd

Welcome to another episode of Menopause Mondays. In this new episode I'm joined by Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky who resides in Canada.  She is a certified family physician, certified menopause practitioner and expert in women's health. Together, we delve into the intricacies of menopause, discussing the journey many women face and the stigma surrounding it. We explore a wide range of topics, from hormone replacement therapy to lifestyle changes, all aimed at improving the quality of life during and after menopause. Learn about the myths, common misconceptions, and the science behind menopause symptoms. Dr. Zelovitzky shares her personal and professional experiences, providing invaluable insights into managing this natural phase in a woman's life. Join us for a candid conversation that aims to educate and empower, breaking down barriers and encouraging open discussions about menopause and women's health. It's time to embrace this stage with confidence and understanding.  Thank you to my Spotlight Supporters for June. Oasis Senior Advisors with Owner Ben Meyer. See below their link. https://www.oasissenioradvisors.com/locations/southwest-pa/ Heritage Seubert Financial with Brian Debbis. Link below https://www.heritageseubert.com/ If you or someone you know wants to be a guest or sponsor Contact Kelli Komondor at kelli@k2creativellc.com Check out my new website and my new tag line.... Real People. Real Stories: Heartfelt Conversations with Jenny D. https://www.spillwithmejennyd.com/ All episodes are on all the major Audio Platforms as well as my YouTube page. Please Subscribe and Follow. www.youtube.com/@Spillwithmejennyd

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Amid the chaos of our every day life, we go through struggles and suffering. Many times the flames of our suffering is being fanned by our ego that is constantly churning and working in the background at all times. Everything we have gone through in our previous life. Childhood traumas, ups and downs, failures, successes, they all add up. Our ego is constantly calculating. This meditation hopes help the meditator put some distance between you and your ego to gain some persepctive and some peace back into your day. One breath at a time.