Third Chances

What if everything we've taught our children about "stranger danger" is missing one of the biggest threats? We've all heard it. We've probably said it to our own children. "Don't talk to strangers." But what if the person who puts a child in danger isn't a stranger at all? What if it's someone they know, trust, or even consider a friend? MEET MY GUEST: MISTI SPENCERMisti is the author of Drinking Beauty and the Seven Narcissists: A Musical Journey. Through her writing, speaking, research, and advocacy, she's turning her lived experiences into a mission to raise awareness about human trafficking, exploitation, trauma, and the importance of helping others recognize destructive patterns. In this episode of Third Chances Podcast, I sit down with Misti Spencer, an extraordinary woman, author, keynote speaker, and survivor advocate whose story left me with questions I believe we should all be asking. Misti has survived human trafficking, childhood exploitation, domestic violence, and addiction. But what struck me most wasn't just what she's been through. It was her determination to help others understand how these situations happen, why warning signs can be so difficult to recognize, and what life looks like long after the danger is over. "Predators don't look like predators." When Misti said those words, it opened a conversation that challenged some of my own assumptions. We talked about trust, the complicated nature of human relationships, and something that really stayed with me: What if the very things we teach children about being polite, making friends, and respecting adults sometimes make it harder for them to recognize when a boundary is being crossed? And there's another question I couldn't help asking. Why do people stay in situations that are clearly hurting them? Misti's perspective made me realize how much more there is to that question than most of us understand. 🎙️ Episode 104. It's a conversation I believe every parent, grandparent, educator, and anyone who cares about others should hear. 🎥 WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Rib_Ml_wLiE And if something in our conversation makes you stop and think, please share it. You never know who might need to hear Misti's story. CHAPTER: 00:00 Cold Open: When Friendship Becomes a Trafficking Trap 03:15 Meet Misti Spencer: Author, Survivor, and Advocate 06:40 Growing Up in Poverty and Forced to Grow Up Too Soon 10:20 "Predators Don't Look Like Predators": The Stranger Danger Myth 14:15 How Predators Exploit Trust, Vulnerability, and the Need for Love 18:50 Childhood Abuse, Shame, and Why Survivors Stay Silent 22:30 Beyond the Stereotypes: What Human Trafficking Really Looks Like 27:10 Female Groomers: The Dangerous Side of "The Lifestyle" 31:45 Behind Closed Doors: Sex Parties, Isolation, and Coercion 36:20 Drugs, GHB, and the Hidden Tactics of Exploitation 40:15 "Why Didn't You Just Leave?" Love, Manipulation, and Dependency 45:00 The Breaking Point: Recognizing the Pattern and Escaping 49:30 Survival Isn't Healing: Therapy, Trauma, and Starting Over 53:45 Love After Trauma: A 23-Year Marriage With a Fellow Survivor 58:10 *Drinking Beauty and the Seven Narcissists*: Breaking the Silence 1:02:00 Turning Pain Into Purpose: Advocacy and Helping Other Survivors 1:04:14 End of Episode I encourage you to connect with Misti and learn more about the important work she's doing.Connect with Misti: 🌐 Website: https://www.mistispencer.com 📖 Her Book: https://www.DrinkingBeautyJourney.com 📧 Email: [email protected] 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mistispencer/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misti.o.spencer 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misti_spencer ▶️ YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/@mistispencer If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes. And if something in Misti's story resonated with you, I highly encourage you to reach out to her and explore her work further. One of the reasons I love bringing these conversations to you is that they challenge what we think we know. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is listen to someone whose experiences are completely different from our own. Thank you for watching, listening, and being part of Third Chances! Vera CzernyThird Chances PodcastConversations that challenge how we think about health, business, and life without limits. 🌐 https://www.third-chances.com 📧 [email protected] Want to be considered as a guest on Third Chances Podcast? https://www.third-chances.com/apply-to-be-a-podcast-guest Content Note: This episode includes discussions of childhood sexual abuse, human trafficking, exploitation, addiction, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

What if the very thing you’re proud of, your ability to keep going no matter what, is also the reason you’re missing what your body is trying to tell you? At just 29 years old, Amy Mewborn experienced a health crisis that changed the course of her life. And it wouldn’t be the last time her body demanded her attention. My guest for Episode 103 of Third Chances is Amy Mewborn, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, entrepreneur, founder of Living Simpler, and creator of the SIGNALS Method. Amy’s story is not about fear. It’s about what can happen when high-achieving women become so used to pushing through that warning signs start to feel normal. In this conversation, Amy shares the experiences that forced her to rethink health, success, and what it really means to listen to your body. One question stayed with me after we finished: What has your body been trying to tell you that you’ve been too busy to hear? This is a conversation you’ll want to hear all the way through. Chapters 0:00 New Intro2:38 Intro and meeting Amy Mewborn6:53 The drive for success and the Enneagram 3 personality11:08 A stroke in the middle of a Container Store16:23 Birth control and Amy’s stroke experience20:58 Returning to work and the trap of productivity24:48 Mold exposure and searching for answers30:28 Western medicine, functional health, and looking at the whole person35:53 The SIGNALS Method and learning to read your body41:18 Why Amy puts sleep first46:38 Journaling, tracking, and recognizing patterns51:53 Nutrition myths and getting back to real food57:08 High-achieving women, stress, and health1:02:28 Taking responsibility for your long-term health1:06:48 Connecting with Amy and final thoughts Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/vrdjQ3tdEzY Connect with Amy 🌐 https://living-simpler.com📸 https://www.instagram.com/amymewborn/💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymewborn/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.mewbornYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyMewbornLivingSimpler  If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next. If something in Amy’s story resonated with you, I highly recommend connecting with Amy Mewborn and exploring her work further. And if someone came to mind while you were listening, especially the woman who takes care of everyone else but keeps putting herself last, share this episode with her. Vera CzernyThird Chances PodcastConversations that challenge how we think about health, business, and life without limits Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult an appropriate healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine or if you have concerns about symptoms, medications, or medical conditions. Individual experiences and results vary.

What if the dream you’ve postponed isn’t really about age or timing, but about something that has been quietly holding you back for years? At 62, Kimberly Anne Conway finally pursued the dream she had carried since childhood: becoming an author. But writing fiction unexpectedly led her back through her own story and the “knots” of fear, self-doubt, and old beliefs that had followed her for decades. Today, Kimberly is an accomplished published author whose talent crosses two very different kinds of storytelling. In My Journey to Somewhere, she brings honesty and vulnerability to her personal journey, while Making Russian Dolls showcases her imagination through a gripping story of espionage, identity, and intrigue. Together, the books reveal both the deeply personal and wonderfully creative sides of Kimberly as a writer. In this conversation, Kimberly shares one of her biggest realizations: “I was more comfortable with failure than I was with succeeding.” What finally allowed her to change that pattern, trust her voice, and pursue the dream she had postponed for so long? This is a conversation about the stories we write, the stories we believe about ourselves, and why it’s never too late to write a different next chapter. Sometimes it’s finally starting the thing you never stopped wanting. Watch here for the full interview: https://youtu.be/B8DQ4zVZq2I In This Episode 0:00 Introduction to Kimberly Anne Conway4:15 Childhood dreams and an early love of writing8:30 How our perceptions can become our reality12:45 Self-doubt, fear of success, and the pattern of stopping17:20 Kimberly’s 30-year career with the Postal Service21:55 Early experiences, trauma, and beliefs we carry forward26:40 Writing, journaling, and beginning to untie the “knots”31:10 Why sharing our personal stories can matter35:50 How family members can remember the same past differently40:25 The unexpected inspiration behind Making Russian Dolls45:40 Creating characters and living with stories in your head50:15 Writer’s block, discipline, and making time to write55:10 Why your voice and your dreams still matter1:01:45 The layers we reveal, and the ones we keep hidden1:06:20 Kimberly’s message for anyone who thinks it’s too late   Connect With Kimberly Website: https://: kimberlyanneconway.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570263290947Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kymmrcway/ Kimberly’s books: 📖 My Journey to Somewhere📖 Making Russian Dolls Kimberly shares that her books can be found through her website and ordered through bookstores, and she specifically encourages readers to support their local independent bookstores. If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any future episodes. And if something in this episode resonated with you, I highly encourage you to connect with Kimberly Anne Conway and explore her work further. And if you’re someone who’s been looking at health from a different angle, especially from a cellular perspective, feel free to reach out. I love bringing these conversations to you because they expand how we think about health… and sometimes even challenge what we thought we knew.www.third-chances.com OR: reach out to me: [email protected] Vera CzernyThird Chances PodcastConversations that challenge how we think about health, business, and life without limits Want to be considered as a podcast guest?Apply to be a guest on Third Chances Podcast

In this episode, we explore why muscle may become increasingly important as women age, how menopause and hormonal changes can affect metabolism and recovery, why traditional dieting may sometimes work against long-term strength, and how women can become smarter consumers in a wellness world filled with supplements, trends, trackers, and conflicting advice. Rachel also shares a deeply human side of her story, from delivering more than 1,000 babies as a certified nurse midwife to finally earning her private pilot’s license at 55 after a journey that took 15 years. Her story is a reminder that there is no arbitrary age at which curiosity, adventure, growth, or reinvention has to stop. Rachel Smith, DNP, FNP-C, CNM, NBC-HWC, is the founder of Aspect Wellness and a specialist in obesity medicine, hormone optimization, and midlife performance. With nearly two decades of clinical experience, Rachel helps high-performing women build the physiological and psychological capacity to live fully, not simply live longer. Her work brings together evidence-based medicine and real-world performance, translating complex science around muscle, metabolism, hormones, cognition, sleep, resilience, and longevity into practical strategies women can use in everyday life. A former certified nurse midwife who has delivered more than 1,000 babies, Rachel is also a private pilot and outdoor enthusiast. She speaks nationally on midlife performance, longevity, and what it takes to create what she calls a high-capacity life. Rachel is also the author of the forthcoming: CALIBRATED: A Precision Medicine Guide to Hormones, Cognition, and Peak Performance in Midlife.  Due Fall 2026 🎥 Watch the full conversation with Rachel Smith:  https://youtu.be/xF-C2sy1ieQ  Chapters: 0:00 Promo Video4:45 Intro and the importance of professionalism8:30 Meet Rachel Smith: Midwife and health expert11:55 A personal journey through family illness16:15 Transitioning into midwifery and nursing20:45 Recognizing the signs of perimenopause25:00 Moving from midwifery to metabolic health29:15 The biology of aging and insulin resistance33:45 Why weight loss isn't the only goal39:05 Muscle as a foundation for longevity43:45 Starting a fitness routine in your 50s and 60s49:00 Evaluating supplements and wellness marketing54:15 Rebuilding trust with your healthcare provider58:45 Learning to listen to your body's warning signs1:04:00 Using biohacking tools like the Oura Ring1:08:45 How alcohol impacts sleep and recovery1:13:30 Lessons from the cockpit: Flying and health1:17:45 Closing thoughts and Rachel's new book Calibrate CONNECT WITH RACHEL Aspect Wellness:https://aspect-wellness.com/ Email:[email protected] LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-smith-cnm-aprn-nbc-hwc-407462b9/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/rachel.smith.dnp YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@RachelSmithDNP Instagram:@rachelsmithdnp If this conversation resonated with you, I highly encourage you to connect with Rachel Smith and explore her work further. And if you’re someone who has been looking at health from a different angle, especially from a cellular perspective, feel free to reach out. I love bringing these conversations to you because they expand how we think about health and sometimes challenge what we thought we knew. www.third-chances.com or reach out to me:[email protected] Vera CzernyThird Chances PodcastConversations that challenge how we think about health  

When I first started Third Chances, I had no idea where it would lead me. I only knew I wanted to have real conversations with people who had lived through something, learned from it, and found a way to keep moving forward. Now, 100 episodes later, I look back with so much gratitude.I have met extraordinary people. Experts. Survivors. Reinventors. People who were knocked down by life, health, loss, fear, uncertainty, or circumstances they never chose, and somehow found the strength to stand back up. And for this 100th episode, I could not have asked for a more fitting conversation.My guest, Dr. Saeid Mushtagh, is a Vancouver-based naturopathic doctor whose work centers on brain health, mood, attention, cognition, and resilience. His professional path is deeply personal too, shaped by his own experiences with depression, anxiety, ADHD, multiple concussions, immigration, and rebuilding connection. In this episode, we talk about what may sit underneath brain fog, focus issues, mood changes, and concussion symptoms, while also exploring the deeper foundations of health, resilience, and human connection. What I loved most about this conversation is that it goes beyond the résumé.It is really about how struggle can shape purpose. Watch the full conversation and meet the man behind the doctor. Youtube: https://youtu.be/4UWbc8xc3_kChapters0:00 The Four Legs of the Health Chair3:10 Introduction to Dr. Said Mushta7:45 Growing up in Iran and Early Influences12:30 Escaping Oppression and Moving to Canada18:15 From Engineering to Molecular Biology24:50 Discovering Naturopathic Medicine and Homeopathy31:10 The Struggle of Cultural Integration and Disconnect37:40 Finding Healing in the Canadian North43:20 The Link Between Physical and Mental Health49:05 Introduction to Brain Mapping and Neurofeedback55:30 Why Concussions Impact Long term Mood1:01:45 The Problem with Reactive Medical Systems1:07:15 Assessing the Four Pillars of Health1:13:30 The Importance of Sunlight and Vitamin D1:19:00 Botanical Medicine and Wild Pine Pollen1:24:10 Final Advice on Direct Awareness and Nature1:27:53 Conclusion Connect with Dr. Saeid Mushtagh Websites: http://imh-clinic.com                  http://northshorend.caLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-saeid-mushtagh-961b3116/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenaturopathicclinic/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenaturopathic/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saeidmushtagh If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next.If something in this episode resonated with you, I highly recommend connecting with …. Dr. Saeid Mushtagh…. and exploring his work further. And if you’re someone who’s been looking at health from a different angle, especially from a cellular perspective, feel free to reach out. I love bringing these conversations to you because they expand how we think about health… and sometimes even challenge what we thought we knew.www.third-chances.comOR:reach out to me: [email protected] Vera CzernyThird Chances PodcastConversations that challenge how we think about health #brainhealth #concussionrecovery #holistichealth #mentalresilience #ThirdChancesPodcast #Episode100 #DrSaeidMushtagh #MentalHealth #ADHD #Anxiety #Depression #NaturopathicMedicine #Resilience