Dare To Share Your Untold Story

Rishma unveils a heart-wrenching story about losing her husband to cancer and the journey through being his caregiver and knowing that their time together was limited. She described and detailed her husband's character viewed by many -- he was a magnet towards all people. She portrays that her personal grief journey is like that of peeling and unravelling of an onion, with each grief layer looking unalike, and therefore she embraces 'grieving with gratitude'. She speaks about what it is like to grieve during the global pandemic, there were no traditional rites and rituals performed or known gatherings of family, friends, not being able to receive hugs from her heart connections, and how she had to run a completely different course than what was familiar to her. She takes time to open up her story to share aspects of the grief journey which she has not openly shared before and made some poignant connections with grief literacy. Rishma converses about the multi-roles that she played beyond being a wife and mother, she jumped into advocacy and detective hats to ensure that there was no compromise to her husband's wellbeing and quality of life. She has learned the importance of soft skills and connecting with empathy. Her key message to the listeners is that: lots of people go through this alone -- you don't have to; be sure to reach out to someone; "reach out to me"; find resources, there are many in the community; each person has their own story filled with their own pain and loss -- you are not alone.

Ifeoma describes what it was like for her to transition from a highly successful and driven young professional and pausing her career for a decade to raise her four children. She expressed what it was like for her to watch her former classmates progress in their careers and finding herself constantly questioning her life choices, leaving her to feel tormented that she let her education go to waste. During this 10 year gap in her career, much of her interactions and conversations were all about children and children related activities, and she yearned for adult interaction and conversation. Ifeoma also discovered going through this period in her life, how much she neglected her own needs, emotions, and desires. She held on to this idea that if she is not working, she is not earning, therefore she doesn't have any money to spend on herself. She clarified that there were no restrictions placed on her, just what she had placed on herself. Ifeoma admits that her entire life revolved around her children, she lost herself in that process, and wasn't even aware how much she sacrificed or denied herself. She recognizes the importance of letting her ego down, allowing herself to live without the intrusion of guilty feelings. Her key message to the listeners is that: if you are a stay-at-home-mom, explore how relationships are impacting you; you cannot give from an empty tank; recognize your identity as a person and this will empower you to do more; be creative in how you value yourself.

Zak dives right in to talk about how her life had been impacted by depression and how some of it was rooted in fear of how she would be judged or interpreted by others, which resulted in the fear of showing up authentically and being seen. She unveils that the depression brought her to an all-time low point in her life, she recognized that this wasn't who she was, she continued to seek outwardly the approval of others and really it came down to looking for love externally. Zak reveals that a big 'ah-ha' moment for her was tapping into this idea that she spent a great deal of time, energy and efforts externally waiting for the validation that can only come from an internal place, referring to it as an 'internal job'. At first, she was afraid to express who she was -- Zak explains that she had this gift of being able to see and hear spirits from a young age about 13 years of age. The depression took over in her late teens and early 20's, simultaneously diagnosed with cancer, she grappled with an overwhelm of highs and lows experiencing raw emotions of guilt, shame, fear, sadness and more. She reflects on the idea that energy is expensive, so it is important to pay attention to where and to whom you are giving it. Her key message to the listeners is that: connect with what you truly want; ask yourself how you are going to get it; remind yourself how badly you want it; whatever you want to water, be sure to water.

Today's guest openly shares that her upbringing began with a mother who suffered with undiagnosed schizophrenia, and when she was the tender age of 6, one day at school, she met her two older brothers at the school office where they were then taken and placed in foster care. She remained in the foster care system until she was 18 years of age. She connects with difficult moments and unknown feelings, never feeling settled anywhere, in addition to her identity as a mixed-race child, being raised in a predominantly Caucasian area, she carried a great deal of shame, not wanting others to know her full ethnic identity. She explores the difficulties from childhood right to adulthood, impacts post foster care, and learning later about her brother's mental health diagnosis. She expresses how difficult it felt to catch a break, feeling heartbroken all over again as what her brother would go through is what she lived through with her mother. She talks about the direct impact to her mental well-being over the years, habits she developed, co-dependencies that became constant in her life, and how the traumas that she has lived through have shaped who she has become as she has learned to re-balance her life. Her key message to the listeners is that: if you are in foster care -- aim for any kind of stability; don't leave a stable situation, whether it be a home, job, relationship; don't ever think you are crazy for things falling apart; open your heart to love again.

Marnie's story is all about bringing her son, Joe, into the world as the dust was settling in New York from the 9/11 attacks which became a transformative experience for her. Her story circles around her experience of getting pregnant and having a scheduled delivery on that same day, while residing in downtown Chicago, where the city was bracing itself to be the next hit after New York. Her experience as she describes it is one of vulnerability and gratitude in the face of fear. Marnie explains that she was supposed to be induced that day, two weeks after her due date, she was considered a high pregnancy, but felt like a million bucks. It was the day of, when she received a phone call from a friend to check the news, this is when she and her husband realized getting to the hospital would be a challenge, as Chicago already started to shut down. Marnie takes her time to detail the experience of getting to the hospital, what it was like at the hospital, observing those in helping professions that were scared and worried and some hysterical as they could not reach their loved ones. The entire time, she found a way to hold space with compassion for others, indicating that it was the only thing that she could do, this is the time where she realized that she was part of collective humanity. Her key message to the listeners is that: build a mental health toolkit that you can carry around with you in your pocket; collect tools and sharpen your tools, so if ever faced with adversity or unknown emotions, you can turn to your toolkit; practice gratitude; be curious, ask more questions, go deeper -- the more information you have it leads you to good and right choices for you.

Dr. Naira takes the time to convey what it was like to be a child of divorce from the age of three being brought up in Moscow, Russia. Expressing that her mother was busy with her personal life and her father oblivious to her needs, Dr. Naira felt alone from this young age. She grew up having self-doubt, not confident in her abilities, though aspiring to be a perfectionist in anything she put her mind to. She married at the age of 16 where she strongly believes that after marrying her husband this is where the beginning of her personal growth began. She immersed herself in several career avenues, had two children and parted ways with her 'shying away' tendencies. Dr. Naira suffered an unimaginable loss of her husband's murder at the age of 23, where it took twenty days to recover his body, after which she contemplated ending her own life. During her professional training and exploration with Jungian theory, she was able to connect with grief and loss for the first time and found herself in tears for the duration of a week. All these tears led her to a transformation of smiling where she had not since childhood, learning to laugh, feel her feelings and have fun. Her key message to the listeners is that: you're not alone; even when you don't feel it, there is someone there for you; go seek the element of your missing puzzle piece; plant your seeds into the soil -- growth takes time, it won't be seen right away, but take care of your soil.

Karima voices what it has been like to be caught in a system she believes has failed her by giving her a false mental health diagnosis leading to a life altering narrative, combined with the difficulties that come along with her identity as an ethnically mixed Muslim woman of colour. She shares details about feeling like the odd one out growing up, being bullied not just with appearance but also in her line of thinking and expression. She openly discusses the experience of her first psychosis induced mania episode which she had not been equipped to handle, later bringing her true diagnoses forward of bipolar 1 and borderline personality disorders. She describes the experience of shame and associated feelings that lingered, cognitive impairments that she has suffered because of these episodes, losing people important to her, and lacking a sense of belonging. Karima expresses that throughout the journey, whatever strife she has encountered, she is grateful for her diagnoses and now has a new perspective on life. The journey has taught her to write, reflect, and know the importance of cherishing herself. Her key message to the listeners is that: when you want to speak, do it, express your emotions; use your emotions as signals to communicate with yourself and others; you get to choose who is on your team, and you need to be on your own team.

Christine openly shares how she has struggled with depression since her teen years, undiagnosed, with some re-occurrences post-partum. She explains that her parents' marriage had fallen apart and the narrative that was created in her mind was that her family had fallen apart. The breakdown of the family unit was a major theme in her struggles growing up. Christine shared that at the time of her parents' divorce was also a time where divorce was uncommon, and there was a great deal of stigma placed on women who divorced. Her parents were both going through their own emotional pain and suffering, and they did not recognize Christine's. She openly speaks about how it rattles her to her core when she doesn't have control over a situation, particularly a stressful one, and anytime there appears a massive change. There were numerous mental health impacts, such as predominant sadness, zapped energy, and inability to complete simple tasks. Some of the impact manifested in weight gain, she ate her feelings, sensation of taste was heightened only to 'feel good' in the moment. Her key message to the listeners is that: social health is so important; you are braver than you think you are with a deeper capacity than you might give yourself credit for; your journey will have hills and valleys -- neither last forever.

At around eight years of age, she identifies as the last generation born in Estonia, Maria was raised in the Soviet Union, taught the Russian language, and brought up amidst chaos where the country was re-starting from the ground up, in addition to being abandoned by her father. At the age of fourteen, she watched Western culture on TV, which inspired her to be there one day. During her upbringing there were a great deal of pressures that felt cumbersome at times, feeling in 'survival mode', she felt lonely, which led to questioning her self-worth. Maria shares that her story is based on the premise that it wasn't about giving up when it felt like everything was against her. She speaks about the introduction of the 'Alien Passport', it was known that if you were Russian, this is the documentation that would be given, classified as a non-citizen with no permissions to travel, bound to remain in the country. She was surrounded by discrimination, poverty, desperation as she witnessed her mother face many struggles. She expresses there was no one to care for her feelings and experienced a lack of self-identification both with her nationality and profession. When the opportunity to immigrate to Canada became a possibility, she took the risk at the age of twenty-four, without adequate finances, language barriers, minimal support, and today is the proud owner of a boutique law firm. Her key message to the listeners is that: love and believe in yourself; if there is something you want to achieve, work on it, but be your own team; learn self-respect; fight your inner critic; and learn to enjoy the present.

Cindy conveys that no one really understands what a marriage is going through behind closed doors and what it is like to be married to a 'covert narcissist'. She shares that this is a difficult personality to identify and has a grave impact on a person's sense of worth and mental well-being. She describes the experience to include gas-lighting, subtle and unseen manipulations, and a great deal of oppression. Cindy mentioned that she was afraid of being alone, she wasn't in a position of recognizing red flags, and in hindsight is able to now see that there was a parallel between the mannerisms of her father and husband of the time. She indicated during the midst of the marriage falling apart, she was reliant on substances and through the divorce, initially there was depression and a great deal of anxiety. Cindy's experience taught her to rise above and put her game face on, though she says that sweeping issues under the rug didn't make issues disappear, it only built up further until she felt lost. She shared that it took five years to come to terms with the need for divorce. She learned to lead, did her work to lead, not letting the lawyer be in the driver's seat, she was able to call the shots and be the one in charge. Her key message to the listeners is that: take it slow, it's a marathon not a sprint; you need more than just a lawyer for support; acquire third party support to help navigate the process; unpack the traumas that the divorce brings; and keep your focus on a response rather than a reaction.

Svetlana's story begins when she talks about building her first business in Russia, during a time where she had to deal with not-organized Russian Mafia. She claims it was a disaster as the Mafia were forming different groups. As soon as privatization was born in her country, that meant she could own a business, and so she immediately took her first steps to get registered and started her venture. Being one of the first female entrepreneurs in Russia, she learned all her skills from men, she got to know the banking system were boxes of money, there was opportunity to make money fast, however, it came with a price. She explains that it was the experience of criminal activities, the more money she had, the more problems she had, as there were 12 groups that had to be paid off. Svetlana shares that there was need to pay people to protect her and her family, she witnessed criminal torture, and it wasn't until the time where threat was placed on her son, this was her defining moment where she made the decision to immigrate to Canada. She speaks about the abuse that she endured from her former husband, and the strife and struggle it was to adjust to a new country with limited support, language barriers, though feeling the toughness, she felt welcomed into the country which allowed her to build skills, learn and grow. Her key message to the listeners is to: surround yourself with positive people -- it takes effort and time; learn to communicate; dreams big or small take time to build, but take the time to build it anyway; never give up or settle; lead with tremendous love for all people; and engage in the world.

Shelly uncovers what it was like to be bullied at school, residing in a small town where there are 'small town unspoken rules' to abide by, dating all the way back during her pre-teen and teen years, and the emphasis on one particular year that took a toll on her overall mental well-being. It is from this experience that she believes self-worth has been her core life-long issue in her journey and therefore, she must implement consistent strategies and tools to combat that unwanted voice from showing up. She spoke about her love for life, her extroverted personality and strong voice and the inner feeling of being able to do anything she wanted, quickly came to a halt when the bullying she faced exacerbated. Shelly shares how it felt to go from an extrovert to an introvert, how she felt so "little", and would proceed with caution as she felt the need to tip-toe around her peers. She mentioned not having any support, no one really checking in on her or opening safe dialogue for her to converse, she just went silent. During the toughest part, she held back from things she liked doing, she didn't feel worthy or good enough, there was a great deal of pressure that she placed on herself, there was a need to be amazing at any task she was assigned. She talks about self-awareness that she cultivated, she matured faster, was able to tap into inner resources, and has allowed herself to connect to community. Her key message to the listeners is that: tap into those fears, unlearn behaviours that hold you back, your voice and story matter, when you feel down and low, reach out to people and help them understand what you are going through -- even when you don't feel like it, don't let your past define you, and whatever you are sensing and feeling no matter how awful it is, you have the power to beat it down.

Parul goes all in to talk about what it is like to struggle with anxiety, depression, and insomnia and when all three came to heads with each other -- there was no amount of   coping strategies or tools to equip her for what she was facing on her own. She openly shares how much she internalized and protected herself from the outside world and how this translated as showing up as high functioning despite the inner turmoil she faced. She expressed feeling an empty feeling no known to her, she was unable to experience joy, she had given so much of herself that her depleted energy could not handle anything more. Parul speaks about her path to reconnect with childhood trauma, the courage she needed to pull it up from those suppressed places, and how it just took one person to recognize that she wasn't coping well to ask her how she was, and for Parul to take that opportunity to face her truth. When Parul describes facing her reality, she felt it was a start to exploring healing from all angles, not just pharmaceutical interventions which was a journey of its own, but also looking into alternative medicine and other resources that she could tap into to help her dig deeper and heal from deep within. One thing Parul was clear about is that she didn't want a band aid solution, she was looking for true growth, and genuine healing right to her core. She takes a stand to talk about the importance of mental health, by humanizing, normalizing, and neutralizing conversations and creating safe spaces to explore the discomfort. Her key message to the listeners is that: be patient and kind to yourself; be open to trying new modes of healing that could help and find what truly works for you; give your options a chance, if one therapist is not a good fit, try another but don't give up on the treatment; give yourself the compassion and kindness that you show to others; take the time and space to seek support, heal and be empowered.

Rish takes time to open up and share aspects of her entire journey which she has not openly shared to others outside her social circle and made some poignant connections with grief literacy. Rish converses about the multi roles that she played being a daughter, caregiver to both her parents while studying in university and now wife and mother. She describes how tragedy she witnessed as very young adult has shaped her outlook on life and how she wants to make a difference for others to persevere regardless of what life might throw at an individual. She recounts her personal grief journey and how it took years to overcome and therefore ultimately laid the foundation for her own personal breast cancer journey at the young age of 37. She speaks about what it is like to grieve, having to get her life back on track at a young age, dealing with ongoing deaths, and her own personal health journey. Her key message to the listeners is that: everyone has their own personal issues which they undergo, but you don't have to go through it alone. She encourages people to reach out to someone if they are going through something and she openly invites anyone who wants to chat and connect to do so.

Farahana shares how she has encountered a great deal of emotional pain and suffering through her life and took the time to expose publicly for the first time the traumas of growing up. She discloses being raised in a household where her parents did not get along, there was physical abuse that she witnessed, and she learned to set her own needs aside to become her mother's referee and protector. With vulnerability, Farahana shares that her parents today are not reflective of who they were while she was growing up and that she has always been protective of them, thus, keeping her true experiences to herself. She conveys deeply how embarrassing or hurting her parents in any way is not something she ever wished to do and is the reason why she has waited until present day to share this 'untold' part of her story. Farahana also uncovered a dysfunctional marriage that she was in and how she fought and tackled cancer. Part of the pivot in her spiritual journey is when she encountered mindfulness and learned how to leave the part of her life that was led by anger, rage, and confusion. It has taught her to shift her mindset, look at semantics and language to redirect her thoughts. Mindfulness has given her the ability to decipher between fact and narrative. Her key message to the listeners is that: as people, we aren't always going to have it together -- it takes work, even inner work will be a lot of work to tap into, inner work takes commitment on a daily basis, take time to look into the mirror without judgement and go through each layer, one at a time.

In this episode, Nicole shares the story she once believed she would never speak — the decade of childhood sexual abuse she experienced while the world around her saw a bright, high-achieving, "perfect" young girl. At fourteen, a single, intuitive question from her mother led to a moment of truth that changed everything. Nicole reflects on her mother's immediate protective actions and the fear, shame, and uncertainty that followed in the aftermath. Nicole describes how she learned to push her emotions down, stay busy, and shape herself into whatever version of "okay" she believed people wanted to see. She explains how perfectionism, people-pleasing, emotional shutdown, and keeping up appearances became her survival strategies. Together, we talk about the difference between true resilience and toxic positivity, the pressure she felt to make others comfortable with her story, and the lifelong impact of fear, threats, and chronic nervous-system activation. She also speaks openly about how these early experiences spilled into adulthood, affecting trust, relationships, boundaries, and her ability to feel safe. This conversation sheds light on what it means to stop carrying the emotional responsibility that never belonged to you, to understand yourself before relying on others for understanding, and to reconnect with your voice after years spent hiding in plain sight. Nicole's journey is one of courage, honesty, and reclaiming inner safety — reminding us that healing begins when we stop performing strength and finally allow ourselves to be seen. Her key message to the listeners of the show is: sometimes you have to tip-toe out of your hiding spot and do things afraid — it's scary but it has benefits; find your courage within yourself to find your own voice and use it, even when you know it is scary, because on the other side there is something good. Guest Bio: Nicole is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, an author, advocate, and global activist who has spent more than two decades giving voice to awareness, prevention, and healing. She is the author of four books, producer of two films, host of the OneVOICE Podcast, and the executive director of OneVOICE4freedom — a non-profit dedicated to stopping child sex trafficking through prevention education and support for vulnerable children and families. Nicole has spoken to some of the most at-risk populations around the world, as well as to leading universities, companies, treatment centres, faith communities, and conferences. Her work has reached people across the world, empowering survivors to break their silence, reclaim their truth, and begin healing. Known for her candour, warmth, and transparency, Nicole connects deeply with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. She recently created UNLEASH, an eight-week online healing course for survivors, and launched a live virtual support community that she leads weekly. When she's not blazing trails in her advocacy work, Nicole can be found in Columbus, Ohio, playing pickup basketball with her three boys. Her presence — on stage, online, or in community — inspires hope, authenticity, and the powerful reminder that every story matters. URL for shoutout: onevoice4freedom.org OneVOICE4freedom — Nicole's non-profit dedicated to preventing child sex trafficking and supporting vulnerable children and families worldwide.   Where to find me: Website: iamonevoice.org   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicole_bromley/ X: https://x.com/nicole_bromley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleBraddockBromley/   OneVOICE Podcast: https://iamonevoice.podbean.com Nicole's Books: https://www.iamonevoice.org/store Nicole's online support community and e-course for survivors "UNLEASH": https://www.iamonevoice.org/unleash    

Jennifer was raised to be strong and independent—and she carried that identity proudly. As a critical care nurse, she believed she knew the answers to what it meant to be healthy and well. But life had other lessons waiting. Her journey shifted in 2002, when her second son suffered a massive neonatal stroke just one hour after birth. The experience awakened her to the many gaps in the healthcare system and inspired her to begin bridging those gaps through energy work, nutrition, and exercise. Several years later, on the same day she discovered she was expecting her fourth child, Jennifer learned that her third son—then just two-and-a-half years old—had been diagnosed with high-risk leukemia. Between caring for her children, managing her family, and supporting a husband working long surgical hours, Jennifer's own health began to unravel. She experienced panic attacks, migraines, digestive issues, and chronic tension. She describes years of giving endlessly—until there was nothing left to give. In 2010, a medical episode that presented as a stroke but was later diagnosed as an atypical migraine became her wake-up call. Jennifer recognized the lifelong pattern she was living out: the giver who never learned to receive. It was the turning point that pushed her to let go of perfection, learn to ask for help, and honour her limits. She began to say yes to herself, to rest, to reset, and to redefine what strength truly means. Her story is one of radical self-awareness—of learning that being enough does not mean doing it all, and that real power often lies in the pause. Her key message to the listeners of the show is: You are so much stronger than you think you are, and then you rise; give yourself permission to pause, there is so much power in that pause; it's okay to not to be okay, you are not broken, it is information that you are out of balance, so show up for yourself now.     Guest Bio: Jennifer Wren Tolo, known as "The Soul Connector," is a former critical care nurse turned award-winning health and wellness educator, transformational life coach, and sought-after speaker. She empowers women to move beyond survival mode and reclaim their happiness, health, and power. Inspired by navigating life-threatening illnesses with two of her four sons, Jennifer created her signature method, the "ABC's of Stress Management," helping clients reconnect with their inner voice and the wisdom of their soul. A bestselling author and Adjunct Professor at Endicott College's School of Nursing, Jennifer teaches Holistic and Complementary Approaches to Health and Healing. She holds both BSN and Master's degrees and is certified as a Whole Health Educator and Patient Advocate, Personal Trainer, Reiki Master, and in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Jennifer is also the host of the Simple Awakenings Podcast, an executive contributor to BRAINZ magazine, and has been featured in Women's Journal, US Business Insider, and on FOX and ABC News.   URL for shoutout: https://wish.org/ Make-A-Wish Foundation – an organization devoted to bringing hope, joy, and life-changing experiences to children facing critical illnesses, offering moments of light and possibility when families need it most.   Where to find me: Website: https://jenniferwrentolo.com Instagram: Instagram@Jenwrentolo LinkedIn: hLinkedin @Jennifer-tolo-RN-MA Facebook: Facebook @jenwrentolo Pillar.io/ Links: https://pillar.io/jenwrentolo   

Julie's story unfolds at the intersection of faith, identity, and self-compassion. Raised in a culturally and religiously conservative South Asian household, she grew up surrounded by clear definitions of what was right and wrong — spoken and unspoken rules that guided how one should live and belong. But how Julie was authentically wired didn't always fit those expectations. The tension between who she was and who she was told to be became an early internal struggle, one she learned to carry as if it were her fault. When Julie was ten years old, she lost her father in a tragic car accident that also involved her entire family. That loss created a rupture in family life — one that was never fully named, only absorbed. The family's way of coping became rooted in faith and community support, drawing strength from Christian teachings. While Julie deeply valued the beauty of faith, she also found herself questioning why prayer alone didn't always bring comfort. Each time she struggled, she thought she must not be doing enough, not believing enough, not honouring God enough. As life went on, those early beliefs resurfaced through new challenges. After marriage, Julie faced infertility — an experience that brought grief, isolation, and shame. She describes the pain of believing something was wrong with her, that she had somehow failed spiritually or personally. Surrounded by well-meaning voices telling her to "rely more on faith," she began to internalize guilt and self-blame. Eventually, Julie reached out for professional help and was encouraged to begin therapy — her first experience with talk therapy. There, she began exploring the grief of unrealized motherhood and the impact it had on her mental health, faith, and sense of purpose. She speaks openly about the destabilizing period of not knowing how to reconcile her loss with her spirituality, and how learning to connect with herself relationally became a turning point. Today, Julie continues her journey of growth and self-understanding. Through vulnerability, faith, and self-compassion, she is finding balance between her roots and her authentic voice. Her msg to the listeners of the show is: whatever you are experiencing or navigating is valid, have compassion with yourself; wherever you are stuck you have good reasons for that, more compassion you practice, the more you lean into authenticity and presence; engage presence in this way and it accelerates growth.     Guest Bio: Julie is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Connecticut and New York with advanced training in trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and evidence-based modalities such as Emotionally Focused Therapy, CBT, and DBT. She holds degrees from New York University, Rutgers University, and Seattle Pacific University, and brings over a decade of experience in both the fast-paced technology sector and clinical practice. Julie has supported individuals, couples, and families around issues including anxiety, depression, disordered eating, trauma, and premarital counseling.   Inspired in part by her own lived experiences, Julie has a deep passion for walking alongside women and couples navigating fertility challenges, racial trauma, and life transitions. She has facilitated support groups for sexual abuse recovery and divorce grief, and she remains committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces where stories of struggle can be met with care and compassion. Today, Julie makes her home in Greenwich, CT, with her family and two rescue pups.     URL for shoutout: https://resolve.org/get-help/support-groups/     RESOLVE – an organization that offers fertility support through groups and resources available to individuals at little to no cost.   Where to find me: Website: Website juliehalltherapy.com  Instagram: julievhall01 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliehalltherapy/ Email: julie@juliehalltherapy.com

Felicity's story is one of survival, silence, and rediscovery after enduring over forty years of physical, emotional, and mental abuse. At ten years old, she witnessed her father attempt to kill her mother with a crystal ashtray — a moment that changed everything and taught her to stay quiet, to shut down, and to carry fear as though it were part of her. Throughout her life, Felicity experienced repeated patterns of abuse. She grew up believing her worth was tied to endurance and her safety to silence — patterns rooted in a long line of generational trauma carried by her grandmother, her mother, and now, herself. Seventeen years ago, Felicity met the man who would later become her abuser. Ten years ago, she began her long process of recovery. In time, she remarried and started rebuilding, but this year brought another unexpected blow: a sudden divorce filing that reopened deep wounds. Living with C-PTSD, Felicity speaks about the exhaustion of being constantly triggered, mentally drained, and even told she was "too advanced" for the support she sought. She recalls being the child who ran to her mother's aid after the assault — an early pattern of caretaking that followed her through life. Now, she is learning to turn that same compassion inward and reclaim her sense of self. Through faith, surrender, and deep reflection, Felicity continues to transform pain into purpose. After years of surviving, she is finally discovering what it means to truly live and rebuild from the rubble with resilience and grace. Her key message to the listeners is: regardless of circumstances and what season of life you are in, you have the capability and power to redefine the narrative and life that you want — you don't have to be the person you were groomed into being; you can become the person you want to be.     Guest Bio: Felicity is an author and storyteller whose work explores resilience, transformation, and self-discovery. With authenticity and depth, she draws from personal experience and a deep understanding of the human spirit to empower others in their own healing journeys. Her voice resonates with those seeking inspiration, growth, and a renewed sense of purpose, making her not only a writer but also a guide for women navigating pivotal life transitions. She is the creator of She Is You, a brand and community for midlife women seeking connection, healing, and transformation. Known as a sisterhood of midlife warriors, this membership space is Felicity's passion project—helping women find support, strength, and lifelong friendships. A two-time international bestselling author, speaker, mentor, and coach, Felicity has rebuilt her life with courage and resilience, and now dedicates herself to helping other women do the same. Outside of her work, she enjoys time with her family, playing the cello, gardening, and reading.   URL for shoutout:  Invisible Warriors —The organization is dedicated to supporting and empowering women veterans, shining a light on their resilience and the unseen battles they continue to face with courage and strength.     Where to find me: Website: https://sheisyoumag.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felicity_nicole_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-nicole-6665b08a/ Links: pieces of me:  https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Me-Felicity-Nicole/dp/1913206521/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=V22HG5TB0B3A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MZCYTi7D4jSsSO0Aer9FB-YNMIuZf8cayqxYbiJS8C66tOCLEXmeuUZlW6PeU0NfsXmciy1Tw76kiDWuL-ZBOyI_C_jj7MjE3C1xZp1d1NY.LjFf_4OsCo1mFaRgT0GWrmcjmkvjnUiIeRd_lJqMg1I&dib_tag=se&keywords=pieces+of+me+felicity+nicole&qid=1756851628&sprefix=pieces+of+me+felicity+%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1

In this deeply honest and transformative episode, Jenn Greenhut shares a story that began in quiet emotional suppression and perfectionism—and evolved into a journey of awakening, trust, and healing. As a young elite gymnast training for the Olympics, Jenn was conditioned to dismiss her emotions, believing that worth was only found through flawless performance. She trained intensely, travelled globally, and learned to disconnect from her needs—until a knee injury forced her out of the sport. That moment, she now says, was her body making the decision she couldn't. Years later, she poured her heart into building a family, enduring three rounds of IVF and facing the crushing weight of disappointment, self-blame, and loss. And just when she thought she had no more to carry, she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer—with no warning signs. The news shattered her. She feared she was dying, and her mental health sank into a quiet depression masked by outward functioning. But something shifted. When a compassionate doctor explained that becoming pregnant would have put her life at risk, Jenn realized that the very thing she had seen as a personal failure—infertility—was actually protecting her. What once felt like life punishing her was, in truth, it was life saving for her. That realization sparked a new lens of gratitude. She began leaning into what remained, rather than what was missing. She pivoted from fear to faith, from despair to trust. Cancer, she says, became her healer. She began to understand that even the darkest days hold the gift of being alive. Her story is a powerful reframe on survival, identity, and the internal superpowers we all carry. Her key message to the listeners is: life is always working out even if it feels it isn't; sometimes we just don't know why things are happening in the moments it is happening; always believe in the power of the thought that life is working for you—this will help you grow, learn, evolve to be your best self; you can bring yourself back to love and light.      Guest Bio: Jennifer Greenhut is a stage IV triple-negative breast cancer survivor, speaker, and author who discovered that love, gratitude, and trust were her greatest superpowers to heal. Her experience of becoming cancer-free just months after her diagnosis inspired her to create Pinch Me, a simple mindset practice that helps people stay present and remember that life is always working for them, even when it doesn't feel that way. She also co-authored Everyone Needs a Larry with her husband, sharing their journey of love, marriage, and resilience while navigating cancer together.   As the founder of Love, Zero Negative, Jenn built an intentional lifestyle brand dedicated to spreading love and igniting self-worth through fashion and advocacy. Through The Zero Negative Foundation, she supports cancer patients directly with its Chemo Love Tote program and contributes to cancer research. Whether through her writing, speaking, or foundation, Jenn is on a mission to turn negatives into positives, empowering others to embrace self-love, gratitude, and the possibility of healing.     Passionate about: Jennifer shares Love, Zero Negative—an intentional lifestyle and accessories brand designed to spark self-worth, empowerment, and love. Proceeds from every purchase go directly to The Zero Negative Foundation, which gives back to cancer patients through Chemo Love Totes and emotional support. After receiving so much support herself, Jenn created this brand to pay it forward and remind others they're never alone. Explore the mission: www.lovezeronegative.com     URL for shoutout:   Foundation: https://www.zeronegativefoundation.org | The Zero Negative Foundation       Where to find me: Website: https://www.lovezeronegative.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovezeronegative TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovezeronegative YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lovezeronegative LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifergreenhut/