The Life Shift | Conversations About Life Before and After

Some moments reshape us before we even have words for them.In this episode of The Life Shift, we explore a pivotal life shift and the before and after moments that shaped Erin Snow’s journey toward reclaiming her voice, worth, and sense of self.Erin Snow carried one of those moments for most of her life. What began as a buried truth became a quiet weight she learned to navigate on her own. And somewhere along the way, that silence started to turn into something else. A nudge. A voice. A call to reclaim the parts of herself that had been taken.Her story is not only about what happened. It is about the slow return to her own strength, the tenderness of being heard at the right time, and the courage it takes to tell a truth that once felt impossible to say. Erin reminds us that healing is not tidy. It grows in seasons. It begins in small ways. And often it starts with listening.What You’ll Hear:The childhood moment that marked a clear before and afterHow silence shaped Erin’s sense of worthThe long path toward reclaiming her voiceWhy advocacy became a way to healHow listening became her life’s purposeThe freedom of saying something you once held aloneGuest Bio:Erin Snow is a transformative listening strategist who turns the art of hearing into a powerful tool for personal and professional empowerment. As the founder of Seacoast Listening Lounge, she has pioneered a revolutionary approach that creates a sanctuary where women can not just survive, but truly reclaim their narrative and inner strength.With sixteen years of frontline experience as a legal advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, Erin has witnessed firsthand the life changing power of authentic, compassionate listening. She made history as the first paralegal in New Hampshire to represent clients directly in family court, breaking barriers and reshaping traditional legal norms.Her work bridges trauma-informed advocacy with deep emotional intelligence, offering individuals, leaders, and organizations a pathway to genuine, transformative connection. Erin can be reached at seacoastlisteninglounge.com.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSupport the show for ad-free and early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcastSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that keep showing up in the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about the belief that you have to be fully healed before you can change your life. I do not think that is true. Healing is not a finish line. It is not a requirement you have to meet before you are allowed to grow or move forward.In this reflection, I talk about why healing and change often happen together, and why waiting to feel whole can keep you stuck for years. Change is messy. Healing is slow. Sometimes you start showing up for yourself long before you feel ready. Sometimes the shift begins in the middle of the grief or confusion or fear. You do not need to be perfect or certain to take a step toward the life you want.If you are sitting in a season where you feel broken, overwhelmed, or unsure, I hope this episode helps you breathe a little easier. You do not have to fix everything first. You do not have to have it all sorted out. You can start right where you are, even in the mess, even in the doubt. That small beginning counts.

What if the hardest thing you’ve ever faced became the reason you kept going?In this episode of The Life Shift, we explore a pivotal life shift and the before and after moments that shaped John Ulsh’s journey through trauma, recovery, and rebuilding a life with purpose.After surviving a horrific car accident that left him with a three percent chance of survival, John Ulsh spent years relearning how to live, move, and believe in the life ahead of him. Across 45 surgeries and 17 years of recovery, he found that healing wasn’t about getting “back” to normal. It was about building something new — one intentional day at a time.In this conversation, we talk about:How John reframed pain into purpose and found strength in progress, not perfectionThe role of patience, humility, and self-compassion in long-term recoveryWhy falling in love with the process can matter more than the goal itselfJohn’s story reminds us that survival can be just the starting line — and that even the hardest chapters can fuel something good.John Ulsh knows what it means to rebuild. In 2007, he, his wife, and their two young children were in a catastrophic head-on collision. While his family suffered serious injuries, John took the brunt of the impact and was given less than a three percent chance of survival. After enduring over 45 surgeries and years of relentless recovery, he discovered that true resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship — it’s about learning to rise from it. Now, as the author of The Upside of Down, a speaker, and a coach, John helps others overcome adversity and turn setbacks into success. Learn more at www.johnulsh.com.Listen to this episode and more at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com.Get ad-free and early access on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.Subscribe to The Life Shift newsletter for behind-the-scenes reflections: thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com.Follow along on social: @thelifeshiftpodcast

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about those quiet or sudden moments when everything in your life shifts. The ground moves. The story you thought you were living no longer fits. And you find yourself standing in a new version of your life without knowing how you got there. In this reflection, I talk about the before and after moments we do not always see coming. The times when you feel stuck in fear, or pulled toward something new, or caught between the life you built and the life you want. Change rarely happens in one dramatic sweep. It shows up in small choices, in discomfort you can no longer ignore, in the quiet recognition that something has to give. If you have felt that internal shake or noticed a line in the sand you cannot uncross, I hope this episode meets you gently. You do not have to understand the whole shift. You only have to name the moment and keep moving with curiosity. These turning points shape who we are becoming, one small step at a time.

What if your greatest teacher had four legs and an endless capacity for love? When licensed therapist Brianna Laricchia lost her dog Molly, the grief cracked her heart wide open. It wasn’t just about losing a pet — it was about losing a constant, unconditional presence that had shaped who she was. In this conversation, Brianna shares how that loss transformed her both personally and professionally, leading her to specialize in grief counseling for others walking the same tender path. You’ll hear: How loving and losing Molly reshaped Brianna’s understanding of empathy and connection What she’s learned about the unique grief of losing a pet How she built Omnia Psychotherapy Group to help others heal through compassion, presence, and shared humanity If you’ve ever loved an animal like family, this episode will feel like a gentle hand on your shoulder. Listen and subscribe to The Life Shift Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Get ad-free, early access episodes and behind-the-scenes reflections on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Join the newsletter for honest reflections and updates: thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com Follow The Life Shift on social @thelifeshiftpodcast Guest Bio Brianna Laricchia is a licensed mental health counselor and the founder of Omnia Psychotherapy Group, a private practice based in New York. She specializes in grief counseling, focusing on pet loss and the emotional bonds we form with our animals. After losing her beloved dog, Molly, Brianna found her calling in helping others navigate the often-overlooked pain of pet loss. Through her work, she bridges professional expertise with deep empathy, creating safe spaces for healing and remembrance. www.omniapsychotherapygroup.com

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me long after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about those disorienting moments when the life you have been living suddenly feels unfamiliar. The pieces stop fitting together. The story you have been telling yourself begins to crack. And you find yourself standing in the in between, unsure of what comes next. In this reflection, I talk about confusion as part of the process, not a sign that something is wrong. Change is rarely neat or straightforward. It often begins in the fog, in the exhaustion, in the quiet moments when you realize you cannot keep pretending everything is fine. Sometimes clarity arrives only after the breaking open. Sometimes it comes through rest, or release, or the small permission to stop holding everything together. If you are in a season where nothing feels clear, I hope this episode gives you a softer place to stand. You do not need a full map. You do not need to rush the unfolding. It is enough to notice what is shifting inside you and trust that clarity often grows from confusion, one moment at a time.

If you have ever been curious about what actually happens behind the scenes of a meaningful conversation, this livestream is an open door. Not polished. Not rehearsed. Just two hosts sitting together in real time, talking honestly about why we keep doing this work and how it keeps changing us. This special co-hosted livestream on Riverside brought me together with Angela Hollowell to reflect on podcasting, storytelling, and the quiet evolution that happens when you keep showing up. We talked about how our shows began, how different our approaches are, and how both are rooted in care and intention. We explored the learning curve of hosting, creating safety without scripting everything, and letting conversations breathe. Somewhere in the middle of it all, I said something out loud that surprised even me. That podcasting has softened me. That it has made me more forgiving of myself. And that it might be the best thing I have ever done for me. This conversation is less about tactics and more about trust. About curiosity. About giving yourself permission to do it your own way. If you joined us live, thank you for being part of that moment. If you are listening now, I hope this reminds you that there is more than one right way to tell a story and you do not have to do it perfectly for it to matter. What You’ll Hear Different podcasting styles grounded in care Creating safety without controlling the outcome The hosting learning curve and releasing perfection How storytelling changes the people holding the space Why continuing to show up can quietly change you Co-Host Bio Angela Hollowell is the creator of the Please Hustle Responsibly newsletter and the host of the Honey and Hustle podcast. Through both, she highlights North Carolina founders, creators, and nonprofit leaders with care, specificity, and deep respect for the full human story. Her work centers on thoughtful storytelling, community, and creating access to conversations that help people feel less alone in their work and lives. Please Hustle Responsibly: https://www.pleasehustleresponsibly.com/ Honey and Hustle Podcast: https://www.honeyandhustle.co/ Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow Support the show for ad-free and early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

What if the lowest point in your life was actually your turning point? Dr. Robb Kelly knows what it means to lose everything, family, home, and even the will to live, and still find a way forward. From playing music at Abbey Road to living on the streets of Manchester, Robb’s story is a raw reminder of what happens when pain becomes purpose. Through science, faith, and relentless honesty, he rebuilt his life and devoted it to helping others recover from addiction and reclaim their worth. In this conversation, we talk about: How childhood trauma quietly shapes the way we cope, connect, and self-destruct What it really takes to rebuild a life after addiction and find a new identity Why embracing our perfectly imperfect selves is key to healing and helping others This episode is a powerful reflection on redemption, resilience, and the small moments that can change everything. Listen to The Life Shift Podcast: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow Support the show for ad-free and early access episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com Connect on socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube Guest Bio Dr. Robb Kelly, PhD, is a sought-after recovery expert who believes in treating the causes of addiction and not the symptoms. Dr. Kelly has appeared on shows such as The Doctors, Eye Opener, Good Morning Texas, and KENS 5 Morning News. A frequent contributor to radio and print interviews, including The Jim Bohannon show, Miracles in Recovery, USA Today, and participated in McLean Hospital’s (Harvard Medical School) study on the stigma associated with mental illness. Dr. Kelly hosted the Sober Celebs show on KLIF radio in Dallas, and currently hosts the Breaking Through Addiction podcast featuring special guests discussing a variety of mental health issues. Dr. Kelly created Let’s Get Back to 98% Recovery DVDs, used in prisons and recovery treatment centers throughout the US. He has lectured on addiction and trauma at high-profile universities, national conferences, treatment facilities, public schools, churches, business organizations, and hospitals. Dr Kelly is currently the CEO of the Robb Kelly Recovery Group, an addiction and mental illness recovery coaching company he founded based on extensive research and behavioural studies he conducted over the past 20 years. Dr. Kelly shares his personal highs and lows as he struggled and overcame crippling alcoholism in the November 2019 release of the book “Daddy, Daddy Please Stop Drinking”.

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about how hard we can be on ourselves and what it means to slowly learn gentleness. So many of us move through life with old shame, perfectionism, or fear tucked inside. We push ourselves to be better, to get everything right, or to carry more than we were ever meant to hold. In this reflection, I talk about the critical voice we learn as kids, the pressure to be perfect, and the way self-compassion feels like a muscle we have to practice again and again. Healing is not a straight line. Some days you feel softer. Some days you slip back into old patterns. The important part is noticing the shift and remembering that you deserve the same care you give to everyone else. If you have been carrying shame, harshness, or impossible expectations, I hope this episode helps you take one gentler breath. You do not have to earn kindness. You are allowed to give it to yourself, right here, exactly as you are.

What happens when the spotlight fades and you’re left with silence? Seth Stewart spent years performing on the world’s biggest stages — from Hamilton and In the Heights to touring with Madonna. But at the height of success, something inside him started calling for more. That quiet pull led him away from bright lights and applause, and into the wilderness where he began listening to his own spirit for the first time. In this conversation, Seth opens up about what it takes to walk away from a dream, why stillness can be louder than any stage, and how rediscovering our connection to nature can help us find our way back to ourselves. You’ll hear about: How leaving Broadway became Seth’s most honest act of creation What living off-grid taught him about trust, unity, and peace Why listening to your inner voice might be the bravest thing you ever do If you’ve ever felt called to change direction, this episode is a reminder that there’s life beyond what others expect — and that following your vision is a form of truth. For ad-free and early access to episodes, join the community at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories and reflections: thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com Follow on social media: @thelifeshiftpodcast Guest Bio From the stages of Broadway to the depths of the jungle, Seth Stewart is a bridge between worlds. As a performer and creator, he’s played major roles in the Tony Award-winning productions of In the Heights and Hamilton, and performed with artists like Madonna, Jay-Z, and Jennifer Lopez. After leaving the entertainment industry, Seth followed a deep spiritual calling that led him into the forest — a journey that reshaped his entire sense of purpose. He spent years immersed in nature, ceremony, and self-inquiry, learning from shamans and ancient wisdom keepers. Today, Seth guides others toward clarity, embodiment, and unity through True Kings Academy, a transformative space for men’s wellness and leadership. He also mentors young performers through Performer’s Edge, combining artistry and mindfulness. His upcoming memoir, Follow Your Vision. Live Your Truth., released August 8, 2025. https://www.iamsethstewart.com/

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series built around the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today, I am talking about grief and the way it takes shape inside a life. Grief is not something you finish. It is something living and moving, something that changes as you change. Losing my mom, my grandmother, and Mikey shaped the way I understand grief long before I ever sat with a guest and heard their story. In this reflection, I talk about how grief shifts from sharp to distant, how it can still surprise you years later, and how it never follows a straight line. Grief is not linear or predictable. It moves like waves, shadows, seasons. Sometimes it takes up the whole room. Sometimes it sits quietly in the corner. It is still a part of you either way. If you are carrying a loss, I hope this episode gives you a softer place to land. You do not need to rush your way through it or pretend you are fine. Grief is not a problem to fix. It is part of who you are and part of being human. You are allowed to feel it, honor it, and keep moving with one small step at a time.

Sometimes grief arrives before we are old enough to understand it. It lands in the middle of everything familiar and quietly rewrites the map of who we become. Years can pass before we realize how much of ourselves is still standing in that same frozen place. In this conversation, Kristina Amelong shares what it means to finally face what she could not name as a teenager. After losing her younger brother in a sudden accident, she spent decades searching for ways to numb the ache. What began as survival slowly became a lifelong practice of returning to herself — through healing, sobriety, and the simple act of telling the truth. This is a story about finding connection after silence. About discovering that grief can open doors as easily as it closes them. And about the power of one question to bring the past back into the light. What You’ll Hear: The day everything changed and the silence that followed How addiction became both a shield and a signal for help The stranger’s question that opened the path to healing What it means to reconnect with people frozen in the same grief The sacredness of tears and the wisdom they hold Finding peace through storytelling and self-acceptance   Guest Bio Kristina Amelong is the author of Ten Days to Optimal Health: A Guide to Nutritional Therapy and Colon Cleansing and the newly released memoir What My Brother Knew (She Writes Press, May 27). She is the founder and owner of Optimal Health Network, a holistic health business, and serves as a senior board member for the Center for World Philosophy and Religion, a nonprofit dedicated to reweaving the human story through spirituality and global healing. Kristina has a passion for photography, gardening, and pickleball, and she lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her three dogs and a brood of chickens. Book / Author Website: https://www.kristinaamelong.com Healing Work / Company Website: https://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com 🔗 Listen to The Life Shift Podcast: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow 🌟 Support ad-free and early access on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast 💌 Subscribe to the newsletter for reflections and new episode updates

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a short solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about burnout and the deeper exhaustion that grows slowly over time. The kind that shows up when you have spent years pushing through life, trying to be enough, and holding more than you were ever meant to carry alone. In this reflection, I explore what burnout really feels like, why so many of us miss the early signs, and how your body eventually tells the truth, no matter how hard you try to keep going. Burnout is not a personal failure. It is a signal. A quiet invitation to look closely at your life, your pace, and the patterns you have been living inside without even noticing. If you are overwhelmed, drained, or moving through a season where rest feels impossible, this episode offers a softer place to land. You do not need to have it all figured out. You only need to notice what is shifting inside you and take one small step toward something gentler. That can be enough for today.

Have you ever reached a point where the answers you’re given simply stop feeling right? Where you realize that trusting your own instincts might be the only way forward. For Piper, that moment came in a doctor’s office when she was told her son just needed a spanking. Something inside her knew that wasn’t true. What followed was a full transformation born from love and determination. She went back to school, relearned what she thought she knew about health, and built a life that would help not only her son but hundreds of other families too. Along the way, she found her own healing in the process. This conversation is about listening to that quiet voice inside you. It’s about the courage to question what you’ve been told and the hope that grows when you refuse to give up. Take your time with this one. It is gentle and full of heart. What You’ll Hear A mother’s turning point after harmful medical advice How childhood trauma shaped a life built on self-reliance Discovering purpose in the middle of fear and uncertainty The surprising ways healing her son led to her own transformation The strength found in trusting intuition over authority How sharing one story can light the way for others Guest Bio Dr. Piper Gibson founded the Tic Disorder Institute: Regenerating Health and Elite Gene Labs, where she empowers families and healthcare professionals to address tic disorders and optimize wellness. She is a Doctor of Functional Medicine, Advanced Holistic Nutrition, and a Board-Certified Doctor of Natural Medicine. She is also the author of Tic Talk: Common Misconceptions, Natural Approaches, and Real Conversations about Tic Disorders. Connect with Piper: Website: https://regenerating.health/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regeneratinghealth/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RegeneratingHealth Subscribe for new episodes, early access, and ad-free listening at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast. Join the newsletter and community at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow.

Sometimes we don’t get to choose when life asks us to begin again. One moment you’re following a dream, and the next you’re rebuilding from the pieces of what used to be. It’s a strange kind of starting over – the kind you never asked for but somehow learn to live inside. Ava Jones knows that space well. At seventeen, she survived a devastating car accident that took her father’s life and changed everything she knew about herself. Two years later, she was diagnosed with stage four cancer. Through it all, she’s learning what it means to keep moving, to ask for help, and to find gratitude even in the hardest chapters. This conversation isn’t about silver linings. It’s about choosing to live when the story doesn’t go the way you planned. Ava’s honesty reminds us that starting over doesn’t mean you’ve failed – it means you’re still here. What You’ll Hear The day Ava’s life changed forever Learning to walk, talk, and feel again after trauma Grieving her father while navigating recovery Letting go of the basketball dream that once defined her Facing cancer with honesty and faith in her support system Rediscovering joy in small, ordinary moments Listen to the full episode and more conversations like this at: 👉 www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow 🎧 Early access and ad-free episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast 📰 Join the newsletter for behind-the-scenes reflections and upcoming guests: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/ Guest Bio Ava Jones is a 20-year-old former college basketball player from Kansas who survived a catastrophic car accident in 2022 that claimed her father’s life and left her and her mother critically injured. After years of recovery, including relearning to walk and speak, Ava faced a stage four Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in 2025. She recently completed 12 rounds of chemotherapy and is in remission. Today, she shares her story to give others hope and remind them that it’s okay to ask for help.

Some moments stay with us long after they end. The choice we made. The thing we wish we had said. The image that still lingers when the room goes quiet. Cyra’s story begins with one of those moments, the kind that changes everything and asks who we will become after it. At sixteen, she lost her brother to suicide and carried the guilt of that day for years. Her healing came slowly, through forgiveness and the power of words. Poetry became a place to lay down her pain and listen to something deeper, something that kept whispering that love was still possible. What You’ll Hear How grief can hold both love and regret at once The quiet guidance of a voice that spoke when she needed it most Why poetry became her way to understand pain and healing What it means to forgive a younger version of yourself The long, patient work of turning loss into meaning How creativity can become medicine when nothing else fits Guest Bio Cyra Sweet Dumitru (www.cyrasweetdumitru.com) is an accomplished poet, instructor of poetry writing, and one of four certified practitioners of poetic medicine in Texas. Her poems have appeared on a wall in San Antonio's City Hall and on city buses, been spoken on national radio and in museums, published in newspapers, and featured in anthologies and literary journals. She has four collections of poetry and a memoir, Words Make a Way Through Fire: Healing After My Brother's Suicide, which is told through prose and poetry and was published by She Writes Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Cyra leads therapeutic writing circles for people from all walks of life. Listen to this episode and more at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow Support the show on Patreon for ad-free, early releases: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Stay connected through the newsletter and social links at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Have you ever been doing everything right and still felt something was missing? Clay Garrett thought he had built the life he was supposed to have. A stable career, a loving family, all the boxes checked. But when life suddenly stopped, he was invited to see what really mattered. Clay’s story unfolds in the quiet that followed a layoff just before the pandemic. What began as fear became clarity. In that unexpected pause, he found what a good life feels like when presence becomes the priority. This conversation is about slowing down, choosing intention, and discovering that sometimes the hardest endings lead us home to ourselves. What You’ll Hear: The moment a layoff became an unexpected gift How time with family reshaped his understanding of success Learning to be truly present as a husband and father The power of reflection and self-awareness in daily life Building a meaningful life through purpose and simplicity What it means to live by choice instead of habit Guest Bio: Clay Garrett is the founder of Campfire Gentleman, a personal development project that helps men build meaningful lives centered on purpose, family, and personal growth. After 25 years in design and advertising, a COVID-era layoff led Clay to reevaluate his definition of success, ultimately inspiring a new path centered on presence, purpose, and simplicity. Through writing, resources, and honest conversation, he’s creating a space for husbands and fathers who want to slow down and live with intention. Connect with Clay and his work: https://campfiregentleman.beehiiv.com/ Listen to more episodes and support the show: Subscribe and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow Join Patreon for ad-free and early release: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Connect on socials and newsletter: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Have you ever realized you were living the life someone else imagined for you?Andrew Mitch did everything right on paper. He followed the rules, earned the degrees, and chased approval until the weight of it all became too heavy to carry. When he finally walked away from the life others expected, he found the beginning of his own. What unfolded next was unexpected. A stranger at a restaurant table looked at him through tears and said, “Whatever you have, the world needs to hear it now.” That moment shifted everything. It was the reminder that his voice mattered, and that he no longer needed permission to use it. This is a story about leaving certainty for something more alive. About learning to be seen, to create honestly, and to trust that your real self is enough.Take your time with this one. It is tender and real. What You’ll Hear The quiet pressure of chasing someone else’s version of success How leaving a PhD program became an act of self-trust The beauty of being seen by a stranger who changed everything The tension between faith, identity, and authenticity Learning to stop asking for permission to create What it means to live unapologetically yourself Guest Bio From small-town Ohio to Nashville, Andrew Mitch is making waves in country-pop with raw emotion, personal truth, and storytelling. His breakout single “all in my head” went viral, crowdfunded his debut album, and earned features from CMA, CMT, GLAAD, and more. With millions of views, 30K+ followers, and praise from artists like Carly Pearce and Ingrid Andress, Andrew has since released songs like "back home boy" (featured on Nashville's very own WSMV4) and "unapologetic." He continues to prove there’s power in being unapologetically yourself. Connect with Andrew: https://www.andrewmitchmusic.com/ Listen at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow. Support the show on Patreon for ad-free and early release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast. Subscribe to the newsletter and follow along on socials for more.

Have you ever built a life that looked good from the outside but left you exhausted on the inside? Brooks Bell knows that feeling. At 38, she was the driven CEO who could carry it all until her body told her something wasn’t right. What followed was not only a colon cancer diagnosis but a reckoning with how she had been living. This story isn’t just about surviving illness. It is about letting go of perfection, rediscovering joy, and realizing that fun is a form of healing, too. Brooks learned to trade achievement for presence and to see connection as the real measure of success. Take your time with this one. It is tender and full of light. What You’ll Hear How ignoring small signs can change everything The moment Brooks finally let herself feel Why fun and play became her new measure of joy What happens when identity is no longer tied to success The power of turning pain into purpose through connection Guest Bio Brooks Bell is a cancer survivor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of World Class Clothing, a nonprofit brand raising awareness about colonoscopies and funding screenings for underinsured communities. After being diagnosed with colon cancer at 38, Brooks turned her experience into a mission to normalize conversations about prevention while also creating more space for fun, connection, and joy. Connect with Brooks Website: www.worldclassclothing.com Instagram: @worldclass_clothing Listen to The Life Shift Podcast wherever you get your podcasts: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow Support the show on Patreon for ad-free, early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Stay connected through the newsletter and socials at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

I’ve never been great at journaling.I’d start strong, buy the nice notebook, write for a few days – then stop. But through The Life Shift Podcast, I learned how powerful reflection can be when it’s real, not forced. So I created something I’d actually use. It’s called The Life Shift Journal.A 12-week guided reflection with one simple prompt each day – designed to help you slow down, pay attention, and see how you’re changing along the way. The rhythm repeats every four weeks – awareness, letting go, connection, becoming – three full cycles that help you notice how your answers evolve with you. You can find all the versions here:👉 thelifeshiftpodcast.com/p/journal Available in: Physical edition (Amazon) Digital edition (iPad + computer) If you’ve ever wanted to start journaling but never stuck with it, this one was made for you.