The VOW

Tonia Evans is rebuilding her life — and finding her voice in the process. After 27 years of marriage, a devastating betrayal changed everything. What followed was divorce, heartbreak, motherhood, and the difficult work of rediscovering the woman she had lost along the way. A classically trained singer, psychotherapist, author, and advocate for women, Tonia has spent much of her life helping others navigate difficult transitions. Now, she’s navigating one of her own — turning pain into music and reclaiming her identity in the process. Her latest release, a deeply personal cover of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill, captures that journey: a story of loss, healing, self-trust, and finding the courage to become fully yourself.

No one is coming to save you. And that might be the most freeing thing you ever realize.In this week’s Mini Monday, Tanya Eklund gets real about one of the hardest lessons she’s learned: no one is going to build your life for you.The career change. The difficult decision. The new beginning. The routine you keep putting off. At some point, you have to stop waiting for permission and start taking ownership of the life you want.It can be daunting. It can be uncomfortable. But there is incredible freedom in realizing that you are in charge of your own destiny.Tanya shares what it was like leaving home at eighteen, starting out in real estate with no leads and no one coming to hand her opportunities, and learning firsthand that resilience, tenacity and taking responsibility can change everything.You don’t have to do it all alone. But you do have to show up for yourself.

Jackie Ducci is a philanthropist, filmmaker, and founder of The Human-Animal Alliance, where she has helped direct nearly $500,000 in grants to organizations harnessing the human-animal bond to transform lives. After years of witnessing the powerful stories of children, veterans, trauma survivors, and families impacted by these programs, Jackie stepped far outside her comfort zone and became a first-time filmmaker, creating the award-winning documentary Unspoken Bond. Her work is rooted in a simple belief: sometimes the greatest impact we can make isn’t building something ourselves—it’s using our voice, resources, and platform to help extraordinary people be seen. Through philanthropy, storytelling, and advocacy, Jackie is creating a ripple effect that reaches far beyond her own work.

What if getting older isn’t something to fear, but something to be grateful for?In this Mini Monday episode of The VOW Podcast, Tanya Eklund gets candid about aging, wrinkles, motherhood, changing friendships, aging parents, and the reality of time moving faster than ever.Her 40s have brought more confidence, less concern about what others think, deeper friendships, and a greater appreciation for the life she’s built. But they’ve also made mortality feel more real—and reminded her just how precious our time truly is.A raw and reflective conversation about embracing age, finding beauty in every season, and becoming more comfortable with the woman you’re becoming.Listen to this Mini Monday on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Marie-Pier Dionne arrived with $100 in her pocket, couldn’t speak the language, and had no roadmap for the life she was about to build. Today, at 43, she has built four businesses, a real estate portfolio, a wellness brand, and a life entirely of her own making. But behind the businesses is a story most people never see. Abuse. Miscarriage. Loss. Burnout. Starting over. And the deeply personal question of whether she still has time to build the family and future she once imagined. Marie-Pier didn’t inherit a platform. She built her own. This is not just a story about success. It’s about survival, reinvention, motherhood, healing, and the courage to choose yourself after spending years taking care of everyone else.