#DefineYourself Podcast

Judy Balloff, author of 365 Days Of Abundance, was diagnosed with a rare heart condition that only 2% of Americans have and most are men.  During the surgery to correct the cardiac problem, Judy survived 5 strokes during the operation.The strokes robbed Judy of her ability to drive at night,  and the loss of her credit credentials that forced her out of her career in banking.She pivoted from her banking career into a career in the insurance filed and has earned over a half million dollars in the past five years.You can purchase Judy’s book, 365 Days Of Abundance, from Amazon by going to https://www.amazon.com/365-Days-Abundance-Inspiration-Principles/dp/B09RRRYFCK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33NJSJRXAL7X3&keywords=judy+balloff&qid=1653073699&sprefix=judy+balloff%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-1 or get a seven day free sample at http://www.judybaloff.comYou can connect with Judy at http://www.judybaloff.comSupport the show

Shelly Slocum, a woman who never smoked in her life and never been around smokers, was diagnosed with lung cancer.  Shelly shares how she was diagnosed with non smoking lung cancer that took half of one of her lungs, and how that experience, along with her daughter, pushed her to publish her book, Love and Inspiration from Mom.You can purchase Shelly’s book, Love and Inspiration from Mom, on Amazon.You can connect with Shelly by visiting https://loveandinspiration.org/Support the show

Roger Smith, author of The Most Unlikely Leader, An Unbelievable Journey From GED to CEO, shares his story of how went from getting a GED to becoming the CEO of a fortune 500 company.Roger goes into how he became addicted to street drugs for twenty eyas and what got him to decide to get help.  Smith shares how his addiction led him to drop out of high school in his sophomore year and how be homeless.Smith talks about how his he survived being addicted to drugs and homeless.Smith shares the lessons he learned from that experience, the experience of battling melanoma and a motorcycle accident, and from mentors he met on his way to becoming the CEO of a fortune 500 company.You can purchase Rogers’s book, The Most Unlikely Leader, An Unbelievable Journey From GED to CEO, from Roger’s web site (Rogersmith.me) or from Amazon by going to https://www.amazon.com/Most-Unlikely-Leader-Unbelievable-Journey/dp/1955026130/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+most+unlikely+leader&qid=1651517999&sprefix=the+most+unl%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-1You can connect with Roger by visiting rogersmith.me Support the show

Dana Golden and David Marion were married and owned a successful brokerage firm for several years until David’s addiction destroyed their marriage, their business and landed David in a federal prison.David was addicted to almost everything one can be addicted to: alcohol, drugs, and gambling before he met Dana and those addictions continued for years, with Dana being a codependent.Dana and David share their stories, what motivated David to get cleaned up from his addictions and how, after a very bitter divorce and David’s incardination, how they can work together to write a book <BOOK TITLE> and now work together as a counseling team with David working with the addict to help him/her to overcome their addictions and Dana working with the family to help them heal and save their marriages.You can purchase David and Dana’s book, Addiction Recovery: The No BS Guide to Recovery, from Amazon by going to https://www.amazon.com/Addiction-Rescue-NO-BS-Guide-Recovery/dp/1543991122/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3D6YSD92Z79NQ&keywords=Addiction%3A+the+No+BS+Guide+to+Recovery&qid=1650376166&sprefix=addiction+the+no+bs+guide+to+recovery%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1You can connect with David and Dana by visiting https://www.theliferecoverycoach.com/ Support the show

Ellie Shefi walked through hell and came out happy.Elli grew up in a family that struggled finically.  Ellie and her family would dig in trashcans for aluminum cans and newspapers to recycle for money.   She is also a survivor of abuse and rape and a survivor of domestic violence that forced her to live under a fake name and a ghost file.Ellie has also been homeless (or as I prefer to call it “housing challenged”).  She has lived in her car and eating food that restaurants were throwing away at the end of the night.Ellie is also a uterine cancer survivor and a medical miracle that has been told that she would be dead by and keeps on living.Ellie has survived all of that and today she is attorney, entrepreneur, a number one international best-selling author, speaker, strategist, consultant, coach, and philanthropist. Ellie shares how she has successfully moved from the hardest and darkest days of her live to the success she is enjoying today.Ellie shares what has inspired her and who has motivated her to become successful.You can purchase Ellie’s books, from Amazon by going to https://www.amazon.com/Ellie-D-Shefi/e/B08GKYGQ2Z?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1651239847&sr=8-1 or visiting booksbyellie.comYou can connect with Ellie Shefi by visiting https://www.ellieshefi.com/ Support the show

Dr Kelly Bohnhoff shares how she was caught in sex trafficking at a young age, how she got out of it, and how today she helps others deal what she calls trauma drama.Dr. Kelly, as most people like to call her, shares how she accidently got caught up into a sex trafficking circle by spending a night at a girlfriend’s house for a sleepover.Dr. Kelly shares what she and her 2 pre-teen friends experienced and how it affected their lives.Dr. Kelly also described how she was manipulated and controlled by the teens who ran this sex trafficking group.Recovery has been, and continues to be, a journey for Dr. Kelly and many survivors of trauma dram, and Dr. Kelly shares what trauma drama is and how to cope with it.You can purchase Dr. Kelly Bohnhoff’s book,  Beyond Trauma Drama : Cultivating the Sacred Nature of Families to Heal, when it is realized in September 2022You can connect with Dr. Kelly Bohnhoff by visiting her website at http://onesacredfamily.com/ Support the show

Anthea McCarten shares her story about being sexually abused by a family member from the age of seven until she was twelve years old.McCarten shares her experiences being sexually abused for five years, how it ended and how she broke her silence and told others about what had happened to her.McCarten shares how she felt as she prepared to tell her parents, their reactions, and how she felt after breaking the news to mom and dad.McCarten reckons the reaction her abuser had when he was confronted by her family and how she felt after the secret had been shared within her family.McCarten talks about how this experience affected her teenage years, including dating, and her life afterwards – including depression, lack of self-worth and feeling that she was ugly and no man would want her, and a suicide attempt.You can purchase Anthea McCarten’s book, Shhh…How Childhood Sexual Abusive Almost Stole My Sanity and How I Overcame The Past from Amazon by going to https://www.amazon.com/Shh-Childhood-Sexual-Almost-Overcame-ebook/dp/B09SV659CJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2X3JT7S5NR3R6&keywords=Anthea+McCarten&qid=1650289899&sprefix=anthea+mccarten%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-1  You can connect with Anthea McCarten on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthea-mccarten-017659111/, on Instagram at either https://www.instagram.com/restore_the_gears/ or at https://www.instagram.com/redheadbikerchick/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/publicspeakerandauthorJoin the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

If you looked at Brad Shreve when he was an executive at a major hotel chain with an office with a nice window and a secretary, many would think he was the living definition of success.Importantly images can be deceiving.  Brad was miserable and he was not sure why.  Although had had recently came out at the time, Brad did not know he had bipolar II and did not know it.In Brad’s own words, “I did some crazy stuff”.  He made some choices including partying with subordinates and often late to work.  He was on the verge of losing his job when he decided to quit with no idea what he was going to do.Brad marriage to his wife ended.   He moved from Northern California to Southern California, and he started to fully explore and embrace his sexual orientation. Brad got into a dangerous relationship with a man who was both emotionally and physically abusiveBrad shares on this episode of the podcast his story of accepting who he is sexually, and his battles with alcohol and cocaine and how he battled his mental health problems from his bipolar disorder, both before it was diagnosed and after.Brad has been clean and sober since 2003.  He is one half of a happy marriage with his husband.  Brad is the author of Mitchell Riley’s mysteries series and the host of the podcast, Queer Writer of Crime.You can purchase Brad’s book, A Body in the Bathhouse, from Amazon by going to https://www.amazon.com/Body-Bathhouse-Mitch-OReilly-Mystery/dp/B08PP9ZJ6X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=330YB3KMANHZ4&keywords=brad+shreve&qid=1647618730&sprefix=brad+shreve%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-1 and A Body on the Hill from Amazon by going to https://www.amazon.com/Body-Hill-Mitch-OReilly-Mystery/dp/B09314JKZP/ref=sr_1_2?crid=330YB3KMANHZ4&keywords=brad+shreve&qid=1647618777&sprefix=brad+shreve%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-2You can connect with Brad by vesting https://bradshreve.com/ or https://www.queerwritersofcrime.com/·        Trevor Project - https://www.thetrevorproject.org/  866-488-7386  Text: 678678Join the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

At the age of 11, Michelle Kuei was hit by a speeding taxi  as she waited after school for her mom in her native country of Taiwan.Kuri sent the next 4 years in a rehabilitation hospital and get around in a wheelchair.When she was able to return home, Kuei fought to relearn how to walk.  Today she is walking with just the use of one crutch.Kuei shares her journey and how she mental attitude helped her to overcome her injuries and more to become successful in her life.You can connect with Michelle by visiting https://elevatelifecoaching.org/Join the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Having been injured at birth and developing Erbs Palsy Qaysean Williams left arm has limitations including his left hand is useless.His injury has prevented him from playing in sports growing up, riding roll coasters without looks from those who operate the rides, and to this day he still struggles tying his own shoes.Qaysean’s injury may have caused him some self-esteem issues and feelings of worthlessness.  His injury lead to him being called named and picked on by his peers in school.  He internalized the pain he was feeling from the cruel words of his classmates.He knew the words of his classmates were damaging him so he decided to do something about it.He decided to give himself some self-talk and tell himself that he should love the arm.He started to create fashion to “cover up” his arm and distract everyone form his physical disability.  His work made him feel good about himself and it was the beginning of his fashion career.because Qaysean decided to change his mind set to “I believe I can do anything I put my mind to.” he decided to strengthen his weak arm.    Although he was reluctant at first, Qaysean started to work out in a gym to strengthen is left arm.Today Qaysean sees his disability as his super ability.  He first saw it as his super ability when he created garments that others found amazing he could create such an amazing product in spite of his disability.Although he does get some push back from customers who do not believe he can create a full garment with just one hand, he keeps working to inspire others both in the disabled community and beyond to find their own super abilities.You can connect with Qaysean by http://www.HausOfManikin.com and search for manikinTV on YouTubeJoin the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Natasha Miller, the author of Relentless: Homeless Teen To Achieving the Entrepreneur Dream, her journey from a youth shelter to the Inc. 5000 has faced much diversity in her life starting at the age of sixteen when she was abandoned Christmas night. Miller has also gone through giving birth to a stillborn child and nearly dying during that experience.Despite all the adversity Natasha has experienced, she has developed strategies to beam more independence and confident, that have helped her to become more independent and confident,Natasha shares her journey from the days of being in a teen homeless shelter and called preppie by the other ttesn to how she is now owning and running ao Inc. 5000 company in the bay area.Natasha shares how she battled through the rout times, what helped her and how she never gave up on her dream to make something of herself.Today Natasha is building a profitable Inc. 5000 companyYou can purchase Natasha’s book, Relentless: Homeless Teen To Achieving the Entrepreneur Dream, from Amazon by going clicking her or going to https://www.amazon.com/Relentless-Homeless-Achieving-Entrepreneur-Dream-ebook/dp/B09R45YD63/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36Y7OOTMVQ3Z9&keywords=natasha+miller&qid=1647455098&s=books&sprefix=natasha+miller%2Cstripbooks%2C115&sr=1-1 LYou can connect with Natasha by officialnatashamiller.comJoin the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Deborah is a very strong woman.  She battles multiple rare dieses including Mysthenia Gravis, Auto-immune Disease, Ehlers Danlos, CRPS and Chronic Pain.  Deborah not only battles rare diseases, she is also a strong advocate in the rate disease community with grace and humor.Deborah’s has always had a passion for politics, including an ambition to hold a very prestigious office.  Although her challenges has forced her to pivot from a political career, her political aspirations and training serves her well in the role of advocate for the rare disease community.Deborah shares her story of how she went from an able body person to a person with a duality in hear early teenage years.Devroah share some of the challenges she has faced from her rare diseases and how she has worked to overcome them – including self-confidence issues.Deborah shares her vision and the mission for her non-profit, Vicktorious, who it is designed to benefit and how it can benefit everyone in the disability community.Deborah shares some of her experiences she has had from battling all of here rate diseases and how she speaks out and advocates for the rights of disabled persons who have rare diseases.Deborah shares how she uses her voice, and experiments with adaptive software and equipment, to both share her message and empower rothers in the disable community, on multiple social media platforms including TikTok, clubhouse, and others.You can connect with Deborah Vick on most social media platforms as crafts on wheels or forward moving on twitte or via her non-profit, Vicktorious at Vicktoorious.comJoin the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Synova Cantrell has faced many challenges in her life: fibromyalgia, a spinal cord injury that occurred in high school and a broken tailbone, but she has never allowed any of those struggles limit her.Synova was told by her doctors she would be in a wheelchair by the age of forty and at first she was devastated by the diagnosis that cause her to go into depression, then she became determined to prove the doctors wrong.Synova does not see her diagnoses as disabilities, she sees them as super powers.Synova shares her tactics to prevent any labels or individuals define who she is because she wants to define herself by writing crime stories, helping solve cold cases and now helping writers to succeed in their writing careers as a writing coach.Synova has an interesting way of dealing with her diagnosis of fibromyalgia, she does not consider it her “it” or diagnosis and by doing so, her thinking helps her succeed in life despite her fibromyalgia.Synova shares how and why she got into writing and how her writing career was launched through a connection she had at her father’s church.Synova shares how working from home is a perfect fit for her with her challenges including fibromyalgia.Cantrell shares how and why she has pivoted from crime writing to coaching and motivation writers   She also shares how her ADHD is an obstacles for her to do  mundane household chores and the trick she has developed to do those chores despite her ADHD finding them boring.During the interview Synova and Chris get a little of topic and dismiss some of the great works of comedian and actor, Steve Marti, and how Martin’s work has impacted their lives.You can connect with Synova Cantrell by searching for Synova ink on most social media platforms and on patreon.Join the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Victoria Wieck, along with her family of four siblings and her parents, immigrated to the United States with only $30 to their name and life looked bleak for their family.In a new country that she did not know a single English world, and her parents having to work two jobs each. Victoria helped raised her younger siblings, learn English on her on and attended school – with dyslexia that was undiagnosed.Victoria used common sense to overcome her challenges to build a successful business that has generated over 500 million dollars of sales.Victoria has been appearing on live TV shopping channels for more than a quater of a century, selling hr. jewelry to viewers.  Her business sis along a international business selling jewelry worldwide.Victoria also hosts her own podcast, A Million Dollar Passion. Where she talks with accomplished people who have found their passion and have built their own success.Victoria has written two books: Shattered Sky, a science fiction book and self-help book entitled Million Dollar Passion – How to turn your passion based business idea into a million dollar business , Both available later in 2022 or 2023.You can connect with Victoria Wieck by visiting her website at VictoriaWieck.comJoin the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Joanne grew up with undiagnosed Specific Reading Comprehension Deficit and struggled with understanding not only written text, but also verbal comprehension.Joanne’s disability left her believing she was not as smart as others and lead to her the point of attempting suicide,Joanne shares her struggles to overcome her learning disability.  She shares her burning to desire to read and how a program her mom gave her turned everything around for her.Joann graduated from high school 10th in her class. She was accepted to Marquette University and graduated Cum Laude.Today Joanne owns and operates her own successful virtual reading tutoring business, she trains and consults others to do the same, and now she is the author of her first book, How to Start an Online Tutoring Business.You can purchase Joanne’s book, How to Start an Online Tutoring Business, from Amazon by clicking hereYou can connect with Joanne by visiting her website at http://www.onlinetutorcoach.com or at http://www.theonlinereadingtutor.comJoin the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Christine McKay was dropped off at a homeless shelter at the age of sixteen on Christmas day night.  Christine has been homeless, lived-in section 8 housing, mother of 3 girls before she turned 22 and had a goal to go to Harvard University,Christine, on top of all her challenges, had to live life with a bipolar II diagnosis, alcohol dependency, and self-esteem issues, dream of going to Harvard kept her motivated through the tough days.  Christine not only achieved her goal of attending Harvard, she graduated and today is an published author, the host of her own podcast and helps business owners discover and get what they want in every negotiation with their counterparts.You can purchase Christine’s book, Why Not Ask? A Conversation About Getting More, from Amazon by clicking herehttps://www.amazon.com/Why-Not-Ask-Conversation-Getting/dp/1734954906/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HWFZD31BT4TQ&keywords=Why+Not+Ask%3F+A+Conversation+About+Getting+More&qid=1641482183&sprefix=why+not+ask+a+conversation+about+getting+more%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-1You can connect with Christine by visiting her web site at VennNegotiation.comNational Suicide Prevention hotline – 800-273-8255 (TALK) or 988Join the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Living with an incomplete spinal cord injury at C5 of her spine from a diving accident, Annie Streit’s life goals changed course from creating a career for herself as an interior designer to a desire to help others.Annie shares how attitude, a strong support system including members of the spinal cord injury community, friends, and family, and helping others through motivational speaking and volunteering with the United Spinal Association as the grassroots advocacy director has helped her build success in her life as an author of children’s books.You can purchase any of Annie’s children’s books through Amazon by clicking here.You can connect with Annie by visiting her website at https://annieauthorblog.com/You can connect with the United Spinal Association by visiting their website at https://unitedspinal.org/Join the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Faith Jones was born into a religious origination, originally called the Children of God then the family that was founded in the 1960’a by her grandfather as a fundamental Christian organization as one of the founding groups of the Jesus people movement that came out of the hippie movement.Faith spent her childhood living in the community facing many challenges including isolation and only a grade school education.  She also witnessed and experienced both psychological, religious, and physical manipulation and abuse including sexual abuse by adults, extreme corporal punishment, and forced separation of children from their parents.Faith left the community as a young adult as she yearned to learn more and find a path in life that would lead to a career.  She left with nothing because everything belonged to the community.Armed with the knowledge she had a personal relationship with God, and He will get her through the tough times, Faith used grit and determination to work her way into Georgetown UniversityFaith shares what she has learned from her experiences of building a successful life as a lawyer and a business owner after growing up on a cult and how we can use her lessons to build success in our lives.You can purchase Faith’s memoir, Sex Cult Nun, from Amazon by clicking here You can view Faith’s TedX talk “I own me”, at by clicking hereYou can connect with Faith by visiting https://www.sexcultnun.com/ and https://faithjones.com/Join the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Former Special Forces / Delta Operator and Warriors Heart Co-Founder Tom Spooner (U.S. Army veteran with 21 years of service, 1990-2011) played an integral role in developing the Warriors Heart healing programs based on his first-hand experience battling PTSD, TBI, substance abuse, depression and more.Spooner shares how he has overcome/is overcoming PTSD, TBI, substance abuse and depression and is using his experiences as a co-founder of the Warriors Heart healing programsWounded Heart provide military, veterans and first responders with a next-phase for healing when struggling with addiction, PTSD and co-occurring issues to rebuild their lives and reduce suicide rates through a in-patient program based in Bandera, Texas.You can visit Warriors Heart at https://www.warriorsheart.com/ or call toll-free from the United States by dialing 866-868-9383.  You can support Warriors Heart through the Warriors Heart Foundation at https://www.warriorsheartfoundation.org/Join the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show

Michele, a survivor of a near fatal car accident, spent four months in hospital, underwent many long operations, battled depression and a possibility of struggling to walk again, shares how she found affirmations helped her become, as she calls it, completely healed.You can purchase Michele’s books, The Magic of Affirmation Power, from Amazon by going to https://amzn.to/3w5Bd2k and Become A Magnet To Money Through The Sea Of Unlimited Consciousness, from Amazon by going to https://amzn.to/3CxhtH9.  Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn money from qualifying purchases #SupportDFYSYou can connect with Michele by going to https://mydivinesuceess.com/ or https://magnettosuccess.com/Join the conversation with your fellow #DefineYourselfers in the #DefineYourself Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfyscommunitySupport the show