Persistence U with Lizbeth: Recent Episodes

Lizbeth Meredith

Created for and by survivors and strivers, Persistence U podcast with Lizbeth shares stories from guests each week that inform and inspire. Whether it's publishing a first book after 70, or slowly re-entering life after a crushing setback, they'll tell who and what helped. Because big goals and obstacles are no match for grit and good community.

View Details

In this Season 5 finale of Persistence U with Lizbeth, Lizbeth shares a deeply personal reflection on generosity, survival, and why she is stepping back from weekly episodes to make space for writing, teaching, and other creative work. As she approaches the podcast’s fifth anniversary, she looks back with gratitude at the listeners, guests, patrons, and community members who helped shape nearly five years of conversations about healing, persistence, and overcoming obstacles.

Lizbeth recounts two times in her early life when she and her daughters were lifted up by strangers during the holidays. After leaving an abusive marriage, entering a shelter, and relying on food stamps and Section 8 housing, she was adopted by a holiday giving program that provided gifts, food, and a sense of dignity during a season that had otherwise felt heavy with fear and uncertainty. Years earlier, while pregnant and struggling under financial and emotional control, her friend Shelly arranged for anonymous support through her faith community. These acts of kindness, offered by people who never knew her name, helped restore hope during the most fragile years of her life.

Those moments stayed with her. They were part of what fueled her determination to finish college, break cycles of poverty and violence, and raise her daughters in safety. They also shaped her belief that generosity—financial or otherwise—can change the trajectory of a family in ways the giver may never see.

As the holiday season arrives and Season 5 concludes, Lizbeth encourages listeners to consider giving in whatever way they are able. Monetary donations to food banks, adopting a family through local programs, offering time or blood donation, or simply finding a way to lighten someone else’s load may be the most meaningful gift of the season. Volunteering, she reminds listeners, is often both selfless and deeply restorative.

Lizbeth also shares an important programming update. After nearly five years of producing Persistence U with a full roster of guests, she is pausing the guested format. The financial and time commitments are substantial, and she is ready to reclaim more space for writing, reading, teaching, and restorative quiet. This is not a goodbye. Persistence U will return with occasional, limited-series episodes. She simply needs time to breathe, create, and be present in her own life for a while.

Listeners are encouraged to stay connected through he

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In Part 2 of Unmapped Conversations, Lizbeth gathers five contributors from Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers on Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery to explore how travel shapes identity, courage, and connection. Guests include Kathy Kirkpatrick, Tammy Horvath, Phyllis Skoy, Kate Colbert, and Anne Buckley, each offering a unique perspective rooted in life experience, personal healing, and a determination to live with intention.

Each contributor shares wisdom for women who want to travel but feel hesitant. From trusting that most people are kind, to saying yes more often, to carrying creature comforts, to recognizing that emotional safety begins long before a suitcase is packed, their insights offer reassurance and empowerment.

This conversation also revisits why half of Unmapped’s royalties support the YWCA of Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley. While the world offers beautiful possibilities, intimate partner violence remains a universal threat. Travel, self-trust, community, and awareness all play roles in building safer lives.

Unmapped remains a reminder that healing, confidence, and connection often begin the moment a woman chooses to step toward something new.

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS

You will learn:
• How women rebuild confidence through unexpected and intentional travel
• Why saying yes to new experiences often leads to healing and expanded identity
• How resilience grows when women trust themselves, seek community, and embrace possibility.

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In this special Unmapped Contributor Connects episode, Lizbeth talks with authors Debbie Russell and Kate Colbert about what inspired their solo travel stories in Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers. Though neither has met in person, the conversation reveals deep connections formed through shared vulnerability, resilience, and the transformative power of being alone in the world.

Debbie Russell shares how her chapter emerged from a major life shift in her late fifties. After leaving her long-term job and embracing self-employment, she bought a camper and taught herself every aspect of RV life. Her experiences illuminate how travel can keep the brain active and how camping as a single woman challenges assumptions about safety and capability.

Kate Colbert reflects on her early fear of travel, having grown up in a small Midwestern community with little exposure to the wider world. A journalism career required her to travel solo constantly, which quickly transformed her worldview. She describes how discovering independence during business trips reshaped her sense of identity and helped her break away from limiting beliefs. Kate also talks about navigating travel and selfhood after surviving severe illness during the pandemic, explaining how she maintains a solo traveler’s heart even when journeying with her husband.

Connect with Kate at https://www.silvertreecommunications.com/

Connect with Debbie at https://debbie-russell.com/

This conversation also touches on domestic violence, the book’s dedication, and why half of all royalties from Unmapped support the YWCA of Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley. The episode closes with gratitude for the contributors’ honesty, courage, and willingness to carve out space for themselves despite competing demands. Their stories remind listeners that travel, even small local adventures, can be an entry point into healing, empowerment, and rediscovering one’s own voice.

Three Key Takeaways

You will learn:
• How solo travel can shift long-held beliefs about safety, confidence, and independence
• Why resilience grows when women choose their own adventures, large or small
• How freedom, healing, and community often arise from taking the first uncomfortable step

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

This week on Persistence U, Lizbeth welcomes back friend and former guest Richard Wilmore to talk about the power of returning to an old dream, choosing joy, and building a creative life that feels good from the inside out.

Richard first appeared on Persistence U years ago when he was helping bring the arts into hospitals through a nonprofit that changed his own life as much as it changed the lives of the patients he served. But as nonprofit work often goes, roles shifted, pressures grew, and the very job that once gave him energy began taking a toll on his health. Leaving felt sudden, but Richard shares that the decision was the result of a long internal push to return to what he always knew he wanted to do.

His childhood dream had been clear. A daytime talk show. A space filled with color, community, laughter, and meaningful conversations. After leaving the nonprofit world, he planned to support other podcasters behind the scenes. But while helping others build their shows, he realized it was time to give himself permission to create his own. Make Your Day Richer was born.

In this conversation, Richard speaks honestly about the realities of launching a show from scratch, including the pressures of being live five days a week, the overbooking that nearly burned him out, the technology that drives him crazy, and the surprising lessons that surfaced only after 200 plus episodes.

He also talks about the essential mindset shift that has shaped his creative process. Instead of going from zero to a hundred, he encourages listeners to stop at twenty if that is enough. Take one small step toward the thing that brings happiness rather than waiting for the perfect moment. Build slowly. Build honestly. Protect the joy of creating.

Richard also shares how play, color, and art influence his energy and his set design, why he loves hosting guests from all backgrounds, and how he plans to bring more local artists from South Carolina into his studio next.

Listeners will appreciate his practical wisdom about handling no-shows with grace, refusing to weaponize passion projects against yourself, and remembering to celebrate small wins. Richard reminds us that the fastest route to burnout is failing to acknowledge what is going right.

If you are someone who has always dreamed of doing something different, something creative, or something that lights you up, this episode is a reminder that ti

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

This week on Persistence U with Lizbeth Meredith, meet Unmapped contributor Heidi Siefkas — an author, speaker, and adventurer whose story reminds us that life can change in an instant, but our power to rebuild is limitless.

Once a high-powered travel industry executive living what looked like a perfect life, Heidi’s world turned upside down when a thousand-pound tree limb struck her down, breaking her neck and forever altering her path. What followed wasn’t just recovery — it was reinvention.

In her essay for Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery, Heidi shares how travel became her greatest teacher, leading her from heartbreak to healing and from survival to thriving. After her recovery, she set off alone for Patagonia to test her strength — a journey that inspired her first memoir, When All Balls Drop, and later her global movement built around her mantra: Look Up.

That mantra — to shift perspective, find the silver lining, and stay present — helped Heidi through another unimaginable loss years later, when her longtime partner, a medevac pilot, was killed in a crash. From those ashes, she built a new life in Nashville and finished her anthology, Look Up: Global Stories of Resilience, gathering true stories of courage from around the world.

You Will Learn:

  1. How travel can restore confidence, faith, and connection after trauma.
  2. Why “looking up” — in every sense — can shift grief into gratitude.
  3. How Heidi turned unimaginable setbacks into books, talks, and a movement that uplifts others.

Half of all royalties from Unmapped benefit the YWCA, helping survivors and families rebuild their lives.

Find Heidi’s books, talks, and her Look Up series at heidisiefkas.com, and follow her on social media @HeidiSiefkas.

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

What does it take to completely shift your life at 55, trade a full pension for personal freedom, and trust the universe when it nudges you into unfamiliar territory? Debbie Russell, former Assistant County Attorney in Minneapolis and contributor to the bestselling solo travel anthology Unmapped, shares her journey from burnout to brave.

In this conversation with host Lizbeth Meredith, Debbie talks about rediscovering her independence through travel—and how buying and towing a camper solo helped her reconnect with self-trust, risk-taking, and resilience. A lawyer turned award-winning author, Debbie reflects on the signs she followed, the stories she now shares, and the personal strength that comes from pushing past comfort zones.

Connect with Debbie Russell at https://debbie-russell.com/

Also spotlighted in this episode: Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers—Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery, the bestselling anthology now available in print and ebook. 50% of all royalties benefit the YWCA and their services for survivors of domestic abuse.

You Will Learn:

  • Why Debbie traded her high-profile legal career for a new life rooted in writing, nature, and solo travel.
  • How following your gut—without overthinking—can lead to joy and growth.
  • What it’s like to tow a camper solo for the first time and find confidence on the road.

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

What does a decades-long friendship between two radically honest men look like?

Welcome to the dynamic world of Greg Wilker and Mark Wendt—childhood friends, creative collaborators, and co-hosts of the Moped Outlaws podcast.

In this episode, Lizbeth explores how Greg and Mark’s enduring relationship has evolved over time—from their spit-in-the-face 20s, to their current collaborative podcast, and their commitment to having real conversations about hard things. From wresting through anti-racism training to building emotional fluency as men in a world that often discourages it, they prove that resilience isn’t a solo act—it’s a shared ride.

Connect with Greg and Mark from Moped Outlaws at https://mopedoutlaws.com/

They also discuss their podcast’s origin story, their upcoming dreams of hitting the open road on actual mopeds, and the role humor plays in healing and growth. Whether it’s friendly fire, forgiveness, or the freedom to ask “Are we good?”—Greg and Mark’s bond exemplifies the power of courageous, messy, enduring connection.

As we round out the year on Persistence U, this episode is a perfect reminder that community, vulnerability, and humor help us persist—and that lifelong friendships are worth the work.

You Will Learn:

  • How lifelong male friendships can evolve and deepen through honesty and conflict
  • Why emotional intelligence and humility are essential tools for growth
  • How friendship fuels the creative partnership behind Moped Outlaws

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

When the #MeToo movement encouraged women to speak their truths, former nurse Stephanie Maley felt a deep stirring to finally release the story she had carried for decades—one shaped by abandonment, sexual abuse, and the quiet survival that followed.

In this moving conversation with Lizbeth Meredith, Stephanie shares how writing her memoir No Longer That Girl: Retracing the Scars of the Past and Present became a pathway to healing and self‑forgiveness.

Together, they explore the courage it takes to revisit childhood wounds, how COVID and isolation forced her to confront unresolved pain, and why sharing stories matters for every survivor who has been told to stay quiet.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • How the Me Too movement and therapy sparked Stephanie’s writing journey
  • Why memoir writing is a tool for healing, not just storytelling
  • How her faith and family helped her find safety again.

Stephanie’s memoir launches November 4, 2025,. Find out more about events and Stephanie's writing at www.stephmaley.com.

Author Bio

A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Stephanie L. Maley dreamed of writing a book since she was a young woman. Thirty years later, that dream found its way to a reality. Before becoming an author, Stephanie worked as a pediatric nurse after getting her BSN, home-educated her two sons, and became a professional photographer after obtaining an associate’s degree in photography at forty-eight years old. She and her husband, Mike, live in their dream home on Lake Hartwell in Northeast, Georgia, where you can find Steph swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and driving her boat.

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Meet Hollis Peirce, a Canadian writer, disability advocate, and the inspiring voice behind the 21st Century Disability podcast. After surviving a life-threatening respiratory crisis in 2021, Hollis now lives in a long-term care hospital—yet continues to create, advocate, and thrive. In this episode, we explore how he finds purpose through writing, why representation matters in disability spaces, and what others often get wrong when talking about accessibility.

Hollis is a testament to the power of persistence—not in spite of his circumstances, but within them.

Connect with Hollis at:

Website: https://www.21stcenturydisability.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/21stcenturydisability/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/21stcenturydisability/

You Will Learn:

  • How one life-altering medical crisis transformed Hollis’s understanding of purpose
  • The surprising challenges (and freedoms) of long-term care
  • Why universal design isn’t just for people with disabilities—it’s for everyone

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Meet Tammy Horvath, one of the 24 incredible contributors to Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Tammy shares how travel, faith, and unexpected friendships around the globe helped her find light after unimaginable loss.

After losing her beloved son Luke to murder, Tammy chose to keep her heart open to love, faith, and movement. Through books like Gone in an Instant, Life Begins with Travel, and Deep Inside, she invites readers to rediscover hope and forgiveness. In Unmapped, Tammy’s story about her solo journey to Australia shows us how healing often arrives in the form of strangers who become family — and koalas who become comfort.

In this heartfelt conversation, Lizbeth and Tammy talk about courage, connection, and the gentle magic of saying “yes” to life again.

**Connect with Tammy and her books at https://tammyhorvath.com/

You Will Learn:**

  • How travel and community can help rebuild trust and joy after trauma.
  • Why vulnerability and faith can transform loss into connection and purpose.
  • How ordinary kindness from strangers can restore confidence in the goodness of the world.

Tammy reminds us that it’s never too late to start again — even when the road ahead looks unmapped.

Find Tammy’s books and more at mybook.to/TammyHorvath, and explore Unmapped, available now in paperback and e-book. Half of all royalties support the YWCA, helping survivors and families rebuild safety and hope.

UnmappedAnthology #PersistenceUPodcast #TammyHorvath #LizbethMeredith #HealingJourneys #FaithAndForgiveness #SoloWomenTravelers #Resilience #TravelToHeal #YWCA #WomenWriters #MemoirCommunity #WeLoveMemoirs #ChristianAuthors #WomenSupportingWomen #InspirationPodcast #IndieAuthors

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

What does it really mean to “show up anyway”?

In this inspiring episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth, host Lizbeth Meredith welcomes back wellness entrepreneur, certified health coach, and author Wanda Malhotra—one of the 24 contributors to Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery.

Wanda’s chapter, “What Germany Taught Me About Showing Up Anyway,” closes the anthology with grace, humor, and insight. She recounts how a lost suitcase, an unexpected divorce, and a demanding business trip collided into a defining lesson on self-trust and authenticity. Together, Lizbeth and Wanda unpack what happens when life’s plans unravel—and how vulnerability and gratitude can lead us to unexpected strength.

They also discuss the heart of Unmapped: a collection of global stories that celebrate resilience, healing, and personal reinvention. Half of the anthology’s royalties benefit the YWCA, supporting survivors of domestic abuse and promoting racial justice.

You’ll learn why showing up imperfectly can still be powerful, how travel teaches perspective, and how purpose-driven work can change lives—starting with your own.

📚 Unmapped is available now in paperback and e-book worldwide.
🌐 Learn more at lameredith.com

💫 Connect with Wanda at crunchymamabox.com

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In this episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth Meredith, I’m honored to introduce Dr. Tali Lando—pediatric ENT surgeon, survivor, and author of Breathless. I had the privilege of endorsing this book, and from the first conversation with Dr. Lando, I knew she was someone I could sit down with for hours over coffee.

Breathless is more than a memoir—it’s a rare look behind the curtain of physician life. Dr. Lando shares the pressure of balancing a high-stakes career, family, and her own cancer diagnosis, all while carrying the life-and-death stories of her patients. She writes with candor about the cases that shaped her career, the lessons they taught, and how those lessons seeped into her home life.

We talk about the challenges of transforming medical cases into universal life lessons, the risks and rewards of vulnerability on the page, and the power of feedback—from her teenage daughter to trusted colleagues—that helped her shape this deeply human book.

Listeners will also hear how Dr. Lando wrestled with questions many of us ask: Does my story matter? Will anyone care? Her persistence, coupled with mentorship and belief from others, carried this project from a private Word document to a published memoir that will touch lives far beyond the medical field.

Dr. Lando’s journey reminds us that resilience isn’t just about surviving illness or setbacks—it’s about allowing those experiences to transform how we live, work, and connect.

You will learn:

  1. How personal health crises can transform the way we work and relate to others.
  2. Why stories—whether medical cases or personal struggles—need structure, feedback, and courage to resonate with readers.
  3. The universal life lessons doctors carry from their patients and how those lessons extend far beyond medicine.

Connect with Dr. Tali Lando:
🌐 drtlando.com

📍 Instagram: @drtaliando

📍 TikTok: @surgeontali

📍 LinkedIn: Dr. Tali Lando

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Guest: Angela Betancourt — communication strategist, global storyteller, Air Force Reservist, and lifelong adventurer who believes bold moves shape extraordinary lives. From leading comms in Sierra Leone post-Ebola to ocean-advocacy storytelling, Angela shows how travel can unlock courage, purpose, and impact.

In this episode:
Angela shares how a “non-linear” career across manufacturing, agriculture, and humanitarian work led to her dream role abroad—plus why solo travel is a powerful teacher, what went wrong (and right) in Bangkok, and practical ways women can travel safely without letting fear drive the itinerary.

You will learn:

  1. Simple, evidence-based safety habits that make solo travel feel doable (and fun).
  2. How purpose-driven storytelling can open doors to international, high-impact work.

Connect with Angela:
• Betancourt Group (enviro + social impact comms): groupbetancourt.com
• Personal blog: angiebetancourt.com
• Instagram: @AngieBTravels
• LinkedIn: search Angela Betancourt (communications / social impact)

Sponsor: Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse. Great holiday gift; links below in Lizbeth's links.

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

On this episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth, I’m joined by Melvin E. Edwards, journalist, podcaster, sixth-generation Texan, and author of The Eyes of Texans: From Slavery to the Texas Capitol. Mel shares not only his love of history but also his deeply personal journey of resilience shaped by family, loss, and a lifetime of persistence.

Connect with Melvin at Stories From Real Life Podcast HERE

Raised in Houston, Mel grew up close to his father, who instilled in him a vision of success beyond physical labor. That influence, coupled with the sudden loss of his father at age 13, shaped his writing life and his understanding of what it means to be “man enough.” His story weaves together themes of identity, fatherhood, healing, and the power of family legacy.

Listeners will also hear about Mel’s decades-long search into his family’s genealogy, including the remarkable discoveries of ancestors who lived through the Republic of Texas era and survived slavery. His books bring those stories to life in ways that honor the past while inspiring the present.

This is a conversation about resilience, the long shadow of history, and how one man turned personal loss into a legacy of storytelling.

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend. Forward the link by text or post it on your social media to help grow the Persistence U community.

You Will Learn:

  • How personal tragedy at a young age shaped Mel’s writing and resilience.
  • Why discovering family history can be both heartbreaking and empowering.
  • The importance of redefining manhood, fatherhood, and success for yourself and future generations.

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

What happens when a restless teen obsessed with learning Spanish turns her determination into a lifelong adventure? Meet Regina Winkle-Bryan, founder of Bold Spirit Travel, a company that helps women confidently take their first solo journeys in community with others.

Regina shares how failing Spanish 101 didn’t stop her—it fueled her. From immersive travel and early stumbles to building a successful women-centered travel company, Regina’s story is a masterclass in persistence, creativity, and believing in your inner voice—even when it feels out of sync with everyone around you.

We also talk about the transformative power of travel later in life—especially after divorce, retirement, grief, or illness—and why solo travel (or “solo-ish” travel) can help us reclaim independence, courage, and joy.

Whether you're dreaming of Spain’s Camino de Santiago, struggling to give yourself permission to go alone, or just need a boost of encouragement—this one’s for you.

Connect with Regina at https://www.boldspirittravel.com/journeys.

You Will Learn:

  • How failing at a goal (like language learning) can still lead you exactly where you need to go
  • Why solo travel often creates community, not isolation
  • Ways travel helps midlife women build resilience, especially after major life transitions

🎙️ Tune in wherever you get your podcasts or visit lameredith.com

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

What happens when a family secret rewrites everything you thought you knew? In this heartfelt and powerful conversation, author and mental health advocate Lisa Sugarman joins Persistence U with Lizbeth to share her story of losing her father—twice.

Told as a child that her father died of a heart attack, Lisa didn’t discover the truth about his suicide until 35 years later. That revelation not only reshaped her personal narrative but became the catalyst for a career shift toward suicide prevention and mental wellness. Lisa shares how grief changed her, the importance of breaking the silence around suicide, and how she’s now helping others through her work with The Trevor Project, NAMI, Samaritans, and her own platform, The Help Hub.

You Will Learn:

  • How delayed grief and truth-telling can reframe our stories
  • The impact of high-functioning individuals who suffer in silence
  • Practical tools and resources for suicide prevention and survivor support

Resources Mentioned:

  • National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial or text 988
  • Lisa Sugarman’s resource platform: The Help Hub
  • The Trevor Project: thetrevorproject.org
  • Samaritans SafePlace Support Groups
  • NAMI’s Storytelling Program

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

How do you keep going after unimaginable loss? In this heartfelt episode of Persistence U, grief educator, podcaster, and writer Lisa Ellison Cooper shares how the devastating death of her younger brother launched her into a journey of deep grief, self-exploration, and ultimately, healing.

Lisa discusses how writing became a lifeline—first as a way to process pain, and then as a tool to connect with others. Today, she uses her experience to support fellow writers navigating difficult personal narratives, offering workshops and coaching rooted in empathy and resilience.

Whether you're grieving, supporting someone who is, or learning to write through your pain, this conversation offers both comfort and clarity.

You Will Learn:

  • Why grief often disrupts the writing process—and how to work with it, not against it
  • How community and mentorship play critical roles in healing and creative growth
  • Practical tips for writing your personal story with emotional safety and power

More About Lisa Ellison Cooper:

Connect with Lisa at lisaellison.com.

Lisa is a grief educator, essayist, and speaker whose work has appeared in Hippocampus, Kenyon Review, and The New York Times. She teaches writing classes on grief, healing, and resilience and believes storytelling can bridge the deepest divides.

Join Lisa's upcoming class, Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation, which will begin on September 18, 2025: https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

After retiring from a 27-year teaching career and realizing her pension wasn’t enough, Queen Michele took a leap of faith. She moved to Mexico, began an inward journey of healing through meditation and creativity, and eventually traced her roots to Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, through a DNA test with African Ancestry.

What began as a personal mission to avoid economic hardship became a transformative spiritual journey. In this conversation, Queen Michele shares how she connected with her ancestral tribe, the Fulani, and was embraced in her ancestral village on her 60th birthday. The experience led her to found the Fula History and Genealogy Society of America.

Now back in the U.S. temporarily, she’s created a conscious curriculum for Generation Alpha, raised awareness of generational trauma, and is preparing to return to Mexico. Queen Michele proves that healing and purpose don’t have a deadline — and legacy isn’t something you leave, it’s something you live.

You Will Learn:

  • How solo travel became a gateway to Queen Michele’s emotional and ancestral healing
  • The importance of reconnecting with cultural identity and reclaiming intergenerational legacy
  • What Generation Alpha needs and why Queen Michele is on a mission to prepare them with emotional and social tools

Find Queen on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/fulaamerican/

Thank you to PodMatch for another great connection!

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In this episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth dives into a deeply relatable and rarely explored topic: the estrangement of female friendships. Our guest, Susan Shapiro Barash, is a leading voice in women’s studies and author of over a dozen nonfiction books, including her latest: Estranged: Leaving Toxic Friendships and Creating Healthier Ones.

persistenceu #susanshapirobarash #toxicfriendships#alienation #estrangement

In this conversation, Susan shares research gathered from more than 150 interviews with women ages 20 to 80, uncovering the emotional truths, betrayals, and boundary-crossings that cause female friendships to unravel. Together, we unpack what happens when once-beloved friends become sources of stress, resentment, or grief—and how to navigate the ending of a friendship with clarity and compassion.

Why do we feel shame for wanting to walk away? How do we know when a friendship has run its course? And is it possible to honor the good times while also letting go of what no longer serves us? Susan offers thought-provoking answers, real-life examples, and powerful insight into a topic we all experience but rarely discuss openly.

You Will Learn:
The 7 types of toxic friendship patterns and how to spot them

How to know when it’s time to step back—or step away—from a friendship

Why letting go of a longtime friend can be a powerful, self-loving decision

Featured Book
Estranged: Leaving Toxic Friendships and Creating Healthier Ones by Susan Shapiro Barash
Buy the book on Amazon
🔗 Learn more: www.susanshapirobarash.com

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Three months after a car crash, Kelly Tuttle fell asleep at the wheel again—this time from brain fatigue.
She was trying to return to “normal,” but her concussion had other plans.

This week on Persistence U, Kelly shares how she turned her traumatic brain injury into a second act—retraining in neurology, writing a guide to help others return to life after injury (After the Crash), and launching resources for people with invisible challenges.

You Will Learn:

How a life-changing car accident and hidden brain injury led Kelly Tuttle to redefine her career and purpose.

The essential tools, therapies, and emotional supports that can help in recovering from traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Why Kelly chose to write After the Crash—and how she's helping others return to work, school, and life after TBI.

Her story is filled with honesty, resilience, and the courage to rebuild with purpose.

Learn more about Kelly’s work at kellytuttle.org. Kelly's book, After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and Live Life After a Brain Injury can be ordered where books are sold.

BrainInjuryRecovery #TBIAwareness #KellyTuttle #InvisibleInjury #ResilienceStories #PersistenceU #HealthAdvocacy #WomenHelpingWomen #BrainHealthMatters #PodcastInterview

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

One moment changed everything.

A motorcycle accident left Air Force veteran Kijuan “Kiwi” Jones blind, battered, and full of questions. But not for long.

He didn’t just survive—he thrived.

In this episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth, Kiwi shares how he built a new life through faith, therapy, and fierce determination—and even wrote a book: Don't Focus on Why Me. https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Focus-Why-Me-Motorcycle/dp/1737036614

Connect with Kiwi at https://ameymotivation.com/

ThrivingNotJustSurviving #BlindMotivator #KiwanJones #resilienceandcourage #airforce #blind

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

What if 10 minutes a day could help you process tough emotions, release perfectionism, and rediscover joy?

Today’s Persistence U guest, Susan Hensley, shares her surprising journey from news anchor to corporate executive to resilience coach—and how a brown, messy painting at a friend's house opened the door to a powerful new life practice: art journaling.

Susan takes us through:

  • How a simple, playful activity helped her heal from burnout and perfectionism.
  • Why tapping into childlike creativity builds emotional resilience—especially during chaos.
  • How art journaling can help you hold space for tough feelings and spark real joy.
  • Why resilience isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about learning how to turn the page.

Plus, Susan offers encouragement for busy women, perfectionists, and anyone craving a simple way to reset their mindset in stressful times.

🎨 Her book, Art for Your Sanity: How to Manage Chaos and Unleash Joy, offers science-backed practices anyone can try—no fancy tools or artistic experience needed.

Tune in to learn how resilience, creativity, and self-compassion are much closer than you think.

Today's interview is compliments of PodMatch

Learn more about Susan Hensley and get your free Art Journaling Starter Guide at susanhensley.com.

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

What happens when your life is blown apart by betrayal? If you're Tzara Attwater, you build a van from scratch, drive it solo across Australia, and reassemble your sense of self along the way.

In this gripping and often hilarious episode, Lizbeth sits down with Tzara to talk about her epic 2.5-year solo road trip around the Australian continent after a devastating breakup. From falling into snake-infested waters and breaking her tibia and fibula to rebuilding confidence through travel, vanlife, and connection, this episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if it’s too late to change course—or to start over.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • How betrayal led Tzara to rediscover her strength
  • The healing power of solo travel, even after 40
  • The wildest thing that happened on her journey (spoiler: it involves snakes)
  • Her surprising van-build journey using YouTube tutorials
  • What she learned about resilience, courage, and human kindness

Tzara also shares practical takeaways, including a free confidence bundle and a quiz to discover your attachment style.

Resources & Links:

  • Tzara’s website: https://myconfidencecoach.com.au
  • Get your free confidence bundle:https://myconfidencecoach.com.au/confidence-bundle/
  • Take the attachment style quiz on Tzara's website!
  • Submit your travel story for Lizbeth’s upcoming anthology: https://lameredith.com/mostlysolo-travel-adventures-with-lizbeth

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In this gripping and emotional episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth, Elishaba Doerksen joins from Alaska to share her extraordinary journey from unimaginable trauma to fierce independence. Born into a secluded, abusive family cult with 14 siblings and a father who claimed spiritual authority to justify horrific abuse, Elishaba was raised without education, freedom, or safety.

At 29, she found the courage to escape, risking everything to save her life—and eventually, her siblings’. Elishaba shares the pivotal moment that gave her the strength to flee: a Bible verse, a glimmer of hope, and the belief that she was not forsaken. She recounts the challenges of adjusting to the outside world with no formal education, no job experience, and no understanding of basic life skills.

Now a speaker, survivor, mother, and author of Out of the Wilderness, Elishaba talks about the emotional cost of leaving an abusive marriage, co-parenting with courage, and raising her children with the tools and freedom she never had. Even while undergoing treatment for stage 4 brain cancer, she continues to share her story to light the way for others.

If you’ve ever felt silenced by shame, isolated by abuse, or unsure how to start over—this episode will remind you that your past does not define your future.

You Will Learn:

  • How Elishaba found the strength to escape a dangerous family cult and start a new life
  • Why coercive control can happen inside families—not just intimate partnerships
  • How reclaiming your voice is possible, even after trauma, poverty, and illness

🔗 Relevant Links:

  • 📘 Order Elishaba's book: OutoftheWildernessBook.com
  • 🌐 Learn more: Elishaba.com
  • 🎤 Invite Elishaba to speak: Contact Page on Elishaba.com

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In this episode of Persistence U, Maggie Parr joins us to explore the often overlooked topic of self-harm in adulthood.

A celebrated artist and longtime Disney Imagineer, Maggie shares her deeply personal journey from childhood trauma and relapse in midlife to recovery through art, therapy, and self-love. She candidly discusses how self-harm was once her survival tool, and how she eventually learned to listen to the inner child driving the behavior—and love her back to life. Maggie’s message is clear: healing is possible at any age, and creativity can be a vital tool on that path. Thank you, Maggie, for your courage, your artistry, and your commitment to helping others find light through darkness.

You Will Learn:

  • Why self-harm isn’t just a teenage issue—and why adult experiences deserve more attention.
  • How childhood trauma and high achievement can intertwine with self-destructive coping mechanisms.
  • Why embracing all parts of ourselves, even the ones we fear, can lead to lasting healing.

Call for Entries:

Are you a woman who used solo travel to heal or increase resilience after the age of 40? Would you like to write about it? Consider submitting an essay for my forthcoming anthology! Details HERE

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

When life throws unimaginable challenges—raising four kids, one with special needs, and then losing your husband to cancer—what comes next?

For author and advocate Julie Barth, the answer was purpose.

In this moving episode, Julie shares her journey from family chaos to crisis and ultimately to the creation of CJB Outreach, a nonprofit named for her late husband, Colin James Barth. The organization supports women-led households in crisis, offering assistance before families lose everything. Julie also discusses her books (Notes from a Blackberry and the upcoming From Blackberries to Thorns), and how her daughter Tatum, born with primordial dwarfism, found her voice through art—with proceeds now benefiting the nonprofit.

A beautiful conversation about love, legacy, motherhood, and resilience.

🎧 You Will Learn:

  • How Julie turned profound grief into purposeful giving.
  • Why some families in crisis need help before they lose everything.
  • How one daughter’s art became a family movement for healing and hope.

🔗 Resources + Links:

  • Julie’s Website + Books + Outreach: www.juliebarthauthor.net
  • Nonprofit: CJB Outreach (via her site)
  • Tatum’s Art Business: Hope for Tayt

Book (Audio + Print): Notes from a Blackberry

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Dr. Tolia discusses the challenges of transitioning from a structured medical career to the creative freedom of art, how she merges her passion with purpose by supporting charities, and the therapeutic benefits of art for the brain.
You Will Learn:
1. How Dr. Tolia transitioned from medicine to art and found new meaning in life.
2. The connection between art, neuroscience, and mental health.
3. Why prioritizing creativity can strengthen resilience and improve well-being.

Connect with Dr. Vasu Tolia:

Grab your brain relaxation freebie HERE
• Website: www.vasutolia.art
• Newsletter Signup: Stay updated on her art releases, shows, and competitions.
Connect with Lizbeth Meredith:
• Website: www.lameredith.com
• Podcast Updates & Contact: Join the mailing list or connect via the contact form.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with others who might be inspired by Dr. Tolia’s story.

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In this heartfelt episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth, Emily Moon, a therapist and high-conflict divorce specialist, shares her personal and professional journey of resilience. From navigating her own challenges to helping families and individuals redefine their identities after loss or crisis, Emily provides actionable insights on how to rebuild your life with grace and purpose.

Emily discusses how embracing gratitude, exploring new experiences, and learning to let go can help anyone facing major life transitions. Whether you’re navigating a divorce, recovering from a loss, or simply seeking clarity in a new chapter of life, her wisdom is sure to inspire.

You Will Learn:

  1. How to rediscover yourself: Why exploring your likes and dislikes can help you rebuild your identity after a crisis.
  2. The role of gratitude in resilience: How practicing gratitude, even during tough times, shifts your mindset from scarcity to abundance.
  3. Navigating relationships post-divorce: Tips on fostering healthy boundaries and supporting children during high-conflict separations.

For More on High Conflict Divorce Info, check out episode 41 with Liz Merrill HERE

Connect with Emily Moon:

  • Website: EmilyMoon.life (divorce support and resilience resources)

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Retired firefighter and union leader Rich Cheatham's life was forever changed by tragedy, resilience, and redemption.

After the heartbreaking murder of his son and a life-altering injury, Rick faced immense challenges that tested his faith, resolve, and purpose.

Rick shares how he overcame a downward spiral of anger, grief, and depression, using his AIM framework—Awareness, Intention, and Mindset—to regain control and rebuild his life. Today, Rick is thriving as a coach, speaker, and advocate, helping others overcome addiction, trauma, and loss. His story is a testament to the power of choice, faith, and community.

You Will Learn:

  1. How to shift your mindset from fear and doubt to faith and empowerment.
  2. The transformative impact of forgiveness on healing and growth.
  3. Why the support of community can be a lifeline during the toughest times.

Rick’s resilience and wisdom offer powerful lessons for anyone looking to turn their challenges into stepping stones for a meaningful life.

Connect with Rick Cheatham:

  • Website: www.rickcheatham.com
  • Coaching and Speaking: Visit his website to learn more about his work as a transformational coach and motivational speaker.

Connect with Lizbeth Meredith:

  • Website: www.lameredith.com
  • Podcast Updates & Contact: Join the mailing list or connect via the contact form.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with friends who might find Rick’s story inspiring.

Are you a woman who used solo travel to increase your resilience or heal after a challenging season after the age of 40? Consider submitting an essay to the forthcoming anthology. Details HERE!

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In today's bonus episode, we welcome Gina Economopoulos, author of Shake the Dust Off Your Feet and Walk. Gina shares her deeply personal journey of overcoming physical disabilities, grief, and spiritual searching, which ultimately led her to discover her life’s purpose as an author and an end-of-life doula.Gina opens up about the challenges of growing up in a family of able-bodied siblings, the pivotal loss of her mother, and her path to finding peace, love, and service after years of searching. Her remarkable story of resilience, spirituality, and self-discovery is one that will resonate with anyone striving to find meaning in difficult times.You Will Learn:How grief and loss can spark profound personal transformation.The importance of self-discovery in finding peace and purpose.What it means to be an end-of-life doula and provide comfort in someone’s final moments.Gina’s heartfelt journey is a reminder that life’s challenges, while painful, often lead to growth and unexpected opportunities for service.Connect with Gina Economopoulos:Book: Shake the Dust Off Your Feet and Walk (Available on Amazon)Website: www.ginaecon.comConnect with Lizbeth Meredith:Website: www.lameredith.comPodcast Updates & Contact: Visit the website to join the mailing list or connect via the contact form.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, subscribe, or share it with someone who could use a little inspiration. Your support helps us bring more stories of persistence and resilience to listeners like you!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In this uplifting episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth, Dominiece Clifton shares how she rebuilt her life from one of its most challenging periods. Amid the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, financial loss, and a crumbling marriage, Dominiece found solace and transformation in a 90-day challenge that focused on healing her mind, body, and spirit.Dominiece, a clarity coach and podcast host of The School of Healing, discusses how meditation, intentional movement, and mindful living helped her uncover the root of her struggles, from childhood trauma to limiting beliefs. Her journey demonstrates how persistence and intentionality can lead to profound personal and professional transformation.You Will Learn:How to reset during challenging times: Discover how Dominiece used a 90-day challenge to gain clarity and rebuild her life.The importance of addressing root causes: Learn why digging into underlying beliefs and patterns is essential for sustainable change.Practical steps for transformation: Gain insights into creating a consistent practice for mind, body, and spirit healing.Connect with Dominiece Clifton:Website: domrclifton.comPodcast: The School of HealingEntrepreneurial Clarity Quiz: Find it on her homepage!If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate, review, and share it with a friend. Let’s spread the power of persistence and healing!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Today, we dive into the fascinating journey of Sandra Schnakenburg, author of The Housekeeper’s Secret: A Memoir. Sandra shares how a deathbed promise to her family’s housekeeper led her on a years-long investigation filled with unexpected twists, profound discoveries, and the ultimate challenge of uncovering hidden truths while writing a deeply personal memoir.Sandra reveals the process of uncovering Lee Mottoyer’s mysterious past, including navigating false starts, life-altering surprises, and even spiritual interventions. With candor and grace, Sandra describes how writing this memoir not only fulfilled a promise but also became a powerful avenue for healing and growth.You Will Learn:The challenges of writing someone else’s story while integrating your own journey.How unexpected discoveries can shape and enrich the writing process.The importance of trusting the timing and process of creative projects.Sandra’s story is a testament to resilience, the healing power of storytelling, and the deep connections that shape our lives.Connect with Sandra Schnakenburg:Website: www.sandraschnakenburg.comBook: The Housekeeper’s Secret: A Memoir (Available wherever books are sold, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and more)Connect with Lizbeth Meredith:Website: www.lameredith.comBooks for order wherever books are sold: Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped DaughtersGrounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges into SuperpowersTilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a TimePodcast Updates & Contact: Join the mailing list or connect via the contact form.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with friends who need some inspiration. Your support makes all the difference!Want to connect on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/Find me at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizbeth-meredith-a7026849/Want to be a Patron? For less than a coffee, sign up at patreon.com/lizbethmeredithLizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Dr. Nancy Locklin was already an author, professor, and specialist in pre-modern Europe before she dug in to a series of unsolved murders that occurred in Tennessee a century ago. A professor at Maryville College in Tennessee, Dr. Locklin shares the incredible journey behind her collaborative project exploring the unsolved case of the Night Marauder, a serial killer who terrorized East Tennessee in the 1920s.From engaging her students in deep research to uncovering long-forgotten community stories, Dr. Locklin's work sheds light on how the absence of modern conveniences like air conditioning, internet, and advanced forensics shaped life—and crime—in early 20th-century Appalachia.(Learn more about her work and connect at TheNightMarauderProject.com/Dr. Locklin also delves into her broader academic journey, including her work on an 18th-century French murder trial, and how her training in historical violence informed her sensitivity to survivor stories. Through collaboration with students, local genealogists, and archivists, her Night Marauder project has gained attention, evolving into a forthcoming book set for release in 2026.You Will Learn:Engaged Learning Brings History to Life: Dr. Laughlin empowered her students to lead research efforts, building not only their academic skills but also their connection to local history.Survivor-Centric Storytelling Matters: Whether exploring 18th-century France or 1920s Tennessee, focusing on the humanity of victims fosters empathy and responsibility in research.Community Partnerships Create Impact: Collaboration with local libraries, genealogists, and media turned the Night Marauder project into a community-wide effort.

Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In this powerful episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth, we are honored to share the incredible story of Dr. Fidele Sebahizi a massacre survivor from Congo who overcame unimaginable odds to create a life of purpose and service. Dr. Fidele shares his journey from surviving a brutal attack in a United Nations refugee camp to becoming a police officer, earning a Ph.D., and inspiring others through his memoir, Creating a Life from Ashes.You Will Learn:• The challenges of starting over as a refugee in the United States.• How Dr. Fidele’s unwavering commitment to education propelled him forward.• The importance of resilience in building a new identity after tragedy.Key Quotes:• "I realized I was safe here, and I could finally focus on education without interruption."• "We are all connected. My story might be unique, but others can find themselves in it too."• "Resilience is about continuing to move forward, even when everything seems lost."Resources:• Dr. Fidele Sebahizi’s Website: CreatingALifeFromTheAshes.comLinks of InterestThe story of Yaguine and Fode https://iday.org/en/news-en/20th-anniversary-of-yaguine-and-fode-death/Hop on my email list at lameredith.com.Want to connect on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/Find me at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizbeth-meredith-a7026849/Want to be a Patron? For less than a coffee, sign up at patreon.com/lizbethmeredithPieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, available in paperback and audio, is now the Lifetime TV movie, Stolen By Their Father.Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is now available in audio, paperback, and in digital form nearly wherever books are sold.My new novel! Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time-https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tilka-faces-the-odds-one-man-at-a-time-l-a-meredith/1146739100Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Patrisha McLean, founder and CEO of Finding Our Voices, shares her personal journey from being the wife in a picture-perfect marriage to a survivor of intimate partner violence who now empowers others. Patrisha’s story highlights the courage it takes to leave a well-known partner amid public scrutiny and the transformative power of advocacy.From finding solidarity in unexpected places to launching a statewide movement to support survivors, Patrisha's work shines a light on red flags, green flags, and the importance of breaking the silence around domestic abuse. Her organization provides practical support, from financial aid to dental care, and builds community through initiatives like survivor-led poster campaigns and virtual book clubs.You Will Learn:Red flags in relationships: Understand the warning signs of control and abuse and how to recognize them early.The power of solidarity: Hear how a small gesture from a hairdresser inspired Patrisha to create a platform for survivors.Rebuilding after abuse: Discover how Patrisha turned her experience into advocacy, helping countless women reclaim their lives.Connect with Patrisha McLean:Website: FindingOurVoices.netPodcast: Let’s Talk About ItVirtual Book Club: Join through her websiteDon’t forget to rate and share this episode! Let’s continue the conversation and shine a light on resilience and healing.Links of InterestHop on my email list at lameredith.com.Want to connect on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/Find me at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizbeth-meredith-a7026849/Want to be a Patron? For less than a coffee, sign up at patreon.com/lizbethmeredithPieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, available in paperback and audio, is now the Lifetime TV movie, Stolen By Their Father. Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is now available in audio, paperback, and in digital form nearly wherever books are sold. Novel Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time--https://www.amazon.com/Tilka-Faces-Odds-One-Time/dp/B0DMTXDXNMLizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Episode Summary:Welcome back to Persistence U with Lizbeth! As we kick off Season 5, Lizbeth reflects on the ups and downs of 2024, shares personal milestones, and previews the exciting guests and topics coming in 2025. From publishing her novel Tilka Faces the Odds to planning an anthology of solo women travelers, Lizbeth discusses the power of celebrating effort, embracing resilience, and living life with intention.In This Episode, You’ll Hear:A recap of the most popular episodes from 2024, including guest favorites like Melamere Logan, Bill Mitchell, Kim Sorrell, Hera McLeod, and Rebecca Galli.Lizbeth’s lessons from the past year, including celebrating effort over outcomes and embracing faith in the face of uncertainty.Exciting plans for 2025, including new podcast guests, the upcoming Tilka Faces the Odds audiobook, and a solo travel memoir project.The importance of legacy, inspired by the untimely passing of a friend who encouraged Lizbeth’s upcoming Antarctica trip.Special Highlights:Lizbeth’s gratitude for 200 episodes of Persistence U and the incredible community of listeners.How life’s challenges can inspire us to take meaningful steps toward our goals.A heartfelt reminder to pursue what matters most before it’s too late.Links and Resources:Join the mailing list: lameredith.comSubscribe to Persistence U with Lizbeth on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform.Explore Lizbeth’s writing and upcoming projects.Don’t Forget:If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe to never miss an inspiring story. Here’s to a resilient and rewarding 2025!Hop on my email list at lameredith.com.Want to connect on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/Find me at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizbeth-meredith-a7026849/Want to be a Patron? For less than a coffee, sign up at patreon.com/lizbethmeredithMy fun novel-best for middle aged women who like disaster dating stories- is available now! Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a TimePieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, available in paperback and audio, is now the Lifetime TV movie, Stolen By Their Father. Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is now available in audio, paperback, and in digital form nearly wherever books are sold. Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Persistence U will begin a new season in January, 2025. Enjoy the extensive backlist until then!Wanda Malhotra is an entrepreneur, author, and founder of Crunchy Mama Box. Connect with Wanda at CrunchMamaBox.com.Wanda shares her journey of resilience and mission-driven entrepreneurship, from her beginnings in Brazil to building a community in the U.S. dedicated to holistic wellness and ethical beauty. Learn how her unwavering commitment to her "why" helped her overcome obstacles as a young female entrepreneur, an immigrant, and a mother.Wanda dives into the challenges and joys of building a business that not only sustains itself but also uplifts others. She emphasizes the importance of revisiting your mission and values during tough times and shares how her platform supports indie wellness brands while educating consumers. Her story is a powerful reminder that resilience and community are the keys to long-term success.You Will Learn:Revisit Your Why: During challenging times, grounding yourself in the original purpose of your mission can help you find the strength to continue.Build a Values-Driven Community: Success grows when you create a space where people, products, and purpose align with your values.Persistence Fuels Impact: When you lead with a desire to help others, financial sustainability often follows naturally.Hop on my email list at lameredith.com.Want to connect on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/Find me at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizbeth-meredith-a7026849/Want to be a Patron? For less than a coffee, sign up at patreon.com/lizbethmeredithPieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, available in paperback and audio, is now the Lifetime TV movie, Stolen By Their Father. Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is now available in audio, paperback, and in digital form nearly wherever books are sold. Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Before Kim Sorrelle was an author, speaker, and director of a humanitarian organization, she was proud to be a wife and mother to a large family. And just when she and her husband were preparing for their next chapter as empty-nesters, cancer struck them both.Connect with Kim about her book and work at kimsorrelle.comKim shares her profound journey of love, loss, and resilience, and how she transformed personal grief into a purpose-driven life dedicated to serving others. Through her service work in Haiti, Kim found healing and a renewed purpose, ultimately leading her to write two books, Cry Until You Laugh and Love Is.Kim’s journey offers powerful insights on healing, the meaning of love, and the transformative power of giving back. Tune in to hear how she turned tragedy into triumph and what she learned about love through real-life experiences, both in her personal life and humanitarian efforts.You Will Learn:The Healing Power of Service: Kim found that giving back and focusing on others' needs became an essential part of her healing process, helping her "get on top of grief."Redefining Love: Through a dedicated year of exploration, Kim uncovered life-changing truths about love, challenging common misconceptions and deepening her understanding of love's true nature.Resilience Through Purpose: Kim’s story highlights the importance of finding purpose after loss and the incredible impact that aligning oneself with meaningful work can have on emotional recovery.You're invited to my launch via Zoom! Nov 18, 6PM EST. Reach out at Lizbeth@persistenceulizbeth and I'll send you the Zoom Link.Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Author of the inspirational memoir Laughing at the Sky, Heidi’s journey is one of resilience and determination. After surviving a violent childhood trauma, Heidi sought healing through a remarkable 12,000-mile, five-year sailing journey. Along the way, she learned to overcome PTSD through calming practices, weathering both internal and external storms.Connect with Heidi at heidiloveauthor.com.Heidi shares her experiences of how trauma affected her life, and how her dream of sailing to a healing waterfall in French Polynesia became the metaphorical and literal anchor for her healing journey. We also discuss her workbook that focuses on calming practices to manage emotional triggers. Heidi's work has helped many other survivors find peace, and her persistence in pursuing bold dreams serves as an inspiration for us all.You will learn:Healing is not linear: Heidi's journey shows that healing from trauma can have ups and downs, but staying persistent and finding what works for you is crucial.The power of calming practices: Heidi developed a calming practice to manage PTSD, which can help anyone facing emotional triggers and fears, allowing them to stay present.Bold dreams fuel resilience: Heidi's bold dream of sailing and finding her metaphorical waterfall gave her the purpose and strength to keep pushing forward. Bold dreams help us transcend the limitations trauma might impose.Other links:The article I referenced:https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2024/10/13/hundreds-of-people-charged-with-domestic-violence-child-abuse-or-duis-are-walking-free-in-anchorage/Joint conversation on surviving domestic abuse--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNG88wIIXtgHop on my email list at lameredith.com.Want to connect on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/Find me at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizbeth-meredith-a7026849/Want to be a Patron? For less than a coffee, sign up at patreon.com/lizbethmeredithPieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, available in paperback and audio, is now the Lifetime TV movie, Stolen By Their Father.Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is now available in audio, paperback, and in digital form nearly wherever books are sold.Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

In this episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth, we have the of hearihonor of hearing from Hera McLeod, a survivor and advocate who bravely shares her story of unimaginable loss after leaving an abusive relationship.Connect with Hera McLeod, activist, professional speaker, and author of Defying Silence: A Memoir of a Mother's Loss and Courage in the Face of Injustice and learn more about her book at https://heramcleod.com/.Hera’s journey is both heartbreaking and empowering, as she not only endured the unthinkable but also chose to channel her pain into advocacy, helping others navigate the complex and often dangerous world of domestic violence. Together, we delve into the unintended consequences of leaving an abusive relationship, the failure of systems meant to protect, and the incredible resilience Hera displays in the aftermath.As we reflect during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Hera's story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to survivors and understanding the obstacles they face long after they escape their abusers. Her advocacy work today brings much-needed attention to the shortcomings in family court systems and the dangers victims and their children continue to face even after leaving.You Will Learn:Why leaving an abusive relationship isn’t the end of the struggle, and how systems can fail to protect survivors.The unintended consequences survivors face, especially regarding the safety and well-being of their children.How to become part of the solution by supporting survivors, from volunteering at shelters to advocating for legislative changes.Join Hera and Lizbeth for a separate conversation, Beyond Survival: The Untold Consequences of Leaving Abuse on YouTube HERELike this episode? Please share with someone who needs it. Thanks for listening.Hop on my email list at lameredith.com.Want to connect on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/Find me at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizbeth-meredith-a7026849/Want to be a Patron? For less than a coffee, sign up at patreon.com/lizbethmeredithPieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, available in paperback and audio, is now the Lifetime TV movie, Stolen By Their Father. Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is now available in audio, paperback, and in digital form nearly wherever books are sold.Lizbeth’s linksWant to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

View Details

Whether you're coupled, newly divorced, widowed, or a serial single person, loneliness is part of life. The avoidance of it can lead to destructive habits or relationships.

Maureen Scanlon's dog's unconditional love for her not only helped her through hard times, but aided in shaping two books and a coaching practice. Today, she teaches others the art of how to be their own best friend.

Connect with coach Maureen at https://lifecoachmaureen.com/ and learn more about her books HERE.

You will learn:

  • Expectations placed on others to fill our social well will often go unmet.
  • Bravery is required to take the initial steps.
  • Awareness of how our past baggage drives current behavior is required.

Bio: Maureen Scanlon is an an author, coach, and host of I Never Knew with Lifecoach Maureen podcast.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

It's the end of summer and the end of season 3. As one who struggles with change, it's come with blue moods and a sense of dread, despite so many lovely things in my world.

The podcast will resume on 9/12. Enjoy the backlist of more than 130 episodes, please.

Want to learn what's new on Persistence U?
Connect with me at lameredith.com and hop on my email list!

You will learn:

  • Toxic positivity can exacerbate feelings of aloneness and desperation.
  • Normalizing conversations about depression, anxiety, and mental health concerns is a huge step toward reducing risk of suicide.
  • Circumstances, like emotions, are subject to change, and creating a stable community is important.

Call 988 or your local hotline for confidential, free support.

Woot! Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges into Superpowers is available in e-book and print now. Order where you buy books. Audiobook to follow.

Extra ResourcesThe Pete Foundation and The Big Stomp (Louisville, KY annual music festival)

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Few of us have the time to walk a near 500-mile pilgrimage, least of all, mom of six Hollee Brock. But after a lifetime of happily raising a busy family, she knew she had to do it.

What happened next became the subject of her podcast Along the Camino, and a point of transformation.

You will learn:

  • A pilgrimage is a journey with a purpose or intention.
  • In a society focused on goals, it's easy to overlook the important transformations that occur simply inside persisting.
  • The power of sharing stories isn't limited to writing essays or memoir.

Listen to Along the Camino by Hollee Brock wherever you listen to podcasts.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

When Kim Peacock's children were nearly grown, she revisited the partially healed trauma of losing one of her daughters while on a family vacation years before.Kim shares her journey of faith and healing, and how she turned it into work helping others deal with grief.Connect with Kim Peacock HERE and learn more about her work and writing.

You will learn:

  • Everyone experiences loss, and the only control we have is our response.
  • Sometimes showing up for a grieving friend is better than anything we say.
  • We can’t fix the pain of others, but we can keep them company inside of it

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Debbie Russell had a thriving career as a prosecutor.She'd worked hard for her career, and found that she was addicted to the adrenalin rush it provided, and the fact it offered a pension. Somehow, she'd known even then that she wanted to retire with some time left in life for creative pursuits. And finding old family letters focused Debbie's attention on both knowing more and writing.

Connect with Debbie and her writing at https://debbie-russell.com/

You will learn:

  • Eventually, work stress often catches up, impacting health and well-being.
  • Family history can reveal future concerns.
  • Writing memoir helps distill issues that ma otherwise seem insurmountable.

BIO: Debbie Russell is a lawyer turned writer. She spent twenty-five years as an Assistant County Attorney in Minneapolis, prosecuting numerous high-profile cases and fighting off several nervous breakdowns. Today, she enjoys writing and training her retrievers.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Rebecca Chandler is no stranger to challenges.As a writer and producer, she'd enjoyed traveling to far-flung locations and living out of a suitcase.

(Connect with Rebecca at rebeccaechandler.com and find out about her books and work.)

And then, one day, she felt a crack. She would later be diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), attributed to early childhood sexual abuse.

You will learn:

  • There are many routes to healing.
  • Journaling, EMDR, and talk therapy, and many other interventions may provide relief.
  • Sharing our stories in writing helps gives permission for our readers to tell their own.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Mary Giuliani was a successful life and business coach who'd maintained a 160 pound weight loss by the time she read a book that changed her life.

Through the information inside The Body Keeps the Score (Bessel van der Kolk), Mary learned that things that had happened in her childhood were still impacting her, now late in her fifties.
To connect with Mary and learn more about her work and writing, find her at marygiuliani.net.
You will learn:

  • Too many toxic traumas in childhood can produce devastating results in later life like obesity, diseases, and even early death if they remain unaddressed.
  • Without getting to the root cause of addictions and other behavioral dysfunctions, we're simply addressing symptoms, one at a time.
  • Dealing with old wounds in isolation leads to secret-keeping and shame.

BIO: Mary Giuliani is a coach and author of the new book,
It’s Not About Food, Drugs, or Alcohol: It’s About Healing Complex PTSD.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

He was known as a football player.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Melody Warnick is no stranger to feeling like an outsider. Theauthor ofIf I Could Live Anywhere andThis is Where You Belong, Melody found herself moving around the country to follow her husband's career while she freelanced for magazines like The New York Times, Washington Post, and Woman's Day.When she moved a final time to a town she didn't love, Melody knew the problem was hers to solve.
(Connect with Melody and her work at http://melodywarnick.com/)

You will learn:

  • Investing in the community you choose to live in by volunteering or joining a newcomer's group can spark feelings of place attachment.
  • Sometimes, due to friends moving or a change of circumstances, we'll need to revisit skills learned and rebuild our community.
  • It is possible to find a sense of belonging and place attachment where ever we are.

BIO: Melody Warnick is an author and freelance writer and now a professor at Virginia Tech.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Who has ever accomplished big goals without experiencing failures along the way?Paul Padmore was on a sure-path to success when he was laid off work a few years ago. Like all of us who face setbacks of that nature, he was equal parts humbled and horrified. Unlike most of us, he decided to normalize the conversation about failures.

Today, Paul Padmore is the head of customer engagement at Innovationbubble and the host of My Perfect Failure Podcast.

Connect with Paul Padmore HERE

You will learn:

  • The stigma around failure can prevent us from moving forward to find the success that's waiting just ahead.
  • Dissecting our missteps can shorten the path to reaching our goals.
  • Creating conversations and connection through our failures is key to getting unstuck.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

What if you could transform your life while brightening the lives of others...for free?That's the gift Nancy Davis Kho gave herself for her 50th birthday when she decided to write 50 people, some she knew, some she did not, who'd made a contribution to her world.

(Connect with her HERE and learn about her book, podcast called The Midlife Mixed Tape, and other work).

The results of that gift were shared in her book, The Thank You Project: Cultivating Happiness, One Letter at a Time.You will learn:

  • Expressing gratitude has an instant positive impact on you, and the person you're thanking.
  • Writing those who've inspired or helped you, even if they've died or are a famous person you'll not likely meet, can boost your own sense of well-being.
  • Having no expectation to hear back from those who you've connected with to say thank you makes any time you do hear back a pleasant surprise instead of a source of dashed hopes.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Victoria Pelletier has vivid memories of the day her biological mother relinquished care of her to a family to be fostered and adopted. She credits a supportive adoptive family and a drive for more that led her to be a COO at the age of 24, and the reason diversity, equity, and inclusion are key values to her today.

Connect with Victoria at Victoria-Pelletier.com. You will learn:

  • Overachieving is sometimes a compensatory effort from those who've experienced trauma.
  • Adaptations learned during surviving hard times can be leveraged well in the workplace.
  • The need to feel at home and included is universal, and facilitating that experience can be both monetarily and morally advantageous.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Back when Deborah Covell Fletcher was pregnant, she was considered "geriatric" at age 37. To her delight, she learned she was carrying twins. But not long after their births, one was found to have a traumatic brain injury from birth that would change everything.

(Connect with Deborah HERE.)

You will learn:

  • Grief and joy can coexist peacefully if we allow it.
  • Sometimes what looks like the worst thing that can happen brings unexpected rewards.
  • Support and connections made during life's greatest challenges are worth keeping and celebrating, long after the crisis has ended.

Today, Deborah Covell Fletcher is the author of Finding Your Hey, a speaker, educator, and mother of two adult daughters.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Steve Wilson's bipolar disorder was diagnosed in the 1950's, but he'd suffered with long bouts of highs and lows beginning at 9 after he was sexually assaulted.

More than four decades later, after numerous tries with the correct dosages of medications, therapy, and even peer support, he reached an equilibrium that allowed for a successful personal and professional life.

Today, in his seventies, Steve is the new author of Teetering on a Tightrope, a proud husband, father, and grandfather. He facilitates groups for consumers of mental health services.
Connect with him HERE or at swwilson.wilson@gmail.com.

You will learn:
Sometimes mental health disorders are precipitated by a major trauma.
Medication management may be costly to physical health down the road.
* Peer support and tenacity are critical to good outcomes.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

When Angela Howard was pregnant with her second child, she experienced the ultimate betrayal with her husband.She believed that rather than spiral into feeling victimized, she chose to autopsy her personal and family history to see if there were factors needing to be looked at.

Angela decided go to the Omega Institute and learn about somatic healing.

Today, Angela is a the founder of Wildheartexpressive.com and is a confidence coach, combining somatic movement therapy with coaching.

You will learn:

  • When you give your pain a voice, it will tell its story.
  • Movement can be a therapeutic way to move trauma that's stored in the body.
  • In the worst of times, as in the best of times, having a supportive community means everything.

If you liked this episode, you may enjoy Dr. Debi Silber on healing from betrayal HERE.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Dr. Debi Silber didn't set out to become an expert on healing from betrayal. But when life handed her one too many opportunities, she decided to re-tool, go back to school, and did research on healing from it.

Today, she's the founder of the Post-Betrayal Institute and the host of From Breakthrough to Betrayal Podcast.

(Connect with Dr. Debi Silber at the PBT Institute or From Betrayal to Breakthrough Podcast.)

You will learn:

  • Therapy is often beneficial, but clients may get stuck repeating the same story again and again without moving forward.
  • According to Dr. Debi, healing from betrayal occurs in five distinct steps that are key to resolving old wounds.
  • Sometimes relationships have to be reconstructed after betrayal to be successful.

Listen to another story of an alternate route to healing from betrayal HERE with guest Angela Howard here.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Chris Lalomia had a fancy job in banking with all the perks. But after several years, he realized he wanted more. He wanted to be an entrepreneur.

Connect with Chris at his podcast The Small Business Safari HERE or learn more about his company The Trusted Toolbox and his book HERE.

With a business education, a banking background, and his trusty business blueprint in hand, he opened a handyman business with an eye for building it into multiple businesses. And then the economy collapsed.

You will learn:

  • Lean times might jumpstart growth and new planning.
  • Entrepreneurs may find themselves performing every role during the worst of times.
  • Well-oiled work meetings can promote both personal and professional goals.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Debbie Weiss met the love of her life in grade school, and in early adulthood, they married. A happy couple who enjoyed decades of marriage, it all came crashing down with a cancer diagnosis. Debbie's husband died in his early fifties after intentionally shielding her from the prognosis, leaving her unprepared for what lie ahead.

Connect with Debbie and learn more about her book, Available as Is, and her blog HERE

You will learn:

  • Efforts to protect our loved ones from difficult conversations toward the end of life may backfire.
  • Dating for adults new to the process can be equal parts complicated, hilarious, and sometimes, scary.
  • Journaling, and even keeping quick notes, can benefit in both healing and in the author journey.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Most of us won't talk to our ailing loved one about their impending death.It was something that bothered David Richman when his beloved sister was dying of cancer. So David took action. He'd already transformed his life, giving up smoking, shedding excess weight, and leaving an abusive relationship. Now, he worked to normalize tough conversations and give voice to 15 different cancer survivor's stories by riding his bike 5000 miles to connect with them.

Connect with David HERE to learn more about his books and work.

You will learn:

  • Family and friends are ill-equipped to speak about the death experience.
  • Isolation exacerbates an already challenging situation.
  • The sense of relief is palpable when permission is granted to tackle tough conversations.

Bio: David Richman is a financial advisor and multi-award winning author and philanthropist.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Amber Furhiman's father thought she should be a lawyer.She thought it was a ridiculous idea. Then, unexpectedly, he died.
Amber worked toward her law degree with renewed interest. Once she achieved both it and the financial benchmarks she set for herself, she felt empty.

Connect with Amber on The Success Entrepreneur Podcast or by clicking HERE
You will learn:

  • Living life, telling ourselves that, "If only X happened, then everything would be great," is a setup for disappointment.
  • Finding out what void the rabid pursuit of accomplishments might fill is key to finding contentment.
  • Living outside of our comfort zone might just be the key to keeping life interesting.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

When we don't take time to grieve and feel our tough emotions, the pain often resurfaces.That's what Sharon Hughes found after a lifetime of "bootstrapping," skimming over big issues in her life like trauma in her childhood, an assault as a teen, and a later, divorce.

Today, she's a confidence coach who helps faith-based women give themselves permission to pursue their dreams and succeed, and the author of The Girl in the Garage. Connect with her at SharonHughes.net.

You will learn: Proclaiming a goal publicly can increase our accountability.
Believing a lie can be as powerful as believing the truth.
* Each of us has the power of choice, even if we don't like the options we have at times.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Chris Donaldson had a dream.

A young man growing up in Belfast in the 70's, he wanted to ride his motorcycle all the way to Australia. With the guts of someone who didn't know better, Chris made his way. Through Europe. Through Africa. The Middle East.

Find out about Chris's memoir, Going the Wrong Way: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? at http://chrisdonaldson.world/
and enjoy his travel photos there.

You will learn:

  • Taking the perspective of how you will accomplish a goal, rather than entertaining whether or not you can, makes all the difference.
  • Rugged international travel is one way to build a lasting support network.
  • Sometimes, an unachieved goal is worth reviving.

Chris Donaldson is an Irish author who still enjoys going for a ride as often as possible.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Eleanor Andrews made a huge change.
A young wife in the 60's, she moved from her home in Compton, California to Fairbanks, Alaska and began life in the Last Frontier. She was one of a few Black women living there at the time. And though her husband died young, leaving her to face frigid temperatures and parenting two children alone, she opened her mind to opportunity. And those opportunities never stopped coming.

Today, Eleanor is a retired businesswoman. A philanthropist. A great-grandmother. A mentor.

You will learn:

  • Having the confidence to say yes to things you've never done is critical to greenlighting opportunities.
  • Living in an rugged environment many others wouldn't brave offers less competition for jobs and other resources.
  • Paying it forward and empowering the next generation of women to be their own bosses is a sustainable way to ensure progress.

BIO: Eleanor Andrews is known in Alaska as a "civic entrepreneur" in Alaska, who inspires institutions, businesses and individuals to invest in the community.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Imagine a time when your ability to get a raise was not based on merit, but on whether your importance to your family merited it.

That's what Heather Flynn faced early in her career, as did countless other women who did the same work as their male counterparts but were told they would be paid less money since they weren't the head of the household.

You will learn:

  • Sometimes, it's the childhood experience of being excluded that sparks a passion for inclusion.
  • Title IX is an important part of women's history, and is the US federal civil rights law that prohibits gender-based discrimination in any school or other educational program that receives federal funds.
  • The gains made from others years of activism are easily lost should we forget our history.

(Listen HERE to Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Maria Henson share how she took the system to task on behalf of domestic abuse survivors in the previous episode.)

BIO: Heather Flynn is a philanthropist and retired educator whose lengthy career began in education, and continued with her serving on the Anchorage School Board, the Anchorage Assembly, and as the Executive Director of The Alaska Women's Resource Center and Abused Women's Aid in Crisis.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Maria Henson was a young journalist based in Lexington, Kentucky in the early 90's when she found a problem that needed solving. Too many victims of family violence were not being protected when they called the police, or when they filed for a protective order before judges.

With a dynamic team of writers and editors behind her at the Lexington Harald-Leader, she spotlighted stories of justice, publishing photos and names of victims and discussing the judges, prosecutors, and officers who stood in the way. She gave voice to the survivors. And laws in Kentucky rapidly changed.

You will learn:

  • To spark great change, one must have the belief that things can improve.
  • Working with a supportive team or community is critical to successful implementation.
  • Gains made to protect victims of domestic abuse fluctuate, and require ongoing scrutiny and services to keep the vulnerable inside a family protected.

To get a copy of Maria Henson's To Have and To Harm series, email me at Lizbeth@persistenceulizbeth.com, or reach out to her at hensonm@wfu.edu. Please understand that the images and stories included may be triggering for some.

Bio:Maria Henson won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for her editorial series about domestic violence and, in California, edited a series about Yosemite National Park that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005. She now teaches and is associate vice president and editor-at-large at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

It's Women's History Month, and I've already been thinking about the lives of women past, and the opportunities they didn't have. My own mother, a woman who was smart and capable and wanting more, reminded me of how tragic it is when people are forced into roles due to societal expectations.

So I decided to call her, after nearly 3 decades of no contact.

You will learn:

  • Motherhood is a role that's neither intuitive nor desired by all women who become pregnant, resulting in devastating consequences at times.
  • Women's History Month acknowledges the contributions of women past whose sacrifices have made it possible for us to limit family size, vote, get an education, and connect to work that we're passionate about.
  • It's never too late to thank those women in our lives whose contributions we honor.

Stay tuned for my interview with my own role models, including next week's interview with journalist and professor Maria Henson.

Want to join me on 3/8/23 at 5PM EST for a Women's Voices Summit for FREE? Sign up HERE

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Ahmard Vital readily accepted his mother's second husband as a father when he was young after his parent's split, enjoying the guidance and wisdom he offered. Not considering his new dad a "step," Ahmard found advantages to having input from two fathers, and celebrates having a closer than ever relationship with his first father today.

Now he's working with today young men who struggle with parental relationships and boundaries.

Connect with him HERE.

You will learn:

  • When a parent is estranged, sometimes it's worth finding them to get their side of the story as to why they disappeared from their child's life.
  • Kids may need to be prompted to show gratitude to their parents.
  • Sometimes, the will to win matters more than skills or talent.

Bio: Ahmard Vital is an author, speaker, and coach who spent more than a decade studying the habits of high performing athletes.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Anyone can schedule an annual training at work that satisfies the requirements to create an inclusive and anti-racist office environment. It checks a box, and can create a false sense of compliance to administrators without delivering measured success.

That's where Dr. Helen Ofosu comes in. With an advanced degree in occupational therapy, she works individually with employees in a respectful and confidential environment. She shares her journey of her educational journey that helped her become an entrepreneur making a huge impact.
Today, she's the author of newly released How to Be Resilient in Your Career: Facing Barriers at Work.Connect with her at https://ioadvisory.com/dr-helen-ofosu-hr-consultant-career-coach/. You will learn:

  • The role organizational psychology has in creating success.
  • The many benefits to businesses and employees when all are valued, included, and heard.
  • How coaching individually serves to target resources where they are needed for optimal benefits.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

There's a reason the Carnegie Foundation calls Robin Landa one of the great teachers of our time. An educator at Kean University, she pours into her students and other university professionals, helping them pursue their creative passions.
This, while she's authored more than 20 books herself.
Connect with Robin at http://RobinLanda.com.

You will learn:

  • Creativity is rarely an inherited trait, and can be fostered with time and commitment.
  • Robin's most recent book, The New Art of Ideas, was written to help people produce ideas with benefits.
  • Despite having an extensive platform and much expertise, Robin's learned that book marketing remains a challenge and a process to conquer.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

Vivian Gray found herself wondering what came next. Her kids were headed to college. Her husband, whose poor health had long necessitated that she become his caregiver, was now stabilizing.

The pillar of her family no longer needed to eat life's leftovers. Now what?

Today, Vivian Gray is the director of Phoenix Ascension, where she helps uplift other women through coaching and courses as they plan their own lives next chapters and find a balanced approach to success.

You will learn:

  • Finding or creating a judgment-free community of people in similar circumstances is a critical step in
  • Women need a space where they can be themselves without worrying what the outside world wants of them.
  • Bite-sized changes are key to progress.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see.

Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.

View Details

blackhistorymonth

Brenda Welburn is proud of her history.

The great-granddaughter of a slave who sent seven of his nine children to college, Brenda herself attended Howard University and earned multiple degrees. She worked in education for 35 years, serving as the Executive Director of the National Association for School Boards. She traveled the world with her husband, hitting six of the seven continents, and counting. And just when others might slow down, she retired and began her book series about Annie Cestry to inspire others to learn about their own family histories.

Connect with Brenda at BrendaWelburn.com to schedule a presentation and/or buy her books, which are also available at the usual outlets.

You will learn:

  • You're never too old to expand your education and personal interests.
  • Younger generations should understand that they benefit from the struggles from their forefathers, but they can lose those gains if apathetic.
  • The new digital world hasn't enhanced the attention span of students, appearing to threaten college attendance in the future.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

John Giordano is passionate about substance abuse treatment. With his personal history and ongoing education, he's given workshops around the world embracing holistic and unorthodox treatment methods. Today, he's an author and speaker. Connect with John at https://johnjgiordano.com/and find publications he's participated in or learned from

You will learn:

  • A simple definition of substance abuse is the willingness to continue to use despite knowing that their are adverse consequences.
    *Gut health is critical to manufacture dopamine and serotonin, our natural feel-good drugs, therefore effective treatment includes avoiding or reducing processed food and getting exercise.
  • Untreated medical conditions can contribute to both mental health and substance abuse issues.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

I'm flying solo for episode 103 after a terrific past few days with my daughter.

Buzzsprout sent some fun stats for our 2022 year, and here are the highlights:

The podcast has grown by 50% over the previous year. 37 countries are listening!
Your favorites in review--
You will learn:
5.What Happens When a Stranger Shows Up for the First 12 Years of Life to Take You Away? (Guest Bee Baumann)
4. Miracles and Fate on 78 Author Ari Schonbrun Shares His Transformation After Surviving 9/11 in Tower One
3.When Stand-Up Comedian Karen Mills Found Something Funny in Her Belly
2. How Kerryn Vaughan Allowed the Loss of Her Sister to Help Others and Change Her World
1. The Truth About Happily Ever After and the Journey of Recovering (From Anything!)
It's me! Just before #stolenbytheirfather was released, based on my book, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Father, I talked about my thoughts on recovery from trauma.

Thanks for your reviews, your questions, your shares, your participation. Massive gratitude!
Want to support the podcast even more?
Consider being a patron.
See you next week.

Resources:
Home Where You Belong Podcast by Chip Alford

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

Chad Peevy knew early on that he didn't fit in. Not in his strict, Fundamentalist home. Not in his rural Arkansas town.
Chad was gay, and had no one he could safely tell, and knew no one else like him. The result were feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and anxiety.

"Run away," he was encouraged by an educator at his school.
And eventually, he did.

Today, Chad is the founder of businesses, non-profits, and a popular speaker, and the author of Break & Untangle: Discover the Freedom to Be You Despite the Inherited Mindsets Holding You Back.

You will learn:
Being rejected by family and the community can result in higher rates of mental health concerns and even suicidality in LGBTQIA youth.
There is hope and forgiveness if there is a willingness to reunite when families don't understand how to support their child as they come. Chad gives an example of what is needed.
* Organizations and advocates like Chad that give emotional support and information can make the difference between life and death for LGBTQIA.

To claim Chad's free book, go to https://chadpeevy.com/

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

Jodee Gibson recalls the moment she gave up her limiting beliefs to become an expert in trauma, and later, the author of Healing Your Map.

A teen mom who was later shocked when she found herself on the Dean's list in college, Jodee was motivated to keep moving forward and continue expanding her education.

You will learn:
Jodee believes our map is the lens through which we see our world, determined by our unique history and experiences.
Limiting beliefs keep us from making choices in confidence that can open new opportunities.
*New opportunities we embrace lead to new relationships which lead to great payoffs.

Connect with Jodee for coaching, book information, or presentations at
https://www.jodeegibson.coach/

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

What a great combination of events to end Season 2 on Persistence U. Episode 100 and nearing the end of 2022.

I'll be returning in TWO WEEKs from now. Until then, please check out the backlist here! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1618984/website/background/edit
You will learn:
* My focus facing New Years is typically what I learned the year prior and areas of growth. I invite you to look at/for the same.
For me, the movie Stolen By Their Father's debut based on my memoir, a magical trip with my daughter and courses taken for professional development were some highlights in the middle of many many lowlights in 2022.
Connections with family, friends, and lovely listeners such as yourself continue to make life rich. Thank you.
Want to work together? I've an opening for coaching, and/or consider becoming a Patron. Here's what you'll get for $2. or $5 a month. https://www.patreon.com/LizbethMeredith/membership

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

By the time Sam Thiara traveled across the globe from Canada to India in search of his ancestral roots with a faded photograph and a name of a relative, he was ready to know himself more fully. He'd graduated college only to find work as a janitor, and struggled for a time to figure out where he best belonged.

You will learn:
Credentials and professional roles are no substitute for attitude and character.
We are all a blend of our cultural experiences and history,
* Writing a statement on who you are rather than what you do yields more important information.

BIO:
Sam Thiara is a professor, author, and speaker based in Canada.
Connect with Sam about speaking opportunities or his writing at http://www.sam-thiara.com/

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

Lynne Parmiter Bowman's life has taken a few twists and turns professionally. Born in Hollywood, it wasn't unusual that her early work was in film. Which led to other work in writing and makeup artistry and management. But as her life and health evolved, Lynne learned that food could be instrumental in healing.
Today, Lynne is the author of Brownies for Breakfast: A Cookbook for Diabetics and the People Who Love Them.You will learn:

  • Passion and professional purpose can evolve rather than be meticulously planned with the right mindset.
  • Healthy eating can benefit the environment and the community in addition to the eater.
  • Delicious foods, including sweets, don't have to be off-limits, but may need to be re-engineered.

Bio:
Before becoming an author focused on health, Lynne Bowman was the Creative Director at E&J Gallo Winery, advertising manager at RedKen Laboratories, and worked with Silicon Valley, East Coast and Los Angeles advertising agencies. Lynne worked as a makeup artist, a screenwriter, journalist, and as a weather reporter on television.
LynneBowman.com

Facebook: Lynne Parmiter Bowman

YouTube: Lynne Bowman

Instagram: LynneParmiterBowman

Book

Brownies for Breakfast:A Cookbook for Diabetics and the People Who Love Them - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094GPM3Z

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

Brad Ritter was a man who had it all. Only in his mid-thirties with a wonderful wife, kids, and a home and career that were more than sufficient, he felt stagnant somehow.

While life hadn't dealt him hard circumstances, Brad knew he needed his mettle tested. So, after reading books and doing an internet search on how to find purposeful adversity, Brad dove into a camp run by former Navy Seals, the Kokoro Camp, and later wrote about his journey.

You will learn:

  • Adversity can show us who we really are.
  • Our mindset changes when we're forced to make difficult decisions.
  • Grit can be grown.

Bio:Brad Ritter is the author and founder of School of Grit where he helps others to slay purposeful pain and adversity. Connect with him about his coaching and writing HERE.

Extra Reading:Grit: The Power of Passion and Perserverance by Angela Duckworth

Holistic Life Navigation
This podcast explores how to heal stress & trauma holistically. I am your host, Luis...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

When Betsy Graziani Fasbinder married more than 30 years ago, she committed to more than a husband. She inherited a son, whose mother had died far too young.

Unlike blended families of divorce, Betsy had to navigate her new family's grief and her own desire to be included as a mother. Journaling and writing helped. Today, that writing is
Filling Her Shoes: A Memoir of an Inherited Family.

You will learn:

  • Love and loss, grief and gratitude can coexist.
  • Journaling can help not simply to remember events but to facilitate better perspective and responses in the moment.
  • Step-parenting might be better termed step-in parenting, designed to augment rather than replace the first parent.

BIO:
Betsy Graziani Fasbinder is a writing and speaking coach, an award-winning author of three books, and the podcast host of The Morning Glory Project.
To connect with Betsy and her work, find her at https://www.BetsyGrazianiFasbinder.com

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

Jem Fuller lost his job, his marriage, and his home in one fell swoop during midlife. Rather than simply get through a rough time, Jem saw it as an opportunity to rebuild a relationship with himself, which had a positive impact on the rest of his life.

You will learn:
Authentic self-acceptance creates an ecosystem for a strong support network.
Acknowledging one's strengths doesn't equate to arrogance.
* Curating one's internal dialogue is necessary to create change.

The Art of Conscious Communication for Thoughtful Men by Jem Fuller is available to order wherever books are sold.

Jem Fuller is an author, motivational speaker, and coach located in Melbourne, Australia.
Connect with him at https://jemfuller.com/

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

Dr. Nicole Bradford came from a large, bustling family that seemed focused on just getting by. Punctuated by parental domestic violence and siblings who got caught up in the criminal justice system, the younger Nicole always believed she was made for more.

Today, Dr. Bradford is a speaker, author, and founder of Maintain the Flame, a nonprofit she established in memory of her sister.

You will learn:

  • Our families don't always celebrate our accomplishments if they've not acheived what they've wished.
  • Finding mentors we wish to emulate is key to success.
  • We can lose ourselves trying to fit in where we don't belong.

BIO:Dr. Bradford worked in the university system for many years before becoming a coach, author, and director of Maintain the Flame.

Connect with her at www.maintaintheflame.net to learn more about her book, coaching, and speaking events.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

View Details

We all have certain childhood memories that stick. For parenting coach Klara Sedlacek, one defining moment was when she was 8 and a stranger found her crying with fear since she'd received a grade her mother was sure to rage over. The stranger walked her home and deescalated her mother, and likely planted the seeds of why this molecular biologist focuses her career on helping strengthen mother's bonds with their toddlers.

You will learn:1. Our ancestral histories can have a direct link to our own stress levels.
2. There are many interventions outside of traditional therapy that may assist in interrupting intergenerational negative patterns.
3. Rather than blaming our parents, we may pursue

Extra Resources: It Did Not Start With You by Mark Wolyn.
Dr. Gabor Mate video here.
Connect with Klara and get her freebie at KlaraSedlacek.com.

BIO:
Kara Sedlacek is a molecular biologist who works with mothers of toddlers, transforming tensions into connections.

Lizbeth’s linksSupport the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HERE

OR

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

...

View Details

Chances are, if you live in the United States, chances are you’ll interact with the Social Security Office. It’s can be simple if you’re applying for retirement benefits. But should you be the one of millions who are petitioning for assistance regarding a physical or mental disability, good luck. Your work is cut out for you.

Spencer Bishins was a lawyer for the Social Security Administration for over a decade, and was frustrated by the volume of consumers he couldn't help. Today, he's authored Social Security Disability Benefits Revealed: Why It's So Hard to Access Benefits and What You Can Do About It.

While this episode is specifically about dealing with social security disability benefits in the States, there are some general takeaways to navigating other government agencies you may need for yourself or a loved one.

You will learn:

· Solid record-keeping and learning as much about the system you’re seeking aid from can save on time and disappointment.

· Hopeful applicants may benefit from having an attorney or advocate but must remain engaged and involved and avoid abdicating their authority to find success.

· The formula for who gets support shifts with mandates, funding, and the staff and sometimes courts who administer the benefits.

Bio:
Spencer Bishins is a lawyer who worked for the Social Security Administration for 11 years. This is his first book.
To learn more about his work and get his book, find him at https://www.bishinspublishing.com/ or connect with him on LinkedIn HERE.

Lizbeth’s links

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JW0COTI

Author Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

https://lameredith.com/

View Details

After high school and college, our lives can become smaller and smaller, with the chance to meet people who challenge our thoughts and beliefs dwindling as our age increases.

U.K. based athlete Muyiwa Adebiyi began the Day In Day Out podcast to continue to expand his knowlege base and his circle of support and influence.

You will learn:

  • Challenging ourselves by setting new goals or aspiring to get out of our comfort zone is one way to continue to grow and change and avoid complacency.
  • The road to success with new goals is often two steps forward, one step back.
  • The support others give to us as we try to improve our lives can make a difference between quitting and carrying on.

To connect with Miyuwa Adebiyi, find him at
Day In Day Out Podcast or on social media like Instagram or Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/MyDayindayout/

Lizbeth’s links

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JW0COTI

Author Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

https://lameredith.com/

View Details

As a Harvard graduate, Bracha could have worked in any number of high-paying fields. But she longed to make a difference in the lives of young people and became a prolific children's author.

You will learn:
Creating books for children that would have helped Bracha when she was young, dealing with eating disorders, has created opportunities for her to enrich the lives of her grandchildren and other readers by introducing her Jewish faith.

Many of us try to fill our empty feelings inside, often with external things like food or substances, which Bracha says will never satisfy the inner longings of the soul.

Author bio

Bracha Goetz is the Harvard-educated author of 40 books that help children's souls shine and a candid memoir for adults about overcoming food addictions joyfully and spiritually. Her books can be found at www.goetzbookshop.com.

Bracha Goetz can be contacted for presentations at brachagoetzbooks@gmail.com.

Lizbeth’s links

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JW0COTI

Author Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

https://lameredith.com/

View Details

At 18, Cindy Villanueva was clearly on the fast path to success. Attending UCLA after an illustrious high school journey that included near- perfect grades, Cindy instead got pregnant and became a teen mom and college dropout. But even after three more children and a volatile divorce, Cindy didn't give up.

You will learn:

  • Deferred goals can always be resusitated if they're worth preserving.
  • Martial arts are not only helpful for self-defense, but for character building.
  • Reaching back out to others who can benefit from the wisdom of your former pain points makes awful events meaningful.

Cindy Villanueva is the author of Don't Fight Mad: A Black Belt's Quest to Recapture Joy and motivational speaker. The owner of Knockout Marketing Strategies and mother of four, Cindy splits her time between Austin, Texas, and New Smyrna, Florida.Connect with her at https://cindyvillanueva.com/
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CindyVillanuevaAuthor/

Lizbeth’s links

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JW0COTI

Author Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

https://lameredith.com/

Want a free coaching hour? I help those grounded in grit turn their challenges into their superpower.

To learn more, check out https://lameredith.com/coaching/

Conversations with Rich Bennett
I encourage you to eavesdrop on the conversation
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

View Details

Sometimes it feels as though life has it in for us. Since publishing my book and more recently, when that book became a movie, I've had the pleasure of connecting with so many people around the world, many experiencing crises similar to those I wrote about like abuse and parental kidnappings.

But though I don't work with people who're in acute active crises any longer, there are some things that helped that may help you the next time you're in the thick of it.

You will learn:

  • Strong communication skills, beginning with how you speak to you, helps build and sustain support.
  • Solid and diverse community, not just one person, agency, or place, will help you be refined rather than defined by hardship.
  • Stubborn persistence is key. Having a vision for what you want, and the grace to accept what you get.

Episodes mentioned-# 17 Traci Philips

36 with MK Meredith https://www.buzzsprout.com/1618984/9295613

61 with Kerryn Vaughan https://www.buzzsprout.com/1618984/10138164

Lizbeth’s links

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JW0COTI

Author Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

https://lameredith.com/

Want a free coaching hour? I help those grounded in grit turn their challenges into their superpower.

To learn more, check out https://lameredith.com/coaching/

The Podcast for Men's Mental Health
Better mental and physical health starts by talking about it.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

View Details

Christina Foxwell's early life in South Africa was with loving and strict parents. Her father was a Penecostal minister. It was during the age of apartheid, and Christina, a fair-skinned person of color, found herself longing to fit in and to be loved. Christina said she looked to men to abdicate her authority to and had a series of codependent relationships.

It took a few tries in marriage, but Christina learned that finding her voice and strength would rely on her deciding to heal.

Today, Christina makes her home in Australia, where she runs a consulting and coaching practice and is the author of four books.

You will learn:

  • Telling our life's stories, even the difficult ones, can be doused in love rather than being steeped in shame.
  • To be a good parent, Christina says, you need not to stay in an abusive relationship, but to show your child what love looks like inside a relationship.
  • Every person must decide to heal if they are to move forward.

Connect with Christina at https://www.ignitepurpose.com.au/
On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/christina.taljaard1
For show notes, click HERE
Lizbeth’s links

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JW0COTI

Author Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

https://lameredith.com/

Want a free coaching hour? I help those grounded in grit turn their challenges into their superpower.

To learn more, check out https://lameredith.com/coaching/

View Details

The bumpy relationship between bestselling author Laura Davis and her mom was well-documented long before her recent memoir The Burning Light Between Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story was published and resulted in a long period of estrangment. Yet where some of us may have written the relationship off forever, Laura and her mother worked hard to lay a foundation of respect and forgiveness.

You will learn:

  1. As long as both parties are willing to work, the opportunity for both hope and change are endless.
  2. People with an abuse history with their parent might wisely choose to maintain boundaries with their parent.
  3. Enlisting the help of a coach or therapist or parenting course may be useful in the process of mending relationships.

Author Laura Davis is a bestselling author of several nonfiction books including The Courage to Heal that sold more than a million copies and opened a dialogue for sexual abuse survivors. Today, Laura teaches writing in classes, workshops, and retreats around the world.
Connect with her at LauraDavis.net.

For show notes, click HERE.

Lizbeth's links

Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

https Buy://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JW0COTI

Alzheimer's Disease Podcast
7-Part miniseries about Alzheimer's, treatments and lifestyle changes.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

View Details

Parenting books and experts have much to say on parenting kids during the early years. Then the information seems to stop.Denise Drinkwalter is a former educator who's helped scores of parents who are wrestling with issues of communications, expectations, and disappointments when it comes to their adult kids.

**You will learn:

*** The dynamic doesn't magically change between parents and kids once the child reaches adulthood.

When adult kids move back home for a time, they need to understand the home is no longer their space, but the parents. ****Flexibility is key when dealing with agreed upon guidelines and rules that may not serve the relationship any longer.

To connect with Denise, click HERE

For show notes, click HERE

Lizbeth's linksBuy Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JW0COTI

Author Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

https://lameredith.com/

Want a free coaching hour? I help those grounded in grit turn their challenges into their superpower.

To learn more, check out https://lameredith.com/coaching/

View Details

You might think that being a twin means you'll experience the world around you similarly.

Not so, says identical twins and authors Joan and Jane, former therapists turned psychiatric entertainers. Perhaps it was their forced separation by medical staff when they emerged as preemies and sequestered from one another and all physical touch for a prolonged period of time. But each twin felt and acted out their shared experiences differently.

You will learn:

  • Even tiny infants can bear lifelong impact when dealing with trauma.
  • Despite the same DNA and life experiences in early childhood, trauma can present differently for twins.
  • Respect, compassion, and humor are critical ingredients to work through conflict.

For show notes, click HERE
Their book: From Under the Hood: Therapy Twins Guide to a Smoother Ride
To connect with Therapy Twins, click HERE.
Lizbeth’s links

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters http://smarturl.it/PiecesOfMeLM

Author Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

https://lameredith.com/

Want a free coaching hour? I help those grounded in grit turn their challenges into their superpower.

To learn more, check out https://lameredith.com/coaching/

View Details

After a diagnosis of arthritis in her spine created neverending pain, Chery Ilove was told to resign herself to the fact she'd need medication for life and wouldn't be able to dance or become a physical therapist as planned. The pain was just a part of aging.

Today, Cheryl is a physical therapist, martial artist, a podcast host, and an author of Forever Fit and Flexible: Feeling Fabulous After 50 and Beyond.  She is the  host of FemiNinja Podcast.
You will learn:

  • There are many routes to healing beyond traditional Western Medicine.
  • Each of us is ultimately responsible for our own well-being.
  • The body responds well to movement, even for those who don't enjoy exercise.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

As a young man spiraling out of control with drug addiction, Colleen Elaine's son clearly had a problem. He wasn't the only one.

Colleen Elaine shares lessons learned after her life unraveled, and the permanent changes made as her son and entire family inched forward to wellness.

You will learn:

  • Sometimes a "problem child" indicates a family system deficit that needs addressing.
  • Keeping secrets in the family is a surefire way to staying stuck.
  • Processing one trauma can unearth old buried ones.

To connect with Colleen Elaine, click HERE.

Lizbeth’s links

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters  http://smarturl.it/PiecesOfMeLM

LizbethMeredith@LizbethMeredith.com

Author Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

https://lameredith.com/

Want a free coaching hour?  I help those grounded in grit turn their challenges into their superpower.

To learn more, check out https://lameredith.com/coaching/

View Details

It's been over nine months since I packed my few boxes, stuffed my cats in an airplane, and flew from Alaska to Tennessee to a home where I knew no one, leaving the place where I'd spent more than 5 decades of my life.

It's been tough, leaving the state that essentially raised me, leaving my grown daughters, and starting over again.

But the gold has been in the struggle.

You will learn:

  • Often a goal becomes less important than the incremental emotional muscle gained during the process.
  • Too much time alone, even for introverts, can be counterproductive.
  • Developing a solid community and new life takes time, effort, and the willingness to fail.

For show notes, click HERE.
To learn more about coaching and book a free session, click HERE.

Lizbeth’s links

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

LizbethMeredith@LizbethMeredith.com Twitter

Author Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

https://lameredith.com/

View Details

While teens her age worried about the prom and high school graduation, Kerrie Atherton was planning to end her life. The weight of depression, trauma, and substance abuse had become too much.
A meeting at Alcoholics Anonymous was the first important step toward recovery, and since then, Kerrie's not looked back.

You will learn:

  • Sometimes, contemplating suicide isn't the real desire to die, but the inability to know how to continue with life as it presently is.
  • Issues in the home like parental substance use and/or a family member's mental health struggles are factors in Adverse Childhood Experiences and increase the likelihood of subsequent addiction concerns of the child.
  • The changing of circumstances does not resolve deeply rooted addictive behavior.

For show notes, click HERE.
To connect with Kerrie Atherton, now a podcaster, keynote speaker, and author, click HERE.

Lizbeth’s links
Book a free coaching session
HERE

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

LizbethMeredith@LizbethMeredith.com

Author Facebook page

https://lameredith.com/

View Details

What do you say when a doctor tells you that you've got six months to live?When you're Dr. Allen Lycka, you get a second opinion. And a third. And so on.

Rather than close his practice down and get his affairs in order, Dr. Lycka followed his intuition and kept digging for the truth.

Today, Dr. Lycka is a motivational speaker, a popular radio host of How to Live a Fantastic Life, and co-author of several books.

You will learn:
Some of the symptoms of Lyme's Disease are in other diseases and syndromes.
When a doctor can't find the source of a problem, expect to get a referral to another and another.

  • Whenever a person isn't responding to their recommended treatment, Dr. Lycka recommends getting tested for Lyme's Disease.

Connect with Dr. Lycka and learn more about his work HERE
For show notes, click HERE.

Lizbeth's linksBuy Lizbeth a Coffee

Lizbeth’s memoir, now a movie! Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters

LizbethMeredith@LizbethMeredith.com

Author Facebook page

https://lameredith.com/

View Details

Back when Fiona Demark was growing up in a small town in Australia, resources to help support her sight loss weren't readily available.  Legally blind since birth, she worked hard in school and envisioned a future for herself that included a career.  But her family didn't rally for her as she'd hoped, demonstrating apathy and even incredulity that Fiona would expend the effort for dreams that wouldn't likely come true.
Today, Fiona is a mother, an entrepreneur, and a keynote speaker in addition to her government job.

You will learn:
How wrestling with big issues in isolation  can lead to feelings of hopelessness and suicidal ideations. *** When family support is deficient, outside group support can create an invaluable safety net.
That waiting for external validation when accomplishing the improbable can lead to burnout when it doesn't come.

To connect with Fiona and learn about her coaching and presentations, click HERE

Lizbeth’s linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/LizbethMeredith
https://lameredith.com/
Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters
https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/

View Details

Rachel Bruno responded openly when police at the hospital told her that they were there to help her.

Her seven week old son had a serious traumatic brain injury, and might not survive the night.
What happened next would turn her whole family's lives upside down, and become the subject of a million-plus-dollar lawsuit.
Today, Bruno helps other parents navigate the child protective system through writing and speaking on the topic.

You will learn:

  • The child protective services world and rules are vastly different than the criminal justice arena.
  • Having a lawyer present when being interrogated for a high-stakes matter can save time and stress for the accused.
  • A child's early separation from his/her parents can create psychological struggles for the child that last long after the separation has resolved.

Rachel is the author of Fractured Hope: A Mother's Fight For Justice.
To find out more about Rachel, connect with her HERE

For show notes, click HERE

Useful LinksBuy Lizbeth a Coffee
Like Lizbeth's author Facebook Page
Find out about Lizbeth's book and services

View Details

Dr. Susan Landers had it all. A brilliant career in neonatology in the NICU unit, a supportive husband, also a doctor, and three children. It was wonderful, and sometimes, it was far too much.
Today, Susan is the author of So Many Babies: My Life Balancing a Busy Medical Career and Motherhood.You will learn:

  • Attempting to give 150% to parenting and your profession will lead to burnout
  • Work- life balance is a myth when in a full time demanding profession while parenting a young family, according to Susan. At best, it’s a challenging juggling act.
  • Pushing back against perfectionism is key to having a healthy life.

For show notes, click HERE

Buy Lizbeth a Coffee to support the show.

View Details

Karen Mills wrote off her tummy pooch as simply another sign of menopause.  After all, what menopausal woman doesn't gain a bit of belly weight, or have trouble fully evacuating during urination ?

When her doctor saw her for a routine appointment, she eventually learned that she had ovarian cancer.

You will learn:

  • The signs of ovarian cancer are often non-existent, or mimic symptoms of general menopause or other conditions.
  • Even in the thick of crisis, there are opportunities for hilarity.
  • A positive mindset and the ability to laugh are important to becoming a victor over adversity.

For Karen Mill's TEDx talk, click HERE.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

"We need to get rid of your mother," David Crows father told him when he was a young boy. He'd worried David would experience the mental health problems that she did, and insisted David help dispose of her to reduce the likelihood.

What happened next became the award-winning memoir, The Pale Faced Lie, now optioned for film.

You will learn:

  1. Parents forcing children to form allegiances after their relationship together ends  create near-irreparable harm
  2. Our brains can be retrained, no matter what’s happened in our past if we have the right interventions.
  3. The process of writing whether it be journaling or a more long form for publication, can clear a way for healing and human connection.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Bullying isn't a new problem. But with the advent of social media, it's one that children who are harassed at school no longer get a break from.

Brook Wright was targeted at school many years ago, and when her fierce mother tried to intervene, things only got worse.

You will learn:
The affects of bullying growing up may follow its victims throughout later life.
Creating accessible spaces of inclusion and respect are key in providing opportunities to heal.
* Without intervention, bullying victims are at risk for mental health problems and increased suicide attempts.

For more information on how you can help, click HERE

To connect with Brook Wright, click HERE
For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Frank Zafiro isn't afraid of a challenge. A police officer for many years before retiring as a captain, he'd long been a writer with a string of successes. But as the world of publishing changed, he found himself fighting to get his books into the hands of readers, before taking action that would change the trajectory of his career.

You will learn:
How the publishing industry continually evolves.
Why developing and sustaining community inside the writer's journey is critical to sustained success.
*That obstacles present opportunities for often-needed change.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

First, the diagnosis was epilepsy. Then, a host of other symptoms besides seizures were identified and treated. By the time Mary Held  finally found a doctor who landed on the right intervention, she'd lost mobility and nearly all the ability to work and live as she'd been previously accustomed.

You will learn:
Trauma can create lasting debilitating physical and emotional harm.
Some people are falsely diagnosed with epilepsy actually have PNES  (Psychogenic Non Epileptic Seizures).
*EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a highly effective way to alleviate stress regarding traumatic memories.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Daniel Hess was just a little boy when his close-as-a -brother cousin died. Daniel himself was born with aortic valve stenosis, a heart defect that meant he couldn't play sports like other kids. He could have easily focused on the limitations, but from the beginning, pursued academia.
You will learn:
The inability to pursue some things due to health problems created opportunities and motivation to pursue others. * Serious health problems can crystalize and help prioritize what is important. ** Filmmaking and writing can be a powerful way to commemorate a lost loved one.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

A quick interview with yours truly about what's happening these days, the signs of spring and the ending of isolation due to moving and the pandemic.

You're invited (If you're an author or soon to be!) to my FREE  masterclass tomorrow and the day after (May 4 and 5, 2022 at 7PM EST) on The Three Mistakes New Authors Make, and the Mindset Shifts to Fix Them.Sign up HERE!

There's a fun show up bonus for those who attend live!

Thanks for being here, and we'll resume the podcast with guests next week.

View Details

Jinny Wong was living the dream. With a supportive husband, a secure job with great benefits, and a growing family, what could be better?

But she wasn't living her dream. Jinny wanted to pursue her passion of acting. But should she? How could she? What all was she willing to risk?

You will learn:
Creating a plan of action with timelines is helpful to master goals.
Preparing for unforseen circumstances can make the difference between success and failure.
*Teaching others from the missteps made along the way can create additional income streams.

For show notes, click HERE Authors!  Join me for my FREE masterclass, The Three Mistakes New Authors Make and the Mindset Shifts to Fix Them by signing up HEREfor the first week of May 2022.

View Details

When Robyn Moore's doctor told her she needed an 11th medication to manage her mental health, inwardly she balked. It took some encouragement to address her concerns directly, and the decision to do so spurred a series of other opinions that needed challenging.

You will learn:
Giving ourselves to challenge limiting thoughts is the first step toward transformation.
  Working on mindset and "why" is crucial to having success at slaying big goals.
* Questioning prescribed medications and whether or not the benefit outweighs the side effects is important to do at increments.

robynmoorecoaching.com
robyn.moore.16 on Facebook.

For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Welcome to this three-part miniseries  about the book-to-movie process. Contrary to what I mentioned in the recording, the next two will be published this week! :)

I'll be sharing some of what I learned when my memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, became Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime Television, and mistakes I made (and nearly made) throughout the process. I'll answer questions some of you have asked, relying on my experience and my research that included speaking with a screenwriter, a producer, an author-turned screenwriter, and an author who signed too many rights away when optioning her memoir.
**In this minisode, you will learn:

* Writers should re-consider chasing trends when considering writing a book that they hope will become a movie due to long writing and production timelines.
Books with book buzz and press are at times favored by producers.
A movie adapted from a book does not guarantee any automatic great benefits to the author in the form of finances, platform, or future book sales but is rather another part of your author business card that can be leveraged should you assertively choose to do so.

For show notes and your invitation to my upcoming masterclass, click HERE

View Details

Ed Di Gangi wasn't an adopted person who'd always wondered about his biological family. His childhood had been a good one.
That changed as he approached his 70th birthday, when Ed's curiosity was piqued by a trip to the graveyard. His journey to know his history is documented in his memoir, The Gift Best Given.

You will learn:
Getting to know a long lost family member can still occur after their death.
Managing expectations when searching for biological family members might be easier for mature in age.
* At-home DNA kits can make the process of searching for family exponentially easier.
For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Welcome to this three-part miniseries about the book-to-movie process. Contrary to what I mentioned in the recording, the next two will be published this week! :)

I'll be sharing some of what I learned when my memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, became Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime Television, and mistakes I made (and nearly made) throughout the process. I'll answer questions some of you have asked, relying on my experience and my research that included speaking with a screenwriter, a producer, an author-turned screenwriter, and an author who signed too many rights away when optioning her memoir.
In this minisode, you will learn:
*The advantages of working with a literary or film agent when considering optioning your book rights outweigh the inconveniece or expense of doing so.

  • Authors do not need to wait to be "discovered" to move forward with their book-to-movie process. Contests, hiring a screenwriting coach or consultant

  • Unknown screenwriters need a person in their corner to connect them to the right people in the film industry.

Books on screenwritingSave the Cat by Blake Snyder

Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee

Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field
For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Welcome to this three-part miniseries  about the book-to-movie process. Contrary to what I mentioned in the recording, the next two will be published this week! :)

I'll be sharing some of what I learned when my memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, became Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime Television, and mistakes I made (and nearly made) throughout the process. I'll answer questions some of you have asked, relying on my experience and my research that included speaking with a screenwriter, a producer, an author-turned screenwriter, and an author who signed too many rights away when optioning her memoir.

In today's minisode, you will learn:

My journey from memoir to movie.
That film rights are intellectual property that you may decide not to include in your contract with a publisher.
* That authors benefit by having a film or literary agent in their corner when considering optioning their books.

For show notes, including extra resources and your invitation to my free upcoming masterclass , click HERE.

View Details

For LaTonia Edwards, seeking help to heal from childhood abuse and, later, military sexual assault, wasn't something she learned from her family growing up.

But her journey to find the right services led her to become the vibrant business woman she is today, creating the very support she'd not found back when she was seeking help. Today, LaTonia is a trauma-informed violence and sexual assault coach at recoveringyoursoul.com.

You will learn:

  • Healing can't be rushed, and must occur at one's own pace.
  • Not all therapy is created equal.
  • Finding a trauma informed therapist or coach means you'll work with someone who doesn't re-trigger you, as they look to identify  what's happened to you rather than what's wrong with you.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Stel Coombe-Heath sat in her home a few years ago, surrounded by the evidence of fast food and donuts she'd eaten, and realized it was her time to ask for help. She'd long taken her fitness and weight to punishing levels, depriving herself for period of time, followed by bingeing. Then shame. Discomfort. And pushing herself to exercise more and eat less.

It was time for a change.

You will learn:
It's possible to retrain and rewire the brain.
There is support for individuals with eating disorders, but it can be harder to find if the sufferer doesn't exhibit extreme symptoms.
*Using the scale to measure success for binge eaters may not be productive.

For show notes, click HERE.

Writers! Want a to-do list to help you the year before you publish your book? Enjoy my freebie!

View Details

Ohio native Jacob Deskins was already an anxious young man when he finally graduated from college and got a job as a teacher. Then the pandemic came, and wiped away his sought-after opportunity. He and his wife faced a difficult choice. Move to Los Angeles, or to a village in Alaska where vegetables, restaurants, and movie theaters exist only in dreams.

New authors, want my free checklist on what to do the year before publication? Click HERE!
You will learn:

  • The role a warm community makes in improving mental health.
  • How investing in building rapport with students can unlock the door to learning.
  • That Alaska truly is the Last Frontier.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

It wasn't until new schoolmates threatened to lynch her in her teens that (now) Dr. Naeema's mother had to tell her the truth: her father was not the man on her birth certificate, and was a Black man. In that moment, whom she'd believed herself to be was forever changed.

You will learn:

  • Family secrets fester and create an unnecessary sense of shame.
  • To embrace ourselves fully, we must know our roots and be given room to celebrate them.
  • Sometimes separation is needed to process and embrace the new identity.

For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Kerryn Vaughan was living her best life in her 30's, playing in a rock band in Australia and enjoying the adulation when her younger sister received a cancer diagnosis. Kerryn felt helpless, watching her sister die, and it took a long while before she was able to pivot. 

Today, Kerryn's the host of Get Off the Bench Podcast, an author, and a leader teaching others how to greenlight their own world-changing passion projects.

  • The oldest child in a large family often takes on the role of protector.
  • Grief can be transformative when not rushed.
  • The best intentions for charitable giving can  go awry, but there are nearly always workarounds.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Today is so very significant to me.

Stolen By Their Father, the Lifetime Television movie based on my book, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, premiers today. And it's 32 years to the day after leaving abuse behind, something to celebrate, indeed.

You will learn:

  • Happily Ever After is for fairy tales, but my family been so fortunate to live our lives reunited in a Happily Ever After sort of way.
  • In books and movies, not all characters can be identified for reasons of privacy, budget, and time. But the real heroes in my story were many, and spanned the globe.
  • Leaving abuse, like any other type of recovery, isn't a one-time event, but a process that requires patience and support. There are agencies and online groups offering help for those in need of help. In the US, for example, 1-800-799-SAFE or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are resources.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

LoLo Paige had already enjoyed a career in fire science and retired from a career in federal government when she decided granted herself permission to pursue her writing. She had a vision of being traditionally published. But the publishing world changed.

You will learn: How LoLo took a back-door route, educating herself on writing, publishing, and marketing to become an international success.
That not taking no for an answer is merely a temporary setback with the right mindset.
  *Building community is key when learning a new skill and enjoying the rollercoaster ride.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

As Joann Keder sat next to her husband's hospital bed after his cardiac arrest, she knew there was no more time to waste in pursuing her dream as a writer. Many books later into her author journey, Joann has a sense of satisfaction and a supportive community that she'd never imagined.

You will learn:Joann's process of developing her writing credentials
Writer's conferences, critique groups, and good editors all helped Joann to gain both skill and confidence.
* Not all critique groups for writers are created equal.
For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Jenn Smrz lived so many women’s reality: shrinking to fit her work hours to accommodate her mom duties without falling down on any of the details at home or at work.

Then in May 2019, she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer, which she equated with a future of easier successful treatment. Five surgeries later, Jen has learned much.

You will learn:
* Often, there is no family history when breast cancer is diagnosed.

  • Short walks and deep breathing helped Jenn manage the stress and anxiety of the unknown.

  • A peer support group plus counseling sparked hope and inspired close friendships for Jenn, and can lead to positive treatment outcomes.
    For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Author Annabelle "Bee" Baumann says that her world went from vivid color to black and white the day her real mother showed up unexpectedly at when she was 12 and took her home. All feelings of security evaporated as she was plunged into poverty to with strangers, who commented that she didn't sound like they did.

You will learn:
How being a misfit in your own family can translate to becoming a tremendous benefit later.
That a serious mental health diagnosis need not be a barrier to later success.
*Telling others what your intentions are is an important first step in nailing a goal that you might otherwise back out on.

For show notes and your freebie, click HERE

View Details

Teresa Moerer was certain physical therapy would be her  dream career. 

It was not. But rather than waste the training and experiences earned during her long career spent in numerous locations, she found fulfillment in creative outlets and taking the best of the training and principles she learned to create her own business model where she promotes health and wellness for older adults.

You will learn:

  • The crushing impact isolation and touch starvation may cause.
  • Small changes we can do at home, like cooking a new recipe with different herbs and spices than we normally use, having art on the walls, or even going outdoors can combat burnout and fatigue.
  • That taking up a new craft or hobby can increase resilience.

For show notes, click HERE:

View Details

In this interview with return guest Evelyn LaTorre, she shares her journey in creating a love that's lasted for more than five decades, despite the odds being stacked it. Writing back-to-back books, family reactions on publications, and becoming an author later in life are part of the conversation.

You will learn:

  • The challenges of marketing the first book when deadlines for the second one loom.
  • Memoir writing may favor the wisdom that comes with age.
  • Familial reaction to a memoir's publication are diverse.

For show notes, click HERE

View Details

After a life she describes filled with a "tankload of trauma," Suswati Basu exceeded all expectations. She became a journalist. Later, an intelligence officer, and a fierce victim's advocate.

But then, her mental health took a turn.  Years after that, she became physically disabled.

You will learn:
The  wildly different responses support systems too often afford those experiencing mental and physical disabilities.
The social model of disabilities and the role of recovery colleges.
*How the myth of the inspirational disabled person is another form of discrimination.
For show notes, click HERE

View Details

When Christa Fairbrother's pain from auto-immune diseases jeopardized her mobility, she found a way to exercise without putting stress on her joints.

Today, Christa teaches aqua yoga individually, virtually, and in groups, and offers free videos for those wanting to learn more at christafairbrother.com.

You will learn:
Exercise in water provides additional resistance and builds balance without high impact on bones.
The practice of yoga does not require perfect poses, but a commitment to showing up.
* A bath tub can be a suitable substitute for those who don't have pool access.
For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Ari Schonbrun was late to work for his job on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center. He was inside an elevator when the building was struck by jets,  one of four survivors from his workplace of more than 600 employees.

You will learn:
How a life-changing experience can refine rather than define you.
The desire to change our conflicted world begins with change inside of  you.
*Put the change you plan to make on a sticky note where you see it every day to help your motivation stick.
For show notes, click HERE

View Details

For me, like many of you, 2021 was a year of waiting to make big changes. I wanted the world to return to normal so I could  go on with plans.

You will learn:
How being specific when you dream can make the difference between a wish and a plan.
How crises can clean out your relationship closet.
* My favorite book for that promotes health management rather than weight.

To take my one minute quiz to see how you're showing up for you, click HERE

View Details

This week marks the 50th episode and end of 2021, so let's rewind and look at some of your favorite episodes this first year of the podcast.

And if you've wanted to be on a podcast, but didn't know how to prepare, grab my freebie HERE.

1) Marti Guzman-Finding Lost Money Episode #1
2)Rebecca Duvall Scott on Sensory Processing Disorder Episode #2
3) Gina Dobson on Scapegoating Episode 21
4) Trenton Hudson on Korma Coffee and the Heart Attacks in his early 20's that inspired it.
Episode 42.
5) Terry Tucker on continuing to find passion and purpose every day despite fighting aggressive cancer. Episode 11.

Show notes HERE

View Details

Lynne Podrat wasn't supposed to hear the conversation about her baby brother having Down Syndrome many decades ago. As a teenager, she wasn't supposed to intervene in her parent's plan to place him in a home for children with disabilities.

But she did.
And from those early days, Lynne learned to become a fierce advocate for her brother, and for others experiencing disabilities.

You will learn:
The positive impact Lynne's brother made, not only on her, but the world around him.
Why it's important that schools and workplaces to welcome people with disabilities.
* That many people feel awkward or even scared of people different than themselves.

For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Toby Passman isn't your typical 20-something.When his anxiety interrupted conversations and relationships, he began to apply the research he'd been doing in school to himself, using neurostimulation to retrain his brain. He saw the difference almost immediately. He went to work later at an EEG lab and started data collection with an eye toward helping improve the brain function of those impacted by some mental health conditions.

You will learn:
There are different ways to address anxiety and depression besides medication.
Neurostimulation is a painless way to stimulate different parts of the brain, and may provide positive effects earlier than traditional means.
* Some practioners can provide virtual neurofeedack.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Melanie Wexler understands well what happens when we spend eight to ten hours a day at a job that doesn't light us up.After leaving the corporate conveyer belt,  Melanie briefly worked at a friend's business, where she again found herself being under-utilized. As a single mom, she was hardly poised to quit and find her passion project. But she did take on a side-hustle.  And from there, her business was accidentally born leading her to become a fulltime career coach.

You will learn:

  • Why amplifying great job skills and experience is NOT the secret sauce needed for finding meaningful work.
  • How  Melanie is incorporating her anxiety into her work and giving others to do the same.
  • The importance of showing the struggles of a business owner to budding entrepreneurs.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Katie Barbaro's world was rocked when a relationship ended. It created opportunity for self-discovery, and emboldened her to look deeply at issues which were holding her back, like her longtime eating disorder and the accompanying shame. So in her recently published graphic novel Fed Up, she unpacked serious issues in an accessible format. You will learn:

  • Individual therapy alone may not be sufficient to treat eating disorders.
  • Overeaters Anonymous is a supportive group that provides free support for those struggling with issues related to food, not just weight struggles.
  • Sometimes the most important part of getting support to address a problem what is learned when giving that support back to another.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Losing a spouse once in a lifetime is hard enough, but against all odds, Emily Thiroux Threatt found love again.  And then he died.
While it would've been understandable if she'd decided to take a yearlong nap, Emily instead  found a way to connect with others who were grieving their own losses.

You will learn:

  • How creating space for healing provides opportunities to connect with others experiencing similar emotional wounds.
  • Creative ways to serve others may just turn into a passion project.
  • That keeping the focus on benefits to the readers may just be the best marketing tip for authors.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Evonne Marzouk was initially inspired to write while she was in college, but life kept getting in the way. Yet one story kept nudging her to be written. More than a decade of starts and stops, Evonne created space to tell the story that wouldn't let go of her when the pandemic hit.

You will learn:

  • Sometimes, delaying our dreams helps us become the person we need to be to successfully complete them.
  • Getting the right support can make the difference between wishing and making a plan.
  • Finding someone who's just a few steps ahead in successfully accomplishing a similar goal provides the accountablity and hope needed for completion.

See show notes HERE

View Details

When Judith Joy's daughter asked her mom to teach her whatever she'd learned that had worked to combat headaches, depression, and other symptoms, Judith was only too happy to share. Her daughter followed her footsteps into a healing profession, and today, both are committed to principals of gratitude, manifestation, and creating possibilities.

You will learn:

  • That children watch their parent's example closely, even when they appear to dislike us.
  • Gratitude is a perfect first step in choosing to heal.
  • The way to surviving teenagers may well be to understand that they're not a reflection of us, but their own individual person.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Cassie Sanchez knew she was lucky.
She'd enjoyed two decades as a stay-at-home-mom, minding the family's details and having time to herself when the kids were at school.

But kids grow up. And when Cassie's did, she questioned her purpose and her worth.

You will learn:

  • That the first step to pursuing your dream is to give yourself permission.
  • About National Novel Writing Month, which happens each November and invites EVERYONE to participate for free.
  • How findng classes, community, and coaching, helped Cassie get her first book published.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

When gym fanatic Trenton Hudson felt pains in his chest, he was sure he could walk them off. He was barely 20 and in great health. But it was a heart attack. Not long after, a second heart attack threatened his life.

You will learn:

  • How running down a dream sometimes means launching before all details are perfectly hammered out, then refining again and again.
  • That re-using resources that are already around us can result in a re-imagination that benefits many.
  • Different opportunities like comedy, comic writing, and coffee distribution and all played a part in Trenton's healing and health.

See show notes HERE:

View Details

When Liz Merrill's daughters approached her years ago to ask Liz to leave the marriage with their father, she was stunned. Like so many parents, she'd believed that it was best for kids to grow up with their original parents.  The process of leaving and pursuing co-parenting nudged Liz to help other parents dealing with high-conflict separations. Today, she is a mediator to support people needing help navigating divorce.

You will learn:

  • There are many things people can do to soften the typically contentious divorce or custody process.
  • Children are impacted by toxicity in the home and harmful separations, and can be positively impacted when their parents learn to peacefully co-parent-together or apart.
  • Mediation can be dangerous for persons in a coercive controlling or abusive relationship, but mediators can help coordinate needed services to support the person being controlled.

Show notes HERE

View Details

At a low point after his marriage ended, Richard Wilmore went by himself to a local performance a few years ago and learned about a way to serve.

Already then a budding talkshow host from home, Richard decided to volunteer at Hearts Need Art, which turned into a professional position and a way for his own heart to heal.

You will learn:

  • How serving others can give, much more than it takes.
  • Ways your relatives or friends who are currently ill in the hospital can connect with an art instructor virtually, and for FREE!
  • Where you can get involved by donating to this innovative service.

For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Eight years ago, cancer and subsequent treatment impacted what was left of Anna Leonarda's libido. Later on, her marriage to her childhood sweetheart ended after the pair drifted apart. Many cancer survivors would have sat around and wondered, "Why me?"

But for Entwine dating app creator's Anna, she wondered, "Who else is in my shoes?"

You'll learn:

  • How leaning in to a pain point can ignite desire to create change for others.
  • Many different issues create a need for a dating app that de-prioritizes intimacy from the list of factors to address.
  • That healing can come from creating change after setbacks.

For show notes, click HERE:

View Details

Let's be honest. The last year-plus hasn't been super inspirational for a lot of us.Today's guest, Michael Landau, had long been working with clients to get them physically moving.  And then came the pandemic, a time when, more than ever, we needed to double-down on our health habits.

But who wanted to?

**You will learn:

*  Positive results of movement can happen in just 3 minutes a day.
  On camera exercises are as impactful and effective as in-person.
Improving mood, calming stress, and improving focus are still within reach.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

When you hear about someone in an abuse relationship, do you picture the victim as passive?Former police officer Nenia Corcoran shares that exact moment when she realized her own marriage mirrored that of an abuse victim in crisis.

You will learn:

  • An abuse victim will often try to forecast how her day will go based on her partner’s moods, and adjust her behaviors accordingly to keep the peace.
  • Isolation often keeps abuse victims immobilized.
  • Recovery from abuse may take years, and often requires seeking professional help and the willingness to dissect the relationship, including early warning signs that were missed.

For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Author MK Meredith dreaded turning 39, the age her own mom was when she died of breast cancer. MK had watched her health, did BRACA tests to look at her level of risk, and held her breath through her 39th year. Two days before her 40th birthday, her doctor delivered the breast cancer diagnosis.

A successful romance writer, MK used her writing chops to document her cancer and wellness journey in Not Your Usual Boob.You will learn:

  • Trusting your gut regarding health is critical, even when medical providers are resistant.
  • Self-advocacy and persistence can mean the difference between life and death.
  • When the free information and books distributed by the medical community isn't helpful, write your own, and as MK says,"...Then step forward."

For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Today, thanks to Ancestry.com and open adoptions, finding one's biological family has never been easier for adoptees. But when Julie McGue began her search for her and her twin's biological parents, she was over 40, in need of her health history, and facing the old-school world of closed adoption records.

You will learn:

  • That adoption laws have traditionally protected the needs of parents giving their children up, not the needs of the children.
  • Agencies intended to assist searching children are limited by both resources and current laws.
  • A negative response from a biological family member can be temporary, and evolve over time.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

Many who experience abuse would rather take the easy way out, putting it behind them, and moving on. But what isn't addressed can linger in the body for months, years, and even decades. Anu shares her story of how she refused to keep secrets and be isolated, which led her to a fun and fullfilling life.

You will learn:

  • How Anu uses her life experiences to improve the lives of others.
  • About some unique challenges Anu faced as a woman in the United Kingdom experiencing abuse, and how her Indian culture added unique challenges to speaking out about her own victimization.
  • Ways in which coping mechanisms can morph into hobbies and skills that transcend the crisis period.

Show notes HERE:

View Details

When journalist and mom Esther Buerki found herself suddenly single, traditional support didn't get her where she wanted to go. Esther shares her journey working with a coach who helped her master her emotions.

You will learn:

  • How therapy, pharmaceuticals, and other self-help interventions didn't help Esther master her emotions to achieve her goals. Choosing to hire a coach did.
  • That replacement messages helped Esther move forward and get un-stuck.
  • How a single mom makes time to write for pleasure and published her first book after 50.

For show notes, click HERE.

View Details

When Carole Brody Fleet married, she thought Til Death Do Us Part would come later. Much later.
As she sat in the front row of her husband's funeral service, she couldn't believe he'd died. "But I still wear stilettos!"

Today, Carole is an author, speaker, and bereavement expert.

You will learn:

  • Reminding ourselves that today it’s not forever is key.
  • It’s really OK to stay in the fog of grief as long as you need to.
  • Find someone who’s already where you want to be at and don't hesitate to latch on for support.

Click HERE for show notes.

View Details

When Nicole Spindler's father fell ill with cancer when she was only 15, things didn't appear to be hopeful at first.

But she committed to being intentional about how to think and respond to the diagnosis.  And she saw the benefit to incorporating the setback into her life to create something good.

You will learn:

  • How a high school project paved the way for a book with benefits.
  • That mindset about trauma led to reaching out to others, even though that hadn't been the family culture Nicole grew up in.
  • Navigating challenges is a skill worthy of attention since obstacles can stop us in our tracks or propel us to find the opportunities provided by them.

View Details

Kay Suthar's journey to success included some interesting pitstops. From police officer to event planner, her adventurous spirit carried her through both failures and success.
You will learn:

  • Acute work stress may turn into physical maladies such as rashes.
  • Asking questions and leaving ego and assumptions behind when embarking on a new career is a much better strategy than faking confidence and competence.
  • In the United Kingdom, stab-proof vests are used by police officers rather than bullet-proof vests.

For show notes, click HERE

View Details

In 1995, when my kidnapped daughters were still living in hiding out of country, I bought a starter home in Alaska.Twenty-seven years later, I'm closing one chapter and beginning  another.
You will learn:

How neighbors can become a makeshift family.
The work to create stability and sustain a household isn't for the faint of heart.
A home isn't built of walls and cement, but of the love and memories made.

For show notes and pictures, click HERE.

View Details

Kathryn Bennett wanted to be sober. She went to meetings, saw a counselor. But it wasn't enough. Not everyone can sit quietly and engage in the exercises offered during treatment.

Rather than giving up, Kathryn challenged herself physically by entering the world of power-lifting.

Today, Kathryn is a nationally placed lifter who enjoys speaking about her journey toward sobriety and fitness.

You will learn:

  • Relapse is part of the cycle of substance abuse continuum.
  • Finding the right support and sponsors is key to success.
  • Gradual success in a different life domain builds confidence that may positively impact sobriety efforts.

Show notes HERE

View Details

Karey Spransy made a series of terrific choices after becoming pregnant in her teens.Parenting alone and putting her child first meant so many other dreams were put on hold, but she knew it was for the best. When her son was ready to leave the home, she looked forward to a life filled with possibilities. 

Then cancer came.

You will learn:

  • How sacrifices made in her youth as a teen single mom helped Karey have laser focus on financial and personal goals.
  • When crisis strikes, how clarity of meaning and purpose can come and redefine what success is and is not.
  • About the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO).

Show notes HERE.

View Details

Dai Manuel was used to making excuses to himself for his addictive behaviors, but when his wife asked him a pointed question, he knew it was time to make radical changes.

You will learn:

  • That it might only take one direct question asked with love to create a desire to change.
  • How many (or few) close friendships most men say they have.
  • The importance of getting support when navigating big life changes.

For show notes, click HERE

View Details

Dawn Cochrane King is an author, speaker, and accidental bereavement support group facilitator who found her calling when she was nudged by members of her church to get involved. Her work helping others during their end-of-life journey became the backdrop for her book, Survivor's Nuggets: Walking Through the Stages of Grief to Find Hope. It also helped her come to terms with her own fear of death.

You will learn:
1.
The fear of death is not inevitable or permanent.
2. Sometimes others in our support network can identify strengths and passions in ourselves that we've yet to identify.
3. Preparing for the end of life adds a sense of control and can reduce anxiety about death.
Show notes HERE

View Details

Looking at Jen Kiaba's art and writing, you'd never guess that she grew up inside a religion that discouraged personal expression.

In this interview, Jen talks about her wedding to a virtual stranger within the Unification Church,  and how breaking her vow to him meant vowing to move toward freedom.

You will learn:

  • That oppressive religions and cults exercise similar control over members as abusers do over domestic abuse victims.
  • That leaving the Unification church or similarly high-control groups can be dangerous and have many unintended consequences, including alienation from family members remaining inside the group.
  • There is life after leaving, but the journey to freedom is difficult.

Find show notes HERE

View Details

Do you remember what you were doing at age 22?As  author and radio personality Nelson Brown approached his 22nd birthday, he spent part of his day with me recording from across country, talking about his third book in the series, The Beauty in Us.

Brown has already worked to sort issues of perfectionism in therapy, and is proud to share with other young people, especially young Black men such as himself, that being vulnerable and asking for support at times isn't simply acceptable, it's a path to creating  a fulfilling future.
You will learn:

  • What inspired Nelson Brown's book series.
  • How time spent alone during the pandemic created space for reflecting and writing.
  • The importance of creating space to support men, both young and old,  to have challenging and sometimes painful conversations.

Find show notes here

View Details

Gina Dobson grew up feeling different than the rest of her family.  In a large  bunch of academics, she was the child passionate about art.  Bullied at school, she learned early on that it was okay to be different, and that those who demonstrate aggression are often people acting reflexively out of insecurity.

A singer and performer, Gina has also been an educator for more than 15 years. Her interest in scapegoating culminated to her recently published book, Stop: Scapegoat No More.

You will learn:

  • Being bullied often happens to the strong,  not simply vulnerable people.
  • Writing about traumatic times can help unpack a lot of pain.
  • Not forgiving another can be compared to you drinking the poison and expecting the other person to die.

For show notes, click here.

View Details

At a time when many women look forward to sitting on the couch with their feet up and watching television, Maura Sweeney's post-retirement plan included embarking on the life of her dreams.

After working  in corporate America and homeschooling her daughter who'd successfully launched, Maura made good on her daughter's challenge to take dance lessons. Clumsy by nature, yet having long dreamed of learning the art of dance, Maura enrolled in and subsequently failed the course more than once. But she didn't give up.

Lesson by lesson, Maura muscled up and discovered that some dreams are worth failing for.

Today, Maura is sometimes mistaken as a dance instructor. Her success greenlighted her dream to become a sought-after speaker, an author, and a podcaster.

You will learn:

  • How giving ourselves the chance to fail can create a ripple effect for other opportunities.
  • The path may be longer and meandering, but never lose sight of your inner guiding light.
  • It's never too early -- or too late -- to change course to find your best and authentic self.

See show notes here.

View Details

From skin problems to aches and fatigue, the symptoms related to Manchester resident Olivier Mankondo were enough to spur his doctor to recommend lifelong medication. Olivier rejected that plan and did what few dare to do: made permanent and radical changes to his diet. While he lost weight and gained health, he also lost support of some family and friends.

You will learn:

  • How to respond to your support network when they're threatened by changes you're making to improve your life.
  • The dietary change that erased Mankondo's symptoms.
  • The journey of wellness that led to Mankondo's career change and book on plant-based nutrition.

For show notes, click here.

This is not an endorsement of any diet plan. Always consult a doctor before proceeding with dietary changes.

View Details

After Erin Mac nearly ran over her friend's husband  while driving  to help a client in crisis, she knew that the successful business that she'd built wasn't the destiny she'd hoped for.
Here, Erin shares her journey to find joy and create the life and work that continues to be fulfilling.

You will learn:

  • How getting what you want might not be what you need.
  • That now, in the midst of struggle, joy can be found.
  • The simple act of breathing can bring focus and aid in navigating anxiety.

Find Erin here.
Show notes here.

View Details

Since battling chronic illness, Toronto Native JoJo Marie has the unique distinction of spending 1,460 days on bedrest.  But the time was not wasted. While JoJo focused on getting better,  she also  took a deeper look at the life she'd lived thus far, and mentally prepared to make steep changes and do better. 

You will learn:

  • Unaddressed trauma may turn into emotional pain.
  • Learning to be grateful for the darker times or circumstances aids in the healing process.
  • Time spent convalescing can inspire personal growth.

For show notes, click here.

View Details

While a master's degree in curriculum development may have helped The Innate Coach Traci Philips map out how to serve executive leaders worldwide, her experience with new motherhood was the internship that provided opportunity for growth

In this week's episode, Traci shares how she had courageous conversations with the team of doctors and nurses on the importance of how to deliver cautionary news, and gives tips on what is needed to unify a team that could easily be divided by conflict.

You will learn:

  • Cultivating empathy for the offending party, choosing to see the world through their lens, can make addressing a conflict with grace that much easier.
  • Assertively addressing conflicts in a team environment optimizes the overall performance
  • Asking yourself three critical questions before engaging in a battle can clarify how and when to proceed.

You can find Traci at Eavesdrop in the Moment on Facebook or at The Innate Coach**.

For show notes, click herehttps://lameredith.com/2021/06/episode-17-when-…us-conversations/ .**

P.S. Writer friends--Book Marketing on the Skinny enrollment closes 6/27/21. Find out more here.

View Details

Author Meg Nocero left a career as a federal prosecutor at the Department of Homeland Securities after her mother sucuumbed to breast cancer. By writing insights of the day as she navigated the healing process, she felt pulled to share them with others in her first  two books.

Meg's third book, Butterfly Awakens, will be published in September of 2021 by She Writes Press.

To learn more about Meg's books or coaching, click here.
Connect with Meg on Manifesting with Meg Podcast on Spotify.

You will learn:

  • How writing can help in the healing journey.
  • That walking the Camino de Santiago aided in healing from grief, yet required a great deal of persistence.
  • That looking at life one day at a time is helpful during low points to avoid overwhelm.

For show notes, click here.

View Details

At 35, Steve Gamlin's life took a  downward spiral.
He'd experienced great success as a radio personality, but knew it was not where he wanted to land. Unhappy at work, inattentive to debts, and his marriage folding before him, he felt he was standing in ashes.  Here, with humor, Steve tells the story of how he rebuilt his life, slowly and steadily and with great intention, to become one filled with peace and love and meaningful work.

You will learn:

  • What a vision board is.
  • That pursuing a passion as a side-hustle rather than quitting the day job is a perfectly wonderful option to try on new skills and roles.
  • The value of looking in the mirror once a day and finding something, any one thing, that you appreciate about yourself.

For show notes, click here.

View Details

After routine medical procedures turned ugly, successful model and mom of young boys,
Christine Handy was then diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She doubted her will to fight it, but friends, family, and faith prevailed, and today she is a survivor and ambassador for cancer survivors everywhere.

Today, Christine is an author and speaker who partners with Paul Mitchell's EBeauty
to provide wigs for cancer survivors. Her book, Walk Beside Me, is a fictional account of her life.

You will learn: 

  • Friends and family sometimes long to be useful and help us during hard times.
  • Christine's definition of happiness versus joy.
  • The fight to live can inspire an unshakeable confidence.

For show notes, click here!

View Details

When Terry McDougall jumped into the deep end of the applicant pool for her ideal job many years ago, she did a belly-flop. She'd thought she was a shoo-in, having performed the duties of the position and enjoying a positive reputation at the company. But rather than get mad or give up, she hired a coach who helped her do a realistic assessment of the obstacles and create an action plan. Soon Terry was applying again. She faced more setbacks, but ultimately found the exact position that fueled her passions.

Now, a career coach herself with a thriving business, Terry B. McDougall Coaching, and authored Winning the Game at Work, she's happy to pay it forward with clients who are committed to running down their own career dreams.

You will learn:

  • Three topics that employers often want applicants to address during interviews.
  • The role of a career coach.
  • Why an applicant saying during a job interview that their worst quality is working too hard may very well backfire.

See show notes here.

View Details

When Neloo's Bahai and Muslim parents married in Iran decades ago, it didn't take long to them to realize that to raise children safely, they would need to come to America. Years later, their children embraced religious freedom to the max. The skill set needed to navigate passionate conversations around their religious diversity has become an asset to Neeloo, who, along with a friend, has created Peace, Unleashed.

You Will Learn:

Laughter brings people together and creates intimacy and is particularly powerful for managing conflict and reducing stress.

  • Humor interrupts the struggle for power by removing tension and allowing for reconnection and regaining perspective
  • Humor, laughter, and play free you from rigid forms of thinking and behaving
  • Humor frees us from inhibition, allowing us to express our genuine emotions

There are 3 factors that define crucial conversations:
1) opinions vary
2) stakes are high
3) emotions are high.

These conversations can lead to breakthroughs or breakdowns depending on how we handle them. Often, they are not handled well or at all. People either live in a sub-optimal state, OR they hope for the situation to resolve itself.

  • Start with the heart (i.e empathy and positive intent)
  • Stay in dialogue
  • Make it safe
  • Don’t get hooked by emotion (or hook them)
  • Agree on a mutual purpose
  • Separate facts from story
  • Agree a clear action plan

For show notes, click here

View Details

Before he was a cancer survivor, Terry Tucker had a life filled with exciting challenges and goals achieved. An NCAA Division I college basketball player, a Citadel cadet, a marketing executive, a hospital administrator, and a SWAT Team Hostage Negotiator, that all changed when he found the callus on his foot was actually cancer. At least for a while.

Now as Terry fights for his life, he uses the lessons learned to motivate others through his blog, book, and inspiring talks.

For show notes, click here:
You will learn:

  • How being a SWAT negotiator prepared Terry for hard conversations when facing incurable cancer.
  • What he wishes people knew about what they can ask about dying and living with cancer.
  • How Terry wrote a book in the three month break between cancer treatments.

View Details

Like many Peace Corps volunteers,  young Evelyn LaTorre fell in love with a handsome man native to the country where she served. The two eventually married.  Unlike many of her fellow Peace Corp peers, Evelyn remains happily married to the same man 55 years later.

Here, Evelyn shares her story of determination to overcome a surprise pregnancy before marriage, her parents disapproval, the cross-cultural differences between Evelyn and her husband, and and the grit it's now taking to publish two memoirs, back-to-back.

You'll learn:

  • The ingredients that have led to a successful partnership between Evelyn and her husband.
  • How Christmas newsletters saved over the years can help form a book.
  • That it's never too late to publish your first book.

For show notes, click here.

Evelyn is the author of Between Inca Walls and Love in Any Language

View Details

Rick Heyland learned the hard way that simply having goals wasn't enough to succeed. In this week's episode, he tells how he brought his family across the globe years ago to pursue a career, and failed. Hard. But rather than give up, Rick regrouped. And went on a path for continuous improvement.

Now, a retired consultant, he's written Live Your Purpose and runs CI4Life, an organization dedicated to crushing goals for small businesses.
For bio and show notes, click here.

You will learn:

  • The benefit of writing a purpose statement at any age.
  • The importance of approaching success with intention.
  • Tips for workaholics and goal-getters on how to remember family and other relationships in your priorities.

View Details

No one expects to be a victim of crime, especially not in the broad daylight on a sunny Alaskan evening.

Victoria Shanklin was held at gunpoint while leaving a friend's birthday party. The justice system's response sparked a passion to create change and help others in similar circumstances.

In the United States, it's Crime Victim's Right's Week April 18-24 this year. The other 51 weeks of the year, however, appear to forget victims of crime.

See show notes here.   Find Victoria at Victimsforjustice.org, and don't hesitate to donate, volunteer, or find other ways to support crime victims.

View Details

Many years ago, Allen Klein's wife died while in her thirties.  Their shared sense of humor that had strenghtened their bond served Allen later to  help him  heal as he processed grief and loss.

Afterward, he wanted to bring his message of humor's power to others, but was told he could never be a public speaker, and hadn't a chance to get his  book published.

Nearly thirty books later, the joke was on the naysayers.

You will learn:

  • How to use a prompt or a prop to channel your lighter side.
  • That humor is critical to healing.
  • How to train  yourself to look for glimmers of awe in your everyday life.

Find show notes here.

View Details

When Deanna Carpenter saw a  childhood picture as she decluttered during COVID, she was flooded with old memories of sexual abuse. In this episode, she discusses how her sudden inability to remain busy during the pandemic forced her to address the issue head-on, and eventually find herself in a supportive  online community and  as a co-author of The Survivor Memoirs, Book 1.

You will learn:
Despite therapeutic interventions, old traumas from childhood  can wreak havoc on mental health later in life.
Finding/creating community can facilitate healing.
* It's never too late to resolve trauma and not simply survive, but thrive.

View Details

After nearly two decades of marriage,  author/editor Margot Starbuck became an accidental dater in her forties when her husband left. Her divorce final, her heart healed, she eventually stuck her toe into the world of online dating, and then went all in.
What she learned by relying on the collective wisdom of her support system became The Grown Woman's Guild to Online Dating, Lessons Learned While Swiping Right, Snapping Selfies, and Analyzing Emoji's.

You'll learn:
The key to mastering a good dating profile.
  Wise words from Len her Uber driver that are not to be ignored.
* That what you're not telling your friends about your new love interest may be more important than what you do.

View Details

When attorney and healthcare system strategist Ethan Nkana relocated cross country with his partner for a long-awaited career opportunity, he never anticipated the one he has now created after his subsequent layoff.  Hear Ethan as he tells the story of loss, community, and rebuilding his professional life as the leader of Rocky Mountain Physicians Agency, a first of its kind organization that aids doctors in negotiating their salaries and benefits.

You'll learn:

  • We connect to others more deeply through our brokenness.
  • Putting on a "brave face" can be a barrier to healing.
  • Art such as Ethan's photobook is a beautiful way to honor the supportive messages and lessons  he received from others after his layoff.

See pictures here.

View Details

Recorded on the 31st anniversary of my leaving an abusive marriage, the journey out of poverty and domestic violence required some heavy -lifting as well as finding the right kind of information and support. Four years after that, my daughter's kidnapping out of country was the unintended consequence of leaving, and yet the beautiful show of community  that spanned the globe was something I would forever want to replicate. Persistence U is born out of my desire to create a supportive community provided by and for survivors and strivers. 

You'll learn:

  • The Why behind Persistence U with Lizbeth
  • That leaving abuse does not always mean the abuse ends.
  • That with a supportive community, improbable goals become possible.

P.S. Writer friends, my course, Book Marketing on the Skinny's enrollment is now open through 6/27/2021. Find out more here!

View Details

When parent and former autism behavioral intervention specialist, Rebecca Duvall Scott, unlocked the key to her son’s sensory processing disorder (SPD), she wrote a book sharing strategies and experiences that would change the lives of parents, educators, and service providers across the globe. Little did she know, however, the process of writing her family’s story would prepare her to write the one she believes she was always meant to tell.

You’ll learn:

·       How persistent acting out by a child may not be deficits in parental discipline.

·       The benefits of developing a supportive tribe when dealing with crises or chronic concerns.

·       The gift of learning new skills during hard times can pave a better future.

Writer friends! Book Marketing on the Skinny Enrollment closes 6/27/2021. Find out more here from this free workshop.

View Details

What would you do if, in addition to a worldwide pandemic, the job you're passionate about turns inside-out, your long-term relationship shifts, and your only sibling dies?

How would you cope if personally you get energy by bringing joy to the world, but as an African-American woman, the political and racial divide threatened to squelch that quality?

This week's guest Marti Guzman is a long-time advocate for children and at-risk families, and found a way to manage the chaos while creating opportunities and connections to total strangers.

P.S. Writer friends-my course, Book Marketing on the Skinny is open for enrollment through 6/27/21. Find out more here in this free workshop.