Stories of Inspiring Joy: Recent Episodes
Seek The Joy Media
From Seek The Joy Media, the creator of Seek The Joy Podcast, comes a new space dedicated to sharing your stories, in your words.
There is real power in storytelling, and when we come together around shared love, loss, laughter, joy and vulnerability, we build connection, create inspiration, and come together in community. Every Monday and Thursday, we're sharing your stories, in your words. We all have a story to share and a voice that is meant to be heard, and we want to share yours.
To learn more and submit your story visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Sydney Weiss is a lawyer and the creator, host, and producer of Seek The Joy Podcast and Stories of Inspiring Joy. Over the last five years, Sydney has sat down with thought leaders in health, wellness, mindfulness and beyond for empowering conversations and heartfelt storytelling on all things self-love, joy, connection, empowerment and wellness.
In today’s episode, Sydney shares her journey - from launching Seek The Joy Podcast in 2017 out of a desire for greater connection and community and Stories of Inspiring Joy - to where she is today and what’s next. It’s our final episode of Stories of Inspiring Joy, and you’re not going to want to miss it.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Dr. Lindsay Weisner is a clinical Psychologist in Long Island, New York. She graduated from Georgetown University in 1999 and was awarded a fellowship in child development at the NIH/NICHD. She received her doctorate from C.W. Post, LIU, and went on to pursue post-doctorate training at the American Institute of Psychoanalysis. Dr. Lindsay is the host of the Neurotic Nourishment Podcast and the co-author of the upcoming book Ten Steps To Finding Happy. This book will be released on March 20, 2020, in accordance with the United Nations International Day of Happiness.
In this week’s story, Lindsay shares her journey becoming a psychologist and writer, through the lens of her love for words and storytelling. She shares the impact that reading at a young age had on her life, and how her love for words propelled her to become an author, podcaster, and clinical psychologist. Books, and her love for reading, got her out of her own head and her own home. But - she didn’t love choose your own ending books! For her, there was nothing more annoying, she wanted hard and concrete facts. Lindsay’s home growing up, despite being perfect on paper, lacked a fine line between truth and fiction. You’ll hear it in this week’s episode, her experiences as a child and teenager impacted her need for a beginning, middle, and end - both in books, and in life.
Dr. Lindsay fell in love with psychology in college, and combined with her love of writing, she pursued a career in journalism. In this week’s new episode she shares the rejections she received, how she dealt with it, and the first job she landed after college. You’ll laugh her story about beanie babies . . . trust me.
To learn more about Lindsay and her work visit her on Instagram @PsychShrinkMom on Twitter @LindsaySKallen and Facebook @LindsaySKallen and you can find the Neurotic Nourishment Podcast on Instagram @NeuroticNourishment and on Apple Podcasts here and for more about her upcoming book, Ten Steps To Finding Happy, you can learn more on Facebook at Finding Happy and on Instagram @10StepsFindingHappy
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Leah Recor is the author of “Where the Light Is… A Parent’s Guide to the Law of Attraction,” and a mother of two young girls who turned personal traumatic experiences into her mission to help other struggling parents.
In this week’s new episode Leah shares her journey in finding the law of attraction, and how she’s relied on optimism as a floatation device to keep her going. Leah’s reflections on how she began to see the struggles in her life as a gift to expand and grow will remind you that there is always a larger (and often hidden!) message in our experiences. Her words on the new sense of hope she found, and the signs and serendipities that began to show up for her and her children, will remind you of the magic that’s here waiting for us to wake up to it.
To connect with Leah and to learn more about her work visit her website www.theAbundantParent.com and connect with her on Instagram @theabundantparent Facebook @theabundantparent
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Eda Schottenstein is the founder and CEO of Multi-Role Woman™, a personal wellness and lifestyle brand that supports women in creating healthy, happy, balanced lives. She is also the author of “You Got This: 21-Day Mental Wealth Challenge” — a step-by-step action guide and journal anyone can use to transform their experience of personal wellness in just three weeks.
In this week’s new episode Eda shares her about her passion and her journey. She openly shares about her ADD diagnosis, the times she’s been riddled with self-doubt, and this overarching feeling that she didn’t have what it takes to reach her goals and potentials. It wasn’t an easy mindset to live in, and it took a lot of soul searching for Eda to realize that the only person that was responsible for change in her life - was her! She did the work, research, and dove in - and it all led her to building her own unique toolkit for change. She amassed a wealth of knowledge that she knew was life-changing, and she knew she had to share it. Eda recognized how important it is to have tools and tips, and implement them into your life, in order to reach your goals and bridge the gap between where you are, and where you want to be. Today, that’s exactly what she’s done. Eda’s story will remind you that your story and experiences are valuable, that our struggles are more universal than we realize, and the impact of our vulnerability is far reaching. value, and you never know how it will impact someone else.
To learn more about Eda and her work check out her website www.multirolewoman.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @edaschottenstein
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Corina Sowada is an empowerment coach who is on a mission to help women find themselves (and love!) again after a toxic relationship. Through her work, Corina helps women dive into identifying toxicity, narcissism and abuse, all to break the cycle. She helps you identify and break trauma bonds and heal from a toxic relationship.
Corina so beautifully shares her journey in this week’s episode, moving from an on and off again toxic relationship for for years, to ultimately choosing herself and her self-worth. In many ways Corina lost herself during that time. She lost her voice, her passion, and optimism. She no longer recognized the woman she saw in the mirror.
Then one day something clicked, and she made the decision to end the relationship. She started to prioritize her health and wellness, and she learned to love her body again. Her mindset began to shift too, and through setting boundaries she started to become Corina again. Corina’s reflections will remind you that we are all capable of choosing the life we deserve, but we first have to get really clear on who we are, and what it is that we want.
To connect with Corina and learn more about her work visit her website and on Instagram @corina_unleashed and Twitter @CorinaSowada you can find her Facebook group here and she has spots open for 1:1 coach, you can book a discovery call here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Amy Oestreicher is an Audie Award-nominated PTSD peer-to-peer specialist, artist, author, writer for The Huffington Post, speaker for TEDx and RAINN, health advocate, award-winning actress, and playwright. She’s also the author of a brand new novel, “My Beautiful Detour: A Unthinkable Journey from Gutless to Grateful”.
In this week’s new episode Amy shares how she was an ambitious, audacious teenager who had her life all planned out: go to college, win a Tony, and conquer the world. But life took an unexpected detour when the week before her high school senior prom, she found herself in unusual pain. She was rushed to the emergency room, and due to a blood clot, Amy’s stomach exploded to the ceiling of the operating room. After both lungs collapsed, she almost died. Months later, she awoke from a coma covered in tubes, bags, and drains, and was told that she had no stomach anymore, she could not eat or drink, and it was not certain if or when she would ever taste one bite ever again. It took 27 surgeries and six years, but eventually, Amy was miraculously reconstructed, and with the intestines she had left, was given a system that digests food.
Today, through her #LoveMyDetour “Detourist Campaign,” she creates content that inspires, educates, entertains, and transforms our perception of obstacles for individuals faced with unexpected bumps and “detours” in their lives – much like what Amy faced at 18 years old. As founder of #LoveMyDetour, she provides advocacy, entertainment, seminars, and peer-to-peer education on trauma, mental health, women’s issues, storytelling, and diversity. Her vital message is delivered with humor, eloquence and heart in a down-to-earth, relatable and positive manner.
To connect with Amy and to learn more you can connect with her on her website www.amyoes.com and on Instagram @amyoes70 Facebook @amyoestrand on Twitter @amyoes and to learn more about her new book, “My Beautiful Detour: An Unthinkable Journey from Gutless to Grateful” click here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Stephanie Lauren Moore is a twenty-year-old YouTube Influencer, cancer survivor, mental health awareness advocate and charity worker from the UK. Stephanie’s empowering messages are influenced by her own cancer survival and mental health recovery, and she has truly dedicated her life to helping others thrive, just as they are. You’ll hear it in this week’s new episode, Stephanie has turned her challenges into opportunities to embrace the joy in her life, and ultimately recognize her true beauty and worth.
Stephanie is here to help as many people on this planet through her YouTube channel and charity work She’s the author of “I AM”, a unique workbook-style publication that, aside from empowering the reader with the author’s own amazing life story, takes them through a series of tasks to recognize their beauty, potential and worth to humanity. Stephanie wants to see people start to believe in themselves and develop the ‘I am’ attitude. “I AM” is about the art of self-love, finding your purpose in life, and feeling you are enough. It’s an opportunity for readers to take stock of their life, redefine their challenges, and ultimately build a new existence of prosperous joy and balance. It contains simple techniques and tips that will transform your life for the better, and simple exercises that will help you learn to love yourself, set some goals, and gain a new positive outlook on life.
To learn more about Stephanie, you can connect with her on her website https://www.stephanielaurenmoore.com/ YouTube channel here Facebook @stephanielaurenmoore Twitter @itsstephmoore Instagram @stephanielaurenmoore and you can find I Am on Amazon here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Kaitlyn A Faria is aspiring to make the world a prettier place through design. Currently based out of The San Francisco Bay Area, Kaitlyn works as a Product Coordinator & Designer for a furniture & home decor company. She also runs an interior design & lifestyle blog.
In this week’s new episode Kaitlyn shares with us her journey with design, and the postgrad journey she never expected. While in college, Kaitlyn found out that she had a brain tumor, she was diagnosed with anxiety, depression and PTSD. Once she graduated, she was over $100k in debt, and her first job was as a sales associate. While on her lunch break, Kaitlyn would go to a coffee shop nearby and write down what she was grateful for, and religiously listen to self-help podcasts. As she shares in this week’s new episode, there are two major things she learned during that process. One, write down the things that you want and be clear. Two, she decided that she was going to change her story. She wasn’t going to focus on the negative, but instead focus on the positive - she was young, passionate, and that her opportunities are endless.
To connect with Kaitlyn and her work, visit her website www.kaitlynfaria.com and on Instagram @oh_kayfairy
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Sinead Sharkey-Steenson is The Career Elevator Coach at Generation Women where she helps women get the promotions and pay-rises they deserve. Passionate about equality and seeing more women in leadership, Sinead blends practical strategies with simple mindset tools to achieve amazing results…with several getting over 100% payrises and multiple promotions! To date she’s helped close to 10,000 women take a step up.
Sinead draws on over 20 years corporate experience in HR, Leadership Development, Business Improvement, and Cultural Transformation to help her support women to achieve their ambitions. She has been recognised as one of 22 Leaders to Learn from in 2022 by Bunch Leadership App. She has developed and delivered career and leadership programmes for multiple global organisations including; Sensata, Citi, Deloitte, the IFA, and Lean In. Sinead has a lifelong love of learning and strives to bring the best academically and professionally to her work. She has a BA Hons in Psychology, MSc Computing, MSc Human Resource Management, is an NLP Master practitioner, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, and an accredited ICF Coach and Positive Intelligence (PQ) Coach.
She’s a mum of two girls who have made her even more passionate about equality. She also loves live comedy and music, sleep, and cold water swimming…in that order!
In today’s episode Sinead shares her story taming her imposter. For years others described her as shy - but she didn’t feel like she was shy! She thought she observed and made her move when she was ready. It was always Sinead father’s dream for her to be an international lawyer and that became her goal and ambition too. Suddenly, at the age of 15 her father passed away. But she didn’t just loose her parent, she lost her compass. What did she want to do? Who was she really? Sinead went off to university, she studied psychology, and it didn’t take long for the shy 7 year-old to come back out. Her imposter kicked in. She lived in fear of being found out, of speaking up in meetings, of being asked to do anything on her own. Sinead realized she was going to have to tackle her imposter syndrome, step up, and change things for the better, and that’s exactly what she’s done.
To connect with Sinead visit her website https://genwomen.global and on LinkedIn here Facebook @GenerationWomen and Instagram @GenerationWomen
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Michelle Burke is a sought-after leadership coach, facilitator, speaker, founder, and CEO of Energy Catalyst Group, a consulting and training company for well-being. Lilamani de Silva, MSc, has had an eclectic career across multiple industries including media relations, TV production, and the creation of innovative products for home, work, and play.
Michelle and Lilamani have partnered to coauthor and create Joy Cards, Personalogy™ games, and Teambuilder™, a card game to build collaboration. Lilamani's paintings illustrate Joy Cards. In her spare time, Lilamani enjoys being active, traveling, reading, painting, and spending time with loved ones. Michelle enjoys time with loved ones, cooking, fun adventures, reading, sports, and walking her dog Jadie.
In today’s episode Michelle and Lilamani share their story about two women from completely different walks of life - how they became lifetime friends, creative partners, and how they’ve cultivated joy. It all started with a chance meeting. They both care about making a meaningful difference in the world and even though they’re separating by an ocean, over the years they’ve learned to embrace technology to make their incredible collaborations possible. Over the last few years they looked for a way to create something that could help them rediscover their own joy and spread joy to others at the same time. Enter the Joy Cards. Michelle and Lilamani’s reflections on joy and its impact will remind you the importance of hitting pause and allowing yourself the opportunity to reflect and enjoy the life you’re living.
To connect with Michelle and Lilamani visit https://energycatalystgroup.com/personal-development/ and energycatalystgroup.com/joy-cards/
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Amy Brubaker is a Los Angeles based Personal Fashion Stylist whose number one goal is to find a look that works for you. Whether you need a complete closet overhaul, a new look to go with your new job, or you’re just looking for that one special occasion outfit, let’s work together to find what matches your personality and lifestyle.
Amy has always been interested in fashion and after graduating from Woodbury University with a BA in Fashion Design, she spent over 10 years dressing and styling actors and actresses for movies, television and Red Carpet Events. Today, she can bring that expertise to you. Personal Styling is not just for celebrities. Fashion is for everyone. She wants to help you cultivate your own personal style for your everyday life.
In today’s episode, Amy so vulnerably shares her incredible journey with cancer, what she’s learned, the gift of social media and how one person’s kindness changed her life. Oh, and how she’s continuing to kick cancer’s butt, one day at a time.
To connect with Amy and learn more about how she’s kicking cancer's booty visit her website www.amywardrobe.com and on Instagram @amywardrobe and on Facebook here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Sarah Lynne is a Certified Reiki Practitioner and Teacher and Intuitive Empath, and the voice behind Sincerely Spiritual. In today’s episode, Sarah shares her journey becoming Sincerely Spiritual, and the incredible transformation she underwent to get to where she is today.
After her mom passed suddenly and unexpectedly when she was 18, her life changed in an instant. One day, she randomly made an appointment with her friend’s “Intuitive Healer” not even really understanding what it was at the time. Little did she know, the conversation would be a pivotal moment in her life. While there have been many ups and downs, Sarah now understands on a deeper level why we have to go through lessons in life. She understands now what it’s like to have healthy relationships, to have people that support you no matter what, and what it means to pursue a life that you love.
To connect with Sarah you can follow her on Instagram @sincerelyspiritual and you can book a session with her here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Jeff Kuhn is the author of the Amazon best-selling new book, “Blue Sky Lighting: How to Survive and Thrive When Life Blindsides You.” In his book, he shares the story of his own life-threatening injury and illness. In this week’s episode, Jeff shares the story of how he survived burns that covered over 80% of his body. Emergency Room Doctor’s told him and his family that he had no chance of survival, but thanks to the hard work of two of the most gifted burn doctors in the world, and an incredible desire to survive, Jeff started to turn the corner after a few days in the intensive care unit. Two years and 18 surgeries later, Jeff was back on his feet and stronger than ever until a year and a half later, when lightning struck again. He came down with a neuromuscular disease which caused more pain than the burn injuries.
Jeff’s two near death experiences left him more mentally and physically stronger. His message is for survivors, fighters, and the individuals who have gone through unspeakable trauma, and his words will remind you that we all have an inner fire that can and will propel us forward. He tells his story with grit and determination, revisiting his experiences to give readers and listeners hope. Never backing down from the uncomfortable task of reliving his trauma, Jeff has used his story to illustrate the difficulty of overcoming tremendous odds. An inspiration for anyone facing difficulty, Jeff’s words will give you insight and clarity about how trauma can make all of us into powerful warriors, fighting back against tremendous odds.
To connect with Jeff and to learn more about his book “Blue Sky Lightning” and to grab your copy visit https://blueskybolt.com and on Twitter @jmkuhn99
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Makayla Cooper is a Domestic Violence survivor who has turned her pain into her purpose with The Butterfly Effect. She created this project to bring awareness to Domestic Violence, and create a safe haven for women and families to not only discuss domestic violence, but also bring awareness to it.
Through The Butterfly Effect, Makayla brings awareness, peer-to-peer support, and guidance to women and their families. She helps them navigate their next steps by providing resources. When you’re in a violent or abusive situation, it’s often difficult to speak up for yourself - and Makayla’s goal is to start a non-profit and to create a safe house for women and their families.
It’s so important to bring awareness to domestic violence and its impact, and Makayla also hopes to network with other people who are looking to change the conversation surrounding domestic violence. Makayla is encouraging and empowering families all over the world by sharing her experiences, story and truth.
To connect with Makayla and learn more about The Butterfly Effect visit her Facebook page here and you can connect with her via email butterflyeffecthope@gmail.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Ami Watkin and Laena McCarthy are the founders of The Integrated Hustle. Ami is a recovering corporate attorney and a career and business coach, and Laena is an entrepreneur and business coach. Together they’re The Integrated Hustle.
They created The Integrated Hustle to help women follow their passion and gain financial freedom. They're all about giving you the tools and support you need to get started. They lead workshops and offer individualized ideation and coaching sessions to help you articulate your business plan, create a plan of action, and bring it to life. There is real power in defining your own path, and that is exactly what Ami and Laena are doing. In this week’s episode, Ami and Laena share their journeys and how they got to where they are today.
To learn more about Ami and Laena and The Integrated Hustle visit their website integratedhustle.com and connect with them on Instagram @integratedhustle and @amimila and @laenamira
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Jake Barlow is a Transformational Coach and Holistic Therapist specializing in Inner Child Trauma resolution (the Completion Process), Sound Healing, and Shamanism. He helps a wide range of people who suffer from depression, anxiety, insomnia and complete PTSD, as well as assisting with chronic pain and serious illness.
In this week’s episode Jake walks us through his story of struggling with self-loathing and pain, depression and suicidal thoughts, to living a life of empowerment and purpose. Jake shares with us the moment he was in a room with a psychic, talking about his current situation and how he got to that space of pain. After reflecting on his childhood, and the traumas he experienced as a young man as a result of his parents divorce, he quickly realized that what he was experiencing wasn’t his fault, and that he still had a greater purpose and mission on this planet.
To learn more about Jake and his work, you can connect with him by visiting his website and you can connect with him on Facebook @ReintegrationResonanceTherapy and YouTube @ReintegrationResonanceTherapy and on LinkedIn here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Alisha is the founder of Living Fulfilled Coaching. At Living Fulfilled Coaching, Alisha partners with millennial women to build their confidence through prioritizing and incorporating self-care habits and routines that promote a joy-filled lifestyle. Alisha is a thought partner who uses a creative coaching approach to maximize potential in all areas of her clients' lives.
In addition to coaching, Alisha serves as a mental health advocate, presenter, and workshop facilitator for the National Alliance on Mental Health. Alisha also serves as a mentor to girls ages 11-19 at various organizations such as The Girls Scouts of America, Women Who Create, Every Girl Can, Stella Girls, and I’raise Boys and Girls International. In addition to serving as a life coach, mental health advocate, workshop facilitator, and mentor, Alisha teaches both men and women to use self-care intentionally as a way to balance the duties of everyday life whilst ensuring their needs are being actively met.
In today’s episode Alisha shares her background and the inspiration behind Living Fulfilled Coaching. Today, she embraces those experiences as they are equally responsible for the woman she is today. In 2016, Alisha took her first leap of faith and started her first service based business. The more she did her own internal work, the more she recognized her purpose and mission, to help others find internal joy, love and fulfillment.
To connect with Alisha and learn more check visit Instagram: @AlishaSmall_ Facebook: @AlishaSmall84 Twitter: @AlishaSmall33 Pinterest: @AlishaSmall1 and LinkedIn: @Alisha-Small84
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Lee Hopkins (he/him/his) is a transgender man who helps people create lasting friendships. After struggling with loneliness most of his life, he's tried various ways to resolve it— including moving across the US to find his tribe and fit in. He’s learned that the key to creating meaningful relationships is not “fitting in” or “finding your tribe”, it’s about attracting your vibe. He’ll show us how this is possible for everyone.
In today’s episode Lee shares the inspiration behind Patterns of Possibility, a company he started to help him make better connections with other people. Lee shares his journey of self-discovery, moving from feeling disconnected and lonely, to connected, joyful, and recognizing how awesome he is. As Lee shares, we all have something that we’re afraid to share or acknowledge. Learning to accept light and dark, the not-so-great stuff and the great stuff about ourselves, this journey of self-discovery was pivotal in allowing Lee to become who he is today. As a Coach, Lee helps people embrace who they are, tap into their own self-discovery, and build stronger and greater connections, with themselves and with others.
To connect with Lee and learn more visit his website https://www.patternsofpossibility.com/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrilliantNResilient TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patternsofpossibility IG: https://www.instagram.com/patternsofpossibility YouTube: Patterns of Possibility - YouTube Facebook: https://fb.me/Patternsofpossibility Podcast: https://anchor.fm/patternsofpossibility
https://www.patternsofpossibility.com/morepossibility and 10 TIPS TO MAKING MEMORABLE CONVERSATIONS FREE COURSE - Understanding Connections
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Lauren is the creator of the Mind Muscle Motivator, LLC a transformational wellness company that helps busy driven women step into their life filled with passion and purpose through her creative writing, speaking, coaching and retreats. She advocates that your mind is like a muscle and you get to exercise it regularly until it begins to serve you. Lauren is a thought provoker, and is passionate about helping other busy driven women discover themselves on a deeper level so their passions and purpose discover them, and they design a life they love!
She is married to her high school sweetheart, Brian and has two beautiful gifts, Brody and Maya. By day, she is a full-time healthcare attorney at a fortune 10 company, and spends her free time spreading light and love to herself and others through her words and daily actions. Lauren wrote this book to help other busy driven women create more fulfillment and zest for their own life. She trusts that her book Reclaim Your Power will motivate you to begin or deepen your own self-discovery so your passions and purpose discover you. In her free time, you can find Lauren in the bath, by the fire or in her hammock reading. She enjoys riding bikes and having hot tub dates with her kids and husband. She is a sucker for all water related activities and eating yummy food is her second hobby!
In today’s episode Lauren shares what it really means to reclaim your power. Through sharing the introduction to her new book, Lauren shares the role of an inward quest in allowing us to move from drained to passionate. It’s Lauren’s hope that this book will provide you with the inspiration to make yourself a priority, move past any limitations, and develop a relationship with yourself so that you’re able to trust your instincts and take action. Through including journaling prompts and exercises, Lauren hopes to help you self-reflect so that your passion and purpose naturally discover you.
To connect with Lauren and learn more check out her website https://mindmusclemotivator.com and on Instagram here Facebook here and you can find her new book here Reclaim Your Power
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
With over 10 years of experience supporting and coaching women from all over the world, Tashina understands just how vital it is to look at the whole-woman when it comes to the goals and desires each woman has. It is crucial to nurture and transform the foundation upon which those goals and desires are rooted in so that they may be reached with ease, confidence, and joy.
Tashina understands the demands of being a woman. She is an internationally recognised top instructor, entrepreneur since 2008, has toured over thirteen countries as a coach and professional dancer while being married and having a two year old son. Through her tours and coaching practice she has coached over 8,000 individuals throughout the world on self-worth, confidence, and taking ownership of their life.
In today’s episode Tashina shares her journey connecting to her inner power, voice, and confidence through movement and music. For Tashina, it all started with dance and music. As a young girl a mentor told her that she’d never amount to anything as a professional dancer. This impacted her internal beliefs, causing her to self-sabotage her professional dance career as an adult. It wasn’t until Tashina learned she could change her inner beliefs at a subconscious level that she started to experience a massive breakthrough in her career - teaching, judging, and competing internationally. She’s successfully applied these same concepts in multiple areas of her life to create more ease, flow, synchronicity, joy and success.
To connect with Tashina and learn more check out her website www.empowered2greatness.com and on Instagram @TransformWithTashina Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empowered2greatness/ and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashinaking/
Listener Free Gift: Break the Perfectionist Mindset Kit (https://www.empowered2greatness.com/perfectionistkit)
Self Paced Courses: 5 Methods to Bust Through Perfectionism in Your Life; Putting Yourself First: How to build a Kick-Ass Relationship with Yourself from the Inside-Out (https://empowered-to-greatness.teachable.com/courses)
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Belinda Farrell, author of the book Find Your Friggin’ Joy, graduated with a BA in Spanish and English from the University of California at Berkeley and is trained in hypnotherapy, past life regression, NLP, Hawaiian chanting, and ancient Hawaiian healing (Huna). Belinda trained with Anthony Robbins (author of Unlimited Power) and has effectively used these skills in her own life. She has completed 18 firewalks. When Belinda was forty-eight, she collapsed with herniated discs and spinal nerve damage. Threatened with paralysis by her medical doctors if she didn’t have surgery, Belinda instead chose to apply the ancient Hawaiian healing practices she had been learning the previous three years, which are covered in this book. Her back completely healed, including childhood scoliosis. For fifteen years she has been sharing these healing practices with others, offering Reconnective Healing and Huna classes and taking clients to Hawaii to teach Huna and swim with wild spinner dolphins.
In today’s new episode, Belinda shares her journey and where it all began. She’s overcome major life challenges—the suicide of her son, complete financial loss, and healing a degenerated spine without surgery. But all was not lost. By using ancient Hawaiian techniques and accepting responsibility for every aspect of her life, she was able to rise from the ashes, find her friggin’ joy, and now she’s sharing this invaluable information with others in her book, Find Your Friggin’ Joy.
To connect with Belinda you can follow her on her website www.HunaHealing.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Grace Being is a certified mindset coach providing people with tools and intuitive guidance to help them free themselves from their minds and find their inner strength. Her philosophy is "Unlearn what you have learned and set yourself free". After 10 years of abusive relationships and unfulfilling jobs, she decided to work on the relationship with herself to improve the quality of her life. Thanks to a great deal of inner work and spiritual growth, she was able to do a 180 in her life as she realized that her thoughts, emotions, and actions were creating her reality. Once she let go of her limiting beliefs and shifted her mindset, her life shifted. She is now paying it forward by helping others break free from their limiting beliefs and create meaningful lives.
In today’s episode Grace shares her mission to help people free themselves from their minds and manifest their dreams. How can you manifest your dreams? For Grace, it starts with the process of unlearning. Grace shares her experience with unlearning, doing the inner work that allowed her to get in touch with her internal voice, and ultimately form a sense of identity, worth, and self-love that honors her and her path. For the first time in her life, Grace finally started to pay attention to her emotions and her feelings. It finally felt okay to start listening to her voice and to honor her preferences and the path she wanted to take.
To connect with Grace and learn more check out her website https://grace-being.com/ and via email contact@grace-being.com on Instagram @grace.being Facebook @gracebeing.coaching on LinkedIn here and Pinterest here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Victoria Bleeden is the Founder of The Empowered Herd - a specialized equine guided program created by women, as a means to support women in reclaiming their authenticity. Victoria was the quintessential horse crazy child. Her passion for horses began at the age of three when her mother, a lifelong, devoted horsewoman, took her to the pony rides. The shaggy, dwarfed creatures with the all knowing eyes and powerful spirits found their way into her heart. Obsession was sprung, and it knew no bounds.
In this week’s new episode Victoria shares the story of how her horse, Tater, saved her life and ultimately inspired her to start The Empowered Herd. Victoria spent nearly thirty years as a competitive equestrian. She had spent the majority of her life riding and competing. She had owned nearly a dozen horses, and competed from CA to NY. Riding was her persona. She was confident, able, and at home on the back of a horse. To be robbed of that, all that she knew, all that she relied upon for comfort, was agonizing. In the blink of an eye, she was no longer felt accomplished or talented.
Today, Victoria’s mission is to inspire other women to find healing through working with horses. Her work as an equine assisted coach utilizes activities involving horses to create metaphors that reflect real life. The approach is non-directive, allowing for opportunities to problem-solve and be creative. All sessions are conducted in a closed arena.
To connect with Victoria and learn more visit her website www.theempoweredherd.com and on Instagram @theempoweredherd and on Facebook @theempoweredherd
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Ashley Perkins is a Master Life & Success Coach for millennial women who are ready to activate their higher-self and consciously create their life and business. Through a powerful blend of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and intuitive strategy, Ashely helps others banish the limiting beliefs keeping them stuck in their life and business, lean into their highest-self with confidence, and show up like the CEO that you are!
Ashley spent years playing small, and she came to coaching through her own experiences. Creating a life of fulfillment often comes with a lot of discomfort, but you have the power to create a reality that you love, that’s fulfilling. The turning point in Ashley’s journey was when she fainted at brunch with her boyfriend. She was burned out, suffering from adrenal fatigue, and it wasn’t until she was sitting in the hospital completely depleted, ashamed, and stressed that she realized something needed to shift - ASAP. She was craving freedom and creativity, and this is when she found Neuro-Linguistic Programming. She immediately became obsessed because of the power that it holds and all of the techniques under its umbrella to impact permanent long-lasting and instant change on an identity level. Ashley’s story and words will remind you to take a chance on yourself, and challenge yourself to change the way you approach your life and your business.
To connect with Ashley and learn more about her work visit her website www.ashleyperkins.co and on Instagram @ashleyperkins.co and Ashley is currently offering a limited number of 2-hour breakthrough sessions to help you create instant subconscious shifts and empower you to quantum leap towards the life and business of your dreams. To learn more and reserve your session, visit: https://ashleyperkins.as.me/breakthrough
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Dr. Noelle Nelson is a California-based psychologist, consultant and speaker. She is passionate about personal growth and happiness. She’s authored over a dozen books about finding our better selves.
In 2018, her home was destroyed in the Woolsey fire that tore through many parts of Southern California. Dr. Nelson was able to turn tragedy into hope. As part of her own healing process and to help others who have lived through natural disasters, she wrote Phoenix Rising - Surviving Catastrophic Loss: Fires, Floods, Hurricanes and Tornadoes, Amazon, where she explores the trauma of losing everything--the photos and memorabilia of a lifetime--how to survive the immediate aftermath and how to find the strength to start a new chapter in life.
In her more than 30 years of experience studying and researching human behavior, Dr. Nelson knows that we all could use inspiration in our lives. She shares her thoughts on empowerment, learning and growth on her twice-monthly podcast, "Up! Uplifting, Inspiring, Practical." In 2016, Dr. Nelson noticed that a segment of society is often disparaged and dismissed--those in their later years. Putting on her research hat once again, she found that far from the stereotypical views of older adults, a vast number are leading productive, happy and healthy lives. She decided to highlight them (over 600 and counting) on her Facebook page Meet The Amazings (@MeetTheAmazings) and wrote about many in her book The Longevity Secret, How to Live Happy, Healthy & Vibrant Into Your 70s, 80s, 90s and Beyond (Amazon Kindle).
Dr. Nelson believes that we can all enjoy happy, fulfilling lives while accomplishing great things in love, at home and at work, as we appreciate ourselves, our world and others.
In today’s episode Dr. Nelson shares how we can start anew after a disaster. In 2018 her home was destroyed by fire in approximately 45 minutes during the Woolsey Fire in Southern California. Nothing was left of her home or her possessions, even the cement driveway turned to powder. As impossible as it was to conceive that her home was gone, she never stopped carrying on. Dr. Nelson reflects on how she survived during the immediate aftermath of losing all per possessions and how she was able to start a new chapter in her life. As she shares, it was out of continuing the normal activities of her life, her anchors, that miracles came. Dr. Nelson’s story will remind you just how wonderful people are, that kindness is all around us, and that despite profound loss, we can start anew.
To learn more about Dr. Noelle Nelson visit her website www.noellenelson.com on Facebook @drnoellenelson and listen to her podcast Up! Uplifting, Inspiring, Practical on Spotify
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Ali Singer is a writer, mother, former lawyer and overachiever and the light behind the blog Beacon & Joy. Ali always thought that having a well-thought out plan would prevent surprise and carry her beyond any difficulty she’d experience. She started planning out her life, and planning early, and for a long time she thought perfectionism was the route to happiness and fulfillment. She always felt that she needed to stand out and prove her worth. Enter law school and her plan to become the first female president of the United States. Shortly after law school the cracks in her plan started to reveal themselves, and after graduation she practiced law for 5 years before beginning a PhD in Women’s Studies.
After her daughter was born with special needs, Ali’s life path shifted from the pursuit of perfection to a quest to find joy in the everyday, love herself as she is, and radiate kindness. Her daughter helped her reframe her focus away from achievement of the impossible goals she set for herself and self-judgment, and choose compassion, joy, and self-acceptance instead. Ali is truly inspirational, and her journey recognizing that our value far exceeds what we do or what we produce is relatable and honest. Her choice to choose gratitude, self-love, and inner acceptance will leave you seeking out these small moments in your life too.
Ali’s reflections on the weight of perfectionism and its affect on her health, happiness, and sense of belonging in the world will remind you that you’re not alone. Her understanding that we are so much more than what we achieve, that our value is inherent, and that we have nothing to prove will inspire you to reframe the inner dialogue you’re having with yourself. It’ll also inspire you to let go of the rigid plans and path that you’ve set forward for your life, and instead choose the beautiful plan and path that is waiting for you.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Erika Hess is an artist, advocate for the arts, and the creator of I Like Your Work Podcast. As Erika so beautifully says in this week’s episode, we have different stories from different seasons of our lives. Each story is unique and full of lessons, reflections, and aha! moments.
Erika walks us through her story that began at 27 years-old. Erika’s words on what it meant to be vulnerable with herself, and then others, will remind you of just how important it is to let yourself be seen and heard. Her reflections on moving through instability and coming out on the other side feeling secure and grounded, will remind you that we are never alone. As Erika says in this week’s episode, we all have a guiding sense to help us - and it’s up to us to get quiet enough to hear it. Today, she has an amazing partner and two kids, she continues to work on her art, and through her vulnerability she continues to connect with others.
To learn more about Erika and her podcast I Like Your Work visit her website erikabhess.com. You can submit work to be featured on her blog, I Like Your Work Studio Visit, by visiting: https://www.erikabhess.com/ilikeyourworkstudiovisit and check out her newsletter! You can find Erika on Instagram @ilikeyourworkpodcast and email her at ilikeyourworkpodcast@gmail.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Tamra Ryan is the CEO of Women’s Bean Project, a Colorado 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to change women’s lives by providing stepping stones to self-sufficiency through social enterprise. They believe that all women have the power to transform their lives through employment. So they hire women who are chronically unemployed and they teach them to work by making nourishing products. They learn to stand tall, find their purpose and break the cycle of poverty. Because they believe when you change a woman’s life, you change her family’s life.
Throughout the episode Tamra shares the stories of some of the women she’s met in her tenure - and every story and experience will inspire you and touch you. Her reflections on the power of the resiliency of the human spirit, the women she’s met at the Bean Project who have faced and overcame insurmountable odds, and how it’s changed her - from being a “hard hearted business focused woman” to a woman who wants and needs to know each woman’s story, will remind you that what we have in common as people, is far stronger than anything that might divide us. Today, Tamra leads the Bean Project’s strategic direction and is instrumental in putting the organization on the national and international map, as a high-performing and impactful social enterprise. She is a former board member of Social Venture Partners-Denver, currently chairs the Board of Directors for the Social Enterprise Alliance and is on the advisory board for the Barton Institute for Philanthropy and Social Enterprise at the University of Denver.
To connect with Tamra and Women’s Bean Project you can visit their website www.womensbeanProject.com and you can find Tamra on Twitter @tamraryan and via email Tamra.ryan@womensbeanproject.com and you can find Women’s Bean Project on Instagram @womensbeanproject on Twitter @womensbean and Facebook @womensbeanproject
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Linda Olson is the go-to story expert who helps authors, speakers and entrepreneurs impact millions with their stories. She is a TEDx Speaker, multiple bestselling author and founder of Wealth Through Stories. Her mission is to impact a million people a year with multiple authors in her series, Story Matters! Linda and her husband, Rick, reside in sunny California. They enjoy their two married daughters, sons-in-law and five adorable grandchildren who are the best part of their story.
In today’s episode Linda shares the day her life changed, and her journey of healing. As Linda shares, when we face an emotional storm we have a choice, we can either go with the storm and prolong our fear, discouragement, guilt and shame, or we can face the storm and get through it much more quickly. Linda shares the pattern she’s discovered when facing her emotional storms, the importance of not allowing yourself to stay stuck, and the gift of perseverance.
To connect with Linda and learn more check out her website https://wealththroughstories.com and on YouTube here Facebook @wealththroughstories Instagram @linda.wealththroughstories
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Rosanna Berardi is the Managing Partner of Berardi Immigration Law and the CEO of High Wire Woman, where she helps working women create a blueprint to live their lives in a simpler way and take back their most precious commodity: their time. Starting as a one-woman operation in Rosanna's apartment fifteen years ago, Berardi Immigration Law is now a multi-million dollar firm that helps companies navigate the employment-based immigration system and foreign professionals achieve the American dream.
In today’s episode Rosanna shares her journey becoming an immigration lawyer and the CEO of High Wire Woman. Inspired by her dad’s story as an immigrant from Italy, Rosanna became an immigration lawyer and every day she works with clients around the world who want to come to America. For Rosanna, it’s such a joyful area of law. Today her work with High Wire Woman is all about about helping women create a life that works for them and empowering them to make those changes. Her goal is to help provide them with small, tangible steps that make a big impact and help women take back their most precious commodity: their time.
To connect with Rosanna and learn more check out her website https://www.highwirewoman.com and on Instagram @highwirewoman Twitter @highwirewoman and you can find her podcast, High Wire Woman here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Laurin Wittig, founder of Heartlight Wellness, is an intuitive healer, a Reiki Master, a student of Soul Focused Esoteric Healing, a mentor to those on or just beginning a spiritual path, and an award-winning novelist. She loves to combine her healing skills and her story skills to help her clients reveal the stories that no longer serve them in mind, body, or spirit.
As healing happens, new stories are revealed, enhancing and supporting the transformation into a healthier, more joyful, and heart-centered life. This is the same journey Laurin took to health and heart-centered purpose. It brings her great joy to be able to assist others on their journeys to joy.
In today’s episode Laurin shares her journey finding her purpose and the joy that comes from being in alignment with that purpose. It’s the story of how she discovered her gift of healing. Laurin’s lifelong struggle with her health and allergies led her to working with an acupuncturist, and then an intuitive healer. It was only when she began to recognize and understand the underlying cause of her allergies, and releasing and shifting the energy surrounding it, that her health changed. Laurin’s story will encourage you to look for what may be holding you safe, the hidden fears, doubts, and regrets that might be keeping you from the thing that might just feed your soul, serve your purpose, and fill you with joy.
To connect with Laurin and learn more check out her website HeartLightJoy.com and on Instagram @heartlightjoy Facebook @HeartLightJoy and via email laurin@heartlightjoy.com and you can book a Free 20 Minute Call w Laurin
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Linda Jämsén is an American expat living in Finland. She recently self-published her first book, Odyssey of Love: A Memoir of Seeking and Finding, a romantic, travel, and music-filled adventure of her three years working and singing in Budapest. A classically-trained pianist, she is also a choral singer and has performed in Israel, the UK, Hungary, and Finland. She lives on an island in Helsinki with her husband.
In today’s episode Linda shares a heartfelt story called "The Joy of Giving”, of how the donation of her childhood violin to a Middle Eastern refugee musician in Finland created ripples of joy for all involved. After hearing "Joy to the World" during Christmastime, this memory came to the forefront, and it’s a beautiful reminder of the joy of connecting with others, and that our contributions to others have the ability to make a difference.
To connect with Linda and learn more visit her website www.lindajamsen.com and on Facebook @Odysseyoflovebook Instagram @lindajamsenauthor and Twitter @LJamsen
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Harry Glorikian is a global business expert, healthcare entrepreneur, podcaster and author of The Future You: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help You Get Healthier, Stress Less, and Live Longer (Brick Tower Press, Oct. 2021). For over three decades, Glorikian has built a breadth of successful ventures in the healthcare space, and he is well known for being at the forefront of helping invest in and grow innovative healthcare companies that are tackling ground-breaking areas of healthcare and biotechnology. A sought-after speaker, Glorikian is frequently quoted in the media and regularly asked to assess, influence, and be part of innovative concepts and trends. He also holds four US patents in telecommunications and has others pending.
In today’s episode Harry shares the inspiration behind his latest book, what drives his work, and his desire to help others understand how to make a big difference in their lives. As Harry shares, by looking at the data you can begin to make small adjustments in your life that will make significant difference in your health and wellness on a daily basis, and potentially push off or avoid any major issues in the future. It’s Harry’s hope that his story and reflections will inspire you to follow your passions, achieve the goals you want to achieve, and optimize your health.
To connect with Harry and learn more visit his website https://glorikian.com/ for more information.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Kasey Carmona is a former performing arts teacher turned full-time mom to two boys. When her second son was born with a life-threatening critical illness, Kasey was forced to surrender herself (and her son) into the great big hands of Love. Kasey and her adorable family lives in Atlanta, GA.
In today’s episode Kasey shares her story of life and love, and the great life and loss of her second son CJ. In May of 2021, a team of doctors sat on Kasey’s couch to share that it was time to take her son off life support. Kasey’s story and journey captures both joy and suffering, and she so beautifully shares why they’re on the same spectrum and what changes when we see the beauty in all things. When we embrace both joy and suffering we allow ourselves the opportunity to live a fulfilling life. The truth is we don’t know how many moments we have with the ones we love the most. The proverbial “Last Supper” became a reality for her family just a few short months after CJ’s birth, and in those last minutes turned days, they saw life, death and the divine dance in their home and hearts.
To connect with Kasey and learn more visit her on Instagram @kaseycarmona and @let.them.be.known
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Dr. Sharon Grossman is a success coach, speaker, and author of the Amazon bestseller, The 7E Solution to Burnout, who helps high achievers crack the code of their burnout so they can find tailored solutions for recovery. If you've tried workshops and therapy and feel like nothing sticks, working with Dr. Sharon will show you how you can totally transform your relationship with your work by working on yourself instead of trying to change your job or career. She’s shared her grounded yet practical approach with numerous organizations, nonprofits, and universities. You can find her online at www.drsharongrossman.com or on Facebook at The High Achiever's Lounge.
In today’s episode Dr. Sharon shares her journey and what led her to focusing on burnout prevention and recovery. From developing an interest and passion for personal development at an early age, to recognizing her own constant need to evolve, Dr. Sharon realized the ever present need to focus on burnout. Through her work she mixes CBT, mindfulness, emotional intelligence and energy psychology to help others reshape their thinking and way of engaging with their work and life. Dr. Sharon shares what she’s learned about herself through her journey, her biggest dream to help others crack the code on their burnout, so that you can continue to do the work that you love without sacrificing your health in the process.
To connect with Dr. Sharon and learn more visit www.drsharongrossman.com you can find the Burnout Checklist here and her book here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Gwen Finestone, MFT, Ph.D., CT, is President of California Southern University and has been recently nominated as a “Woman of Influence” via the Irvine Chamber for her contribution as an inspirational leader, role-model and advocate and mentor helping women in the workplace rise in leadership.
In today's new episode Gwen shares her journey and introduces her new book, “Finding the Gems,” where she helps readers overcome major life trauma and loss and teaches them to lead a happy and positive life without letting their tragedies define them. She blends psychology, spirituality, humanism, meaning and purpose to help readers free themselves from the pain of their losses.
To connect with Gwen and learn more visit her on her website http://www.drgwenfinestone.com and on Twitter @finestonegwen Facebook @dr.finestone and you can find her new book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Tammie Chang, M.D., is a board-certified physician in pediatric hematology/oncology and co-founder of Pink Coat MD, an uplifting community to empower women physicians. Using her expertise in coaching, leadership and consulting work, background in wellness and work as a physician, Chang guides women physicians to become the best version of themselves and protect their well-being by helping them achieve greater balance, prevent burnout and live healthier lives.
Her upcoming book, Boundaries as a Woman Physician: The Key to Loving Your Life and Career in Medicine, focuses on the understanding that to heal and serve others, one must first focus on having a healthy body, spirit and mind.
In today’s episode Tammie shares her journey with severe burnout, the importance of good self-care habits and boundaries in a physician’s life to avoid burnout, stress and exhaustion, and her dedication to changing the culture of medicine. Through her journey and diving into the magic of coaching, Tammie discovered that joy is her top core value, followed by love, freedom, courageous integrity, empowerment, and growth. Through following these guiding principles she discovered what it means to truly be alive and live a life full of joy. Tammie shares the hard earned lessons she’s learned, why we need to be clear on our why, and her biggest dream.
To connect with Tammie and learn more check out her website www.tammiechangmd.com and www.pinkcoatmd.com and on Instagram @tammiechangmd and @pinkcoat_md Twitter @tammiechangmd and @pinkcoat_md Facebook @tammiechangmd and @PinkCoatMD and on LinkedIn here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
When She Wakes, She Will Move Mountains author Tanya Valentin is a teacher, women’s archetype mentor, poet, podcaster, and published author. She is the founder of the AWAKE™ mentoring framework, used to support mothers of tween and teen girls who are navigating change to create the life that they want. Valentin was born in South Africa.
Today, she lives in Northland, New Zealand with her husband, three teenage daughters, and a happy collection of a dog, three cats, and free-range farm animals, including a mischievous goat named Kemi.
To connect with Tanya and learn more check out her website https://www.tanyavalentinauthor.com and on Instagram @tanyavalentinnz and you can find her book here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Tanya is committed to co-creating magic in the lives of women so they can discover their purpose, reclaim their joy, find their voice, create the life they want, and step into their magnificent inner Queen.
In today’s episode Tanya shares her journey becoming an Archetype Mentor and Author of When She Wakes, She Will Move Mountains - Five Steps to Reconnecting with Your Wild Authentic Inner Queen. After years of ignoring her real calling to be a writer, she looked herself in the mirror and realized she didn’t recognize the woman staring back at her. She wondered where her life had gone, and Tanya knew it was time to change her life. This wake-up call culminated in a huge personal awakening and healing journey. During the pandemic she was inspired to write about her journey to offer hope and healing to other women and moms who are going through the same thing she did. Tanya’s story is a beautiful reminder that we’re never really lost, the real you is within, you just need to surrender to what is.
Olivia Swindler was raised in Spokane, Washington, but currently resides in Grenoble, France, and is the Communication Coordinator for Young Life in Europe. She spends most of her spare time wandering through the mountains and eating her weight in bread.
Olivia believes that through fiction we can learn and grow from one another because there is something magical about picking up a book and allowing it to transport you someplace new. Cynthia Starts a Band is her debut novel, which she hopes will create and foster hard, real-life conversations, inspiring readers to have the courage to discover who they are when the world isn't looking.
In today’s episode Olivia shares the inspiration behind her debut novel, Cynthia Starts a Band, and the impact of friendship and community on her healing journey. One of the major themes of this book is friendship, starting over, and the people who are there for you along your journey. Olivia so beautifully shares the gift of female friendships, the impact its had on her life, and how her friendships helped her fully process her breakup and toxic relationship. Through her work Olivia embraces the values of family, empowerment, and healing while also subtly drawing on the #metoo movement.
To connect with Olivia and learn more check out her website oliviaswindler.com and on Instagram @oliviaswindler
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Samantha Williams is a psychology student, artist, and wise beyond her years. In this week’s new episode she shares an important message, one that we need to hear more often - “You don’t always need to know where you’re going.”
Through her journey Samantha found something that she loves, psychology. Over time it changed her relationship with herself, and her studies have helped her realize what she truly wants to do with her life. She’s also an avid and talented illustrator and writer, and she’s being writing short stories since she was a kid. She’s passionate about helping others and expressing her creativity through her hobbies, and her passion will undoubtedly remind you of yours too. You’ll hear it in this week’s episode, Samantha is well on her way to being someone that other people can talk to when they need it most because for her, the ability to help others is what truly brings her joy.
To connect with Samantha you can follow her on Instagram @seren_media
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Dominique Side is The Luxury Vegan, the world’s leading authority in luxury ethical living. As the co-founder of the 7-figure entrepreneurial multiplex Vgn Bae, her mission is to inspire and support other change-makers and influencers to transition to a compassionate-based vegan lifestyle, without compromising on their luxury quality of life. As a music artist and highly successful serial entrepreneur, Dominique understands first-hand the complexities that come from navigating the transition to compassionate-based veganism while maintaining an elevated lifestyle.
In today’s episode Dominique shares her joy for helping and inspiring others and the inspiration behind her newest venture, The Luxury Vegan. As Dominique dove into adopting veganism, her life and career trajectory changed. Dominique shares the inspiration behind her work, the mindset she’s adopted based in compassion, and helping others revisit their dreams and changing their perspective on what’s possible. Through every facet of her life, Dominique is sharing her message of compassion and its her hope that her work and story will empower others to do the same.
To connect with Dominique and learn more visit www.theluxuryvegan.com www.vgnbaestudios.com www.vegsidemkt.com www.surroagacyaccount.com and on Instagram @vgnbaedom
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Leah Sefor is South Africa’s go-to life and relationships expert. With over 26 years experience, she is well known for being a straight-talking, take-no-prisoners coach, author, podcaster and speaker whose work is all about 'what it means to be real.’ Leah delivers dynamic coaching experiences, facilitating breakthroughs and giving men and women the wake up calls they need to create a non-negotiable life. Leah’s practice is based in Johannesburg, South African. She works online with individuals, couples and organizations from all over the world to show them a more authentic way of being.
In today’s episode Leah shares her journey finding joy and how she arrived at her work helping others get real - in all areas of their life - so that they can be unapologetically themselves. Everything changed for Leah after the birth of her daughter. Leah was in need of support and she found herself at a group for new moms. It was a space meant to share and connect, but everyone seemed to have it all together! When it was Leah’s turn to speak she was honest about her struggles and suddenly everyone else said “me too”. They were all in the same boat, but nobody was being honest about it. As the conversation continued there was a deep connection that happened, and the power of vulnerability that day allowed them all to be honest about how they were really doing, and the support they needed. Leah’s story will remind you that when we are authentically ourselves we create greater space for connection, support, community, and vulnerability, and inspire connection and joy.
To connect with Leah and learn more visit her website: www.leahsefor.com Twitter: @leahsefor LinkedIn: @leahsefor Instagram: @leah.sefor Facebook: @leahsefor YouTube: LeahSefor and Podcasts: The Get Real Podcast
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Jacquelyn Armour wants to share the world through the eyes of someone who has wandered the streets of 90 countries, learning about herself and life along the way. She is someone who is curious, sees the world a little differently and loves joining the dots. She believes when your eyes and mind are open you receive more from the world. In October 2021 she published her first travel memoir, “Follow Your Joy”, on her birthday. The memoir focuses on how she lives her life by following the feeling of joy. The outcome we seek is never the destination or the goal, but is the journey we take when we do the stuff that brings us joy.
In today’s episode Jacquelyn shares the inspiration behind her new book, “Follow Your Joy”, the role of travel in finding her joy, and her decision to share what joy means to her. Jacquelyn’s mission with the book is to inspire you to find your joy. Through sharing joyful practices, such as setting intentions, being in nature, and being curious, you can learn more about yourself and life. Jacquelyn is passionate about people taking a step towards joy, however bit or small, because when you do you allow yourself to live more intentionally and return to the present moment.
To connect with Jacquelyn and learn more visit www.followyourjoy.uk and on Instagram @followyoujoy_ja and her book Follow Your Joy is available online at all large book retailers.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Martel Catalano is a yoga teacher, public speaker and the founder of Beyond My Battle, a nonprofit harnessing positivity, mindfulness, and self-care to manage the stress of living with disease and disability.
When Martel was 13 years-old she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa, and it’s safe to say it’s had a huge impact on her life. Over the years Martel has slowly been losing her vision, and as a way to cope she disassociated from her disease. She distracted herself from the unfixable problem of blindness by creating problems that she could fix. Three years ago she realized she needed to address her illness. She saw what it was doing to her life, to her relationships, and to her body and she knew it was time for a change.
Martel’s words on reconnecting to the truth of who she is, and who she wanted to be, through yoga and mindfulness will remind you of the importance of pushing past our limiting beliefs and narratives. Her reflections on her journey, the gifts that her disease has given her, and her desire to make an impact through sharing her journey and her story will remind you that we are so much more than the battles we face. Martel is a light and her passion and desire to help others overcome their limiting beliefs around chronic illness is inspiring and needed. Sharing her story has changed her life. It’s given her the opportunity to educate and empower others to focus on what we can do, rather than what we can’t, and manage the constant anxiety that comes with living with something that we can’t simply fix.
To learn more about Martel and Beyond My Battle visit their website beyondmybattle.com and connect with Martel on Instagram @martelcatalano and @beyondmybattle
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Kelly T. Smith is a mind, body, and wellness practitioner with a certification in life coaching and hypnotherapy. She has been trained in a variety of holistic healing modalities as well, such as neurolinguistic programming, holistic nutrition, past life regression therapy, homeopathic remedies, essential oils, psychology of intuition, energy healing, and many others. Her mission in life is to help you realize your fullest potential, find your hidden gifts, and break free from limiting beliefs.
She is the author of the Intuitive Life-Coaching Oracle deck and the Guiding Light Oracle deck, available by Beyond Words Publishing. For more about Kelly T. and her work, visit: www.intuitivelifecoachingwithkellycom.
In today’s episode Kelly shares the inspiration behind her oracle card decks and the inner transformation that took place after the birth of her first child. Kelly shares the dream that opened her mind and brought her to a new awareness of who she really was, what she’s experienced in the past, and the truth that it was time to tap into her intuition. Kelly shares her own unfolding, the moment she had the courage to surrender, and how she started making choices based on her own inner guidance rather than fear. Kelly’s story is a beautiful reminder that our soul often calls out to us, if only we have the courage to listen.
To connect with Kelly and learn more visit www.intuitivelifecoachingwithkelly.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Kate Evans has spent her career helping empower women to discover their inner strength. She believes we all have our own answers, yet it can be tough to access them on our own because of all the other noise. Kate is here to facilitate your self-discovery and help you create your plan for success.
Throughout her professional and personal life, Kate has seen the power of decluttering your mind, body, soul, and space. She became a personal coach to help you discover that same power yourself. As a certified life coach with nearly two decades of experience in psychology, Kate offers you her knowledge of decluttering and organization, yoga and yogic philosophy, feng shui, people, and life. With her unique solution-focused and integrative approach to life decluttering, and your commitment to yourself, together you will create the life you deserve.
In today’s episode Kate shares her journey finding her joy, and the risks she took to follow her heart, passions, and joy. Today, Kate works with women to help them find their joy, to balance their mind, body, soul and space. As she shares, taking care of the home that you live in is a key element to peace of mind and tuning into your inner guidance. If your home is chaotic, chances are you feel chaotic too. Through exploring these areas in her life - mind, body, soul and space - Kate discovered her joy, and it’s her hope that her story will inspire you to take risks in your life too.
To connect with Kate visit her on her website www.soulfulspacecoaching.com where you can sign up for her weekly emails, read her blog, find 30-day challenges and decluttering tips, as well as, of course, sign up for coaching and Instagram @soulfulspace.coaching and via email kate@soulfulspacecoaching.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Passionate about global entertainment and the intersection of artistry and mental health, Jessie Cheng left California’s Bay Area for Boston in pursuit of her studies in marketing and applied psychology. Her marketing experience has allowed Cheng to work directly with musical talent, thereby strengthening her dedication to creating a culture of empathy through creative storytelling. As a Chinese American woman, Cheng hopes to advance a new, diverse narrative on mental health and in penning her debut novel, Unglamored, has sparked a conversation about eating disorders within Asian communities and the entertainment industry. When not busy writing, Cheng can often be found competitively playing card games with friends or performing two a.m. solo concerts in front of her mirror.
In today’s episode Jessie shares her passion for music and the inspiration behind her book, Unglamored. As Jessie shares, what we often see on the outside is not always what goes on behind the scenes. The truth is beauty standards are unrealistic and the media distorts, everything. Jessie vulnerably opens up about her struggles with disordered eating, body dysmorphia, and an eating disorder. As Jessie shares, our struggles are valid and can be confronted. your story matters and even your pain can be turned into something that positively impacts others and changes lives. Today, it’s her hope that with her book Unglamored she can help build a culture of empathy between us and those in the public eye, and to encourage all of us to be compassionate with ourselves and others.
To connect with Jessie and learn more visit her website www.jessiejmcheng.com and @jessiejmcheng on Instagram and via email at jessiecheng.author@gmail.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Amber Jewell, LMSW is a social worker, board president of National Successful Survivor Foundation (successfulsurvivors.org), previous foster child, foster-adoptive parent, national speaker, and author of “Finding Hope: The 12 Keys to Healing Hardship, Hurt and Sorrow” [released 8/31].
She has over 15 years of experience working with youth and families in child protective services, education and mental health services. As an educator and an advocate for promoting change for and value within people, Amber works to inspire and motivate others to grasp their own form of hope.
In today’s episode Amber shares her journey discovering joy, and coming to understand who she is. For years Amber introduced herself as anything but a foster kid. When she was 12 years old she went into foster care, and it taught her that joy isn’t situational. Joy is internal. Amber’s reflections on how we often sit in shame, fear, or grief, and cover the stories that are so impactful to us and those around us, will remind you that what we’ve experienced doesn’t define us, but it is part of our story. We can find hope and joy through life’s hardships, and Amber’s hope and belief that joy would allow her to persevere through life’s challenges is what’s sustained her. As Amber shares, there is so much joy in finding freedom from the burdens we carry, and from the emotions that we too often let influence our behaviors. Today, Amber is sharing her message of joy and resilience with others, and she’s only just beginning.
To connect with Amber and learn more visit her website www.amberjewell.org and on Facebook @amberjewellhope Instagram @ajewellspeaker Linkedin: Amber Jewell, LMSW and www.successfulsurvivors.org and via email amberjewellspeaks@gmail.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Dr. Jenelle Kim, DACM, L.Ac., is the founder and leader formulator for JBK Wellness Labs. Dr. Kim is carrying on the medical knowledge and wisdom of her lineage. Dr. Kim is devoted to integrating the philosophy, medical wisdom, and expertise of East Asia with the advancements of modern life and medicine of the West in order to touch and positively affect the lives of others. Dr. Kim is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and is Nationally Board Certified in Herbology, Oriental Medicine, and Acupuncture. Dr. Kim completed extensive training in East Asia under some of the most respected doctors in the field of Oriental Medicine and is the custodian of her lineage’s proprietary Bi Bong® formulas.
Dr. Kim’s teachings on meditation are currently available for pre-order under the title Myung Sung: The Korean Art to Living Meditation by Watkins Publishing and will be distributed by Penguin Random House in January 2022. In her book, Dr. Kim breaks down the principles of Myung Sung, offering a way to achieve a life of balance and happiness by enjoying the positive benefits of meditation every minute of every day. Dr. Kim’s unique approach to meditation combines lessons on movement and natural medicine learned from a lifetime of experience studying Eastern philosophy, Eastern medicine, and martial arts.
In today’s episode Jenelle shares her journey tapping into the medical knowledge and wisdom of her lineage. She so beautifully speaks on how her lineage drives her work and her passion. She speaks of three pillars: medicine, meditation and movement. These three pillars have been passed down for many centuries, and it’s her belief that these pillars can empower us no matter where we are in our lives. Ultimately by incorporating the practices and principles of these pillars into your life, you’ll be able to find your own happiness, longevity, beauty, happiness, peace, and all of the things that we wish for. Early on in her career Jenelle focused solely on medicine, and as she shares, when life shows us different opportunities we have to have our eyes open. Even when it’s scary, we have to walk forward, and that’s exactly what she did. She began to focus on the second pillar, meditation. It’s her wish to share the principles of living meditation, Myung Sung. Jenelle shares her journey publishing her book, the impact of her father’s passing on her journey, the role of the pandemic, and how she’s worked to embody the third pillar of movement, by creating movement and flow in her own life. It’s Jenelle’s wish to share the wisdom that has been handed down to her through her lineage so that she can share it with the world.
To connect with Dr. Jenelle and learn more visit her website Jenellekim.com andJbkwellnesslabs.com and on Instagram @drjenellemkim TikTok @drjenellekim Twitter @JenelleMKim Facebook @drjenellemkim and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jenelle-kim-863835175/
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Julia Paulette Hollenbery is a bodyworker, therapist, mystic, healer and facilitator. For more than 25 years she has guided countless clients into deep confidence and self-authority. She is passionate about sharing her life-long love of the mystery, real sensual relationship, and the life of the body.
In her book, The Healing Power of Pleasure: Seven Medicines for Rediscovering the Innate Joy of Being, Julia explains how how pleasure is all around us, and she explores seven easily accessible spiritual “medicines” to discover more sensual pleasure and delight in your body, relationships, and way of being.
In today’s episode Julia shares her journey writing her latest book. Throughout her life Julia has always circled around the same message. As a child she felt free to explore in nature, in the gardens, in pleasure, in delight and sensuality. She noticed the difference she felt when she was in spaces that were more confined and limited, and through exploring her own spirituality, pleasure, and sensuality Julia is opening the door for others to do the same. When Julia was a teenager she had a breakdown that began the great personal healing and transformational journey that has been her life. It’s Julia’s hope that you will enjoy and benefit from reading her new book and know that you too can heal yourself and move from difficulty into delight.
To connect with Julia visit her on her website https://universeofdeliciousness.com on Facebook @juliapaulettehollenbery Twitter @JuliaHollenbery Instagram @Julia.paulette.hollenbery and LinkedIn @Juliahollenbery
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Shayna Norwood founded her company, Steel Petal Press in 2011 to share beauty and humor with the world through her collection of handmade stationery. What began as a part–time endeavor in 2008 has grown to include three presses, a paper cutter, and a small + awesome team. Together they print, package and ship each item by hand.
In this week’s new episode Shayna shares with us her journey starting her business. Shayna also so beautifully and openly shares her journey with anxiety, and the impact it’s had on her life and her business. In 2016 Shayna was dealing with the stress of the election, she had just opened up her retail shop, and so much had happened at the same time. She was still having panic attacks and having trouble going into work, and there wasn’t any way for her to step away from it. Fast forward to today, she feels much more stable and clear and she knew she wanted to share her experiences, and use Steel Petal Press as a platform to do that. She wanted to create a product that would allow her to tell her story, be useful, and impactful.
To learn and connect with Shayna and Steel Petal Press visit her website https://www.steelpetalpress.com/ and on Facebook @steelpetalpress Instagram @steelpetalpress and Pinterest @steelpetalpress and if you’re interested in the Mental Health Trackers use code “NOTALONE” to receive 15% off!
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Dudley Evenson co-founded Soundings of the Planet in 1979 with her husband Dean Evenson. Together, they have produced over 80 albums and videos. She has been the Executive Producer, art director and copy writer for all of the Soundings releases in addition to performing her harp and doing guided meditations on many albums. Dudley is a certified professional life coach and has trained with Impact Coaching Academy. She is an AARP Life Reimagined Guide and leads Life Reimagined Checkups. She writes the Healthy Living Dreams blog on the Soundings home page.
Their most recent LP, Monet’s Garden, released in May 2021 and was created after a lifelong love affair with the work of the famed French impressionist painter, Claude Monet. Dudley also is author of several books, including her most recent: A Year of Guided Meditations: 52 Weekly Affirmations.
In today’s episode, Dudley shares her journey finding her place in the world, discovering her passions, and developing her personal dreams. For years Dudley was on a quest of personal discovery. From facing depression in college to traveling the country in search of inspiration and meaning, if there’s anything her life and travels have taught her it’s this, that we’re all on a quest of understanding and discovery, and that while life is full of joy, it’s also full of struggle and challenge. She met her partner Dean in New York, and together they’ve explored the field of music. Starting from scratch to create musical experiences that could touch everyone around the world, Dudley has found great joy in music. As Dudley shares, part of the joy of exploring life has informed her music with Dean, and their dreams. Today, Dudley is dreaming of a better life for everyone in the world, and how we can help create it.
To learn more and connect with Dudley visit her website www.soundings.com where you can find their award-winning music, books, blog, podcast, and videos and on YouTube here and here and Instagram @soundingsoftheplanet and Facebook @soundingsoftheplanet and you can tune to their music on your favorite streaming service https://orcd.co/monetsgarden
tories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Margo Carroll is an email marketing strategist and sales funnel copywriter for online business owners. Through her company, Remedy Writing LLC, she helps trained experts sell their coaching, courses, and services with adaptable evergreen sales funnels that grow alongside their business. She supports entrepreneurs with her high-touch Funnel Build Intensives in Bellingham, WA and her signature group program, the Trailblazer Toolkit™️.
In this week’s new episode, Margo shares her journey moving from seeking accomplishment, to seeking joy. She shares how she’s always been someone who sought the reward for achievement and executing on skills that she had developed. That started from a very young age - she was always at the front of the desk, or the one to finish her test first. She thought that a big part of her value came from her brain, and being rewarded for what she could accomplish. She shares her passion for working for social justice causes, working with international students, and becoming a social worker. She shares the highs and lows, the anxiety she experienced, and the difficulty she had finding joy in her journey. She shares the moment everything changed - and the questions she asked herself in that moment will remind you just how important it is to value, celebrate, and love your life, and every moment that we’re given.
To learn more about Margo and her work visit her website www.margocarroll.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @margocarroll and you can download your Trailblazer’s Roadmap for Online Course Sales here: bit.ly/antiroadmap
tories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Dinara is a certified Health Coach and her passion is to educate and empower women to take charge of their hormonal health. Dinara helps women balance their hormones naturally by teaching them how to nurture and move their bodies in sync with their feminine biology using integrative and holistic approaches combine with evidence-based medical research.
In today’s episode Dinara shares her journey empowering herself to take charge of her hormonal health so that she can now help others to do the same. After experiencing intensely painful periods, stubborn weight gain, and mood swings, among others. After trying birth control and an IUD and experiencing symptoms that left her feeling worse, Dinara knew she needed to take matters into her own hands. After a conversation with a friend she realized her periods didn’t need to be painful, but instead she needed to listen to her body. Dinara shares what she’s learned throughout the journey, the perspective shift that changed everything, and her passion for helping women look at the their cycle for guidance, see it as a joyful experience, and our superpower.
To learn more and connect with Dinara visit her on Instagram @dinara.mukh
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy
Stephen D’Angelo is a best selling author and Silicon Valley veteran with more than 30 years experience in the tech industry. He has led global sales organizations as a CRO and served as CEO and President of both private and publicly traded companies. Stephen has been an integral part of IPO’s and company acquisitions and has helped build global organizations that become leaders in their respective market segments. His book A Single Day of Peace serves as a guide for self empowerment and how to climb to success in both business and personal endeavors. Stephen now leads D’Angelo Advisors providing go-to-market and fundraising consulting to CEO’s and leadership teams, serving global companies of all sizes. He is a strong proponent of the power of the mind. He believes great things are possible for all who blend their brain power with faith, hard-work, positive inspiration, and good will.
In today’s episode Stephen shares his journey taking his business career and utilizing that experience to become an author, and why he decided to write an inspirational novel to help people live a happier and more successful life. Stephen knew he wanted to give back to society and others through figuring out what makes happy and successful people just that, happy and successful, and how we can avoid the pit of negativity and unhappiness. Throughout his journey Stephen often doubted if he could pull this off, but he knew he had to put the self-doubt aside and really get started. Stephen shares the important role of spirituality in all of our journeys, and the power of mindset, persistence and self-belief in allowing ourselves to pursue our biggest dreams.
To connect with Stephen visit him on LinkedIn here and make sure to check out his new book A Single Day of Peace
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Abbey Griffith is an inspiring personal trainer and coach based out of Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in Industrial Engineering last fall, she’s combined her education and life experience to launch her coaching business and Clarity Fitness - a gym launching later this year centered around positivity, self-love, body positivity, and inclusion.
In this week’s new episode Abbey shares her beautiful intention around health, fitness, and coaching, and the impact that this intention and mindset has had on her life and career. Abbey’s journey started in middle school when she realized for the first time that her body was “different” from those around her. She wanted to “fix it,” and feel worthy in her own skin. She thought that changing her weight would change her perspective around her worthiness. Abbey lost the weight, but it wasn’t sustainable. Her disordered eating spiraled out of control, and by the time she was in her junior year of college she was suffering from anorexia and bulimia. She was sure she was in control of the situation, but she wasn’t.
As a result of her experiences she began to blog her journey going through recovery, and she went on to obtain her personal training certification to teach the world how to enjoy fitness and honor their bodies, instead of using fitness to change their bodies. This, partnered with her knowledge of Industrial Engineering, has allowed her to make a strong impact through her online platform and across Atlanta, Georgia. Through sharing her journey, Abbey is inspiring other women to follow their dreams, all while empowering themselves along the way. At the end of the day, it’s about the communities we build, grow, and join as a result of our experiences. Abbey has so beautifully allowed her experiences to drive her passions, and by helping others who are going through similar experiences has meant everything to her. Today, she’s building a gym and a community that people can go to heal, recharge, experience and awesome workout, and leave feeling healthier and happier than when they walked in. going through the same thing she has, has meant everything.
To connect with Abbey and Clarity Fitness visit her on Instagram @Abbeygrif.fit YouTube @Abbeygrif.fit and on her website www.clarityfitness.com and e-mail here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Emily Rotondi is a middle school language arts teacher and published author. She grew up in Massachusetts. Her stories are inspired by growing up in New England and her love of travel. The Wedding Toaster is her debut novel. She has a second manuscript for a new story completed and is working on a third.
In today’s episode Emily shares the story behind her debut novel “The Wedding Toaster”, and what she learned along the way while writing it. The Wedding Toaster is a romance novel, and it’s been a labor of love and fourteen years in the making! For Emily, it’s first and foremost a story of transformation and of second chances. It’s has been a journey of transformation for Emily too, and it’s taught her to never give up on her dreams. Emily’s story is a beautiful reminder that it’s never too late to trust your soul’s path and purpose and follow your dreams. It’s the journey that matters and along the way there are always “aha!” and tiny moments that change everything and mean the most.
To learn more and connect with Emily visit her website www.emilyrotondicom.com and on Twitter @EmilyRotondi and Instagram @emily_rotondi
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Cathy Jean Norman was born in California and spent her early years in Caracas, Venezuela until the age of 13. She describes her childhood as being surrounded by silent applause from a very encouraging family. She graduated from Unity ministerial school in 1983 and went on to get 2 Master’s degrees. One master’s degree in Theology and the other in Spiritual Psychology.
In today’s episode Cathy Jean shares her story moving away from any attachment to how she felt things should look, and instead trusting the synchronicity of life. Out of her passion and along with her business partner Hope DeLong, they have created Keto baking mixes called “It’s All in the Mixx”. Currently they are in over 500 markets across the nation and they keep on growing beyond their wildest expectations. Cathy’s story is a beautiful reminder that one step leads to the next, and the Universe already knows how to get you to where you need to be.
To learn more and connect with Cathy visit her website www.itsallinthemixx.com and on Facebook @itsallinthemixx Instagram @allinthemixx Twitter @itsallinthemixx and YouTube here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Elisabetta Franzoso is a life & wellness coach, counselor, trainer, speaker and social activist on a mission to inspire and motivate individuals to re-engage with their authentic inner selves.
Elisabetta’s global work as a coach and trainer brings her joy, and her journey to teaching others how to communicate better first began with her. As a child Elisabetta suffered abuse and neglect, and it’s these experiences that inspired her and set her on the path of being an activist and life coach. In this week’s new episode Elisabetta speaks openly and frankly about her relationship with her daughter Stella, and how she found herself repeating the cycle of physical and emotional abuse she encountered as a child. Her journey seeking help and changing her pattern of behavior inspired her first book, “Stella’s Mum Got Her Groove Back.” Her decision to no longer revisit the past and take responsibility for her behavior and ask for help allowed her to embark on a journey of self-awareness that completely altered her life. Elisabetta’s reflections on this journey, and why becoming self-aware is so important, will remind you that there is so much joy and strength that comes from knowing who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going.
With a willingness, commitment, and courage, Elisabetta was able to transform the negative experiences she suffered as a young woman into something joyful. Her reflections on how these experiences mad her wiser and gave her a sense of strength she didn’t know she had will remind you that every experience in our lives serve a purpose. It’s this strength and wisdom that Elisabetta now shares with her clients all around the world. Elisabetta’s reflections on her journey of transformation and its impact, is a beautiful reminder that despite the ups and downs, we are all here to remember the joy in the journey. Today, Elisabetta lives in Barcelona and works with clients all over the world and her life is full of joy - the kind where she wakes up in the morning and feels happy and inspired no matter what is going on around her.
To learn more about Elisabetta visit her website www.elisabettafranzoso.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @elisabettafranzoso
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Ameé Quiriconi is a seasoned entrepreneur and businesswoman with nearly 20 years at the helm of many organizations, from small home-based businesses to multi-million dollar companies. Her professional career spans a variety of industries such as construction & architecture, manufacturing, government consulting, real estate, and health care. In 2018, she started podcasting about mental health, parenting and self-improvement on her show, One Broken Mom. And by 2019, she began to steer her personal and professional goals toward the integration of trauma informed practices into entrepreneurship and business. Ameé is also the author of The Fearless Woman's Guide to Starting a Business: What Every Woman Needs to Know to Be a Courageous, Authentic, and Unstoppable Entrepreneur. And with her study in the fields of neuroscience, psychology and self-improvement, she brings a thought-provoking harmony of practical business strategies with the underlying drives that affect people and their business success.
In today’s episode, Ameé shares her story reframing her past experiences from a belief that she was “cursed” to an understanding that it was the journey that allowed her to become who she was always meant to be, and to do what she always dreamed of doing: being a writer and speaker. Ameé shares the minute she knew she needed to change her life, the self-exploration journey she embarked on, and how she’s sharing her lessons through both her podcast and new book, The Fearless Woman's Guide to Starting a Business: What Every Woman Needs to Know to Be a Courageous, Authentic, and Unstoppable Entrepreneur". It’s Ameé’s hope that we all learn how to have a compassionate view of ourselves through understanding our trauma.
To learn more and connect with Ameé visit her website https://www.ameequiriconi.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameequiriconi/ and you can find her Podcast here and book trailer here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Rachel Engstrom is a young woman who has survived one of the toughest tragedies one can face in life, that has come out on the other side wanting to help others. She lives in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area with her family and beloved dog Greta. By day she helps consumers get connected to mental health and substance abuse services, and on evenings and weekends she is a podcast guest, guest blog writer, and volunteer, when not spending time with family or friends. She’s the author of “Wife, Widow, Now What?”
In today’s episode, Rachel shares her journey navigating the cancer world and ultimately writing her memoir, “Wife, Widow, Now What?” When Rachel was 28 years old, her husband was diagnosed with leukemia. What they thought was the flu after working too many hours, turned out to be the life altering illness that would forever change everything they knew. Rachel became a cancer wife, manager, team cheerleader and expert juggler at life, while supporting her husband throughout his illness, until he died two days after she turned 31. She had to reboot her life and learn how to start over as a widow, without a map or guidebook to lead her. Rachel's humor, moxie and faith helped get her through the cancer world, and survive the calamity of errors that kept-on coming after he died. Today, Rachel’s hope is to provide you with some laughter, comfort, solace and guidance on your own journey, whether it be through the world of cancer, or any other life challenges.
To learn more and connect with Rachel visit her on Instagram @wifewidownowwhat Facebook @wife.widow.now.what and you can find her book on Amazon here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Louise is a JOY-fanatic! She brings her Southern charm and joyful inspiration as she encourages others to discover their own joy no matter where they are on their journey. As Louise navigated her own difficult valleys in life, she emerged with a strong message of joy to share with other women. Her inspiration comes alive with real-life stories of hope, love, and faith. JOY really is her superpower!
In today’s episode, Louise shares her journey to joy and how it became her lifeline. In her work she guides others to find their joy no matter where they are on their journey through life. Louise’s life plan shifted after her divorce. She was moving through the motions of life. There were moments of joy along the way, but it was just moments, until one Sunday morning when her minister spoke on joy. It felt like a new day, as if she had never thought about joy before. That was the day Louise began her journey to joy and she realized she could turn her own newfound joy into encouragement, kindness and new beginnings for other people too. From making a mental joy list to savoring moments of joy during the day, Louise’s reflections through sharing her story will remind you to focus on the joy in your life and share it with others.
To learn more and connect with Louise check out her website https://www.LouisePistole.com and Facebook @JOYatTheCoast Pinterest @JOYatTheCoast on LinkedIn here Instagram @joy_at_the_coast Twitter @LouisePistole on YouTube here and you can find her book here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Sue Hollis is a coach, adventurepreneur, motivator, guide, and author. Sue's story of having amazing "head" success - a big career, beautiful family, financial security, house, cars, and a life of adventure - yet still feeling empty, is inspiring and will challenge you to take a good look at your life. Where are you leading with your head and not your heart? What changes can you make? Who do you really want to be?
Sue was a driven, Type-A overachiever and mega-successful business leader compelled to control everything in her life — her business, her eating habits, and her time. Her identity was tied to her job, and her work was her entire purpose. But despite her external success, Sue felt a deep sense of unhappiness. She left it all behind and decided to set off on an 83-day solo journey across North America on her motorcycle, Voodoo. Along the way she discovered "heart" success. She got to know herself in a whole new way, tapped back into her self-love, passion, and joy. She reclaimed her life and she began to heal. She opened her heart and stepped into the fullness of who she was meant to be. Sue's story of finding her self-love, letting go of perfectionism, and honoring herself is relatable, full of so much courage, vulnerable, and inspiring.
To learn more about Sue and her new and inspiring book Riding Raw check out her website suehollis.com and make sure to follow her on Instagram @suehollis_
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Manda Gannon is a certified practitioner teaching others the importance of energy (frequencies and vibrations), how to release suppressed & dense energies/emotions to consciously create the life we desire. Offering a unique perspective that fully embodies the metaphysical, physical, and spiritual world. By combining the science of energy and spirituality, Manda is dedicated to empowering the world to step into their power, claiming their birthright to consciously create.
Jacquelyn Mills is a licensed aesthetician and energy intuitive, with over thirty years of experience. Jacquelyn’s true passion is to educate and guide those through energy healings, cord cuttings, mirror work, child work, soul retrievals, distant healings, past life lessons, shamanic journeys and so much more all using Ancient healing techniques that is encompassed inenergy, frequency and vibrations.
Today’s episode is a beautiful exploration of Jacquelyn and Manda’s journey creating Ancient Vibrations, and stepping into the energy, frequency and vibrational modalities that they offer to guide others to heal and rebalance. They pride themselves in empowering others to step back into their power, to regain their authentic self, and consciously create the life that you want. Jacquelyn and Manda know this is our birth right, and it’s their honor to help guide you on your healing journey.
To learn more and connect with Manda and Jacquelyn check out their website https://www.ancient-vibrations.com and on Instagram @ancient__vibrations and TikTok @ancient__vibrations and via email here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Born and raised a Jayhawk, KT attended the University of Kansas, and graduated with a marketing degree from the school of business in 2019. Currently, she is a marketing assistant and podcast engineer/producer for Blue Tangerine. KT found her love for podcasting through the podcast ‘My Favorite Murder‘ by Karen Killgariff and Georgia Hardstark. After binging all the episodes she began to branch out and explore the podcast platforms. In other words, she found the vast world of podcasting to be fascinating, and loved the ability to find a podcast about pretty much anything you can imagine. She jumped at the opportunity to become a sound engineer and producer for the Home Builder Digital Marketing Podcast. As a result, KT quickly fell headfirst into the podcasting world.
Then, she started The Quest for New Inspiration at a time when she needed some inspiration herself. In today’s episode KT shares the inspiration behind her podcast and how it gave her the confidence to share her inspiration. About a year and a half ago KT lost her grandfather, and it hit her hard. He was dedicated to his community, work and family, and it’s hard to estimate the impact he had on KT”s life. When she saw he was nearing the end of his incredible 98 years of life, she knew she needed something else to inspire her. Her heart was breaking at the thought of losing him, and she knew she needed something to help her grow and step into her passions. KT’s love for audio started when she was experiencing migraines. It was too difficult for her to watch TV or movies, but she could still enjoy them and podcasts by just listening. Her love for audio is what inspired her to record her grandpa’s voice and his stories, and that started a series of recordings with friends and family to share their inspiring stories too. Today, KT’s goal is to share inspirational stories from all types of people, in hopes of inspiring anyone that presses play. By sharing this podcast, she is challenging herself to improve her confidence, while also growing her podcasting and networking skills.
To learn more and connect with KT connect with her on Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also check out her podcast at http://newinspirationpodcast.com/ and learn more about it here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Fran Dargaville is a Functional Nutritionist, Yoga teacher, and a true light and inspiration. In this week’s new episode, Fran shares with us her journey in health and life. Growing up Fran was into sailing and surfing, she loved being outdoors. At the age of 15, she developed chronic fatigue for the first time. She was always exhausted, and didn’t know what was wrong - and doctors weren’t much help either. When she was in her early 20’s, she developed chronic fatigue for the second time. Her work environment was negative and toxic, and she realized that she couldn’t handle it anymore. It was taking its toll on her health and well-being, and when you combine that with over training and under eating - she knew something needed to change. Fran found a functional practitioner - and for the first time, she felt seen and heard. But she knew she had to take matters into her own hands - and that’s exactly what she did.
Today, Fran has combined everything that she’s learned and she’s on a mission to help women get to the root cause of their symptoms and thrive with real food nutrition. We all receive messages from our bodies all the time that tell us something isn’t right (or that it is!). Fran is a firm believer that by discovering what’s really going on instead of just slapping another quick-fix bandaid over the symptoms, you’ll get the results you want. Fran is known for her practical, no-BS approach to nutrition - and that’s what she brings to every one of her consultations. Most days you can find her starting the day with a swim in the ocean and a nut mylk latte from her favorite cafe before she jumps online for consultations with virtual nutrition clients from all around the world.
To connect with Fran and learn more visit her on Instagram @frandargaville and on her website www.frandargaville.com and if you’d like to grab her Real Food Wellness Starter Kit with recipes and her top nutrition tips for free, head here https://frandargaville.com/starter-kit
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Vanessa R. Sasson doesn't let academic life or cultural ideologies define her. How could she when most of her life she's been caught between worlds? Born and raised in Montreal in an Egyptian Jewish household, Vanessa's upbringing often left her feeling like an outsider. During the week she went to an Ashkenazi (European) Jewish school, but on the weekends, she lived her Egyptian heritage, wrapped up in its nostalgia and rosewater scented desserts.
Vanessa's desire to speak her truth and embrace the imperfect human experience has bled into her academic life and inspired a work of creative fiction, her new novel, Yasodhara and the Buddha.
In today’s episode Vanessa shares what brings her joy, storytelling. She’s been enamored with stories her entire life and when Vanessa first started as an academic she thought to be a good scholar meant she had to look at stories and study them, analyze them, take them apart and reconstruct them in order to see what clues she could find underneath. When she was studying the story of the Buddha’s wife, it changed everything for her. Through this experience Vanessa began to realize that knowledge doesn’t have to fit into a particular box, and there isn’t a dividing line between scholarship and creativity.
To learn more and connect with Vanessa check out her website www.vanessarsasson.com on Instagram @vanessa_r._sasson Twitter @vrsasson and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRSasson
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Debbie Ausburn is a social worker turned lawyer who has served as a criminal prosecutor, foster parent, stepparent and adoptive parent. She has written about her journey with all of its challenges and rewards in "Raising Other People's Children: What Foster Parenting Taught Me About Bringing Together a Blended Family."
In today’s episode Debbie shares her journey as a foster parent and stepparent. Starting when she was a preteen, Debbie helped her parents with their summer camp and church ministries. In the years since, she has served as a juvenile court probation officer/social worker, but she soon burned out. From there, Debbie went to law school and in her legal career she has found her work with children to be indispensable and now her practice centers around serving the institutions that provide therapy, social work services, childcare, camping and residential placements for children. After law school Debbie served as a volunteer foster parent for emergency placements, which meant she only had kids for a short time, and her job was simple: keep them safe and provide whatever warmth, support, and compassion she could. From there, she worked as a federal prosecutor of child abuse and violent crimes, and served as a foster-parent for respite care and long-term placements of abused children and teenagers. Debbie’s story and commitment to advocating for and helping children is a beautiful testament to her journey and heart.
To learn more about Debbie and her work visit her website www.debbieausburn.com www.YouthServicesLaw.com and on Instagram @debbieausburn Twitter @debbieausburn and on Facebook here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Tim Young is a passionate marketer and entrepreneur. He has written 10 books (and counting). His books cover diverse topics ranging from business strategy to personal preparedness to self-sufficient farming. He has also launched several businesses, including one that earned a spot on the INC. 500 list as the 130th fastest growing company in America. Most recently, Tim launched Gratitude Garb with his wife and daughter. Gratitude Garb’s slogan is “spreading gratitude by wearing gratitude.” Their mission is to inspire people to incorporate gratitude into their daily lives.
In today’s episode Tim shares his story from a poor rural homestead, to the highs of corporate America, to realizing what his dream was. Quitting his corporate job didn’t make sense on paper, or to others, but what he really wanted was freedom. Freedom meant starting his own business, and he bootstrapped a marketing services business. Within five years, his startup grew from just him to 415 employees, offices in six countries, and Inc. Magazine named them 130th fastest-growing privately-held company in America. But there was a problem, he couldn’t explain to anyone what he actually did. He realized that his corporate dream wasn’t the dream he longed for. He walked away from it all. Tim and his wife Liz then started a sustainable livestock farm, and in 2015 they sold the farm business. He didn’t stop farming and his work today is running Small Farm Nation where he helps farmers with their marketing, writing, and building and creating Gratitude Garb with his wife and daughter. Together they’re on a mission of “spreading gratitude by wearing gratitude.” The story behind the start of the business, the gratitude tree, and how they brainstormed the idea together, is a powerful reminder that we can live joyfully on our terms, that life is meant to be lived with gratitude, and that we have the freedom to choose our path.
To learn more about Tim visit gratitudegarb.com and http://authortimyoung.com/ and on Facebook @timsmallfarmnation and LinkedIn here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Karen Struck is the author of the new children’s book, Three Paws. In this week’s new episode, Karen shares the hurdles in her life that became great motivators. From her journey attending nursing school, being kicked out of her home by her father, to hitting rock bottom - she shares the lessons she’s learned along the way, the perspective she gained, and her decision to keep focusing on her dreams. Her determination and her perseverance to become a nurse helped her endure the difficult years. Karen’s goal is to create unique, and entertaining characters who inspire children to dream big dreams, to focus on the positive aspects of their lives. As she shares in this week’s new episode, she discovered the joy of children's literature as she read to her daughter each night. By the time her daughter was close to graduating high school she discovered a new passion, a desire to write children’s books. Inspired by the Harry Potter book series, and decided to take writing courses through the Institute of Children's Literature. Last summer, she pulled out the story she wrote 12 years and decided it was time to get it published. Three Paws, her debut book, is the first book published in the Three Paws Series.
In Three Paws, Karen shares the story of Boots, a grizzly bear cub who faces new struggles after permanently injuring his paw. Rooted in friendship and acceptance, Boots’ journey of learning new skills as he navigates his disability as told through Three Paws is perfect for young children, whether they are learning to survive their own challenge or simply to understand those who may appear “different”. No matter our background, we can all relate to Boots and his story: one of perseverance and never giving up on our dreams, even if the odds are stacked against us. As Karen shares, like Boots we all have struggles in life that we must deal with in order to progress forward and grow. Life challenges can be both humbling and inspiring depending on your perspective but overall our experiences can help us gain compassion for others. Boots’ adventures in Three Paws encourages children to be bold and make new friends, all while allowing themselves the room to grow and learn new things. It promotes the importance of both independence and inclusivity, and how both together can function to provide acceptance, encouragement, and positive growth for a child.
To learn more about Karen and her new book you can connect with her on her website www.karenstruckauthor.com and via email karenstruckrn@gmail.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
As a Health, Leadership and Success Coach, Kelly Travis helps ambitious, high achieving folks prioritize their health and well-being so they can reach new levels in their business and their life. Through her programs, speaking and coaching, Kelly helps individuals build confidence, uplevel their physical, emotional and mental health, and realize their goals. And as a result, they take massive action and create positive change in every area of their life.
In today’s episode Kelly shares her story stepping into her mission to support women in owning their own desires and letting go of societal expectations. Kelly was a competitive athlete her entire life and she had big goals to go to the Olympics. After her freshman year of college her coach wrote her a contract to lose weight and she began restricting her food. Kelly found herself quickly declining, and dropped out of school after Nationals where she was an All-American. From coming home to get healthy to spending time in the psych ward, Kelly emerge from that experience healthier on the outside, but she soon realized that she didn’t do the work to shift from surviving to thriving. She returned to school and received a degree in mental health, but it wasn’t until she was pregnant that she realized more needed to change. Kelly embarked on that journey. She left her career, started her own business, and after having her second son she left her marriage. That’s where she’s at today - none of it was easy, but her boys where the catalyst for her to change her life. She knew if she wanted to help other women she had to get herself together, and that’s what she did. Today Kelly is racing again, she’s healthy, and she no longer criticizes her body or feels undeserving of the things that she wants. Kelly is supporting women and men who have goals they’re hiding from and helping them show up as themselves.
To learn more and connect with Kelly visit her website http://www.kellytravis.net on Instagram @kellythealth and you can listen to her podcast She Doesn’t Settle on most podcast platforms
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Michelle Layer Rahal is a published educational consultant and former news radio journalist with degrees in Theater Arts and Education. Most recently, she served as the youth and family ministry director of her church before devoting herself full-time to writing for God’s kingdom purposes. The Indie-award winning author of Straining Forward is passionate about spiritual formation and publishes a regular blog on providence and perseverance. Michelle lives in the Washington, DC area with her fun-loving husband, Greg.
In today’s episode Michelle shares her journey writing her book “Straining Forward”, and sharing Minh Phuong Towner’s story of hope and healing. When Minh spoke at Michelle’s church one Sunday morning, Michelle knew she had to tell her story. Michelle was drawn to Minh’s spirit. Despite her difficult childhood, she exuded joy. But how? Michelle had never written a book before, but her nervousness soon gave way to curiosity and excitement. It took 10 years to complete the manuscript for “Straining Forward”, and while the journey was long and difficult, it was filled with joy. As Michelle shares, she is forever changed for having taken this long and difficult journey with Minh Phuong Towner through abuse, torture, escape, poverty, neglect, and eventually redemption.
To learn more and connect with Michelle, visit her website at www.KeepStrainingForward.com or follow her on Instagram @michellerahalauthor and Facebook @KeepStrainingForward. Paperback and audiobook copies of her book, Straining Forward, can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Dmitria Burby is an author and healer that helps people reconnect with their spirit. Helping them to see the parts of themselves that have been lost or forgotten on the way to building their life. She is passionate about people rediscovering the vibrancy of life that comes when you are able to feel whole and connected in your life.
In today’s episode Dmitria shares her passion to help others access joy and happiness within whatever world they’ve created for themselves. She believes this is our purpose, to live the best life we can and experience the joy and wonder available to all of us. Dmitria wasn’t always full of joy and happiness. She learned from a young age that if you worked hard, eventually happiness would come. But beyond that, she learned that working hard was how she showed her value and worth to others, it was how she was appreciated and felt loved. Over time, she based her self-worth on what she could produce for other people. Despite having everything she should have to make her happy, Dmitria realized she wasn’t happy, she wasn’t present and connecting with others the way that she wanted to, she was exhausted, constantly busy, and uninspired. Dmitria’s realization that she wasn’t happy triggered an inner journey to discover her joy and happiness. While it took her a long time to get back in touch with her feelings, once Dmitria was able to hear her own inner voice again she noticed the little ways she was experiencing joy in her life, and ultimately unlocked an entire world of joy. She knew she needed to share this with the world.
To learn more and connect with Dmitria visit her website luminancehealing.com where she posts weekly on her blog about the latest lessons she’s learned or been reminded of and on Instagram @luminancehealing and you can find her books here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Nancy Davis Kho is a writer whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Adirondack Life, The Rumpus, The Toast, and numerous anthologies including Listen To Your Mother: What She Said Then, What We’re Saying Now (Putnam.) She’s been recognized as a Voice of the Year in the Humor Category by BlogHer and was the inaugural champion of Oakland’s Literary Death Match. Her book THE THANK-YOU PROJECT: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time was published by Running Press in December 2019.
In this today's new episode Nancy shares the story behind her new book, The Thank-You Project. It’s the story of the year that she wrote thank-you letters to 50 people, places, and pastimes that had shaped her, inspired her, and helped her become the person she was. The list of recipients included family and friends, of course, but soon expanded to teachers, bosses, mentors, authors, cities, hobbies and even a handful of ex-boyfriends and former friends. It was a totally unexpected way to find more peace during what turned out to be a trying and turbulent time, and continues to yield benefits years down the road. Nancy’s story will remind you of the beautiful connection between gratitude and happiness, and give you practical and reassuring guidance to start your very own Thank-You Project.
To connect with Nancy and her work visit her website www.DavisKho.com where you can get to the Midlife Mixtape blog and the Midlife Mixtape Podcast (available on all podcast platforms.) and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Tawn Wiliams is the Founder of Bloom Healing Arts Academy. Tawn is a relationship specialist and intuitive healer with a passion for connecting heart-led instructors with anyone seeking healing from past traumas, spiritual alignment, and a deeper sense of purpose. Bloom partners with organizations worldwide to offer employee support resources and services, including retreat planning, virtual and on-site master classes for employees, executive coaching and more. Through corporate consulting services, Bloom works with human resources teams to create authentic employee wellness experiences.
In today’s episode Tawn shares her journey finding her voice. Growing up Tawn was full of emotion, she was feeling everything. For a little girl with hope in her eyes and a heart so deep it hurt, she now knows that her tears were a symbol of something else - a manifestation of what was going on inside of her. From feeling like she didn’t belong, to having her first child at a young age, Tawn has always been determined to prove to herself and others that she could overcome anything. Her innate ability to connect others, create collaborative environments, and passion for people led her to starting Bloom. Once Tawn dove into her own spiritual practice, she knew this was the direction she wanted to move in. While in meditation she received a clear message -online and more people. Tawn said yes to the task, and two months into planning the pandemic hit. She ran fast towards her passion and purpose, and today as a black and women owned business Tawn and Bloom are breaking down barriers and representing diverse backgrounds in the wellness space. Normalizing the importance of whole mind, body and spirit wellness for all. As Tawn shares, for the little girl who was told to be quiet, who was told to sit down and to stop feeling so much, creating and sharing Bloom was the breaking of chains. She’s found her joy, place, and passion.
To learn more and connect with Tawn visit her website www.bloomhealingarts.co on Instagram @Bloom.Academy @ClassicTawn and via email hello@bloomhealingarts.co
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Jennie Marie Battistin and Jasmine Marie are the co-founders of Vividly Confident, body positive and self-love coaching. Jennie Marie is a mother, licensed Marriage Family Therapist, author, speaker, mindfulness instructor and author, entrepreneur, trauma specialist, and intimacy coach. Jasmine is a daughter, former child actor, life coach, body image counselor, HAES provider, mindfulness practitioner, and intimacy coordinator.
A mother-daughter duo themselves, Jennie Marie uses her experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist, while Jasmine serves as a life coach and body image counselor, to focus on helping people heal, energize and become aware of their inner and outer strengths. With coaching tips that promote body-positive images, their goal is to help those accept the person they see in the mirror, and move forward to where they want to be.
In today’s episode, Jennie Marie and Jasmine share their mission to help mothers and daughters increase their body positivity, self-love, and confidence, so that they can build stronger inner generational relationships between mothers, daughters, and the whole family. Jennie Marie and Jasmine share where their coaching practice began, the journey of love they’ve been on, and how body positivity is an extension of self-love. For both Jennie Marie and Jasmine, through their work they’re aiming to empower others to develop inner confidence that is meaningful and impacts our daily lives by shifting our inner dialogue and reclaiming the joy in our lives. As they both share, their hope is to cultivate greater self-love, build confidence, and spread the joy of their mother-daughter relationship to yours.
To connect with Jennie Marie and Jasmine visit their website https://vividlyconfident.com and on Instagram @vividlyconfident and Facebook @vividlyconfident
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Haley Cole is a spiritual coach, mentor and podcaster and in this week’s new episode Haley shares her spiritual journey. From the age of eight years old, Haley has been on a spiritual journey. As her parents embarked on this journey, so did Haley and her siblings, and as Haley shares in today's new episode it was truly wonderful and amazing to have these experiences together.
After going through a period of deep spiritual and personal development, Haley realized it was time to share what she’s learned with the world. She knew she wanted to help others along their spiritual path, and she knew she wanted to be a resource for others and as a result she launched her blog and podcast as a result. Today, Haley’s goal is to help people realize just how magical they are by utilizing tools such as meditation, energy healing, intuition, and so much more. Haley’s a firm believer that all of the answers and abilities are already within us, we just have to unlock them. As Haley so courageously and beautifully shares, it’s worth it to commit yourself to being the person that you see, even if that person feels far away. Always know and remember that you are love and you are loved, and that you deserve everything good in the world.
To connect with Haley visit her website www.shinewithhaley.com and on Instagram @iamhaleycole and her podcast is called The Shine Bright Podcast
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Ananda Murari left college in Flagstaff, Az at age 20 to live at a yoga monastery in Denver Colorado for 5 years. Graduating the ashrama he felt strengthened internally and clear about what he wanted to do in the world. He finished his degree in psychology and got certified in transformative communication as well. He and his wife now live in Michigan and he has built a career supporting people around the globe as they learn to build a sacred container for their own life. Ananda believes in everyone's personal story and is passionate about helping people write the best one possible.
In today’s episode Ananda shares his journey through music connecting with the divine and himself. In the 5th grade, Ananda decided that he wanted to learn how to play the drums, and music became such a large part of who he is. It’s this relationship with music that has guided him, and from an early age he became fascinated by creativity and music, and its power to speak to our human experience and to the longing of the soul. As Ananda’s relationship with creativity, music, and the great artists like Bob Marley and Bob Dylan continued to grow, he was inspired to start writing and creating music himself. This led him on an existential journey, and he felt a deep connection playing music in these sacred places. He knew he needed to express himself beyond the template the world had given him, and he embarked on a journey of self-discovery. In his sophomore year of college he made the decision to dive into his spirituality, bought a bus ticket to Chicago, and ultimately settling into a monastery in Denver, Colorado where he lived, learned, taught, cook, and connected with the purpose of his life. Ananda’s journey tapping into his purpose to serve, support and uplift others will remind you of the joy of pursuing your soul’s purpose.
To learn more and connect with Ananda visit his website www.WholePerson.Life and on Instagram @wholeperson.life and his LinkTree here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Daniel Javor has always been an entrepreneur at heart, starting at the young age of 13 as an eBay Powerseller. He’s run multiple companies including a thriving digital marketing agency. Daniel now focuses his time on his micro private equity investment company JavaBlue.
In today’s episode Daniel shares his story becoming an entrepreneur and an online and offline investor, and his fascination with the internet from an early age. It all started when he was 10 years old, when he would sell his old toys, books, and video games on eBay. He realized the opportunity it created, and he started to buy his friends trading cards and flipping them online. Daniel was hooked, and so began his passion and a series of online ventures. Daniel reflects on the biggest mistake he made early on, his biggest breakthrough, his passion for building and creating, and the joy he finds in building businesses. Daniel’s reflects on the next phase of his life, and his desire to master the other areas in his life other than business, will remind you that life is about finding your passions and purpose and pursuing them.
To learn more and connect with Daniel visit his website https://danieljavor.com or on Linkedin
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Dana Lord Lewis is a maverick thought-leader in the realm of energetics. As a leading authority on energy and manifestation, Dana’s mission is to help her students to achieve the truest desires of their souls, through her unique framework to understand and change energy patterns.
In today’s episode Dana shares her journey through life. Dana grew up with two loving parents, and as she got older she recognized that there were certain expectations placed on her and her sister. Over time, her father’s approval became important to her and eventually shaped many of her decisions. Dana went to law school, became a lawyer, and eventually practiced at a law firm in New York. While at the law firm, Dana felt very out of place yet compelled to play a role that she felt she respected and needed in order to be seen as a professional and taken seriously. There was no room for creativity or expansive thought, and Dana realized that this wasn’t her truest nature. This experience was eye opening because there were real moments where she could feel her soul crying out to her, knowing that this wasn’t her long-term direction or path. After three and a half years, Dana knew it was time to move on. She started by moving into an entrepreneurial space, and then over time she moved into pursuing her passion. Through sharing her story, Dana hopes it will inspire you to keep on your path of finding your alignment and listening to your soul’s messaging.
To learn more and connect with Dana visit her website www.energythink.com and on Instagram @energy_think and keep an eye out for her launch of the Cadre!
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Marci Brockmann, Author, Artist, Podcaster, Educator & Founder of Marci Brockmann International helps people find inspiration to heal from trauma, find their resilience as they learn to trust the whispers of their hearts to live fully in their authenticity and find the love and meaning they desire. Her books, podcast, and art, provide inspiration, education, and insightful approaches. Journaling for more than 38 years became the basis of her two books. Permission to Land: Searching for Love, Home & Belonging (memoir) and Permission to Land: Personal Transformation Through Writing (guided journal workbook). She founded the wellness and empowerment Facebook Community Permission to Heal Safe to Fly. Its mission is to empower people through a commitment to personal healing and joyful, meaningful life.Out of this grew her podcast Permission to Heal, which is about sharing inspiring stories and giving ourselves the permission we need to heal, love ourselves, and build amazing lives.
In today’s episode Marci shares her story giving herself permission, and her journey turning her 36 years of journals into a memoir, her painting hobby into a business, and her love of human connection into storytelling into a hit podcast. Growing up, Marci took it upon herself to be the peacemaker as she tried to navigate her mother’s bi-polar disorder and their rocky relationship which affected her self-concept, her life choices, and all of her relationships. Everything Marci did was affected by the skewed way she looked at the world and her place in it. Marci thought she had to be the peacemaker with everyone and her worthiness was directly tied to her ability to make other people happy, but it was to the detriment of her own needs and feelings. Marci turned to journaling writing, writing poetry and drawing and painting to vent and process her emotions, experiences, and inner monologue. It became her salvation. Through the years, Marci has found great joy in her connection to others, and sharing art with the world. Writing her memoir deepened her feelings of closure, love and forgiveness. Marci is a firm believer that sharing our stories inspires each of us, fosters deep human connections, and is the birthplace of empathy.
To learn more and connect with Marci check out her website https://marcibrockmann.com Facebook @marcibrockmannartist Twitter @marcibrockmann Instagram @marcibrockmann27 LinkedIn here and YouTube here you can find her memoir Permission to Land: Searching for Love, Home & Belonging here and her Podcast Permission to Heal here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Philip Shepherd is recognized as an international authority on embodiment. His unique techniques have been developed to transform our disconnected experience of self and world, and are based on the vision articulated in his celebrated books, New Self, New World (2010) and Radical Wholeness (Nov 2017). Philip developed the practices of TEPP to help people reunite the thinking of the head with the deep, present and calm intelligence of the body. Unlike the prevailing view of embodiment – which involves sitting in the head and ‘listening to your body’ – Philip’s approach helps you listen to the world through the body. What the body most deeply understands is that it belongs to the world. Ultimately, TEPP is about coming home to yourself.
In today’s new episode, Philip shares his personal journey to understanding his path, purpose, and embodiment - and it all started with a bicycle. This journey allowed him to be wide open to the world, to nature, to people, to connection, and adventure. It allowed him to connect with himself in a new and profound way, too. On that bike he went through so many waves of understanding what it means to be human, and each one of them was luminous. As Philip shares, if you get on the bike and keep peddling, and you're headed in the right direction, and you don't stop peddling, you'll get there - and that’s exactly what he’s done.
To connect with Philip and learn more visit his website www.reconnecttoself.life and on Instagram @philipshepherd and @tepp.life and on Facebook @tepp.life
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Nicole Spindler is a human resources professional, graduate of John Carroll University, and author of Beyond Life's Moments: An Empowering Outlook on Transcending Unexpected Setbacks. She has always had a burning passion for writing and, learning from past hurdles, to bring a message of vulnerability, self-acceptance, and perseverance. It is her aspiration to inspire others to embrace their often life-derailing situations so that they may emerge not only victorious, but empowered to face whatever may come next.
In today’s episode Nicole shares the moment her life turned upside down and the light, love, and life that came from walking into the unknown. When she was 15 years-old, Nicole found out that her dad was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of care. It was so rare that there was only one doctor in the entire world who could help treat her dad. Early on, Nicole knew that somehow this was meant to happen to her family. She knew this challenge was going to teach her something, and if they could just get through this moment and beyond, this was going to lead to greater and better things ahead. Nicole took this mindset and walked into the unknown with her dad and his diagnosis, her mom’s eventual cancer diagnosis, and her diagnosis of anxiety and PTSD, and it’s been one of the greatest experiences of her life. Nicoles’s reflections and ability to see her challenges as transformative rather than traumatic will remind you that there is so much growth and learning that comes from life’s difficult moments, and that the light at the end of the tunnel is possible for all of us.
To learn more and connect with Nicole check out her Linktree https://linktr.ee/nicolespindler on Facebook here Instagram @beyond_lifes_moments sign up for her author community monthly newsletter for all the latest updates here and you can find her new book Beyond Life’s Moments, is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and where most books are sold.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Carly Wright is new mom, Postpartum Mental Health Coach, full spectrum doula and master energy healer. She helps moms release resentment, guilt and expectations so that they can feel like themselves again. By blending spirituality and tangible therapeutic tools, she’s created the V.I.B.R.A.N.T. Mama Method, a revolutionary approach to postparum mental health and healing beyond the fourth trimester.
In today’s episode Carly shares her story of suffering from anxiety and depression from a really young age, and feeling misunderstood and unworthy for most of her life. After entering a safe and expected career, her life felt more out of alignment than ever. Lost, hopeless and at rock bottom, she decided to heal her energy and get out of the cycle of anxiety and depression once and for all. Through her journey she's released shame, healed childhood wounds, and blossomed. Now, she uses her journey to help women feel free from the shame and shackles of mental health challenges.
Carly's story and journey of finding her inner strength, sharing her voice, and healing from the inside is relatable, inspiring, and full of so much courage.
To learn more about Carly, her story, and her work visit her website https://carlyjeanwright.podia.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @thevibrantmamamethod and check out the Vibrant Mama Method here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Tina McDermott transforms people's lives through her inspiration, wisdom, knowledge and love of living well. Tina is an Inspirational Chef, Speaker, and Weight loss coach for nearly 20 years and is passionate about helping people release unwanted weight naturally and keep it off forever without yo-yo dieting. For the past 20 years she has had the joy and pleasure to help her clients pursue healthier lifestyles through her weight release and fitness programs that she personally designs. Tina gives guidance, love and support to her clients so they too can be strong, fit, healthy and be free from the emotional chains that keep them inside the walls of limiting beliefs, food addictions, weight gain, and belly challenges. Her slogan is Be Healthy, Vibrant and Free. Tina teaches nutrition courses, cooking classes, fitness and various webinars within corporations as well as delivers keynote corporate speeches.
In today’s episode Tina shares her story learning to love her body. Growing up as the third female child in an Italian family, Tina never felt the love she craved from both her parents. The only way for her to get the love and attention she craved was to refuse food. It wasn’t long until this behavior developed into Anorexia. She used to refuse to eat as a form of control over her crazy Italian parents and her chaotic life, and then when she was twelve years old everything she changed. She traveled to Italy with her Nona and fell in love with food for the first time. Tina realized she had an emotional relationship with food, and after her sister passed away from cancer it was the wake-up call she needed to take care of herself. She realized she had a deep love of wellness, and it became her mission to teach as many people as she could about natural health and wellness. Over the years she’s come to peace with the self-sabotaging behaviors, and Tina knows if she can heal you can too. Now Tina teaches professional menopausal women to lose weight naturally and keep it off forever without yo-yo dieting. The key to her success is coming to peace with those emotions that drive you to eat and keep you stuck.
To learn more and connect with Tina visit her website www.tinamcdermott.com on Facebook here and you can find her Facebook Support Group Reboot Your Gut, Lose Weight and Yes, You Get to Eat here Twitter @TinasBodyBiz you can fin her free ebook here and her YouTube channel here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Serena James is a certified holistic healer tasked with the exciting life mission of raising the vibration of Mother Earth. She provides energy healing services and workshops to help people overcome energetic barriers to experience more joy, wellness, and prosperity in their lives. James is the founder of Just Be and makes her home in the beautiful state of Montana with her family.
Serena didn’t always identify herself as a holistic healer, and as she shares in today’s episode sometimes we’re led to our calling, even through difficulty. Serena shares her journey with her son, from displaying symptoms of depression as a toddler to behavioral problems as he got older, Serena and her family searched for answers while complying with her son’s schools wishes for an intervention. Serena’s friend put her in touch with a holistic healer, and the healer was able to release the blocked energy in her son’s stomach and reroute that energy to his liver. After that first appointment, they saw major improvement with her son and his anger had subsided. Serena realized that for years his energetic crisis was mislabeled as behavioral issues, and after just a couple of months her happy healthy son was back. From this moment Serena knew she had to explore the world of energy work herself, and her journey to becoming a holistic healer began. Today, she helps people overcome obstacles in their lives by helping them shift their energy. As Serena shares, it’s through sharing our stories that we can learn, connect and grow.
To learn more and connect with Serena visit her website www.thejustbelifestyle.com and on Instagram @authorserenajames and @thejustbelifestyle and Facebook @authorserenajames you can find Vibe Higher at Balboa Press, Amazon Prime, or Barnes and Noble and connect with her via email authorserenajames@gmail.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Stephanie Roman is a weight-neutral Food & Body Acceptance Coach. She offers her clients a weight-neutral approach to health and wellness using the principles of Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size. Stephanie brings to her coaching method both her personal experience with dieting and body shame as well as a compassionate, judgment-free space, oodles of support and laser-sharp intuition.
In today's episode Stephanie shares just one of her stories - the belief that the most important thing she could offer the world was her looks, and how “pretty” she was. This “gift” had nothing to do with her, and it said nothing about her as a person. She knew it was entirely wrapped up in how other’s viewed her - all these other people got to decide her worth. Here’s the thing, as Stephanie so beautifully shares, whomever you allow the power to make you feel worthy, also yields the power to make you feel worthless. For Stephanie, it was no surprise that she spent years, decades, chasing her own worthiness. Today, Stephanie has learned how to tune into her body’s innate wisdom, appreciate her body for the miracle that it is, and she’s using her experiences and wisdom to help others do the same.
To connect with Stephanie and to learn more you can find her on Instagram @sromancoaching and on her website www.stephanie-roman.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Manjari Gopika is a passionate teacher and practitioner of yoga asanas and Bhakti Yoga. After twenty-something years of feeling unconfident in her body, Manjari Gopika found herself in a yoga class, and very shortly thereafter experienced a shift in her mind and body. Ten years of practice, four trips to India, countless Bhagavad Gita classes, alignment lessons, and one 200 hour teacher training later, Manjari is more in love with yoga and more in touch with her true self than she ever thought possible. Manjari's mission is to help others be their strongest, boldest, authentic selves through the tools of yoga practice.
After 11 years in New York City, Manjari moved to Dallas with her husband and four year old daughter in May 2020, where she continues to teach yoga group classes and courses on zoom. She is the founder of Real Yoga, a facebook community where she offerspose tutorials, classes, short meditations and philosophy talks that help people incorporate yoga into their everyday lives. Her students are curious individuals of all ages, sizes, and professions, who appreciate that yoga is something that enhances their relationships--with themselves and others--and their experiences in the world, and who enjoy learning the profound alignment of classical poses, while understanding that “perfection” is not “one size fits all”.
In today’s episode, Manjari shares her personal journey with yoga and how it got her to unlimited joy. Her mission is to show you that yoga is right for every body, gender and age, and provide you with the tools to live in rhythm of life and grow into your boldest most authentic self. Manjari’s story begins in 2011 where she was an actress working by day in a hip New York City hotel. She had recently gone through a breakup and her confidence was at an all time low. Growing up she didn’t enjoy moving her body, she avoided athletics at all costs, and safe to say growing up she was picked last for every sport. She knew it was time for a change, and she decided to sign up for a yoga class. It was hard work, but she enjoyed it. She slowly realized that she was much more capable than what her mind would let her believe. It got her thinking, if she had no idea that she could do this one thing, what else could she do that she wasn’t aware of? Yoga has transformed her life, given her the tools to be her most authentic self, and opened her up to a world of possibilities.
To learn more and connect with Manjari visit her website www.manjarigopika.com/shop and use the FREE4ME discount code to experience one free group yoga class as her gift to you and you can find her classes here plus you can find her Facebook group called Real Yoga here and on Instagram @manjari.gopika.yoga
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Sherra Aguirre is the author of Joyful, Delicious, Vegan: Life Without Heart Disease. She founded and led a successful business for three decades, winning national awards for entrepreneurship, innovation, and service excellence. She sold the company in 2016 to focus on her passion for healthy diet and lifestyle. Now in her seventies, Aguirre describes herself as high energy, in better overall health, and in many ways more fit than in her thirties or forties. She has practiced meditation and yoga daily for more than twenty-five years, and for many years has researched and read extensively about diet and lifestyle as the most important factors for achieving and maintaining good health. By adopting a whole plant-based diet, she improved overall heart health and eliminated symptoms of hypertension despite a significant family history of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. She is passionate about empowering others to maintain vibrancy and good health throughout their lifetimes.
In today’s episode, Sherra shares the inspiration behind her new book, and how her personal struggle with Heart Disease and Hypertension, also known as the silent killer, and how through adopting a whole plant-based diet, she improved her overall health. Her family experienced tremendous loss, and Sherra knew she couldn’t live in denial of her own symptoms any longer. Sherra mourned the day she first filled the prescription, but after taking the medication for a week she started to feel lightheaded. She realized she needed to work with her body to make improvements to her health and wellness, and she turned to a plant-based diet. Listening to her body has guided Sherra along her journey, and it’s allowed her to step into greater gratitude, joy, and wellness. Her joy is magnified by the knowledge that something so loving for her body is also healing for all plant and animal life on Earth.
To learn more and connect with Sherra visit her website https://sherraaguirre.com and on Facebook @AuthorSherraAguirre Twitter @SherraAguirre Instagram @SherraAguirre and you can find her new book here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Karla Salinari is a Holistic Health Coach based in Brooklyn NY. Her experience with pregnancy opened her eyes to the importance of nutrition. After gaining 82 pounds while carrying her daughter, she began to explore new avenues to better nourish herself and her family. Karla began by replacing the unhealthy aspects of her diet with whole foods and higher-quality ingredients. The results were healthier body weight, a better relationship with food, and a happier outlook on life.
Karla’s story starts when she was pregnant with her daughter. There was never a balance between herself and food, and she knew she needed to cultivate a healthy relationship with food. It was during that time that she decided she wanted to enroll in nutrition school, and learn how to be better at healing her relationship with food and setting a good example for her daughter. It was during this time that she had so many “aha!” moments. She learned the importance of understanding we make food choices based on unhealed traumas and emotional impulses, and she knew she needed to share this message with her community. As Karla shares, in her culture there’s a disconnect between health and nutrition, and it’s been her mission to share her insights and guidance to help as many people as she could to learn to love their bodies. As Karla shares, food is medicine and it has the power to heal us from the inside out.
To learn more and connect with Karla visit her website www.KarlaSalinari.com and on Instagram @TheLatinaHealthCoach Facebook @TheLatinaHealthCoach and Twitter @TheLatinaHealthCoach
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
*Disclaimer: Today’s episode does discuss suicidal ideation and abuse. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, The Suicide Prevention Lifeline has 24/7, free & confidential support for people in distress, prevention, & crisis resources: their number is 1-800-273-8255.
Dawn Taylor is the professional ass-kicker, hope giver. International trauma specialist, life coach strategist, and all-around badass, Dawn’s journey into helping others heal began when she took her personal recovery from the trauma she experienced in her life into her own hands.
While at times unconventional, Dawn’s strategic methods have helped hundreds heal from everything related to PTSD from sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, to issues from infidelity, to overcoming addiction, as well as helping cult survivors thrive. Dawn’s work has empowered entrepreneurs, stay-at-home moms, and CEOs alike to be the superheroes in their own lives. Having completed thousands of hours of training from many professional programs, including the Robbins Madanes Training Institute, and certified as a Subconscious Imprinting Techniques professional, Dawn’s blunt honesty will challenge your thinking, broaden your awareness, and help you achieve the outstanding results you are worthy of.
In today’s episode, Dawn is interviewed by Sarah Snyder, and Dawn shares her journey coming to her work as a trauma specialist. For most of her life Dawn felt like she was just too much, and she was so scared of hurting other people with her story. She felt too broken to get help, and too damaged to ever be healed herself. She had no intention of becoming a trauma specialist, but this work healed her and she realized she couldn’t be the only one. At the core of her work is her why, to help other people become their superhero in their own rescue so that they can inspire people to do the same. Dawn shares how she works with client and throughout the episode Dawn and Sarah reflect on their work together, Sarah’s journey to trusting Dawn, and why sending emails was a huge part of Sarah’s healing. From overcoming her own trauma and trusting her gut, Dawn has stepped into her own healing and vulnerability to help her clients in a meaningful way. It’s given her clients the permission they’ve needed to step into their healing and vulnerability too. As Dawn shares, it’s never too late to work through your trauma. You’re worth fighting for.
To learn more and connect with Dawn on her website https://www.thetaylorway.ca and on Facebook @thetaylorway on Instagram @thetaylorwaynow and on LinkedIn here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
*Disclaimer: Today’s episode does discuss suicidal ideation and abuse. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, The Suicide Prevention Lifeline has 24/7, free & confidential support for people in distress, prevention, & crisis resources: their number is 1-800-273-8255.
In today’s episode, Sarah is interviewed by Dawn Taylor, international Trauma Specialist and Life Strategist. Sarah and Dawn decided to do this episode together because Sarah really wanted other people to know there’s hope for anyone who has struggled like she has. Sarah and Dawn first connected when Sarah reached out to Dawn for advice on writing ab book and they connected right away. Sarah vulnerably and openly shares her childhood experience, the pain and abuse she experienced, and the shame and trauma she experienced. Sarah was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and since starting to work with Dawn she’s experienced tremendous healing. Today, Sarah’s life is forever changed as a result of her work with Dawn, she’s stepped into a new sense of vulnerability, and now she lives as a digital nomad in Costa Rica.
To learn more and connect with Sarah visit her on Instagram @risk.delight
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.
Pallavi Pande is a mompreneur based in Portland, Oregon and a proud founder of DTOCS. She is the mother of 2 young DTOCS brand ambassadors and a passionate entrepreneur.
Pallavi remembers eating on banana leaves while growing up in India. Even as a child she loved how this brought her closer to nature in a way that did not cause harm to nature. She started DTOCS with this those 3 things in mind- Sustainability, Community and Usability. DTOCS tableware is made from naturally fallen palm leaves. They are chemical free, plastic free, compostable, microwave safe, elegant and single use disposable. We employ a majority female workforce and part of the proceeds from our sales go towards improving education for the poor local communities in India. DTOCS plates and tableware are made with a focus on quality that makes them a great fit for your daily use as well as weddings and special events. You have to see these products to feel the love we have put into curating them!
Pallavi and DTOCS are the proud winners of the NEXTY award at the Natural Food Expo for the most innovative new sustainable product on the market. She also enjoyed auditioning for the final round of Shark Tank, and hopes to be in the tank in the near future!
In today’s episode, Pallavi shares her journey started DTOCS. She started it with three things in mind, sustainability, community and usability. Her products are the hallmark of a green lifestyle, they are an elegant, sturdy and affordable solution to a plastic free world. Her purpose as a business owner is to share green alternatives, and giving people peace of mind. Her goal is to not only see these products in everyone’s kitchen, but to also see it in every restaurant, at weddings, and in every aspect of our life. Pallavi shares the inspiration behind DTOCS, how her products are made, and her goal to raise awareness for an eco-friendly lifestyle.
To learn more about Pallavi and DTOCS visit their website website-www.dtocs.com on Instagram @dtocsplates Facebook @dtocsplates and you can find their products on Amazon, Wayfair, Walmart and Etsy.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert, author of “Life Falls Apart, but You Don’t Have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm In the Midst of Chaos.” and recovering attorney.
In today's new episode Julie shares how she began her serious study and investigation of mindfulness. In 2006, Julie began exhibiting symptoms of a possible brain tumor. “The wrong words kept coming out of my mouth,” she shares. “I’d say ‘captino’ instead of ‘cappuccino,’ ‘maginal’ instead of ‘magical,’ ‘bunkey burvey’ instead of ‘topsy turvy.’ She went to a neurologist fearing the worst. After a thorough exam, the doctor asked her about her life — what her days consisted of, her family constellation, her schedule and volunteer work. Julie was a typical baby boomer, sandwiched between three adolescent kids (including identical twin daughters) and aging parents.
He asked her whether she had ever heard of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction; she hadn’t. He suggested that mindfulness training was what she needed in order to improve her health. After graduating from the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the University of California, San Diego, Julie went on to become trained to teach Mindful Self-Compassion, and completed the Positive Neuroplasticity Training Professional Course with Rick Hanson. Today, Julie shares these and other mindfulness techniques with the world through her Mindful Methods for Life trainings and her new book.
Julie also shares her tips for staying calm in the midst of chaos!
To connect with Julie and learn more visit her website www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com and on Facebook @mindfulmethodsforlife and on Twitter @juliepotiker and you can purchase her book here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Sherri Lee is the founder of Dream To Done Coaching and life strategist focused on helping individuals accomplish their dreams.Sherri has created multiple multi-million dollar businesses, is a full-time mother, and has gone through her own personal difficulties in life as everyone does. Whether individuals are going through a transition in life such as parenthood, losing a job, or have simply lost hope of achieving their goals, Sherri is focused on helping them find their inner genius and drive to make sure they go from dreaming about their dream to done!
In today’s episode, Sherri shares her journey, and it all started with redefining how she viewed success. Growing up she wasn’t able to attend university, and instead she started a contracting business in a male dominated industry. She worked extremely hard and long hours in a tough environment to prove herself. Over time, she still had a yearning for a university degree, so she went forward and received two degrees. But one day her entire world stopped and she couldn’t work, but her newborn baby was sick with holes in her heart, and they had to live in the hospital for 2.5 months. For Sherri and her family, everything became about surviving. They got through that difficult time, and today she has a healthy girl and boy now, but that experience changed her entire perspective. Sherri’s story is a reminder that life is precious, and when you fall down you can get back up again, and that persistence and drive is what leads to success. Today, she helps entrepreneurs grow their vision and bring clarity to their path by helping them recognize their inner genius. For Sherri, it’s about empowering others to scale their impact in a meaningful way.
To learn more and connect with Sherri visit her website www.dreamtodonecoaching.com and via email sherri@dreamtodonecoaching.com on Facebook @sherrileeluxe Instagram @dreamtodonecoaching and on LinkedIn here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Jacqueline Claire is a visual artist and spiritual storyteller based out of Texas. Jacqueline is passionate about the art and its power to help us connect with joy, meaning, and each other. Jacqueline believes this is what the world truly needs right now.
In today's new episode, Jacqueline reminds us to think about how we can encourage each other to strive for and believe in our loftiest most aspirational aims, and how can we hold the space of loving compassion, kindness, and friendship, and be really honest about the thorny rocky road that this life can be. Jacqueline has devoted her life and career to exploring the role of art and faith in elevating her audiences, and encouraging them to access mystical realities. She recently concluded her first art and spiritual storytelling tour of her show, Awaken to Your Life As a Spiritual Journey through nine cities.
To learn more about Jacqueline Claire and her work visit her website www.JacquelineClaireArt.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @JacquelineClaireArt and Facebook @JacquelineClaireArt and you can join her e-mail list here and support her work and mission on Patreon here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Dayna Steele and Scott Schroder are the authors of 101 Ways to Rock Running for Office. Running for office is one of the most patriotic things you can do for your community and for your country. However, most citizens don’t because they don’t know where to start. Here’s a guide to get you started from student council to the US Congress, a must-read for every wanna-be candidate and organizer. Dayna Steele is a rock Radio Hall of Famer, successful entrepreneur, creator of the Rock Star Principles podcast, author of numerous books, motivational keynote speaker, and was the 2018 Democratic candidate for the Texas 36th congressional district. Scott Schroder served as Dayna’s “body man” during her 2018 run for Congress in Texas, and prior to that, was politically active in college while attending the University of Mississippi as a political science major.
In today’s episode, Dayna and Scott share their journey working together during Dayna’s run for Congress in 2018 and how they came together to write their book, 101 Ways to Rock Running for Office. Early on in her campaign Dayna was introduced to Scott, who became her “body man” during her run for Congress, the person who is with you all the time. Scott is a political junkie, a savant on all things political, and he was her joy throughout the campaign. Throughout they were a good team, and they never ran out of anything to talk about. Dayna and Scott reflect on the highs and the lows of the campaign, their big takeaways, and their story and conversation will leave you smiling, laughing, and reflecting on the powerful relationships in your life and the impact they’ve had on you.
To learn more about Dayna and Scott and their new book, visit their website therockbusiness.com and on Facebook @therockbusiness and on Instagram @daynasteele Twitter @daynasteele and LinkedIn here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Burcu Onaranel is an Inspirational Life Coach and the owner of Joyy! Marketing and Coaching. Joyy! helps women who are lost and stuck in their life to gain confidence and clarity about what they do professionally, find joy and own their authentic self. In marketing, we help entrepreneurs to create unique marketing strategies to reach their own goals including; social media management, website design & consulting, brand management, email campaigns creation & management. In coaching, we help people to find their life purpose to be happier and healthier, as well as helping them to reduce their stress, be more confident, make clear decisions, mostly help them to find their power to follow their dreams and be UNAPOLOGETIC of who they are! Burcu is also an International & Motivational Speaker. One of her top speeches is about comfort zone. She believes that when people leave their comfort zone, they can find their authentic self.
In today’s episode, Burcu shares her story in the hopes of having an impact on your life, and helping to show you that you too can change your story in a way that you want to. Her story begins seven years ago. She felt completely lost in her life, even though she had so many of the things we all strive for - a good job, nice car, friends, and a beautiful family - but she felt like something was missing. She wasn’t fulfilling her soul’s purpose. She quit her job and followed her dreams, and over time she realized she was meant to have her own international business that would help and inspire others to own their story and life. Today, Burcu is helping other step into their joy, know who they are, and be the best version of themselves so that they’re able to serve others. She’s incredibly passionate about helping people all over the world. As she shares, everyone has a story and a dream, and we’re all meant to follow what our heart desires.
To learn more about Burcu and her work, visit her website http://www.joyyburcu.com and on Instagram @joyyburcu Facebook @joyymarketingandcoaching on LinkedIn here and you can find her Podcast Coffee O’Clock here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Annette Hines is a best-selling author, lawyer, and the founder of Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts, PC. Her world as she knew it exploded when her infant daughter Elizabeth was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease—a degenerative, life-limiting illness. Annette’s joy quickly turned to apprehension and she knew nothing would ever be the same again.
In today's new episode, Annette shares her daughter journey with her daughter Elizabeth, and learning to become an advocate in the face of adversity, but also in joy. In her book, Butterflies and Second Chances, Annette was able to share her family’s story and provide hope and inspiration to so many. It’s the inspiring true story of a mother’s special needs journey, and her struggle to secure the best possible life for her child in the face of bureaucratic resistance and marital crisis.
When Annette first started writing, she wrote the book for herself. She hadn’t connected yet with other parents who had lost children to illness, and that was an amazing turning point for her. She realized that she was creating an incredible tool that could help other families who are experiencing the same hardships - and watching the impact that her journey and book are having on others, has been incredible. Annette’s story is one of sacrifice, dedication, and the life-altering adjustments a special needs parent has to make when confronted with the unthinkable. But most of all, it’s about love and an extraordinary mother-daughter relationship that flourished without words in the darkest shadows of adversity. Annette and Elizabeth’s powerful story provides hope, solace, and a path forward for parents of special needs children, and I know that it will resonate with you, too.
To learn more about Annette, you can connect with her on her website here on Facebook @specialneedslawgroup Twitter @annettehines15 and you can find Butterflies and Second Chances: A Mom’s Memoir of Love and Loss on Amazon here, and their podcast, Parenting Impossible: The Special Needs Survival Podcast can be found here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Samuel Moore-Sobel is an author, speaker and columnist. His debut memoir, "Can You See My Scars?" is the story of a harrowing encounter with sulfuric acid, trauma and severe burns. His book is currently available for purchase on Amazon. He has been invited to share his story with audiences across the country and offers practical advice on how to overcome adversity. He has a degree in government and international politics and currently lives with his wife in Northern Virginia.
When he was 15 years old, Samuel was in an accident involving sulfuric acid. He suffered second- and third-degree burns as a result, and he spent years in and out of doctor's offices, underwent numerous surgical operations, and struggled with his mental health. Samuel’s journey has shown him that we all have scars, both physical and emotional. It's not so much a question of whether we will face adversity, but how we will choose to respond once it arrives. In writing “Can You See My Scars?” Samuel has captured his decade long journey of physical and emotional recovery. He wanted others to know about his struggles with faith, friends, romantic relationships, and what it means to be human. He wanted to share how he made peace with his scars too. Samuel has overcome the odds to reach a place of healing. His unexpected journey with trauma, burns, and recovery is a powerful reminder that we can overcome the adversity we’re facing in our lives and make a difference by sharing your scars with others.
To learn more and connect with Sam visit www.samuelmoore-sobel.com and follow him on Twitter @smoore_sobel and Instagram @smoore_sobel and you can find his book, Can You See My Scars? on Amazon here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Kara is the Founder and Chief Fun Officer of The Playful Warrior, a brand that reconnects adults back to their inherent nature and playfulness. She is also a Play and Mindset Coach and the Creator of ThoughtPLAY. She helps humans reconnect to their inner child through the PWR of play and subconscious reprogramming so they can embody and express their true self and create a life that excites them.
ThoughtPLAY is an innovative 8-week PLAY journey that transforms your subconscious mind and uses the power of uninhibited creativity to cultivate self-worth and create a life that excites you. It features the PLAYBox and PLAYBook delivered to your door (mail to get excited about!!) Kara is also a Speaker and Certified Life & Success Coach, NLP Practitioner, Hypnotherapist, TIME Techniques and EFT Tapping Practitioner.
In today’s episode, Kara shares her story getting into play. It all started from a dark time, she was going through the dark night of the soul. It was a spiritual crisis, and everything in her life felt really heavy. She was working through childhood trauma too. It’s safe to say, everything was happening at once. Then COVID happened. She was working in corporate PR for 10 years, and she lost her job immediately, and truthfully it was a blessing in disguise. She felt a sense of relief, and it was finally time for her to create a life that actually excited her! Kara has created the first coaching program ever of its kind that’s half play, half subconscious reprogramming. Kara’s journey learning to love herself and giving herself permission to express herself, will remind you that it’s never too late to reconnect with our own childlike wonder.
To learn more and connect with Kara visit her website www.theplayfulwarrior.com and you can find more information about ThoughtPLAY here and different ways to play with Kara here. Plus you can connect with Kara on Instagram @theplayfulwarrior
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Justine Kim is the host of “Becoming” a podcast about womxn, work, and how they’re finding their why’s. She is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) where she studied Business Administration, French, and Design. Justine became a Venture for America fellow in May 2019 and has been working as a Content Marketing Manager at Sift, a Detroit based SaaS startup working to keep organizations connected.
As a fellow, she helps lead VFAsians, VFA’s Pan-Asian affinity group, and VFA WMN, VFA’s affinity group for womxn. In her free time, she loves reading, watching anime, and going on hikes with her cat.
In today’s episode, Justine shares how she got out of a toxic relationship with achievement and productivity. There’s this dynamic in college and university that promotes achievement, productivity and ambition, and rewards overwork, burnout and being unhealthy. The more Justine bought into the lie that doing more would leave her feeling more fulfilled, the worse she felt. She forgot the lesson her grandmother taught her to go at her own pace, to focus on and treasure herself and her own path. It was hard for her to admit that she was struggling, and it was effecting how she was treating herself, treating others, and allowing herself to be present in the moment. She found comfort in food, and Justine realized she wasn’t trying to fill a sense of hunger with food, she was trying to fill something else. Then came her breaking point, and she realized she had to make a change. She had to evaluate her routine, create boundaries, and change the way she was viewing achievement and productivity. Justine’s story will remind you to celebrate how far you’ve come and all that you’ve experienced.
To learn more and connect with Justine and Becoming visit her website justinegkim.com and anchor.fm/justine-kim and on Instagram @becoming_thepodcast and @justine.g.k on LinkedIn here and you can find Becoming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Amy Rushworth is a certified wellness coach, life coach & the UK’s leading confidence expert. Her mission is to help women ditch the self-doubt and self-sabotage to start living the unforgettable life they’re dreaming about - where they’re confident, free from comparison, and wildly happy.
It was only four years ago that Amy was struggling with her mental health, relationships, finances, and unhealthy habits. She felt emotionally and physically stuck and overwhelmed. After a tough year, coupled with a bad breakup, she found herself at a crossroads questioning where she was heading in her life. She was struggling with her mental health, and it was the wake up call that she needed to seek help. Amy’s words on what it meant to feel like a passenger in her own life, to come to terms with her unhealthy habits, and consciously choose to turn her life around will remind you that there is so much strength and power in seeking help when you need it. Her reflections on the heart-to-heart she had with herself, and this sense of knowing that she needed to align her actions with her values and the woman that she really wanted to become will remind you to take that time for reflection, observation, and action too. Ultimately Amy decided to invest in her first life coach, and this one decision radically altered the course of her life forever. While it felt like a huge leap into the unknown, it was the leap of faith that put her on the path to a life that was beyond any of her wildest dreams.
Amy began to create a vision for her life, and it was from that decision that her health turned around completely. Her reflections on her decision to leave perfectionism behind, and the impact her decision to allow herself to be vulnerable has had on her life will remind you that there is so much power in allowing ourselves to be seen and heard. Through authentically sharing who she is, and where she’s going, Amy has connected herself to the people, places, and things that she always wanted. Today, Amy’s story, business, and life is completely based on her desire to serve the highest good of all. She’s launched a wellness business, met and married her soulmate, and is now living the happy and healthy life she always wanted.
To learn more about Amy visit her website https://amyrushworth.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @thisisamyrushworth
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
Iona Holloway is an author, coach, and speaker -- but most importantly, she’s a recovering “perfection addict” who put her mind, body, and spirit through the wringer to maintain a superhuman level of success. Her mission is to help high achieving struggling women stop shrinking their bodies, worth, and power. How? Vulnerability, creativity, and breathwork. Why? Because everyone loses when brilliant women play small. This world needs your gifts.
Iona’s new book, Ghost is a brutal, haunting, vulnerable piece of work that explores the intersection of high-performing perfectionism, food and body, and imposter syndrome. She teaches women how to break the cycle and begin the hard work of letting go of “perfect.”
In today’s episode, Iona shares her journey from the two decade long war with food and her body, to stepping into her vulnerability and mission. Her experience of shrinking was complicated, and the expectation to be perfect and competent caused a huge amount of pain her life. Iona believes so strongly that everyone loses when brilliant women play small, and that this world, now more than ever, needs its women to be not only strong, but also embodied and empowered so that all women can share their gifts with the world. As Iona shares, when we bravely and boldly show up as ourselves in this world, we give other women permission to also be that brave. Iona’s learned through writing Ghost that through her own vulnerability, she’s allowing, helping, and supporting other women to be seen too, both by themselves and by the people who love them.
To learn more and connect with Iona visit her website https://www.ionaholloway.com/ via email info@ionaholloway.com and on Instagram @Ionaholloway and you can find her book Ghost - Why Perfect Women Shrink here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Emily is a Grief Transformation Expert and holds a Master’s Degree in English with a Concentration in Writing. She has been teaching writing and composition on the college and university level over 30 years. During that time, she published three writing textbooks. with Prentice Hall and Pearson Education.
She participated with the Bereaved Person’s Association in Bakersfield, California, which her husband co-founded. She also assisted her husband Jacques Thiroux, a bio-ethicist, with multiple revisions of his popular text Ethics Theory and Practice published by Prentice Hall and Pearson Education. She presents Writing Through Grief workshops.
In today’s episode, Emily shares her journey learning through loss. We don’t usually make any preparations for the reality of loss, many of us ignore it, or we assume loss won’t happen to us. When loss occurs, we tend to be totally unprepared. From her own personal experiences, Emily knows what loss feels like, and these experiences have led her to becoming a guide for others who need support on their journey as they start to live again and become open to loving again. As Emily shares, her calling and purpose in life appeared early in her youth, when she was fourteen years old she started going on Ambulance calls. Later, she became a licensed vocational nurse, where she also often dealt with crisis, dying patients, and their family. Emily shares her personal journey with loss, and her reflections, wisdom, and vulnerability will remind you that we can love and live through our grief and loss, and open our hearts to joy.
To learn more and connect with Emily visit her website https://lovingandlivingyourwaythroughgrief.com/ sign up for her weekly blog here https://lovingandlivingyourwaythroughgrief.com/blog/ find her classes on finding joy and writing about loss at https://emily-thiroux-threatt.mykajabi.com/store and on Instagram @emily_thiroux_threatt Facebook @emily.thiroux you can find her Facebook Group Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief here and Reclaiming Your Joy After Loss here and on Twitter @ThreattEmily and for speaking information click here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Dr. Karol Darsa is a licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment of trauma. She is the founder and executive director of Reconnect Integrative Trauma Treatment Centers, which she established in Los Angeles in 2014. Dr. Darsa co-created The Invisible War Recovery Program, an intensive trauma treatment program for veterans suffering from military sexual trauma. The program was inspired by the Academy Award-nominated documentary The Invisible War. Katie Couric featured Dr. Darsa on her nationally syndicated show, and Dr. Darsa was also featured on an episode of The Doctors where she helped a woman who’d lost her legs in a traumatic car accident by providing treatment at her trauma treatment center in Los Angeles.
In today’s episode, Dr. Darsa shares her journey into this field, and what inspired her book, The Trauma Map. She started her career 22 years ago working with foster children as a social worker. The work impacted her deeply, and over the years she learned how to be empathic but not to get that involved so that she could remain impartial not get burned out. She noticed there wasn’t a center or clinic that offered only trauma work, and eight years ago she decided to open her own center. Dr. Darsa’s vision was to create a place where people could come in every day and work on their trauma, where they could begin to understood the importance of how trauma affected them. She’s created a holistic approach to healing, and through her approach people begin to really see themselves as whole. As Dr. Darsa shares, when you treat someone as a whole person, they’re able to understand the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual components of trauma, and how it all works together. She aims to reduce any sense of self-blame, and remind her patients that they’re doing their best, through education and care. Her goal is to create an environment that allows you to feel cared for and loved, to help people become more connected to themselves, and if she can help more people to be less self-blaming and more self-loving, she would fulfill her sense of purpose and passion in life.
To learn more about Dr. Darsa, her work, and her book visit her website ReconnectCenter.com. and on Facebook Karol Darsa Reconnect or Reconnect Center and on Instagram: thetraumamap or reconnectcenter and you can find The Trauma Map: Five Steps to Reconnect with Yourself is available via Amazon
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Elyssa Dorf is the Founder and Creative Director of Cheery Designs, a design centric lifestyle brand and creative studio. Elyssa grew up in Westchester New York and now resides with her husband on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Adding color and eccentric design to everything from wall art, apparel, to face masks, Elyssa has made it her mission to spread cheer and add color to people’s lives. Elyssa runs Cheery Designs in her free time, and she’s a huge advocate of art and color in particular, and champions its role in being boosters to mental health and wellbeing. Cheery is intended to provide high style art that is accessible to all. From pop art for the home to trend focused product design, Cheery is meant to spread as much joy to the owner, as Elyssa feels when creating her art and designs.
In today’s episode, Elyssa shares her journey to Cheery Designs. Growing up, competitive freestyle skiing was everything to her, and she thought it would never end, until she suffered a crash landing and a bad concussion. After recovering, it was decided she would never ski jump again. It was a devastating conclusion, and after many months in the dark recovering, she was well enough to come back to the light. It wasn’t easy though. She hadn’t spoken to her friends in a year, she lost her teammates, and she was no longer able to fulfill her dream of becoming an Olympic skier. Elyssa decided to revise her love for art, and it quickly became her everything. As Elyssa shares, she lost her identity as a skier, but she solidified her identity as an artist and designer. Today, Cheery is an expression of hope, love, color and cheer. It’s a safe haven where only positivity is shared, and the art Elyssa creates is meant to spread happiness, allow you to pause, and just feel good. Her products are meant to inspire, and bringing joy to others brings Elyssa joy. That’s what Cheery is here for.
To learn more about Elyssa Dorf and Cheery Designs visit her website: www.cheerydesigns.com, Facebook @withacheeryontop or Instagram @withacheeryontop For 25% off Elyssa’s Cheery Art, use code INSPIRINGJOY at checkout.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Rebecca Binnendyk is a CFO (Chief FUN Officer), voiceover artist, musician, and life coach for individuals and organizations looking to create a work environment that brings fulfillment, loyalty, and makes a difference in the world. Rebecca’s driving mission is to reinvigorate and revitalize adults and businesses alike by adding joy back into their work and lives.
In today’s episode, Rebecca shares her journey redefining the word “fun” and becoming the new breed of CFO, Chief FUN Officer. For years, she’s heard stories about people who are quitting their jobs, quitting corporate, and looking for something more, but she’s felt that’s not sustainable. Her passion is to get to the root of the problem with businesses, individuals and the corporate world, so that we can have and find more fun in our lives. As Rebecca shares, we can’t all quit our jobs and become entrepreneurs. Instead, it comes down to creating a healthy culture. Infusing fun back into our lives is serious business! But throughout this journey, Rebecca has struggled with really knowing and understanding who she is. As she’s dug into who she really is, and who she wants to be in the world, she’s discovered that we can be all of the parts at the same time. We all have different things that we love to do, and we all have a bit of a dark side, and that’s ok! As Rebecca shares, it’s part of who we are, and it’s about acceptance. Today, Rebecca loves working with people who are ready to make big change, lead them back to their joy and happiness, and remember that fun is part of the journey.
To learn more about Rebecca and her work, visit her website https://rebeccabinnendyk.com and on Facebook here Instagram @Rebecca_binnendyk and on YouTube here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Opa Hysea Wise is an American author, born to mixed race parents, and her latest book “No Place to Hide” was released in 2020. Like so many people of color, she came to experience a sense of “otherness,” which fueled her desire to discuss diversity as the woven fabric within the American tapestry. She worked as a Training and Development specialist and manager in Government and Corporate organizations. Often tasked to develop and deliver diversity courses, Opa brought a sense of understanding, compassion and a call to action to her audience, with the firm knowledge that returning to the connection we all have would be but one step to returning to love. As both a Jack Canfield Success Coach and an author, Opa Hysea Wise looks to set a fire within the hearts of both her students and her readers.
Opa's journey begins with her imagination, and the wisdom she shares about choosing your imagination, letting go of attachments, and not giving up, is timely and powerful. What do you believe in? Is your mindset one of growth and expansion, or limited? A powerful question, Opa begins today's episode with this question and the perspectives she grew up with. Today, she's moved to a perspective where she's allowed her imagination to see beyond what's in front of her, a universe with limitless potential, a place of expansion. As she shares, to reach this space of expansion only requires a willingness to open up to a greater version of oneself, a shift that will create a more meaningful life. We just have to imagine it. For Opa, the key was to let go of any attachment she had to her dream. She had to let go of attachments to how her dream would show up, she couldn’t insist that her dream would occur only under a certain set of specific circumstances, but instead she had to trust. She had to trust that step by step, her path would open up before her. That there really is a universe full of abundance and endless possibilities, and Opa offers her story to encourage you to not give up on your dreams, especially if you're in the throws of trying something new.
To learn more about Opa, her work, and her new book visit her website www.Opahyseawise.com and "No Place to Hide" is available wherever books are sold including Amaon, Indiebound, Bookshop and more
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Karen Rae is the founder of Balanced Life and creator of The Signature Balanced Life Planner®. Karen created this planner to guide others in finding balance in their day-to-day activities. Karen is a single mother of two young daughters, a homemaker, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and business owner. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Karen realized she was busy, but she was missing the bigger picture.
This inspired her to develop the Balanced Life Planner® in an effort to help others to renew their focus on what matters the most - Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, and Friendships. This is what Karen refers to as the 5 F's. The Signature Balanced Life Planner® is a culmination of lessons and experiences I have gained over my lifetime and enriched with inspirational quotes and ideas from others. Karen wants the Balanced Life Planner® to motivate others to live life to the fullest.
In today’s episode, Karen shares her story creating the Balanced Life Planner. When life slowed down due to the pandemic, it was a blessing in disguise for her family. Karen decided when life returned to normal, she didn’t want normal to look anything like it looked before. She wanted to regain control of her life, and live her life more intentionally. This led her to create the Balanced Life Planner, and start Balanced Life by Karen Rae. The crazy thing is, she never sought out to create a new business! But through what she believes was divine inspiration, she’s now living out her life’s purpose. Karen’s story is a beautiful reminder to listen to that still small voice within, because it will lead you into your destiny.
To learn more about Karen and The Balanced Life Planner visit her website BalancedLifePlanner.com and on Instagram @BalancedLifeKR Facebook @BalancedLifeKR Twitter @BalancedLifeKR and via email YourFriends@BalancedLifePlanner.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Misty Sansom is a writer and life purpose coach who helps people to figure out exactly what they’re meant to do in life and how to make it happen. Her philosophy is that we all have a purpose; something we are meant to do - but often, we struggle with how to find it, how to articulate it, and how to bring it to life. She guides people through this process through 1:1 coaching, her monthly membership and her ‘Find Your Purpose’ eBook. Misty’s approach to purpose, spirituality and personal growth is practical, down to earth and simple to follow. Her work has been featured on the Huffington Post, the Daily Guru, MindBodyGreen and more.
In today’s episode, Misty shares her story stepping into her purpose, connecting with her intuition, and allowing herself to be drawn to things. After her sister unexpectedly passed away, she realized that we have an ongoing and profound impact on the world, even after we’re gone. She shares her shifts in perspective and spirituality, and how she began to recognize that we are spiritual by default, there’s nothing more we have to than be ourselves. Misty dove into self-reflection and doing her own inner work, and she realized that her purpose is to help others discover their’s. As Misty so beautifully shares, the path to purpose is one of deep personal growth and personal development, and it’s a journey worth taking.
To learn more about Misty and her work visit her website www.mistysansom.com and on Instagram @mistysansom Facebook @mistysansomfyp and Twitter @mistysansom
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Myles Biggs is a passionate storyteller. His TEDx talk and book, both titled “Unseen Work” have been featured by Yahoo! and Business Insider. His first podcast, Relish The Journey, was named No. 5 on a list of the Top 15 Podcasts of 2020, by New York Weekly. As a podcaster, marketer, and personal coach he loves helping others uncover their talents and then share them with the world. When he's not creating content, you can find him consuming copious amounts of caffeine, exploring the outdoors, and making memories with his family.
In today’s episode, Myles shares his story building and creating his podcast, Relish the Journey. In the middle of moving and becoming a father, Myles was crazy enough to start a podcast (his words, not ours!) It’s been an incredible journey, and as you’ll hear in today’s episode, Myles started the podcast as a way to find a creative outlet. He was at the corporate ladder with a six figure salary, but as he interviewed more and more incredible people, he hit his version of rock bottom. He wasn’t doing what he was passionate about, and it started to take its toll. He decided he didn’t want that anymore, and it was time to make a change. He was tired of being tired. So, Myles quit his job, started a new career and never looked back. Less than 2 years after doing that he’s now a published author, TEDx speaker, and nationally-recognized podcaster. If he can do it, others can do it, too.
To learn more about Myles and his work visit his website www.mylesbiggs.com and on Instagram @mylesjbiggs Facebook @jselym you can find his TEDx Talk here his Book here and his podcast, Relish The Journey here and via email myles@rthmedia.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
A former litigator turned career coach, Andrea helps lawyers and law students with professional development, career transitions, and holistic well-being. She is the creator and host of Career & Life Chats with Andrea, a YouTube channel that features the careers and lives of fulfilled lawyers.
In today’s episode, Andrea shares her story of homecoming, and coming into her own. A former litigator turned career coach and rule-following child of Taiwanese immigrants, Andrea spent most of her life striving and accomplishing, she walked well worn paths to success. When the going got tough, she forced her way through until it left her feeling exhausted, miserable and lost. Andrea started working with a career coach, and for the first time she found herself feeling curious and hopeful. Today, her life is night and day from before, with her external circumstances mirroring the internal shifts that keep going. Andrea’s story is one of self-expression, acceptance, and a powerful reminder to source our self-worth from within.
To learn more about Andrea and her work visit her website www.andreayangcoaching.com and on YouTube here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Gina Adams is an entertainment executive and the co-founder of COMMAND your CROWN and The 4M Method. This program has helped women all over the country who struggled with their health and weight finally achieve their goals. Gina has spent the last three decades in the entertainment industry as a dancer, choreographer, director and VP of an Entertainment Company. She produces the longest running show in Las Vegas & shows in multiple venues around the country as well as Internationally. Her performers have appeared on The Ellen Show, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, and many mor
Moving from behind the lights to behind the scenes she saw how women were struggling with their health as they moved into their 40s and beyond. She took her expertise as an athlete and teamed up with a nurse and nutritionist to develop a method that could work for every woman. The 4M Method has helped women all across the country keep accountable and achieve their goals.
In today’s episode, Gina shares her journey from working in the entertainment industry to co-founding COMMAND your CROWN. She’s spent her life doing something she’s totally passionate about, and as Gina shares that’s a real gift. Gina shares her experience with COVID, and what happened when she lost her career and her industry. She started to wonder, who am I? She lost her identity, and she had to find her joy again. During the middle of 2020, Gina joined forces with friends to create COMMAND your CROWN. As Gina shares, when you find a spark and allow yourself to follow it, there will be amazing rewards and opportunities that you might have never expected. Gina’s story is a powerful reminder that our stories are never over, they’re ever changing, and despite the hardship and tragedies of the past year, there are positive we can look for and hold on to, to keep us going.
To learn more about Gina and her work visit her website www.COMMANDyourCROWN.com and on Facebook @COMMADNyourCROWN Instagram @COMMADNyourCROWN
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Eesha Patel is an international channeler, speaker, author, healer, and spiritual mentor to world-class coaches, speakers, and entrepreneurs who are here to serve humanity and raise the vibration of the planet. Over the last 5 years, she has helped over 10,000 people to become leaders in the full spectrum of frequencies available in this planetary ascension. She is the founder of Origin Activation, a powerful multi-dimensional & energetic healing modality, which can discover limitless lifts in frequency causing spontaneous healing.
In today’s episode, Eesha shares her spiritual awakening triggered by leaving a relationship that she thought was everything she wanted, but the universe had other plans for her. She felt lighter, like something had been lifted, and in the coming weeks she started going deep in her meditation practice. Over night, she was able to start channeling and energy was moving through her. She knew she had to share these images, meditations, and guidance with other people. Eesha’s story of her spiritual awakening is a beautiful reminder that we’re often called to explore a pathway that’s unknown to us, but it’s an intuitive knowing and a soul calling we’re meant to follow. Throughout her journey, Eesha has learned that there’s something greater than us, and something beyond us that can help us to create a life that is perhaps even greater than what we’ve envisioned for ourself. Today, Eesha is helping people through energy healing and her work, Origin Activation. Eesha’s biggest message is that we’re not along in this universe, we’re always guided and connected.
To learn more about Eesha and her work visit her website https://originactivation.com/ and on Facebook @EeshaPatel and on Instagram @eeshapatel11
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Author Chris Parsons is leading the charge to help educators and parents with interactive tools that spark kindness, friendship and giving in his debut children’s book. Helping drive home the concept of finding good in the world, A LITTLE SPARK offers a read-along with a musical soundtrack, audiobook and corresponding lessons highlighted in each chapter. A first grade teacher in Dallas, Nicole Ramirez said: “I personally loved the lessons learned in the story- especially that even the smallest creature can make the biggest difference. That is especially important for children to hear because they so badly want to be seen and heard."
A Little Spark is more than a book. We all can be that Spark by helping those who need a hand up, a break, a chance – someday you may need your own Spark. The book teaches us a number of important lessons with respect to how we treat those around us. We must always strive to “Be That Spark”.
In today’s episode, Chris shares his journey writing “A Little Spark.” After a career in technology, three years ago he made the decision to take a different direction and become a children’s author and create music for kids. Christ began writing children’s books when his kids were growing up, and it was something he really enjoyed. It was an opportunity for him to create a story with a strong message. He kept creating and expanding the stories, until one day he was on a plane where an idea came to him about a small mouse named Spark who was given an opportunity, and he saved the day. Chris was really inspired by this story, and he made a vow that every time he traveled by plane he would work on the story, now known as “A Little Spark” published in October 2020. Chris knew this was his passion, and through this journey he’s found his spark. As he shares, we can all be that spark in someone else’s life.
To learn more about Chris and A Little Spark visit his website https://bethatspark.com on Instagram @bethatspark Facebook @bethatspark Twitter @bethatspark and the book A Little Spark is available on Amazon and on most online bookstores across the globe.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Dena Rae is an intuitive energy healer and life purpose life coach, with a background as a creative director and teacher. In working with her clients 1:1, she’s blended energy healing and intuitive guidance to help them along on their journey, feel empowered and gain clarity on moving forward.
Wisdom Healings is an answer to a soul calling to help those who struggle with understanding how to get what they really want in life. For all those who want to transform into who they really are but fear the unknown. As Dena has moved through life, it took many hard years to break through her own fears and generational conditioning to take action on her soul calling of being a healer. Today, she helps guide her clients through their own unique process to blossom and walk through their own personal portal to transition to who they’ve always wanted to be.
With a unique blend of intuitive theta guidance and energy medicine as Healing Touch for the framework, Dena has combined a unique blend to bring the unknown to be known and shed light of insight and inspiration for you. These become your tools to work with and empower yourself to be your unique magical superhuman and walk this earth in your intended power. Through working with Dena, together you remove blocks and outdated mindsets to be replaced with new clarity and balanced energy. By simply letting go and letting the guidance in, amazing results can happen. When we ask for help, the answers reveal themselves.
In today’s episode, Dena shares her journey learning to tap into her own intuitive guidance and becoming a healer. She always wanted to help humanity in a deeper way, and it took some time to get to know herself on a more intimate level, and who she wanted to be in the world. Growing up, she was always the one in the group that people wanted to confide in and ask for advice, and one of the main things that would come up often was someone’s life purpose. For Dena, it was simply to follow what lights you up and to trust in the process of being led by your intuition and your guides. Easier said than done, but as Dena shares, every time we take a leap of faith we’re met with beautiful lessons, and a greater understanding of ourselves. Dena followed her interests, and let her intuition guide every step of the way, and one day she felt a calling to be a healer. Her soul said yes, but her ego was more hesitant. She quickly realized that healing is her true calling, and it became evident that she had to find a way to pursue it. Today, through her work with Wisdom Healings, Dena is helping others to move forward in life, encourage them to find their intuitive voice, shift out of old mindsets with love, and shift into healthier and more authentic version of ourselves.
To learn more about Dena and her work visit her website www.wisdomhealings.com and on Instagram @wisdom_healings Facebook @wisdomhealings and via email hello@wisdomhealings.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Carmen Kissel-Verrier is the author of “The Butcher Shop Girl.” She was born in rural Alberta, Canada, and these days she is a technical writer and a graduate of Mount Royal University. In her meaty coming-of-age memoir, The Butcher Shop Girl , Kissel-Verrier writes with vivid detail about her experiences as an elite world-traveling entertainer, partying with the Hells Angels, falling in love with a sexy U.S. drug enforcement agent, run-ins with premium organized crime, and safely finding her way home again. Carmen still loves a wild time spent with peculiar people and appreciates a good ribeye steak. She remains fascinated by the diversity of the human spirit. Carmen lives with her husband and their two children on the shoreline of Moose Lake, Alberta.
In today’s episode, Carmen shares her coming of age journey. Her story starts in rural Alberta, Canada, where she spent her childhood working in her mother’s slaughterhouse, tearing through flesh and getting into trouble. To escape a violent home, she bounced from house to house, working on the family farm, and eventually in the oil patch. Her story is one of resilience and persistence, and Carmen’s memoir captures the vivacious spirit of a small-town girl determined to succeed by any means necessary. Carmen reads an excerpt from “The Butcher Shop Girl”, and it’s a beautiful piece full of melancholy, resolve, revelation and new beginnings about to unfold.
To learn more about Carmer and The Butcher Shop Girl on her website www.TheButcherShopGirl.com and on Instagram @butcher_shop_girl Facebook @ButcherShopGirl Twitter @thebutchershop9 @Carmen.K.Verrier and via email inquire@thebutchershopgirl.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Sandy Cowen has always been dedicated to the empowerment of others as an entrepreneur, community leader and expert on the holistic healing process. Now, an author and speaker, in her latest book, “HI MOMMA, IT’S ME” she shares her gift as a “reluctant medium”, which she kept hidden for more than thirty years. Prompted by her son’s passing, Sandy’s new work shares her story to help others find peace and even joy in the face of profound loss by being open to the concept that staying connected can actually occur.
In this episode, Sandy gets personal about her childhood, her challenging adult life and how the importance of friendships may have fueled her new life and expanded her friendships to people she never dreamed she’d meet. How to appreciate the joys of being connected, what their real purpose is in this life and how we can all enrich our daily experiences by being grateful for those who know us and love us, is inspirational. Sandy shares how love and gratitude can make the rewards of friendship surprising and help us expand the limited potential we might believe we have in staying connected to those we love.
To connect with Sandy and learn more about her work and book visit her website https://www.sandycowen.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Don Culp has been in the military for the past 23 years, and is married with 5 children. He entered the military at just 17 and a junior in high school. He completed basic training between his junior and senior year, and about a week after graduating high school he left to finish his AIT (advanced individual training). He had always wanted to be a pilot and fly, and in 2008 he found out they were selected to go to flight school. Today, Don is also a Flight Consultant on the civilian side teaching kids about STEM through Aerospace specifically related to flying.
In today’s episode Don candidly and vulnerably shares his family’s journey with his daughter Braelyn Aubrey. In 2008 when she was just six months old Braelyn started to show issues with minor eye deviations, and they soon came to find out that she was having seizures. In 2011 after Don graduated from flight school, he had to come home from his deployment in Iraq because Braelyn experienced another seizure and was taken to a local children’s hospital. This began a series of hospital visits, and after experiencing a stroke a portion of Braelyn’s brain was damaged. She started to show signs of improvement, and Don returned to his deployment. Braelyn had gone nine months without a seizure or hospital, but on a trip to Florida she had a seizure again.
On October 1, 2012, Don came home from work and saw that Braelyn was sick. As it got closer to bedtime he gave her a hug and she patted him on the back and kissed her goodnight, and told her that he loved her. As Don shares, he didn’t know that would be the last time he’d be able to do that. The next day when he was at work, Braelyn had passed away. As Don shares, his daughter had a fighting spirit, she never quit, and today he continues to work to emulate her no quit, joyful attitude.
Don started the Braelyn Aubrey foundation in her memory, and it’s through the foundation that he’s able to honor her, her memory, and help others like her. Today, Don and his family continue to honor Braelyn and her spirit. Don’s story is a beautiful reminder of the power of honoring the loved ones in our lives - their story and their memory - and just how important it is to make the most of our current situation. Don has learned he’s blessed beyond measure to have his wife and kids and to have had a child such as Braelyn in his life. Don’s biggest dream is to honor Braelyn’s memory and ensure her spirit lives on through all that he does.
To connect with Don and learn more about the Braelyn Aubrey Foundation you can reach out via email braelynaubreyfoundation@gmail.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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With his captivating and empowering style, Michael will leave people with the aspiration and inspiration to be better.
As a teenager, Michael was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped him overcome adversities and set high expectations for his future. Grateful for the role these mentors played in his own development, Michael decided to dedicate his professional life to helping people navigate the difficulties of life and launch their future into motion.
Michael received the 2010 USA Network’s Characters Unite Award for exceptional commitment to combating prejudice and discrimination while increasing tolerance and acceptance within the community. He is also the recipient of the 2014 100 Men of Color Award for leadership in education, government, mentorship, entrepreneurial success and community service. And most recently, he was awarded the EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD from Y-COP, the Youth Community Outreach Program in Mt. Vernon.
In today’s episode, Michael shares his journey shaking off the dirt in his life, and using it as a stepping stone. Today, Michael is sharing with us some of his dirt. His father was a raging alcoholic, and he grew up in poverty and dysfunction. His mother raised him and his siblings on her housekeeping salary. But this is where he started, it’s not where he’s ended. His dirt is the catalyst and the foundation for why he wants to reach out and help other people. Michael is a master encourager, because he draws on the things he went through growing up. His own experience has allowed him to be empathetic and put himself in the shoes of those who may suffer, or have challenges or obstacles that they have to deal with as they go through life. He’s created a phenomenal youth development organization called Power of Peace, where young people come together for two days to learn about themselves and create community with others, and a non-profit, Youth Voices Center where they help young people become better citizens, contribute to society, to take the things they’ve gone through and to use them as a catalyst for success rather than an opportunity for failure. Michael’s mission in life is to bring peace to those he comes in contact with and his story is powerful, and as he shares we can use the dirt in our lives as our transportation, and not our destination.
To learn more about Michael visit his website www.michaelarterberry.com and www.youthvoicescenter.org and on Facebook @michael.arterberry Instagram @ctthunder and Get a FREE copy of his book "Be Encouraged: 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement" here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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As a #1 international bestselling author, teacher and coach, Elle Hari is a Twin Flame and Ascension Alchemist who’s true purpose in life is guiding people on their Twin Flame journey— a transformation that reunites them with their Twin Flame and leads to self-love, joy, abundance and their soul’s highest calling.
After following her own Twin Flame journey, Elle left her job as a lawyer and began coaching students as they traveled theirs. As painful as her Twin Flame journey was, she wouldn’t trade the experience for the world. Without it, she wouldn’t have learned the Divine Truth of Creation, which is necessary to help people advance on their soul’s journey. Through her personal experiences and coaching, she’s developed revolutionary methods that help her students unconditionally love themselves at the deepest level possible. Elle’s students discover who they truly are, at the soul level, manifesting their greatest dreams by discovering and fulfilling their true soul's purpose.
Devoted to helping people overcome fear, pain and self-sabotaging limitations, she guides her students to their true nature of bliss and perpetual happiness. Her mission is driven by a passion to expand people’s knowledge and awareness of Twin Flames and assist humanity’s spiritual ascension on a global scale.
In today’s episode, Elle shares her journey of how her purpose found her. She started off her career as a lawyer, and over time she began to realize that it wasn’t her passion. At the same time she found herself divorced and a single mother, and there was part of her that was excited for her next chapter. She met someone new, and shortly after she found herself hitting rock bottom. She didn’t recognize herself anymore, she couldn’t function, and she recognized that something had to change. She found out that she was experiencing a twin flame journey, an awakening to get to know yourself on the deepest level possible, on the level of your soul, who you truly are. It’s a spiritual journey of unconditional and immense self-love. Elle’s own twin flame journey has inspired her to write a book and work with others to trust their own path, to trust their rock bottom, and discover their own inner truth.
To learn more about Elle and her work visit her website https://www.masteryofascensionalchemy.com and on Instagram @bewithyourtwinflame Facebook @twinflameteacher and YouTube here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Tabitha Babcock is the founder of Bquet of Word. Relationships can take work, but who said 'work' can't be a beautiful party. Bquet of Words is a resource to celebrate your friends in a vibrant way. Building better friendships can be joy-filled and beautiful.
In today’s episode Tabitha shares a piece of her story and how it came to be, and the inspiration behind Bquet of Word, a resource for your to build better friendships and champion your own people with intention. Tabitha runs towards things, her life is beautiful and full of joy. Her passion for sharing how to build better friendships helps bring beauty to others. Tabitha shares the importance of true friendship and community, especially for women, and that beauty truly means showing up for one another with vulnerability and intention. As Tabitha shares, in society we place high importance on romantic relationships, but we seldom talk about the importance of deep and lasting friendships. Friendships take work, but 'work' can be celebratory, encouraging, and joy-filled. It’s her hope that we all have the opportunity to have authentic relationships, that we put in the ‘work’ to create a less isolated world.
To connect with Tabitha visit her website www.bquetofwords.co and on Instagram @bquet_ @tab.itharae
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Laura Formentini has always been a curious and empathic person. It is that sensitivity that has led her to travel the world and bring aid wherever she goes, be it in the form of raising funds to renovate an entire orphanage in Kenya, a run-down clinic in Malawi, or Co-Found an animal sanctuary in Sicily, Italy. Laura is also a nonprofit photographer who has had the privilege of working with countless organizations around the world. Laura is a believer that Love in Action heals not only the world, but that it also holds the key to our own healing.
In today’s episode, Laura shares her journey to her work opening up the animal sanctuary, Rifugio Isola del Sole, and how love in action heals the heart. Her work in Sicily provides a sanctuary for animals, it’s a way of showing that where there is love, there is always life. While advocating travel to impact the world for positive global change, Laura turned into a child welfare activist and an advocate to prevent cruelty to animals.
Her philanthropic fundraising has taken place in Italy, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, and Puerto Rico. An archaeologist, conservationist, and photographer, Laura is also Vice President of Rifugio Isola del Sole, an animal sanctuary in Southern Italy, where she spearheads the free sterilization of street dogs and cats. Other causes she supports include––People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Mercy for Animals, Best Friends Animal Society, Kiva, Mercy for Animals, the ASPCA, and the LAV (Lega Anti-Vivisezione Italia).
Laura has also been sponsoring over 40 children around the globe through PlanUSA for the past 16 years. Born in Milan, Laura has lived in Italy, Missouri, Colorado, and California, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Archaeology and Art History from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Laura is honored to meet you here and excited you have a desire to learn more about taking action, what she callsLove in Action, to create a better world.
To connect with Laura visit her website www.lauraformentini.com and www.RifugioIsolaDelSole.com and on Instagram @authorlauraformentini
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Shunia is a duo that combines addictive melodies, ancient chants and polycultural rhythms into a sound that feels both new and timeless. Their music captures and conveys deep energies and spirit. The state of "shunia" means stillness, receptivity. A stillness of power, not passivity. Shunia’s members, Lisa Reagan and Suzanne Jackson, combine their influences, inspirations and experiences to form genre-defying music with the power to transform and to connect you to the energy within and around you. It can put you in touch with something as simple as your five senses or as mysterious as the infinite.
Experience the music of Shunia, it will transport you.
In today’s new episode, Lisa Reagan shares her journey to Shunia through yoga and chanting, how she released control and allowed a magical world to open up before her, and how she and Suzanne came together. As Lisa so beautifully shares, she realized in the end there really is no other choice than to trust the process, and to let go and trust the higher intelligence that keeps this whole universe going. For Lisa, it meant to believe in something out there that was so great, that all she had to do was get out of the way and allow that intelligence to come through and guide her. Lisa’s story is a beautiful reminder of the power of releasing fear, allowing energy to flow through us, and what happens when we trust the sacred worlds that exist within. It’s this experience and this knowing that inspired Lisa to start the group Shunia, because she wanted to share this music with others and give them the gift of this magical tool of chanting and sound.
To learn more about Lisa and Suzanne of Shunia visit their website https://shuniasound.com and on Instagram @shuniasound Facebook @shuniasound on YouTube here and on Spotify here
You can tune into two released tracks in advance of their self-titled album, SHUNIA (album available Jan. 15, 2021):
“Sa Re Sa Sa”
YouTube: https://youtu.be/7VJ0Kqz_Y30
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6wGa86EwJZQgi2wCpPnya9?si=4tMIev5pSai70MfUn5RpEA
“Breeze at Dawn”
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/0_F88VuYObY
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1cpv1ZnsMpsBYtPTQIUdnq
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Reina Rose is an International Best Selling Author and host of the ROKU TV Show “Soul Nutrition”. She shares with readers and audiences alike the various ways of nourishing the soul. Digging deep into what truly satisfies the inner life.
Reina takes ancient wisdom and distills it into practical tools that modern audiences can easily implement. Covering topics from stress management and meditation to prayer and personal awareness, Reina leads her audiences on a journey towards personal and spiritual fulfillment.
Reina is also the author of Sin Tastes Good: Nourishing Your Soul in an Empty Calories World. Sin Tastes Good takes readers on an inward journey to discovering their very souls. Comparing this path of self-discovery with the body’s need for healthy nourishment, STG reminds readers that the ancient concept of sin simply means to miss the mark. It may look like a bellyache full of sticky sweet candy or a behavior that leaves us feeling empty and aching. STG helps readers ask new questions and consider different answers in search of inner fulfillment.
In today’s episode, Reina shares what it means to be a soul nutritionist, and how we can begin to nourish our souls to live a heaven on earth kind of life. Reina shares powerful tips to nourish our soul, and one of those tips is spending time in silence. When we allow ourselves to sit in silence, we clear the clutter of our mind and allow inspiration to come through. As we develop this practice, we can begin to hear more clearly the divine intelligence that is within all us. As Reina shares, what often comes from these moments of stillness is a moment of peace, and that sense of peace starts within the individual. It’s Reina’s mission to bring peace, one individual at a time, because if we are living heaven on earth, then we will change the world around us.
To learn more about Reina and her new book visit her website www.reina-rose.com and on Instagram @The_soul_nutritionist Facebook @thesoulnutritionist Twitter @soulnutritionrr
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here
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Jen Broyles is a Holistic Health Coach, SOMA Breath work Instructor, Essential Oils Coach and founder of the Sacred Breath Community. She helps individuals restore and optimize their health by calming the nervous system, reducing stress, awakening their inner healer. Her personal story is what inspired her to educate and guide others. After dealing with digestive issues, anxiety, and hormone imbalances for years, Jen decided to leave her career in pharmaceutical sales and returned to school to study integrative nutrition followed by training in essential oils and breathwork. She believes that nourishing the mind, body, and soul with healing foods, proper breathing, self-love, and healthy emotional processing leads to a transformative healing experience. With a combination of breathwork, essential oils, nutrition, and other holistic modalities Jen helps clients create a lifestyle of health, vitality and freedom. For more information including wellness resources, breathing techniques, essential oil guidance and an introduction to the Sacred Breath Community, you can visit Jen’s website at www.jenbroyles.com.
In today’s episode, Jen shares her journey into the world of natural health. After searching for answers and solutions to her own health challenges, she realized she needed to seek other solutions other than your typical prescription medication. She started to read and learn more about nutrition, holistic health, functional and integrative medicine, and her eyes were opened to new possibilities. She started to regain hope, found her passion, and empowered herself along the way. From there, her journey unfolded. If there’s anything she’s learned from sharing her story, it’s that the human spirit is resilient. As long as there is hope, there is perseverance. Today, she hopes to give that sense of hope and possibility to others too.
To learn more about Jen and her work visit her website https://www.jenbroyles.com/ https://www.jenbroyles.com/sacred-breath/ and on Facebook here Instagram @jenbroyleshealthcoach Twitter @jenbroyles1 YouTube @JenBroyles LinkedIn @jenbroyleshealthcoach
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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After struggling for years and losing both his company and his longtime girlfriend all in the same week, author Andrew Kap knew something had to change. And unless he found a way to bounce back, he’d never enjoy the life he worked so hard for. It was in that moment that he finally decided to give the Law of Attraction an honest try.
Within three months, he was in a healthier relationship than he had ever been. Within four, he was making more money than he ever had before. And within six, literally everything that was wrong in his life had finally gone right.
His latest offering, “The Last Law of Attraction Book You’ll Ever Need To Read” offers readers a never-before-seen understanding of the topic — that no other “LOA” book has ever been able to do — by going the extra mile of finally addressing WHY people who get excited about trying it still can’t manage to get in the habit of using these methods for just five minutes a day. The book has enjoyed continued success, including hundreds of 5-star rave reviews, #1 Best Seller status in multiple categories on Amazon, and a growing YouTube channel devoted to it.
In today’s episode, Andrew shares his story with the Law of Attraction, and how he finally got it to work for him. Eight years ago Andrew was struggling, he lost both his business and his girlfriend of three years, all within the span of one week. It was within that moment, after years of trial and error with the LOA that he finally made the decision that he was going to finally go all in with it, and practice it every single day. Within two weeks he felt better, within three months he was in a brand new and healthier relationship, within four months he was making more money than ever before, and within six months everything was different. Andrew’s story is inspiring, and he shares the key to get you started with the LOA. It’s Andrews hope that his story will inspire you to make the LOA work for you too.
To learn more about Andrew and his new book visit hm on YouTube @andrewkap and you can find his book here www.LastLawofAttractionBook.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Antoinette Beauchamp is an empowerment mindset coach, speaker, author, and meditation teacher. As an ELI-MP certified professional coach, she inspires and challenges women to lead with passion, find balance, step into their power, and own who they were born to be.
Antoinette shares her story coming to her coaching work, and the impact she’s having on women, businesses, and female leaders. Antoinette knows that women have a drive in them that makes them so special, and it’s her mission to share it. Antoinette’s journey has been filled with highs and lows, and for a long time her negative thoughts, imposter syndrome, and playing small held her back. She realized that she could do it all, she could take that first step towards her dreams, and she just needed to try. That’s exactly what she did. There was no greater passion in her heart than living her purpose to help women transform their lives, and nothing could hold her back.
To connect with Antoniette visit her website www.antoinettebeauchamp.com Instagram @antoinettebeauchamp_ and via email antoinette@abcoached.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here
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Sophia Lorena is the host of The Shit Show of My Twenties Podcast. She got furloughed for almost three months this year and decided to move past her limiting beliefs and start the podcast she always wanted to start. Since April, she has interviewed over 95 people and has released over 85 episodes. She is passionate about helping women get out of their own way and create the life they desire.
In today’s episode, Sophia shares her journey through the rollercoaster of 2020. From a horrific car accident, being furloughed from her job, to starting her podcast, it’s been a crazy year. If there’s one thing she’s taken from this year, it’s that this life is precious. After being furloughed from her job, Sophia realized in that moment that she had two choices, she can either go into a victim mindset, say why me, start emotional eating again gain a bunch of weight, maybe start drinking again, mope around the house and wait to go back to work. Or she could purse the creative projects that have always been calling her and see what happens. Sophia decided to go with the second option and she’s so grateful that she did. As Sophia so beautifully shares, when you hit a setback, when you lose your job and find yourself unemployed, it’s probably happening to you for a reason. Maybe the universe is showing you what you’re meant to do, maybe you’re being shown your gifts, and maybe, you’ll find yourself on the path you’re meant to walk on. Trust where you are and where you’re going, because there’s always something beautiful, inspiring, and hopeful that we can create from life’s messiest moments.
To learn more about Sophia and her podcast visit her website https://www.theshitshowofmytwenties.com and on Instagram @theshitshowofmytwenties and you can listen to her podcast here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here
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Phoebe Leona is the founder of nOMad always at OM, a collective global community of yogis, wellness practitioners, healers, travelers, and wanderers of all kinds.
In today's episode, Phoebe shares a story about a vow that her husband made to her to always keep her smiling, and her journey experiencing her smile and joy, on her terms. While there were (many) smiles throughout their marriage, it also wasn’t without its challenges. Phoebe quickly realized that by putting herself aside to be of service to others, she was repeating old patterns, and putting her life’s work, passions, and own life to the side.
To learn more about Phoebe and her work check out her website www.nOMadalwaysatOM.com and https://phoebeleona.com and on Facebook @nomadatom and @phoebe.kelly1, Instagram @phoebemiller.love and @nomadalwaysatom and you can find her podcast nOMad’s The Space in Between here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Meet Amanda Joy! Joy seeker, connector, motivator, life coach and joy connoisseur! Amanda has made a career of helping people live happier and healthier lives from the inside out and has over 15 years of experience in marketing and coordinating health and wellness programs. Her true passion lies in helping people create the lives that they love. She is a certified NLP Life Course and hosts the Journey to Joy Podcast.
In today’s episode Amanda shares her journey from a people pleaser perfectionist, chronically fatigued and depressed, to finding her joy. She was living to check off boxes that she thought she was supposed to do. That life, the go go go, all led to darkness and depression. When Amanda experienced burnout she was just under 30 years old, and she really didn’t know what she was experiencing. She couldn’t sleep through the night, she didn’t have an appetite, and she was losing her hair. Finally Amanda had to surrender, and that’s when her healing journey began. She focused on self-care, nutrition, and healing herself, and she began her journey to joy.
To connect with Amanda visit her website https://amandajoygill.com and on Instagram @amandajoygill Twitter @amandajoygill11 Facebook @lifecoachamandajoygill and you can find her podcast Journey to Joy here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Sharon Shannon, also known as the Faith Coach, is a Speaker, CEO of In Sharon's Heart, and Organizer of Women of Movement. Sharon helps emerging and aspiring faith-based women entrepreneurs build their online businesses using their God-given gift(s) in order to live a life of service and financial freedom.
Sharon focuses on online business coaching, consultation, and mentoring for women who are ready to take their business to another level by learning the tools that will make them successful. She helps women with their voice, faith, confidence, and grind (consistency in working smart). Her Faith Model enables women to use their gift(s) to build their empire. With faith, Sharon believes that you can start the process of doing the abundant things God has for you to do (James 2:17).
In today’s episode, Sharon shares her journey walking in faith. She realized that she wasn’t living her dreams. Instead, she was living for everyone else. Every time she got a little courage to do something outside of her comfort zone, she found herself becoming idle if anyone around her had an opinion about her next move. But one day Sharon got sick and tired of watching everyone else live their dreams, and she decided that she would build her business. She decided she was going to do it afraid, take chances, and start speaking her truth. Sharon’s story and journey will ask you to think about the gifts in your life, what may be holding you back from using them, and inspire you to take bold steps to walk in your path.
To learn more about Sharon and her work visit her website https://www.insharonsheart.com/group-coaching and on Facebook @faithandgrindcoaching Instagram @insharonsheart and you can find her podcast here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Ashley Surma is the co-founder of For The Good, created with the mission to help people maximize their potential to serve the world with purpose. For The Good is a community created for sharing uplifting messages and stories with the intention to inspire and impact people in a deeper, meaningful way.
After digging in, Ashley and her husband Jordan recognized how our mindset impacts the way we live our life - and in the way we react to what comes our way. As Ashley shares in this week’s new episode, through their experiences they’ve learned how important it is to have a strong mindset based on positivity and gratitude. Through For The Good, Ashley and Jordan strive to uplift people through the elevation of mindset - with the understanding that although we don't control what happens to us in life, we do control how we respond. As Ashley so beautifully shares, when you realize the power to overcome anything that comes your way is already within you, you will feel an empowerment like never before.
In this week’s new episode Ashley opens up about the loss of her father, his struggle with addiction, the power of forgiveness, and how her experiences led to her purpose. As Ashely shares, most of us follow a path that has been laid out by culture, society, or our family's expectations. At the end of the day, it’s our decision and choice to create the life we want, and the kind of mindset we want to have. You can overcome any experience and obstacle, and through sharing her story and For The Good, Ashley is on a mission to empower others to discover their purpose in difficult times too.
To learn more about Ashley and her work visit her website www.forthegood.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @forthegoodofficial @ashurma Twitter @forthegood Facebook @forthegoodofficial
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Dr. Nicole Theron Parkes is a dance witch and trauma-healing dance coach. She believes that unresolved trauma is the root cause of most struggles and issues in today’s world. She also believes that it is possible to heal from trauma and go on to live a happy, gorgeous life of your choosing. She herself, is living proof!
Nicole works to help people heal their traumas and fall in love with who they are, through the process of healing, soul-guided dance. When not working on her business, BodyLove Dance, you can find her at the beach, reading a book, having a dance party, and snuggling with her dog, Hope.
In today’s new episode, Nicole shares her passion and love for dancing and writing. She shares two beautiful poems and a dance flow. Her first poem is called “Build Me a Castle” and her second “Again”. In many ways, her poetry is an exploration of our inner child. As Nicole shares, when she looks at her younger self and loves on her, she’s reminded that there are no limits. Nicole walks us through a beautiful and healing dance flow, encouraging us to move as if we’re already healed, to dance with our shadows, and a knowing that it’s safe to receive the gifts of this movement.
To connect with Dr. Nicole Theron Parkes and her dance parties, working with her 1:1, and mini healing dance sessions visit her website www.bodylovedance.org and on Instagram @bodylovedance Pinterest @bodylovedance and via email bodylovedance@gmail.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Shari Leid received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Washington in 1992 and graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 1995. A former litigator, she currently owns and operates An Imperfectly Perfect Life, LLC, a professional life coaching business serving women, helping guide them towards recognizing their power. Her debut book, The 50/50 Friendship Flow: Life Lessons From and For My Girlfriends offers a conscious path to not only maintain friendships but to deepen those relationships to support connection while bringing joy and a sense of purpose to both of you. The book details the personal challenge the author embarked on by sitting down one-on-one with 50 friends over the course of one year to share the positive impact they had made in her life.
In today’s new episode, Shari shares the moments that changed her life overnight. Every time, these moments made her life amazing - not immediately, but eventually. When Shari was just 22 years old, she was in a car accident that would change her life forever. She felt lost. The sadness was so heavy, and she can still feel it when she allows her mind to wonder back to that time. One evening when Shari was having a difficult time, there was an evening janitor at the hospital who looked at her and said, “it will be ok, you will be ok, and you will be better.” Shari knew he wasn’t just talking about her appearance, she knew he was talking about who she was as a person. He knew that hardships make us better, and for Shari - he was an angel sent from heaven. She was able to come out of her darkness and gain perspective, she focused on becoming physically and mentally strong, and she began to look for the lessons in her experience. His words kept her going, and have carried her through a number of hardships in her life.
To connect with Shari and learn more visit her website https://animperfectlyperfectlife.com/ and on Facebook @animperfectlyperfectlife Instagram @an_imperfectly_perfect_life and you can find her book on Amazon here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Alexandra Spergel is the CEO and founder of The Nomad's Direction - a company that creates personalized, custom made travel itineraries to fit each type of traveler. Alexandra's story of pursuing her own philosophy of yes will inspire you to follow your passions and joy and choose you, all while updating your passport and booking your next trip ASAP.
Alexandra takes us through her journey of solo travel around the world, what she's learned along the way, the strength she discovered in herself, and she's been able to turn her love for travel into a successful business. She also shares with us the importance of surrounding yourself with other women who are growing, expanding, and stepping out on their own to create their dreams. She's created her own timeline, set her own path, and her story will leave you feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to hit the ground running.
To learn more about Alexandra and her awesome company The Nomad's Direction, visit her website thenomadsdirection.com and make sure to follow her on Instagram @thenomadsdirection
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Dr. Lise Deguire is a clinical psychologist in private practice for over 20 years. The lone surviving child of unsettled and iconoclastic parents, she grew up all over New Jersey and Long Island. Following a horrific fire where she suffered burns on two-thirds of her body, she spent much of her childhood alone in a Boston hospital, undergoing countless surgical procedures.
In today’s episode Dr. Lise shares her incredible story of resilience. After being trapped in a horrific fire at the age of four, Dr. Lise endured third-degree burns on two-thirds of her body. Her neck, chin and lower lip were melted away, and her upper arms were fused to her torso. Dr. Lise’s story is one of survival and overcoming tremendous odds to forge a happy ending. Through her story and her new memoir, it’s Dr. Lise’s hope that she can bring comfort and inspire others who suffer deeply. As Dr. Lise shares, life can be brutal but we can overcome challenges - have hope, and keep going.
To learn more about Dr. Lise, her new book, writing, speaking and blog visit her website www.lisedeguire.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and you can find her new book Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience From a Burn Survivor is available now on Amazon and Barnes and Noble
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Chelsea Cahill is a native New Yorker who has found her passion with Brow Sculpting and Microblading. Born with tweezers in her hand, professionally she has been sculpting brows for over 4 years. Growing up she her mother would tell her inspirational stories about the connections she made with her clients, and Chelsea has always been more than excited to choose this path as her career.
Chelsea joins us to share her story with mental health, and how she’s continued to put her health and wellness first. After graduating from high school, Chelsea made the move to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams of being an actor. Upon graduating, she was hit with the harsh reality of what life is like as a 20 year old in one of the most challenging cities, pursuing one of the most challenging careers. She faced many trials and tribulations, and she learned many life lessons. Chelsea’s honesty and vulnerability in this episode will remind you of the power of being our own advocate, honoring who we are and how we feel, and the importance of putting our mental health first.
To connect with Chelsea visit her website www.browdiva.com and on Instagram @chelsmarie13
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Eden Busani is the founder of Meraki, a lifestyle brand founded to empower other women around the world! They pride themselves with "becoming" your modern guide to a better lifestyle. As a growing community, they help guide you on how to find your purpose, attract positive energy to your life and live with inner peace.
In today’s episode, Eden shares her journey of transformation to freedom, after hitting rock bottom, with the power of writing. She shares how a family friend helped her see the light in the darkness through the power of writing. She was told to take out a piece of paper and write down everything that’s holding her back. Eden had nothing to lose, and she took out a notebook and wrote out all of her shame, negative self-talk, and poured her vulnerability out on the paper. Eden knew there was a purpose to her pain, and she was determined to see this exercise through to the end. As she stood over the fire pit and watched the words in that notebook burn, she knew she was reborn in that moment. As Eden so beautifully shares, you can’t move forward if you don’t let go of the past, and the key to your healing is in letting go, and allowing yourself to live.
To learn more about Eden visit her website www.edenbusani.com and on Instagram @eden_busani @merakiofficalteam Facebook @merakiofficialteam and you can check out her Self help book: The Pathway To Freedom here and you can check out her podcast Mending Broken Beliefs here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Andy Chaleff is a mentor and advisor to business leaders, entertainers, and non-profit organizations that are changing the future of education and parenting. He’s also an author who recently released his second novel, The Wounded Healer, giving readers real-life tools to combat negative thoughts that wreak havoc on their physical and emotional well-being. Published by Koehler Books, The Wounded Healer is available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Audible.
In today’s episode, Andy shares an excerpt from his new book, The Wounded Healer. Andy’s words carry a powerful message of radical self-love. Andy shares his journey to self-love and self-acceptance, and it all started with pushing beyond his comfort zone. He would no longer allow vulnerability to close him off. It all began the day after his wedding in 2017. He decided to write a book, and little did he know that his reflections would turn into hundreds of pages of notes on his iPhone. He relieved every meaningful moment, and paid special attention to the moments filled with shame, guilt and pain. The writing turned into its own healing process. Andy exposed and ultimately accepted, the parts of him that were hiding in the shadows. Through his writing, cross-country journey, and reflections, Andy shares how radical self-love radically changed his experience in the world.
To learn more about Andy and his work visit his website www.andychaleff.com and on Facebook @joinawonderfulchaos and you can find his Facebook group here and on YouTube here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Nataleen Henry is the creator of Butterflies - Broken Wings can Fly Again, a support group and resource that brings awareness to other women and men who have gone through rape, sexual abuse, or domestic violence. In this week’s new episode, Nataleen shares her story of transformation from ashes to beauty. She candidly shares her story of being raped at age 16, and how the pain, blame and shame took a toll on her self-confidence and self-esteem. Two years later, at the age of 18, she found herself in a toxic and abusive relationship that altered the direction of her life, and ultimately brought her back to a space of self-love and self-compassion.
Nataleen’s reflections on domestic violence will remind you that age, gender, level of education, and social background don’t matter when it comes to sexual abuse and domestic violence, and that it can happen to anyone. Her words on her own experience will remind you to approach others with compassion and understanding, rather than judgment and criticism. Her courage to take a leap of faith and bravely trust her instincts to leave that relationship will remind you that we’re so much stronger than we think. Nataleen’s choice to move away from that abusive relationship wasn’t easy, and during this week’s episode she shares with us that at one point she had to take out a restraining order. Her decision to no longer stay in a negative and abusive space allowed her to reclaim her life, and begin to build it step by step. Her words on how there is a light out of every dark tunnel will remind you that when we take the steps to begin to empower ourselves, anything is possible if we hold on to faith, trust, and hope.
To learn more about Nataleen and connect with her visit Butterflies - Broken Wings can Fly Again
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Kate Farrell believes in the power of story. A graduate of the School of Library and Information Studies, UC Berkeley. She has been a language arts classroom teacher (pre-school and grades kindergarten through 12th), author, librarian, university lecturer, and storyteller in Northern California since 1966.
In today’s episode, Kate shares an adaptation from her latest book, Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories. Kate has always learned from challenges in her life, many of them continue to inspire her. As Kate shares, though trials make life difficult, they make the best stories. We can learn from one another’s stories, be encouraged, and take heart.
To connect with Kate visit her website https://katefarrell.net/ on Facebook Kate Farrell Storyteller and on Twitter @katestoryteller and check out her new book Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories and subscribe to her blog: https://storytellingforeveryone.net/
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Sade Cutler has possessed a heart to empower people in many areas of life. After a long journey to find a career helping and empowering others she eventually stumbled upon Social Work “the helping profession for empowerment”. As a child, Sade attended Baltimore City Public Schools in Baltimore, Maryland -where she was born and raised. She later graduated from Coppin State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and an elective cluster in social and biological courses. Shortly after graduating from undergraduate school, Sade went on to receive her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work advance standing program.
Sade joins us to share her story from struggling with infertility, to having her son, and the life threatening complications that almost took her life, and that of her child. Sade’s story is one of overcoming great obstacles and adversity, and a reminder of the power of the human spirit and hope.
To connect with Sade and her practice, My Empowering Impact, visit her website https://www.myempoweringimpact.org/ and on Facebook @myempoweringimpact Instagram @M.E.Impact Twitter @MEImpactLLC
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Lucy Liu is a certified life coach helping women in life transitions unstuck, beat overwhelm, see clarity, reach new goals, live a happier fulfilling life and thrive! She is an unshakable optimist, wife, mother, easy-going entrepreneur, women empowerment workshop facilitator, motivational speaker and now makes it her passion to help other women rewrite their life story.
She also inspires as the host of her weekly podcast The Lucy Liu Show and has been featured in Medium, VoyageLA, Elephant Journal and ThriveGlobal.
In today’s episode, Lucy shares her story facing her fears and limiting beliefs, shifting her mindset, and believing in herself. Growing up in a traditional Chinese family, she was living the life of her parents. They had wonderful jobs in China, and gave up everything to come to the United States with high hopes for a better education for Lucy. She excelled, and through her self-development journey she’s discovered true happiness and her why. Through breaking her limiting beliefs, Lucy launched her podcast to show others that we’re all unique, we are all important, and even if we help just one person, we’ve done our part to create an impact, and a better world.
To learn more about Lucy and her work visit her website www.lucyliucoaching.com and on Instagram @mslucyliu Twitter @mslucyliu Facebook @mslucyliu LinkedIn @mslucyliu and you can find her Podcast The Lucy Liu Show here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Sheila Mac, the parent of 6 beautiful, now grown up children, is known as the Lifestyle REBOOT specialist with a passion for helping others succeed. For over 25 years Sheila has been a leader at helping people to BREAKTHROUGH using the Boots Formula© and take their lives to another level through solid lifestyle consulting, and accountability programs.
In today’s episode, Sheila shares her journey from experiencing all of life’s hardest challenge, including homelessness, abuse and losing everything in a house fire, to inspiring others through her resilience and determination to gain back control of her own life. She shares her BOOTS formula (Being, Orientation, Order of Operations, Thinking, and Stepping Up) to get through any tough situation in life, too. Today, Sheila consults individuals, teaches online courses and is a nationally recognized speaker who has made it her mission to guide others with similar life experiences back to empowerment.
To learn more about Sheila and her new book visit her website https://www.sheilamac.com/ and you can learn more about her new book here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Dominique Mas is a coach for high performers, working with a variety of people including leaders, entrepreneurs, and aspiring founders.Originally from France, Dominique has lived and worked in 7 countries across Europe, Asia and the U.S. After 15 years in Educational Leadership in international schools, she decided to jump in start a personal coaching practice for professionals as well as design and facilitate private and corporate workshops. When she is not working, Dominique can be found surfing with her boyfriend in the Rockaways or walking Professor, their wonderful dog.
In today’s new episode, Dominique shares her story of realizing that something in her life was off. She no longer felt connected to herself, and she realized that she was no longer working towards something that was important to her. Her story of changing careers at 40 will remind you that it’s important to take time for introspection, to reconnect with yourself, your values, and your joy. Yes she was overwhelmed by the realization and knowing that it was time to make a shift - but she trusted her instincts to move on. She took time to explore and decide what her next steps would be. Her willingness to keep going and to go for it - will remind you that anything is possible when you allow yourself to dream and believe that there is more for you.
To connect with Dominique and to learn more about her work visit her website https://dominiquemas.com and connect with her on Instagram @dominiquemas_coaching Facebook @Dominiquemascoaching
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Elianor Marissa, better known as Elianor M.A., is an American-Lebanese novelist and screenwriter. Her debut novel, Transcendent is available on the Amazon Kindle Store, published on December 1, 2018. Her first screenplay, Just Like Old Times was honored at the Los Angeles Film Awards in September 2019 and the International New York Film Festival in June 2020. Her TV pilot, Halves and Quarters, made it to the Quarterfinalist round of the Screencraft Pilot Launch Competition. Her memoir Dealing with Dramedies is set to be released in December 2020.
In today’s episode, Elianor shares her journey from her diagnosis, to writing her new book, Dealing with Dramedies. Elianor felt herself drowning in the drama of her health crisis, but she didn’t want her drama to define her. Instead, she chose to define it. Elianor realized she didn’t need to wait to be the hero of her story. Instead of focusing on what was going wrong in her life, Elianor focused on what she was doing right, and following her passion for storytelling. As Elianor shares, no matter who you are, or where you come from, or how different your circumstances may be from those around you, drama will find you! But it’s up to you to use it as your driving your force, instead of your deterrent. There is no set way to deal with your dramedy.
To learn more about Elianor and her new book at elianormarissa@gmail.com and Twitter @elianorma Instagram @elianor_ma or through her personal website elianorma.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
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Lacey Nagar is a confidence & visibility coach, author, and mentor who believes that women can create the business, career, and lifestyle of their dreams while doing only what they love, and enjoying the journey along the way. Her focus is on visibility - because Lacey knows first-hand just how important it is to put ourselves out there and share our message, gifts, and healing with the world.
In today's episode, Lacey shares her journey being diagnosed with a chronic, progressive muscle disorder at the age of 12. She felt like she was in a bad dream - she wasn’t comfortable with herself, or her body. She tried for years to hide that was anything was wrong with her - she didn’t want the attention that came with being “different.” She was told that over time she wouldn’t be able to walk - it was her willpower, and mindset, that kept her going. Lacey candidly shares the obstacles that her body goes through daily, and her courage in being vulnerable will remind you that we are so much more than our circumstances. Her reflections on struggling with worthiness - and how she wrapped herself so deeply in the messages she was telling herself - will remind you that you are worthy, just as you are. It will also challenge you to reflect on your journey, and just how far you’ve come with your own sense of worthiness, compassion, and love.
To connect with Lacey and learn more about working together you can schedule a complimentary connection call at: bit.ly/laceycall, you can also follow her on on Instagram @gracefulrisingcoaching or visit her website: gracefulrising.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Sarah Menlove is a Certified Mastery level coach through the Health Coach Institute. She specializes in body image and intuitive eating last, helping clients around the world break free from body shame and restrictive eating to live their most bold, authentic lives. Sarah combines principles of intuitive eating, health at every size, self compassion, transformational coaching techniques and energy healing to support her clients to re-build trust with their body and themselves.
In today’s episode, Sarah shares her journey into health coaching, and how sustaining a stress fracture changed her life, for the better. She shares three of the most powerful things she learned during this time, and how she found herself and her joy.
To learn more Sarah and her work visit her website http://sarahmenlovehealthcoaching.com/ and on Instagram @sarahmenlove.health and you can find her private Facebook community here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Lauren Chiarello is the founder of the NYC-based Chi Chi Life, which melds her three passions: fitness, fundraising and events, and cancer advocacy. Lauren is truly a lover of life, health and wellness, and building community through connection of shared experiences.
Lauren is a force, truly inspirational and the definition of resilient. She’s also a beautiful storyteller, and the visual she paints describing the journey leading up to her cancer diagnosis, surviving cancer (twice!), entering recovery, and the ectopic pregnancy she experienced in 2018 will leave you both inspired and speechless.
To learn more about Lauren visit her website chichilifenyc.com and on you can connect with her on Instagram @chichilifenyc
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Anza Goodbar is an empowerment coach, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur. She uses her coaching, speaking, and writing to inspire, empower, and challenge women to elevate their lives - and that's exactly what she does in this month's episode.
In today’s episode, Anza shares her story of self-acceptance through overcoming negative body image and difficulty with her weight, combined with wanting to be invisible in order to ensure that she'd be safe after experiencing sexual abuse as a child. Through her own journey, Anza has developed a passion and a love for working with women who are committed to living out their dreams, but may lack the confidence to ask for what they want. She helps them really go for it - the same way she has in her own life.
To learn more about Anza, her story, and her work as a coach, trainer, and speaker, visit her website anzagoodbar.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @anzagoodbar and on Twitter @anza_goodbar and on Facebook @coachanzagoodbar and you can join her Facebook group here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Gia Duke is a life coach, speaker and author with a heart 10x the size of Texas, so some have said. Not to mention a soon to be podcaster, nonprofit founder, and foster youth and rescue pup advocate. She’s also the author of Get Your Heart On: The How-To Guide for People Who Want to Make a Difference.
In today’s episode, Gia shares her journey working to make a difference in the world from a space of heart, compassion, and determination to make it happen. Gia shares with us her love and passion to help people, who want to help people, take action to make a difference in the world. Gia’s goal is to inspire people to think about how we’re all connected and to remind them that most of us really want the same things. To love and be loved. To feel like we matter. She’s on a mission to brighten the world by creating more love, compassion, and understanding, and in this week’s new episode she offers her top tips to take care of ourselves, while taking care of others.
To learn more about Gia and her work you can visit her website and you can find her book, GET YOUR HEART ON® // THE BOOK here her podcast here and on Instagram @giaduke and Facebook @giadukeproductions
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Kesha Austin is an empowerment coach for millennial women, and she specializes in individual, family and group coaching. She has a unique, engaging & highly effective approach to help people dig deep to discover their true potential. She’s dedicated to helping women discover their true purpose & learn to overcome adversity in the process.
In today’s episode Kesha profoundly and vulnerably shares her story of overcoming adversity to find joy, peace and fulfillment. We’re all meant to learn from our experiences, and Kesha’s reflections on her decisions and the impact they’ve had on her life will remind you that each stage in our journey is there for a process. Kesha’s refections surrounding overcoming abuse and trauma, eviction and losing her car, will remind you of the power in surrender. Over time she moved from being a homeless mother of two children to becoming an assistant VP at one of the nation’s leading financial institutions. Her decision to open herself up to new opportunities, to trust in the path that is here for her to follow, and what she’s built and created for herself and her family along the way, will remind you of the power of allowing yourself to fly.
To connect with Kesha and learn more visit her website www.keshaaustin.com and connect with her on Instagram @coachkeshaaustin Facebook @coachkeshaaustin or call 214-802-4150
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Jesmane Boggenpoel is the author of My Blood Divides and Unites: Race, Identity, Reconciliation. In her new book, Jesmane explores the importance of dealing with the past and moving forward with purpose.
Jesmane’s story is one of identity and heritage. Born into poverty and state-mandated third-class status, Jesmane was weighed down by self-doubt, feelings of inferiority and shame. “Who am I really?” - is a question we all often ask ourselves, and it’s a powerful question that Jesmane poses in this week’s new episode. She grew up in South Africa during the Apartheid, and in this week’s new episode she shares her struggles with identity, and how through exploring her early life, embracing the difficulties that surrounded her upbringing, and ultimately crafting a new narrative for herself - she’s been able to bring about greater acceptance, inclusion, and boundless possibility.
To connect with Jesmane and learn more visit her on her website https://myblooddividesandunites.com and on Instagram @jesmaneboggenpoel and Facebook @myblooddividesandunites and Twitter @jesmaneboggenp1 and you can purchase her new book here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Fiona Joy Hawkins is a mainstream Composer/Pianist/Vocalist with an international following, whom she greets weekly with pandemic-inspired, live-streamed concerts.
In today’s episode, Fiona shares her journey finding music, and the role of the piano in shaping her life. When Fiona was diagnosed with Tourette’s, she realized that it’s often our weaknesses that give us strength. Having Tourette’s taught her about life, and it made her stronger. The piano, and music, became her best friend and comfort. Fiona believes that music is a gift from another world, from ancestors of the past communicating to inspire and give us hope. As Fiona shares, music is a universal language that connects us, speaks to us equally, and yet it’s received by all differently. Fiona’s wish is to open more hearts to the power of music.
To learn more about Fiona and her work visit her website fionajoy.com and flowthegroup.com and on Facebook @fionajoyhawkinsmusic Instagram @fionajoymusic & Twitter @fionajoymusic and her videos on YouTube here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Latifah Al-Hazza is a travel enthusiast, freelance travel journalist, and the co-owner of Femscapes Sojourns, a woman’s travel company.
In today’s episode, Latifah shares where her love for travel began, and what led her to start Femscapes Sojourns. Latifah’s love for travel began when she was very young, and she started traveling when she was just 3-months old. Over the years her passion only grew, and in her senior year of high school she traveled to Tanzania to create a documentary about school conditions there. It was her first time traveling to a third world country, and the experience opened her eyes to the path she wanted to take.
To learn more about Latifah and Femscapes Sojourns visit their website https://femscapesojourns.com/ and https://www.thealhazzaadventures.com/ and you can connect with Latifah on Instagram @tifahhhh and on Facebook @femscapesojourns
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Sandra Shaw Homer has lived in Costa Rica for 29 years, where she has taught languages and worked as a translator and environmental activist. For several years she wrote a regular column, "Local Color," for the English-language weekly, The Tico Times.
In today’s episode Sandra shares powerful and beautiful vignettes excerpted from her book, Evelio’s Garden: Memoir of a Naturalist in Costa Rica. An excerpt from a forthcoming memoir of her life in Costa Rica, Evelio's Garden, was published in Oasis Journal in 2014. Her creative nonfiction and poetry have appeared in subsequent Oasis editions, as well as in several print and online travel and literary journals and on a few web sites, notably Allyson Latta: Memories into Story, and her own blog, WritingFromTheHeart.net.
To learn more about Sandra and her work you can visit her blog www.writingfromtheheart.net and on Facebook @writingfromtheheart.net and you can find her book, Evelio’s Garden on Amazon and Kindle, on B&N in print and Nook, and on Powells.com.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Marilyn Kapp is a renowned spiritual medium and Author of LOVE IS GREATER THAN PAIN: Secrets From the Universe For Healing After Loss.
In today’s episode, she shares her first experience at just two years old communicating with those who passed, her journey channeling and embracing being a medium, and the inspiration behind her new book, “Love is Greater than Pain.” Marilyn reveals the beauty in the transition from the physical to the spiritual plane, helping those who are dying, as well as those left behind. With personal stories and transcripts from channeling sessions, Marilyn teaches us how to interact with the afterlife and to joyfully embrace the reality that love truly is greater than pain.
To learn more about Marilyn and her new book visit her website www.marilynkapp.com and you can find Love Is Greater Than Pain on Amazon here or wherever books are sold.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Hanan Vazanio of Happy Rich Hippie, is a Mindset and Manifestation Coach, a dog mom, and a lover of spirituality, business & entrepreneurship, and self-growth. She created HappyRichHippie to connect with like-minded spiritual and enlightened entrepreneurs, creatives, and co-creators who want to bring an idea they have been thinking about to fruition. She teaches her friends and clients how to harness the power of their mind to create the life of their dreams.
In today’s episode Hanan shares her story finding her freedom and her joy through the power of her mind, thoughts, and her self-belief. Her story starts as a little girl growing up in Yemen born into a society that celebrated the birth of males, and dreading the birth of females. At the age of six she moved to Detroit, Michigan. She grew up surrounded by fear, she wasn’t able to express herself, and by the time she was a teenager she started exploring other beliefs. She felt trapped in a world she didn’t belong, and at the age of sixteen she discovered The Secret and The Law of Attraction. It was through her mindset work, online community, and belief in herself that she changed her life.
To connect with Hanan visit her website www.happyrichhippie.com and you can find her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Amber Camille Liggon is a former business executive who was driven by ego and status. Like many ambitious millennials, she went to college, had corporate success, and made great money. Until one day she was fired from her six-figure job. With no savings and $120,000 in student loan debt it wasn’t long before her money ran out and Amber was facing homelessness.
In today's episode Amber shares her journey growing up in an abusive household, wanting to blend in, and ultimately - hitting rock bottom to find herself. She lost her high paying job, and when she couldn’t find a new job she lost her job, her friends, and most of her belongings. She had to sell everything in order to pay her rent, and at one point she was almost homeless. She realized that she had so much less than she thought she had. Ultimately, it was just Amber and her mess - and it was time to clean it up.
To learn more about Amber check out her podcast, Amber on Podcasts where she releases a new episode every Thursday and on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook and on her website at www.mytalkingdollars.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Sandra Daniele is the Chief Wildflower behind Wish on Wildflowers -Life Enhancement Coaching for Women. Wish on Wildflowers was created as a safe space for women to fully explore the dreams they hold in their heart, uncover their truths, and show the world how beautiful and unique they are without the fear of judgement.
In today’s episode, Sandra shares her journey from questioning her life, her self-worth, and her joy, to ultimately finding that everything she was searching for was already within. For years Sandra wondered how other women could seem so happy. She wanted confidence, happiness and to wake up with a feeling of purpose. Sandra has been on a road to rediscover who she is after leaving a 10 year marriage and losing both her parents to cancer. She knew it was time to start over and start really living her life, and that’s exactly what she did. Sandra holds her Certified Professional Coaching Certification earned through the Co-Active Training Institute(CTI). CTI is widely recognized as the most rigorous professional coach training and certification program in the industry. She is also recognized by the International Coaching Federation as a professional coach
To learn more about Sandra and Wish on Wildflowers visit her website www.wishonwildflowers.com and on Instagram @wishonwildflowers and on Facebook @wishonwildflowers and you can find her Facebook group here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Rachel Rose is the writer and content creator behind Rachel v Rose - a self-development and lifestyle blog with a mission to motivate, inspire, and encourage others to live a more positive and fulfilled life. Inspired by Rachel’s journey to her highest self, she draws on her personal experiences to share advice and tips and tricks to infuse more self-love, positivity, joy and inspiration into our lives.
In today’s episode Rachel shares her journey becoming a mother at a young age, and how she struggled against fear, anxiety, and shame. “How did my plans for my future fail? Why did I get myself into this?” - these are two questions that Rachel asks herself at the beginning of her story, and they’re both profound and incredibly introspective. Her honest and vulnerable reflections on these two questions, along with what it meant for her to become a mother, will remind you that you have the power to shift and shape your perspective. Her words on the difficulties she faced, her battle with depression and emotional setbacks, and how she shifted her mindset to one of joy and love despite what she was experiencing, will remind you that the light in our lives arrives when we least expect it, and it’s up to us to embrace that light when we find it.
To connect with Rachel and learn more visit and subscribe to her blog at rchlvrs.com and you can also follow her on on Instagram @xorachelvrose
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Brian Hyman is the lead yoga therapist at a prominent addiction treatment center in Malibu, CA.
In today’s episode, Brian shares his journey becoming clean and sober in 2009. After his mother’s passing, Brian examined his life and his mortality. He hardly recognized himself, and he asked himself, what are you going to contribute to the world with the time you have left on Earth? In that moment of clarity, he chose to reclaim his life, and his path to wellness began. He obtained the spiritual tools necessary to maintain a life of abstinence and serenity. He rediscovered his appreciation for yoga through daily practice, and his perspective changed too. As he combined conscious breath with mindful movement, he realized his purpose was to be of service to other. Brian’s shares his perspective and insights of living a life of pain, to living a life of purpose. His experience turning his misery into his ministry is one of profound transformation, and today he’s combined love and service to share his message and his journey with others.
To learn more about Brian and his work visit his website https://www.brianhymanyoga.com and on Instagram @brianhymanyoga Facebook @brianhymanyoga Twitter @brianhymanyoga and you can find him on Insight Timer here: https://insighttimer.com/brianhyman
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Janine Hernandez is a published author, mentor, speaker and world changer, and the founder of Purpose Driven Initiatives and JJ & Sons Tea. Her purpose in life is to impact other women, and she’s doing just that. Through her women empowerment events, motivational speaking, business consulting, and book publishing - everything that Janine has created and everything that she does comes from a desire to have an impact, support others in sharing their story, and spread joy.
In today’s episode, Janine shares her story of always knowing that she wanted to be an author. From as early as the age of 9, she knew she would become a world famous self-published author whose first-hand experiences would lend credibility to her work. True to her childhood dream, at the age of 26, Janine self-published her very first book.
To learn more about Janine check out her website www.janinehernandez.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @janinehernandez_ @feathers.in.the.sky @janinepops
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Esther Molyneux is the founder and creator of She is Found Studio, a British faith-based stationery and self-development brand with a fresh perspective.
In today’s new episode, Esther shares her journey and life’s battles - figuring out who she was, and where she was heading. As Esther so beautifully shares, every individual voice matters, every woman matters, yet as we women we often struggle to walk the life of our choosing, and the sense of freedom that we all deserve. Esther shares the journey she embarked on to find herself again, and the twists and turns she encountered along the way.
To connect with Esther and her work, visit her website www.sheisfound.com and on Instagram @sheisfound.studio and Pinterest @sheisfound.studio
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Founded by Maghan Morin and Jeanine Suah, Thynk Global invites minority women and their allies, both male and female entrepreneurs of all ethnicities, to network, get organized, collaborate and grow their business, all for a fraction of the cost of most coworking spaces. Currently they are offering free space to displaced workers for two months. This will continue even after we are out of quarantine.
In today's episode, Maghan shares the inspiration behind Thynk Global, the impact of their work, and their goals for the future. They're empowering young entrepreneurs, combating gentrification in the neighborhoods in which they open their co-working spaces, and creating a welcoming space where makers, creators and innovators can “thynk” beyond limits and produce their best work.
To learn more about Maghan and Thynk Global visit their website www.thynkglobal.com and on Instagram @thynkglobal Facebook @thynkglobal and Twitter @thynkglobal
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
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Soulaima Gourani is a motivational speaker, philanthropist and author, and the creator of the newly formed Women Reignite - a community for life and career development. A STRONG and GLOBAL tribe of women who actively and strategically aim for more in life. Her mission is to create a warm, encouraging space where women can “reignite” their lives while fulfilling their dreams.
In today's episode Soulaima shares her journey growing up in a not so typical Danish family. She so vulnerably and openly shares the time when no one showed up to her birthday party - this moment changed her life. She decided in that moment that she wouldn’t be dependent on anyone, and she created a strong desire and motivation to prove other people wrong. She knew she wanted to create a road and map for others who didn’t look like everyone else.
To connect with Soulaima and to learn more you can find her on Instagram @soulaimagourani and Facebook @soulaimagourani and Twitter @soulaimagourani on her website https://soulaima.com/ and you can learn more about Women Reignite here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Pamela Delgado is the founder and CEO of Rawly Bold - a company designed to inspire, motivate, and empower women. It was always her goal to create a community where positivity is restored and our ability to dream and take action for our beliefs is at the forefront. Tired of the negativity in our world, Pamela decided to inspire, motive and empower through creating her favorite goods to make an impact. In fact, a portion of the proceeds from every sale is donated to Planned Parenthood, Everytown, and the ACLU.
In today's episode, Pamela shares her journey finding her path and work that she loves. Pamela's reflections on what it took to find a steady and dependable position that filled her up, will remind you that our career (and life!) journey is not linear - and it’s up to us to embrace our ups and downs to ultimately find our joy and passion. After becoming a mom in 2016, she decided to transition into another field, and after having her second child she was tired of her dreams being in the hands of others. She knew there was something more from her, and that knowing combined with her desire to create change and have an impact came Rawly Bold. The community she’s cultivating is out of this world (truly!) and there isn’t a day that goes by that she’s not reminded of its impact on her life.
To connect with Pamela and learn more about Rawly Bold, visit her website www.rawlybold.com and connect with her on Instagram @rawlybold Facebook @shoprawlybold Twitter @rawlybold
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Maritza Diaz is a communicator, motivator, do-gooder and the founder of Little Giant Life. Little Giant Life was created to help you live your giant life. Whatever your dream is, it’s Maritza’s hope to give you the extra nudge needed to make them come true.
In today's episode, Maritza shares her very personal journey of healing her mind and body. Martiza’s reflections on what it meant to not move her body, to truly slow down, and to listen to the cues her body was giving her will remind you of just how important it is to take the time to tune in and listen. When we tune into our body we can begin to live more fully in the present. Her words on the sense of calm that surrounded her, and how that time allowed her to observe herself, her surroundings, and her life - will encourage you to take this time for stillness too.
To learn more about Maritza and her work with Little Giant Life, visit her website www.littlegiantlife.com and you can find her on Instagram @littlegiantlife. Plus, Maritza will be offering free and low-cost meditations, coming soon!
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Juliene Sinclair is a Bozeman-based artist who believes in fiercely pursuing your dreams. For Juliene, this includes a combination of persistence, patience, perseverance, failure, hard work, trust, doubt, self-forgiveness, and self-motivation. She turns boring walls into epic attractions, and in this week’s episode she shares her journey following her inspiration, and the twists and turns along the way.
Juliene has always been an artist, and as a kid she drew, painted, created and imagined. As she shares in today’s episode, as she got older, art fell by the wayside. It wasn’t necessarily her passion, and like so many of us do, she chose to go in a different direction. It wasn’t until her first job as an engineer that Juliene realized something was missing. She wasn’t happy or fulfilled the way that she had hoped or anticipated, and she started playing around with the idea of having a side hustle in the hopes that she could start painting again. Through the ups and downs of engineering, she realized that creating art wasn’t supposed to be the destination, it actually needed to be the journey no matter what her circumstances were.
To learn more and connect with Juliene and her work you can visit her website www.julienesinclair.com and follow her journey on Instagram @julienestudios
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Mai Nguyen is a creative entrepreneur, lifestyle influencer, and the voice behind Little Mai Sunshine, a lifestyle brand and sophisticated personal publication striving to openly share intimate conversations in various aspects of everyone's lives—wholesome living, mental health, personal style diary, travel, and simply everyday life—in an effort to help us all achieve a deeper connection with our realities and build healthier communities.
In today’s new episode, Mai shares her version of her story - in the form of a poem, “These Stars Are My Words.” She always believed that her mind was her enemy, a clutter mess of her triggers, anxiety and fear. She was always questioning herself, and it was an every day battle with the negative voices in her mind. She speaks so beautifully on nourishing our thoughts with love and positivity, and cultivating a powerful connection and presence with our thoughts and our minds. As Mai shares, we can find peace in our madness, and hope in our universe.
To learn more and connect with Mai, visit her website www.littlemaisunshine.com and on Facebook @littlemaisunshine Instagram @littlemaisunshine Twitter @maisunshine55 Pinterest @littlemaisunshine
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Heidi Kühn is Founder and CEO of Roots of Peace, a humanitarian-nonprofit organization founded in September 1997 with a vision to transform MINES TO VINES--replacing the scourge of landmines with sustainable agricultural farmland.
In today’s episode, Heidi shares her quest to eradicate landmines from the face of the earth, and to plant the roots of peace worldwide. From landmines to grapevines, Heidi is on a mission to heal the world, and that healing started with herself.
To learn more about Heidi and Roots of Peace visit their website www.rootsofpeace.org, and on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and you can find her new book Breaking Ground: From Landmines to Grapevines, One Woman’s Mission to Heal the World at booksellers nationwide and online retailers including amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Kayla Bell is the founder of Arrow + Phoenix Swimwear, a Black owned eco-friendly and sustainable swimwear brand based in the United States.
In today’s episode, Kayla shares her incredible journey starting Arrow + Phoenix, the inspiration behind her company and its mission, and her biggest dream. Born in New Orleans, Kayla has a strong sense of culture and she lets her travels inspire her and her collections. Her mission through Arrow + Phoenix is simple: To empower women, give back to the community, and provide creative, affordable, and comfortable swimwear that celebrates diversity, sustainability, + positivity
To learn more about Kayla and Arrow + Phoenix visit their website https://www.arrowandphoenix.com and on Instagram @arrowandphoenixswim @iamkaylambell_ and use the code THANKYOU at checkout for a special discount.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Martha Alderson is the author of the best-selling “The Plot Whisperer.” She writes novels for readers, plot books for writers, and most recently Boundless Creativity: A Spiritual Workbook for Overcoming Self-Doubt, Emotional Traps, and Other Creative Blocks for anyone looking to enrich their lives with more creativity and inspiration.
In today’s episode, Martha shares the moment she realized she wasn’t owning her story. She realized she was playing small, hiding behind helping others, and not nurturing her own creativity. It took Martha years before she had the courage to own her story, and her experience. Today, her story is out of the shadows and into the light, and the freedom she feels is unmatched.
To connect with Martha and learn about her new book, visit her website https://marthaalderson.com and on Instagram @marthasalderson Facebook @PlotWhisperer Twitter @plotwhisperer and you can find her new book here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Mayuko Okai is an Intuitive Eating coach with over ten years of experience as a Registered Dietitian. In her past life, she was a clinical dietitian, seeing over a dozen patients a day in the hospital.
Growing up, Mayuko always sensed that her purpose was to help others find good health and happiness. Hearing about people becoming terminally ill, she felt a calling to help prevent such tragic stories. In 2009 she started her career as a Clinical Dietitian at one of the largest public hospitals in the country. But Mayuko hopes quickly crumbled as she spent her days reciting nutrition spiels to patients at their bedside. Her role didn't feel valuable or reflective of my calling.
To learn more about Mayuko and her 90 Day Intuitive Eating Coaching Program visit her website www.mayukookai.com and on Instagram @mayukookai.rd and you can find her Facebook support group here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Ilyse Soutine is an author, speaker, subconscious transformation coach and creator of The Subconscious Shift Method. Our subconscious dominates 95% of our behavior, and Ilyse helps entrepreneurs reprogram their limiting habits, thoughts and beliefs so that they thrive and fulfill what they were born to do in this world.
In today's episode, Ilyse shares her journey from severe depression and anxiety, to the thriving life she’s living now. Ilyse suffered from PTSD, severe depression, and anxiety for most of her life due to the extreme and severe trauma caused by violence she experienced as a child. Even when the attacks would subside, it was difficult for her to get out of bed. Her depression, fear, anxiety overwhelmed her to body to such a degree that she felt like a heavy weight and she just couldn’t budge.
To learn more about Ilyse check out her website https://ilysesoutine.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @ilysesoutine and on Facebook @sheawakens
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Victoria Albina is a Certified Life Coach and Certified Breathwork Meditation Facilitator with a passion for helping women with their most important relationship: the one with themselves. She’s also a nurse practitioner and functional medicine expert with a Master’s degree in Public Health as well as a certified breathwork facilitator, an herbalist, a life coach, and the host of the Feminist Wellness podcast.
Victoria shares her journey coming to this work after a lifetime of being sick, and her realization that her mindset, thoughts, and sense of self were all at the core of her health issues. After a lifetime of co-dependent and perfectionist thinking, she decided it was time to make a change. Keeping others happy with her, and approving of her, was more important than her joy. She kept coming up short, because she wasn’t in alignment with her own authentic self. She was living for other people, and it showed in her physical and mental health. It wasn’t until she learned to listen deeply to her body, to feel her feelings, which she had been expertly avoiding for decades, how to understand and give love to her nervous system responses, and that her thoughts create her feelings, that everything began to shift.
To learn more about Victoria, her free meditations, and her work visit her website https://victoriaalbina.com and on Instagram @victoriaalbinawellness and on Facebook @VictoriaAlbinaWellness
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Marla Goldberrg is an Energy Healer, Intuitive, Speaker, Teacher, International Best Selling Author, and Host of Guided Spirit Conversations podcast. In today’s episode, Marla shares her journey with fear, and overcoming it. You’ll never have regrets if you make the effort, and there’s no such thing as failure because everything is a step towards growth and expansion.
Her mission and purpose in life is to inspire, motivate and educate her clients and all that she connects with through her books and podcast, through the use of her tools and techniques to help them enhance or shift their life circumstances.
To connect with Marla and learn more about her work visit her website www.marlagoldberrg.com and on Facebook @mghealing Twitter @marlaghealer Instagram @marla.goldberrg and on Amazon here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Veronica Villanueva discovered her “why” after being diagnosed with stage IV cancer in 2016. She knows she is alive today to share grace, blessings, and the lessons that cancer has taught her.
As Veronica shares in today's episode, cancer was the best thing that ever happened to her. She believes that everything that happened in the process after her diagnosis paved the way to her new life of fulfillment. Veronica chose to live, and she chose to have her pain, struggles, and sufferings empower and transform her - mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Her “incurable” disease gave her the gift of knowing herself, loving herself, and sharing herself with others in a profound way. She’s alive today so that she can share the grace, lessons, and blessings that cancer has taught her.
To connect with Veronica and learn more about work visit her website veronicavillanueva.com and on Instagram @badassbeliefcoach and on Facebook @badasslifecoach
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Hayley Luckadoo is a serial entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and big dreamer who took a hobby business born out of a college dorm room and turned it into a successful multi-business success story. She runs completely on Dr. Pepper, and if it comes in pink you better believe she wants it. Now she spends her days dreaming up new ways to help creatives everywhere take risks, grow their business, and achieve their biggest dreams.
In this today’s new episode, Hayley shares with us her journey ending her engagement, dropping out of college, to becoming an accomplished entrepreneur. It’s a story of becoming, and turning setbacks into blessings.
To connect with Hayley and her work visit her website https://www.hayleyluckadoo.net and on Instagram @hayleyluckadoo Facebook @hayleyluckadoo Twitter @hayleyluckadoo and her Podcast, Females on Fire, here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Melissa Bates is a Certified Health Coach, Certified Eating Psychology Coach, and Personal Trainer that was put on this earth to help other females Rock The Hell out of their health while maintaining an enjoyable lifestyle. She’s a 34 and a Food Loving Bad A$$, and in this week’s new episode she shares the story behind how she became a health coach.
In today's episode, Melissa shares her journey, through trial and error, figuring out how to live her healthiest life and love her skin inside and out. Intuitive eating gave Melissa her life back because it gave her the power to see that she is more than a body, she is more than the food she eats, and she’s more than how many hours she puts in at the gym. It taught her to appreciate her body, too. Today she’s about a size 14, and before there’s no way Melissa would have been comfortable or confident in her body. She’s more confident now than she’s ever been, and she owes that confidence to taking the time to heal herself.
To learn more about Melissa and her coaching services visit her website www.melissabbates.com and on Instagram @melissabbates_and you can find her Podcast The Wellness Wolf here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Scott Keoni Shigeoka is a storyteller, designer and artist. He’s influenced by his experiences as a queer, Hawai’i-born, and creative yonsei (fourth-generation Japanese-American), and based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In today’s episode, Scott shares his newest project: The Viral Joy Hotline, where anyone could call in to leave a voicemail about moments of joy in their life. Scott felt anxious and overwhelmed by the uncertainty and despair in the news, and wanted to surround himself, while in lockdown at his home, with stories of joy. The calls started to flood in from across the country—from states like Alabama, Hawaii, New York, California and North Carolina. The inspiration behind the Viral Joy Hotline and its impact, will leave you feeling inspired, hopeful for the future, and ready to share the joy in your life, too.
To connect with Scott and learn more connect with him on Instagram @scottshigeoka and on his website http://www.scottshigeoka.com
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Kelly Lynch is the founder of The Unapology Project. Through her private therapy practice and life coaching practice, Kelly empowers purpose driven women to take their power back. Kelly has been a therapist for over a decade, and turned to life coaching after completely transforming her life.
In today’s episode, Kelly shares her journey walking out of a marriage filled with domestic violence in 2014, with her year and a half old daughter under her arm, to picking up her life and rewriting her story. Kelly’s story is not about surviving, but rather learning how to thrive in spite of challenge. It’s about recovery, hope, successes and sometimes hard lessons, and living a life of joy in the face of the unexpected
To connect with Kelly and learn more visit her website www.theunapologyproject.com and on Instagram @unapologetically.authenic and Facebook @theunapologyproject and @kelly.lynch.227
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Mari L. McCarthy is the Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of Create Write Now, and the bestselling author behind Heal Yourself with Journaling Power - the follow-up to her multi award winning book, Journaling Power.
In today’s episode, Mari shares her journey from diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), to crafting a life filled with joy, purpose, and passion. About 20 years ago, Mari had an MS exacerbation where she lost most of her feeling and function on the right side of her body. Each morning, Mari would handwrite 3 stream-of-consciousness page, and she learned how to write left-handed in a matter of weeks. Through her story, her work, and her books, Mari shares valuable lessons with readers that are communicated through moving personal stories and heartfelt pearls of wisdom
To connect with Mari and learn more visit her website www.createwritenow.com and on Facebook @createwritenow and on Twitter @createwritenow
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Victoria VanAntwerp was born and raised in Minnesota, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin River Falls, and a survivor. In today’s episode, Victoria shares her story in the hopes of being able to provide hope and encouragement to others. Victoria bravely and vulnerably shares her experience with mental illness, her experiences while in college, and the hardships, trials and many disappointments she encountered along the way.
To connect with Victoria visit her on Instagram @Vicki.4894
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Licity is fearless. Combining her raw passionate voice, intense rhythmic guitar, penetrating lyrics and spoken word, Licity creates music and shows that are unique, immersive and memorable experiences that will change your life—lighting a fire in the part of you that is fearless too. Licity combines intimate folk music layered with classic rock bravado. To this she adds, unexpectedly personal spoken word prose.
In today’s episode, Licity shares a story that is a memory from a few years ago. The woman in the story, and the song that she sang to her, taught her how to be in joy. She was a force of joy. Licity so beautifully shares a spoken word piece, and a song - and you’re going to want to turn the volume up on this one!
To connect with Licity and learn more visit her website http://licitycollins.com/ and on Instagram @licitycollins Facebook @licitycollins and you can join her email list here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Zoe Wood is a Breathwork Guide, Reiki Healer and Emotional Healing Guide, helping people to remember who they are and connect to their power and truth. Using these healing techniques, she works with groups and individuals, as they release their trauma, and mental and emotional blocks.
To connect with Zoe and learn more visit www.zoewoodhealing.com and you can also follow her on Instagram @zoe_wood_healing and Facebook @zoewoodhealing Zoe’s offerings currently include a monthly Online Breath work Group, and one-to-one mentoring program, Reclaim- a three month journey of emotional healing and spiritual empowerment.
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Joanna Lovering is the Founder and CEO of Copper + Rise, a style coaching service based in NYC dedicated to personal and professional empowerment. Joanna is an accomplished style coach with extensive style experience and a master’s degree in organizational psychology and leadership development. She pairs her seasonal sensibilities with leadership development techniques to help clients rise to the next level. Over her career she helped transform the employee experience at companies like L’Oréal USA, JetBlue, and Daily Burn, to name a few.
To connect with Joanna and learn more about Copper + Rise and her services visit her website www.copperandrise.com on Instagram @copperandrise and Facebook @copperandrise
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Amy Ogden is the Senior Vice President of Brand at J Public Relations, and the voice behind Sips of Sunshine blog and podcast. In both her blog and podcast, she shares her love of beauty and wellness, adventures in travel, positivity, and a little life advice sprinkled in.
To learn more about Amy and Sips of Sunshine visit her website sipsofsunshine.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @amy.ogden and to check out her TEDx talk click here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Kelly Pietrangeli is the creator of Project Me, a global movement of women who are ready to show up as their best selves. Blending practical life-management strategies with personal growth inspiration, Kelly will help you to consciously create a life you love.
In today's episode, Kelly reflects on the stories we tell ourselves over and over again until they become our truth. We often allow these stories to define us - but what if we chose to tell different stories? And what if, these new stories could bring us more freedom, strength, and joy?
To learn more about Kelly and connect with her visit Project Me’s website and connect with her on Instagram @kellyprojectme and on Twitter @kellyprojectme and on facebook @myprojectme
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Laura DiBenedetto is an author, business expert, and creator. Laura has always been an entrepreneur, and her story begins when she was 19, when she decided to build a company that she wanted to work for, that paid her what she felt she was worth.
As Laura shares in this week's new episode, she's excited to spread the truth and accessibility of joy. Joy isn't hiding in the latest and greatest trend or project, it's not even in your spouse or your children. It's within you! Hiding with the cracks between your habits.
To learn more about Laura and her work visit her website www.lauradibenedetto.com and on Facebook @lauraldibenedetto and you can find her Facebook group here and on Instagram @lauraldibenedetto on YouTube here and on LinkedIn here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Helene Lerner is the founder of WomenWorking.com, a prolific author, independent public television host, Emmy Award-winning executive producer and Fortune 500 workplace consultant.
In today's episode, Helene shares the moment she started to listen to her inner voice, and the realization that she needed to help others do the same. She found a professional and personal passion and energy to empower other women, and today Helene covers a wide array of women’s issues—from breaking barriers and work-life balance, to health and wellness, to relationships and building self-esteem.
To learn more about Helene and Women Working visit their website https://www.womenworking.com and on Instagram @womenworking Facebook @womenworking Twitter @womenworking on YouTube @HeleneLerner and you can find her new card deck, Soulful Wisdom: Cards for Women Who Do Too Much here
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
Michele Rosenthal is an author, inspirational speaker, trauma recovery coach, and founder of www.mytraumacoach.com. Michele is also a trauma survivor who struggled with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for over twenty-five years.
Michele is an inspiration, and the joy quest she embarked on in 2007 changed her life. What started as a commitment to move her body and express her joy through dance, has evolved into so much more.
To learn more about Michele visit her website HealMyPTSD.com and MyTraumaCoach.com and you can connect with Michele on Instagram @michele.rosenthal or on Twitter @mytraumacoach and her book Before the World Intruded: Conquering the Past and Creating the Future
Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sydney-weiss/message
From Seek The Joy Media, the creator of Seek The Joy Podcast, comes a new space dedicated to sharing your stories, in your words. There is real power in storytelling, and when we come together around shared love, loss, laughter, joy and vulnerability, we build connection, create inspiration, and come together in community. We all have a story to share and a voice that is meant to be heard, and we want to share yours. Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com