The Inspire Cafe: Recent Episodes
Kathy De La Torre
Kathy De La Torre of The Inspire Café Podcast hosts guests from around the globe who share their inspirational stories of how they overcame adversity yet successfully ended with a positive outcome in spite of all of their challenges. We all suffer from obstacles and setbacks, but it’s a particular mindset to not only face those challenges but to actually transform to a better place afterward where they can now share their stories in order to help others. Discover how these remarkable individuals turned their challenges into triumphs, what exactly caused their transformational pivot and see a positive outlook as a result. Learn from these amazing guests, who share motivational tips, their own personal development strategies, and even words of encouragement so you can triumph over your challenges, too. This podcast is great for those looking for inspiration, motivation and personal development.
Dr. Glenn Livingston is not only a psychologist, but he's an author of several books. Glenn reveals how he lost 80 pounds, he shares other adversities he's lived through, including depression, he fell into severe debt, had been hit by a drunk driver and suffered from health issues. But after overcoming these challenges, he now has a different perspective.
In this interview, we focus a bit on one of his more recent books, 45 Binge Trigger Busters. We talk about some common triggers that oftentimes gets us into binge mode and how we can overcome them.
Mentioned in this episode:
- NeverBingeAgain.com
Welcome to The Inspire Cafe podcast, where we bring you conversations and inspirational stories of people overcoming adversity or setbacks, and then how they came out it transformed with a positive outlook or outcome. People are incredibly courageous and resilient, and we need to hear more of their stories....
Greg Zakowicz has an all-too-common story. As a young man, he graduated from college but struggled to make ends meet working in his career of choice. So what to do? Greg shares how he struggled financially, emotionally and mentally, and explains how his journey ultimately ended up in a good place... He's now a Senior Commerce Marketing Analyst at Oracle. He gives some great tips for not only career change and situational improvement, but also what helped him to not give up. Others now seek out Greg's advice about career change or development. You can also check out his podcast, The Commerce Marketer Podcast.
Twenty-seven-year-old Chris Norton, co-wrote a book with his wife, Emily, called The Seven Longest Yards: Our Love Story of Pushing the Limits While Learning From Each Other. They recount the journey of their developing relationship after Chris' tragic accident. In 2010 when he was just 20, Chris suffered a severe injury while playing college football. In an instant, he became a quadriplegic where doctors said he had a 3 percent chance of ever moving or feeling anything below his neck, let alone ever walk again. You may find it astonishing to hear, but Chris says he's never experienced depression, even after his accident. In this interview, Chris talks about what helped him get through his recovery and how he never gave up. He also talks about why he says his accident was a blessing. Since the accident, Chris has accomplished two of his great goals. First, he walked 3 yards across the stage at his graduation. And, second, he walked his bride, Emily, 7 yards down the aisle at their wedding. Through the Chris Norton Foundation that he started while still in college, they've already raised close to $1 million dollars to help patients get the treatment they couldn't afford otherwise. And since they got married, Chris and Emily have become foster parents and also adopted 5 girls. Chris also shares how it came that Tim Tebow wrote the forward in his new book!
You won't want to miss this interview!
Mentioned in this episode:
- ChrisNorton.org
- 7 Yards Film
- The Seven Longest Yards: Our Love Story of Pushing the Limits While Learning From Each Other
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Ryan C. Greene says he got his strength and resolve from his mother, and that she was a great role model for him. He explained his mother had sickle cell anemia and wasn't supposed to live past the age of 6. She ended up raising both him and his sister and got to see Ryan get married. Ryan then later had his own challenges. His mother passed away, he got divorced and he also struggled with depression. How was he supposed to help others when he was going through his own challenges? Well, he decided he needed to go back and learn from his mother again--to find his life purpose. That's when everything fell into place. He explains finding your life purpose isn't just about you, it's about how to pay it forward and help others. Today Ryan is the founder of Greenhouse Media, he's an author of 6 books, he's a speaker, trainer, coach and the host of The Passionpreneurs Podcast.
Mentioned in this episode:
· RyanCGreene.com
· The PassionPreneur Podcast
· Becoming a Passionpreneur
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
A homeless population caseworker in the Washington D.C. area, 25-year-old Saherah Khan says that people tell her how they're surprised and shocked when learning about her past. You see, Saherah explains she grew up in a mixed racial household--her mother is from Korea and her father is from Pakistan. When she was about to enter high school, her father told the family that they were going on a 2-month trip to visit his homeland. But even at 14, Saherah said it was apparent her father never intended to bring them back home. She said she felt like a slave and a prisoner. She was forbidden to go to school and she wasn't allowed to be on her own unless she was fetching water for the house. She describes her father as controlling, possessive and sometimes physically abusive. At one point it got so bad he pulled a gun out and threatened to kill her. After two years of living in a Pakistani rural village and learning she had been promised to marriage to a man in the village, she felt helpless and hopeless. But soon after, she learned there may be a way out. At 16, she made a daring escape and returned home to her mother in the States. Today, Saherah is just starting to speak out about her experience with the hope to help inspire others that they too have a voice and can escape an abusive life.
Since he was 5 years old, Winston Ben Clements said he knew he was meant for something big, that he was going to make some kind of big impact. Now he says he’s found his purpose through being a motivational speaker. But he admits growing up he often wondered how he’d do it. You see, Winston was born with a rare brittle bone condition where the smallest sudden jolt or move could break his bones. Even a simple sneeze could cause havoc. His bones were so fragile that suffered more than 150 fractures by the time he was 12. But that didn’t stop Winston. In fact, he has a goal to reach 1 billion people to inspire them to unleash their full potential.
Mentioned in this episode:
WinstonClements.com
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com!
Twenty-three-year-old Aaron Martinez grew up going to school in Espanola, New Mexico, a city with a population of about 10,000. You'll pass through it if you're driving between Santa Fe and Taos, two tourist towns known for its art scene, winter skiing and opera. Unfortunately, it also sits in a Northern New Mexico region where it's known for having one of the highest rates of drug overdose deaths. For Aaron, he can speak about it first hand. Within a space of a couple of years, he lost both his oldest sister and father from overdoses. He says growing up both his parents were addicted and family members kept telling him he was going to grow up to be an addict too.
But for Aaron, miraculously he didn't follow the same path. Where his only role models were heroes in action movies, he made a choice to stay away from drugs in spite of being raised in an environment where it'd be easy to see why anyone would.
Today, Aaron is a youth mentor and gymnastics instructor in the same town he grew up. He also speaks to kids about his experience and how it is possible to choose a different and positive path.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Moving Arts Espanola
Plus, videos that include Aaron Martinez mentoring youth at work: * CNN Heroes * Meow Wolf Community Voices re Moving Arts Española
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here! * Follow us on Instagram here!
You could say 39-year-old TShane Johnson is a living miracle. You see, when he was in the Marine Corps, he died 3 times. While out riding his motorcycle, he was t-boned by another car. Upon impact, his body flew at 45 miles per hour and he hit a brick house, breaking his chest plate in half. He broke multiple bones in his body, ribs punctured his internal organs, and he was drowning in his own blood from internal injuries. Doctors didn't have hope that he'd make it. But TShane said that during his near death experience he made a choice and that was to survive. He not only survived, but he completely rehabilitated himself and rejoined his unit 7 months later. Today he's a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, life coach, father and author of two published books and a third on its way. He talks about how this year will be his fourth run across America and he has a goal to raise $1 million for charities. TShane also talks about how he aims to break three Guinness World Records during his next run, which begins on September 11th.
Mentioned in this episode:
- HikeAcrossAmerica.com
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here! * Follow us on Instagram here!
Dartanyon Crockett, 28, calls himself an underdog. He says he had three strikes against him growing up in the inner-city of Cleveland, Ohio: he was black, poor and physically limited. Having been severely near-sighted all his life, his mother died when he was 8, his father battled drug and alcohol addiction, and he grew up in a crime-ridden neighborhood. And because his father spent rent money on drugs, Dartanyon had to get a job when he was 13 to help pay for rent and buy groceries.
In high school, Dartanyon and his best friend, Leroy Sutton, did well on the school’s wrestling team. Their friendship was featured in an ESPN special called, “Carry On,” where it showed that each had his share of hard breaks. Dartanyon was legally blind and Leroy had lost both his legs from a train accident when he was a boy. The special also formed a friendship and bond that grew between ESPN’s producer Lisa Fenn and the boys during the making of the segment, and shows how she became pivotal in both of the boys’ lives. After the ESPN profile aired, it was Dartanyon who ended up being invited to train with the Judo team at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, despite never having any experience with the sport before. Dartanyon learned fast and did well. He eventually became a 2-time U.S. Paralympic bronze medalist. Today, Dartanyon is getting his degree in sociology and has become an inspirational speaker where he discusses the power of human investment.
Mentioned in this episode:
- DartanyonCrockett.me
- ESPN’s “Carry On” Special
- Dartanyon’s Facebook Page
- Dartanyon’s Instagram
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
- Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com!
- Like us on Facebook here!
- Follow us on Instagram here!
Founder and CEO of the inspirational fashion brand ShineThe Light On, 25-year-old Eli Brown knows first-hand what it’s like to struggle with mental illness. An avid tennis player since the age of four he was so good that he later received a tennis scholarship to attend a prestigious university and compete with Team Canada. But along the way when he was just 14, a sexual assault threw his life off course. From the outside, his life seemed perfect yet inside he struggled with anxiety, depression, he turned to drugs and alcohol to cope, and also suffered from suicidal thoughts. It wasn’t until seeing a photo of himself that depicted the reality of his life that became his wake-up call to seek help. Today, Eli’s mission is to bring awareness and a voice to those struggling with mental illness and also take the stigma out of mental illness through his Shine The Light On clothing company and to let today’s youth know that it’s okay to not be okay. And after starting his business just 3 years ago, His designs are now being sold in Canada, the U.S. and Europe in over 1,000 locations, and a portion of the profits funds charity organizations that focus on mental health.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Shine The Light On
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
- Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com!
- Like us on Facebook here!
- Follow us on Instagram here!
Betty Jean Bell wanted to be an opera singer since she was 4. I mean, not just dream about it—she truly had a gift. She actually began performing when she was 8. She had steep ambitions and clearly knew what she wanted to do all her life. But then tragedy struck when she was about to start college. She began to have terrible pain in her throat, which was caused by a medical condition that lead to surgery. Doctors told her that in order to heal, she would have to not speak for 18 months, let alone sing again. Her lifelong dreams crushed, she also began to face an ongoing slew of further illnesses one right after another. Betty Jean also had to deal with weight and mental health issues, including depression, panic attacks and even a suicide attempt. Then something changed. Today, Betty Jean is the founder of Being Badass. She’s a body confidence model and a weight loss coach. She teaches women how to stop overeating, stop the self-criticism, and how to learn to genuinely see their bodies with love.
Mentioned in this episode:
- BeingBadass.com
- Betty Jean's Facebook Page
- Betty Jean's Instagram
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here! * Follow us on Instagram here!
Jess Key is a remarkable woman who says she’s a major underdog story. She’s a 41-year-old mother of three and she’s a dragon boat racer on the U.S. National Dragon Boat Team. You’d never know it today, but Jess has overcome multiple adversities. Both of her parents were drug addicts, she grew up with physical abuse, she and her brother lived for a while in a foster home, she was a runaway teenager and became homeless for a while, she was an alcoholic by the time she was a senior in high school, and eventually got addicted to drugs.
In this interview, she talks about the epiphany she had that got her to stop taking drugs and then more recently she had another epiphany about how she didn’t even realize she had been living with PTSD all her life. She now is on a mission to share her story with the lesson she’s learned that we all are empowered to overcome our adversities and she encourages everyone to be the champion of your own life.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Jessica's Instagram
- Jessica's GoFundMe
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here! * Follow us on Instagram here!
Five years ago and 36 weeks into her pregnancy, Briar Harvey said she went into the hospital expecting to come home with a baby, but instead she came home with nothing. Due to complications, her baby didn't make it. Briar explains what happened, how this traumatic experience has affected her, and how she was able to move forward in her life. We also talk about the importance of forgiveness and her suggestions to other moms who have also lost a child. Briar now is an author, marketing strategist, a personal systems coach, the founder of the Omaha Women’s Circle, and co-host of the Latchkey Movies podcast.
Mentioned in this episode:
-
BriarHarvey.com
-
Omaha Women's Circle
- Latchkey Movies Podcast
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here! * Follow us on Instagram here!
It's been 29 years to this day that Director, Producer, Editor and Filmmaker Eric Christiansen survived the 1990 Painted Cave Fire in Santa Barbara, California. The fire destroyed over 400 homes, including Eric's, and burned over 5,000 acres, devastating many lives. Eric talks about how he turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the aftermath initially. But then he later realized that there was a bigger picture to just his own personal trauma. Since then, he's been creating movies with messages of resilience and inspiration. Although he's won multiple awards for his films, he prefers to call himself a "messenger" because he says surviving that fire has taught him that his purpose now is to not just connect with survivors and relay their stories but to show that there's hope.
The release of this episode coincides not only with the 29th anniversary of The Painted Cave Fire in Santa Barbara but also with National PTSD Awareness Day. This episode--and really all episodes on The Inspire Cafe podcast--are dedicated to spreading awareness about PTSD and mental health.
Mentioned in this Episode:
- UnMasking Hope
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Justin Birckbichler was a 4th-grade school teacher and just 25 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. When it came to finding resources or information from a patient's perspective, Justin didn't find what he was looking for. So he decided to become a source himself and started his blog, A Ballsy Sense of Tumor. He says he's using humor to break through the ice of a topic men don't typically approach with ease. He not only wants to share what his journey to recovery was like but also to spread awareness about how to do self-checks to catch it in time. He says men have literally died from embarrassment because they were too shy or ashamed or embarrassed to bring up their health to catch the cancer in time. Now a Men's Health Activist, his goal is to help spread awareness about testicular cancer with the hope to keep others alive and healthy.
Mentioned in this episode:
- A Ballsy Sense of Tumor
- Justin's YouTube Channel
And Don't Forget to Share this Self-Check!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
- Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com!
- Like us on Facebook here!
- Follow us on Instagram here!
With a promising musical career on the horizon, Stefan Weiner could play multiple musical instruments, sing and write songs. Soon after graduating, 22-year-old Stefan began experiencing physical symptoms, which lead to unending pain that left his doctors baffled. Unfortunately, it got so bad that Stefan had to stop his music. Doctors couldn't explain his medical mystery until he went to the Mayo Clinic and finally got a diagnosis: Central Sensitization Syndrome, a condition where he says his brain hardwired his injuries so it kept sending pain signals even though the tissue had healed. Stefan talks about how he's learned to manage his pain. And now he's back to recording music and has a new song coming out next week, called "Barricade," a song he says is about celebrating who you are.
Mentioned in this episode:
- StefanAlxndr.com
- Stefan Alexander on Spotify
- Stefan's latest release: Barricade
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here!
Suicide prevention strategist, author and speaker Susie Reynolds Reece is trying to educate and spread awareness about the topic of suicide less and make is less uncomfortable to talk about. She says that if we're more comfortable with the subject, then we'll be able to help those who need support and also make it more comfortable about asking for support when we need it.
Susie is in a unique position to talk about it. When she was just 10 years old, her father committed suicide and for years she struggled with her own depression. But now, Susie travels around the country and has spoken to thousands of people on suicide awareness and prevention, but says that talking about a tough topic doesn't mean it has to bring you down. Listen in and you'll know what I mean...
Mentioned in this episode:
- SusieReece.org
- SuicidePreventionAllies.org
- Susie’s books:
-
- Children’s Guide to Parenting
- The i’Mpossible Project: Lemonade Stand
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here! * Follow us on Instagram here!
We'll have a link to Susie and her books on TheInspireCafe.com and if you like the episode, please take a second and share it with a friend. The more we spread awareness about this topic, the better.
Marisa Boasa is training for a marathon and what's different about her is that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis less than a year ago. Marisa has a remarkable drive, and even though the doctor gave her that diagnosis, he encouraged her to keep her mobility up and with the help of her doctors and trainers, she's building her strength and stamina to reach her goal. She even created a YouTube channel to chronicle her journey. The video was supposed to be sort of a coming out to her friends and family that she had M.S., but instead, it's turned into a mantra of Can't Stop, Won't Stop. Now, she travels and speaks to groups encouraging others with issues of mobility to never give up.
Mentioned in this episode:
· Fight for Mobility
· Marisa's Instagram: @risamoe
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
- Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com!
- Like us on Facebook here!
- Follow us on Instagram here!
Tracey Maxfield suffered from severe depression. In her book, Escaping the Rabbit Hole: My Journey Through Depression, she describes how a ghost-like presence followed her, even whispered in her ear and told her all the ways she could do herself in. She called him DBS, or Death by Suicide. Tracey says it was a battle, but she won. It's a good thing because she was invited to speak to a group of middle school students about being an author but instead got questions about how they also can escape their rabbit holes. Turns out Tracey learned the numbers when it comes to depression, self-harm and suicide amongst kids is alarmingly high, and so now she's made it a mission to spread awareness about mental health in schools. Now that is a gift.
Mentioned in this episode:
- TraceyMaxfield.com
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here! * Follow us on Instagram here!
Martha Blessing has all sorts of titles, she's a former nurse, a speaker, intuitive life coach, healing mentor, spiritual teacher and author. And does Martha have a story to tell. At one point in her life, Martha had undergone three back surgeries, was in a wheelchair, had fibromyalgia, digestive problems and was suffering from severe pain. On a scale of 1-10, her pain reached a 12. Martha said western medicine and science wasn't helping. Then she tried an energetic healing session for the first time and her pain fell down to a 0 on that scale for a few days. That's when Martha knew there was an alternative way to solve her health and pain issues. She began a daily holistic practice that not only cured her pain, but her other health problems, including cancer. Now, she teaches others how to help heal themselves and is on a mission to share that knowledge.
Mentioned in this episode:
- MarthaBlessing.com
- God is a Pink Cloud
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here! * Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Feeling lonely and depressed, 17-year-old Barry Martin prayed for help. And literally, within a couple of minutes, he found a sign. You see, Barry grew up having a tough childhood--he had an abusive father and an addicted and neglectful mom. At age 10 he was having to find odd jobs in the neighborhood in order to buy food and clothing for him and his little sister. And then in high school, he was recruited by his mom's convict boyfriend to do drug runs across state lines. Having barely graduated from school, Barry found himself feeling alone and depressed. And that's when the answer to his prayer literally changed his life.
Mentioned in this episode:
- TheIdeaCenter.com
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com! * Like us on Facebook here! * Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for your support!
Today’s guest is Jeremy Roadruck. Jeremy has a list of accomplishments. He's a 6th Degree Black Belt who's won three U.S. National Kung Fu Championships, a Pan American Kung Fu Championship, multiple Grand Championships and he's started his own martial arts school. Plus, he's written a bestselling parenting book before he even had kids of his own. You'd say Jeremy has a lot of drive and is full of positivity, but it wasn't always that way. You see, for 20 years Jeremy buried the memories of being sexually abused when he was 5 or 6 years old. It took a toll on him--his attitude, his mindset and the beliefs he had about himself and those around him. But then, he discovered martial arts and everything began to change. Now Jeremy says the pain and abuse he went through has become the biggest gift in his life because he chose to do something with it.
Mentioned in this episode:
- TheParentingProgram.com
- Your Best Child Ever: Is This Game Worth Winning? How to Raise a Stable Centered Respectful Self–Disciplined Confident Self–Motivated Self–Directed ... Coaches of Children of All Ages! (Volume 1)
- Meng's Martial Arts of Centerville
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, please share with your friends and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate your support!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
- Check out more episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Today, Kirsty Salisbury tells us in detail about her near death experience when she was just 12 years old. What’s even more fascinating is that Kirsty says that when she awakened, she inexplicably had the knowledge of the condition of her health and prognosis. She knew she was going to be okay despite doctors telling her she wasn’t. And with that knowledge, she also knew she alone had control of the success of her health and future. Today, Kirsty is teaching others that you don’t have to wait for a crisis to happen before making a positive life change. You can design your life right now if you really want. And aside from being a speaker, coach, and fellow podcaster, Kirsty also shares how you too can design your life in her books, A Life by Design and Let's Talk Life Design.
Mentioned in this episode:
- KirstySalisbury.com
- A Life by Design
- Let's Talk Life Design
And if you like this episode, please share with a friend and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate your support!
- If you like the content, check out other episodes on our website, TheInspireCafe.com!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Transformational coach Abby Hanneman tells herself that she can do more to help others who are suffering from suicidal thoughts. She should know; Abby’s attempted suicide at least four times and has the scars on her arms to prove it. But since she’s learned to change her daily affirmations from hating life to loving it, Abby says the silver lining in her suicide attempts is that she can now relate to and understand a bit about what others may be going through and help them. Today, Abby helps others who are going through difficult times, openly discusses where her scars come from and hopes to shine a light that others can find joy in living life, too. This story is not just of resilience, but also that tragic experiences don’t have to be in vain—they actually can serve a purpose in helping others. And Abby is another example of showing us how.
Mentioned in this episode:
- AbbyHanneman.com
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, please share with your friends and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate your support!
Check out other episodes on our website HERE! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Heather Vickery was living a seemingly idyllic life. She was married for over 10 years to her husband, they had three kids at the time, and everything seemed great. But then she discovered she was gay and she couldn’t hold it in anymore. In fact, she says it was harder to live with the status quo than to take the scary leap and come out to her family. Heather talks about how that eventually happened, which actually came by accident, and how she’s never been happier. Today, Heather is an entrepreneur, speaker, success & leadership coach, the host of The Brave Files Podcast and an author, all with the mission to help others reach their visions, goals and dreams.
Mentioned in this episode:
- VickeryandCo.com
- The Brave Files Podcast
-
Gratitude Journal: Shift Your Focus
-
If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Ruchi Singh recalls the day her husband told her he was going to kill her and he put a butcher’s knife to her throat. Thankfully, he didn’t keep his word. Although she left him, she essentially boiled her future into two options—to either become a bitter person or give meaning to her pain and create something that could help her and others. Today she is a mindset coach, a content creator and motivational speaker. She shows by example that there’s a way to own your own life by taking responsibility for it.
Mentioned in this episode:
- RuchiSingh Talks YouTube Channel
- Ruchi Singh Talks
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, please share with your friends and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate your support!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Seth Hymes is an entrepreneur, author, and most recently a co-producer and co-writer of the feature film, Wally Got Wasted. He talks about what it was like growing up with an autoimmune disorder since he was seven and how he later was a disappointed film school graduate, disenchanted by how challenging it was to get a job in the film industry after graduation. He even ended up homeless for a short while, sleeping in his car. But then he had a couple of pivotal moments, including what he calls a metaphysical experience, that changed his outlook on life. In hindsight, he discovered the journey to his dream of becoming a filmmaker was a zig-zag instead of a straight line. And then who knew that his unrelated work experiences were going to eventually pay off when it came to helping finance and market his project. Seth says it took 20 years to realize his dream and now encourages others to never give too.
Mentioned in this episode:
- InDemandCareer.com
- FilmSchoolSecrets.com
- FilmSchoolSolution.com
- Wally Got Wasted
-
Film Fooled
-
If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today we're talking with Brenda Adelman, who is an actress, director, coach, speaker, author and creator of the one-woman show, My Brooklyn Hamlet. Having performed her show to over 12,000 people, she tells the tragic story about her family; her father murdered her mother and then remarried her mother's sister. Brenda explains how she initially kept that story hidden inside because of the shame she felt. She struggled with grief, loss, anger, and depression. Then something happened... She decided to participate in an acting class assignment that turned everything around, ultimately sparking her journey towards forgiveness. Brenda has since written a book called, My Father Killed My Mother and Married My Aunt: Forgiving the Unforgivable, and she also coaches and teaches various workshops, including how to forgive and share your own story.
Mentioned in this episode:
-
ForgivenessandFreedom.com
-
If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today we're talking with Tom McElroy, the other survivalist trainer I met while I was in Tonga. Tom is the founder of Wild Survival. He also teaches primitive survival skills and takes groups out to amazing places like St. Croix and Tonga. And here, he talks about what got him to this point. Tom grew up in a well-to-do town where most of his high school classmates were expected to attend ivy league universities. But, Tom dreamed of escaping the traditional path to living an unconventional lifestyle. He later decided he wanted to test his survival skills and live in the woods for a year. And then he did! He went on to teaching survival skills to students ranging from kids to Seal Teams. He also studied and lived with indigenous tribes all around the world. And he now has his own business where he's continually amazed about how his students learn not just survival skills but inner personal growth, and in ways Tom never expected.
Mentioned in this episode:
- WildSurvivalSkills.com
- Tom's YouTube Channel
If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
I recently just got back from a trip where I met two gentlemen in Tonga. They actually were there for on assignment for work and I was intrigued to learn more. They were hosting an expedition to a group of people to teach primitive survival skills and how to live on a deserted island on their own. Interestingly, both of the men are named Tom and each has their own unique story of overcoming adversity. This week, we're starting off with Tom Williams, who actually did his interview the last day he was on the island. Originally from England, Tom founded Desert Island Survival. In this interview, he explains initially what he does for a living, and then he gets into his story of when he was a shy, insecure, overweight kid with dyslexia, getting poor grades, and even had a teacher pretty much say Tom wouldn't amount to anything. Fast forward to his adult life where he had a career he hated so much that he fantasized about getting in a car accident just so he could be injured enough to be hospitalized and avoid going to work. But then a friend invited him to undertake what amounted to a month-long race at the North Pole and then everything changed.
Next week, we'll talk to the other Tom, Tom McElroy, to hear his story.
Mentioned in this episode:
- DesertIslandSurvival.com
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, please share with your friends and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate your support!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
On August 28, 2016, Valerie Silveira had a parent’s worst nightmare come true—a knock on the door with the news that her 30-year-old daughter, Jamie, was murdered. She evidently was shot multiple times in the chest at close range. And to this day, the case is still unsolved. Valerie tells the story of how years earlier her intelligent, happy and outgoing teenaged daughter with a promising future suddenly changed when she started hanging around with “the guy.” She said Jamie’s life had spun out of control and led to a life that included dropping out of school, surviving a gunshot wound, and drug addiction. Valerie said she had feared for Jamie’s life, watching her self-destruct despite trying everything to save her daughter from herself, but to no avail. Depressed, heartbroken and feeling hopeless, Valerie eventually learned she had no control over her daughter’s spiraling life—no matter how much she loved her. But even while Jamie was still alive, something changed in Valerie. She stopped asking Why Me? and started asking herself, Why Not Me? She then wrote her first book, Still Standing After All the Tears: Putting Back the Pieces After All Hell Breaks Loose, and began helping others manage and cope with being a parent or loved one of an addict, teaching lessons that helped her. Then in 2016 she got the knock on the door and her hope and prayers for a miracle for Jamie were shattered. But, incredibly, Valerie has learned the power of forgiveness—even to her daughter’s murderer—and now helps guide people out of darkness and fear to live a life of courage and happiness again.
Mentioned in this episode:
- ValerieSilveira.com
- Still Standing After All the Tears: Putting Back the Pieces After All Hell Breaks Loose
- Misery, You Don't Get My Company: Finding the Courage to Be Happy Again
If you enjoy the episode, please rate, review, subscribe and share with your friends. Thanks for listening! * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page! * Like us on Facebook here! * Follow us on Instagram here!
In June 2017, at the age of 46, Bill Monroe suffered a stroke and lost the use of the limbs on his left side. He talks about what was going through his mind when he got his diagnosis, and how he managed to begin his recovery. He says there are a lot of outdated beliefs and misinformation about strokes, one of which is that it’s impossible to recover at all from them. But since he had his, Bill has regained his speech and learned how to walk again. In fact, he’s so optimistic about his continuing recovery that he’s set a goal to run 100 meters within 30 seconds by the end of the year. And he says that because there’s a lack of information to support stroke survivors and their caregivers, Bill decided to get involved and spread awareness. He now runs the largest stroke support group in the Seattle area and also started a podcast, where other survivors and medical professionals can share their stories, learn from each other, and know they they not alone.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Strokecast.com
- Currentlyspeaking.com
- 2minutetalktips.com
- Young Adult Stroke Survivors’ Facebook Group
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, feel share with your friends and subscribe. We appreciate your support!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Phillip Andrew is an Emmy-nominated TV Producer, Writer, Media and Life Coach. He’s also a Speaker, who talks at rehabs, jails, colleges and high schools. In this interview, Phillip shares his story of how he began abusing alcohol at an early age. Actually, he started drinking when he was 11. Things got worse when his mother died just before he turned 16. Although he was really great at keeping up appearances, he felt broken inside. It wasn’t until he got arrested for a DUI that he had an epiphany and began to see his true self. He’s now on a mission to be of service and help others. By sharing his story of overcoming addiction and the power of being vulnerable and authentic, he hopes it will help encourage and empower others to know they are not alone and that they, too, can use hardships as a catalyst for positive change.
Mentioned in this episode:
- PhillipAndrew.co
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, feel share with your friends and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate your support!
Listen for Free: ApplePodcasts GooglePodcasts * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today’s guest is Lee Rowley—entrepreneur, Copybrander, coach, author, mentor and now co-host of the podcast, Copy That Speaks. Lee is a highly sought-after copybrander. He describes what he does as helping brandpreneurs craft authentic, connection-focused marketing copy to attract their best clients. Here, he shares his personal story of how six years ago he and his wife lost their only child, 10-year-old Aria, to a rare genetic disorder. He talks about how his daughter’s death shattered his life and the self-destructive path he lived afterward. But then he had an epiphany. He’s now on a mission to keep Aria’s legacy alive of Just Being authentic, and began to apply this motto to his business. Since then, he’s dumped the typical, template-based copy and now teaches others how to use his Avatar Immersion Method to create authentic and meaningful copy so that entrepreneurs can connect with their customers in a genuine way. If you listen until the end of the interview, Lee shares how you can get a free copy of his upcoming book, The Avatar Immersion Method, where he teaches how you can do this yourself. So be sure to check that out! Mentioned in this episode:
- LeeRowley.com
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, feel share with your friends and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate your support!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Yazmin Salazar has Congenital Anosmia. That is, she’s missing one of the basic human senses. She was born with the inability to smell. She says when she initially tells people of her condition, they tend to either discount her or dismiss her. But, living with the inability to smell comes with daily stresses, anxieties and even dangers. She talks about how she used to keep it secret, but now she’s on a mission to use a little humor to spread awareness about this invisible disability and create a space for others like her to find support. Yazmin has created a blog and podcast and is also now working on a children’s book about the condition.
Mentioned in this episode:
- GirlWhoCan'tSmell.com
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, feel share with your friends and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate your support!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today we’re talking with Donnie Boivin. Donnie’s an entrepreneur, podcaster, author and a veteran. He served as a Marine, and he talks about how bootcamp normally took 13 weeks, but for him, it took six months. He explains why and how that experience has helped shape the rest of his life. He also explains how at 40 he decided he had enough working for someone else’s dream and ventured out to start his own business. But that wasn’t what he expected, business was failing, and he got to the point where he thought he might lose his home. But something changed, which turned it all around, including him authoring his first book. Today he helps others improve their mindset, businesses, and is continually exploring, looking for new ideas to inspire and help others.
Mentioned in this episode:
- DonnieBoivin.com
- Donnie's Success Champions Podcast
- SuccessChamps.us
If you prefer to read, go to TheInspireCafe.com to see a transcript of the interview!
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, feel share with your friends and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate your support!
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today’s guest is Contessa Louise Cooper, author of Mad At The World: How To Move On And Find Peace When You're A Special Needs Parent. She talks about how at 16 she got pregnant. A few years later, doctors told her that her son was mentally retarded and suggested he be institutionalized. It wasn’t until years later that her son was diagnosed as autistic. She talks about how challenging it was not only getting day care and keeping her son in school, but also she couldn’t keep a day job because she constantly needed to attend to her son. That’s when she resorted to becoming an exotic dancer to make ends meet, but it didn’t last forever. Fortunately, she got help from friends and family. Today, Contessa’s passion is to pay it forward by helping others, particularly others with special needs like autism or supporting their parents and caregivers.
Mentioned in this episode:
- ContessaLouise.com
If you prefer to read a transcript of this interview, go to TheInspireCafe.com
And if you like this episode and the format of this show, please share it with your friends, rate, review and subscribe. All of those activities makes it easier for others to find the podcast.
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
- Like us on Facebook here!
- Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today our guest is Dr. Cathleen Gerenger. Cathleen came from a family of 13 children, all of who risked their lives to travel for weeks on a dangerously overcrowded boat. They were fleeing their home in Vietnam from the aftermath of the war and her parents decided to split up the children in small groups to travel just in case the worst would happen—otherwise a sinking boat could lose the whole family at once. So Cathleen, her 19-year-old sister and 14-year-old brother were in the first group to leave. Cathleen was just four years old. They all survived the dangerous journey, made it to a refugee camp in Malaysia, and ultimately to their final destination in New York City. Their family’s story was chronicled in a book called, Weeping Under This Same Moon. Cathleen describes that journey and how it’s affected her family. She also talks about how much later a car accident indirectly caused a turn in her career choice and she became a chiropractor and holistic health practitioner. She’s now on a mission to change the healthcare of America by teaching how to be proactive instead of reactive about our medical care and to allow the body to heal itself from the inside out.
Mentioned in this episode:
- RaJeunir Medical Center
- Facebook Page: @RajeunirMedicalCenter
- Instagram: @rmcwellness
- Weeping Under This Same Moon
If you prefer to read a transcript of the interview, go to TheInspireCafe.com
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe for free, rate & review, and share with your friends.
Thanks for listening!
It’s the beginning of the year and the season for New Year’s resolutions. According to several online sources, losing weight ranks within the top 2 of New Year’s resolutions. But statistics also say that 80% of New Year’s resolutions only last until February. Well, although he never personally guaranteed that his approach to Never Bingeing Again would last longer than 4 weeks, hopefully this episode will help all those who have made weight loss to your list of resolutions for this year.
Psychologist Dr. Glenn Livingston was a long time CEO of a multi-million dollar consulting firm which serviced several Fortune 500 clients in the food industry. He spent years researching the nature of bingeing and overeating, including a self-funded research program that involved over 40,000 participants. In this interview, he talks about his own personal weight loss journey, what he discovered in his research and he learned about himself. He offers several highlights from his book, Never Binge Again: Stop Overeating and Binge Eating and Reprogram Yourself to Think Like a Permanently Thin Person...on the Food Plan of Your Choice!
Mentioned in this Episode:
NeverBingeAgain.com
To read a transcript of this interview go to TheInspireCafe.com.
And if you like this episode and the format of this show, please share, rate, review and subscribe. Doing so will help others discover this podcast easier.
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
- Like us on Facebook here!
- Follow us on Instagram here!
Today we’re going to bring a past episode out of the archives. This particular interview was our top downloaded episode for the year. And that top download is Episode #31 with Linda Beach.
So what would you do if your thriving business went bankrupt and you essentially lost over $1mil dollars in assets? Well, if you’re Linda Beach, you build your business back up, sell it for a profit and do something that nobody would expect—you move to Belize and start a new career! Linda has turned into a certified Dream Builder Life Coach, where she helps others get over their fears, and create and build their life dreams. How great is that? I Hope you enjoy the replay!
Mentioned in this episode:
- FreedomLifestyleToday.com
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, rate & review. By doing so makes it easier for others discover this podcast. Thank you for your support!
Listen for Free: ApplePodcasts GooglePodcasts * If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page! * And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Andrea Hall was a successful criminal defense attorney and a self-described “A-type” personality. Her goal was to become a mother and also was thinking of changing careers. However, all that came to a halt when she learned she had a brain tumor and had to undergo emergency surgery. At that point, she told herself if she made it through the surgery, she knew without a doubt she truly had to make a change in her life. Fortunately, Andrea recovered and then became a Certifie Equine Gestalt Coach, where she partners up with her horses to help heal her clients. She has also founded Withers Whisper and co-authored two books, Touched by a Horse Equine Coaching Stories, Vol. 3 and Living Your Joy—Creating a Joy filled Life.
Mentioned in this episode:
- WithersWhisper.com
If you prefer to read a transcript of this interview, go to www.TheInspireCafe.com.
And if you like this episode and the format of the show, please head over to iTunes to give a quick review and subscribe. This helps make it easier for others to find the podcast, and hopefully spread a little more inspiration.
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today we’re talking with speaker and author, Holly Pasut. Holly was a successful real estate agent, who found herself entwined in one of the largest investigations into mortgage fraud in the country. She has readily accepted responsibility for lapses in judgment and being too trusting. Holly ended up pleading guilty to charges and, ultimately, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. Despite the depression, shame and guilt, Holly decided that being incarcerated wasn’t going to break her and instead she turned it into a lesson of gratitude. She now shares her story in her book, A Strange Path to Freedom: White-Collar Professional Finds Inspiration and Gratitude in Federal Prison.
Mentioned in this episode:
- FreedomSpeaker.com
- A Strange Path to Freedom: White-Collar Professional Finds Inspiration and Gratitude in Federal Prison
If you prefer to read, a transcript of this interview is at TheInspireCafe.com.
And if you like this episode and the format of the show, please head over to iTunes to give a quick review and subscribe. This helps make it easier for others to find the podcast, and hopefully spread a little more inspiration.
- If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
- And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today we’re talking with Dan Zerin, a manager at the only comedy club in Iceland. Dan found what he says a fun way to raise awareness about Tourette syndrome, a disorder where he began noticing having symptoms since he was a kid. Feeling like what he calls a “freak,” Dan says he didn’t know exactly what was going on with him until he was finally diagnosed in his early twenties. Struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide, Dan found comedy as his salvation. He eventually came to the realization that the source of his pain was actually great comedic content. Today, he’s co-creator and manager of My Voices Have Tourette’s, a group of comedians with various disorders and syndromes, who raise awareness about the disorders in a fun way.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Dan Zerin's Facebook
- Dan Zerin's Instagram
- My Voices Have Tourettes
- My Voices Have Tourettes Merchandise
- The Secret Celler
If you'd like to see a list of previously mentioned books or products from former episodes, go to our Resources Page!
And if you're looking for inspirational books that I've personally read and recommend, go to our Motivational Tools page!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
And if prefer to read the transcript, go to TheInspireCafe.com.
And if you enjoyed this episode and like the format of this show, please leave a quick review and rate it on iTunes, and also subscribe. This will help make it easier for others to also discover this podcast. That would really help out the podcast and would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for listening!
Founder and CEO of Steviva Brands and Icon Foods, Thom King shares when he said he felt like a fraud. He headed companies that promoted healthy foods, yet he was a self-professed sugar addict. One day in 2016, the pain of it all exceeded the pleasure of maintaining his food addiction and poor health, and he made a change. Since then, he authored Guy Gone Keto: How to Lose Weight, Feel Great, and Achieve Lifelong Fitness. Today, Thom’s intention is to make an impact on metabolic disease, or what he calls, “diabesity,” promote healthy living and to share that knowledge by paying it forward to others.
Mentioned in this episode:
- GuyGoneKeto.com
- IconFoods.com
- Guy Gone Keto: How to Lose Weight, Feel Great, and Achieve Lifelong Fitness
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, feel share with your friends and subscribe. We appreciate your support!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today we’re with award-winning journalist Bobbi Booker. She talks about having been raised as a motherless child. Although her father taught her never to disrespect her mother, Bobbi struggled with learning how not to be angry with her. Turns out, it was writing that helped her cope. As an adult, Bobbi finally began to heal and shares what realizations helped her with it. Bobbi now is sharing her story with the hope to help others who may have gone through similar circumstances.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Bobbi’s Instagram
- Bobbi’s Facebook
And if you'd like to hear more inspirational stories, feel share with your friends and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate your support!
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today we’re talking with Eddie Lorin, Founder and CEO of Impact Housing. a real estate investment trust. Eddie shares his personal story—he lost his father when he was an infant and then also his mother when he was 17. He talks about the personal struggles he overcame and what he’s learned from them. Since he got into the real estate industry, Eddie has been on a crusade to provide affordable housing across America. He says one of the most important things we can do is put a roof over someone’s head. Over the past 30 years, Eddie has successfully purchased and transformed more than 180 thriving communities, turning blight into light, covering approximately 40,000 apartment units nationwide.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Impact Housing
- HAPI Foundation
To read a transcript of this interview go to TheInspireCafe.com.
And if you enjoy the show, please share with your friends and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts.
Thanks for listening!
Husband and wife Carrie Theiss and Chris Chavez got the worst news in 2014—their eldest child, Eli, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Very sadly, Eli passed away less than two years later from cancer when he was just 8 years old. When Eli was sick, Carrie and Chris say they got assistance not just from their employer, the military, but also from foundations and almost complete strangers. They say this help was so invaluable to them in their time of need and despair that they now want to share this information with other families who made need it. Today, Carrie and Chris are on a mission not only to share their own story about their family and Eli but to also highlight the services and assistance provided by the remarkable organizations that help families like theirs. It’s their hope that others will be able to find these resources a little bit easier so that they can receive the help they need sooner.
Dr. Carmen Roman came from a poor but loving family in Mexico where they had no electricity or running water. When it was time to go to middle school, her parents expected she learn a trade to start earning an income. But, Carmen secretly applied to a middle school and only got permission to go if she also learned to become a hairdresser. Determined to continue her education, she later got her master's degree and then became a professor. After more setbacks, she returned to school yet again to get a Ph.D. Today Carmen has her own practice, founded a nonprofit, Emotions in Harmony, and a podcast with the same name.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Emotions in Harmony and Podcast
To see a transcript of this interview, go to our website at TheInspireCafe.com
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Author of four books and a contributor to a couple more, Melanie Rodriguez discusses her experience with reverse ageism. You see, Melanie looks much younger than her true age. And, although looking young is great, there are some who have made assumptions about her--and sometimes it's not always in a positive way. She also talks about other challenges she’s had, including sometimes not having the support to follow her dream to become a professional writer and how she’s handled prejudice from being biracial. Regardless, though, she says her struggles are what create her story and they're also what drive her to keep her dreams alive.
And, as mentioned in the episode, if you want to help out Melanie's friend, please check out and buy the anthology, "For Melissa," where the proceeds go to assist Melissa, who is battling cancer. We'll have a link for that on our website too.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Melanie's Blog
- Melanie's Facebook Page
- Melanie's Twitter
- Melanie's Instagram
- Melanie's books
To read a transcript of this interview, go to TheInspireCafe.com.
- Like us on Facebook here!
- Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
In September 2010 when he was 27 years old, Ben Clench and his girlfriend, Jazz, were hit by a car while on holiday in the Dominican Republic. Jazz was killed instantly, but Ben narrowly survived. He suffered a traumatic brain injury which left him in a coma and then with amnesia. So determined to rehabilitate, Ben re-learned how to ride a bike, how to swim, he ran a half-marathon and started earning his second master’s degree all within a year of the accident. In this interview, Ben talks about his recently published book, Ben Again: The Inspirational Memoir of a Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor. He talks about his journey, including what it was like to have amnesia, his mindset through his recovery, and why the love and support from his family and friends were vital to the success of his recovery.
As a side note, Ben will be speaking soon at TEDxBrighton on October 26, 2018. So if you're in the area, please go check it out.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Ben-Clench.org
- Ben-Again.org
- TedXBrighton
To read a transcript of this interview, go to our website at TheInspireCafe.com
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Author Jacqui Letran shares the story of her and her family narrowly escaping Vietnam amidst gunfire and then running out of drinking water while adrift at sea in their escape boat. She also talks about her struggle between living a traditional culture at home while trying to assimilate to American life as a teenager. And then getting pregnant at 16 complicated things. But holding her baby in her arms was the pivotal moment in her life that changed everything. Today, Jacqui is a Mindset Mentor, podcaster, professional speaker and award-winning author. She helps others improve their mindset through her books and podcast, Stop The Bully Within.
Mentioned in this episode:
- JacquiLetran.com
- 5 Simple Questions to Reclaim Your Happiness!
- I would, but my DAMN MIND won't let me!: a teen's guide to controlling their thoughts and feelings (Words of Wisdom for Teens) (Volume 2)
- Unleash Your Inner Super Powers: and destroy fear and self-doubt (Words of Wisdom for Teens) (Volume 3)
To read a transcript of this interview, go to TheInspireCafe.com
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Born to a Persian father and British mother, Katayoun Dowlatshahi has a doctorate in arts & humanities and has been commissioned many times to create public art installations in England and Scotland. Here, she describes her journey as a young girl when she and her family left Iran in the summer of 1978 prior to the outbreak of the revolution there. She also talks about what it was like trying to assimilate to living in England, school-place bullying, her struggle with depression, and how art and love helped her through it. Today, her passion is to create artwork that transforms and beautifies public spaces and makes a positive difference where people live.
Mentioned in this episode:
KatayounDowlatshahi.com
Katayoun’s Facebook Page
Katayoun’s Instagram: @katayounpd
Katayoun's Twitter: @katayounpd
To read the transcript of this interview, go to our website: TheInspireCafe.com
Thanks for listening!
Author Gabrielle Bergan talks about her memoir, Return to My Soul: My Journey from Darkness into the Light. She shares her years of struggle, including depression, an attempt at suicide, and her former belief that something was wrong with her. She explains she believes a part of it had to do with her relationship with her parents, stemming all the way back to the day she was born. Because of complications during her delivery, Gabrielle was put in an incubator for a week before she was even placed in her mother's arms. They therefore never bonded as mother and daughter. It wasn't until her mother was 81 and she was 58 that they spoke about it and finally cultivated the mother-daughter relationship Gabrielle longed for. This is a story of it's never too late.
Mentioned in this episode:
GabrielleBergan.com
Gabrielle's book: Return to My Soul: My Journey from Darkness into the Light.
To read a transcript of this interview, go to The Inspire Cafe podcast's website.
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today we're talking with best-selling author Roy Redd, a performance coach, public speaker and entrepreneur. He shares his story of being broke, depressed, and the time when he pushed his broken down car two miles down a freeway. And then he had an epiphany and everything changed. Roy turned his life around and at 26, he went from broke to earning 6 figures in just a few years. Today, Roy is an Unbounded Performance Coach. He helps pro, collegiate, and high school athletes so that they can release themselves from their mental blocks and perform at their highest levels.
UPDATE: Roy Redd's book, The Unnoticed Advantage, releases October 2019. Check back on Roy's website for updates.
Mentioned in this episode:
- The Success Magnet: Cultivate the 5 Values That Attract Success
- Finish: 7 Secrets to Achieve Your Goals
- Roy's website: RoyRedd.com
- Roy's TedxTalk
To see a transcript of this interview, go to Episode 47 on our website at TheInspireCafe.com
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Elizabeth Lewis is a dating and relationship coach. She’s the founder of Singles Meet Singles, which is the largest singles group in Louisville, Kentucky, and she’s the founder of Love and Laughter Life Coaching. Elizabeth also wrote the book, First Date Next Mate: Perspectives in Dating the “Next” Time Around. She talks about her journey of becoming a widow unexpectedly, becoming a cancer survivor, what it was like to re-enter the dating scene, and she shares what got her into helping others navigate the modern dating world.
Mentioned in this episode:
- LoveAndLaughterLifeCoaching.com
- First Date Next Mate: Perspectives in Dating the "Next" Time Around
To see a transcript of this interview, go to Episode 46 on our Website: TheInspireCafe.com
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Megan Fenyoe is an Air Force Veteran, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Transformational Mindset Coach, Professional Speaker and now published Author. She tells the very personal story of how she struggled to come out of an abusive relationship, and in the midst of her journey, she began writing her now published book, You Are Enough: 5 Steps To Move From Struggle To Strength. She talks about the self-discovery and personal challenges she went through, and now how she’s helping others learn those five steps to learning that You Are Enough. We will have links to Megan’s site, her book, and also provide a transcript of this interview on our website, TheInspireCafe.com
Mentioned in this episode:
- MissionStrengthSD.com
- Jenny McCarthy SiriusXM – Search for Megan Fenyoe when she guests on the Jenny McCarthy show on Sept. 10, 2018 @ 11:20am ET.
To see a transcript of this interview, go to Episode 45 on our website at TheInspireCafe.com
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Supna Shah, the founder of WeGo Kids, tells the story of how she and her husband struggled through 10 years of infertility before Supna was able to get pregnant. And boy did she get pregnant—with triplets, no less! She describes the journey of going through some emotional and medical scares. A couple years after having her triplets, Supna talks about how she started WeGo Kids, which includes a 100% organic cotton activewear line for kids, and the first-ever Parenting WebTV and Podcast Network. The program delivers weekly parenting education using emotional intelligence principles to raising kids.
Mentioned in this episode: WeGo-Kids.com
To see a transcript of this interview, go to Episode 44 of our website at TheInspireCafe.com
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
After her Mom lost her job, Michelle Jackson shares what she calls her "messy money story" of when she found herself supporting her and her mom. Michelle was in graduate school at the time, working at Starbucks and earning $9 an hour. Now, they both own properties, Michelle has become an entrepreneur, and she's working her way through an outrageous amount of debt. Michelle runs a personal finance website and podcast called "Michelle is Money Hungry," she's the author of a personal finance book called, Unsexy: A Savage AF Book About Money, and teaches others how to get out of their debt.
Mentioned in this episode:
MichelleisMoneyHungry.com
To see a transcript of this interview, go Episode 43 to our website at TheInspireCafe.com
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
After losing her high-school sweetheart and husband of 27 years to brain cancer at the age of 42, Lisa Nicks-Balthasar her journey of overcoming loss, grief and the power of love. A part of her process of overcoming pain was to write her memoir, Believe! Today, Lisa is a writer, speaker, and co-founder of The Heart of Manifestation, where she helps empower individuals to feel control over their destiny and desires.
Mentioned in this episode:
- HeartofManifestation.com
To see a transcript of this interview, go to our website at TheInspireCafe.com
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Psychologist Anna Seewald talks about how at 13 years old she survived a catastrophic earthquake. Tragically, her mother did not survive. She talks about how that horrific event shaped her, including her realizing she wouldn't have as deep of understanding, compassion, and empathy today if she hadn't gone through that devastating experience. Today, Anna is the founder of Authentic Parenting, the Authentic Parenting Podcast, she's a speaker, and author of 15 Keys To Effective Communication: Building Strong Parent-Child Relationships. She works with children and helps parents who are overwhelmed, frustrated and who want to parent differently.
Mentioned in this episode:
- AuthenticParenting.com
- Anna's Facebook Page
To see a transcript of this interview, go to Episode 41 on our website at TheInspireCafe.com
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Creativity coach Dr. Pragya Agarwal, PhD., is the founder of Hedge and Hog Prints and The Art Tiffen. The mother of three talks about how she suffered from workplace bullying, and she suffered severe anxiety and depression. Pragya says it got so bad that she almost had a breakdown, and eventually quit her job. One day, she took an art class and discovered the healing it brought her. She tells how art and creativity helped her with her anxiety and depression, and brought her peace and calm. Now, she campaigns for creativity and mental health, aiming to break the stigma of mental health in Southeast Asian communities.
Mentioned in this episode:
- The Art Tiffen
- Hedge & Hog Prints
To read a free transcript of this interview, go to Episode 40 at TheInspireCafe.com.
Like us on Facebook here!
Follow us on Instagram here!
Thanks for listening!
Today's guest is bestselling author Sunniva Holt, a property investor who began investing at age 19. By the time she was in her early 30's, she built a multimillion-dollar property portfolio. What's also interesting is Sunniva's atypical upbringing. She explains the way she was raised made her fight for her freedom, and so she fought to go to high school. You see, Sunniva and her nine siblings were raised in a strict religious cult and lived in an isolated area of New Zealand. Sunniva talks about what life was like back then, and also talks about an event when she was 19. She also in this interview offers several tips from her latest book, Life on Your Terms: 7 Steps to Creating the Life you Always Wanted. Today, Sunniva is a transformational and wealth alignment coach, a speaker, and describes herself as driven to help others trying to get more out of life.
Kristin Hanes has spent 14 years as a reporter in radio news, including 5 years at KGO news radio in the Bay Area. She talks about how she became what she calls "intentionally houseless" because if she didn't take drastic measures, she felt like otherwise she was never going to get out of debt. That's when Kristin decided to move into the back of her boyfriend's Prius for 4 months. And then getting laid off from her job seven months later turned out to actually be a blessing in disguise...
A self-described "recovering attorney," Amber Malcom is the founder and CEO of Shabby Chick Natural Products, a company that produces natural cleaning products. Amber shares her story of growing up in a "tumultuous" home, how at 14 she decided to get out of the house and go to military school, how when she was in the Air Force she was sexually assaulted yet was told by her Commander to drop the complaint, and then later how she got herself out of an abusive marriage. Today, Amber runs a successful business and mentors women going through custody battles.
Marian Bacol-Uba is working on her first book, Survivor to Thriver. We talk about what inspired her to write it, including her journey of overcoming childhood sexual abuse by her father, and an overdose, which lead to a near-death experience that she says made her finally wake up and give her a second chance at life. Now Marian is a transformational coach and holistic health and wellness expert. Her passion is to raise awareness about sexual abuse in the Asian communities, and also help women transform their trauma to triumph and heal themselves from within.
Vince Pugliese says that at 32, he was newly married, earning $15 an hour, had $140,000 in debt, and a baby on the way. In less than four years, he and his wife were totally debt free, house included. They quit their jobs, became financially free, did the work they truly loved and added a another baby! Vince is an award-winning, former photojournalist, even winning the coveted International Sports Photographer of the Year. He's shot nearly every professional sports venue in the U.S., including Super Bowls, the World Series, the Stanley Cup and NBA playoffs. Here, he talks about the money troubles his family had while growing up, how it had affected him, his brief stint with the law, and why he used to call himself the "poster boy for a 22-year-old slacker." Now, he's an entrepreneur, business coach, founder of The Freelance Tribe, and the author of Freelance to Freedom: The Roadmap for Creating a Side Business to Achieve Financial, Time and Life Freedom. Today, he helps others learn how to become debt free and live a freedom lifestyle.
Formerly known as Eirian Cohen, Luana Ribeira says she has no regrets. Here she talks about the difficult time in her life when her husband of eight years announced he was transgender. As shocked as she was, she was supportive and they kept the family together, but eventually the marriage split. And then several months later, her ex-husband said he wanted to revert back to presenting as a man. Luana talks about her confusion, the challenges they faced with the media, the trolling, and how she managed to pull through it. And despite the emotional roller coaster, Luana successfully published her book, Passions to Freedom, grew her businesses as a transformative coach, acting academy founder and director, and now she helps entrepreneurs to write books and become bestselling authors.
Charles Eduardos tells the shocking story of how in 1971 he was shot in the mouth with a 45 semi-automatic rifle. He was told he may never speak again. Now, he says you can't shut him up! Charles is now an executive coach, motivational speaker, certified NLP Practitioner and hypnotherapist, an ordained minister, and a former police officer and radio broadcaster. Here, Charles talks about that shocking story of him getting shot, his recovery both physically and spiritually, and how he now helps guide others toward success.
Today we're talking with Kenny Weiss, a coach, speaker, podcast host and also author of Your Journey to Success: How to Accept the Answers You Discover Along the Way. Kenny's book is powerful and gives real how-to steps on learning how to identify your fears and much more. He draws from his own life experiences. His journey started with finding his mom passed out naked on the toilet when he was 12. She was an alcoholic. From there, it spiraled for Kenny. He later also became an alcoholic, but also a sex addict, spending addict, sugar addict, tobacco addict and love addict. He went through two divorces, bankruptcy, played two pro sports he never wanted to play, and even contemplated suicide. Here Kenny talks about it all and also what he's doing now to help others.
Linda Beach is a certified Dream Builder Life Coach, who helps others create and build their life dreams. What's interesting about Linda as a coach are her life experiences. She suffered serious injuries when she crashed while doing her first solo flight on an ultra-light plane, and then years later had foreclosed on her company building, lost her homes and filed for bankruptcy, losing over $1 million in assets. Linda talks about how she recovered from it, how she overcame her fears, and how she followed her dream to move to Belize. She now helps others overcome their fears, get out from being stuck, and to not just dream but to Dream Big.
Having just graduated from UC Berkeley, you wouldn't guess that twenty-two-year-old Ismael Chamu, and the rest of his siblings and parents were just recently living together in a tiny camper trailer with no heat and no sewer hookups. Ismael is the son of a migrant worker from Mexico, and is the first in his family to not only attend college, but to graduate from high school. In this interview, he talks about not having a secure place to live nor having enough food to eat while he attended college. Now, his goal is to continue with his education, obtain a graduate degree, and somehow help with the college student housing crisis in the future. This is Ismael's story...
Today's guest is Mary Well, author of six bestselling books, including her latest, The Swiss Chocolate Diet: The Simple and Proven System for Healthy & Everlasting Weight Loss. Mary shares her struggle of growing up overweight, and even being told by a prospective employer that she was too fat. She years later discovered the “secret” to permanent weight loss isn’t just about diet and exercise. She explains if you neglect your self-image, your weight will continue to yo-yo up and down. When she was almost 50 years old, Mary lost 60 lbs in 180 days. Since then she's helped over 27,000 people lose weight. And, yes, she says you can eat chocolate too!
Mary Shores is the author of Conscious Communications: A Step-by-Step Guide to Harnessing the Power of Your Words to Change Your Mind, Your Choices, and Your Life. Before her success as an author, speaker and entrepreneur, Mary shares her background starting when she was living on her own since she was 16, how in 1992 her daughter was born with brain damage and lived only 1 and 1/2 years, and how later she also suffered from a divorce. Regardless, Mary grew her company to a multi-million dollar business, and here shares her strategies on living a life in alignment and her take on the difference between positive psychology and affirmations.
Today's guest is Terry McSweeney, a certified fibromyalgia advisor, who also suffers from the disorder. A cancer survivor, Terry talks about how she began suffering from symptoms that perplexed both her and her doctors. It wasn't until 10 years later that she was finally diagnosed. She explains what it is, the myths surrounding it, how it affected her personally, including how her husband was even afraid to hug her because it brought her so much pain. Terry then took matters into her own hands and became her own advocate. She now helps others with managing their own conditions and become what she calls, "Fibromyalgia Warriors."
Today's guest is Justine Renson, author of Leaving The Light -- and loving it: how I woke up, wisened up and walked away from the cult of my birth. Justine talks about her memoir of what it was like growing up in a cult, what was the catalyst for her to leave it, and the issues she struggled with during and since she left the group called, The Light, over 16 years ago. Justine also talks about her life today, about her commitment to women's empowerment, and how she wants to help other women who feel trapped or stuck in their lives. She says that she wants women to know that even when they are sure that they have no other options, that there is always a choice and that we are never alone, even if it feels that way. This is Justine's story...
Monica Michelle is a fellow podcaster, who co-hosts Invisible Not Broken. As a child, Monica aspired to be a ballerina, but that got halted when she was a teenager due to her illness, or rather the debilitating illnesses she eventually was diagnosed with. Getting frustrated with the lack of information about them, she's now on a mission to not only build a community of others with invisible disabilities, but also to help educate the public of the existence of these illnesses and shed some light on them.
Kevin Basham is an entrepreneur who co-founded a seven-figure recycling business in the UK. He dropped out of college, and yet managed to startup the business with no money and little experience. Here, Kevin talks about how it wasn't easy and of his start with humble beginnings. Growing up, he had little confidence, was a shy kid, even bullied, and had other obstacles to jump over along the way. Yet after joining the work force, he learned he had a knack for sales and business, and is still the director of his company. And if that wasn't enough to do, he's recently added to his plate of being a podcaster and co-hosts Cryptopulse, which helps guide people through the topic of Cryptocurrency. Here's Kevin story...
Carlana Stone is an author, motivational speaker, and a former TV news reporter and primetime network TV producer. She's worked on popular shows like A&E's Intervention, The Biggest Loser and Judge Judy, just to name a few. She's gotten her private pilot's license, she scuba-dives, has sky-dived and rides a custom Harley. She's been interviewed by Montel Williams and has been on Larry King Live, and in 2008 was chosen to become one of ten contestants on Oprah Winfrey's The Big Give. Carlana's list of accomplishments go on and on. She's such an inspiration and great role model of never giving up because at the age of 17, Carlana was in a terrible car accident that left her paralyzed. In today's interview, we talk about her book, Never Give In, Never Give Up, what she's been doing since she authored it, and the nonprofit she's currently working on, The Courage Community, which assists veterans. Carlana has a lot of great life lessons to share. This is Carlana's story.
Author and entrepreneur Kay Richardson designed her business to help other women entrepreneurs become more successful. She's in a way paying it forward from the encouragement she received when she was young. Homeless at 17, pregnant at 18 and on welfare at 19, Kay struggled to make ends meet and also fulfill her desire to get an education. She later had to make a tough decision and had her toddler son live full-time with his father so that she can attend college. Later having suffered through a divorce, Kay has emerged a successful businessperson. She explains it all in her book, What a Woman's Gotta Do: Dig Deep, Make a Decision, Take Action. This is Kay's story...
Author of Standing on My Own Two Feet, Clare Sultmann is an example of a living miracle, and survivor against all odds. On August 18, 2000, Clare Sultmann, when she was 23, went on her morning jog in Sydney, Australia. She was hit by a 10-ton garbage truck on a pedestrian crossing. The truck skidded on top of her and then stopped, resting itself on top of Clare’s legs. She was pinned for 37 minutes before emergency crew could lift it off her. Crazy as it sounds, Clare was also fully conscious the whole time. Clare’s story is not only about survival, suffering 37 surgeries, 10 years of rehabilitation and learning to walk again despite being told she probably wouldn’t walk again, but also of what she describes as coming out stronger than she ever thought possible. This is Clare's story....
Nate Bagley, a source of information of what it takes to have an extraordinary relationship through his Loveumentary podcast, finds himself in the midst of a breakup with his fiancée and he is shattered. Nate had kept it a secret and now for the first time publicly shares what he went through and how he's used the experience to grow, become more compassionate, and eventually fall in love again. This is Nate's story.
T. Renee Garner is a mother of two, an entrepreneur, business owner, author, and also a domestic abuse and coma survivor. Renee didn't realize it at the time, but her boyfriend had abandoned her the day she was in the hospital and was delivering her premature baby. Complications arose and then she fell into a coma. Since then, Renee has used her experiences to help others, both women and men, by discussing the issues of domestic abuse, authored a book, which then turned into a musical, gospel, comedy stage play, called The Man Monster. This is Renee's story....
Alex talks about having an all-American upbringing, a loving family, a wonderful childhood, and played baseball at college. Then Alex had his wisdom teeth pulled and got a prescription of Oxycodone for the pain. Looking back, Alex says this is probably where his addiction began. His addiction steadily got worse, so much so that he was stealing from his family, and he started shooting up heroin in the bathroom at work. Eventually, he became homeless with all his possessions in a garbage bag and living underneath a bridge. Alex eventually went through rehab, and has been maintaining his long-term recovery. He has since finished his Bachelors, got a Master's, and now is pursuing his PhD. His passion is to not only help others find easier access to rehabilitation, but to also help them with their long-term recovery, change the stigma of heroin addiction. This is Alex's story....
A father of seven, Paul Welling used to ask himself "Why me?" Paul went through a 10-year stint, including losing his job, feeling unfulfilled and guilty for wanting to leave his job because it was a family business, he and his wife suffered multiple miscarriages, and when he thought his daughter might die. Paul made a "disruption" that transformed his life. Now, he works to help others who are feeling caught in their own "booby traps," and helps them find ways to align work life with values.
An avid runner for more than 30 years, criminal defense attorney Rand Mintzer collapsed at mile 15 while running the Houston Marathon in January 2017. Rand blacked out before he even hit the pavement from a full cardiac arrest. As luck would have it, about a half-dozen bystanders came to his aid and were able to immediately performed CPR. Rand was later told he was dead for eight minutes. He talks about his experience, his outlook on life since, and also about a book he authored, Thirty-Three Years of Running in Circles. Now, Rand's mission is to encourage people to learn CPR and increase the chance of saving someone else's life, too. This is Rand's story....
Adam Shaeuble, an entrepreneur, podcaster and author, talks about the time what he describes as being a "crap magnet." He was overweight, sinking in negativity, and had a load of debt. After experiencing an "ah-hah" moment, Adam mapped out a 5-year plan. He succeeded and lost 100 pounds, opened his own fitness studio, got out of debt, and started a family. Adam now helps others with their own fitness goals. To date, his clients have lost a total of over 35,000 lbs. Now Adam has a new goal to help people everywhere lose a million pounds in what he calls the Million Pound Mission. This is Adam's story...
Michael was arrested, convicted and sentenced to a 45 years for his part in the distribution of cocaine in 1987. This was his first offense, his first arrest, and at the age of 23, and was going to spend decades in prison. However, Michael learned how to create success for himself while being incarcerated, earned three degrees, authored 7 books, and set himself up to be a success before his release. He now teaches other prisoners how to navigate the prison system and for the best possible outcome upon release. This is Michael's story....
Ria Story talks about her latest book, Bridges Out of the Past: A Survivor's Lessons on Resilience. In it, she recounts how after years keeping it a secret, she revealed to a conference-room of people that she was a survivor of seven years of sexual abuse by her father that started when she was 12. She said that at that moment she had found her calling--her purpose was to continue to share her story, realizing that if she could help just one person, it would be worth it. This is Ria's story...
Today's guest is Sean Douglas, a 34-year-old former Air Force drill instructor, and currently an entrepreneur, professional speaker, author and Master Resilience Implementer (we'll get into that later in the interview). But first, Sean talks about his autobiography, Decisions: The Power to Overcome Self-Defeating Behaviors, and admits this interview is the first time he openly talks about his suicide attempt. He goes over what lead up to it, including growing up with domestic violence, becoming an alcoholic, and almost losing his family and military career. It all began to turnaround, though, in one moment on one Christmas eve. Sean says that he had adversity in his life, learned how to talk about it, and now teaches others how to learn to be resilient. This is Sean's story....
Today's guest is Kathryn Lowe, a 59-year-old former school teacher living in Brisbane, Australia. Kathryn talks about how just a few years ago... she was struggling with declining health, a bitter divorce, and feeling depressed. After agreeing to going on a trekking trip in Nepal, she admitted that if during that trip she just happened to fall down the mountain and perish, that she'd be okay with it. So okay, in fact, that she actually wrote out her will before she left home. However, while in Nepal, she learned of an 8-year-old boy who had recently committed suicide. The boy apparently was in so much in despair because his family couldn't afford to pay for him to go to school. She was so taken by the heartbreak of that little boy, she changed focus and learned what she calls "her purpose." That purpose was to help the children in that community obtain a free education, and to never have another child suffer like that again. Kathryn talks about setting up a foundation, raising funds, and getting a new school going.... and also how surprised she is by what one little person could accomplish. This is Kathryn's story.
Today's guest is Samira Maddox, a 39-year-old mother of three, who founded what she says is the first Professional Muslim sorority in Texas and the second in the country. Originally from East Africa, and grew up in Canada, Samira says that when she first started attending the University of Texas in Dallas, she was looking for a "college" experience, but was not finding a group or organization that quite felt like where she belonged. She then got inspired to start her own sorority, but it wasn't without hitches and setbacks. First, there was the challenge of finding a faculty advisor willing and able to take on the task, and another was when they had their first rush where they got about a dozen women signed up, but then only three actually pledged. She also talks about the community service Mu Delta Alpha works on, the level of commitment by its growing members--who are not required to be Muslim--and trying to breakdown common misconceptions of a Muslim woman. This is Samira's story....
Today's interview is with Johnathon E Stone, a 31-year-old Navy Chief Petty Officer and father of four. Johnny shares his story of losing his wife to cancer, but before passing away, Sarah made Johnny promise to continue their pledge to each other to Find the Good in every day and not only instill that motto in their kids, but to share that message with others. Since Sarah's passing, Johnny has been on a mission to spread the word of Finding the Good Every Day and also has begun a daily video series called, "0530 Morning Minute of Motivation." He also started a nonprofit, Simply Finding the Good, to offer support donated items to foster kids. Johnny is also now coming out with a book about the #TeamStone family, and their message of Finding the Good. This is Johnny's story....
Today we welcome artist Jessica Delagardelle. Jessica recounts her experience of when soon after receiving the devastating news that she had suffered a miscarriage, doctors then discovered a 16-inch rare tumor wrapped around her pelvic bone. After an intensive surgery, Jessica lost mobility in her left leg and had to re-learn how to walk. She describes how diving into an art project stemming from a poem she wrote five years earlier helped her mentally and emotionally during that time.... And while recovering, she actually published her first children's book, where she also created and photographed the 3-D View-Master-like scenes that illustrate it too. That's how "Astri The Brave L'il Oyster" was born, a story about a young sea creature learning how to face her fears. This is Jessica's story....
Deanna Won, a former Air Force Colonel and physicist, was at the height of her career when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was admitted into hospice, and told by doctors she had just 4 weeks to live. Against all odds, she miraculously survived through an integrative medical and holistic approach—all without chemotherapy or radiation. Deanna has been cancer-free since. Being given a second chance at life is what fuels her passion to inspire and empower others, so she became a Certified Holistic Health Coach and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Today, she helps people from around the world to recover their health, using a mind, body, spirit approach. This is Deanna's story....
Iomikoe Johnson is a 37-year-old mother of 4 and grandmother of 2 . When she was 25, Iomikoe was diagnosed with Vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disorder where the skin color turns into very pale patches. She said, “I’m a black woman and my skin is slowly turning white.”
Iomikoe struggled with the stares and rude comments made to her face, along with depression and suicidal thoughts, and would either stay at home or spend up to over an hour applying make-up so she’d feel comfortable enough to leave the house.
Since then, Iomikoe has embraced her skin condition, became a fashion model, is now promoting awareness about Vitiligo, and even has started her own clothing line called “My Confidence is Contagious.”
This is Iomikoe’s story….
Today's guest is Xavier Horan, a former sound mixer & editor who's worked on over 39 movies. His career also included working with the sound editing team that won an Academy Award for the major motion picture, The Bourne Ultimatum. However, before that happened, Xavier talks about a major tragedy he and his family endured, including him getting in a horrific car accident where he became a paraplegic at the age of 16. And then several years later, another tragedy struck when his sister was killed in a shark attack while working with the Peace Corps in Tonga. The challenges didn't end there--Xavier suffered another life-threatening setback with his health, which sidelined his sound editing career. But regardless of the situation, Xavier has and continues to move forward. He talks about how since being paralyzed, he learned how to ski and surf, has become involved in various nonprofits and groups which help serve the adaptive community. He describes what it was like to stand up and walk for the first time in years using an Exoskeleton robot. That was when he got to hug his parents--as he calls it-- "heart to Heart" in a very long time....
And he talks about what motivates him, and keeps him inspired to keep going and reach for higher goals....
This is Xavier's story....
Jacob Leyba, a 23-year-old college graduate, describes the story of when he was a 16-year-old driving home from a football practice and got in a terrible car accident. He suffered multiple injuries, including the need to have his right arm amputated. We talk about Jacob's quick recovery, what went through his mind during the time, and what helped him get back on his feet so fast. What's astonishing to learn about Jacob is he said he never dwelled in the past and asked himself ---or anyone else for that matter--"why?" or “why me?” His goal was to always move forward and deal with his present situation. Speaking of overcoming adversity, Jacob says Everybody faces uphill climbs, and if you can climb that first hill, it's going to set the tempo for your next... This is Jacob's story....
Today's guest is Karen Williams, an ER nurse and former military intelligence analyst. I met Karen at her home where she recounts the story of how in June 2016, she survived a bear attack while running a marathon in northern New Mexico. Here, Karen walks us through what lead up to the attack, what she did to survive, her recovery, and what her efforts have been to educate the public on personal safety while in nature. She also talks about her goal to help change mandated automatic animal-kill laws and why. This is Karen's story....
Today's guest is Lorenzo Hernandez, a 37-year-old head coach at Undisputed Fitness gym in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Here Lorenzo chronicles how he started out as a high school drop-out, got into selling drugs, and how he got inspired to become a CrossFit coach while incarcerated serving a 60-month prison term.
He also talks about how that also inspired him to later become an adaptive coach (i.e., training and coaching people with spinal injuries and in wheelchairs), and also start a nonprofit to help those who need financial assistance to get physical training.
Lorenzo’s come a long way since he was in high school…
This is his story....