Drew Norton, known as The Everyday Sales Leader, is a dynamic self-development coach, sales consultant, and co-host of The Everyday Leader Podcast. Drew's deep commitment to helping others succeed is rooted in a highly personal belief: that life is too short to settle for anything less than your full potential. This became acutely clear after an accident with his baby, which fueled his passion to translate his decades of professional knowledge into powerful, actionable insights for his clients. 

He is co-founder of the Abundant Man project: https://www.abundantmanproject.com

He’s a dedicated husband to his wife of 13 years and a loving father to four children. Originally from southeastern Arizona, he cherishes the values of small-town life and the freedom he finds outdoors. A private pilot, Drew also enjoys the freedom of flight.

He asserts that:

"You cannot lead others until you lead yourself."

Check out his podcast: 

His Socials:

Website: https://theeverydaysalesleader.com/

LinkedIn: Drew Norton 

Insta: Drew Norton @theeverydaysalesleader 

YouTube: The Everyday Sales Leader 

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Lawrence C. Harris is a youth speaker who helps teens and young adults believe in themselves, think differently about their future, and make better choices.

Growing up, Lawrence faced serious challenges. Those experiences led him to start speaking so other young people would know they are not alone and that their past does not have to decide where their life goes.

He has spoken to thousands of students through school assemblies, workshops, books, podcasts, and online events. In his talks, Lawrence shares real stories from his life and simple ideas that students can use in their own lives.

Students connect with Lawrence because he is honest and easy to relate to. His goal is to help young people believe they are capable of more than they think and take responsibility for the direction their life is going.

Lawrence is an extraordinary young man. He suffered abuse at home and worked hard to help his younger siblings. Along the way, he worked on himself, learned to love himself, and ended up being a motivational speaker when he was still a teenager.

Lawrence explains the difference between PTSD and Complex PTSD and teaches us that if you start with the simple things (making your bed, brushing your teeth) and build slowly on those concrete things, real progress is possible.

Teens and others can learn so much from Lawrence's positive approach to healing yourself. 

• How to Build Self-Love in a World That Profits from Your Insecurities
• From Pain to Purpose: How to turn your struggles into success. 
• Keeping hope alive during hardships

Check out his website for more information:

https://www.lawrencecharris.com/

You can get his e-books there or on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Lawrence+C.+Harris&i=stripbooks&crid=14TQ77Q0DDH6N&sprefix=lawrence+c.+harris+%2Cstripbooks%2C122&ref=nb_sb_noss

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Melissa Pruitt is a Marketing & Sales Coach, Author, and Speaker who’s dedicated to helping online entrepreneurs take their knowledge and skills to market and sell their courses, memberships, and coaching programs. Her background in psychology and NLP as a clinical therapist and coach bridges human behavior with marketing strategy, and this is how she teaches her clients to create deeper connections with their audiences. Her Psychology background combined with her expertise as a two time published author and copywriter allows her to help her clients connect deeper with their audiences.

Melissa is also TEDx speaker, been featured on multiple publications and platforms, including Huffington Post, various podcasts, summits, and events and loves to share her message of creating a fulfilling business on in person stages, Zoom stages, and mastermind events. She is the co-owner of Adaptive Marketing Program which helps online entrepreneurs market and sell their offers and the co-host of the Online Marketing Podcast with her husband and business partner Paul.

I loved speaking with Melissa and learning about the importance of consistency in growing your business, building trust with your customers, and having fun!

You can reach Melissa at:

Instagram: @realmelissapruitt

website: https://adaptivemarketingprogram.com/

Get her book "Influenced: From Social to List to Launch" here: 

https://www.amazon.com/Influenced-Social-Launch-Melissa-Pruitt/dp/B0DH83QSY9#:~:text=Influenced%3A%20From%20Social%20to%20List%20to%20Launch%20is%20the%20ultimate,a%20successful%20business%20or%20project.

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

What an uplifting conversation with Karen Salmansohn! Her unique perspective on death and how facing it can motivate us to truly live is refreshing and much needed!

KAREN SALMANSOHN, bestselling author and behavioral change expert, whose books and courses have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. With 1.5 million social media followers, Karen has built a dedicated following by blending humor, research-backed insights, and practical strategies for creating a more meaningful life. In her upcoming book, YOUR TO-DIE-FOR LIFE: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret . . . Before Your Time Runs Out [BenBella Books | July 22, 2025], she challenges readers to rethink their relationship with mortality—not as something to fear, but as the ultimate motivator for living boldly and authentically.

Her book is available on Amazon.

You can reach Karen at:

NotSalmon.com

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Joan had a rough beginning when her father died young (Joan was only 2) leaving her mother destitute with two young children. She examined this early life in her late 20s during psychoanalysis and uncovered all kinds of connections and meaning about some of her issues and patterns. 

She contrasts these psychoanalytic sessions with later ones in her life in her new memoir -- "Untangling: A Memoir of Psychoanalysis"

Through her personal sharing, she illuminates how psychoanalysis can help us understand our own stories and feelings.

Available on Amazon: Untangling: A Memoir of Psychoanalysis

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Ken Miller is one of the good guys -- after he straightened out his own life, he knew he had to pass it on. He now mentors Black men and gives presentations all over the country. His journey included going to an Ivy League college, then to jail, being homeless for several years and then to overcoming addiction and growing his businesses and becoming successful (he is a millionaire today). 

Bio: Ken Miller is an author, speaker, and the founder of Denali FSP, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations achieve sustainable funding. His book, Becoming Ken: One Black Man’s Journey from Ivy League to Prison and Back Again, chronicles his powerful story of resilience, redemption, and authenticity. Through his keynotes and programs like “From Rock Bottom to Resilience,” Ken inspires audiences to embrace truth, face adversity, and make meaningful life choices.

His work has him doing a lot of speeches and podcasts for free. He has published one book and he has three more on the way! Ken is definitely inspired by the men he helps and the connection he feels to his Creator. He has mentored men all over the world. Some he has mentored for 10-15 years.

"I give you permission to dream" is what he tells them during his mentoring sessions. Even grown men have had their dreams crushed over their lifetime.

Talk about a rewarding life based on his own story!

His website is:  www.kenmillerspeaks.com

Ken is on LinkedIn: KenMiller84

AIVAlution LLC |  | Denali FSP

Purchase Ken’s Book: Becoming Ken

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

If you have seen recent movies or shows about being a showgirl, it could seem  pretty depressing. Diane Christiansen is here to tell you that it was exciting and uplifting and a way for a young woman in the 1970s who could dance and perform well to see the world! 

Showgirls were powerful women in charge of their own careers — and well-paid, valued players in the flashy world of sequins, feathers, step-kicks, and lavish productions. Most were classically trained dancers who traveled the globe and planned their post-showgirl futures well in advance. They were nothing like the forlorn characters in recent movies.  

Diane tells us what it was really like to be a showgirl and how she pivoted after "retiring" in her early thirties. 

She captured it all in a book "The Last Real Showgirl--My Sequined Life Onstage" available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Showgirl+Diane+Christiansen&i=stripbooks&crid=3S1YE2W0LIK1B&sprefix=showgirl+diane+christiansen%2Cstripbooks%2C189&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

 or at McFarland:

https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/The-Last-Real-Showgirl/

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Tiffany L. Smith, RN has spent nearly 15 years on the frontlines of American healthcare, working in ERs, ICUs, hospice, wound care, and more. A nurse, wife, and mother, she has witnessed both the triumphs and the failures of a system pushed beyond its limits.

Her debut book, Broken and Brave: The Fight to Heal American Healthcare, blends memoir and manifesto, capturing the raw intensity of a single 12-hour COVID shift while exposing the deeper flaws harming both patients and providers.

Tiffany is the founder of Broken and Brave Health, a movement to empower patients, support burned-out providers, and spark change in American healthcare.

You can get her book on Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Brave-Fight-American-Healthcare/dp/B0FDG35NPG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZKAURV9RKV6D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Eq6EYUV09qenX3xOlhb6J-oYwV85dTurdK8EwgQVyVhGLM-MZTVa1f5k5EIjq4v7UmGvfSkHDrdJCmJFv3DYPrvhWgz7OkMzcaU_bKovijgB_bHTDS6hcKAuNXKOwpP_zP4C8r2Ebdaf9I7HG4WtyGAjXBENLZ18T_UNerSh5niRhNTtZ57_zKVe488XARlKWeUzkl3KHzZeUOSAFA-EInm0qTWwrpJo7thYLmQLHQg.lJ4dfBAoVfQ9ofdwbGerZSHQz2mbwz7ceDVJthGUgeY&dib_tag=se&keywords=Broken+and+Brave&qid=1762816709&s=books&sprefix=broken+and+brave%2Cstripbooks%2C174&sr=1-1

It's a great read and a moving account both of what RNs go through (esp during Covid) and what the system needs to improve.

Tiffany's website is:

https://brokennbrave.com/

Her Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/brokennbravehealth

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

For years he struggled with his undiagnosed BiPolar disease. He had several careers and tried several healing modalities. 

Oddly, he found focusing on his work and working hard did help and when he went back to school as an adult, he ended up developing a note-taking method that he grew into a business.

When he finally found a good psychiatrist, and was put on the proper medications, he said it was like a miracle -- he could function normally and he has felt better ever since.

To keep his health balanced, he follows 14 Foundations, which he outlines in his book "Finding Peacce of Mind." 

Some of Jonathan’s 14 Foundations are:

1.      Get good regular sleep, go to bed at the same time, get up at the same time.

2.      Be part of a community.

3.      Being present and in the moment.

4.      Meditation

5.      Having structure to your day (having breakfast at the same time, dinner at the same time, etc.)

6.      Have a written plan for the day (write it the night before).

7.      Not letting your slip-ups define the whole rest of the day {“You can start your day again at any time.”)

Jonathan’s new book is called "Finding Peace of Mind" (and all of his profits will go to mental health nonprofits). About the book:

Finding Peace of Mind: An Inspirational Journey Through Bipolar, Depression, Addiction And... Dyslexia is a memoir by Jonathan Kemp that details his experiences living with bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, and dyslexia. The book chronicles his path from a difficult past to a place of healing and resilience, offering insights into managing mental health and neurodiversity. It serves as a resource for those seeking understanding and hope, providing practical strategies for emotional resilience and self-awareness. Jonathan Kemp was born a future Viscount, but wealth and privilege did not protect him from his own brain malfunctioning. 

He is also planning on doing a 7-month walk through the UK to support mental health efforts and raise awareness (he will give talks and interviews along the way and donate those proceeds to mental health nonprofits as well).

PLUS, if  you buy the book, you get a code for free access to his note-taking training called “Smart Wisdom.”!! It’s the complete high-quality online course you would get from him in person.

Find him on social media:

He is on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathankemplondon/

and Facebook: Jonathan Kemp (add  “London” to your search)

Website will be available soon – Jonathan Kemp.com

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Michael McAdams was born in the City of the Seven Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio. Michael was brought up in a Christian household and was fortunate to have many spiritual and faith-based family members surround him. His uncle, John W. Sullivan, was a fiery Pentecostal preacher who founded churches in Florida, Kentucky, and the largest one in Middletown, Ohio. Wilma Jean Jones, Michael’s mother, would often play piano for the church services. Michael’s grandmother, Mary Culbertson, was called to the ministry when she was thirty years old. She often spoke of how God would speak to her heart. 

On numerous occasions she received sermons and lyrics to songs dictated to her mind that she would preach and sing in her church services. Mary always acknowledged that these were given from God and felt privileged to receive them. As Michael grew older his foundation of faith served him well, and he continues to be a sincere seeker of truth. Michael remains open to this day to all avenues of information regarding spiritual and psychic material. At the age of twenty Michael enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Germany for two years. He was married at the time, and his wife and daughter were able to be with him in Germany. They had an apartment off-base, and his second daughter was born in Germany. Upon returning from the Army, Michael worked with GM in Cincinnati and also with Sheraton Hotels in Dayton as their sales manager booking commercial events.

Even as a young child, Michael remembers having questions regarding church teachings. He always felt there had to be more. With a strong foundation of faith, Michael explored many avenues of spiritual and psychic material. “When the student is ready, a teacher will appear” was most appropriate for Michael as he would meet people who would suggest a book or a speaker that would always take him to the next step on his path. Michael had always felt intuitive and soon discovered his ability to receive information and messages for others by holding objects such as jewelry, keys, or any item that carried a person’s vibration. This technique is known as psychometry. Michael was given a table as a reader at a Cincinnati spiritual event and performed readings at their monthly meetings. Michael believes his mission in this lifetime is to be a bridge between those with a biblical faith-based foundation and those of spiritual faith, offering enlightenment and truth in the sharing of the messages and teachings received by his mother Wilma Jean Jones.

Michael’s mother, Wilma Jean Jones attended a number of these spiritual events and having an open mind soon realized her own abilities to tune in to others and receive information from their spirit teachers/angels. Wilma Jean began to teach a series of classes for those interested in developing their own abilities. Wilma Jean Jones spoke publicly to women’s groups, was written about in a number of newspaper articles, and was interviewed on television in Cincinnati regarding her abilities in this work. This eventually led to Wilma Jean sitting down in dedicated sessions to receive the dictated messages and teachings from spirit teachers/angels that now comprise three volumes of the book An Angel Told Me So.

View Michael's Own Writings: Spiritual Parchment Prints

See more about Michael on https://spiritspeaks.com/about-michael/

For more about Lily Dale, see HBO's "No one dies in Lily Dale":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJx8sR-Wb5k

Music Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for The Storied Human podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (with Dillon Spear Brendan Talian) Thanks Guys!

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Michelle and DeAnne's collaboration as psychologist and teacher, daughter and mother, brings true synergy to their writing. They draw from their personal and professional life experiences which are the inspiration and foundation for their work. They are fervent in their mission of helping people know they are not alone, arming them with knowledge and resources, and supporting entire families in opening the door to conversations about mental illness and trauma.

Michelle's extensive background in teaching and providing mental health services over the years makes her uniquely qualified to share strategies that work for families. 

For more info about her, her mom and their latest book (I'm Not Alone:

A Teen’s Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has a Mental Illness or History of Trauma), see:

https://www.seedsofhopebooks.com/about

Music Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for The Storied Human podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (with Dillon Spear Brendan Talian) Thanks Guys!

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Life and Career Coach Elvira P. Romero helps others find a career and /or life that fits them better. She should know -- an interesting question from her boyfriend started her own journey for a new life. She pivoted through a few careers before landing on the perfect one for her -- career and life coach. 

She now shares what she learned with her clients and talks about how all of us can create a short- and long-term plan,  be accountable to others, and achieve success.

How to Get in Touch with Elvira:

Elvira P. Romero, Life & Career Coach

Email: elvira@elvirapromero.com
Website: www.elvirapromero.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elvira.Emailp.romero/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mente.inquieta.716

Music Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for The Storied Human podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (with Dillon Spear Brendan Talian) Thanks Guys!

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Author and Speaker Andy Campbell has been through a lot in his life. Any one of the things he has endured would be almost too much, but somehow he has fought through and even written a book (“Overcoming Life’s Toughest Setbacks”)  designed to help others.

Bio:

Andy Campbell is a resilient survivor and inspirational author who has overcome numerous life-altering challenges - a victim of childhood sexual abuse and bullying, the loss of his mother at an early age and the eventual estrangement from his father, his battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and the loss of his youngest son to suicide. Despite enduring multiple surgeries, grueling chemotherapy treatments, and the tragic loss of his youngest child, Andy has demonstrated remarkable strength and perseverance. Through his experiences, he has developed a unique perspective on resilience and the power of his 15 core beliefs.

Andy lives with his wife and remains actively engaged in the lives of his three remaining adult children as he continues to support his family while managing his own health challenges. His book “Overcoming Life’s Toughest Setbacks” shares the principles that have helped him navigate life’s darkest moments, offering hope and guidance to others facing adversity.

Core Beliefs:

• No One Outruns the Universe: Embrace humility and acceptance, knowing you are part of a larger plan.
• There Are No Hard Decisions, Only Hard Consequences: Follow your heart and face the consequences with courage.
• Always Fall Forward: Keep moving toward your goals, even when you fall.
• Have an Insatiable Curiosity: Let your desire to find wisdom guide you through life.
• Compete Only With Yourself: Measure success by your own progress, not by comparing yourself to others.
• Thinking vs. Knowing: Distinguish between assumptions and knowledge.
• Every Challenge Has a Chewy Nougat Center Made of Opportunity: Persevere to find the hidden lessons in every struggle.
• Never Be Waiting: Always find work to do and remain proactive.
• Never “Try,” Always Work: Commit to action and avoid complacency.
• The .38 Special Rule—Hold on Loosely, but Don’t Let Go: Balance control and freedom to foster innovation and growth.
• Be Religious Only About Religion: Apply flexibility and open-mindedness to all but your core faith.
• Equations Are Constant, Variables Are Constantly Changing: Adapt your strategies to meet evolving circumstances.
• History Doesn’t Repeat Itself. Humans Repeat History: Learn from the past to avoid repeating mistakes.
• The Necessity of Perseverance: Embrace resilience as the foundation of all other beliefs.
• Finishing: Commit to completing what you start as the ultimate testament to perseverance.

Author Andy Campbell has faced and overcome some of life's toughest setbacks, including childhood sexual abuse, stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and the suicide of a child. Through these experiences, he has developed a deep understanding of resilience and knows firsthand what it takes to overcome monumental challenges. Access actionable insights from the 15 Core Beliefs crafted to empower you to navigate through life's labyrinth. Your journey from experiencing life’s storms to dancing in its rain unfolds in the book's insightful examples.

Book:

Imagine a life where you can OVERCOME any setback, WITHSTAND any loss, TRIUMPH over any trauma, EMBRACE any challenge, and THRIVE - Your path to resilience starts here.

• Are you exhausted from the struggle?
• Are you too empty to give anymore?
• Are you too hurt to find joy?
• Do you feel unfulfilled, constantly seeking a sense of purpose that seems just out of reach?

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Major (Ret.) Roy E. Emerson, originally from Vacaville, California, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1988 as an Infantryman, beginning his career with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He participated in Operation Just Cause, conducting a combat parachute assault in Panama. Over his career, he served in multiple leadership roles, including with the 18th Airborne Corps Long Range Surveillance Company at Fort Bragg, two tours with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, and as an instructor at the U.S. Army Ranger School.

After commissioning as an officer in 2005, he served as a platoon leader and executive officer with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, deploying for 15 months to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He later commanded a headquarters company with there 5th US Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, leading security operations in Iraq during Operation New Dawn. Emerson also served with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, leading global recovery missions to repatriate fallen U.S. servicemen and the US Army Recruiting Battalion , New York City. He concluded his 31-year career as an ROTC instructor at Princeton University.

In early 2024, Emerson was inspired by Army friends who rowed across the Atlantic in World's Toughest Row’s Atlantic Challenge 2023. Their mission aligned with his own passion for supporting veterans, leading him to establish RangeOars Row Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to using ocean rowing as a platform to raise awareness for veteran mental health and suicide prevention. Through endurance challenges and community engagement, the organization aims to inspire resilience, foster camaraderie, and support initiatives that address the struggles many veterans face after service.

The team has been training monthly in Fernandina Beach, Florida to accumulate hours on their vessel AKESO and will formally launch from Monterey Bay, California on June 7th this year and row unsupported for four to six weeks to finish at Hanaleai Bay, Kauai, Hawaii. There are five other teams entered into this year's Pacific Challenge. 

Monies raised by Team RangeOars Row will go to several charities close to the team’s hearts; Brother Keeper Veteran Foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation, Three Rangers Foundation and Hardrock Charlie Foundation. 

Roy is married to the former Mia Martin of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and they live in Annandale, NJ. Mia is a Chef and together they operate a successful catering company in Frenchtown NJ. Their daughter Rachel is married to Stephen Lee who now lives in Huntsville, AL. Their son, Dagon is a firefighter and EMT with Quakertown Fire Company in Franklin Township. They have one Grandson, Roxas, and one Granddaughter, Clementine.

To learn more about Roy's nonprofit organization RangePars Row and their plans for this year, go to:

https://www.rangeoarsrow.org/

You can also learn more about their partners and purchase merchandise, and make a donation!

Please support this worthy cause.

Music Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for The Storied Human podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (with Dillon Spear Brendan Talian) Thanks Guys!

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Award Winning Memoir Author Sandra SchnakenburgI grew up in Barrington, Illinois.  After earning a B.S. in Finance at Arizona State University and an MBA from the University of Southern California, she settled with her husband, Karl,  in Singapore, then Australia — where their twins, Kyle and Alexis, were born.  After moving back to the United States, the family lived in The Woodlands, Texas, where Karl and she raised their family. During that time, Sandra worked on and off in corporate finance until she took up the love of writing. A philosophy of curiosity and a promise led her to write her first Memoir, The Housekeeper’s Secret - a personal story to fulfill her family’s housekeeper’s dying wish. In the process, she  grew fascinated by the mechanics of storytelling and the power it holds, connecting family through the generations. 

After interviewing Sandra, I read her book and found the true story of her family and her housekeeper's life absorbing and so moving! What a great book.

You can reach Sandra on her website:

https://www.sandraschnakenburg.com/

She offers support for writers on her website too.

Find her book, "The Housekeeper's Secret -- A Memoir" on Amazon or whereever you get your books:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1647427606/?bestFormat=true&k=the%20housekeeper%27s%20secret%20a%20memoir%20by%20sandra%20schnakenburg&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k2_1_24&crid=2X43M3QO2L4ED&sprefix=The%20Housekeeper%27s%20Secret

Music Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for The Storied Human podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (with Dillon Spear Brendan Talian) Thanks Guys!

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Jean Tren-Hwa Perkins was born unwanted during the 1931 Yangtze River Flood, adopted by medical missionaries, brought to the US for a few years, then trapped in Communist China. She was neither American nor Chinese "enough," yearning for acceptance and home her whole life. Her memoir, finished by her son, is an eyewitness account of Chinese history and her own harrowing story. 

Richard Hsung's life has spanned two continents and cultures. His mother survived turbulent times in China, living through the start of Communism, and being separated from her American adoptive parents. 

She asked Richard if he would tell her story, and she passed her notes and writings on to him. It took much longer than he thought it would and it changed him.

 Richard Perkins Hsung promised his mother he would complete her memoir. It took him more than ten years. He meticulously compiled and edited her writings, adding family photographs and historical details to create the 3-volume Spring Flower, spanning the 83 years of her life (1931–2014):

Spring Flower Book 1: A Tale of Two Rivers

Spring Flower Book 2: Facing the Red Storm 

Spring Flower Book 3: Torn Between Shifting Worlds

The books have 5-star reviews on Amazon, and are the result of years of work by Chemistry Professor-turned-author Richard Hsung.

At this time in history, his mother's story reminds us of the human costs of the decisions made by the world's government powers, and the painful decisions some people are forced to make.

Find out more about Richard and the books on:

https://richardperkinshsung.com/

Reach him on social media: @RichardPHsung

Music Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for The Storied Human podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (with Dillon Spear Brendan Talian) Thanks Guys!

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Kristine Homann has been through a lot. Stuck in a toxic marriage, she tried hard to find a way out. Eventually, she was able to free herself and her girls from the situation. But the scars it left were hard to heal. She found ways to help herself and her children, and now she shares what she learned as a health and wellness coach. 

Kristine Homann is an RN and Mindset coach who specializes in helping men and women recover from life’s toughest moments so they can break free from survival mode and thrive in a life they truly love. With a passion for helping others rediscover their strength, Kristine shares strategies rooted in personal experience and certifications to empower people to believe in themselves and their abilities.

Check out her free Guide Mindset Mastery HERE or at youquest.live

You can reach Kristine via email: kristinemarie@roseglasses.net

Or you can download a free guide when you check out her website: https://youquest.live/

She recently published an article in Tiny Buddha called: "4 Lessons I Learned from Leaving a Toxic Relationship"

https://tinybuddha.com/blog/4-lessons-i-learned-from-leaving-a-toxic-relationship/

Music Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for The Storied Human podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (with Dillon Spear Brendan Talian) Thanks Guys!

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Risa August is not your average human.  When faced with a devastating pituitary disease diagnosis, she pushed through to find herself again. One of the things she did was participate in a bike ride from Canada to Mexico!

She published her multi-award-winning memoir "The Road Unpaved - Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike" about this major life-altering diagnosis and personal life upheaval. She found that she experienced a change in her own perspective, and faced her own limiting beliefs. After being told she "shouldn't", she decided to ride her bike the 1,845 miles from Canada to Mexico.

Her ultimate goal was to save lives, and also to inspire and empower others.
By day,Risa is a Speaker, Gestalt Practitioner and patient advocate for rare Pituitary tumors. She offers inspirational coaching to those feeling stuck within their own limiting beliefs. In her personal time, you will find her living a robust life!

Risa has been interviewed on over 55 podcasts since my her book release in October, many more will air over the next several months. Here is a link where you can listen/view those podcasts: https://www.risaaugust.com/podcast-interviews.html

Learn more about Risa here: https://www.risaaugust.com/livin-unleashed.html and on her author page here: https://www.risaaugust.com/author-page.html

Music Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for the podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (and including Dillion Spear and Brendan Talian). Thanks Guys!

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Recruited right out of college to work at one of the largest data firms, Sean McMann embarked on an eight-year journey from new grad to consulting director. Privileged to see behind the curtain of some of the largest corporations today, he recognized the system was broken and quit at the height of his career, when working the least but making the most money he ever had, betting everything, including his money, reputation, and time, on trying to fix the problem of the corporate jungle. He shares his insights in his new book, Hacking the Corporate Jungle: How to Work Less, Make More and Actually Like Your Life. When he's not writing, researching, and speaking, McMann spends his time riding his bike, visiting art museums, snowboarding, and playing with his two young sons. 

Learn more at seanmcmann.com.

Music Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for the podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (and including Dillion Spear and Brendan Talian). 

Have a story? DM me on instagram: lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.c0om

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

With a Master's degree in international affairs with a focus on international politics, Matt Kazdan could have headed to a think tank or Washington DC. But he chose instead to use his skills in policy-making and his understanding of international politics to work at ta0ngelic, a nonprofit that helps underserved populations with access to sustainable sources of energy. The effects of this work are far-reaching -- it changes people's lives by extending their hours of light and allowing them to pursue more opportunities.

Matthew Kazden is a dedicated advocate for social impact and sustainable development, serving as Tangelic’s International Development Specialist. With a  background in international affairs, Matthew has extensive experience across both government and private sectors. Matthew has also worked extensively on projects focused on sustainability, global health, and natural resource management, particularly in Latin America and Africa, including direct engagement with indigenous communities.  

Matthew holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs with a specialization in International Politics from the University of California, San Diego, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations & Communications from the University of California, Davis. 

For more information, see tangelic's website to learn more and/or a donation:

https://tangeliclife.org/

 See How We're Changing Lives: Watch Our Impact Story

c Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for The Storied Human podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (and including Dillion Spear and Brendan Talian). Thanks Guys!

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Recruited right out of college to work at one of the largest data firms, Sean McMann embarked on an eight-year journey from new grad to consulting director. Privileged to see behind the curtain of some of the largest corporations today, he recognized the system was broken and quit at the height of his career, when working the least but making the most money he ever had, betting everything, including his money, reputation, and time, on trying to fix the problem of the corporate jungle. He shares his insights in his new book, Hacking the Corporate Jungle: How to Work Less, Make More and Actually Like Your Life. When he's not writing, researching, and speaking, McMann spends his time riding his bike, visiting art museums, snowboarding, and playing with his two young sons. 

Learn more at seanmcmann.com.

Music Note: NEW for 2025! Original music created for the podcast by the band "Rough Year," featuring Julian Calv on trimba (and including Dillion Spear and Brendan Talian). 

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram: lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Larry Jordan spent 25 years in investment banking, assisting companies, governments, and non-profit agencies in issuing over $10 billion of municipal bonds for capital projects and cash flows.

In 2011, he quit his job and sold his house to spend his life in service. He drove veterans to the VA clinic, prepared 1,000 tax returns for low-income families, taught school in Africa, and volunteered for the American Red Cross.

Over the last 20 years, he traveled around the world, read over 1,000 books about spirituality, and had some powerful experiences in several spiritual traditions, including baking in a sweat lodge, chanting to Shiva, meditating in a zendo, and whirling with the dervishes.

His first book, The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World was a Silver winner in the 2024 Nautilus Book Awards.

I loved speaking with Larry and learning about his transformation.

Larry enjoys getting mail:  at larryjordanauthor@gmail.com
His website is: https://larryjordanauthor.com/

More links:
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Meaningful-Spirituality-Modern-World/dp/B0CK3XGBDD
https://larryjordanauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/larryjordanauth/
https://x.com/larryjordanauth
https://www.instagram.com/larryjordanauth/
https://www.threads.net/@larryjordanauth
https://bsky.app/@larryjordanauth.bsky.social
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/youmightberight/

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
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Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

When Lauren first starts talking about her Ten Words, they sound simple enough: Attention, Acceptance, Benevolence, Creativity, e.g. -- but as you ponder them, they start to lead you down a path of self-enlightenment, They work together, and they reflect on each other.

From the book's jacket:
"What if just ten words could change your life - and the world - for the better?

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the world today. We are surrounded by war, oppression, depression, and fear. We need help. How can we heal ourselves and the world around us? What do we need to become better people in a better world today?

In Ten Words, Interfaith/Interspiritual leader Lauryn Axelrod offers a practical path forward. Based on a contemporary, but timeless set of ten simple words distilled from the common principles of the world’s great faith and wisdom traditions supported by modern science and psychology, Ten Words provides an integrated, interspiritual guide we can use every day to become happier, healthier, more fulfilled people in a kinder world that supports all."

Distilling Decades of Learning and Living....
Lauryn has done the work for us, over a lot of years-- she has studied and lived in several different spiritual traditions. She arrived at the Ten Words almost magically -- they came to her easily. She describes them as a gift. It's a gift for us -- a distillation of the world's greatest traditions boiled down into an interfaith/interspiritual guidebook if you will. Ten Words-- that can change your life, and maybe the world.

You can find Lauryn on Instagram and Facebook, and her website:
laurynaxelrod.com

Her book--

Ten Words: An Interspiritual Guide to Becoming Better People in a Better World, can be purchased at small bookstores or at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Ten-Words-Interspiritual-Becoming-Better/dp/B0DD5S5P9V/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N41ETOC7JGKP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UBnfVKuK1MRvRSc-RNmV9MpRMiwuG52kufi0ssBtr7A.7b5v5RZr6SJ-QnMvvl7Z-DdHKvo1Iy60pdlbzFVqfVk&dib_tag=se&keywords=ten+words+lauryn+axelrod&qid=1730071535&sprefix=ten+words+by+Lauryn%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-1

Thank you Lauryn for a fascinating conversation and for sharing your story with me! Check out our video version of this conversation on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/YS3HP9uD47o

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Jay Waddell is a retired executive, college professor, and life coach. who has fought several health battles in his life, the last one was heart failure and he had to get a heart transplant! He explains his approach and how he wasn't so willing to go through the ordeal at first. Eventually, he did decide to go through with it and now has a new heart. He is writing a book about what he learned and is determined to help others and give them hope when facing big health issues.

Before his heart troubles, Jay had already suffered severe hearing loss and a major stroke. The journey back was grueling, but he prevailed.

Jay was raised on a big dairy farm in Wisconsin and would never suggest that he is brave, but he is.  He teaches us about persistence and getting on with things. And he gives us all hope.

The books that he mentioned as being helpful were "Bittersweet" by Susan Cain,  "A Stroke of Luck," by Kirk Douglass, and "Stroke Rebel," by Linda Radestad.

You can reach Jay at: jaywaddell2221@gmail.com

His tips for assessing a stroke victim are-- FAST:
F- Face: Can the person smile? Stroke victims usually cannot.
A- Arms -- Ask them if they can life one or both arms. They usually cannot.
S- Speech -- Ask them questions -- their speech will be slurred and slow if they have had a stroke
T- Time -- You have 2 hours to get them to the hospital to get meds to reverse the stroke.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

ANIKA PAVEL was born Jarmila Kocvarova in Czechoslovakia. What was intended as a one-year stay in England turned her into a refugee when the Soviet Union invaded her homeland, writing a bloody end to the Prague Spring. She received a crash course in life that took her from sleeping in a telephone booth at the Victoria railway station in London to waitressing, to the lights of the fashion runway, and on to magazine covers, even a James Bond appearance, under the more pronounceable moniker, Anika Pavel. When the lights had dimmed, she returned to her first love, writing. Her work has been published in print, online and nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

Read about Anika's latest book Encounter with the Future, which has been selected as a 2024 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite, on her website: https://www.anikapavel.com/
You can also order the book there or on Amazon.
Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anika.pavel/
Her Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1259226864

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
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Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Jan Allen Ackley, author of "Searching for Change," shares his journey from growing up in impoverished rural Ohio to becoming a successful corporate finance executive. He highlights the impact of mentors who guided him and the transformative experience of joining the Air Force. Ackley emphasizes the importance of leadership, advocacy, and personal growth. He discusses his 35-year career in finance, his memoir's 11-year writing process, and the value of mentorship. Ackley encourages others to seek discomfort and new experiences for personal development. His book is available on Amazon, and he invites readers to contact him for advice.

Loved talking to Jan! He reminds us that the right mentors can make all the difference, and we do not have to stay with generational patterns. 

Jan advised us "Don't just be comfortable. Put yourself in a place that makes you uncomfortable, where you have to stretch and grow."

Jan first started his book Searching for Change: A Memoir of Growing Up in Appalachia," as a guidebook for his grandkids, with all the things he had learned in his life recorded for them. He soon realized that his grown children and others could learn from his life lessons and ended up publishing his memoir. It is currently available on Amazon.

You can also reach out to him directly at: Jan.Ackley@gmail.com

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Anabel's journey is a fascinating one. She left a successful career in corporate communications to pursue a career in energy healing using tools like Reiki, astrology, and sound. On the way, she reconnected with her ancestry and lineage and even named her company Nuna, which means 'soul' in the Quechua language.

In her own words:
"When I reflected on my experiences, I realized that unresolved emotional scars kept me from being in touch with my authentic self, my soul, or “Nuna” in the indigenous Quechua language.

I established Nuna Therapy with a profound intention: to help others in rediscovering their unique authenticity and restoring harmony within themselves. My mission is to guide individuals along their paths toward self-awareness and genuine alignment."

Learn More:
You can learn more about Anabel on www.nunatherapy.com.
She is on social media under the same name.
Check out her podcast too -- https://www.nunatherapy.com/podcast

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
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Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Whitney and I met in person at a networking group event and I just liked her and her spirit right away. She has a fascinating story about making a major career change after 12 years as a very successful TV producer in New York City. She realized she was burnt out and wanted something that fed her soul and helped others. She found life coaching, and specifically money life coaching and focuses mostly on women who need to learn how to change their mindset about wealth in order to go for their dreams. She teaches us that we are enough. I attended her free webinar and loved the messaging and the women who attended. We are enough and there is enough. Whitney is spreading the word and helping us in the process!

To learn about Whitney, check out her website:
https://whitneyanneellis.com

and find her on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/@whitneyannellis

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
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The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

One of my favorite exercises in the Cathy Heller Zoom meetings leading up to her Podcasting class that I took was she asked us all a question: "Who were you when you were 8 years old?"  There were many cool answers in the meeting chat that day! Cathy encouraged us to find a photo of ourselves when we were 8 and put it on our desk where we would see it each day.  She asked us "What would 8 year old you want to tell you?" It was a great reminder that we need to get back to who we really are and back to doing what brings us joy. At 8 years old, you tend to do that naturally.

I think we all could benefit from this exercise. Remember who you really are and get back to her!

I plan to do more of these quick Solo episodes throughout the summer. I chose new music for these Solos -- it's free from Pixabay (they have so much good music).
Music by pixabay.com: --u_968xy4i23x-28521092

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The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

She is an attorney. She worked in NYC booking comedians. She tried a bunch of things and ended up discovering that she is actually a medium. And she is a flight attendant, hence "The Flying Medium."

Recently, she has discovered that she can channel the archangel Raphael. 

She especially enjoys doing group sessions and because of her flight attendant work can fly anywhere to do a session.

You can reach Kristen at: TheFlyingMedium.com
On Instagram: @theflying medium
Email: TheFlyingMedium@gmail.com

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Therese is a Healthy Home Advocate with Cancer Prevention in Mind; owner
of The Green Living Gurus, LLC and Tee’s Organics. Podcast Host of Green
Living with Tee.
She helps people make the switch from harmful chemicals to healthier alternatives.
She shares that "One of the most significant benefits of adopting a low-tox lifestyle is the positive impact on your health. Chemicals are in the food we eat, the water
we drink,  and in many conventional products, from cleaning supplies to
personal care items. These chemicals can contribute to cancer, allergies, skin
irritations, respiratory issues, headaches and more."

Starting with just a few substitutions, we can start to improve the health of our home environments and our bodies. I learned so much from Tee, and I hope you will too!

She offers her own line of healthier cleaning products:
Tee’s Organics - https://thegreenlivinggurus.com/shop-tees-organics/

and has an e-book available:
Top Toxins to Avoid - https://thegreenlivinggurus.com/next/toxins-to-avoid-e-
book/

Her website is:
https://thegreenlivinggurus.com/

For The Storied Human Listeners:
Use ‘Healthyhome’ for 15% off Tee’s Organics
https://thegreenlivinggurus.com/shop-tees-organics/
15% off all Austin Air Purifiers. Email us at tee@thegreenlivinggurus.com to
process the order.

Products Tee  recommends: https://thegreenlivinggurus.com/amazon/

I mentioned my niece Regina's  company -- Tiny Kitchen Candles -- they are made with non harmful wax, wood wicks, and scented with essential oils! We love them -- check them out: 

https://www.tinykitchencandleco.com/

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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

This is a short one, about a subject I have been involved in here locally in my state. I noticed when I was at recent Board of Ed meeting that both sides of the book banning argument were hostile, overly emotional, polarizing. 

I want peaceful conflict transformation. Somehow. I forgot to mention in the episode that our school librarian has received death threats from book banners because she supports the free access to these books.

Some info on current book bans:
https://pen.org/issue/book-bans/

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Greg Lawrence had experimented with psychedelics such as psilocybin before and had some great insights. But afterwards, he found that his behaviors did not change and the effects did not "stick." It wasn't until he learned about psychedelic integration that he found meaningful change and healing. Soon, he was participating in psychedelic integration circles, learning to coach, teaching others and also learning and becoming certified in NLP.

Now he works as a psychedelic integration coach about half the time, and a life coach the other. He finds his work very rewarding and believes with the right processing of their psychedelic experiences, many people could benefit long-term.


Check out his website:
https://psychedelicintegrationspecialist.com/

You can download his free guide "Hacking Mindfulness":
https://psychedelicintegrationspecialist.com/click-here-to-receive-my-free-guide/

He is also on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregstep1/

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The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Renzo's family was threatened when they lived in Peru by members of The Shining Path. Their lives were threatened repeatedly and even one of their nannies was found out to be a member of the terrorist organization. They had to leave everything they knew behind and start all over in America. They went from upper middle class in Peru to starting from scratch in the U.S. But they did it, and they thrived.

Renzo credits his family with surrounding him with art and literature. He fell in love with poetry and decided at the end of his college years, as a senior, to switch from a technical major to a major in English literature -- specifically poetry. A shock to his family, to be sure.

He was accepted in a poetry program at Cambridge,  but he didn't have assurance he wouldn't be deported if he went. It was after 9-11 and things were more strict. So he studied in the U.S.

Returning to Miami to help his family, he ended up in healthcare and climbed the corporate ladder. But he never gave up his poetry and now he has a book of poems available on Amazon called "Still." It has recently become a bestseller in a number of categories.

From the description on Amazon:
Still is a collection of poems that focuses on the immigrant experience: a family's journey from Lima, Peru to Miami, Florida as political refugees and asylum seekers and the impact that had on the life of a boy as he grew into a man. Renzo Del Castillo's poems often reveal larger moral concerns, touching in their language the world of politics and betrayal that cannot help but impose upon the world of private language. That heritage of terror and exile that sometimes underlies these poems gives them a sense of history within the lyric confusions of a single life, capturing the idiosyncrasies of the Miami landscape as a destination for Latin American and Caribbean migrations that intersect with an evolving definition of American identity. These poems include reflections of memory and transition, as well as adaptation to new cultures and geographies, through an ethnographic lens. There is a lovely and intimate tone, used to remind the reader that imagination triumphs over, or sometimes through, adversity.

The mix of poet and corporate leader, immigrant who was granted political asylum, and  citizen of the world is irresistible. Renzo teaches us how to connect with each other and leave things better than we found them.

Find his book here:
Amazon: https://a.co/d/fgAHznm

His Website and  Socials:
www.renzodelcastillo.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elrenz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renzodelcastillo

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Susan Glenney is a gentle soul whose story includes some horrific childhood trauma. She has made her way through that and teaches us a little about her methods in this interview.  She started in the Hospitality field and was doing that work for years but the "writing bug" bit her and wouldn't let go....she became an author and wrote a  novella ("Moments in time with 16 Men"). Her latest novel is "The Bowtie." Susan uses her books as a platform to encourage other women to heal. The stories she tells are lively and enjoyable, but also teach us how to overcome and be more at peace in our lives.

Amazon link for "Moments in Time with 16 Men":

https://www.amazon.com/Moments-Time-Men-Susan-Glenney/dp/1076664539/

Susan's  website:

https://www.SusanGlenney.com 

Free chapter from "Moments in Time with 16 Men" for readers:

https://www.susanglenney.com/free-chapter

Her Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/authorsusanglenney/

Her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/authorsusanglenney/

The  book trailer for "Moments in Time with 16 Men":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HAG7KM6m54&t=3s

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Deece always loved comedy, in fact he would fake being asleep in the floor while his parents fell asleep on the couch so that he could stay up and watch comedy on TV.  Growing up in a California neighborhood better known for its gangs than anything else made life harder for him and he got swept up in the gang life for a while. Eventually, he turned himself into a successful business consultant and even had two homes -- one in Mexico and one in California. But the comedy dream had never left him and he decided to ditch his comfy life and pursue a career in comedy.

It wasn't easy -- but as Deece speaks about -- change rarely is easy but it's worth it! Fifteen years later, he is a successful comedian and writer, and he just finished his first comendy special.

Dreams do come true, but as Deece reminds us, there is a lot of work involved!

To learn more about Deece and his latest projects, (including his podcast and his new special) go to:  www.DeeceComedy.com
Here is a link directly to his special on Youtube: https://youtu.be/fr740QLKF_I

You can also follow him and learn about the latest news on his Intragram: https://www.instagram.com/deece.comedy/

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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Originally from the Deep South Louisiana, Trent considers himself a little rough-around-the-edges Southern gentleman!  He’s a world traveler and small business international entrepreneur who introduced, owns and operates a kettle corn manufacturing business in New Zealand over thirteen years.  

Hei is also a 3x cancer survivor!  He is is over two years cancer-free now, having beat incredible odds.

He considers his purpose to share his journey giving others inspiration and hope.

 He has co-authored a best-seller that has been recently released on Amazon called "Breaking the Silence: Voices of Survivors." 

https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Silence-Survivors-Michelle-Jewsbury/dp/B0CS9HR5SS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10RTFEIX96H4Q&keywords=breaking+the+silence+voices+of+survivors&qid=1705815185&sprefix=voices+of+sur%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1

trentbrock@yahoo.com

https://www.facebook.com/trent.brock.73

https://www.instagram.com/trentbbrock

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

As a man who switched up his whole life and career, James Guzzetta has an interesting story to share.  He had whole careers in IT and later running medical device companies (CEO of 2 of them), but a sudden loss of his business partner and friend caused him to let go of his old life and embrace a new way of working with and coaching others and ultimately, he realized, helping them to heal.

Talking to him about his journey was really interesting and enlightening. His shamanic experience with his power animal (the hummingbird of all things) led to powerful validation in his backyard!

I didn't realize we had these shaman experiences in common and ended up sharing one of mine. It can really be a powerful tool for spiritual and self-discovery. And the methods are ancient!

James also weighed in on his study of how the spiritual and the scientific worlds relate to one another, and I asked if he knew Greg Braden who speaks about the same thing.. (who I really enjoy reading) and James answered "I breathe Greg Braden."

He also shared his technique of "deep listening" and how it helps people to feel truly heard.

I am so humbled by who ends up finding me and this podcast. Loved talking to James. Hope you enjoy listening.

You can email James at:
James@JourneyIn2.com
-- you can ask about the upcoming Summit in July that he is part of -- and ask to get notified about it.

You can leave your info on the contact form on the website too:

His website is: 
https://journeyin2.systeme.io/c4429e48

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Talking with Spoken Word Artist Traci Neal is like breathing in a breath of fresh air.  She is warm and full of energy. I listened to her spoken word poetry and it was the same, it pulses with a lifeforce that I believe is, as she claims, spiritually channeled.

The way Traci puts it is: "As a poet, I cannot come up with this poetry on my own. It is my relationship with God that delivers amazing poetry. I am a walking miracle."

How Traci chooses to use her gift is what sets her apart -- she seeks out nonprofits (especially ones serving young people) and offers her help to them, often using her poetry as a bridge for young people to realize that they too have gifts they can share. What an inspiration this young woman is!

You can reach Traci (and hear her work) at:
Traci Neal

Professional Christian Poet 

& Certified Youth Speaker

Email: info@tracinealspeakerpoet.com

Website: www.tracinealspeakerpoet.com

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

I can tell that Brittany is a great therapist, because she puts you at ease and is so easy to talk to! I learned a lot and enjoyed our interview.

Brittany learned at an early age the positive benefits of setting intention and setting goals. As a young adult Brittany used those skills to go back to college and get her bachelors in Psychology and her Masters in Mental Health Counseling. As a Licensed Therapist Brittany has worked with several populations including domestic violence survivors, children, families, and individuals. Through the years Brittany has learned and taken specialized training in trauma focused modalities including Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral (TF-CBT) and Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS). Brittany is an Approved Consultant in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and she uses it to help her clients process anxiety and past trauma. Through her work with clients Brittany realized that many of her clients are blocking themselves, that lead to Brittany writing her Amazon Best Seller Get Out of Your Own Way, 21 Days to Stop Self Sabotage. Today Brittany uses her knowledge to work with both counseling clients and consulting clients set goals and identify and clear blocks. Brittany also facilitates trainings, workshops and seminars on Trauma, Mental Health, Anxiety, Sabotage, and Goal Setting/Purpose setting

You can reach Brittany at:
info@brittanyajohnson.com

and check out her website (and that great Self-Sabotage Quiz) at:
https://brittanyajohnson.com/

More on her podcast and course offerings (you can get on her email list here):
https://www.lifesavher.net/

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Deana Kiser was 29 years old, living in Boston, enjoying a successful HR career, seeing friends, working out, enjoying a busy social life and her new boyfriend when a sudden and seemingly minor incident on an exercise machine turned into a battle with chronic pain that has lasted for decades.

She tried surgery, numerous doctors, drugs, and ended up on her parents' couch, depressed and dependant on opiates. How she made her way back to a new life living with the pain is her inspiring story.

Coming out of the "dark tunnel" as Deana describes it, took a lot of work and she now enjoys her life in spite of the pain she calls her "unwanted companion,"

Learning to persist despite obstacles is never easy, but as Deana's example shows, it is worth it. 

You can write to Deana at:

kdeanak@gmail.com

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Sarah T. Moore -- Women's Leadership Coach

Speaking with Sarah was like falling off a log. She puts you at ease right away and has so much wisdom to share. I can see that she must be a great coach!

My favorite part of a story is when someone learns something and then decides to pass it on to others. This always warms my heart. Sarah has made it her mission to help women rediscover their true selves and live in authenticity, fully expressing their gifts.

Sarah has spent 11+ years coaching women at every level of an organization from Senior Executives to Emerging Leaders, from start-ups to global brands. Her varied background in industries such as retail, journalism, and oil and gas, and extensive years living abroad, all have one thing in common; most every decision was born out of passion and purpose.

She says: "With that in mind, the bottom line is, I'm coaching women to know what they want, to have the courage to say it, and pursue it. I want women to feel even more confident, to speak up in meetings and board rooms with ease, to communicate effectively in all of their relationships, to feel comfortable in their own skin, and to be seen as one heck of a leader."

Phone: 484.685.6360

Full of Herself Honor Line: 614.887.7676To 

Sarah's website:
https://www.mooresoulsessions.com

To get Sarah's book "Full of Herself:"
https://www.mooresoulsessions.com/getmybook

Her Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/moore.soul.sessions

Her Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/sarah.tonnermoore

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Talking with Amanda Preacher was a fascinating time! It all started for her with a crystal.  She took it home and one day saw geometric patterns in it.

From there, she began to study angel therapy,  and followed a  path from traditional counselor to spiritual practitioner.

 She offers her clients a wonderful mix of tools she has learned along the way -- angel communications, reiki (she is a Master), shamanic journeying, and more!  From her website:
Amanda has been involved with several forms of energy work over the last 35 years. She is a trained Reiki Practitioner and also has training as an Angel Therapy Practitioner, Soul Memory Discovery Facilitator and Shamanic Counselor.

Amanda works with and welcomes, anyone who wants to increase their connection with their higher self and who is seeking to obtain answers to issues they may be experiencing; whether it is body, mind or spirit. 

Her certifications include:
Angel Therapy Practitioner, 2008
Shamanic Counselor, 2018
Reiki Master, 2021
Animal Reiki Practitioner

I learned so much from her and was so impressed with her mission to help as many people as she can.

She is the real deal. I was so happy to hear that she is writing a book. 
Hopefully, we can read it next year!

You can reach Amanda directly at:  AmandaPreacher@gmail.com
More info here: 
https://www.spiritualclassifieds.org/california/energy-healing/amanda-preacher

Her website is: https://crystalintuition.org/
(She offers a free session if you want to try it out!)

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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

It's easy to see how Jenilee Samuel is so popular both as a podcaster and a teacher. She is upbeat, positive and super supportive. No wonder she is in the top 1% of globally ranked shows, she is actively listened to in 80 nations,  and has ranked in 7 countries and keeps climibing!

I love a good "turn yourself into something else" story and Jenilee's story sure fits that.
She is a pastor at a church in Texas, and so is her husband, they are co-pastors, but she found herself not being able to minister in the way she would have liked, mostly because people just expected her husband to be the "real' pastor, and that she would take a back seat.

She needed an outlet for her voice, and she started her Podcast -- "Java with Jen -- Hearing  God's Voice in Everyday Life." That was almost 6 years ago. She now teaches several levels of podcasting courses and continues with her podcast as well.

In fact, you can get $200 off one of her courses if you use the Storied Human code.
You can also just dip your toe in by downloading her free 7-Step Podcast Essentials List.

Jen can be found at:
https://jenileesamuel.wordpress.com/

Get your free 7-Step Podcast Essentials List here:
https://jenileesamuel.wordpress.com/freebies/

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
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Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Jodi Greve is like a lot of my interviewees in that a setback she experienced forced her to change her path. She was a gifted athlete who competed in college when an ACL injury sidelined her. She decided to stick with athletics and studied to be a trainer. After years doing training with top athletes, she felt the coaching bug and became a coach. 

Spending time with elite athletes definitely affected her in a good way. She ended up setting her sights on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, despite never having done anything like that! She decided to plan it, buy the airplane ticket, and just figure it out after. 

As unorthodox as that was, it worked and she found herself on the mountaintop in Africa feeling like a failure because she was struggling and usually last in line, one of the slower climbers. Her guide had to remind her that there is no "#1 spot in climbing that just being there was winning. 

Despite the climb being grueling and really difficult, she kept going and reached the summit.  She had trained herself to go from "stop sign to stop sign" with her friend and she used the same approach on the mountain. She would focus on a rock ahead and just think about making it there. And then the next rock, and the next.

When she got back home, she realized she was repeating her story over and over for inquisitive friends, so she did a Facebook live. People loved it and encouraged her to consider being a speaker. Her lessons learned in her life and on that mountain makes her the perfect mindset speaker and coach. 

She coaches people one one-on-one, speaks to business groups, athletes, and still does coach athletes in the summer. She wrote a book about her experiences called "Conquering Kilimanjaro " 

I found her such an inspiration, and you will too! You can reach Jodi at:
Jodigreve.com 
or on Instagram, Ticktock, or X: CoachJodi_
Information about her three books (including "Conquering Kilimanjaro" and "My Life in the 50 States" and "From Athlete to Entrepreneur") is on her website here:

https://www.jodigreve.com/products

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Ginger Berg was certainly busy before she decided to foster and later adopt children in need. She had three kids already, and a busy job teaching. But something touched her heart when she heard someone give a talk at her church about fostering and adopting.   She felt called by God to adopt. Her husband was not immediately on board. But Ginger held her intention close to her heart and prayed every day that God would touch her husband in the same way.

Her husband also heard someone in church and felt moved to adopt too, so they started their fostering and adopting journey.  They are now a family of 8! And the book that Ginger wrote about her family "The Patchwork Family" -- originally intended just for friends and  family -- eventually was published at the urging of her family and friends. The first book ("The Patchwork Family") told her family's story from a bio kid's point of view, when a new sibling comes into the family.

She wrote a second book in the Patchwork Family series, "Lavender's Story,"  which was published Sept 8th, 2023, and it is the adoption story from the adopted child's point of view. Both of these books are available on Amazon.
 
Ginger says:
Based on a real family

"These books are about my own family. The first book shares about how Nick loves his quilt because each patch represents a member of his family. Their love stitches them together like patchwork. My Patchwork Family is a beautiful story of a family sewn together through foster care and adoption."

Her family's story is inspirational and speaks to the fact that we all have more love to give than we ever thought possible. Their journey as a family has not been easy, but it has been so worth it because two children who really needed "forever homes" now have them. Ginger hopes her books help spread the word about the good people can do by fostering and/or adopting children in need.

See more about Ginger and her books at:
www.mypatchworkfamilybook.com

Order her book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/My-Patchwork-Family-Mikayla-Tucker/dp/1945121165

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Krysta Maravilla had a fine life. She worked in the mental health field and did well. She owned her own house. But something was missing. She had a dream -- literally. One night she had a detailed dream (and she rarely remembered her dreams). It ended up changing her life. She became, as she puts it,  a Wanderer, and she began to unravel her old life and move into her new life as a writer.

She gave up her job, rented out her house, and hit the road with various family and friends and explored and climbed mountains, and had wonderful adventures. 

Then she went through the grueling process of actually writing and re-writing a book. Along the way, she met other supportive writers and got support from a writing coach and a great editor. 

How did she make the  change? Krysta says:

"I began making small changes. Gratitude journals at night led to journaling, reiki, sound healing, counseling, and meditating. Sparks of hope burst into my life.

I attended to the things that made me feel alive, balanced, playful. My momentum grew.

I rented my house out and gave away most of my stuff. I traveled — haphazardly across the states, east to west coast, and back again. I allowed my life to breathe and become limber, discarding identities, beliefs, and self-created labels.

What happens when you surrender to the unknown?

I surrendered to the unknown, finding joy, and a deeper level of self-trust and confidence.

I began collecting love stories. This new project revealed lingering fears deep within me, fears of having a voice, of using it, and of being heard and seen.
As I moved through this fear, I fell in love with writing.

What happens when you catch sight of a dream?

I rolled up my sleeves and dove into writing Spark. It was torturous. It was expansive. I cried. I laughed. I ate a lot of Nutella. I wrote “The End.”

What if the end is The Beginning?
I am a different person than I was ten years ago. A new person.

Soaring. Trusting. Embracing the marvel of who I am and courageously, insistently aligning with my ever-shifting true north."

Krysta's first book in her fantasy trilogy is called "Spark" and  is out now on Amazon.

You can read about and contact Krysta on her website:
https://krystamaravilla.com/about-krysta/

The Writing Facebook group that Krysta mentioned is:
20 books to 50 thousand:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/20Booksto50k

You can email her using the form on her website or directly at:
hello@krystamaravilla.com

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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Sonny Von Cleveland speaks openly and honestly about the horrific sexual abuse he suffered as a very young child. He ended up going to prison at a young age and found himself as a teenager among hardened criminals. How he got through this and how he found his way to making peace with his past and learning how to forgive -- well it's one amazing story and Sonny credits one prisoner in particular who was near Sonny when they were both in "the hole" (solitary confinement), with teaching him how to change his life. This amazing Muslim man challenged Sonny to transform  his approach to life, and to try forgiveness and kindness. Through his inspiring words, he helped Sonny heal.-- to the point where he got his time in solitary shortened and was asked to present a course in the prison. In a cruel twist of fate, the course was to be presented to all pedophiles and Sonny had to wrestle with his own feelings and past. In the end he decided to do it, and taught the class. He reminds that each of the men in that class were once an innocent little boy before their innocence was broken, and they chose the path they did.
Inspiring and uplifting, Sonny's story reminds us that we can choose to look at our lives in a different at any time. Today we can make changes.
Sonny continues to make a difference with his work with juveniles, his new book "Hey White Boy," his coaching  (itopoacoaching), and his podcast "The Morning Choice." As he tells it, it is simple to live a good life: Be kind --both to others and to yourself.

Pre-order his book (due out in September), "Hey White Boy -- Conversations on Redemption" from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hey-White-Boy-Conversations-Redemption-ebook/dp/B0CB9RB83V/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3W0MY6X5GYZ2R&keywords=hey+white+boy&qid=1691980012&s=books&sprefix=hey+white+boy+%2Cstripbooks%2C188&sr=1-1

Hey, White Boy: Conversations of Redemption is the story of Sonny’s transformation from victimhood to self-actualization and redemption through the mentorship and teachings of a fellow inmate – a Muslim man whom he met during the 19 months he spent in solitary conferment. Through this man’s teachings, Sonny put himself through intense self-examination and scrutiny and used his mentors’ instructions to confront his past, forgive those who wronged him, hold himself accountable, and rebuild himself into the motivational speaker he is today.

Hey, White Boy is a profoundly authentic and moving memoir about what it means to let go, transform, and rise from the experiences of our past.

His contact info :
Sonny Von Cleveland
Director & Mindset Coach

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL7Noxq4twziF_yHHCgBqA

His podcast "The Morning Choice," on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZDj-s2fS69UvrHe6JJjdQsq9IEIhnPwl

iTopia Coaching
m: (1) 216.644.8198
e: sonny@itopiacoaching.com
www.itopiacoaching.com

The book "Love is Letting Go of Fear, by Gerald Jampolsky, was mentioned by me and is highly recommended. You can learn more about it by listening to Season 1, Episode 12:https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episode-12-love-is-letting-go-of-fear-by-dr-gerald-jampolsky/
You buy the book on Amazon here:  
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Love+is+Letting+Go+of+Fear&i=stripbooks&crid=2W8K697D0721L&sprefix=love+is+letting+go+of+fear%2Cstripbooks%2C117&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

For author and screenwriter LL Kirchner, it's been a long journey to self-discovery and learning what works for her.  Moved around a lot as a child, she coped by drinking and smoking at a young age. After a difficult divorce, she left her job in Qatar to go to an intensive yoga teacher training class in India. There, she quit smoking easily and learned a lot about Yoga and Hinduism. She wrote her first book -- American Lady Creature: (My) Change in the Middle East -- about being in the mideast and seeing blatant mysogyny and cognitive dissonance (she remembers seeing completely covered women walking by Victoria Secret ads). Upon returning to the U.S, she observed that women were not treated that much better here. 

Struggling to find inner peace and meaning, she tried meditation and felt pressured to always try to improve on her mindfulness.  Her second book is deeply personal -- Blissful Thinking  - a memoir of overcoming the wellness revolution. It is the sweeping story of her search for nirvana that took her from university halls in the Persian Gulf to the streets of Manhattan to a sex cult in India.  The book is available September 26, 2023 by Molina Books.

From her website: "Blissful Thinking is the true story of how one womans' search for wellness kept her spiritually sick."

Fearing a return to her addictions, she tried every spiritual journey she can imagine—yoga, chanting, the sex cult—to regain her trust in the universe. But she kept returning to toxic relationships, until finally she realizedthe gift her mother had always given her—hope.

Daring to challenge the popular thinking that meditation is always good and we must engage in  constant "self-improvement" activities, she points out to us that it's really important to find what works for US, including the idea that not all types of meditation are good for you. And to remember that "you're really only as sick as your secrets."

 ********************************************************************************************
You can email LL at: more@llkirchner.com
Follow her on Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/llkirchner_/
Check out her website: https://llkirchner.com

LL offers  a free workshop called "Unstick your Magic -- a creativity master class ," which is available when you pre-order Blissful Thinking:
https://llkirchner.involve.me/pre-order-workshop

To read a sample of Blissful Thinking:
https://llkirchner.com/free

This is also where you will find her meditation quiz that helps you discover which type of mediation fits you.

And finally, look for her novel coming soon called Florida Girls.

Books we mentioned in this episode:
The Grieving Brain** by Mary Francis O'Connor, Deana Gashman's piece on Time.com -- So sorry for your loss,
and Heartbreak by Florence Williams.



**Note-- Lynne got the name wrong of the grief book (it's not "The Brain on Grief").

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

It was so great to talk to Karma Reese and hear about how she went from a tragic younger life to a powerful, healed one. Podcast personality, workshop presenter, and spiritual channeler, Karma uses all her energy to help guide and heal people.

Karma has not let anything stop her from becoming her best self and it is inspiring to hear her story. Her goal is to help as many people as she can.

You can find out more about her services at: https://karmplexityonline.com/
You can find her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/karmplexity/?hl=en
Her podcast is called  "The Karma of it all" -- Find it on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2G7wDDK4lyBxg9tQUvVqf6
or Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.
Find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/karmplexity

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

JUST A REMINDER-- WE ARE ON SUMMER HOURS, SO EPISODES COME OUT EVERY OTHER WEEK.  SEE YOU  ON JULY 17th!

Richard Conner was a runner and he did work out. But he wanted more when a friend mentioned running a Spartan race. Spartan races are super challenging obstacle courses that really test you! If you fail at an obstacle, you have to do 30 Burpees!

But Richard knew he could do it and with the help of a coach, kept pushing himself until he was an accomplished obstacle course runner (the Spartan races).

He shares his story about how he did it and continues to motivate others on his own podcast "Inspire to Run." Check it out!

You can reach Richard on Instagram: @inspiretorunpodcast
Listen to his podcast; Inspire to Run on your favorite platform
Email him at: richard@inspiretorun.co

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Kendal is a 23-year-old currently living in Calgary Canada. She grew up playing highly competitive sports, while suffering from depression, anxiety, and what she would later come to find out was ADHD. When she was 17 she suffered a pulmonary embolism due to a blood clot that had transpired after her first knee surgery.  She has truly come to the realization of how short life is, and that her true purpose is helping others also get through their mental health struggles. 

She shares her story so that others can know that they are not alone and that they need to try to reach out for help. And she adds that if you know someone who is suffering, you have to reach out to them, because they probably don't want to burden you with it.

Kendal's message is life-affirming and gives those who struggle with their mental health hope and a roadmap for feeling better. She feels that we all need to view mental health just like physical health, no different from going to the doctor for a headache or other physical problem.  It is why she works as a mental health activist, spreading the message that mental health is just a sickeness, like any other sickness, and you can get help and heal from it. 

You can reach out to Kendal at:
kendal@ventspaceapp.com

Check out her podcast "It's Just Mental" wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Speaking with Amanda about her many accomplishments could be intimidating except it's not -- she is open and warm and just wants to make the world better. She has done just that, with her many contributions to groups who help the previously incarcerated.

Amanda DuBois is the founder and managing partner of DuBois Levias Law Group, a woman-owned boutique family law firm on Lake Union in Seattle. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Amanda was a high-risk labor and delivery nurse at the University of Washington Medical Center.

Amanda is the author of the Camille Delaney mystery series. The Complication was published in spring 2022 and Deliver Them From Evil was published in March 2023. She is currently working on the third book in the series, which centers on mothers in prison and the importance of reuniting them with their children. Amanda’s books address inequities in the legal system while offering a fast-paced reading experience with the twists and turns one would expect from a good thriller.

The Complication received an Honorable Mention Award from the Eric Hoffer Book Award in the 2023 E-Fiction category. It was also designated by IndieReader’s as a “Best Reviewed Books of the Month in January 2022. Their review contains a helpful synopsis of the story. And The Complication received a favorable review by Kirkus Reviews in spring 2022. Deliver Them From Evil spent several weeks on the Bestseller list for Medical Thrillers on Amazon shortly after it was published.

Amanda is also the founder of Civil Survival Project, an organization that teaches advocacy skills to formerly incarcerated individuals. Civil Survival Project’s mission is to Educate, Motivate, and Liberate people who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system. Civil Survival also provides civil legal aid to individuals struggling with the consequences of incarceration and helping them with reentry. For the past several years,

Amanda has mentored Tarra Simmons, who is a formerly incarcerated lawyer and the executive director of Civil Survival Project. Amanda recently founded the Full Circle Scholarship at her alma mater, Seattle University School of Law. The scholarship helps fund tuition for students who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system. Amanda was recently awarded the Sally P. Savage Leadership in Philanthropy Award from the Washington State Bar Association and the Washington State Bar Foundation.

Amanda is the Vice President of the board of Purpose Dignity Action in Seattle (which advocates for criminal legal system reform and develops alternatives that shift from apunishment paradigm to a system that supports individual and community health). She is also aboard member of Freedom Education Project Puget Sound (which pr vides post-secondary education to women inside Washington Corrections Center for Women). She is the past president of the Women's Funding Alliance, and has served on a number of community boards, and is currently a member of the Seattle Chapter of the Women's President's Association.

You can reach her at: Amanda DuBois, Attorney

P: (206) 547-1486 -- 927 N Northlake Way Suite 140, Seattle, WA 98103
Her books (The Complication and Deliver Them From Evil) can be found 
on Amazon.

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

One thing you notice right away about Bill Copple. He is someone who gives up. Like at all. After a surviving  a horrendous motorcycle accident at the age of 19 which left him in a coma, he worked hard to learn to walk again.
Several brain injuries would follow! But they did not stop Bill from scuba diving with sharks, parasailing, participating in MS walks, and now, at age 49, living independently  and exercising daily!

His message to us? "Working out can save your life."
His inspiring story reminds us that most of us really don't have an excuse to be inactive!

You can find Bil's book '19 Years" on Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/19-Years-Bill-Copple-ebook/dp/B00AUK8J1C/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7886FLOKTPQN&keywords=19+years+by+Bill+Copple&qid=1685303050&s=books&sprefix=19+years+by+bill+copp%2Cstripbooks%2C178&sr=1-1

Reach out to him on emai:  nine10years@gmail.com

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Ahna came to the Akashic Records after she had been a successful marketing exec. She was the CEO of a marketing company and helping others build their businesses. But she had to close a business down and it broke her heart to do it, but it led to a stunning transformation that she refers to as a "Metaphysical Awakening."

It was then that the Akashic Records were revealed to her. She began to access them and gained knowledge that helped her and others with their lives.

Think of the Akashic Records as a giant library in another dimension, a database if you will that contains everything that happens to everyone.

They  are a collection of all universal events, thoughts, words, emotions and intent ever to have occurred in the past, present, or future in terms of all entities and life forms, not just human. They are believed  to be encoded in a non-physical plane of existence known as the mental plane.

Ahna is dedicated to helping others with their spiritual quest and offers sessions where she sees what information  the Askashic Records have about them. She is a Divine Luminary whose work as an Intuitive Channel, Teacher, Spiritual Guide, and Podcaster dedicates herself to reintroducing the world to its spirituality through the Akashic Records, Spiritual Guidance coaching, and workshops and courses designed to empower individuals to take the reins and transform their lives. 

She hosts a very cool podcast called "The Soul-Driven LIfe," which explores the intersection of living a soulful and spiritual life in a driven and ambitious world. Join her for practical guidance, truthful discussions, and interviews with people who are successfully living a soul-driven life. Check it out!

You can also reach her at:

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5fsN8oqu8Ib8IcvpYZA4jQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahnahendrix/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahnahendrix/ 

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
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Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

In this very short mini episode I I get serious about my judging habit in the past and how I am working on it. Judging others can become a habit but it's not good for us.

The problem is when you judge someone, you don't know that person's story. You sort of make them a 2 dimensional object and you rush to judge based on little information.

Instead we can try to remember that everyone has reasons for their behavior, lots of human reasons for why they may not be at their best. 

We can humanize them and empathize more and judge less. We can also do the work of examining why certain behaviors get us going. What is it about ourselves do we not like that we see reflected in others?

Working on our judgement habit is really a good thing!

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
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Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

I have talked a lot about Grief on this pocast. I have covered what it feels like to lose someone suddenly, how deep my grief got, how I sought therapy to help it. I even did a short episode on anger and grief, how it's natural to feel angry at the person for leaving you. It usually doesn't last long, but it does happen.

But for this very short episode, I wanted to remind you of what you should do while your parents or other loved ones are still alive!

It's easy to just go along, pretending like they will always be here, but someday...they will not. Better to make the most of your time with them now.

One thing I forgot to mention:Make a video of your mom or dad talking about their life. Ask questions and get them talking. You will treasure this later. I wish I had done it.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIHYKJ0fBDIF7hzWCu7b396GMJU-2qb7h

Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Some people are just easy to talk to you and you could talk to them all day. For me, Sue is that person. She is really funny and has great insights. She was throwing out the idea of starting a podcast about "Nothing" and we thought we might try a few episodes on here.

If you remember Seinfeld back in the day, they were pitching a series to NBC about "Nothing." Sue already has a great Facebook group called "Nuttin'" and it's really funny.

In this episode, we start out with funny stories about her mom and about my mother- in-law,  then we move ito commentary about "Instagram Life," we touch on Sue's mom's horrific car accident and how well she has recovered. We then talk about Sue's strong pull to live Florida and move back to NJ to closer to her parents 6 months before the accident occurred!

We finish with some observations about weeding our friend's list and how that becomes more obvious as we get older.

Thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Sue, I hope you will enjoy ilstening to us!

Check out her Facebook group-- "Nuttin"!

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THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
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Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Fairy Tales contain simple moral reminders, because that is how they were used years and years ago -- as a moral teaching tool for people, especially children. I enjoy how simple they are, and they allow us a peek into an older time. Fairy tales were "resurrected" first in France when readers in salons presented tales like Cinderella and Tom Thumb. This was in the 1700s. But The Brothers Grimm actually wrote down many of the older tales and these are the ones many of us know. 

But some of the original fairy tales are thousands of years old! Just like Aesop's Fables, they teach us lessons through stories.

The Seven Ravens is a simple tale that hits on a few common themes -- a quest, a curse, and the undoing of the curse. 

I enjoyed reading it to you, I hope you enjoy hearing it!

Turns out this one is a film (2015) too!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seven_Ravens_(2015_film)

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The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

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Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

Jenn Anderson is one of those people who loves animals, always has. When she found herself on Hawaii during the pandemic, with her Navy husband deployed, alone and struggling to make friends or find a job, she turned it around by helping the stray cats that she found. She taught herself to trap them and made it her mission to help as many kitties as she could. I loved how she turned a bad situation around!
 
 I first met Jenn in Spain, at an English immersion program, Spanish people sign up to improve their English and spend the week with "Anglos" like us  doing activities, and sharing meals. It was such a wonderul experience for us both and we kept in touch since then!
 
 Jenn was single back then, in 2016, and worried that she wasn't going to get married. Lo and behold, Matt was stationed in her town in upstate NY and they met and the rest is history. They now live in South Carolina with their adorable baby girl Emme, who is 7 months old.
 
 It has been great learning about how Jenn turned her experience in Hawaii around, and how she continues to care for her animals.
 
 What a good baby! Emme was part of our interview the whole time and you can hear her cute coos from time to time!

If you would like to learn more about diverbo (Pueblo Ingles), go here: https://www.volunteerspuebloingles.com/

To help support animals in need:
 In SC:
https://saltydogsrescue.org/?fbclid=IwAR1I7zGQg26ZNtxOh4Spm36Yznccqu7NxpbsclwFc7qHTT8u2EUINMRMhh4
In Hawaii:
https://www.facebook.com/rescuekittiesofhawaii
In NY:
https://www.facebook.com/ewhiskers

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Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
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Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)

I recently attended a talk by  Karen Ann Bulluck and I can attest to the fact that she is a  great speaker and presenter -- she has an impressive background as a corporate trainer and executive.

But it is the latest chapter of her life where she really digs in and helps other people  discover what more they could be doing with their career, in their leadership roles, in their life.

Karen is a leadership coach,  and owner of Daring to Transcend. She works with leaders using  her proprietary TRANSCENDENCE Methodology. Karen works with people to EXPLORE what matters, INTEGRATE the Whole Self, and FLOURISH in new dimensions.

She emphasizes that transcendence can happen for you whether you are a "spiritual" person or not. We can transcend our current circumstances, and Karen is here to help us do that.

I know she is helping people figure out how they can best use their gifts to have a bigger impact on the world.  And the wonderful thing is, she loves to do this. Nothing makes her happier than when someone she is working with has a breakthrough and discovers something new about themself.

Karen is an engaging and inspiring speaker and a contributing author of three International Bestselling anthologies. Her latest novel, Discovering Power, will be released on May 24, 2023. To get on the pre-order list for her novel, go to AscendingLadders.com. I know I will! And don't forget to sign up for her weekly newsletter too.
 

Karen can be reached at:
 Email: karen@daringtotranscend.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/karenannbulluck
Website: www.dareingtotranscend.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/karenannbulluck

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Check out my Facebook group -- The Storied Human.

The Storied Human is on YouTube now-- check it out:
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Have a story? DM me on instagram:  lthompson_574
Drop me an email: thestoriedhuman@gmail.com

See all my links on  Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/StoriedHuman/

Also see all episodes on my new website: https://www.podpage.com/the-storied-human-what-is-your-story/episodes/

Keep in touch!

Original music  "Saturday Sway" by Brendan Talian (for  all interviews before 2025)