What happens when control is disguised as care, concern, or good manners?

 In this episode, Christina Ditchkofsky joins Julie Fairhurst for a powerful conversation about emotional abuse, coercive control, love bombing, childhood trauma, shame, and the slow erosion of self-trust.

Christina is a nurse, author, and trauma-informed writing guide. She shares both lived experience and professional insight as we explore the warning signs of coercive control, including isolation, loss of financial freedom, pulling away from work, neglecting yourself, and constantly second-guessing your instincts.

We also talk about Christina’s book Burnt Letters and how writing can help survivors process trauma, reclaim their voice, and begin healing — even if they never publish a single word.

This episode is for survivors, for women questioning what they lived through, and for anyone who loves someone trying to find their way back to themselves.

Subscribe for more Women Like Me Stories and Business conversations that bring truth, healing, and real-life transformation to light.

Grab Christina's book:    https://amzn.to/41hrvu9

Christina's Website:  https://christinaditchkofsky.com/

Free Gift:  https://tinyurl.com/y82m77tn 

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

A doctor tells you that you have one year left to become a mother… and you hear it while your marriage is ending.

That’s the reality Kelly-Erin Ketchen faced at just 27. In this deeply personal conversation, we explore what it means to stand in the space between heartbreak and becoming, and the courage it takes to choose yourself when everything is falling apart.

Kelly-Erin shares how endometriosis and infertility didn’t just challenge her ability to have children—they challenged her identity, her belief in “the plan,” and her sense of safety after divorce and losing her home.

She opens up about the moment she stopped waiting and chose to pursue motherhood on her own. From facing judgment in the 1990s to walking into a fertility clinic as a single woman, to the surreal experience of choosing a sperm donor from a few lines on paper, this is a story of quiet strength and bold decisions.

But getting pregnant wasn’t the end of the journey.

Kelly-Erin shares the reality of hyperemesis gravidarum, how it nearly shut down her kidneys, and what it feels like when medical professionals dismiss your pain. We also talk about miscarriage, self-advocacy, and raising a child with honesty about donor conception, including DNA searches and donor sibling connections later in life.

If you’ve ever faced infertility, questioned your path, or felt like time was running out—this conversation will stay with you.

Connect with Kelly-Erin:

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kellyerinketchen_excellence/?hl=en

👉 Subscribe for more real stories from women who have lived it
 👉 Share this with someone who needs to hear it
 👉 Leave a review to help more women find these conversations

What part of Kelly-Erin’s journey stayed with you most?

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

A lot of people think the hardest part of domestic violence is leaving. What if leaving is only the first step… and the next step is a cliff?

In this powerful conversation, Kay Bohemier returns to share the reality behind the “90-day cliff” in emergency shelters and what happens when survivors of domestic violence leave abuse but still have nowhere safe to go.

Kay opens up about what homelessness after abuse really looks like: living in a car, then a tent, finding places to wash, and taking risks just to afford food. She also sheds light on the hidden barriers survivors face, including financial abuse, PTSD, stalking, and how missing documentation or citizenship status can prevent access to housing, support programs, and safety.

When people say “just leave,” they often don’t understand what comes next. Kay explains why so many survivors are forced back into dangerous situations—and what needs to change.

We also talk about solutions. Kay shares her vision for Courage House Incorporated, a nonprofit focused on long-term transitional housing for survivors of domestic violence. Her model includes a two-year housing program with onsite mental health support, financial education, and 24-hour childcare so survivors can rebuild their lives with stability and dignity.

If you care about domestic violence awareness, survivor safety, homelessness after abuse, and real systemic change, this is a conversation you won’t forget.

👉 Subscribe for more real stories from women who have lived it
 👉 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it
 👉 Leave a review to help more women find support and resources

Connect with Kay:  

Website:  https://kaywood95.wixsite.com/courage-house
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Kaybohemier

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

A single moment can shape a lifetime… but it doesn’t have to define it.

In this deeply human conversation, I sit down with Jenny Siddall, mom, creative, and performer from Nova Scotia, whose story moves from childhood trauma to a grounded, hard-won peace through art, music, writing, and play.

Her philosophy is simple: keep running. Not to escape, but as proof that you made it, and you still get to choose what comes next.

In this episode, we explore:
 • Healing trauma through creativity (art, music, writing, play)
 • Why creative expression works when words fall short
 • Inner child healing and reparenting yourself
 • Letting go of “being too much” and embracing emotional truth
 • How trauma can live in the body (tension, stress, feeling stuck)
 • Simple, real-life routines for hard days
 • Building confidence through small creative acts
 • Why releasing others’ opinions is a powerful form of self-respect

If you’ve ever felt like your emotions were something to manage instead of something to understand… this conversation will shift that.

Your feelings aren’t the problem.  They’re the message.  And maybe, just maybe, they’re pointing you home.

Connect with Jenny:
Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/852791401722063 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.robicheau.5          

 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jennaysiddall

🎧 Subscribe for more real conversations.
 💬 Share this with someone who needs a gentle nudge forward.
 ⭐ Leave a review if this episode speaks to you.

After you listen… what’s one small creative thing you’ll try this week?

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Your body isn’t broken. It’s speaking. The question is, are you listening?

Fifteen years of daily pain changes a person, but what if the turning point isn’t another treatment… It's a new relationship with your body?

In this powerful episode, I sit down with counselor and energy practitioner Amanda Meggait, who shares her journey through autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and the emotional weight that comes with it all.

After years of specialist visits, medications, and feeling disconnected from her own body, everything shifted when she stopped seeing her body as the enemy, and started listening to it as a guide.

We talk about:
 • Living with chronic pain and autoimmune illness
 • The emotional roots of physical symptoms
 • Why women disconnect from themselves early in life
 • The truth about people-pleasing and burnout
 • How anger can signal a broken boundary
 • Practical “micro moments” to reconnect with yourself
 • Creating safety within your body and emotions

This conversation is for any woman who feels exhausted, out of alignment, or like her body is trying to tell her something she hasn’t been taught how to hear.

🎧 If this resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more women can find this kind of support.

Connect with Amanda:

http://www.horizonenergetics.com/

https://quintessencecounselling.ca/1242-2/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Peace can feel uncomfortable… even unsafe… when your life has been built in survival mode.

In this powerful episode, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Colinda Laviolette, who shares her journey of healing as an Indigenous woman reconnecting with her roots, traditions, and community after trauma, addiction, and abuse.

Colinda shares her journey into sobriety, the impact of motherhood, and raising her two sons, with Down syndrome, while navigating her own healing. She opens up about CPTSD, survival conditioning, and how alcohol once became “liquid courage.”

We talk about:
 ✔️ Why peace can feel unfamiliar after trauma
 ✔️ Breaking generational patterns for your children
 ✔️ Sobriety, shame, and emotional healing
 ✔️ Indigenous healing, ceremony, and identity
 ✔️ Setting boundaries without guilt
 ✔️ Rebuilding self-worth after abuse

This conversation is for anyone walking through trauma recovery, domestic violence healing, or learning how to live without chaos.

If you’ve ever felt like calm doesn’t feel normal… this will hit home.

Follow Colinda here:  https://www.facebook.com/colinda.laviolette

👉 Subscribe for more real conversations that heal and empower
 👉 Share this with someone who needs it
 👉 Comment your biggest takeaway

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Ever feel like you’re doing everything “right”… but something still feels off?

In this powerful conversation, educator, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker Darlena Swan shares what happens when you stop chasing success and start asking a better question: what actually matters to me?

We dive into burnout, anxiety, and the pressure women feel to be everything to everyone. You’ll hear how stress shows up in the body, why your mind won’t shut off at night, and what real wellness looks like when you include your mind, body, and soul.

This episode also explores:

•  The truth behind the “superwoman” myth 
•  How to set boundaries without guilt 
•  Why self-kindness is a strength, not a weakness 
•  Turning hard seasons into growth instead of self-blame 
•  Starting over, even when you feel behind 

Darlena shares her journey from customer service to education and purpose-driven work, proving that every step—even the messy ones—builds the life you’re meant to live.

If you’re feeling stuck, exhausted, or questioning your direction, this conversation will help you reconnect with yourself and move forward with clarity.

REACH OUT TO DARLENA HERE:  https://bossladyenterprise.org/

👉 Subscribe for more real conversations
 👉 Share this with a woman who needs a reset
 👉 Comment: What question will you start asking yourself today?

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

 What if getting laid off… was the exact moment your next level began?
 And what if AI isn’t as complicated as you’ve been told? 

A layoff can feel like the floor disappears. For Michelle Hamilton, it became a door opening, and that choice changed everything.

After 30 years as an executive, Michelle stepped into artificial intelligence early, testing real-world use cases and learning how to translate AI into human language that actually makes sense. In this conversation, we break down AI, leadership, reinvention, and how to move forward when everything shifts.

We talk about:
 ✨ Why most AI initiatives fail inside companies (and it’s NOT the tech)
 ✨ The real problem: change management, fear, and lack of training
 ✨ How leaders can implement AI in a way that actually works
 ✨ Why fear-based policies create “shadow AI” in organizations
 ✨ How to train executives vs. frontline teams differently
 ✨ What a people-first AI strategy looks like tied to real KPIs

Then we make it practical and fun:
 ✔️ Using AI to plan trips from conversations
 ✔️ Voice mode as your hands-free assistant
 ✔️ Preparing for interviews and drafting documents
 ✔️ Comparing health insurance by uploading files
 ✔️ Using multiple AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) for better results

We also cover what you need to watch for:
 ⚠️ AI hallucinations
 ⚠️ Verifying sources
 ⚠️ How to safely use AI in your daily life and business

If you’ve felt behind on AI, or unsure where to start, this episode will give you language, confidence, and real tools you can use immediately.

👉 Subscribe for real conversations on reinvention, leadership, and personal growth
 👉 Share this with someone ready for their next chapter

FIND MICHELLE HERE:  https://sparkaistrategy.com/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if the patterns you can’t break… aren’t about willpower at all?
What if your body is protecting you in ways you don’t even realize?

Some conversations don’t just inform you… They slow you down long enough to feel what you’ve been carrying.

In this episode, I sit down with Anya Lewis, founder of Angel Wears Prana, to explore trauma healing, nervous system regulation, intuition, and the deeper patterns that quietly shape our lives.

With over 25 years in beauty, massage therapy, and corporate wellness, Anya shares how working with the body reveals what people don’t say out loud—fear, shame, grief, and the emotional patterns that keep repeating.

We talk about:
✨ What prana (life force energy) really means
✨ Why so many people live disconnected from their bodies
✨ The hidden forms of trauma that still impact your nervous system
✨ Why numbing behaviors like drinking continue—even when we want to stop
✨ What actually helps you break patterns and create lasting change
✨ Simple ways to start healing (meditation, body awareness, and nervous system support)

If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles you can’t explain, this conversation will meet you where you are.
Find Anya:  

👉 Subscribe for real conversations that help you heal, grow, and tell the truth about your life
👉 Share this with someone who needs a softer way into healing

https://theangelwearsprana.com/the-healer/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Migraine disease is not “just a headache.” It can take your vision, your balance, your words, and leave you trying to explain something invisible while the world minimizes what you’re going through.

In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, we sit down with Arleen Davis, who joins us from China, as she shares her chapter, “Migraine Disease, My Journey of Discovery.” What begins as unexplained symptoms—dizziness, sensory overload, nausea, and cognitive confusion—quickly turns into a frightening reality that mimics serious neurological events.

Arleen opens up about:

• Sudden vision loss and terrifying migraine attacks
• Hemiplegic migraine symptoms that can feel like a stroke
• Brain fog so intense that words disappear mid-sentence
• The long road to diagnosis and being dismissed along the way
• Why women’s health concerns are often minimized

We also dive into real-life migraine triggers and management, including weather changes, barometric pressure, light sensitivity, crowds, and motion sickness, and how proper diagnosis, preventive medication, and support can change everything.

If you’ve ever been told “it’s just a headache” but felt something deeper was wrong… this conversation might give you the language, validation, and direction you’ve been searching for.

✨ Your story matters. And sometimes, hearing someone else’s is what finally helps you understand your own.

👉 Subscribe for more real, raw conversations
 👉 Share this with someone who needs to feel seen
 👉 Comment if this resonates with your experience

Reach out to Arleen here:  

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/open_up_to_light?igsh=dmRzZ2h1OXIydDZu

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/arleen.t.davis?

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Ever feel like you’re living on the sidelines of your own life?

In this powerful episode, Lisa Huppee shares her journey from self-doubt and feeling like the “black sheep” to rebuilding her life after divorce, illness, and unexpected setbacks. 

From starting over at 40 to launching a home care business after 50, right before COVID, this is a story about resilience, reinvention, and finally listening to the voice within.

If you’re navigating a life transition, questioning your path, or ready to step into your next chapter, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

Reach out to Lisa:  

Website:  https://justlikefamily.ca/fraservalley/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lisa.huppee

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

 People pleasing and codependency are often trauma responses rooted in nervous system dysregulation, not personality traits. 

If you’ve built your identity around being “the calm one,” “the helpful one,” or “the strong one,” there may be a hidden cost: exhaustion, resentment, and losing yourself in the process.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Nicky Yazbeck, a trauma-informed therapist, EMDR practitioner, psychodynamic therapist, and yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience, to uncover what’s really underneath people pleasing and codependency.

This conversation goes deeper than surface-level advice. We explore how these patterns are often rooted in trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and early emotional conditioning.

Inside this episode:

• What people pleasing really is (and why it’s not kindness)
 • The difference between caring and rescuing
 • How codependency forms and why it’s hard to break
 • Trauma beyond the obvious: neglect, bullying, and emotional wounds
 • Core beliefs like “I’m not lovable” or “I’m not worthy.”
 • How EMDR therapy helps process unresolved trauma
 • Nervous system healing and somatic awareness
 • Spiritual bypassing and avoiding real healing
 • Why growth disrupts relationships and family dynamics
 • The role of yoga and body-based healing
 • What Kambo (frog medicine) is and why safety matters

If you’re ready to stop living on autopilot, set boundaries, and reconnect with yourself, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on healing, truth-telling, and personal transformation.

Reach out to Nicky:  

https://nickyyyoga.com/
https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@TheConnectedCommunity⁩  

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when your body suddenly stops working, and no one believes you?

After a tick bite during a dream trip overseas, Allie Chandler’s life changed overnight. Her heart rate spiked to 220, her body felt completely unfamiliar, and doctors struggled to explain what was happening. Like many people living with chronic illness, she was told anxiety might be the cause.

But the truth was far more complex.

In this powerful conversation, Allie shares her journey through Lyme disease, multiple co-infections, hyperadrenergic POTS, and nervous system dysregulation, and what it feels like to live with an invisible illness that few people understand.

We talk about:

• The emotional toll of chronic illness
 • Being dismissed by the medical system
 • Lyme disease and co-infection testing
 • Hyperadrenergic POTS and nervous system dysregulation
 • Functional medicine and root-cause healing
 • Limbic system retraining and nervous system repair
 • Trauma healing tools like EMDR
 • Isolation, resilience, and rebuilding hope

Allie also shares how her health journey led her to create heart-centered marketing for functional medicine practitioners, helping wellness professionals communicate with empathy and trust.

Her patient and practitioner archetype quizzes are designed to help people find the right support faster and to help practitioners reach the patients who need them most.

If you or someone you love is navigating chronic illness, Lyme disease, POTS, or an invisible condition, this conversation may help you feel seen.

👉 Subscribe for more powerful conversations about healing, resilience, and the stories that change lives.

Allie's Website
https://upsellhealth.com/

Take the Quiz
https://upsellhealth.typeform.com/archetype

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What do people regret most when life is ending?

In this powerful conversation, Kandace Stoneman shares the life-changing lessons she learned working in hospice and long-term care at just 24 years old. Kandace joins Julie Fairhurst to discuss her chapter, “The Courage to Live Without Regrets,” from Women Like Me: The Space Before and After, and the emotional realities of caregiving, compassion fatigue, and mental health.

Together, they explore the hidden guilt caregivers carry, why perfectionism keeps people stuck, and how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can shift the way we think, feel, and live.

Kandace also shares the inspiration behind the project she created with her son, Making Friends with Feelings, helping children understand emotions, nervous system signals, and the needs behind behavior.

If you want better self-talk, stronger relationships, and fewer regrets in life, this conversation will speak directly to your heart.

✨ Subscribe for more powerful conversations about women’s stories, healing, and personal growth.

Connect with Kandace:

FACEBOOK

https://guideyourmind.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/kandace.stoneman

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EYV9aRK6C/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EYV9aRK6C/?mibextid=wwXIfr

INSTAGRAM

https://www.instagram.com/guideyourmindcoach/

Kandace Stoneman
Certified Life & Relationship Empowerment Coach | Emotional Intelligence Consultant
GuideYour Mind
Phone: 250-808-1151
Email: Hello@guideyourmind.ca

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if Amelia Earhart’s disappearance isn’t just an unsolved mystery, but a reflection of who we are and what we choose to believe?

In this powerful conversation, Julie Fairhurst sits down with author Rachel Hartigan to explore the three most debated theories surrounding Earhart’s fate: crash and sink, castaway on Nikumaroro, or capture by the Japanese. But this episode goes far beyond speculation.

Rachel shares behind-the-scenes insights from her multi-year investigation—including her journey with National Geographic to a remote Pacific atoll, hiking alongside archaeologists and human-remains detection dogs at a suspected castaway site. Together, we unpack how wartime fear, colonial politics, and technological optimism shaped the narratives that still captivate the world today.

More importantly, we restore Amelia as a woman, not just a legend. A determined Midwesterner who valued skill over spectacle. A pilot who endured brutal conditions during her solo Atlantic flight. A leader who advocated for women in aviation during an era defined by deep gender bias.

We also examine the barriers faced by early women aviators, including the backlash against pioneer pilot Helen Ritchie, and discuss what courage, preparation, and grit really look like.

If you love aviation history, women’s leadership, unsolved mysteries, or longform investigative storytelling, this episode will challenge what you think you know.

Listen. Share. Leave a review.
 Because behind every theory is someone loved and lost.

https://rachelhartiganauthor.com/

https://rachelhartiganauthor.com/books

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Pain that gets waved off. Periods that stop, then don’t stop. Labs that don’t tell the full story.

In this powerful conversation, Monica Reagor joins us to unpack the reality of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) — from delayed diagnosis and insulin resistance to advocacy and policy change. So many women wait seven to ten years for answers. Monica explains why, and what you can do to shorten that gap.

We cover:

✨ Early PCOS symptoms: heavy cycles, facial hair, fatigue, brain fog
 ✨ Insulin resistance, cortisol, and metabolic patterns
 ✨ Why lean PCOS and inflammatory profiles are often overlooked
 ✨ What your labs really mean (A1C, testosterone, vitamin D, ultrasounds)
 ✨ Mental health myths that harm women (“lazy,” “undisciplined”)
 ✨ How to advocate for better care
 ✨ Reproductive autonomy & menstrual equity policy goals
 ✨ The work of the PCOS Awareness Association
 ✨ Using tech tools to track cycles, stress, and sleep

Monica brings both lived experience and leadership expertise, combining data-informed strategy with deeply human advocacy. If you’ve ever felt dismissed by the healthcare system, this conversation will give you clarity, language, and confidence.

You are not the problem. And you are not alone.

Follow the show, share this episode, and leave a review so more women can find the support they deserve.

Reach out to Monica here:

• Website: www.pcosaa.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicareagor/
• Podcasts: www.mygrcpov.com | www.thefaithflexpodcast.blog

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

When momentum stalls in your business, the instinct is to push harder. Add more platforms. Try new trends. Hustle louder. But what if the real answer isn’t force… it’s alignment?

In this powerful conversation, Julie sits down with returning guest Melodie Dewsbury to unpack what it really takes to relaunch your business from a place of clarity instead of chaos. From saving for tools and leaving a role that no longer fit, to launching a website after clients were already lining up, Melodie shares the honest, unpolished truth about starting again.

Inside this episode, we cover:

✨ How to pivot your business without burning out
✨ Reframing failure as data (not identity)
✨ Building confidence through action
✨ How to overcome self-doubt as a woman entrepreneur
✨ Why your website is your storefront and social media is the living room
✨ Simple SEO strategies that turn pages into lead engines
✨ Email marketing that compounds results
✨ Pricing with authority (and letting silence do the work)
✨ Fractional marketing support and smart paid ads
✨ Breaking cultural conditioning that keeps women waiting to feel “ready”

If you’ve been feeling stuck, stalled, or quietly craving a pivot, this episode offers a grounded roadmap forward.

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on ethical influence, business growth, and women building aligned success.

http://instagram.com/thepaperfoxcollective
http://thepaperfoxcollective.com/
hello@thepaperfoxcollective.com

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if the most important travel skill isn’t packing light—but knowing when it’s time to come home?

In this episode, we sit down with author and traveler Melissa Rodway to explore the deeper side of adventure: travel ego, judgment on the road, solo travel for women, and the quiet courage it takes to leave, and to return.

Melissa shares how travel strips away identity labels and reveals who we really are. We talk about backpacker one-upmanship, solo dining, solo female travel safety, boutique group travel, and why brief connections with strangers can feel more intimate than long friendships at home.

You’ll hear how a winter alone in Quebec City became a five-week masterclass in presence, the moment a long trip shifts from joy to job, and how endings matter—not just in travel, but in life.

We also discuss:
 • Solo travel vs small group travel
 • Travel and aging (including hikers in their 70s and 80s!)
 • The emotional friction of life on the road
 • How to create adventure when money or time are limited
 • Turning raw travel emails into a published book

Melissa is the author of The People You May Meet, a powerful reflection on identity, connection, and growth through travel.

If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or restless, this conversation will remind you that sometimes the next adventure begins with a simple one-hour walk.

Listen now, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs a nudge toward their next chapter.

Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/fly_travel_media/

Website and radio/podcast interviews: https://flyrodway.com/

Amazon: http://bit.ly/44s5JX9

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when faith no longer fits inside traditional church walls?

In this powerful conversation, Irish interfaith minister and spiritual companion Patricia Higgins shares her vision of “rewilding faith” — reclaiming spirituality through ceremony, retreats, sacred dialogue, and inclusive community spaces.

We explore:
 • Why many women feel spiritually disconnected
 • The difference between religion and lived spirituality
 • How ceremony and ritual help us reconnect to meaning
 • What it means to create sacred spaces beyond institutions
 • How faith evolves as we grow, travel, question, and awaken

Patricia is an interfaith minister, author, retreat guide, and founder of Rewilding Faith. Her work invites people to rediscover the sacred in everyday life, without dogma, pressure, or performance.

If you’ve ever felt like you believe in something… but don’t know where you belong anymore, this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Patricia Higgins

Website: www.patriciahiggins.ie

Instagram: www.instagram.com/rewilding_faith

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Rewildingfaith

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if success stopped being about a paycheck and started being about the people you help rise?

In this powerful conversation, corporate sales leader and investor Christine Valdez shares how she shifted from survival mode as a single mom to building long-term wealth through rentals, multifamily investing, LP syndications, and private equity.

We talk honestly about:
• Growing up in an immigrant family and navigating WIC
• Scarcity mindset vs. abundance thinking
• Why flipping houses failed the return-on-time test
• Real estate strategies that don’t require a huge bank balance
• Down payment assistance, set-aside units & city auctions
• Why women struggle to ask for the sale or a raise
• Charging for high-value work without guilt
• Leadership without pretending to be someone you’re not

Christine shares a practical three-part reset for anyone feeling financial pressure right now:

1. Upgrade your inputs
2. Rewire negative money beliefs
3. Change your circle

If you’re juggling career, family, and ambition, this conversation will challenge you to rethink success, pricing, leadership, and opportunity.

Abundance often looks like access. Sometimes it’s just the next step in front of you.

✨ Subscribe for conversations about women, leadership, money, ethical influence, and building a life that actually fits you.

Tell us in the comments:
 What belief about money are you unlearning?

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if the real measure of leadership isn’t how much you achieve, but how alive you feel while creating it?

In this episode, we sit down with Jaclyn Orent to explore a bold shift in founder identity, from optimization, grind, and quiet burnout to resonance, joy, and sustainable impact. Jaclyn introduces the concept of the cultural catalyst: a leader whose ideal vision fuels change and whose peers amplify momentum.

We unpack why so many successful founders feel quietly isolated. Surrounded by employees, contractors, and mentees, they often lack true peers, people who share both their vision and competence. That absence drains energy, limits creativity, and narrows strategic choice. Jaclyn explains how resonant relationships, built on shared vision, compassion, and capability, restore courage and enable contributions that are both larger and more sustainable.

We also navigate a common tension for conscious leaders: feeling too evolved for traditional business spaces and too business-focused for spiritual ones. Bridging these worlds, Jaclyn argues, isn’t optional; it’s the missing infrastructure for purpose-led scale.

Jaclyn Orent is the co-founder of Cultural Catalysts™, a peer network for established leaders focused on resonance-driven growth, conscious leadership, and cultural impact. As the Frequency Architect of the Cultural Catalyst System, she integrates leadership science, intentional change theory, and transformational coaching to support purpose-led scale and sustainable success. 

LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaclynorent/

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/kova.orent

Link to Masterclass: The Science-Backed Secrets to Activate Your Highest Impact as a Cultural Catalyst Without Burning Out: 

https://www.culturalcontribution.com/masterclass

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Pain that no one can see can still define every hour of your day.

In this episode, we sit down with Dasha Maslennikova, a kinesiologist who spent 13 years navigating her own post-accident chronic pain. Together, we unpack how movement, mindset, and nervous system regulation can turn a stuck cycle into real, sustainable progress.

Rather than chasing quick fixes or waiting for a perfect test result, Dasha explains why active therapy builds resilience, how safety and trust quiet fear in the body, and what shifts when clinicians speak to human experience, not just charts and scans. We explore the bridge her studios create between physiotherapy and personal training, and why graded, evidence-based movement helps the nervous system update its threat response.

We talk candidly about invisible pain and the isolation it brings, the language gaps that leave patients feeling dismissed, and the limits of MRIs and lab work for something as subjective and real as pain. In the fibromyalgia segment, Dasha breaks down nervous system sensitivity and altered signaling without overpromising, instead pointing to practical levers such as pacing, strength training, emotional support, and consistency.

For older adults and caregivers, the fall-prevention conversation is a must-hear. Dasha explains why balance training alone isn’t enough, and how fast-twitch power and reaction time are essential skills for recovering from a trip or stumble, yet are rarely trained as we age.

We also explore how trauma and adverse events can prime the body for chronic pain, and why referrals to counseling or trauma-informed care can accelerate physical recovery. The throughline is hopeful and grounded: movement is medicine, change is possible, and the body often knows how to heal when given the right environment.

If you’re feeling stuck, unheard, or unsure where to start, this conversation offers clear steps and a new lens on what your body might be asking for. Listen, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and subscribe for more conversations that blend science, compassion, and real-world tools.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dasha-maslennikova-2547557b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/symmetrixvan/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SymmetrixVan

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Sometimes the hardest stories are the ones we can’t keep inside.

In this deeply honest episode, we sit down with Thomasine Snelick—known to friends and family as Tommi, a 27-year-old from rural Pennsylvania, who shares the devastating loss of her brother to suicide, and, just eighteen months later, the death of her stepfather. Two losses. One young life forever changed. What follows is an unguarded conversation about grief, mental health, addiction as a coping mechanism, and the quiet courage it takes to choose life again and again.

Tommi paints a vivid picture of her brother — tough, loyal, larger than life, while walking us through the long, uneven search for help: hospital stays, medication changes, and the exhausting hope that things might finally turn. She speaks candidly about the early months after his death, when alcohol felt like the only relief, and the pivotal moment when a coworker’s blunt compassion helped her choose sobriety.

We explore the silence that settled over her home, the fear of saying her brother’s name out loud, and the emotional weight of planning a funeral when everyone is already hollowed out by grief. Tommi also opens up about childhood abuse disguised as “help” at a horse farm, how she left horses to survive, and later reclaimed them on her own terms as part of her healing.

One of the most powerful moments in this episode is Tommi’s decision to rebuild her brother’s 2003 Ford F-250 as a living memorialm a hands-on act of love that gave structure to chaos and meaning to unbearable loss. Along the way, she shares practical tools that helped her survive: daily journaling to track mood and progress, breaking taboos around men’s mental health, and the simple but lifesaving power of checking in when something feels off.

This episode is for anyone navigating life after suicide loss, for siblings who grieve quietly, and for friends who want to help but don’t know how. 

If this conversation moves you, please share it with someone who might need it, subscribe for more real stories, and leave a review to help others find their way here.

Ways to reach Tommi:  

https://www.facebook.com/share/18773kZXWR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.tiktok.com/@tommileigh98?_r=1&_t=ZP-93SL9qK8Ucp

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when the life you’ve built looks successful, but quietly starves your spirit?

In this episode, author and book coach Amy Bernstein shares her journey from a high-paying, high-stress government career to a creative life built on courage, strategy, and radical self-honesty. What began as a fleeting thought on a train platform became a clear mandate, and instead of burning everything down, Amy chose a series of smart, sustainable pivots that changed her life.

We talk about the real mechanics of building a creative life: reclaiming time and energy, stacking small wins, and finding community before making big changes. Amy breaks down why so many aspiring authors stall, how to keep joy alive during endless revisions, and what it truly takes to finish a book.

We also dive into her practical guide, Wrangling the Doubt Monster, exploring how self-doubt is shaped by family dynamics and cultural pressures that value titles, money, and visibility over the quiet, unseen work of art. Instead of waiting for confidence, Amy shows how to move with doubt—and still make meaningful progress.

Plus, Amy offers a first look at Tent City, her upcoming speculative novel about a family clinging to the American dream during an economic collapse that feels uncomfortably possible.

If this episode nudged something awake in you, share it with a friend who needs the same reminder. If you haven’t yet, follow the show, rate it, and leave a review. It helps these conversations reach the people who need them most.

Website: https://amywrites.live

https://linkedin.com/in/amylbernstein

https://instagram.com/amylbernstein

https://facebook.com/AmyLBernsteinAuthor

https://amylbernsteinauthor.substack.com

https://medium.com/@amylbernstein

https://bsky.app/profile/amylbernstein.bsky.social

https://www.youtube.com/@amylbernstein00author

Pre-order Tent City now:
https://www.open-bks.com/library/moderns/tent-city/order.html

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

 What if the patterns repeating in your life are not random, but driven by thoughts you barely notice? 

In this episode, Julie Fairhurst interviews author and teacher Mikail Maillet to explore how awareness, belief, and imagination shape relationships, careers, and everyday meaning. 

Drawing from his book Your Mind or Your Life, Mikhail explains why mindset is not mystical thinking but a daily practice that combines imagination with action. 

Together, they discuss breaking relationship patterns, moving out of victimhood, choosing integrity in small moments, and using self-awareness to create real, lasting change. 

Get Mikail's book here:  https://www.yourmindoryourlife.com/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Your mind is already rehearsing your future, often by accident.

 Your mind is already rehearsing your future—often without you realizing it. In this episode, Julie Fairhurst explains the real science behind visualization and how mental rehearsal shapes identity, behavior, and success. Learn why your brain takes imagined experiences seriously, how worry uses the same mechanism as visualization, and how to consciously use your mind as a tool for leadership, confidence, and purposeful action. 

www.juliefairhurst.com

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Promotions don’t hinge on performance alone; they hinge on perception. In this 4-minute video, Julie Fairhurst breaks down the research behind executive presence and translates it into practical, repeatable behaviors ambitious professionals can use immediately, especially women navigating leadership spaces still shaped by old norms.

You’ll learn why high-performing women are often admired but overlooked, how quiet contributions lose leverage in meetings, and what actually shifts perception with decision makers. Julie shares a simple system for building a powerful, grounded presence: speaking early to frame conversations, using decisive language without defensiveness, anchoring calm through posture and breath, and designing key moments before they happen.

This isn’t about being louder or more aggressive. It’s about structure, clarity, and conviction, signals that communicate leadership before titles ever do.

If you’re ready to turn credibility into opportunity, try one tactic in your next meeting and notice what changes.

👉 Follow for more insights on ethical influence, leadership voice, and women’s authority
 👉 Share this with a colleague who needs a confidence boost
 👉 Leave a quick review to help more women find their voice

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What makes a reader forget the bath is running and the coffee went cold? We sit down with novelist Frank Talaber to map the exact blend of hooks, humor, and hard research that makes escape inevitable. Frank opens his playbook: how to seize attention on page one, how to layer smell, texture, sound, and light so a scene feels walked through, and why a well-timed joke inside a dark moment can keep momentum alive without breaking tension.

We dig into the craft choices that build trust—verifiable details from Victoria, Stanley Park, and Haida Gwaii—so the wild stuff can land: urban legends, paranormal threads, and moral stakes that lead to catharsis. Frank writes to be felt, not just understood, and he measures success in raw reader reactions: laughs out loud, closed-eye cinema, and honest confessions of missed alarms. He believes the good must win, not to tidy life, but to give the journey meaning and the payoff weight.

You’ll also hear how short stories become novels, why freewriting unlocks flow, and how walks and the edge of alpha state loosen the mind. Frank shares a new short story collection, awards, and a thriller premise with a chilling “what if” that reads like a film. We compare publishing routes, trim sizes, and cover design, and we tackle AI with a clear-eyed take: useful as a tool, risky as a voice. If you need a practical spark today, try this: write a scene you can smell, end it with a choice, and ask what has to be true for your hero to win.

Subscribe for more candid craft talks, share this with a writer who needs a push, and leave a review with your favorite opening line you’ve ever read. Your notes shape future episodes and help this community grow.

Join Frank's write group online:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/597136418615865

Email: twosoulmates@shaw.ca 

Webpage: https://franktalaberpublishedauthor.wordpress.com

Novels on Amazon. 
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Frank-Talaber/author/B00UC407R0
https://www.amazon.ca/Autumns-Summer-Felicity-Talisman/dp/1738658376 

My Novels on Audible
 https://www.audible.ca/author/Frank-Talaber/B00UC407R0
https://www.audible.ca/author/Felicity-Talisman/B0D322DCBR

My YouTube Channel. 
 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx5ki4gpdokN-9KAIZzu53w

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

We explore how real healing can happen without reopening old wounds by restoring safety in the body, rewiring implicit memories, and taking back power in the present. Kristen Windsor shares her journey from decades of diagnoses to creating embodied practices that make change last.

• the limits and harms of retelling trauma as a primary method
• the role of implicit memories in nervous system self-regulation
• what safety in the body feels like and how to build it
• nature, mindfulness, and narration to reconnect mind and body
• mapping layers: thoughts, emotions, somatics, nervous system
• embodied healing as a lifestyle, not a quick fix
• celebrating micro shifts to rewire motivation and trust
• moving from wound identity to purpose and dharma
• three daily anchors: love, awareness, presence

Download KRISTIN'S free 20-minute guided mirror practice on my website. Check out the 15-minute story video, message her on Instagram, and explore one-to-one support options:  

https://www.instagram.com/kristinsquantumcatalyzers

https://kristinkarina.wixsite.com/healyourself

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if the life you want starts when you stop apologizing for wanting it? Julie sits down with author and realtor Janie Steele, married at 16, mom by 20, now a grandmother at 50, to talk about reinvention that’s brave, messy, and deeply human. 

Janie didn’t just write a debut novel at 50; she self-published a 399-page, dialogue-rich story she’s actively pitching for the screen. Along the way, she faced divorce, grief for a chapter that ended, and the rollercoaster of algorithms and one-star reviews, and still chose belief over noise.

We dig into the guilt that shadows ambition after motherhood, how to protect your voice from comparison, and why “midlife” is closer to 35 than we like to admit. 

Janie shares practical insights on creative consistency, building momentum without permission, and turning manifestation into action: pitching city by city, sending physical packets, and treating every step as proof of commitment. 

We also explore the masks we wear, parent, partner, professional, and the relief of finally feeling like yourself again. The outcome she’s chasing isn’t just numbers; it’s impact, especially for causes she loves, and the chance to show women 50+ that record-breaking dreams don’t have an age limit.

At its core, this conversation is a permission slip: you can want a bigger life and still love the one you lived. You can accept guilt without letting it steer. You can be both tender and relentless. If you’ve felt late, tired, or behind, consider this your sign to start anyway. 

Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to tell us the first step you’ll take toward your next chapter.

Janie's Book:   https://a.co/d/bUazSzY

Janie's Website:  https://janiesteele.com/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if success stopped sounding like a checklist and started feeling like a life that actually fits? Julie unpacks a new, saner playbook for women who are done with proving, pleasing, and sprinting on fumes, and ready for a success that feels grounded, honest, and deeply theirs.

Instead of measuring yourself against someone else’s timeline, Julie leans into seasons: building, healing, resting, and reimagining. That shift dissolves the illusion of being late and makes space for strategic patience. 

From there, Julie explains how your story as a career asset, your lived experience, builds trust faster than any title. She dismantles burnout as a false badge of honor and shows why sustainable success allows room to breathe, think, and live. You’ll hear how a clean “no” becomes a power move, why confidence follows action, and how clarity emerges through motion rather than overthinking.

She chose depth over approval and built the support systems that growth requires: mentors, coaches, and honest communities that can hold space while we stretch. Julie talks about the grief of letting go of versions of ourselves that once kept us safe, and the freedom that follows. 

If you’re craving a practical, human path to meaningful work and a steady life, this is your guide to building without burning out and leading without leaving yourself. 

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a new definition of success, and leave a review to tell us which principle you’re claiming next.

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

The ground can vanish in an instant. When Leah Abrams’ 46-year marriage ended without warning, she fell into a full-body grief that shattered identity, routine, and the story she thought she was living. What followed wasn’t a dramatic comeback—it was the tiniest of choices, repeated: notice the sun on a pine, call a friend, take a breath. 

We sit down with Leah—life coach, grief guide, circle facilitator, and founder of Rise Well—to explore how divorce grief extends far beyond a signed document. 

She names the hidden losses many carry in silence: a home sold, a community scattered, a career halted, the family unit reshaped. Leah explains why healing must be trauma-informed and whole-body, tending to the physical, emotional, energetic, mental, and spiritual layers that store shock and memory. 

Lea’s story is also about belonging in a lonely age. She builds “sudden villages” through online circles—Mindful Monday to begin with intention, Thankful Thursday to close with self-compassion and gratitude—because bread doesn’t rise without yeast and warmth, and neither do we. 

She shares how her book, And Then She Grew Wings, emerged only after she could reread her own poems and recognize an evolution: wings don’t mean perfection, they mean permission to lift. 

 Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the practice that helps you rise.

My website - https://www.risewellcoaching.com/

Find me on Facebook at:  Facebook

Find me on LinkedIn -  LinkedIn

My book - ...and then she grew wings

Published by Palmetto Publishing

Find it online at: 

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

Powells Books

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What does it take to rebuild when life burns down everything you love? Julie sits with nurse, author, and founder Elisabeth Mack to trace a path from childhood trauma and family estrangement to a joyful marriage, a thriving wine business, and then the unthinkable: a financial collapse and her husband’s suicide. 

The turning point arrived in a chiropractor’s office, where a cannabis topical eased post-surgery pain and sparked a relentless study of the science. Drawing on decades as an RN and healthcare executive, Elisabeth launched Holistic Caring to translate research into practical cannabis care plans for pain, sleep, cancer symptoms, and autoimmune conditions. 

She shares the nuts and bolts: how to choose products, layer CBD and THC, and avoid trial-and-error by using clear protocols. We also explore the real-world barriers patients face, why dispensaries can’t offer medical guidance, and how CEU programs are training nurses to close that gap.

The conversation takes a tender turn with her mother’s dementia and cancer. Elizabeth offers honest, hard-won counsel on eldercare: tour communities early, choose before a crisis, and protect your options while preserving dignity. 

 Through every chapter, Elisabeth returns to a simple charge: keep the faith, forgive often, and turn survival into service.

If this story lifted you or gave you tools you can use, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a quick review. Your words help others find these conversations.

Holistic Caring & The Green Nurse - https://holisticcaring.com/

• The Green Nurse Substack - https://thegreennurse.substack.com/
• Wine, Women & Weed Book - https://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/869064-wine-women-and-weed 

Link to Products & Nurse Line: https://bloomhemp.com/ref/julie@changeyourpath.ca/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

A veteran RN lands in the ICU, faces eighteen prescriptions, and finds relief not from another pill, but from a plant she’d been taught to distrust. That moment, pain plummeting without feeling “high”, sent Sherry Mack deep into the endocannabinoid system and forward into a new mission: make cannabis nursing safe, clear, and stigma-free for patients who want their lives back.

We walk through the body’s overlooked regulator, the endocannabinoid system, and why deficiency can amplify pain, anxiety, insomnia, and stress.

 Sherry explains how phytocannabinoids mimic what the body should produce, why CBD-first approaches matter, and how precise ratios plus microdosing can restore function without impairment. She breaks down modes of use beyond smoking, what “therapeutic” truly means, and how to pair cannabinoids with simple habits, breathwork, sunlight, movement, and nutrition to strengthen outcomes. We also talk candidly about polypharmacy, drug–nutrient depletion, and how careful coaching helps people responsibly taper sleeping pills, anxiolytics, and opioids while staying safe around alcohol and avoiding crossfading.

Recognition of cannabis nursing by the American Nurses Association, scope and standards, and patchwork state laws all shape today’s care. Sherry shares pediatric and adult cases, the Charlotte’s Web legacy, and new data on menopause support using CBD, CBG, and THCV to improve focus, energy, and night sweats. Along the way, a family story shows how stigma can soften when results are clear and compassionate guidance leads.

If you’re curious about using cannabis as medicine, want to reduce side effects, or need a smarter framework than “more THC,” this conversation offers practical steps and credible resources, including education, CE for clinicians, and a free nurse line backed by a pharmacist. 

Subscribe, share with someone who needs a gentler path to relief, and leave a review to tell us what you want us to dig into next.

Sherri Bio - https://holisticcaring.com/team/sherri-mack/ 

Holistic Caring & The Green Nurse - www.holisticcaring.com 
Bloom Hemp CBD - www.bloomhemp.com
The Green Nurse Podcast Living Your Best Life - https://www.youtube.com/@thegreennurse 

Check out products and the FREE nurse line for help with questions,  link here:    https://bloomhemp.com/ref/julie@changeyourpath.ca/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

A single Facebook memory changes the course of a mother’s life: a daughter in danger, a family holding its breath, and a community stepping in at the right moment. From that moment, we open a wider lens on the drug crisis—what it looks like inside a home, inside a hospital, and inside the hearts of people who refuse to give up. Our guest, Brenda Lee Hunter, founded The Legacy Mission to turn grief into purpose by collecting stories from families and individuals living through addiction, loss, and recovery. These aren’t headlines. They are maps that lead us toward humane policies and practical help.

We talk about adoption and prenatal exposure, and the hard truth that love alone sometimes isn’t enough without support and structure. We push back on stereotypes with a sobering reality: many who die have housing, jobs, and families who love them. Visibility has distorted the narrative, making the street the stage while countless private battles go unseen. 

Brenda Lee explains why writing heals the writer first and then educates the world. Stories keep the light on for those we’ve lost and make it harder for leaders to ignore evidence.

The conversation also tackles thorny questions about involuntary care for minors, brain injury from repeated overdoses, and what a truly humane response should offer. If current approaches were working, deaths would be falling. So we look at strategies that do work: housing-first models with wraparound services, long-term care options, trauma-informed schools, and prevention for children born to exposed mothers. We reflect on programs that succeeded, until politics got in the way, and why courage in policy-making is non-negotiable when lives are at stake.

If this crisis has touched you, your voice matters. The Legacy Mission invites you to share your story for an upcoming book at no cost, honoring those who are here and those we miss. 

Listen, share this conversation with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more families find these resources. Your story might be the lifeline someone is waiting for.

WEBSITE:  https://thelegacymission.com/

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/4101376083451665

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Your body says something’s wrong. The room says you’re fine. That tension is where too many midlife women live, and it’s exactly where Sue Bartel refused to stay. After a hysterectomy sent her into a cascade of gut pain, brain fog, anxiety, and sleepless nights, she met a wall of medical dismissal, twenty doctors across two countries, and the same answer: go home. 

Instead, she built a map. We sit down with Sue, founder of My Unmess, to explore how she turned research, relentless self-advocacy, and community into real relief and a path others can follow.

Sue explains how hormone swings disrupt the brain-gut axis, making digestion, mood, and cognition wobble at once. She also calls out the structural gaps: minimal menopause education in medical training and decades of research centered on male bodies. Rather than despair, she offers a blueprint, stack practical habits, track patterns, and use targeted support.

 Her supplement, Headstrong, combines adaptogens, nootropics, and a bioenhancer to support energy, calm, sleep, and focus over time. No silver bullets, just smart chemistry and consistency.

Beyond biology, we dive into the human side of midlife: kids leaving, routines shifting, intimacy drifting, and identity getting blurry when symptoms are invisible. 

Sue’s weekly coaching circle and Facebook community create space to compare notes, rebuild confidence, and move from confusion to agency. She shares how to prepare for appointments, what questions to ask, and how to spot progress when it feels slow. 

The message throughout is empowering and clear: believe in yourself, find allies, and keep going. If you’ve been told to stop looking, press play and take back the narrative. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this, and leave a review to help more women find their footing.

Visite Sue's website:  https://myunmess.com/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if resilience isn’t about being tough, but learning how to let feelings move through you? That question sits at the center of our conversation with Angela Lee, author, teacher, and guide for families seeking emotional clarity and confidence. 

Angela opens up about losing her home to wildfire twice, spending 32 years in a toxic marriage, and the courageous choices that followed. Through those experiences, she discovered that material things can be replaced, but our relationships with others and with ourselves shape everything.

We dig into the real difference between emotional intelligence and emotional resilience. Angela shares her simple Feel, Name, Allow method and the science behind it: emotions follow a 90‑second biochemical wave, but our minds keep us looping in the story. 

We also explore cultural scripts that teach repression, “keep calm,” “be a man,” “don’t cry”, and how they disconnect kids and adults from their inner world. Angela explains why she writes fairy tales for middle-grade readers, offers parents and teachers practical tools to build emotional safety, and discusses rebuilding her identity after leaving her marriage. 

Her message to anyone still walking on eggshells is firm and compassionate: choose yourself, seek support, and step toward the light. The legacy she wants to leave is simple and profound: every child knowing they are magic, found in gratitude, presence, and love.

If this resonates, follow the show, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find these tools. Your story matters—and the next ninety seconds can change everything.

Here are a few ways to reach out to Angela:

Access articles and Children's Lives Matter episodes:  https://angelalegh.com/parenting-resource-center

Access the Bella Santini Chronicles series: https://angelalegh.com/middle-grade-book-series 

Website: https://bellasantini.com   

Magazine:

https://thelosangelestribunemagazine.com/articles/author/alegh/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if love doesn’t end when a life does? Natalie Mosley Klenotic joins us to share a story that begins with a teenage hug, spans oceans of Navy deployments, and lands on a day that shattered the life she was building. Hours after her husband’s fatal accident, the phone rang. The voice on the line was the one she knew better than her own. That moment didn’t erase grief; it gave it a shape and the courage to write it down.

We trace Natalie’s journey from an emotionally barren childhood to finding a partner who saw her fully and insisted on “see you later” instead of goodbye. She walks us through the hardest scenes with clarity: the alarms on the ship, the stunned friends, the journal pages that captured every word of an impossible call. Along the way, we explore what it means to carry loss for a lifetime without letting it define every day, how to honor continuing bonds without apology, and why “stages of grief” never tell the whole story.

Natalie also opens up about breaking the cycle of narcissistic parenting and choosing to build a different kind of family—one rooted in warmth, honesty, and resilience. We dig into her decision to self-publish six books, from memoir to children’s titles like Daddy’s Not Gone, each crafted to help readers talk about death, signs, pain, and hope in plain language. There’s practical insight here for anyone weighing traditional vs. indie publishing, and powerful encouragement for anyone wondering if their story matters. It does. It can even become someone else’s lifeline.

If this conversation moves you, share it with a friend who needs it, leave a review to help others find the show, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Your stories keep this community alive—what signs have you seen?

Find Natalie's Books and more information here:  https://www.nataliemosleyklenoticbooks.com/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Some stories knock the wind out of you and still leave you standing stronger. We sit down with Shannon Ferguson, co-founder and CEO of FanSaves, to trace how she built an international sports tech company while carrying complicated grief, the end of a marriage, and the quiet that follows when a big family becomes a small circle. 

Shannon takes us inside rooms where she was the only woman, where ideas landed only after a man repeated them, and where people asked if she was the secretary. She shares the practical and emotional steps that moved her from “cool girl who adapts” to “CEO who leads,” with an ally who redirected credit and invited respect. 

We break down what complicated grief really means, why the heaviest wave can hit after year one, and how the “backpack of rocks” metaphor reframes progress: the weight stays, you get stronger.

We also dig into Shanifesting, Shannon’s community for skeptics of manifesting. Instead of starting with buzzwords, she begins with self-concept: if you believe you are unworthy, no technique will stick. We explore mindset loops, small daily pattern shifts, and why authentic storytelling is a growth engine for founders. If you struggle to post, pitch, or be seen, Shannon’s advice is disarming and doable: begin where you are, keep the imperfect posts, and let your authentic voice do the heavy lifting.

Come for the sports tech journey; stay for the resilience, mindset tools, and honest lessons on grief, identity, and impact. If this conversation moved you or helped you reframe your next step, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find these stories.

FanSaves: www.fansaves.com

Shannon on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ShannonFerguson12

Website:  https://www.shannonferguson.ca/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

When grief stacks up, the mind scrambles for control, and the heart goes numb. We brought on Rhonda Dalvin Gilbert, a spiritual sherpa, author, and coach, to walk us through a month that tested everything: closing her brick-and-mortar shop, losing two family members, and saying goodbye to a beloved cat. What emerged isn’t a silver lining story, but a grounded map for moving through pain with dignity: a sacred pause, honest tools, and a clearer path back to center.

Rhonda unpacks why all therapy is grief therapy, because change requires letting go of timelines, identities, and expectations. She shows how to turn ordinary moments into ritual, using the never-ending prayer of daily life to restore presence. We dig into practical practices, talk therapy that names what hurts, mirror work to meet the inner child, tarot as a prompt for hard self-conversations, and energy work to settle the nervous system. The goal isn’t to predict the future; it’s to choose it with open eyes.

We go deep on forgiveness: how it differs from condoning, why it’s the most freeing decision you’ll make, and how releasing resentment returns color to your world. Rhonda shares stories that sparked her own shift, and we connect forgiveness with gratitude, intuition, and dreams. Learn how a single, specific nightly gratitude with a clear why can align your conscious and subconscious, and how tracking dreams over ten nights reveals the patterns your waking mind misses. Along the way, we talk agency, owning your past, and the courage to love when anger feels safer.

If you’re carrying loss—of a person, a role, a plan, or a past self—this conversation offers tools you can use today. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs a gentle guide, and leave a review to tell us: what are you ready to release next?

Rhonda on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/rhonda.devlingilbert

Goddess Garage Tarot Parlour :  https://www.facebook.com/thegoddessgarage

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if “too sensitive” is actually highly attuned, and the fastest path to finding your voice? Julie sits down with energy healer and ceremonial photographer Olivia Greenland to trace the arc from survival mode to self-trust, revealing how small somatic shifts and smart reframes can calm the body, quiet the ego, and let intuition lead.

Olivia shares early body clues —eczema, pain, and hypervigilance—that something was off, then explains how she learned to read her nervous system like a map. We dig into practical tools you can use anywhere: a 10-second bow that softens ego, a power pose that changes state, and body scans that spot where tension begins and how it spreads. 

Olivia’s photography becomes a living lab for transformation: “bad photos” aren’t failures, they’re messengers. By surfacing hidden energy through micro-movements and pairing it with compassionate reframes, clients watch alignment return in real time, posture tall, gaze steady, symmetry restored.

We also unpack why logic versus intuition is a false choice. Olivia blends neuroscience with energy work to show how posture, breath, and language give the brain the data it needs to trust the first quiet answer. 

Anxiety often starts in the body, so we work from the body up to interrupt loops before they harden. When scarcity thoughts appear, she honors the protector behind them. If you’ve ever felt dulled out yet overwhelmed, this conversation offers a clear path to reclaim safety, reframe self-critique, and integrate head and heart so your higher self can step fully into the frame.

If this resonates, tap follow, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show. Tell us: which simple practice will you try first?

Check out Olivia's Website:  https://oliviagreenlandphotography.ca/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Your body is always talking; most of us were never taught how to listen. With health educator and writer Claire Nielsen, we trace a candid arc from chronic inflammation and a cabinet full of meds to four months later, no flare, no prescriptions, and a blueprint built on food, thought, and grace. Claire shares how she reexamined “healthy” habits, identified inflammatory triggers, and used an anti-inflammatory eating approach to calm pain, gut issues, and fatigue. 

We also go straight into the heart of menopause. Claire unpacks why estrogen decline and insulin often travel together, how that drives weight redistribution and mood shifts, and what to do about it without shame or extremes. From stabilizing blood sugar and building muscle to sleeping for hormone balance, she offers practical steps that respect physiology. 

Her take on identity language, swapping “I am” for “I feel,” helps prevent struggle from becoming self-definition. And her frank story on pelvic floor surgery underscores why early pelvic physiotherapy can be a game-changer.

Threaded through it all is Claire’s commitment to accessible education. She publishes clear, free articles that translate research into action so you can navigate midlife health, inflammation, and mental wellness with confidence. If you’ve felt invisible, inflamed, or dismissed, this conversation offers a path back to agency and ease, no hacks, no shame, just daily choices that your cells can hear.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more women find the tools and language to heal from the inside out.

Reach out to Clarie:

https://elixirforlife.ca/

Check her many complementary Published Articles by Claire Nielsen

https://elixirforlife.ca/published-articles-1

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

A health crisis stole sensation from Meg Lush’s right side and gave her a story that wouldn’t let go. What started as a search for identity during an MS relapse became 120,000 words in six weeks, a self-published debut, and a year-long push to 800 sales. Julie sits down with Meg to unpack the exact steps behind her indie romance rise, from finding an editor by serendipity to learning Amazon and Kindle from scratch, and the unglamorous work of talking to strangers at markets until curiosity turned into readers.

We explore why she chose open-door romance, how dark themes and real grief shaped her characters, and what happens when you write from the body, not just the brain. When it came to marketing, Meg learned on her own. Suppose you’ve ever wondered how to market a first novel without a platform, her Indigo table stories. In that case, vendor market wins, and the Instagram growth playbook delivers practical, repeatable tactics that are lessons you need to learn.

There’s more on craft, too: writing intimacy with respect, depicting mental health with care, and letting lived experience deepen the stakes without exploiting pain. Meg also teases her next project, The One I Hurt, a darker, psychologically rich romance with a dash of mystery. The throughline is courage, saying no to perfection, claiming time to write, and letting passion become purpose. Press play to learn how to ship before you feel ready, connect with the right readers, and build momentum one honest conversation at a time. If this conversation moved you, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Grab Meg's Book here:    https://a.co/d/2SRHrUs

Connect with Meg on Social Media and her website:

https://linktr.ee/meglushwrites?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=941e8368-772b-43f7-b449-0de9baec4e2e

 Follow Meg on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/meglushwrites/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if a child’s “cute little booth” is actually the most powerful classroom they’ll ever enter? Julie sits down with Leah Ellis, founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, to unpack how real-world selling, smart storytelling, and low-risk practice can turn kids into confident builders who know how to pitch, price, pivot, and persevere.

Leah shares how painful labels in her own childhood led her to therapy, reparenting, and a mission to change the words kids hear about themselves. That clarity drives a unique program where children ages six to seventeen learn entrepreneurship, leadership, and financial literacy through a blend of narrative-based lessons and hands-on fairs. The results are surprising and delightful: a teen jeweler with serious design chops, a 3D-printing creator, a pin maker who sold out at a zoo gift shop, and a 13-year-old book lover curating genre bundles with custom top-10 bookmarks. 

We also dig into the bigger system. Only a few U.S. states protect kid-run ventures with lemonade stand laws, and Kansas isn’t one of them, yet. Leah walks us through the bill she drafted to expand freedom and safeguard earnings so families can say yes to more than two sales events a year. Along the way, we talk about parents as partners, not sole instructors, and how this education complements school by teaching application, communication, and resilience.

If you care about youth empowerment, small business skills, and practical financial literacy, this conversation will shift how you see a child’s idea. Subscribe, share with a parent or teacher, and leave a review to help more families discover hands-on entrepreneurship that starts today.

Check out https://societyofchildentrepreneurs.org/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Forget perfect posts. The fastest way to grow a devoted audience is to be someone people actually like, warm, human, generous, and consistent. We dig into the small, repeatable moves that turn a quiet feed into a lively community: micro-stories that carry emotion, comments that feel like real conversations, and visuals that look like life rather than ads. 

If your content has felt polished but distant, this is the reset.

We share a practical language shift: speak to one person using “you,” understand her hopes and fears, and write as if you’re talking to her. When someone thinks “they get me,” likability soars and trust follows. If you’re ready to trade gloss for resonance, press play and bring your audience closer, one honest post at a time.

If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who creates online, and leave a quick review so more people can find these conversations.

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if confidence isn’t a starting point but a result? Julie sits down with CEO Bente Roycroft to unpack how saying yes before you feel ready can change your career, your company, and your capacity. Starting with an English degree and a $20-per-report job, Bente learned HR, finance, and operations on the fly, helping grow a tiny environmental firm to nearly 100 people before stepping into the world of managed IT services.

We get into the real stuff leaders face: imposter syndrome that lingers, “valleys of death” on the growth curve, and the difference EOS can make when the visionary and integrator roles are clear. Bente shares how she transitioned from client to co-owner at Accurate, scaled the team to 60 people across Edmonton and Calgary, and maintained a strong culture by hiring, selling, and even firing in alignment with core values. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay authentic while making hard calls, you’ll take notes.

Then we shift to practical wins. We define technology debt and why “it still works” is a trap for small and midsize businesses. You’ll hear a simple security stack, MFA, strong passwords, tested backups, timely updates, and cyber insurance that reduces risk without bloat. For founders navigating change, Benta maps a playbook for clarity: explicit accountabilities, tight communication, and an accountability chart that prevents dropped balls. She also reveals a favourite modern tool, using AI as a thinking partner, to pressure test plans and surface blind spots before you roll them out.

If you lead a growing team, run a services firm, or just want a braver relationship with the unknown, this conversation will meet you where you are. Subscribe, share with a founder who needs a boost, and leave a review with one action you’re taking this week.

https://www.accuratenetworks.ca/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bentehallin/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Grief doesn’t follow a script, but stories can help us find the next line. I sit down with writer Lisa Ellis to trace how caregiving for her aunt with MS and then supporting her mother through stage 4 lung cancer led her to write books that guide families through loss. Lisa shares the moment a loyal golden lab confronted an intruder and became an unexpected lifeline, the practical realities of home care and safety, and the quiet ways independence disappears long before goodbye. Her account is tender, frank, and full of small strategies that make hard days survivable.

We move from the first poems she wrote in early 2022 to the three‑page letter she penned the day her mother learned the prognosis. Lisa opens the door on what cancer really demands: oxygen lines and walker routes, the shift from daughter to caregiver, the late‑night collapse that signals the end is near. She explains how writing helped her name feelings, avoid storing pain in her body, and turn raw experience into resources. 

Lisa’s mother had one final wish: to tell people everything they need to know. That promise powers this conversation. We talk about recognizing denial, granting permission to let go, and creating small rituals of hope, painted rocks, kind notes, and honest conversations. If you’re walking through MS, lung cancer, or any end‑of‑life journey, you’ll find practical guidance, emotional clarity, and a reminder that courage often looks like a letter written on a kitchen table.

If this resonated, subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review with one thing you learned or plan to try. Your words help another listener feel less alone.

Please support Lisa by purchasing a book. You can find her on Amazon:

I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand and Help You Stand

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

A comfortable paycheck, a long commute, and a life that no longer fit, Vanessa Bucceri walked away from a 12-year corporate run and into the unknown. Two days later, her department announced buyouts worth up to $90,000. That missed windfall could have become the regret that kept her stuck. Instead, it became fuel. With no cushion, she leaned into visibility, consistent outreach, and the kind of messy action that builds real momentum.

We dig into how Vanessa found her lane by following curiosity: a coding and visual design boot camp that bridged her love of aesthetics and strategy. Early projects for friends turned into paid work through local networking, and soon she spotted a gap in a crowded space, real estate branding and websites that felt templated and hollow. Her solution starts with strategy: define the niche, clarify values, and build a visual identity that signals trust. Then design websites that connect and convert, clear CTAs, smart email capture, and content that proves expertise. MLS/IDX features are useful, she explains, but connection should lead the first impression; neighborhood guides, community pages, and personal favorites make the experience human and boost local SEO.

We also get candid about perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Vanessa shares why sharing work-in-progress with clients beats polishing in isolation, and how action breeds confidence. Julie adds stories from real estate sales to show how consistency prevents feast-and-famine cycles, and why owning your platform matters more than chasing social algorithms. If you’re weighing a pivot, this conversation is a permission slip to start before you feel ready and to let small, imperfect moves compound into big outcomes.

If this story helped you rethink your next step, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s on the edge of a pivot, and leave a quick review to help more people find us.

Website: https://vanessabucceri.com/

Free Resources: https://vanessabucceri.com/resources

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessa.bucceri/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-bucceri-a4684038/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Your story is more than a tagline; it’s the engine of trust. We sit down with PR strategist Jenn Wint to unpack how small businesses turn lived experiences into narratives that win attention, earn credibility, and convert without feeling like ads. Jenn traces her path from real estate development to nearly two decades in PR, then gets practical about the difference between marketing and earned media, why perfect stories fall flat, and how to find the details only you can tell.

We explore the discovery process she uses to help founders surface a distinctive 'why,' the ways a story should evolve from a scrappy startup to team-led growth, and the specific tactics that drive traction: targeted pitches, thoughtful follow-ups, and collaborations that share audiences and backlinks. 

Jen offers a grounded reframe for visibility, especially for women entrepreneurs reluctant to self-promote, by anchoring every post, interview, or panel to service: make the story about the outcome your audience needs. We also explore local versus national angles, timely hooks like awareness days and seasonal trends, and simple tools like Google Trends to validate what people actually search for.

PR is a long game, and Jenn is clear about how to measure what matters when trust, not clicks, is the currency. She shares what to do when pitches fall flat, why consuming the media you want to be featured in is non-negotiable, and how to start with a zero-budget approach by defining a single call to action, crafting one or two signature stories, and placing them where your audience already pays attention. If you’ve been stuck between doing more and saying more, this conversation gives you the map and the momentum to move.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a nudge to tell their story, and leave a quick review so more small business owners can find us.

Website: https://wintcommunications.com/
Free PR Tips Download: https://wintcommunications.com/free-pr-tools

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenn_wint/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-wint/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if your most uncomfortable arguments were actually invitations to breathe, to notice, and to choose love without losing your boundaries? That’s the lens Annemarie Chereso brings to a life chapter that could have broken anyone: divorcing while eight months pregnant, navigating a colicky newborn, and parenting through a nervous system on edge. The turning point comes in a small but seismic moment — a kitchen tantrum over a sliced apple — and a single question that shifts everything: “Where am I?”

We unpack how that question redirects attention from fixing others to witnessing our own state: one of contraction in fear or openness in trust. Anne‑Marie explains why awareness is the first move, breath is the fastest regulator, and language is the lever that either closes hearts or opens them. She challenges the quiet myths we live by, such as “there’s no point” and “just let it go,” and shows how those stories fuel resentment. Instead, we explore welcoming our messy parts, practicing early micro repairs, and speaking clear requests without weaponizing righteousness. From social‑media clashes to everyday partner friction, you’ll hear how to step out of reactivity, own your part, and create a connection that lasts.

Along the way, we dig into forgiveness as a gift to yourself, not a free pass for harm, and how “love includes everything” is more than a pretty quote; it’s a daily practice of integrating shame, blame, and fear with curiosity and care. If you’re ready to turn conflict into a teacher, reclaim your voice, and build relationships that can hold the truth, this conversation offers tools you can use today: breathe, ask “Where am I?,” regulate, and return to repair.

Annmarie has outstanding resources available on her website. Take her FREE QUIZ: What keeps you stuck in conflict?  Access her Free 10-Minute Masterclass! Or purchase her book, The Perfectly Imperfect Family - Real Solutions for Mindful Parents Navigating Today’s Biggest Challenges.

Quiz: https://annmariechereso.me/quiz-v1/

Website: https://annmariechereso.me/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if the most complex parts of your story became the strongest parts of your future? We sit down with writer, coach, and mentor Trish Kimble to explore resilience that’s earned, not imagined, from a childhood marked by loss to parenting through addiction, then rebuilding with a clear mindset and a practical plan. Trish shares how she created a “wall of resilience” to contain grief without shutting out life, and how choosing an opportunistic attitude, backed by daily gratitude, set the stage for lasting change.

When COVID-19 cancelled her brand-new speaking calendar, Trish pivoted quickly, turning decades of executive administrative and bookkeeping experience into a thriving virtual assistant business. She breaks down why niching beats being a generalist, how to think like a client to win better work, and when to outsource instead of burning hours on DIY. We also delve into her training programs, ranging from a self-paced start-up path to next-level coaching that helps assistants transition into executive roles or scale their freelance services with clarity and confidence.

The conversation expands into Ageless Thriving, a program designed for women aged 55+ who feel invisible or stalled after experiencing health changes, grief, or significant life transitions. Trish makes the case for connection and movement as non-negotiables, offering simple ways to reconnect: join a networking group, build a routine, and let community replace isolation. Along the way, we honour the practical wisdom women accumulate over a lifetime, and how to turn it into meaningful work, mentorship, and everyday purpose.

If you’re craving a reset, this is your roadmap: choose your attitude, practice gratitude, niche your strengths, and show up where people expect you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a review with the mindset shift you’re choosing today.

https://blank-slate.ca 

https://invincibleva.com/invincible-va/ 

https://agelessthriving.ca/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Andrea McKenna Brankin's remarkable journey from a suicide attempt to becoming a powerful mental health advocate offers hope to anyone struggling with mental illness. Following her bipolar disorder diagnosis in her early thirties, Andrea chose a path of resilience rather than victimhood, transforming her eight-year recovery process into a roadmap for others.

The moment of diagnosis proved surprisingly liberating for Andrea. After years of extreme mood swings, reckless behavior, and deep depressions, she finally had an explanation for her experiences. "It was an absolute relief," she shares, "because I realized there's hope for change, treatment, normalcy, happiness, and joy." This perspective shift—viewing her diagnosis as the beginning of recovery rather than the end of normalcy—became the foundation for her healing journey.

As a seasoned journalist who worked across Boston, New York, London, and now Singapore, Andrea applied her professional drive to her mental health recovery. Her book "Bipolar Phoenix" outlines ten essential strategies that rebuilt her life, including establishing a treatment plan with medication as her cornerstone, finding supportive communities (her "rugby family"), seeking professional help, maintaining accountability through volunteering, practicing meditation as a yoga teacher, and learning self-love through daily practices.

Beyond her personal journey, Andrea addresses the cultural dimensions of mental health stigma through her volunteer work with Writing Through in Singapore and Vietnam and at Day Spring Treatment Center for traumatized teen girls. She speaks candidly about once-taboo topics like suicidal ideation, describing it not as a character flaw but as a symptom of illness that can be overcome with proper treatment. "I never thought I'd make it to 50," she reveals, explaining why each birthday now represents a tremendous victory over her former reality of constant suicidal thoughts.

Discover how acceptance becomes the first step toward healing in Andrea's powerful story of transformation from patient to advocate.

Reach out...

 Website: https://www.bipolarphoenix.com/

Email: Bppandrea@gmail.com

Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada & US)  988

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Alexandra Goldwell brings a rare combination of expertise as a therapist, clairvoyant healer, educator, and cancer survivor to this profound conversation about healing generational trauma and reconnecting with our body's wisdom.

From her early days studying psychology at 19, Alexandra has been driven by essential questions about suffering and healing that led her to explore diverse modalities worldwide. When confronted with stage four cancer, she faced what she calls a "pinnacle test" of everything she'd learned, choosing to approach her healing journey in a way that would ultimately serve others.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Alexandra explains how suppressed emotions manifest as physical ailments. "Any suppressed parts of ourselves end up getting twisted up and coming out in inflammation somewhere in the body," she explains. This emotional suppression traps our life force, leaving many people merely seeking ways to "keep going" rather than truly thriving.

For women especially, Alexandra identifies deeply ingrained ancestral patterns of prioritizing caregiving above personal needs. When asked what they need, most women "look like deer in headlights," having rarely considered the question. Breaking these patterns not only heals ourselves but ripples through future generations, affecting "the whole web of humanity."

Alexandra's healing approach combines traditional therapy with remarkable energy reading abilities that developed over her 25-year practice. She describes seeing thought patterns as spinning wheels and blockages as gray or clumped areas in a person's energy field. By identifying these patterns and their origins, she helps clients release them surprisingly quickly, allowing energy to flow freely again.

Whether you're struggling with anxiety, fertility challenges, or simply feeling disconnected from your purpose, Alexandra's compassionate message offers hope: "Be more gentle with yourself. You are so loved because you are love." 

INSTAGRAM

https://www.instagram.com/alexandragoldwell/

BOOK A CONSULT...

https://alexandra-goldwell-ma.square.site/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when passion meets purpose in marketing? Sandra Nomoto, self-described "Vegan Hype Woman," is revolutionizing how plant-based businesses promote themselves in a crowded marketplace.

Sandra's journey began with an unexpected, intuitive reading that suggested she would write a book. Discovering that only one outdated resource on vegan marketing existed, she seized the opportunity to fill this gap. Her book "Vegan Marketing Success Stories" showcases approximately 100 case studies of successful vegan businesses, catapulting her into speaking engagements and establishing her expertise in this growing niche.

The conversation explores what makes vegan marketing distinctive – while the tools remain identical to conventional marketing, the messaging can incorporate varying degrees of ethical positioning. This principle extends beyond veganism: any business can differentiate itself by authentically communicating its values. As Sandra eloquently puts it, "Your superpower is who you are."

We dive into practical content creation strategies, with Sandra cautioning against over-reliance on AI without personalization. The discussion highlights the importance of maintaining consistency between your written voice and speaking style, especially crucial for authors planning to speak about their books. Her insights on self-publishing versus traditional publishing offer valuable guidance for aspiring authors, emphasizing how books can open doors to professional speaking opportunities.

Perhaps most valuable is Sandra's warning about digital vulnerability. Both of us have shared personal experiences with social media account hacking and arbitrary platform restrictions, underscoring the necessity of building your business on digital assets you control.

Connect with Sandra: https://sandranomoto.com

Buy Sandra's book, Vegan Marketing Success Stories: https://sandranomoto.com/products

Or get Chapter 1 Vegan Marketing Success Stories and all her free and low- http://eepurl.com/htHwoD

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when a 12-year-old girl locks herself in a school counselor's office to escape her intoxicated, raging mother? For Katherine Ritchie, this moment became the catalyst for breaking generations of family trauma.

Katherine takes us through her harrowing childhood with a mother struggling with addiction and unresolved trauma. From bizarre 3 AM wake-up calls to rearranging furniture to having her mother's hand around her throat in a moment of intimidation, Katherine's story reveals the subtle yet devastating impact of emotional abuse.

After entering foster care, Katherine embarked on a healing journey that wasn't without its challenges. She shares the painful reality of watching her mother spiral further into addiction while she forged a new path with the support of a stable foster family. Through education, spirituality, and mindfulness, Katherine discovered practical ways to heal that transformed her life.

One of the most potent aspects of Katherine's story is her ongoing struggle to maintain appropriate boundaries with her mother. She speaks with raw honesty about the emotional toll of their volatile relationship and the moments of hope that make setting boundaries even harder. Her insights offer valuable guidance for anyone navigating complex family dynamics.

Today, Katherine has created a life filled with simple, healing practices – gardening with her daughter, knitting as a form of meditation, and finding joy in present-moment awareness.

Katherine is a former youth in care and mother to a three-year-old who has intentionally forged a path of self-discovery and resilience. She left her mother’s care to break the cycle of intergenerational abuse, cultivating self-love and healthy, reciprocal relationships. Outside of her personal journey, she enjoys gardening, knitting, crocheting, and training for triathlons. 

Katherine can be reached at katherineritchie1@gmail.com, through her LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-ritchie-bsw-ma-1095882a, or through her small business on social media, @vanislandknits on Instagram. 

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when a life begins with abandonment? Gloria Wiebe's story starts with being placed in a box in a snowbank as a newborn—rejected by a family consumed by religious shame. But that first act of rejection would neither define nor defeat her.

Gloria takes us on an unforgettable journey through abandonment, trauma, and ultimately, profound healing. She shares the pivotal moment when, as a young mother, she looked at her children and made the decision to break free from destructive patterns. "Gloria, get up, stand up, shake it off now, change your life," she told herself—a declaration that marked the beginning of her transformation.

The conversation delves deep into how trauma moves through generations, creating patterns of shame and unhealthy relationships that can persist for decades. Gloria explains how writing her chapter for "Beautiful, Broken and Becoming" forced her to unearth memories so deeply buried she wasn't even aware they existed. With raw honesty, she describes choosing pen and paper over digital tools, needing to channel her emotions from heart to hand to page physically.

Now living back in her hometown of Newfoundland, where her story began, Gloria has dedicated herself to helping other women heal more quickly than she did. Her mission stems from profound wisdom: trauma isn't something to get over, but something to work through and integrate into your story. This perspective allows for true healing and growth.

Gloria's message resonates with hopeful determination: "You are worth it. You are so much stronger than you think." Her story proves that resilience isn't just about surviving difficulty—it's about transforming pain into purpose and breaking cycles that have persisted for generations.

Join us for this powerful conversation about reclaiming your voice, breaking generational chains, and discovering the strength that lies within even the most painful beginnings.

https://www.gloriashealinghaven.com/

http://gloriashealinghaven.com/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if the beautiful nursery you've created for your baby is actually filled with invisible toxins? When interior designer Alexandra Shield found herself sitting on the empty floor of her unborn son's room, overwhelmed by research on harmful chemicals lurking in seemingly innocent furnishings, she knew she had to make a change.

Alexandra takes us on a journey through the hidden dangers in our homes – from PVC-laden blackout curtains that off-gas harmful phthalates to the chemicals coating "performance fabrics" marketed to families. With her decade of interior design experience and passion for sustainability, she reveals practical ways to create healthier spaces without breaking the bank or throwing everything away.

The conversation explores startling realities about our indoor environments: children's uniquely vulnerable physiology, the chemical cocktail hiding in household dust, and how standard building materials impact not just our families but farmers and ecosystems worldwide.  Alexandra breaks down what certifications actually matter (look for GOTS for textiles and Green Guard Gold for furniture) and which natural materials naturally perform better without added chemicals.

Beyond personal health, Alexandra addresses the staggering environmental impact of interior design – 10 million tons of furniture enter US landfills annually – and shares inspiring alternatives like upcycled marketplace finds, water-saving fixtures that conserve 6,000 liters per person yearly, and innovative materials made from coffee grounds and mushroom roots.

Whether you're designing a nursery, renovating a home, or simply becoming more conscious about your living space, this episode provides actionable wisdom for creating beautiful interiors that support both human and planetary health. Connect with Alexandra for her free guide on designing a healthy nursery or to learn how her virtual design services can transform your space from anywhere in the world.

 Free Gift:  https://www.alexshielddesign.com/sign-up-nursery-guide

 https://www.alexshielddesign.com

 https://www.instagram.com/alexshielddesign/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

The journey from talented creative to successful entrepreneur is rarely straightforward, especially when life throws unexpected challenges your way. Shea Bryars embodies resilience as she shares how she built a thriving interior design business while navigating single motherhood and overcoming breast cancer.

With disarming honesty, Shea reveals the pivotal moment she recognized her own limitations. "The smartest thing I ever did was hire my counterpart," she explains, highlighting how delegating financial tasks transformed her business. This wisdom applies universally: identify your unique strengths, focus intensely there, and partner with others who excel where you struggle. For creative entrepreneurs especially, this balance can mean the difference between burnout and sustainable success.

Shea's approach to design transcends aesthetics, focusing instead on how families actually live in their spaces. "My job is to create that home that looks like you, feels like you, gives you peace, and makes your family function the way you function," she shares. This philosophy has allowed her to expand beyond local clients through virtual design services, where she's discovered clients place even greater trust in her vision when distance separates them.

Perhaps most compelling is Shea's candid admission that despite 28 years of industry experience, she still battles imposter syndrome daily. In an Instagram-perfect world where comparison is constant, her mantra resonates deeply: "Don't compare your giftings to others. The Lord has you right where he wants you." This grounding in purpose rather than perfection has carried her through cancer treatment, raising teenagers alone, and building a business that honors both her talents and her priorities.

Whether you're considering entrepreneurship, facing a health crisis, or simply trying to balance work and family, Shea's story offers both practical strategies and profound encouragement. Success isn't measured by comparison to others but by creating work that authentically reflects your unique gifts while leaving room for what matters most.

website http://www.sheabryarsdesign.com/

 Instagram @sheabryarsdesign

Facebook @sheabryarsdesign

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when a 12-year-old girl and her horse form a bond that spans over three decades? In this heartfelt conversation, Tamara shares the remarkable story behind her chapter "A Girl and Her Horse: How the Adventure Came Alive" featured in the upcoming book "Beautiful, Broken and Becoming."

From guiding tourists on mountain trails as a pre-teen to competing across British Columbia, Washington, and Alberta, Tamara's journey with her horse, Chance, reveals something profound about healing and resilience. 

Now 34 years into their relationship, she describes with tender emotion how this extraordinary animal has been her constant companion through life's darkest moments. "He knows when my emotions change. He knows if I'm physically hurting," she explains, detailing how Chance adjusts his gait when she's in pain and has even stood perfectly still while she fell asleep leaning against him.

The conversation delves into the healing power of storytelling, as Tamara courageously addresses difficult experiences from her past. Having taken on adult responsibilities before finishing high school, she found in Chance the unconditional support sometimes missing elsewhere. Writing her story proved therapeutic: "I think I've had a little bit of weight lifted. It's not something that I'm holding just inside anymore." Her vulnerability reveals an important message for listeners—finding someone trustworthy, whether human or animal, with whom you can share your burdens rather than burying them deep inside.

You can reach out to Tamara here:  tamaraoram@gmail.com

Ready to be moved by this extraordinary bond between woman and horse? Discover Tamara's full story in "Beautiful, Broken and Becoming," available on Amazon from July 25th. If her insights resonated with you, consider how sharing your own story might provide unexpected healing.

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

The moment we begin giving away all our energy, attention, and care to others without replenishing ourselves, we start dwelling in an empty vessel. Stacey Collins knows this reality intimately.

Stacey, a writer, coach, and musician,shares her profound journey from trauma and loss to rediscovering herself. With raw honesty, Stacey reveals how contributing to the "Beautiful, Broken, Becoming" anthology became a pivotal step in her healing process.

"I had to stop worrying about everyone else and take care of me," Stacey explains, addressing the guilt many women feel when prioritizing their own needs. She compares neglecting self-care to maintaining a pool - without proper cleaning, we accumulate emotional "gunk" that affects our overall wellbeing. 

Perhaps most moving is Stacey's candid discussion about forgiveness, describing how she released herself from an "unforgiveness prison" she had created. 

She tells us about how she refused to surrender her "ashes" of pain, Stacey illuminates the complex journey of letting go.

For anyone feeling broken or lost, Stacey offers this gentle encouragement: "Remember that little girl that played at the park, that sang little songs... Remember those moments because they are key to coming back, to becoming, to resurrecting."

Instagram: @themommacollins

Free Song: bit.ly/letmeloveyousong

******************************************************************
Who is Julie Fairhurst?
Julie Fairhurst – Speaker, Author, and Founder of Women Like Me

Julie Fairhurst is a champion for women’s empowerment and the founder of the Women Like Me Book Program. Since 2019, she has published 30 books and 300+ true-life stories—at no cost to the writers—giving women a platform to heal, inspire, and reclaim their power. Dedicated to breaking generational trauma one story at a time, Julie’s mission is to uplift women emotionally and financially, helping them create better lives for themselves and their families.

REACH OUT TO JULIE FAIRHURST

https://juliefairhurst.com/

https://juliefairhurst.com/media-kit

https://juliefairhurst.com/free-women-like-me-magazine

https://juliefairhurst.com/podcast

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when the lessons from our childhood shape our ability to face adult challenges? Theresa Campbell's journey from competitive figure skating to published author reveals the profound impact of early mentorship and female friendship on conquering life's inevitable hardships.

Theresa joins host Julie Fairhurst to discuss her contribution to the upcoming book "Beautiful, Broken, and Becoming," releasing July 25th. Drawing from her background as a community newspaper reporter and educational assistant, Theresa articulates how her youth spent training on ice provided more than athletic skills—it built the mental fortitude and discipline needed to overcome anxiety, childhood trauma, and grief in adulthood.

The conversation takes us to a lakeside reunion where Theresa reconnects with her former skating teammates. This gathering becomes a powerful moment of recognition: these women, once united by their coach Lorinda's firm guidance, had each conquered significant life challenges using the resilience developed during those formative years. Theresa's story isn't about winning medals but about the triumph of perseverance and the sustaining power of female friendship.

For anyone struggling with creative expression, Theresa offers practical wisdom from Elizabeth Gilbert's "Big Magic," encouraging listeners to acknowledge fear without letting it control their creative process. Her advice is refreshingly actionable: establish a writing routine, embrace imperfection, and recognize that vulnerability in storytelling creates meaningful connections with readers. As she shares her experience of writing about her late husband, Theresa demonstrates how personal pain, when shared thoughtfully, can become a beacon for others navigating similar paths.

The episode concludes with a compelling discussion about finding purpose in later life stages, rejecting the notion that aging means irrelevance.

Want to connect with a community of women supporting each other's stories? Subscribe to Women Like Me and discover how shared experiences become stepping stones to personal and professional growth.

You can reach Theresa here: campbelltheresaj@gmail.com

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when a talented engineer reaches her breaking point with workplace inequality? She builds something better.

Monica Hernandez, founder of Infinity Growth, takes us through her remarkable journey from Colombian immigrant to successful entrepreneur and advocate for women in STEM fields. The turning point in her 17-year corporate engineering career came when she was instructed to pay an equally qualified female candidate less than a male counterpart simply because "she only asked for 80." That day, Monica decided if there was no workplace offering equal pay and opportunity, she would create one herself.

Our conversation explores the psychological conditioning that leads women to consistently ask for less than they deserve. Monica shares how mentors throughout her career encouraged her to "fit in" and "blend" rather than embrace her authentic self. This pattern extends across cultures, particularly in Latin American communities where women traditionally put themselves last. As Monica wisely observes, children don't learn from how they're treated, but from watching how their parents treat themselves.

The discussion ventures into eye-opening territory about male-dominated workplaces that overlook basic accommodations for women—like bathroom waste baskets for sanitary products in offshore facilities. These seemingly small oversights communicate powerful messages about who truly belongs in these professional environments and who remains an afterthought.

Monica offers profound wisdom through her favorite quotes, including "Life is beautiful and life is hard, and one doesn't cancel the other." She shares details about the upcoming WeDo (Women's Entrepreneurial Day) Summit in Vancouver on November 18th, and introduces us to her 12-year-old son Lucas's remarkable book "The Light Within," which offers simple yet powerful guidance for navigating stress and challenging emotions.

Listen to this episode for a masterclass in resilience, authentic leadership, and creating spaces where everyone can thrive. If you're seeking inspiration to break free from limiting environments and create something better, Monica's story will light your path forward.

YouTube: Welcome to the Materials.Business Podcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2p78aF08QzHdIydykh4SXM?si=0f787e5853c743d0

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/materials-business/id1754234797

And here is Luca's book's link again: https://a.co/d/6rk7KSI

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if the secret to success isn't about grinding harder, but about feeling better? Performance coach Brandi Hudson flips the script on achievement in this eye-opening conversation about reclaiming personal power.

Brandi Hudson is a Performance Coach, speaker, and former executive who helps ambitious professionals create sustainable results through a repeatable process for success that doesn't require burnout or spinout.

Her work combines strategy, systems, and emotional intelligence to help people trust their power and recognize that their success is inevitable. Before founding her coaching firm, Brandi spent 20 years leading national and international sales teams in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries. 

She's held executive roles across both Fortune 500 companies and startups, including Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Inspire, and Pfizer, at one point overseeing more than $250 million in annual revenue across the Americas. 

Brandi has spoken for Fortune 500 companies, world-class universities, and elite athletic organizations. She's been featured in national publications and interviewed on dozens of podcasts. In every space, she brings presence, precision, and power that moves people forward. Brandi is deeply committed to serving as the service chair of the Leadership Council for the Tipping Point Community and as a trustee for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She previously chaired the board at The Little School San Francisco, served as a National Board Member of Summer Search, and on the board of the St. Francis Foundation. 

In 2021, Brandi founded The Raise: Generations of Black Excellence, a mission-driven organization dedicated to increasing Black philanthropy at the University of Michigan. 

REACH OUT TO BRANDI HERE:

https://brandibhudson.com/

https://hibrandi.substack.com/

brandi@hibrandi.com

*******************************************************************
Julie

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

When was the last time you felt truly seen and heard? For award-winning tech professional Padma Dayananda, a dramatic wake-up call changed everything. After collapsing at her office and being rushed to the hospital, she discovered what many high-achieving women experience but rarely acknowledge – her body had been screaming for attention while her mind kept pushing forward.

"I used to dream of Excel sheets and project plans and strategies," Padma reveals in this raw, honest conversation. "I thought I'm really good at it, I love it, I thrive in this, until one day I collapsed." That terrifying moment – believing she might never see her 10-month-old daughter again – marked the beginning of a profound transformation. What followed was a journey into unprocessed grief, the discovery of "radical gratitude" as a daily practice, and eventually, the courageous decision to walk away from a 24-year career when organizational changes conflicted with her core values.

Padma shares game-changing concepts that have reshaped her approach to life and work: the power of pausing to identify what's truly holding you back, expanding your "circle of influence" by stepping into discomfort, and using the "visceral vision" technique to operate from a place of achievement rather than lack. Her story of advocating for exploited children in Indian construction sites demonstrates how one person can create meaningful change by simply asking, "What would I like to do?" rather than waiting for others to solve systemic problems.

For women feeling invisible or stuck in their careers, Padma offers both validation and practical guidance. "How many of you have sat at a table and shared your idea, people look at you and move on, then somebody else repeats the same idea and they're like 'wow, gravity has been discovered'?" Her coaching now focuses on helping women shed this "cloak of invisibility" and elevate their personal brand beyond organizational titles. Ready to reclaim your power? Connect with Padma through the links in our show notes to discover what might be holding you back and take your first steps toward transformation.

Book a FREE SESSION HERE:
https://link.coachfoundation.com/widget/bookings/wlm-special-spots

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when your entire world collapses in just four sentences? For Heather Shtuka, that moment came through a text message revealing her son Ryan hadn't returned from a house party. In this profoundly moving conversation, Heather shares her journey through what experts call "ambiguous loss" – the unique pain of grief without closure.

Heather takes us through the immediate aftermath of Ryan's disappearance in Sun Peaks, British Columbia, and the unexpected challenges that followed. When professional search teams departed after just one day, she and her husband, Scott, found themselves becoming impromptu search coordinators with no prior experience. This crash course in advocacy became the foundation for something remarkable: a way to help other families navigate the unimaginable.

The conversation explores Heather's memoir "Missing From Me," written in real-time during those early months of searching, providing raw insight into a parent's experience of ambiguous loss. Her words capture not just the pain but also surprising moments of beauty, purpose, and resilience that are discovered along the way. Perhaps most inspirational is how Heather transformed her grief into the Free Bird Project, a nonprofit supporting families of missing loved ones with practical resources and emotional guidance.

What began as a simple reference to Ryan's childhood love of dinosaurs has evolved into a global movement, with thousands of 3D-printed dinosaurs travelling the world, each bearing a QR code that shares his story and encourages acts of kindness. Through this creative legacy, Ryan's presence continues to inspire positive change, proving that love truly refuses to be silent.

Whether you've experienced profound loss or simply need reassurance that strength can emerge from our darkest moments, Heather's perspective will stay with you long after listening. Her powerful reminder that "you can do hard things" serves as both comfort and challenge to all of us facing life's most difficult circumstances.

https://www.ryanshtuka.com

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What happens when life forces you to rebuild from scratch? For Melodie Dee, a devastating divorce at age 33 became the unexpected catalyst for complete transformation. In this candid conversation with host Julie Fairhurst, Melodie reveals how she evolved from a shy, uncertain teacher into a confident marketing manager, coach, and entrepreneur by embracing vulnerability and taking consistent, courageous action.

Melodie's journey began with a decision to stop living for others and start honouring her authentic self. After analyzing what wasn't working in her teaching career, she took the terrifying leap into entrepreneurship just as the pandemic hit, forcing her to "jump out of the plane and build the parachute on the way down." This metaphor perfectly captures the exhilarating yet terrifying reality of reinvention that many women face.

The conversation delivers practical wisdom alongside personal revelation. Melodie dispels common misconceptions about social media marketing, explaining that Google now searches social profiles, making your online presence more crucial than ever. She emphasizes that meaningful connection with a small, engaged audience trumps chasing follower counts, and shares how vulnerability became her superpower in building authentic relationships.

Perhaps most powerful is Melodie's reflection on confidence itself—that it's built through consistent small steps outside your comfort zone, compound interest-style. Her mantra, "what other people think of me is none of my business," became the liberation she needed to make bold choices. For any woman facing transition, uncertainty, or the pull toward something more authentic, Melodie's message resonates: everything you need to overcome challenges is already within you. You just need to decide, then take the next step—whether that's a baby step or a giant leap.

https://www.melodiedee.com/

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

"You are strong, you are smart, you are beautiful." These words of affirmation that Shauna Browne whispers to her young granddaughters reflect the empowering leadership philosophy she brings to her thriving Molly Maid franchise.

From the moment Shauna takes us through her journey from helping at her parents' cleaning business to becoming a successful franchise owner herself, we discover what truly sets exceptional leaders apart. Her day begins at 5 AM - not just for physical exercise, but for the mental preparation that allows her to lead effectively. "If I'm not 100%," she explains, "who's going to look after everything?"

What makes this conversation particularly valuable is Shauna's candid insights into building a sustainable business in the challenging service industry. She's created something remarkable - a cleaning company where team members stay for decades in an industry known for high turnover. Her secret? "I hire for the heart," she reveals, seeking people who genuinely love helping others rather than just possessing technical skills.

Business owners will appreciate Shauna's practical wisdom on differentiating a premium service, balancing work with family life, and creating a positive workplace culture. Her daily practice of thanking each team member before they leave work acknowledges their humanity beyond their job function - especially important for the many single mothers on her staff who "go home and their day is just beginning."

For women considering entrepreneurship, Shauna offers both encouragement and realism. Having navigated from paycheck-to-paycheck living to award-winning business owner, she reminds us that success requires persistence and self-belief: "Don't let anyone tell you no." Her advice to find support systems beyond your immediate circle particularly resonates for those whose dreams might not be understood by everyone around them.

Ready for genuine business insights from someone who's built something meaningful while lifting others up? Listen now and discover how cleaning homes became a platform for changing lives.

www.mollymaid.ca 

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

A history teacher with deteriorating health takes a leap of faith into the unexpected world of long-haul trucking, only to discover it's the perfect path to becoming an award-winning author. This is the remarkable journey of Melodie Romeo (pen name Adele Lane), whose career transformations illuminate the power of reinvention.

After 24 years teaching history in Mississippi, Melodie faced a crossroads. The mounting pressures of education were taking a physical toll, yet starting over in an office job meant significant pay cuts. Her solution? Obtain a commercial driver's license and hit the open road. This bold move not only resolved her health issues but provided financial freedom and, surprisingly, more time to write than she ever had in the classroom.

"I was making two, three times as much as I did teaching school driving a truck," Melodie reveals, highlighting how her entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish Driving Edge Transport, her own trucking LLC. Traversing all 48 contiguous states, she found herself with productive hours to develop her craft between driving shifts.

Today, with approximately 35 books published on Amazon, Melodie specializes in historical fiction featuring strong, intelligent heroines who defy the traditional "damsel in distress" narrative. What shines throughout Melodie's story is her encouraging message to women contemplating their own reinventions: "Don't be afraid. 

Website: https://www.authoredalelane.com

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15264354.Edale_Lane

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/edale-lane

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Edale-Lane/e/B07GRFPDRZ/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorEdaleLane
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edale_lane/
X: https://x.com/EdaleLane

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to effortlessly attract their desires while others struggle despite their best efforts? The answer lies in understanding that manifestation isn't magical thinking; it's a precise energetic alignment that transforms wishes into reality.

Manifestation begins with speaking our desires aloud. "When I speak it, I'm giving my desire a name," the episode explains. "I'm declaring it out loud to the universe and myself." Words aren't just sounds; they're creative forces that generate momentum. By verbally articulating what we want, we activate a powerful process that extends beyond mere affirmation into the realm of energetic declaration.

The second crucial element is feeling. When we emotionally step into the state of already having what we desire, we shift our energetic frequency to match what we're calling in. "That feeling becomes my frequency," emphasizes the episode. This emotional alignment creates resonance with our desires on a quantum level, attracting circumstances and opportunities that vibrate at the same frequency. Rather than chasing what we want, we become a magnet for it.

The final component — belief — seals the manifestation process. "When I believe it, I remove the doubt, the second-guessing, the fear that I'm not worthy," the episode reveals. Belief eliminates the energetic interference of uncertainty, creating a clear channel for our desires to find us. When all three elements align — speaking, feeling, and believing — manifestation becomes not just possible but inevitable.

Ready to transform your relationship with manifestation? Listen now to discover how speaking, feeling, and believing can create a powerful energetic alignment that naturally draws your deepest desires toward you. 

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What does a 12-year-old author have to teach us about meditation, mindfulness, and discovering our inner light? The answer might surprise you.

Lucas Jacques joins us for a conversation that will leave you both inspired and humbled. At just 12 years old, Lucas has accomplished what many adults only dream of—authoring a powerful book called "The Light Within" that's packed with wisdom about connecting to your inner peace through mindfulness and friendship.

The journey began after a car accident when Lucas was just six years old. What started as a desire to write an "I Survived" story evolved into something much more profound as he grew and began practicing meditation around age eight. Now he uses various meditation techniques to manage emotions, improve sleep, and even connect with departed loved ones—practices he sometimes shares with close friends.

Far from being just a young person dabbling in writing, Lucas displays remarkable insight throughout our conversation. When asked what message he hopes readers take from his book, his answer is profoundly simple: "Never quit." He astutely observes that "more grown-ups quit than children do," and when discussing the inner light at the center of his book, he shares the beautiful wisdom that "Try not to find it, it will find you."

Lucas is already planning his next projects, including a book to help children overcome fear of dental visits and potentially continuing "The Light Within" as a series. His parting advice? "Always stay positive, and if you think positive, you'll always achieve what you need to achieve."

Listen to this episode, then share it with someone who needs a reminder that wisdom can come from unexpected sources, and that the light we're all searching for might already be searching for us.

Book Link: https://a.co/d/7xO32Gt 

My email to contact Lucas: h.monica80@gmail.com 

Luca's Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/braccialetto_by_lucas?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

Step into the imaginative world of Frank Talaber, a prolific Canadian author who has mastered the art of blending mystery, spirituality, and the supernatural. 

Frank's journey began with "Ravens Lament," inspired by the sacred golden spruce of Haida Gwaii. What makes his creative process truly remarkable is his connection to the stories themselves. At Victoria Museum, he experienced voices attempting to communicate with him, which a First Nations reader later suggested was spirits reaching out to someone who could share their narratives. This profound experience shaped Frank's approach to weaving Indigenous and Celtic traditions into contemporary fiction that resonates with readers on a spiritual level.

Unlike many writers, Frank dismisses the concept of writer's block entirely. Through a technique learned in his high school creative writing class, writing continuously without concern for grammar or punctuation, he allows his creativity to flow unimpeded. 

Frank's commitment to authenticity shines through his research process, which he considers foundational to great storytelling. 

His advice to aspiring writers is refreshingly straightforward: persist through rejection (he received 398 before his first acceptance) and trust your creative instincts.

Email: twosoulmates@shaw.ca 

Webpage

https://franktalaberpublishedauthor.wordpress.com

Novels on Amazon. 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Frank-Talaber/author/B00UC407R0

https://www.amazon.ca/Autumns-Summer-Felicity-Talisman/dp/1738658376 

My Novels on Audible

 https://www.audible.ca/author/Frank-Talaber/B00UC407R0

https://www.audible.ca/author/Felicity-Talisman/B0D322DCBR

My YouTube Channel. 

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx5ki4gpdokN-9KAIZzu53w

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

Julie's Website

What if the biggest barriers to your success aren't external obstacles, but hidden patterns within your own subconscious? Transformational coach Brittni Cosgrove reveals how our magnetic energy attracts precisely what we're internally aligned with – for better or worse.

Drawing from her extensive experience as a certified master coach, breathwork facilitator, and resident coach for the nonprofit Travel Through Trauma, Brittni shares powerful insights about breaking free from self-sabotage. She explains that true magnetism comes not from what we do, but from who we authentically are, highlighting how radical self-acceptance creates a magnetic field that attracts opportunities aligned with our deepest values.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Brittni demonstrates how subconscious set points – formed primarily in childhood – create invisible ceilings in our lives. Through a simple breathing exercise and compelling client stories, she shows how these hidden barriers manifest in business and relationships, often contradicting our conscious goals. One particularly striking example involves a client who had unconsciously linked increased business revenue with divorce risk based on childhood experiences, effectively sabotaging her financial growth despite her best strategic efforts.

Brittni also shares the transformative power of somatic practices such as breathwork, explaining how they help us move beyond mental processing to access the wisdom stored in our bodies. This approach recognizes that many limitations aren't logical problems to be solved but energetic patterns to be released. The discussion extends to her work with Travel Through Trauma, where the combination of coaching and solo international travel creates powerful breakthroughs for young adults from underprivileged backgrounds.

• Website: brittnicosgrove.com
• Instagram: @brittni.cosgrove
• Claim Your Complimentary Session: https://forms.gle/WUdBEKRSeD4NP9R86 
• Our Nonprofit: TravelThroughTrauma.org