Finding Your Fierce

What if the problem you’ve been avoiding is the very thing holding you back? In this episode of Finding Your FIERCE , Vincent Glenn Hamilton, a former professional basketball player, record-setting athlete, and lifelong mentor, shares a powerful perspective on why avoiding problems doesn’t make them disappear. It often leads to bigger problems and harder consequences down the road. From leading an...

What happens when you realize your "stable" life is actually just stagnation? In this episode of Finding Your FIERCE , Carolyn Colleen sits down with educator and advocate Chad Dull to explore a midlife transformation that turned a safe career into a mission-driven Odyssey. After 20 years of "doing some good" from a professional distance, Chad faced a pivotal moment when he realized the systems he...

What if the moment that nearly broke you… was actually the moment that revealed who you truly are? In this powerful episode of Finding Your FIERCE , Carolyn Colleen sits down with media personality, keynote speaker, and author Erika Rothenberger — a dynamic voice on audacity, leadership, and resilience. Erika has appeared on FOX News and has been featured across major media outlets. In 2025, she w...

Four years is a long time to spend on a degree that doesn’t fit you. Choosing a major is one of the biggest decisions students make—often before they’ve ever experienced what the work in that field actually looks like. In this episode of Finding Your Fierce , we sit down with Wendi Witzke , Program Director of the Legal Studies and Paralegal Program at Western Technical College . With more than 20...

In this powerful episode of Finding Your FIERCE , Emilene Anna — He-ART-ist of Wholeness, midlife mom of four, CrossFit athlete, and founder of Driftless Retreats & Studios — shares the sacred transition that changed everything. After 22+ years behind the chair and thousands of heart-to-heart conversations, Emilene realized she had been performing for love — building success, serving others, a...

In this episode of Finding Your FIERCE , Jodi Vandenberg-Daves explores what it means to lead with courage inside systems that were never designed for women to thrive. Drawing on her work as a historian, leadership coach, and author of Leading With Courage , Jodi unpacks how women navigate careers, leadership, and caregiving within institutions that reward conformity, undervalue emotional labor, a...

What if healing doesn’t come from fighting your way through grief but from accepting what is, one honest step at a time? In this powerful episode of Finding Your Fierce , host Carolyn Colleen sits down with John DeDakis: award-winning novelist, writing coach, and former Senior Copy Editor for CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer to explore the quiet, courageous work of healing through loss....

What if chronic pain isn’t just physical? In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Brianna Greenspan—inspirational author, speaker, and CEO of Brianna Greenspan International (BGI)—shares her powerful journey of overcoming debilitating symptoms and unimaginable suffering to reclaim her life. As a global leader in educational training, tools, and support, Brianna reveals the unexpected truth...

What if chronic pain isn’t just physical? In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Patricia Nesler, a chronic pain specialist, shares her powerful journey of overcoming fear, trauma, and physical suffering to reclaim her life. From navigating a traumatic birth experience to discovering the mind-body connection in healing, Trish reveals the unexpected truths about pain, resilience, and the p...

Carolyn sits down with Pam Dunwald, a veteran nurse turned fierce advocate for aging adults. With over 40 years in healthcare, Pam has seen it all—families lost in medical jargon, patients overlooked, and a system that often forgets its most vulnerable. She shares moments from challenges she faced standing up in a broken system, and how she found her voice as a nurse advocate. From confronting age...

Carolyn sits down with Jan Dégallier, a strategic business coach and consultant who transitioned from a long corporate finance career to entrepreneurship. Jan shares how she stepped away from a secure, traditional path to build a business centered on helping entrepreneurs and small business owners understand their numbers and make evidence-based decisions. She explains the power of tools like scor...

Holly Hibbard is an expert in emotional intelligence, relationships, mindfulness, and leadership, and she has a coaching and consulting practice. She is sharing her story about moving from survival mode to a forward-looking visionary mindset. Carolyn and Holly discuss how asking the right questions—not just of others but of yourself—can lead to profound breakthroughs. Holly shares her knowledge fr...

Jeff Lindley shares his remarkable journey from a 25-year career in construction to founding his own bookkeeping and CFO services business for tradespeople. Jeff opens up about the years he spent paralyzed by fear of failure, the pivotal moments that sparked his leap into entrepreneurship, and the unrelenting drive that keeps him moving forward. He delves into the power of clear processes, digital...

Cathy Christen is an author, speaker, coach, and entrepreneur here to share her journey where she overcame challenges early on and began to thrive in business and life. She talks about the power of mentorship, community, and intentional living. She also explains how embracing collaboration shifted her approach to success. Cathy lets us in on the tools and strategies she’s used to get through diffi...

Carolyn sits down with Kylee Leota to discuss the life-changing results of self-leadership. Kylee shares her journey from overcoming adversity to building a life rooted in alignment and intentional choices. She talks about how recognizing unconscious patterns, taking small but meaningful steps, and embracing personal and professional harmony can lead to profound change. Kylee also points out the i...

Carolyn sits down with Mike Vera to discuss how values shape our health choices, often without us realizing. Mike wants you to question what you think you know about health and explore how unseen influences, from societal norms to corporate messaging, can steer your decisions. Together, they talk about the importance of self-advocacy, why it’s crucial to develop a healthy sense of skepticism, and...

Carolyn sits down with EmmyLou Houston, a woman whose journey from chronic illness to vibrant health and purpose inspires a new approach to fierce living. EmmyLou shares the pivotal moments that pushed her to break free from a life of "checking boxes" and step into a life filled with faith, health, and intentional growth. They talk about the importance of community, the power of nourishing the bod...

Mia J. Hanks shares her powerful journey of surviving 29 years of marriage to a covert narcissist. She discusses how covert narcissism differs from the more overt type, explaining the silent manipulation and emotional control she endured. Mia reveals the turning point that led her to leave the relationship, the challenges of escaping such a deeply controlling environment, and how she rebuilt her l...

Jaime Swartz, founder of Options Trading Goddess, breaks down the essentials of options trading. From her engineering background to her passion for financial freedom, Jaime shares how options trading can empower individuals to take control of their financial futures. She explains the mechanics behind options trading, offers strategies for beginners, and dispels common fears. Whether you’re new to...

Madhavi Parikh is here to share how she went from growing up in India to becoming a physician assistant in the U.S., where she integrates meditation and medicine to help cancer patients. She talks about how her meditation practice transformed her view of healing and how it empowers patients to face their diagnosis with a new mindset. Madhavi explains the importance of balancing traditional treatme...

Adrienne Green shares how she went from a 9-to-5 job in teaching to building a life of financial and location freedom through real estate investing. She breaks down what she’s been through on her journey, including the important decisions that led to her success and how leveraging virtual assistants allowed her to scale her business quickly. Adrienne also gives tips on how to get started with real...

Jacquiline Cox shares her powerful journey of overcoming adversity, from surviving domestic violence and homelessness to becoming a bestselling author and advocate. She talks about the strength she found in faith, the importance of telling your story, and how she’s using her platform to help others break generational curses and rise above life’s challenges. Jacquiline opens up about the struggles...

Today we’re sharing an episode from Dr. Nicole Bossard’s podcast, Practicing Positivity, where she interviewed your host, Dr. Carolyn Colleen. Dr. Carolyn shares how to confront fear and use it as fuel for fierce, positive action. She introduces her BFF method—Breathe, Focus, Fierce Action—designed to help you build resilience, one five-minute step at a time. Dr. Carolyn covers the realities of ov...

Dr. Nicole Bossard shares insights on the intersection of purpose, positivity, and authentic leadership. Dr. Nicole urges you to rethink what it means to live with purpose and how a positive mindset can be a game-changer, even in the face of adversity. She also touches on the real impact of imposter syndrome and how embracing it can lead to personal and professional growth. You’re going to gain st...

In this episode, Zoe de Boer shares her journey from aspiring Broadway star to becoming a passionate advocate for body positivity and faith. She reveals the challenges she faced in the performing arts world and how a life-altering decision led her to pursue theology. Zoe opens up about the pressures of body image, the importance of daily routines, and her newfound purpose in public speaking. This...