Chats from the Blog Cabin

What if the way we parent today could determine whether our children grow up confident—or constantly questioning their worth? In this insightful episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin , host Melissa Vera sits down with psychologist and author Dr. Lisa to discuss her powerful book, Your Child's Greatness: A Parent's Guide to Raising Children Without Imposter Syndrome. Together they explore th...

My grandmother survived abuse, raised eight children alone, lost two babies, and later became legally blind—yet she never let any of it define her life. A powerful tribute to Melissa Vera’s grandmother, Hazel Ruth Miriam Greene , whose life as a single mother, domestic abuse survivor, and legally blind caregiver shaped generations and inspired a legacy of compassion and service.

How do you honor someone’s life through storytelling? Jen shares the powerful journey of bringing Befriending Betsy to life. In this Women’s History Month episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin , Melissa Vera interviews Jen, co-author of Befriending Betsy . Jen shares her journey from teacher to author and how she worked with Betsy’s husband to bring Betsy’s inspiring life and passion for animal wel...

A powerful look at how one nonprofit is rescuing stray cats and turning compassion into life-saving second chances. In this heartwarming episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin , Melissa Vera shines a light on the incredible work being done by Kata’s Cats , a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and fostering stray and abandoned cats. Through compassion, dedication, and the power of community, Kata’s Cats...

What if the biggest question of your life was “Who am I?” — and the answers were hidden behind sealed records and a lifetime of silence? In this powerful episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin , Melissa Vera sits down with Janet Sherland to explore the complex journey of adoption, identity, and healing. Adopted at six weeks old, Janet shares her emotional search for her biological roots and the deep...

What if one of the most influential women in the White House wasn’t the First Lady—but a caregiver whose name history barely remembers? In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera shares the story of Miss Mary, the beloved nanny who helped care for Amy Carter while her father, Jimmy Carter, served as President of the United States. While presidents and political figures fill history...

Substance use disorder impacts more than just the person struggling—it deeply affects the entire family. In this powerful conversation, Lisa opens up about her family's journey through addiction and the vital concept of parallel recovery , where families heal alongside their loved ones. Melissa and Lisa discuss the emotional challenges families face, how to establish healthy boundaries, and wh...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, host Melissa Vera sits down with Dr. Nicki for an honest conversation about grief, healing, and discovering purpose through life’s hardest moments. Dr. Nicki shares the deeply personal story behind her book, The Divine Traumatty of Nicki Joy, revealing how profound loss and life’s unexpected challenges shaped her journey toward s...

In this heartfelt episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera reflects on the power of finding and nurturing your tribe — the women who walk beside you through life’s highs, lows, and everything in between. During Women's History Month, Melissa shares personal stories about the friendships that have shaped her life, reminding us that true strength isn’t about doing life alone. It’s abou...

What happens when life’s hardest moments become the inspiration for something meaningful? In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa speaks with author René about the personal tragedy that inspired her to write a powerful children’s book centered on resilience, hope, and determination. Through beautiful nature metaphors, her story helps young readers—and adults—understand that challenge...

Step back in time and explore the fascinating world of ancient Egypt in this special Women’s History Month episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin. Melissa is joined by Egyptologist Laura to discuss the powerful and often overlooked roles women played in one of the world’s most iconic civilizations. From queens and priestesses to everyday women whose lives were recorded in temples and tombs, this con...

In this inspiring episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa sits down with Dr. Christine, a nurse and peak performance coach dedicated to helping children, teens, and young adults develop the mindset they need to thrive. Drawing from both her medical background and performance coaching experience, Dr. Christine shares powerful strategies that help young people overcome adversity, strengthen th...

In this deeply personal episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin , Melissa Vera opens her heart in a touching tribute to her three daughters. This episode is more than a conversation—it’s a love letter. Melissa reflects on the journey of raising three remarkable young women , sharing stories of grief, strength, independence, and unconditional love. From the lessons learned through motherhood to the wa...

In this deeply moving episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, host Melissa Vera sits down with acclaimed author Sue William Silverman to talk about the courage it takes to write the stories that hurt the most. Sue opens up about her journey of writing through a traumatic past that included childhood abuse and addiction, and how creative nonfiction and short essays helped her transform pain into powe...

What if the healing we’re searching for is waiting right outside our door? 🌿 In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin , host Melissa Vera sits down with author Diane , the writer behind the beautiful book Infinite Paradise, Witnessing the Wild . Together they explore the powerful connection between nature, healing, and creativity . Diane shares how writing this book became a heartfelt tribute...

What happens when life changes in an instant? In this heartfelt episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, host Melissa Vera sits down with Amanda, a stage two breast cancer thriver and author of Finding Hope and Joy in Cancer. Amanda opens up about the moment her life changed, the emotional and physical challenges of treatment, and the strength it took to keep moving forward when the road felt uncerta...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera highlights the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cells, taken without her consent, have contributed to numerous medical breakthroughs. The discussion emphasizes the importance of informed consent, medical ethics, and the often-overlooked contributions of women in history. Melissa reflects on the impact of...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, host Melissa engages in a heartfelt conversation with writer Susie Eller, celebrating Women's History Month. They discuss Susie's journey as a writer, the importance of compassion in the writing community, and the changes in the publishing industry. Susie shares her experiences with personal loss and grief, emphasizing the power of community support an...

In this special Women’s History Month episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin , I’m sharing a heartfelt thank you to the woman and the movement that helped change my life. What started as simply following a program became something so much deeper. Through joining All In and watching the journey of Teddi Mellencamp , I found strength I didn’t know I had, courage to step forward, and confidence that ha...

Welcome to a brand new series celebrating the strength, stories, and impact of incredible women for Women’s History Month! In this special kickoff episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin , I’m reintroducing myself and sharing the heart behind this month-long journey of honoring women who inspire, uplift, and lead with courage. Throughout this series, we’ll dive into meaningful conversations, powerful...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa interviews Mike, the author of 'Reviving Our Republic.' They discuss the historical context of George Washington's leadership, the inspiration behind the book, and the feedback it has received. The conversation delves into the relevance of Washington's legacy today, the challenges of immigration policy, and the importance of adh...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera speaks with Dr. Paul D. Corona, a psychiatrist and author of 'The Corona Protocol.' They discuss Dr. Corona's journey from family medicine to psychiatry, the importance of understanding the mind-body connection, and the role of medication in mental health treatment. Dr. Corona emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to pati...

In this heartfelt podcast episode, I reflect on the Super Bowl halftime show and the conversations that followed — especially the discomfort some expressed when a message of love came from a brown voice and in another language. I ask the honest question: Are we rejecting the message of love because of who delivers it? From a brief history lesson about the land we live on to my personal experiences...

In this episode of the Chats from the Blog Cabin podcast, host Melissa welcomes Bethany, an attorney and author of "The FemTech Revolution," to discuss the critical topic of women's health innovations and the role of femtech in addressing long-overlooked health issues. They explore how femtech is revolutionizing women's healthcare, from cycle tracking to menopause management, whi...

n this episode of 'Chats from the Blog Cabin,' host Melissa speaks with Dr. Alicia Lamborghini-West, a psychologist and co-author of 'Tipsy: A Woman's Self-Guided Method for Managing Alcohol.' They discuss the social pressures women face regarding alcohol consumption, the unique aspects of feminine drinking culture, and the emotional connections women have with alcohol. Dr. Ali...