Forgive Yourself

"You don't need permission to be powerful. You don't need to apologize for showing up as you are. Your voice matters. And it's time the world hears your voice clearly and confidently." In this empowering episode, I introduce the No Sorry Challenge – a simple yet transformative 24-hour commitment to stop saying "sorry" unless it's truly warranted. As someone who's navigated my own journey from cons...

“If you feel like you're at rock bottom and you've hit a wall and you have nowhere else to go, it's actually an exciting place to be." - Coach Sara Today, I welcome kindred spirit Sara Olson—artist, author, and empowerment coach—who shares her transformative journey from pain to purpose through the healing powers of forgiveness and creative expression. Our conversation flows naturally into deep wa...

"There's a big difference between saying sorry for hurting someone and saying sorry for just existing." In this heartfelt episode, I explore the deeply ingrained habit of over-apologizing – something many of us do without even realizing it. Drawing from both personal experience and historical context, I unpack why women in particular tend to say "I'm sorry" when we've done nothing wrong. Have you...

In today's episode, I'm sharing e the importance of starting the new year with a clean slate and how to transform perceived mistakes into valuable lessons that propel us forward. We'll dive into a powerful process for identifying and working through regrets, offering you practical and spiritual insights to release what holds you back. Grab a pen and paper as we walk through steps to shift your per...

"When you love someone with all your heart and you have dreams and plans and you share these little secrets, right? You have these little code words and they're your person, they're the ones that you call when you see something funny or you have these little symbols, you have these inside jokes, you have these plans and these dreams that are gone, taken out right from underneath you. The rug pulle...

"By forgiving ourselves and others, we create room for personal development and expansion. It does require deep introspection, it does require empathy, and it does require courage to confront our own shortcomings." In this episode, we're diving deep into a truly transformative journey—one that takes us through the stages of healing and forgiveness, and how they can radically change our lives for t...

"All it takes is one person stepping forward in a generation to do the work that it takes to heal a pattern." Today, I dive deep into the transformative journey of healing family wounds through generational forgiveness. Drawing from my personal experiences and family story, I explore how unresolved conflicts and buried secrets can create emotional distance that spans generations. Like the saying "...

"Forgiveness is so important...because I was willing to forgive and not let it hold me hostage, because then I sit home brewing while they're off having a great life." - Laurie Hardie In this powerful episode, I welcome Laurie Hardie, a Seattle radio personality and recovery coach with 35 years of broadcasting experience. We dive deep into how trauma and isolation, especially during COVID, af...

"Forgiveness is actually about you. Your emotional freedom, your inner peace, and your journey towards healing. It is an act of self liberation that allows you to let go of the heavy burdens tied to resentment and pain and shame and guilt." In this heartfelt episode, I address a profound question from one of my clients: How is forgiveness a gift to the forgiver and not the person who caused harm?...

"Forgiveness is not a thing. It's an act. It's an action. To me, it's a verb." - Louisa Hext In this powerful episode, I welcome fellow forgiveness coach Louisa Hext, who brings a unique perspective shaped by her work with the F Word Stories of Forgiveness exhibition and her family's Holocaust survival story. Louisa shares the remarkable story of Eva Kor, a Holocaust survivor who chose to forgive...

"Self-forgiveness isn't just an act of kindness to ourselves. It's necessary for our mental well-being." In this episode, I dive deep into the transformative power of self-forgiveness. As someone who struggled with this concept for years, I understand how challenging it can be, especially for women. We often carry the weight of guilt, shame, and perfectionism on our shoulders, but I'm here to tell...

"We weren't created to live in the shame and guilt of traumatic experiences. Self-forgiveness allows us to move forward with greater compassion, resilience and peace." In this episode, I dive deep into the crucial role of self-forgiveness in trauma recovery. I explore how trauma changes us and the importance of internal healing alongside external support. Drawing from recent studies, I discuss the...

"Forgiveness can be a superpower. When we embrace forgiveness, we free ourselves from the burden of past mistakes, and it opens the door to new opportunities." In this episode, I explore the powerful connection between forgiveness and business resilience. I delve into how embracing forgiveness can help entrepreneurs and business leaders overcome setbacks, adapt to change, and move forward with ren...

"Freedom comes from the inside out. Freedom is loving who you are, owning who you are, knowing, standing in certainty in your gifts." In this powerful episode of the Forgive Yourself podcast, host Brenda Reiss welcomes Jackie Cote, a freedom and love mentor who helps women transform their lives. Jackie shares her inspiring journey from a 30-year career in corporate America to becoming a successful...

"Grief is hard work. It is a lonely journey sometimes. People do avoid it because we want to shy away from pain. But avoiding your grief doesn't help at all." In this heartfelt episode of the Forgive Yourself podcast, I welcome Joan Kpandei, a certified advanced grief specialist from Nigeria. Joan shares her profound journey into grief counseling, a path she never sought but was drawn into after t...

"When leaders show forgiveness, they bring a sense of emotional intelligence and strength that resonates throughout the entire team." Did you know forgiveness can transform your leadership and team dynamics? Today I’m talking about the powerful role of forgiveness in enhancing team dynamics and creating a positive, productive work environment. Forgiveness builds trust, strengthens bonds, and enhan...

In this episode, I talk with you about the power of forgiveness in sibling relationships. I've seen how these relationships are often complex, filled with shared memories, unique dynamics, and inevitable conflicts. But I'm here to explain how radical forgiveness can create an opportunity to heal these relationships and make them stronger than ever. "Siblings can share a unique bond. It's a connect...

In this episode of the Forgive Yourself podcast, I welcome Karen Rae, the inspiring founder of Fave, a community for women navigating life's major transitions. Karen shares her journey through unexpected challenges such as divorce, re-entering the workforce, and becoming an empty nester. Refusing to remain invisible, Karen chose to thrive, embracing her vibrancy and creating a space where women ca...

In this episode of the Forgive Yourself podcast, I welcome Rachel Vasquez, a transformational speaker who inspires change and empowerment for those creating a new life after loss. Rachel specializes in guiding women and children through grief, helping them cope and find healing. Rachel shares her journey following her husband's death in 2018, which led to her mission of supporting others through g...

Welcome to the Forgive Yourself podcast, where we explore forgiveness and life's challenges. In this episode, I'm joined by Maureen Spielman, host of the Mystical Sisterhood podcast and a transformational life coach. Maureen's journey began with a life-altering diagnosis in 2018, which led her to embrace healing modalities and self-discovery. *"I believe that my diagnosis was an invitation to look...

In this episode of "Forgive Yourself," we dive deep into the transformative journey of Michèle Heffron, a certified life, relationship, and divorce coach. Michèle shares her inspiring story of career transitions, overcoming personal challenges, and the power of self-discovery. Join me, Brenda Reiss, as we explore Michèle's path to becoming a coach at the age of 60 and how her personal experiences...

In this episode, I talk with Jennifer Soames, a traumatic brain injury survivor and advocate who is passionate about helping others affected by TBIs get the information, care, and support they need to live their best life. Resources: Your FREE Forgive Yourself resources: https://brendareisscoaching.com/resources/ Are you struggling with a situation or a person in your life? Wondering if you are re...

Are you grappling with the weight of past mistakes and the challenge of mending strained family ties? This episode of "Forgive Yourself" delves into the complex journey of self-forgiveness and healing family dynamics when you're the one who has caused hurt. Join me, Brenda Reiss, and my friend and colleague Kim, as we explore this sensitive terrain with compassion and insight. We discuss the steps...

Do you have trouble setting healthy boundaries? This is an extremely common challenge, especially when it comes to family. In this episode, I talk with my colleague Kim about navigating boundaries with family members who may not respect or understand them. As Kim and I discuss, setting boundaries with family can be particularly challenging due to the emotional entanglement and ingrained roles we p...

Do you struggle with money? Is debt weighing you down? Tresa Leftenant is here to help you cultivate confidence, conquer debt, and begin living a wealthy life. Are you ready?!! In this episode, I talk with Tresa Leftenant, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Behavioral Finance Advisor (BFA™) with over four decades of comprehensive financial planning and wealth advisory experience. Tresa is al...