Groove with Portia

In this heartfelt episode of Groove with Portia, I welcome my former mentor, Dr. Lisa McGuthry-Gore for a deeply personal conversation about grief, faith, and finding love again after loss. Lisa shares her journey following the passing of her husband, Donald, after 32 years of marriage, and how she found herself unexpectedly remarried six months later to a man she once knew in college who also sha...

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I open a heartfelt conversation about grief, memory, and embracing the inner child. Inspired by my own memories of watching Hocus Pocus with my mother, we begin by exploring how childhood moments can become anchors of comfort after loss. I’m joined by Karena, as we share our personal experiences of losing our mothers and navigating the transition period that...

In this powerful and necessary episode of Groove with Portia, I honor Human Trafficking Awareness Month with a conversation that many families live, but few feel safe enough to share. I’m joined by Monica Estevez, a mother whose daughter survived human trafficking. Monica shares her family’s journey after her daughter was trafficked following connections made in New York in 2022. Despite widesprea...

In this deeply moving episode of Groove with Portia, I welcome John Stewart Hill, founder of the Good Contractors List, for a raw conversation about grief, surrender, faith, and purpose. John takes us back to 2011, a season marked by financial collapse, hopelessness, and a desire for life to end. What followed was a massive heart attack during one of the worst freezes in Dallas-Fort Worth history...

Chronic pain affects millions of people, yet many are told their tests are normal and their symptoms cannot be explained. On this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Dr. David Clarke, president of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms, to explore what happens when pain is generated by the brain rather than structural injury. Dr. Clarke shares his personal and profes...

In this deeply nourishing episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with the amazing Cornelia—a personal energy strategist and the creator of The Abundance Journal. Cornelia’s journey from electrical engineer to quantum thinker opened a portal to her own healing and now she’s here to share how her tools can help us all tune into the frequency of abundance. We explore the powerful connection betwee...

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I welcome Becca Pierce, former CEO of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange and author of a powerful new book centered on self-worth, identity, and life after loss. Becca opens up about two defining moments that changed everything. The first was a very public career loss that left her grieving the identity she had spent years building. The second came fourteen...

Welcome back to Groove with Portia. In this powerful episode, I open up about a recent moment with a medium who reminded me that living authentically is the real path to healing. That message laid the perfect foundation for my conversation with Sarah Barnes-Humphrey—a globally recognized podcaster, community builder, and author of I Buried Her in a French Press. Sarah joins me to talk about what i...

This week on Groove with Portia, I open with a story close to my heart — a moment when unexpected jewelry reminded me of my uncle’s powerful words: “Let go. Let God.” It brought me back to gratitude, to presence, and to the divine ways signs show up in our lives when we need them most. Then I sit down with Rachel Samani, founder of The Honest Jeweler, a woman who took her deepest personal struggle...

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I had the honor of speaking with Gladys DeClouet—executive powerhouse, author of A Layered Life, and a woman who truly knows what it means to lead during life’s darkest storms. As I reflected on the wisdom passed down from my great-grandmother—whose birthday month I share—Gladys and I explored how our most personal pain can fuel our greatest purpose. Gladys o...

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Arik Housley, father of Alaina Marie Housley, one of the victims of the 2018 Borderline shooting. Arik opens his heart and shares how he’s navigating life after unimaginable loss through his bestselling book Always November: Lessons in Loss, Love, and Resilience. We reflect on the bittersweet nature of holidays, memories that live on in the sm...

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I welcome Claire M. Schwartz—grief and trauma healing expert, author of Putting Out the Fire, and Reiki master—to explore grief beyond death.  We talk about the heartbreak of grieving relationships that never existed the way we hoped. Claire opens up about losing her mother in her mid-20s, the emotional weight of estrangement, and how she turned pain into pur...

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I’m joined by Rachel Corbett—CEO and co-founder of SupportGroups.com—for a deeply human conversation about tech, trauma, and emotional transformation. We explore the intersection of AI and empathy in mental health services, and how technology can expand—not replace—the reach of support and community. Rachel opens up about her personal journey through mental h...

Welcome back to Groove with Portia. This episode holds a mirror to something many of us experience in silence—what it means to rediscover joy while living with grief. I open up about finding old footage of myself anchoring the news and how that moment unlocked a portal to joy I had tucked away. My guest, Hélène Caniac—a certified professional coach and former fraud investigator—joins me to share h...

Grief carves a space in our hearts that only love can fill. On this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with three extraordinary mothers—Dawn Huie, Valarie Allyn, and Anastasia Brown (hosts of There Are No Words, but we have a few Podcast)—who open up about losing their sons to suicide and addiction. Each story carries the raw truth of what it means to live in the aftermath of unimaginable p...

Grief doesn’t disappear after three days of bereavement leave—and for many of us, it lingers quietly in the workplace, where conversations about emotional pain are often avoided. On this powerful episode of Groove with Portia, I’m joined by Dr. Jennifer Levin, a nationally recognized grief expert specializing in sudden and unexpected loss, including suicide, traumatic death, and illness. We talk a...

On this powerful episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Tess Padmore—an incredible survivor, author, and innovator who has turned pain into purpose. Tess shares her journey of surviving a brain aneurysm that ruptured twice within just one month. From being misdiagnosed to navigating the harsh realities of long-term disability, Tess walks us through the mental and emotional toll of her reco...

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I am joined by health and wellness practitioner Katy Gilberston for a heartfelt conversation about grief, gratitude, and the enduring presence of our loved ones. We begin by talking about relationships and how life transitions are often the backdrop for deeper emotional reflection. Katy opens up about her late son Jaxon, who would have turned 21 this year. Sh...

What does it mean to lose everything and still lead with love? On this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Ron Ladner, a Hurricane Katrina survivor who transformed deep loss into a lifelong mission of healing. After losing his home and nearly all of his possessions, Ron and his wife made a powerful choice to stay in their community and serve. That decision birthed Shaggys, a waterfront...

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with powerhouse Lateshia Pearson, Certified Life Coach and breakout star of OWN’s Bell Collective. Lateshia opens up about her road to television, the inner work that got her there, and how community has helped her rise above limiting beliefs. Together, we explore the impact of ambiguous grief, especially for women of color, and the healing power o...

When someone you love struggles with addiction, the entire family feels the weight, but what if recovery could run parallel? On this episode of Groove with Portia, I’m joined by Lisa Katona-Smith, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and founder of Parallel Recovery. Lisa opens up about her personal journey through addiction as a mother, and how her family’s experience with ambiguous grief and emoti...

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I welcome Gayle Petrillo, a burn survivor, speaker, and author who lived in the shadows of her scars for most of her life. Burned as a toddler, Gayle spent over 60 years covering mirrors, hiding behind clothing, and sitting on her hands to avoid being seen. For decades, she believed her scars made her invisible—until she chose to become visible. Gayle opens u...

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to evolve? In this episode of Groove with Portia, I’m joined by Coach Eve. Together, we talk about transformation—not just the outer changes people see, but the internal shifts that demand courage, community, and clarity. Coach Eve opens up about the importance of surrounding yourself with aligned people who hold space when life feels heavy. We t...

Welcome back to Groove with Portia. Today, I sit down with Maggie Inrig, the Vice President of Innovation and Operations at Peer On Call, a digital mental wellness platform built around the power of peer connection. We open by sharing what we’re both grateful for—me, for the gift of life after a near-death experience, and Maggie, for her health. The episode takes a thoughtful turn as we talk about...

This week, I’m joined by Fran Pitre—a singer, author, and twin mom six times over—who opens up about a grief journey many experience but few speak about: infertility. Fran takes us into the private, silent moments where grief grows: the tests, the waiting, the strain it puts on a marriage, and the ache of feeling betrayed by your own body. She speaks candidly about how depression, anger, and isola...