Heart to Heart with Abagaba

What does it really mean to live a good life? In this episode, I’m joined by Kirana Sidin, an author and strategic life coach from Jakarta, Indonesia, whose work explores one powerful question: What does it really mean to build a good life? Kirana’s debut book, Cheers for a Good Life, became an Amazon #1 New Release and #1 Best Seller in its categories. Through her writing, coaching, and speaking,...

What happens when someone you love is struggling with addiction—and love alone isn’t enough to save them? In this heartfelt conversation, award-winning author and speaker Robert N. Ruesch opens up about his family’s decades-long journey through addiction, uncertainty, faith, heartbreak, and hope. Robert, whose writing career spans more than five decades, co-authored The Long Road Home: A Family’s...

In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I welcome Carolyn Sherrow—a trauma survivor, mental health advocate, author, speaker, and former physician assistant. Carolyn openly shares about her personal journey through trauma and healing and how her more than two decades in medicine shaped her understanding of trauma and dissociation. We have an honest conversation about Dissociative Identity...

What happens when life takes us places we never expected to go? In this heart-to-heart conversation, author and storyteller Jodi Cowles takes us on a deeply personal journey through grief, faith, culture, family, and the unexpected ways joy can find us again. Jodi spent more than half of her adult life living and working in seven different countries, including eight years in Istanbul, Turkey, wher...

How much do we really know about the food and products we bring into our homes? In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I’m joined by Jordan Robinson, founder of Anxin, a platform designed to help families stay informed about food recalls, restaurant health inspections, ingredient safety, and other everyday risks. Jordan shares what inspired him to create Anxin, how the platform connects i...

What happens when the questions in your heart are bigger than the answers you’ve been given? In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I’m joined by Barbie Lavick Van Cott, author of Shalom Barbie: A Jewish Girl’s Journey to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Raised in Hollywood and Jewish by faith and tradition, Barbie describes herself as a tender-hearted, deep-thinking girl who often felt like s...

What if education were about more than lessons, grades, and classrooms? What if we made more room for curiosity, storytelling, culture, wellbeing, and the unique voice of every child? In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I sit down with Wahida Mohamed — author, educator, poet, and podcaster with more than 30 years of experience in London classrooms. Wahida is a qualified MFL, ESL, Monte...

What happens when we begin measuring our worth by how our children are doing? As mothers, we can love our children so deeply that their successes feel like our successes—and their struggles can feel like our failures. But what if our children’s lives were never meant to be our report card? In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I’m joined by Gigi Baxter, author of Your Children Are NOT Yo...

What if the question isn’t “Why?” but “Why not?” What if the purpose doesn’t have an expiration date? And what if the setbacks, failures, and unexpected changes in our lives aren’t the end of our story—but invitations to find a new way forward? In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I’m joined by Jay Setchell, an entrepreneur, former Marine, corporate professional, and lifelong believer i...

Marriage brings two people together—but it also brings together two families, two histories, and sometimes two very different cultures. So what happens when family expectations, in-law relationships, cultural differences, loyalty conflicts, and faith begin putting pressure on the marriage? In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I’m joined by Pesa Shayo, author and co-founder of Live Your...

What if teaching our children about money isn’t really about teaching them to count dollars and cents—but about helping them develop confidence, healthy habits, responsibility, and a positive relationship with money? In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I’m joined by Greg Junge, entrepreneur, author, co-owner of Your Clean Books, and founder of Money Mindset Academy. Greg is the author...

What happens when the darkest seasons of life become the foundation for a greater purpose? In this heartfelt conversation, Tracy Brinkmann shares his powerful journey of resilience, redemption, and rebuilding. As a father of four, entrepreneur, and host of The Dark Horse Entrepreneur – AI Escape Plan and Your Success DNA, Tracy opens up about the experiences that shaped him and the lessons he lear...

Have you ever felt like something was missing, even when everything looked fine on the outside? In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with authenticity coach, author, and mentor Lynda Leonce to explore what it truly means to reconnect with yourself and live a life of authenticity and alignment. Lynda shares her personal journey, the experiences that shaped her calling, and the lessons she’s l...

What happens when a lifetime of helping others share their stories leads to writing one of your own? In this heartwarming episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I sit down with bestselling author, entrepreneur, speaker, and children’s book author Bret Ridgway. After spending more than 25 years serving authors and speakers, Bret found fresh inspiration in the laughter and curiosity of his grandchi...

Have you ever stood in front of an opportunity you knew you were supposed to pursue…but fear almost convinced you to stay where you were? In this heartfelt episode, Abigail Dominguez takes you behind the scenes of a morning that almost never happened. What began with a 4:00 a.m. alarm, two sleeping toddlers, fresh-baked “Pageant Bread,” and countless quiet prayers became a powerful reminder that s...

At 51 years old, with young twins at home, I did something completely unexpected: I submitted my application for a pageant. From humble beginnings in Ghana to living in the US for 25 years, my life has been a beautiful masterclass in resilience. In June, my official crown and sash arrived. This November, I am heading to Biloxi, Mississippi to compete! This journey isn't just about a title—it’s the...

Last year on Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, Constance joined the podcast to talk about her children’s book Miles and the Colorful Cape of Feelings, co-written with Andre Lewis. During that conversation, she also shared that another story was quietly taking shape—one still in progress, still becoming. In this episode, we honor that moment and the words spoken then. Constance returns to the podcast to...

In Part 2 of our birthday month celebration, I continue honoring May birthdays from the middle of the month through the end. This episode is filled with heartfelt shout-outs, gratitude, and reflections on the beauty of being remembered. From loved ones near and far to community builders and family across continents, this episode is a reminder that every life matters and every birthday is worth cel...

In this heart-centered episode, Abigail sits down with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit committed to one powerful mission: No kid sleeps on the floor in our town. What began as a small service project in a garage grew into a movement that has provided beds to hundreds of thousands of children. But Luke’s story isn’t just about growth—it’s about faith, obedience, comm...

Mother’s Day can be joyful, reflective, healing, and sometimes complicated. In this heartfelt episode, Abby creates a gentle space for all women — mothers, grandmothers, aunties, teachers, caregivers, nurturers, women still becoming, women healing, and women still searching. Abby shares personal reflections on motherhood, being raised by a single father, reconnecting with her mother after decades,...

This episode celebrates May birthdays with gratitude and love, honoring both named and unnamed lives that make this month meaningful. In this heartfelt and celebratory episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I reflect on the power of being remembered after receiving a thoughtful birthday-month message from my cousin Anne. That simple act of love inspired me to pause, give thanks, and celebrate the...

Two years ago, my life changed in a way I could never have planned or predicted. On April 18th, 2024, I met my twins—Arabella and Elijah—for the very first time. What began as an ordinary morning became one of the most sacred moments of my life. In this special birthday episode, I share their birth story, the emotions of that day, and the journey of becoming a mother to two miracles at once. This...

What does it really mean to live a life by design—not by default? In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I’m joined by Dr. Wendy, O’Connor, a Stanford-trained positive psychologist and success coach who helps women design lives that are intentional, meaningful, and deeply fulfilling. Using evidence-based tools from positive psychology, Dr. Wendy shares how many women unknowingly follow a...

What happens when kids stop creating and start only consuming? In this episode, Abigail sits down with Joshua Davidson, co-founder and CEO of Night Zookeeper, to explore how creativity, storytelling, and play can reignite a child’s love of writing. We talk about: • Why kids struggle with writing — and why it’s rarely about ability • How to tell good screen time from bad screen time • What it looks...

What happens when a child is given back their voice? In this powerful episode, we sit down with a former physiotherapist turned award-winning innovator to explore how storytelling became a lifeline — first for her son, and then for children around the world. After a court-ordered separation limited her contact with her son Gabriel to one hour a week, she asked him one simple question: “Do you want...