Heart to Heart with Abagaba

In this inspiring episode, former athlete and longtime Nassau County Assistant District Attorney Ken Kunken joins Abby for a heart-to-heart conversation about resilience, purpose, and redefining what’s possible. After a football injury at Cornell University left him paralyzed from the shoulders down, Ken rebuilt his life with remarkable determination — earning multiple degrees, serving over 40 yea...

What happens when a child’s deepest wound becomes the path toward truth and healing? In this powerful episode, author and attorney Steven Eichenblatt joins Abby to share his journey from abandonment and silence to self-discovery and forgiveness. Steven, author of Pretend They Are Dead, opens up about the day his father left, the years of confusion that followed, and the moment their lives collided...

In this heartfelt conversation, Abby sits down with Cindy Caprio Woulfe — certified meditation teacher, wellness advocate, writer, and mom of two — to talk about motherhood, mindfulness, and what it really means to nurture yourself amid life’s chaos. Cindy opens up about her personal journey of rediscovering herself through motherhood and shares insights from her debut book, In the Weeds: A Guide...

In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I sit down with Sharon Dunlevy, a passionate educational advocate dedicated to helping children in foster care succeed academically and beyond. Sharon shares her journey, the challenges these students face, and the strategies she uses to empower foster parents, schools, and communities to support their educational success. Sharon opens the conversati...

This episode continues my heart-to-heart with Phyllis King, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, mom of four, and expert in helping families find rest and rhythm. If you haven’t heard Part 1 yet, start there for the beginning of our conversation — then join us here as we pick up right where we left off, answering the final few questions about sleep, consistency, and hope for tired parents everywh...

In this episode, Abby sits down with Phyllis King, a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and mom of four, to talk about how exhausted families can find rest again. Phyllis shares what inspired her to become a sleep consultant, the truth behind common sleep training myths, and the small daily habits that make a big difference at bedtime. She also explains how lack of sleep affects children’s mood,...

Ten years ago, I met Elder D. Todd Christofferson when he visited the Philadelphia area. That evening, I was asked to give the closing prayer—and afterward, invited to be the first to shake his hand. It was a sacred experience that touched my heart in ways I couldn’t fully express. So later that night, I sat down and recorded my thoughts—just me, my voice, and the Spirit I still felt. A decade lat...

What does it really mean to “spread kindness like confetti”? Children’s author and kindness advocate Kirsten Telan joins me for a joyful, faith-filled conversation about helping children grow in confidence, compassion, and character. Kirsten is the author of A Tale of Two Dogs and the creator of The Confetti Effect — a movement inspiring families to celebrate differences, overcome fear, and live o...

Sue Atkins — author, broadcaster, and parenting coach helping families find balance in the digital age. In this episode: We explore how parents can confidently lead their families through the challenges of modern technology. Sue shares practical tips and empowering insights on how to: ​Set healthy screen time boundaries without constant battles ​Talk to kids about social media, AI tools, and onlin...

In this heartfelt and empowering episode, I sit down with Jenna Udenberg — lifelong Minnesotan, writer, educator, and disability advocate — to talk about leadership, inclusion, and living fully from every perspective. A former music teacher of 19 years and a 2020 Bush Fellow, Jenna has used a wheelchair since the age of 8, and she’s turned her lived experience into a platform for awareness and con...

In this uplifting episode, I sit down with Amy Koford — motivational speaker, author, and highly rated hypnotist — whose mission is to help people around the world release fear and thrive. Amy opens up about her journey from stay-at-home mom of five to a sought-after speaker and healing practitioner. She shares how she overcame depression and a life-threatening illness to build a life of purpose a...

This year marks the 30th anniversary of The Special Guest – A Christmas Story, a Barnes & Noble bestseller when it first released in 1996. Written by former 82nd Airborne Captain and entrepreneur Lee Allen and beautifully illustrated by his wife Donna Campbell Allen, the story began as a simple keepsake for their children and has grown into a timeless holiday classic. In this heartfelt conversatio...

What happens when a parent’s intuition collides with a hospital’s dismissal? In December 2023, entrepreneur and business strategist Reasa Selph rushed her 11-year-old son Nicholas to the ER. Despite clear signs of sepsis, he was sent home. Two days later, Nicholas collapsed in septic shock and spent more than a month in intensive care, enduring multiple surgeries to save his life. Now 12, Nicholas...

Author, mom of three, and former childcare entrepreneur Jessica Danel joins us to talk about her memoir Bucket List from a Redneck Girl. Jessica shares how she built a million-dollar preschool business, navigated parenting a child with special needs, and found the courage to write her raw, hilarious life stories. We explore balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, the healing power of humor, and...

In this uplifting episode, Abby talks with international speaker and best-selling author Anil Gupta, who turned a near-tragedy into a global mission to help people live happier, more connected lives. You’ll hear: • How a life-changing crisis led Anil to create the Happiness Formula • Simple steps to strengthen any relationship with his Three-Way Test • Ways to raise grateful, resilient kids in a c...

September 14th marked one year since I hit ‘publish’ on my very first Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba minisode—on what would have been my dad’s 80th birthday. 💛 In this special episode, I share 5 things I’d tell him if I could call, and 5 ways I know he’s still with me. 🎧 Listen and share how you honor the loved ones who’ve shaped your story. #HeartToHeartWithAbagaba #PodcastAnniversary #September #...

Have you ever felt like giving up on your artistic dreams because of self-doubt or fear of failure? You’re not alone. In this episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I sit down with Dr. Albert Bramante—a talent agent, psychologist, certified hypnotist, and NLP practitioner—who has spent more than 20 years guiding actors toward success in television, film, Broadway, and beyond. Dr. Bramante shares...

In this episode, I sat down with Jennifer Bosma, author of three award-winning Christian children’s books, a longtime teacher, and host of the Front Parking Spot podcast. Jennifer shares her passion for weaving scripture into children’s lives, encouraging moms and families, and embracing the joy God gives in every season. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: • Jennifer’s journey from the classroom to...

💔 Why does love feel so hard—and how do we fix it? In this powerful episode of Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba, I sat down with Andre Paradis—Relationship Coach, NLP Coach, educator of effective communication, published writer, public speaker, and ordained minister—to unpack what’s going wrong in modern love and how to make it right. Andre’s journey took him from dancing with legends like Michael Jac...

In this heartfelt episode, Abby sits down with Jacintha Field — child and family counsellor, art therapist, and founder of Happy Souls Kids — a global platform helping children build emotional regulation, mindfulness, and resilience through gamified storytelling and the voices of role models they admire. Jacintha opens up about navigating solo parenting during COVID, finding sobriety, and transfor...

This week, Abby goes solo to share the heart behind her new Smile Anyway project. It started as a simple idea—a daily practice of smiling softly, even on the hard days—and has become a gentle reminder to find joy right where you are. In this episode, Abby talks about: • How the Smile Anyway project began • The power of a quiet smile for your heart • An invitation to join her in creating a ripple o...

We hit 1,000 streams & downloads! This little podcast that started with big heart and humble hopes has now been streamed over 1,000 times. Thank you to every listener, every guest, and every supporter who has tuned in, shared, or sent love along the way. This milestone means so much. And we’re just getting started. 💗 #HeartToHeartWithAbagaba #PodcastMilestone #GratitudeInEveryEpisode

Friends, it’s Abby Dominguez — and I just want to send a big, warm thank you to our first 10 followers here on Heart-to-Heart with Abagaba! This podcast is about celebrating families and children, community, and connection — and you showing up means everything. Please share, follow, and stay tuned — we’re just getting started 💛

In today’s episode, I sit down with licensed therapist, professor, and founder Angela Caldwell to explore what it really takes to raise resilient families. From the power of truth-telling in therapy to how teens can navigate social media, Angela shares heartfelt insights from decades of experience. We also discuss her upcoming book series on creating the “village” it takes to support parents and c...

In this heartwarming episode, we’re joined by Maryanne Wood, a retired dog trainer turned children’s author, who brings her beloved Basset Hounds, Randall and Hunter, to life in a delightful new book series. We explore how her experience with dogs shaped her storytelling, what inspired her transition into writing, and how her books help children (and their parents) navigate challenges with humor a...