Motivation N'at

Healing isn't one therapist, one yoga class, one breakthrough moment. It's messy, it's layered, and it is absolutely not meant to be done alone. I sat down with Kristy Joy Weidner, licensed clinical social worker, trauma specialist, mindfulness teacher, and founder of two Pittsburgh spaces built around exactly that idea to talk about what community really looks like as a part of our he...

Acceptance doesn't mean something is okay. It means it's real. I sat down with Sarah Ludwig, LPC — a therapist specializing in sexual and intimate partner violence — and we finished what we started in part one. We get into: The difference between domestic violence and intimate partner violence, and why it matters What power and control actually look like in healthy vs. harmful relationship...

Intimate partner violence is is far more prolific than we probably realize, and that's because of the shame, stigma and shadows it involves.   I sat down with Sarah Ludwig, LPC, a certified EMDR therapist and trauma-focused counselor with over a decade ofexperience working with survivors of sexual violence and intimate partner violence to educate myself and to bring the discussion to listeners of...

Jessica and Elizabeth of the Grieving Sisters Podcast are back. If you caught Episode 38, you know we barely scratched the surface. This is where we finish what we started.  We get into: --- The shame of moving on and why grief makes you feel guilty for living your life --- Survivor's remorse and how it shows up long after the lossitself --- How identity shifts when the world starts to define...

At 26, Trajan Jones is running for a Pennsylvania House seat in the 62nd district — and he didn't wait for someone to hand him the opportunity. Nobody else was stepping up. So he did.   I sat down with Trajan, a local urban planning specialist and candidate for Pennsylvania's 62nd House district, and we touched why now, what was important in the community, how to have a voice for change, and more....

Bre Keith spent ten years in healthcare before a hobby that got completely out of hand turned into Obsessions Coffee Roastery in Homer City, PA. She'd never worked in a coffee shop, never roasted a bean — she just thought it looked cool and started anyway. We talk about the ADHD brain behind the business, the trailer from Alabama that was an absolute disaster, the local collaborations that hel...

Nobody designs activewear for how women actually live. Jordan Lansdown decided to fix that. I sat down with Jordan Lansdown — founder of J.Luxe. Fit. Once I was done fangirling because I LOVE this brand, we got into the details of how J.Luxe. Fit came to be. She built J.Luxe. Fit from her living room floor with limited budget, no corporate backing, and one very clear mission: solve real problems f...

In 2003 I lost my dad to cancer. On that same day, I miscarried a pregnancy that resulted from an assault. I was barely 18. Fifteen years later I would lose an ex to a horrific accident and not long after a friend to addiction. With every loss, the grief got more complicated, and I got more numb. I sat down with Jessica and Elizabeth of The Grieving Sisters podcast — both navigating sibling loss,...

Nobody gets to the other side of fear without walking through it first. I sat down with Joseph Schmitt — Navy veteran, nonprofit founder, beekeeper, and author of arc of HUMANITY — and we talked about what it actually takes to stop letting fear make your decisions for you. We got into why fear is hardwired into us as a survival mechanism, how we've been trained to compromise because of it, and...

Organizations love the idea of continuous improvement. But what happens when improvement becomes the thing preventing change? In this conversation, I sit down with  Jim F. Jordan , a healthcare innovation strategist who has spent years working at the intersection of technology, systems thinking, and organizational change. We explore a tension many leaders are feeling right now. AI is accelerating...

Mindy Wiseman’s work focuses on real moments — not polished ones. In this episode, we talk about the mindset behind that approach and the life experience that shaped it. This is a conversation about recovery, self-honesty, and the small, often invisible wins that actually sustain change. We talk about identity, image, and why progress starts with being honest about who you are — not who you’re try...

Innovation doesn’t start with answers. It starts with better questions. In this episode of  Motivation N’at , Natalie Bulger talks with Joe Babarsky, Director – Not Impossible Institute , about creativity, storytelling, and why real impact depends on embracing uncertainty instead of avoiding it. Joe unpacks the idea of staying in “beta,” learning through failure, and developing the internal listen...

Bonding keeps us alive. Love is something we choose. In this episode of  Motivation N’at , Natalie is joined by  Dr. Catherine Gildiner , clinical psychologist and author of  Good Morning, Monster , for a deeply human conversation about healing, attachment, parenting, and culture. From overprotective parenting to cross-cultural bonding conflicts, this episode unpacks how our earliest relationships...

☕️  More than coffee — Commonplace is about connection. In this episode of  Motivation N’at ,  Natalie Bulger  sits down with  TJ Fairchild, Owner of Commonplace Coffee , to talk about building a business rooted in gathering people, fostering human connection, and responding organically to community needs. From the meaning behind the name  Commonplace  to the role of collaboration, vulnerability,...

🎧  I’d Like to Use a Lifeline: Phone-A-Mentor Guest:  Mia-Ann Spadafora In this episode of  Motivation N’at , Natalie sits down with Mia-Ann Spadafora to talk about mentorship, early-career leadership, and navigating the transition from school into the workforce with confidence. Mia-Ann shares her experience entering healthcare leadership as a young professional, how mentorship helped her manage...

Rural healthcare access is under increasing strain, and medical education is a critical part of the solution. In this episode of  Motivation N'at , host  Natalie Bulger  speaks with  Dr. Miko Rose , founding dean of the proposed  College of Osteopathic Medicine at Indiana University of Pennsylvania , about the challenges and opportunities shaping rural healthcare and medical education today. D...

🎧  It's Not Just a Photo Guest: Jon Blanchard In this episode of  Motivation N’at , Natalie welcomes photographer  Jon Blanchard  for an honest and inspiring conversation about creativity, connection, and community. Jon shares his journey of turning a love for photography into a meaningful career rooted in trust, collaboration, and storytelling. This episode explores: How building relationshi...

🎧  Lead As You Are In this episode of  Motivation N’at , Natalie and her guest, Shannah Boyer, explore how  imposter syndrome shows up beyond the workplace , particularly for  women leaders in healthcare . The conversation centers on identity, confidence, and why embracing our lived experiences—not just our credentials—can help quiet self-doubt. From leadership pressures to personal expectations,...

🎧 A Moment of Reflection Solo Episode In this solo episode of  Motivation N’at , Natalie reflects on the challenges and growth of  2025  while looking ahead to what  2026  may hold. This conversation touches on mental health, grief during the holiday season, the importance of community, and the value of showing up authentically — even when things feel heavy or uncertain. Natalie shares honest ref...

🎧  Compliance Skills and Secrets Guest: Jessica Zeff In this episode of  Motivation N’at , Natalie sits down with  Jessica Zeff of Simply Compliance  to talk about what truly makes a compliance program successful — and why it always comes back to people. Compliance is meant to be preventative, not punitive, but achieving that requires resilience, adaptability, and strong leadership. Jessica share...

That there might be a bit of a theme emerging from some of these episodes. Tapping into a local network of amazing people has given me a chance to highlight my own community and southwestern PA as a whole. It means as we move on into 2026, you might see a little more of learning from those closest to us. Businesses down the street, social media personalities bringing attention to things we wouldn&...

🎧  Pivot or Perish Guest: Carmelo Montalvo In this episode of  Motivation N’at , Natalie sits down with  Carmelo Montalvo , CEO of  Aethl Bio, Inc  and her former mentee, for an honest conversation about  startup life, innovation, and navigating career pivots . Carmelo shares his journey through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and how lessons learned across industries — combined with mento...

🎧  What No One Asks Guest: Priya Patel In this episode of  Motivation N’at , Natalie sits down with  Priya Patel  to have a candid conversation about women’s health and the challenges many of us face silently. Priya shares her personal journey with health struggles, what she’s learned, and how advocating for yourself can change not only your experience but the system around you. Together, they ex...

🎧  If You're Laughing... Guest: Lynn Harris In this episode of  Motivation N’at , Natalie sits down with  Lynn Harris, CEO of GOLD Comedy , for an engaging conversation about the  power of comedy in our lives . Beyond the belly laughs of stand-up, they discuss how humor helps us cope, connect, and lead professionally, as well as the responsibilities that come with “punching up.” Lynn shares h...

🎧  Resilience Fatigue Explained Guest: Dr. Shari Dade In this episode of Motivation N’at, Natalie is joined by Dr. Shari Dade for a timely conversation about burnout, boundaries, and the myth that we all have the same 24 hours. They unpack the power of the words “no” and “enough,” explore the concept of resilience fatigue, and challenge the pressure to constantly bounce back from everything life...