Persistence U with Lizbeth

After a life she describes filled with a "tankload of trauma," Suswati Basu exceeded all expectations. She became a journalist. Later, an intelligence officer, and a fierce victim's advocate. But then, her mental health took a turn.  Years after that, she became physically disabled. You will learn:*The  wildly different responses support systems too often afford those experiencing m...

When Christa Fairbrother's pain from auto-immune diseases jeopardized her mobility, she found a way to exercise without putting stress on her joints. Today, Christa teaches aqua yoga individually, virtually, and in groups, and offers free videos for those wanting to learn more at christafairbrother.com. You will learn:*Exercise in water provides additional resistance and builds balance withou...

This week marks the 50th episode and end of 2021, so let's rewind and look at some of your favorite episodes this first year of the podcast. And if you've wanted to be on a podcast, but didn't know how to prepare, grab my freebie HERE.1) Marti Guzman-Finding Lost Money Episode #12)Rebecca Duvall Scott on Sensory Processing Disorder Episode #23) Gina Dobson on Scapegoating Episode 21...

Lynne Podrat wasn't supposed to hear the conversation about her baby brother having Down Syndrome many decades ago. As a teenager, she wasn't supposed to intervene in her parent's plan to place him in a home for children with disabilities. But she did. And from those early days, Lynne learned to become a fierce advocate for her brother, and for others experiencing disabilities. You...

Toby Passman isn't your typical 20-something.  When his anxiety interrupted conversations and relationships, he began to apply the research he'd been doing in school to himself, using neurostimulation to retrain his brain. He saw the difference almost immediately. He went to work later at an EEG lab and started data collection with an eye toward helping improve the brain function of thos...

Melanie Wexler understands well what happens when we spend eight to ten hours a day at a job that doesn't light us up. After leaving the corporate conveyer belt,  Melanie briefly worked at a friend's business, where she again found herself being under-utilized. As a single mom, she was hardly poised to quit and find her passion project. But she did take on a side-hustle.  And from there,...

Katie Barbaro's world was rocked when a relationship ended.  It created opportunity for self-discovery, and emboldened her to look deeply at issues which were holding her back, like her longtime eating disorder and the accompanying shame. So in her recently published graphic novel Fed Up, she unpacked serious issues in an accessible format. You will learn:Individual therapy alone may not be s...

Losing a spouse once in a lifetime is hard enough, but against all odds, Emily Thiroux Threatt found love again.  And then he died. While it would've been understandable if she'd decided to take a yearlong nap, Emily instead  found a way to connect with others who were grieving their own losses. You will learn:How creating space for healing provides opportunities to connect with others e...

When Judith Joy's daughter asked her mom to teach her whatever she'd learned that had worked to combat headaches, depression, and other symptoms, Judith was only too happy to share. Her daughter followed her footsteps into a healing profession, and today, both are committed to principals of gratitude, manifestation, and creating possibilities. You will learn:That children watch their par...

Cassie Sanchez knew she was lucky. She'd enjoyed two decades as a stay-at-home-mom, minding the family's details and having time to herself when the kids were at school. But kids grow up. And when Cassie's did, she questioned her purpose and her worth. You will learn: That the first step to pursuing your dream is to give yourself permission. About National Novel Writing Month, which...

When gym fanatic Trenton Hudson felt pains in his chest, he was sure he could walk them off. He was barely 20 and in great health. But it was a heart attack. Not long after, a second heart attack threatened his life. You will learn:How running down a dream sometimes means launching before all details are perfectly hammered out, then refining again and again. That re-using resources that are alread...

When Liz Merrill's daughters approached her years ago to ask Liz to leave the marriage with their father, she was stunned. Like so many parents, she'd believed that it was best for kids to grow up with their original parents.  The process of leaving and pursuing co-parenting nudged Liz to help other parents dealing with high-conflict separations. Today, she is a mediator to support peopl...

At a low point after his marriage ended, Richard Wilmore went by himself to a local performance a few years ago and learned about a way to serve. Already then a budding talkshow host from home, Richard decided to volunteer at Hearts Need Art, which turned into a professional position and a way for his own heart to heal. You will learn:How serving others can give, much more than it takes. Ways your...

Eight years ago, cancer and subsequent treatment impacted what was left of Anna Leonarda's libido. Later on, her marriage to her childhood sweetheart ended after the pair drifted apart. Many cancer survivors would have sat around and wondered, "Why me?"But for Entwine dating app creator's Anna, she wondered, "Who else is in my shoes?"You'll learn: How leaning in...

Let's be honest. The last year-plus hasn't been super inspirational for a lot of us. Today's guest, Michael Landau, had long been working with clients to get them physically moving.  And then came the pandemic, a time when, more than ever, we needed to double-down on our health habits. But who wanted to? You will learn:*  Positive results of movement can happen in just 3 minutes a d...

When you hear about someone in an abuse relationship, do you picture the victim as passive? Former police officer Nenia Corcoran shares that exact moment when she realized her own marriage mirrored that of an abuse victim in crisis. You will learn:An abuse victim will often try to forecast how her day will go based on her partner’s moods, and adjust her behaviors accordingly to keep the peace. Iso...

Author MK Meredith dreaded turning 39, the age her own mom was when she died of breast cancer. MK had watched her health, did BRACA tests to look at her level of risk, and held her breath through her 39th year. Two days before her 40th birthday, her doctor delivered the breast cancer diagnosis. A successful romance writer, MK used her writing chops to document her cancer and wellness journey in No...

Today, thanks to Ancestry.com and open adoptions, finding one's biological family has never been easier for adoptees. But when Julie McGue began her search for her and her twin's biological parents, she was over 40, in need of her health history, and facing the old-school world of closed adoption records. You will learn:That adoption laws have traditionally protected the needs of parents...

Many who experience abuse would rather take the easy way out, putting it behind them, and moving on. But what isn't addressed can linger in the body for months, years, and even decades. Anu shares her story of how she refused to keep secrets and be isolated, which led her to a fun and fullfilling life. You will learn:How Anu uses her life experiences to improve the lives of others. About some...

When journalist and mom Esther Buerki found herself suddenly single, traditional support didn't get her where she wanted to go. Esther shares her journey working with a coach who helped her master her emotions. You will learn:How therapy, pharmaceuticals, and other self-help interventions didn't help Esther master her emotions to achieve her goals. Choosing to hire a coach did. That repl...

When Nicole Spindler's father fell ill with cancer when she was only 15, things didn't appear to be hopeful at first. But she committed to being intentional about how to think and respond to the diagnosis.  And she saw the benefit to incorporating the setback into her life to create something good. You will learn:How a high school project paved the way for a book with benefits. That mind...

Kay Suthar's journey to success included some interesting pitstops. From police officer to event planner, her adventurous spirit carried her through both failures and success. You will learn:Acute work stress may turn into physical maladies such as rashes. Asking questions and leaving ego and assumptions behind when embarking on a new career is a much better strategy than faking confidence an...

In 1995, when my kidnapped daughters were still living in hiding out of country, I bought a starter home in Alaska. Twenty-seven years later, I'm closing one chapter and beginning  another. You will learn:How neighbors can become a makeshift family. The work to create stability and sustain a household isn't for the faint of heart. A home isn't built of walls and cement, but of the l...

Kathryn Bennett wanted to be sober. She went to meetings, saw a counselor. But it wasn't enough. Not everyone can sit quietly and engage in the exercises offered during treatment. Rather than giving up, Kathryn challenged herself physically by entering the world of power-lifting. Today, Kathryn is a nationally placed lifter who enjoys speaking about her journey toward sobriety and fitness. Yo...

Karey Spransy made a series of terrific choices after becoming pregnant in her teens. Parenting alone and putting her child first meant so many other dreams were put on hold, but she knew it was for the best.  When her son was ready to leave the home, she looked forward to a life filled with possibilities. Then cancer came. You will learn:How sacrifices made in her youth as a teen single mom helpe...