Stories that Empower

Brannon, a former recording artist, was traveling through a poverty stricken area of the Philippines. Amidst the pollution, traffic and garbage, he observed a boy playing in a state of true happiness and bliss, eyes filled with hope. The boy had learned to be happy with life on life's terms. This experience inspired Brannon to take inventory of his life and feed his soul, instead of his ego. He sh...

Natasha felt she wasn't living her purpose or her authentic life. She began trusting her intuition and her inner voice. Natasha left her high paying job and now develops communities to serve others. She shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom: - strive to live your authentic life - when the road ahead is unclear, trust that small inner voice - strengthen your inner calling, by allowing your i...

Greg took inventory of his life. He realized that everything he wanted was on the other side of fear. Greg jumped over the 'chasm'. He uses that insight to enable others to go outside their comfort zones, shift their mindset to push their own limitations, face and embrace their fears, build confidence, be authentic, accept their weakness, celebrate their greatness, recognize that we need each othe...

The loss of Ron's brother and his upcoming TED talk were converging in the same moment. He didn't know how we was going to honor both at the same time. Ron asked for practical, emotional and spiritual assistance, so that neither of these moments got too lost in the other. His family buoyed him, came along side of him and saw the importance of grieving, managing loss and the importance of celebrati...

After her divorce, Mindy's connections with horses grew deeper. She feels honored to partner with horses to create a trusted space, that enables healing, transformation, change, greater peace and well-being for people. Mindy feels that horses are masters of the non-verbal, e.g. emotional intelligence, mirror what's going on in our lives, are silent supporters of what we are going through, hold and...

Aaron's grandmother gave him the gift of travel, which provided him with a sense of adventure, learning, spending time with loved ones, creating lasting memories and a passion for travel. His grandmother's travel opportunities had a positive and significant impact on him. Today, Aaron enables people to share their gifts of travel, where they jointly inspire the next generation. He shares these pow...

When John was 8 years old, his parents divorced. He also discovered that his brothers and he did not share the same father. These life changes made him want attention. John wanted to be the 'star of the show'. He witnessed that people made a living doing their art. John reinvented himself multiple times. Today, he does what he loves, which is performing for a live audience. John shares these power...

Sometimes, we allow unhealthy self talk to impact the course of our thoughts, actions and life. The tone and kindness with which we speak to ourselves and others creates our environments. Thomas has the unique gift of finding the diamonds in the rough, 'uncovering' the signs (seeing others' true potentials) and 'shining' those signs with genuine praise, love, trust and acceptance. What happens nex...

Naomi (writer, actress and producer) shares powerful life experiences. Her first film didn't give her the validation and acceptance that she sought. Naomi felt crushed. So for her second film, she set out to be accepted by the "System" and chose to play by their rules. Naomi encountered very powerful 'gatekeepers' that feel they define the success and happiness of film makers, such as herself. Onc...

Executive Chef Spencer experienced and overcame sexual abuse as a child. The chaotic nature of a professional kitchen enabled his journey of healing, health and happiness. Chef Spencer's book "Solace in Chaos, A Chef's Memoir", a therapeutic journal, inspires and helps others find their own coping strategies within the context of their professional passions. Cooking provides him with a space for c...

Holly experienced low confidence, self esteem and self worth. Also, her business partner's views were misaligned with her integrity, values and beliefs. Holly was in a dark/difficult place and felt out of touch with herself. She took inventory of her life, made some life changes and empowered herself to transition to a place that is aligned with her integrity and values. Holly shares these powerfu...

Jake shares a lesson in gratitude. As a tax attorney in corporate America, he felt he wasn't there for his kids. Jake decided that the quality of his time with his family was important to him. He took his kids out of school and his family spent the next year living in 12 countries. Through this journey, Jake learned that we tend to focus more on quantity (e.g. we collect a lot of stuff) than on qu...

Ed lost his dad, when he was 10yrs of age. His mom single handedly raised 3 children. Ed feels that he was the beneficiary of his mom's story of empowerment and determination. He strives to model his mom, as a parent. Ed used this podcast interview as the opportunity to publicly thank his mom for her sacrifices and her love for her family. He shares these nuggets of life wisdom: - it's ok to make...

Garine felt she didn't fit in a rural Texas community, as a semi ethnic woman. Then, when she wanted to be involved in the music industry, she realized she was entering a male dominated environment. Garine decided to figure out how to fit and where she fit. She convinced people that she needed 'to be in the room'. Garine made herself fit through perseverance. She got past stereotypes and moved int...

Linda experienced harassment, as one of the first women on a U.S. Forest Service fire crew. The more they harassed her, the more she didn't want to quit, e.g. fires were not the only things she fought. When Linda encountered an obstacle, she would come up with alternatives. After losing her job, her mom, getting divorced, she rebuilt her life for the 3rd time. Writing her book enabled Linda to rec...

Christie had a life changing fall from a 30ft fire escape. Luckily, she walked away damage-free and a reality check to start living her next chapter. Christie courageously left corporate America and started her leadership coaching business. She shares these nuggets of life wisdom: - trust your inner voice - be brave, courageous and follow your north star - you have the tools within you to make it...

Aimee grew up in a low income family. She struggled with low confidence, low self-esteem and self-doubt. She realized that the only thing holding her back was herself. Aimee invested in herself, pursued personal development, transformed her life and even starting her own business. Now, she helps people live life on their own terms. Aimee shares this wonderful nuggets of life wisdom: - become aware...

Mickie lived in abuse for 34 years. One day, she decided she was done and that this was not OK. Mickie educated herself, made a plan, executed on that plan and created an authentic life of her own. As a survivor of domestic abuse, she founded the Surviving Abuse Network, which includes podcasts, videos and articles that are meant to inspire and encourage women that have experienced domestic abuse...

Joan experienced a year's journey of dealing with setbacks, as she empowered herself to become an author. She was crippled with self doubt. Joan felt she didn't have the skills to write and experienced judgement from people. She shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom: - be mindful to enjoy the journey - the joy comes in the work - joy is the measure - be willing to embrace feedback - be open...

Connie's mother taught her that all living beings and creatures are worthy of unconditional love and acceptance. Rescuing a deaf and malnourished dog, Hogan, and nursing him back to health, taught her how to hope through suffering, which leads to perseverance and develops great character and confidence. Connie shares the message of hope with others. She imparts these nuggets of life wisdom: - you...

Shannon is an advocate of women. She uses storytelling to share, heal and empower others. Shannon experienced depression and anxiety, due to her alcoholic father, the lost of her dad at 11 and the abandonment of her mother. When her grandmother, Rosie, used to read books to her as a child, she shared a special bond, felt safe, learned that each story offered a meaning and a purpose. Shannon wanted...

Arnie is an attorney that seeks to bring a balanced exchange of energy during conflict resolutions. He teaches the emotional dynamic of what's taking place in a conflict. Arnie believes that what we want and what we say we want are often two different things. For instance, what we say we want, does not often bring us joy nor make us content. He feels that the biggest obstacle to get what we want i...

Stephynie was raised by a single mom with severe mental illness that was unmedicated. She experienced abuse, found out her dad was not her real father, left home at the age of 15, worked 3 jobs, made poor choices and got divorced. Stephynie managed to raise her children as a single mom, while launching and overseeing successful businesses. Her struggles molded her into a woman of empathetic servic...

Joe ran a very successful personal training business, with multiple locations. He was training high end executives in New York. However, something was missing. He felt that he wasn't giving back enough to others. Regardless how others chose to see him, Joe sold his business and moved back into his parents' home in Seattle. This simplification helped him focus on what he is most passionate about; c...

Freddy grew up in the LA gangster culture and went to prison, where he learned to tatoo. His youngest son was murdered in a gang confllict. He felt guilty, fell apart, started using drugs, went to prison, was diagnosed with congestive heart failures, had 3 heart attacks, thought he was going to die in jail, prayed and asked for more time. Freddy joined a rehab program, learned to live with son's d...