Surviving Roots: A Crash Course in Turning Pain into Potential

You can be in a room full of people, successful, loved — and still feel completely alone. In this episode, host Cari Fund sits down with trauma-informed therapist Dr. Sylvia Kalicinski, host of The Dr. Sylvia K Show and author of the brand-new book Lonely AF: A Therapist's No BS Guide to Feeling Less Alone. Sylvia opens up about losing her mother at age two, growing up as the golden child of a nar...

What if going no contact was never the choice — what if it was simply the moment you stopped your own abuse? Licensed psychologist Dr. Sherrie Campbell returns to Surviving Roots for her third visit — and this is hands-down our most powerful (and yes, most fun) conversation yet. Dr. Sherrie is one of the nation's leading voices on estrangement, toxic family, and cycle breaking, and her new book Yo...

What if the worst thing that ever happened to you became the thing that finally woke you up? In this episode of Surviving Roots, Cari Fund welcomes back author, speaker, and Every Soul Has a Story podcast host Dara Levan to talk about her new novel, Shaken to the Core — a deeply human story about grief, marriage, identity, and what we do with the time we have left. Dara opens up about the sudden l...

What if anxiety isn't a flaw to fix, but a signal you've stopped listening to yourself? In this episode of Surviving Roots, Cari Fund sits down with mental health educator and author Genny Rumancik — founder of The EQ School and the voice behind a 170,000-strong community — to unpack what emotional intelligence actually looks like in real life. They get into the moment at a Portland airport that c...

What if your "glow up" isn't a makeover… it's freedom? In this episode of Surviving Roots , Cari Fund sits down with Michelle Fairburn —mother of two, creator, and living proof that rebuilding a life doesn't happen overnight (and doesn't need to look polished to be powerful). Michelle became a mom at 20, navigated profound loss and a mother wound, and later survived a fast-moving relationship that...

What does it really take to leave a narcissistic relationship— without losing your finances, your children, or yourself ? In this powerful episode of Surviving Roots , I sit down with Camille Zhuk , founder of The Breaking Free Project , a strategic support platform designed to help individuals—especially parents—safely exit narcissistic relationships. With a background in business and finance and...

Motherhood isn't just hard — it's heavy . And one of the biggest invisible weights? Feeding everyone… every single day. In this episode of Surviving Roots , Cari Fund sits down with Diana Arango , co-founder + CEO of Chefpost , a platform connecting busy families with vetted personal chefs on demand. Diana shares the real story behind Chefpost: how her own burnout as a working mom sparked a missio...

At twenty, she found her father after a fatal accident. At forty, she lost her husband to cancer. And somehow—she found herself again. In this deeply human conversation, lifestyle and beauty creator Rachael Potash shares how she turned unimaginable loss into a story of reinvention, healing, and hope. Now a mom of two and a bonus mom to four, she's helping women over 40 feel seen, confident, and ho...

What happens when the "good daughter" wakes up to the truth? In this week's Surviving Roots episode, Cari Fund sits down with Lauren Smallcomb — certified mind-body practitioner, trauma survivor, and author of Golden Child: My Descent to Scapegoat and Rise to Freedom . Lauren shares her journey from being the adored "golden child" in a rigid, religious family to becoming the scapegoat when faith,...

What if setting boundaries isn't about pushing people away — but about finally choosing yourself? In this powerful and deeply relatable conversation, Harvard-trained clinical psychologist Dr. Sabrina Romanoff joins Surviving Roots host Cari Fund to unpack the hidden patterns that shape our relationships — from friendship breakups and people-pleasing to the repetition of childhood wounds in our adu...

In this raw and soul-stirring episode of Surviving Roots , Cari Fund sits down with Michelle Garside —co-founder of Soul Camp Creative , a sacred strategy house helping purpose-driven people and organizations tell their most authentic stories. Michelle has spent her career creating transformative spaces like Soul Camp , The Enchantment Experience , and The Connecticut Women's Club . But beneath al...

Writer, mother, and reluctant socialite Asha Elias joins Cari to talk about reinvention, resilience, and the real story behind her rapid rise as a novelist. From launching Pink Glass Houses to celebrating the release of The Namaste Club , Asha opens up about writing, grief, raising two kids post-divorce, and how dating a younger man has taught her about love and softness in relationships. Asha has...

What if parenthood came with a delegation plan, a support team, and a mission statement? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Christine Landis —former CEO turned intentional parenting strategist and founder of Peacock Parent —to unpack how executive-level planning, outsourcing, and mindset shifts can radically reduce burnout and bring joy back to motherhood. We explore: The hidden mental...

In this soulful episode of  Surviving Roots , host Cari Fund welcomes Haitian-born artist and yoga teacher  Anick Vorbe , author of the spiritual memoir  My Drumbeats . Together, they explore how grief can become a sacred portal of awakening. Anick shares her healing journey through the sudden loss of her brother, her experiences with ayahuasca, and how writing this book became a way to reconnect...

This week on Surviving Roots , wellness expert and digital fitness mentor Tracy Campoli joins us for an empowering conversation about redefining strength, beauty, and health — especially for women over 40. With over 300,000 YouTube subscribers and a thriving program called Total Body Transformation, Tracy shares her real-life journey from insecure dancer to thriving entrepreneur, wife, and mom.  W...

This week on  Surviving Roots , I sit down with spiritual healer and author Lauren Courtney to explore what it really looks like to heal from the inside out. Lauren shares her journey from being a medicated teen in New York to becoming a Miami-based energy healer, sound therapist, and author of Glow Up Your Chakras . Together, we unpack the truth about healing highs, spiritual awakenings, reconnec...

This week on Surviving Roots , I'm joined by Dr. Gertrude Lyons—master coach, podcast host, and author of Rewrite the Mother Code: From Sacrifice to Stardust . Her work is a deep call to reclaim the way we mother—not just our children, but ourselves. With features in The Guardian , Motherly , Thrive Global , Business Insider , and beyond, Dr. Lyons is leading a movement to challenge generational n...

This week on Surviving Roots , I'm joined by the one and only Valeria Lipovetsky —a content creator, entrepreneur, podcast host, and mother of three whose grace and grit have built more than just a brand—they've sparked a movement. In this deeply honest conversation, Valeria and I talk about what it means to mother ourselves while mothering others, the silent pressure of perfectionism, and the gen...

This week on Surviving Roots , we're kicking off Mother's Day month with a truth bomb that's long overdue: not everyone celebrates this day with ease. Dr. Sherrie Campbell—nationally recognized psychologist, best-selling author of But It's Your Family… , and an unshakeable voice in the estrangement and healing space—returns for a raw, resonant conversation about grieving the mother you never had ....

What if power didn't have to be loud—and grace was your secret strength? In this episode of Surviving Roots , host Cari Fund sits down with Julie Helms, global business leader and viral content creator, to explore what it really means to communicate with grace, lead with confidence, and set boundaries without losing your kindness. Julie shares her incredible journey from being the "Pitbull in Pump...

If you've ever found yourself deep in the drama of Mean Girl Moms on Instagram, chances are you've come across Dr. Noelle Santorelli. A licensed clinical psychologist and expert in relational aggression, Dr. Santorelli has spent over a decade helping high-achieving women break free from toxic family cycles, navigate covert bullying, and reclaim their peace. In this episode, we dive into: The psych...

20 minutes. One microphone. And the truth I've never shared—until now. In this week's solo episode of Surviving Roots , I'm speaking words out loud that I've only ever carried in silence. The story of estrangement from my mother. The text I never thought I'd get. The moment I realized rejection wasn't about me—it was the door to peace. When a parent can't love you… it can either bury you or build...

In this captivating conversation, Cari Fund sits down with Dana Myers, a tarot reader, spellcaster, and ritual designer, to explore the magic of manifestation, intuition, and pleasure. Dana shares her journey from the sexual wellness industry to embracing the power of rituals and self-discovery. Together, they discuss the balance between hard work and manifestation, the importance of leaning into...

Are angels really with us? Internationally recognized spiritual teacher and bestselling author Kyle Gray joins Surviving Roots Podcast  to talk about his latest book, Angels Are With You Now . Known for making spirituality accessible, Kyle shares how we can invite angelic support into our lives, strengthen our intuition, and recognize divine signs around us. In this episode, we discuss: ✨ Kyle's...

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Case Kenny —author, mindfulness expert, and host of the hit podcast New Mindset, Who Dis? Case has built a massive platform making mindset work simple, practical, and relatable. His viral affirmations, handwritten in bold red ink, have helped millions reframe their thoughts and take ownership of their lives. We dive into: The power of self-talk and h...