The Brave Files

From starting your day with powerful “I AM” Statements to looking for small moments to lean into bravery (Judi calls them Fear Experiments) - Judi Holler owns her fear and wants you to do the same! You’re responsible for growing yourself and smashing comfort zones - do this by consistent and repeated action. Most importantly, trust yourself - you have everything you need to create a life you love....

In today’s episode, Heather talks with internationally recognized strategist, clarity coach, TEDx organizer, speaker, and author Dolores Hirschman about how she was thrown into becoming the breadwinner for her family of six. While this experience was truly terrifying, Dolores knew that the only true failure would be in not doing everything she could to provide for her family. In the episode, Heath...

Resilience is a learned behavior, friends. Yes, some people are BORN with it - but most people learn it. It’s defined in the dictionary as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness OR the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity. So I ask you this, Brave Listener, how resilient are you? How quickly do you recover when things go wrong? Do you have th...

The esteemed writer, podcast host, pastor, and antiracism activist shares his inspiring story of finding a community that nurtures, supports, and loves him unconditionally. Some golden takeaways from my conversation with Mashaun include Once you a community that supports and nurtures you - stay there! Don’t be afraid to make your own choices, even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s unco...

This is the story of Brian, a Herculean painter, writer, chef, and childhood sexual trauma survivor. “We become a superhero,” Brian wrote to himself in his acclaimed memoir. In this episode, Brian shares his story and how he uses his experience to help other victims of sexual abuse and other types of trauma. If you or anyone you know is currently being abused we urge you to connect with RAINN , th...

Have you ever had a seemingly passive and innocent conversation that you later realized was tremendously impactful? After this week’s guest went through some personal and physical transformations she ended up having a simple conversation that completely changed the trajectory of her life. Dana Marlowe joins us to talk about her inspiring story of going from a nerdy suburban mom to founding an inte...

Learning to lead and guide our lives with Emotional Intelligence leads to stronger relationships personally and professionally. Speaker, writer, and podcaster, Kingsley Grant is passionate about getting this message out and helping people elevate their lives. His mother’s battle with cancer inspired him to want to help other people live out their dreams. He aims to help people become the best vers...

You need a whole lot of love in your life to become functional and achieve your dreams and this weeks guest, Ogbonna Bowden is full of love! We discuss healthcare as a right and how society lets people down and the importance of giving back, mentoring and  being an active community member help us be self-fulfilled. Wait ... Have you been thinking about starting a podcast!? Join us on Thursday, Jun...

Although the #PodcastBlackout is only one day, we do not make this commitment for one day or one week but for all time - - until it is no longer necessary. We urge you to stand with us and with the Black and Brown community. For additional resources on learning to be anti-racist, talking with your children and loved ones and ways to support Black Lives please visit our website here.  This is where...

Energy Healer and Medical Intuitive, Megan Caper, shares her story on overcoming Stage 3 Colon Cancer as a young adult. With guidance from her intuition and holistic healing - Megan became a self healer. She now uses her psychic skills, intuition, and past medical experience to help others pinpoint a condition or diagnosis. Find show notes here. Support The Brave Files on Patreon here. Share your...

Carrie urges each of us to find our own creative voice despite societal expectations and challenges. We can all learn to appreciate our time and energy more than we value the outcome of our work! All in all we hope you learn to love yourself, the way you do things and the choices you make by understanding why you’re making them and why they matter. If you're a recovering perfectionist or hope to o...

Top Takeaways The more we talk about things, the more it gets normalized. In turn, people are more willing to take action. We find comfort in all sorts of places. There’s extreme bravery in accepting help. Celebration can be simple. Find the detailed show notes here. Join the Brave on Purpose Collective here. Support the Brave Files on Patreon, here. Call 312-925-2468 to share your thoughts and fe...

This episode dives into understanding that everything meaningful seems to show up when it's least convenient, yet, that's when our soul expand and we reach our highest potential.  We are reminded to strive only to be ourselves - that's all you have to be! Detailed show notes here . Support The Brave Files Podcast here . Join Intentionally BRAVE Week here and the Brave on Purpose Facebook Group her...

In under 5 years, Arlan Hamilton went from homelessness, sleeping on the floor of the San Francisco airport, to being the only Black to successfully build a venture capital firm from scratch. Today, Arlan is launching her highly anticipated book and sharing insights on bravery and boundaries. In this episode, Arlan shares her personal story of never giving up on her dream, why she believes that bo...

Audrey Holt has a history of things not going her way. Through a life of trial and error, she has learned to make brave decisions and pivot when life’s plans start to fall apart. Fortitude, defined as courage in pain or adversity, is certainly what Audrey is all about. Find the detailed show notes here. Support The Brave Files Podcast on Patreon here. Call 312-646-0205 and share your thoughts with...

This episode digs in to the incredible power of forgiveness. In fact, we show how forgiveness is freedom that is all about the release of our own pain and the decision to no longer let it control us. By exposing our “ripped and tattered capes” and sharing our stories of survival, we can empower others to know they have the strength to overcome obstacles too. Detailed show notes can be found here....

We knew that a special episode of the podcast, dedicated to sharing what we are most grateful for would bring people together. It would remind our listeners and fans to look for the blessings - they are there. Always there, if you bother to look for them. And then there's the sharing. When we share our gratitude we give the people around us permission to feel and express their own gratitude. It gi...

In this humorous and insightful conversation we learn how Dr. Barbara paved the way for women in the medical field, put her Hippocratic Oath to work because all people deserve proper medical care, even criminals, and how she learned that we're more than where we came from. The morals our parents taught us are allowed to change as we experience life. Find the detailed show notes here .  Support The...

Find detailed show notes here. Support The Brave Files on Patreon. Give us a call and share your thoughts and feedback - 312-646-0205. Join our Facebook Community - Brave On Purpose here.

Non shares his path towards healing and reminds us that there isn’t any bravery without vulnerability. We discuss how empowering it is to recognize our own unique needs and that everyone’s voice is valuable - we all have a story to share! We also dig into being an empath and why boundaries are so necessary to living a healthy life! Given the uncertainty of the world today and the unique challenges...

 Julie learned to pick herself up, battle through imposter syndrome, and achieve her goals all while maintaining balance as a mom of two small children. Her story shows us that we all get to choose our own path. There are no rules when it comes to creating a happy life!   GRAB YOUR FREE COACHING CALL WITH HEATHER RIGHT NOW! Book here.   During these challenging times, it's more important than ever...

Detailed show notes can be found here.   Support The Brave Files on Patreon!   Join our Brave on Purpose Collective - a free Facebook group to help you live bravely in every way possible!   Share your thoughts and feedback by calling us at 312-646-0205

Jeffrey Bernstein is a father, husband, and a "co-conspirator" taking social action through his blog ‘Not The Mama’ where he writes love letters to his twins and shares his everyday life as a parent with others. The blog helps give a voice to other families and parents. Jeffrey and his husband used surrogacy to build their own family after years of thinking they may not have the option to become a...

Every day, in the United States alone, 130 people die from an opioid overdose. This week we welcome Jessica Kuperfman from She Podcasts to talk about her daughter’s struggle with opioid addiction and her tragic death. This story doesn’t end well because nothing can bring Emily back - but hearing the pure love and joy in Jessica’s voice as she tells these stories, even the horribly painful ones, an...

In this episode, we're focusing on trauma, religion, and healing. Heather Vickery is joined by Mary Rutt, co-host of the Latter-Day Podcast. Mary discusses her past and the pieces of her childhood that shaped her, making her the woman she is today. This is a very raw and honest conversation. Some elements may be difficult for those who have suffered sexual or religious abuse.   Full show notes can...