The Brave Files

Aaron is an engaging and inspiring guest as he shares his journey through several different careers including being a professional snowboarder, then touring with an “angsty emo band” and then taking stages and changing lives as a transformational coach, and best-selling author. He then embraced his own deepest desires to pursue a career as an actor. Step into this personal and delightful conversat...

Gibby Booth knew from the age of 5 that something about her was different. It wasn't until she was facing failure in college that she was tested for and confirmed to have, dyslexia. Her college granted her the accommodations required to succeed and thrive. Now she seeks to do the same for others. Gibby’s reframing the way dyslexia is seen and empowering an entire community of people to embrace the...

This episode will remind you that surrounding yourself with a collaborative, like-minded community that supports you is key for success.  We literally cannot do it without that support and if you can't find a support system that meets your needs, create one! You have everything it takes to forge your own path. Be audacious. You don’t have to do things a certain way. It’s easier to be brave when yo...

In brave defiance of the “victim mentality,” Madeleine Black's journey led her to ultimately forgive the young men who assaulted her as a teenager. Forgiveness, as Madeleine shares, is not about the person being forgiven - it’s all about the release of anger and hurt that we build up which keeps us from living the healthiest life possible. Forgiveness is about self-love.  Detailed Show Notes Here....

Are you searching for answers or looking for a breakthrough? How do we turn our circumstances into triumph? Come on a ride with us and meet Carla Moore! At 40 years old and 350 pounds, Carla was in a car accident that changed her life. She shares her transformation principals and how inward change creates an outward impact. "When you get a sense of who you are, and what you're here to do, you move...

After spending a large portion of her life running from cause to cause and spreading herself too thin, Gia Duke realized that there were too many causes for her to fully support. She couldn't help fast enough and there was always more work to be done - no matter how hard she worked and tried. Tune in to learn about Gia’s journey to focus her energy and encourage others to give back in their own un...

There’s a unicorn inside each of us and Its important to find your creativity and embrace your authentic self.  This week’s guest brings talent and humor to guide us in the right direction and teach us how to embrace our inner unicorn. Strother Gaines uses his background in Dramatic Arts to coach corporate Americans how to be happy in their own skin and to recognize their unique abilities.  Tune i...

We are gearing up for an incredible season with some extraordinary guests! If you have any feedback or suggestions for us please share them with us at 312-646-0205! And join our BRAVE MOVEMENT by supporting us on Patreon! We have something for everyone.

When you’re differently-abled, things may take a little longer to accomplish but if you really want to get there, you will! This week’s guest has proven this by becoming the first blind person in the world to write, edit, produce, direct, and star in a feature film, unassisted. gough joins us all the way from the Gold Coast in Australia and he never allows his disability get in the way of what he...

This week Heather welcomes good friend, Paige Chenault to the show. Paige is the founder of The Birthday Party Project, an amazing nonprofit organization that throws birthday parties for homeless children and their families. Paige shares her incredible story  of living big and coming together as a community to do extraordinary things. She reminds us that "Playing small does not serve the world!" T...

Andrew Moxon was just a guy who liked Twitter and speaking his mind. Then his thoughts turned him into a powerful force responsible for opening the eyes of people all over the world. He’s a writer who went viral on Twitter after comparing microaggressions of general violence towards women to being “kicked in the nuts.” He’s funny, upfront, and entertaining. And he’s a feminist – something we can s...

When acknowledge and connect with gratitude, everything in our lives changes. That’s why we’ve created a special gratitude episode again this year. It’s through the simple routine of a gratitude practice that we begin to actually shift our mindset towards one of happiness and positivity. We’re working to build a community of people focused on gratitude, because we know we can’t do it alone. Tune i...

Kina Collins is a nationally recognized gun violence prevention and health care advocate who’s running for congress. She’s not a career politician, she’s an involved and concerned citizen. Kina helped build a statewide coalition and co-authored landmark legislation that established the Illinois Council on Women and Girls and insisted they include transgender women in the bill that was signed by a...

Growing up in an abusive household, Leah Carey was subjected to sexual trauma from an early age. Her father’s alcoholic and narcissistic behaviors created extremely confusing messages about . As a result, she was left without the tools necessary to build healthy and intimate relationships. She completely lacked the ability to advocate for her own pleasure and claim her own bodily autonomy. Tune in...

Trish King redefines what it means to be a brave American. Trish spent her entire career in the U.S Army as an Infantryman and then she came out as transgender. This made Trish America's first transgender infantryman. Her story is one of overcoming, persistence, and dedication. Although she’s now retired, Trish continues to fight for the rights of transgender service people and those marginalized...

Grief looks different for everyone. We all experience it in different ways and at different times. Grief is immediate or delayed. It’s deep and debilitating or it’s a slow roll of all-consuming waves. One thing is certain – we all encounter our own grief in our own ways. This week’s guest, Mike Burton, courageously joins us to talk about the loss of his father. At the young age of 19, Mike found h...

Imagine discovering, at the age of 12, that you were going blind. That’s what happened to this week’s guest, Maxwell Ivey. By his early twenties, he was completely blind. However, Max never stopped bravely pushing onward even through all of the challenges of living a life without eyesight. From working in the family business to writing multiple books and producing a blog, Maxwell, has created an e...

Nataleen Henry is a survivor in every sense of the word. After overcoming years of domestic violence and abuse, she learned to use dance and the retelling of her story to heal and encourage others to do the same. Her story is both heartbreaking and empowering, and it demonstrates the power and beauty found in healing. Tune in to learn that even in the darkest moments, you can still be resilient, s...

Maybe you’re better apart? Gabrielle Hartley is a divorce lawyer, coach, and mediator who helps people navigate relationships, even failing ones, in a healthy manner. She’s is known for her unique, non-toxic approach to divorce; she even wrote the book on it! Tune in to learn about the power found through deeply engaging with what’s hard and how that internal awareness brings about change. Gabriel...

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. In an effort to support the cause, we had a special interview with Tracey Maxfield, author, speaker, and advocate for mental health awareness and anti-bullying. Her philosophy is to engage children and teenagers, educate them about mental illness and bullying, and empower them to develop the confidence and skills necessary to move ahead, successfully,...

Mandy North firmly believes all people are called to love and be loved. After experiencing a learning trip to Africa, Mandy was moved to stand in solidarity with her worldly neighbors by participating in a ration challenge. During this experience, she ate like a refugee for seven days. Listen now to learn about the rations challenge and the many ways it moved Mandy to further view all people throu...

Liz Kleinrock is an anti-bias educator and consultant. Her social justice based curriculum brings current community discussion to the forefront of the classroom. When centering conversations around these issues and ideas, children learn to approach the world through a more critical and inclusive lens. Tune in to learn about the value of opening this important dialogue with even the youngest of chi...

18 years ago, on September 11, 2001, the world changed forever. The attacks of 9/11 took the lives of thousands and forever altered the lives of millions all over the world. Today, Mike Cortes, a 9/11 first responder, honors the victims of the tragedy by sharing his story. Mike continues to carry out the legacy of the fallen through living his life with purpose and intention and he has a request f...

Laura Di Franco teaches us that fear is just a feeling! She’s a six-time published poet, author, and inspirational speaker. After nearly three decades as a holistic physical therapist, she experienced her own true healing through learning to speak up, find her voice, and share that voice out loud. Tune in to learn about Laura’s brave writing process and all the ways in which we all have the abilit...

Welcome to season six of The Brave Files Podcast! Each and every one of us makes brave decisions on a daily basis, whether you know it or not. This podcast interviews people who have stepped out of fear and into bravery in both big and small ways. Each conversation helps inspire and motivate you to lean into bravery and live courageously.  A portion of each episode is dedicated to charity, celebra...