The Soul Talks Podcast

I’m sharing something tender on this week’s Small Talks with Theresa — the first few pages of my book. It’s a glimpse into the life James and I had together, and the beginning of the story I’m learning how to tell. Honestly, it’s scary to write a book about someone you love taking their life. But I believe there’s healing in naming the truth, and maybe—by sharing mine—you’ll feel less alone in you...

We’re back today with Therapy with Sheri on the Soul Talks Podcast, and this conversation is one so many of us need. Toxic relationships are everywhere—on our feeds, in our pasts, maybe even in our present. But what does “toxic” really mean? Sheri Ryland helps us slow down and look honestly at the confusion, the inconsistency, and the emotional tug-of-war that can keep us stuck. Sometimes we stay...

Get ready for such a powerful and insightful episode on complexities of parenting—especially when you're still healing yourself. In Episode 25, Cindy vulnerably shares her journey as a mom navigating fear, control, and faith during a season when her daughter was struggling deeply. She opens up about the ache of watching someone you love numb their pain—and the prayer that shifted everything: “God,...

In Part 3 of our Soul Talks conversation with Cindy Halsted, she opens up about her crawl out of depression—and the two things that helped her start healing:She needed it to be normalized—to know it's not her fault and that even with strong faith, life can be incredibly hard. She needed safe people—wise counselors and trusted friends to help her explore childhood wounds and feel seen. Cindy shares...

We’re back again today with our weekly Therapy with Sheri episode on the Soul Talks Podcast. This week, Sheri Ryland invites us to gently examine the self-judgment we carry—often shaped by the words and expectations of others. When we internalize those messages—good or bad—they begin to shape what we believe we should or shouldn't do. The result? A quiet narrative that tells us we’re never enough....

We are back again today with Cindy Halsted! In this honest and powerful continuation, Cindy opens up about the complexity of being seen—how her beauty and femininity shaped her early experiences, from pageants to dating, and the tension of presenting a polished version of herself vs. simply being herself. She also shares how her faith became deeply personal—formed through times of pain and depress...

Mother’s Day can be beautiful—and incredibly complex. In this week’s episode, resident therapist Sheri Ryland unpacks the layers of grief, pressure, and expectation that often surface this time of year. From maternal and prenatal loss to the quiet weight of single motherhood, Sheri offers thoughtful insight for navigating the emotions that come with this day.✨ You don’t have to be perfect. Doing...

This week on the Soul Talks Podcast, Theresa Bruno welcomes transformational leader Cindy Halsted—a woman whose life is marked by deep spiritual insight, emotional healing, and intentional living. With advanced degrees in counseling, and certifications in coaching and trauma-informed modalities. Cindy shares how her journey through pain, performance, and purpose has shaped her powerful ministry to...

Grief touches all of us—whether through the loss of a loved one, a life-altering change, or the quiet ache of unmet expectations. In this week’s episode, we’re holding space for that pain—and for the possibility of healing. Theresa shares her personal journey of navigating deep loss, joined by resident therapist Sheri Ryland, who offers compassionate insight into the emotional and spiritual proces...

We’re back with another episode of my personal interview with my dear friend Peter Siaggas—one that’s especially close to my heart. In Season 2, Episode 11, I shared how I found my way into the world of marketing and advertising—and how that journey led me to James, the love of my life. Now, in Episode 18, I open up about what came next: becoming a mother, building a career I loved, and doing my b...

We’re welcoming back resident therapist Sheri Ryland for another powerful Therapy with Sheri episode on the Soul Talks Podcast! In this conversation, we explore EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a transformative mental health treatment that helps people heal from trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and deep emotional wounds. Sheri breaks down: ✨ What EMDR is✨ How it works to proce...

IEpisode 16 is now available! In this heartfelt final episode of our 3-part series with Dr. Katie Eastman, we explore the deep roots of inner peace, the power of compassionate listening, and the incredible healing journey that comes with grief. We also dive into what it truly means to “listen more than you speak”—a powerful lesson Katie learned from Jason, and one she now uses to walk alongside Uk...

Today on the Soul Talks Podcast, I am having a "Small Talk" with you for the first time in a while. I'm sharing my personal daily meditation and prayer routine—a simple but powerful way I stay spiritually aligned, centered, and connected to divine guidance. Whether you call it God, Spirit, the Universe… I believe there's always a whisper trying to reach us. This practice helps me pause, listen, an...

We’re back with another powerful Soul Talks conversation featuring Dr. Katie Eastman, a master grief coach who shares her journey to becoming a leader in the field of grief work. Grief is deeply personal—there’s no single path or timeline. In this episode, Dr. Eastman shares incredible grief support tips, explains why healing after loss is unique for everyone, and even spends time coaching Theresa...

This week on The Soul Talks, resident therapist Sheri Ryland joins us for a raw and honest conversation about the grueling, often hidden journey of fertility struggles. Fertility is a topic many shy away from—and yet, the emotional toll of infertility, the grief of not being able to conceive, and the quiet heartbreak of not being “normal” are deeply real and life-altering. Sheri shares her own exp...

Today on The Soul Talks Podcast, we welcome Dr. Katie Eastman! She shares the deeply personal journey that led her into a life of service—from her early childhood experiences to a profound encounter that would change everything. As a young social worker, Katie met Jason—a teenager given just three months to live. In his final days, Jason shared a wisdom that would shape the rest of her life and ca...

We’re back with our weekly episode featuring resident therapist Sheri Ryland, and this week we’re diving into a powerful and often misunderstood emotion: anger. We explore what anger really is, how to process it in healthy, constructive ways, and what to do when it shows up in toxic relationships or abusive dynamics. Whether you're learning to regulate your own emotions or navigating someone else’...

We left off with my personal story in Season 2, Episode 1, where I shared the devastating loss of my ability to use my hand as I was training to be a concert pianist. How do you move forward when your greatest passion is taken away? In this episode, I continue my conversation with Peter Siaggas, sharing how I found a new path in marketing and advertising, how I met the love of my life, and the inc...

Divorce is devastating, but it doesn’t define you. In this episode of The Soul Talks Podcast, our resident therapist Sheri Ryland shares how to navigate the grief, fear, and uncertainty that comes with divorce. Will I ever be loved again? Will I always be alone? These thoughts can overwhelm us, but healing is possible. You are not alone. Lean into your community, embrace the journey, and rediscove...

What kind of life do you really want to live? For Wendy Valentine, that question changed everything. In this episode of the Soul Talks Podcast, Wendy opens up about the transformation that led her from midlife crisis to creating her dream life. She built The Midlife Makeover Show, bought an RV she lovingly named Felicia, and started living life on her terms. She also shares the heart behind her ne...

Do you really need to have an anxiety disorder to experience anxiety? 🤔 Not at all. In this episode of Soul Talks, therapist Sheri Ryland reframes anxiety as our “care too much meter”—a completely natural, physical response that we all feel at times. 💛 Sheri helps us understand: 🔹 What causes anxiety 🔹 When it might be a chemical imbalance vs. a normal reaction 🔹 Tools to calm anxiety before...

What does it take to truly reinvent your life? Wendy Valentine, host of The Midlife Makeover Show, shares how she transformed chaos into courage—packing up her life, climbing out of debt, and hitting the road in her RV in search of freedom, joy, and purpose. 🌎✨From her lowest lows to the open road, Wendy’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-trust.#SoulTalksPodcast #Midlife...

Fear of the unknown. Fear of just getting through the day. Fear that lingers from the past. It can shape how we respond to life, often without us realizing it. In this episode of Soul Talks Podcast, our resident therapist Sheri Ryland dives into the roots of fear, how it influences our emotions (like anger and pain), and how therapies like EMDR can help process deep-seated fears. Learn how to brea...

After our powerful episodes with Carrie on her journey with an eating disorder, we’re sitting down with resident therapist Sheri Ryland to dive deeper. Why do so many of us feel like we’re not enough? How does society shape our self-worth? And what can we do to heal? Sheri unpacks the root causes—like social media validation and unrealistic beauty standards—and shares key things to pay attention t...

Season 2 is here! Over the past year, we’ve shared so many powerful stories of healing and growth on The Soul Talks Podcast. But up until now, I haven’t shared much of my own journey. To kick off this new season, that changes. A few months ago, my dear friend and director, Peter Siaggas, encouraged me to sit down and tell my story. To be honest, it wasn’t easy. It was raw, emotional, and terrifyin...