The Write Your Own Story Podcast

This week, Betsy sits down with trauma therapist, writer, and former educator Sonnet Daymont for a powerful, tender conversation dedicated to every woman who has survived child abuse, narcissistic abuse, or toxic environments—and is now learning how to feel safe, seen, and whole again. Sonnet shares how witnessing emotional pain in the classroom led her to work in the first U.S. safe house for chi...

In this episode of Write Your Own Story, Betsy sits down with Rachel Wonderland—gerontologist, three-time Johns Hopkins–published author, and founder—who turned a layoff into a lane of her own. They go deep on female entrepreneurship without the burnout costume, how to find (and be) the right coach, and the unglamorous truth about boundaries, referrals, and working for free. They also open a vital...

If you’ve been feeling off, tired, moody, bloated, or just not yourself —this episode will hit home. The hormone world is full of noise: quick fixes, supplements, and endless opinions. But what if healing could be simple ? In this conversation, Betsy sits down with hormone expert Robin Nielsen to bring calm, clarity, and truth back to your health. In the episode, you’ll learn about: What’s really...

This week on the Write Your Own Story podcast, Betsy sits down with author and survivor Linda Pevac, a bright, brave voice who turned a nightmare into a masterclass in self-trust. Together, they unpack how “you’re so special” love-bombing morphs into confusion and control, the subtle red flags in therapy and relationships, and the exact moment Linda chose herself and walked out. Then we pivot to t...

This week, Betsy sits down with April Wachtel , founder of Cheeky Cocktails , to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a consumer brand that lasts.  No fluff, just the real reels. They go deep on: Why distribution isn’t a sales channel (and how it can kill small brands) Surviving where 90% of beverage brands die in 2 years, cash, MOQs, and ruthless focus The DTC-first playbook a...

When a woman remembers who she is, the spiral ends. In this fiercely tender episode, Betsy sits down with holistic mentor Edit B. Kiss to move beyond “coping” and into closure —on anxiety, panic, and the heaviness of depression. We talk body wisdom and energy, nervous system and chakras, and the quiet, disciplined practices that make you unshakeable. Expect straight talk and practical tools: how p...

We all know the rush of starting something new—the launch of a business, a new season of life, even a bold personal change. At first, the support is loud: friends cheer, followers clap, and sales roll in. But what happens when the applause fades, the algorithm shifts, and the quiet sets in? In this solo episode, Betsy Leonis gets real about the often-unspoken valley of entrepreneurship and life tr...

In this episode of Write Your Own Story , Betsy Leonis dives deep with Liz Hansen — founder of Chicago Boudoir Photography and TEDx speaker — to expose the silent confidence crisis women face at every age. In this powerful conversation, Betsy and Liz talk about: The lies society has told us about beauty, aging, and “worthiness.” Why so many women feel like they’re too much — and how to flip that s...

This week, Betsy sits down with Sarah Edmondson — actress, author, podcast host, and survivor of the NXIVM/DOS sex cult — for Part 2 of this powerful conversation. After unpacking the red flags in Part 1, Sarah dives into the moment everything snapped , how she planned her escape , and what it took to blow the whistle — from covert calls to the New York Times cover story that ignited a federal inv...

In this week’s episode of the Write Your Own Story podcast , Betsy sits down with Sarah Edmondson — actress, author, podcast host, and survivor of the NXIVM cult — to uncover how she was recruited and why intelligent, ambitious women can be especially vulnerable to manipulation. In Part 1, Sarah opens up about:  🔹 Her early life as a “seeker” and what made her open to self-improvement groups  🔹...

In this powerful episode of Write Your Own Story , Betsy sits down with author, speaker, and emotional eating expert Tricia Nelson to uncover the truth about food, feelings, and freedom. Tricia’s journey started with fries she could never leave on the plate and ended with a life-changing realization: it was never about the food . From binge-eating in secret to reclaiming her worth, Tricia shares h...

What if sending your child to college didn’t have to feel overwhelming—but instead became a season of clarity, confidence, and purpose? In this episode of Write Your Own Story , Betsy sits down with Shellee Howard , bestselling author, certified college counselor, and founder of College Ready, to unpack the truth about preparing teens for higher education. A mom of four who successfully sent each...

What if love isn’t just luck—but something you can actually measure? In this episode of Write Your Own Story , Betsy sits down with author and researcher Zoey Charif to unpack her groundbreaking book Love Can In Fact Be Calculated , a bold and refreshing look at the science of love, self-worth, and modern dating. From heartbreak and healing to data and destiny, Zoey shares how her personal journey...

Loneliness can arrive quietly — in the middle of a bustling day, in a home filled with people, or even in a relationship where love is present but connection feels out of reach. In this solo episode of Write Your Own Story , Betsy opens her heart about the tender truth of loneliness: why it shows up, how it hides beneath busyness or overwhelm, and why no one else can truly fix it for us. Through p...

What does it mean to mother with joy—not martyrdom? In this heart-opening episode of Write Your Own Story , Betsy sits down with litigation strategist, writer, and mother Bernadette Catalana , whose book Daughter Lessons began as a private gift to her daughters and turned into a healing manifesto for mothers everywhere. From navigating the heartbreak of divorce in her childhood to raising her own...

What if recovery isn’t a clean line from sick to healed—but a lifelong dance in the middle? In this honest and beautifully layered episode of Write Your Own Story , Betsy sits down with author, professor, and mom Mallary Tenore Tarpley , whose debut book Slip sheds light on the overlooked space between full recovery and active struggle with an eating disorder. Mallary shares her deeply personal st...

You’ve checked all the boxes—career, family, beautiful life—and yet, there’s that quiet voice asking, is this really it? In this soul-stirring (and joyfully real) conversation, Betsy sits down with Cherylanne Skolnicki—founder of Brilliant Balance and beloved mentor to thousands of driven women—to unpack the hidden weight of success. Together, they explore the tension between ambition and presence...

If you’re in a relationship that looks fine from the outside — but inside you feel invisible, disconnected, and exhausted — this episode is for you. Whether you’ve tried therapy, countless conversations, or just kept pushing through, it still feels like you’re carrying the emotional weight of it all. This week, Betsy sits down with Sophie Orozco , certified relationship coach and creator of the Re...

In this solo episode, Betsy opens up about the heavy anxiety so many of us are feeling right now—amid summer chaos, heartbreaking news out of Texas, and the emotional toll of simply trying to keep it all together. She shares her own experience with anxious spirals and past panic attacks, and offers two simple, powerful tools that helped her move through a sleepless night: conscious breathing and a...

Brain fog? Palpitations? Random anxiety, stubborn weight, and sleep that straight-up vanished? Welcome to the chaos we never got the manual for: perimenopause. In this honest, hilarious, and hope-filled episode, Betsy sits down with women’s health expert and truth-teller Dr. Sara Rinala to pull back the curtain on the decade before menopause that no one talks about—but every woman deserves to unde...

What if happiness wasn’t something to chase… but something you create , even on the messiest days? In this deeply personal episode of Write Your Own Story , we’re getting real about what happiness actually is—and what it isn’t. No toxic positivity. No shiny Instagram-filtered illusions. Just honest truths about grief, boundaries, acceptance, letting go, and the radical bravery it takes to choose j...

What if LinkedIn wasn’t just for job hunting—and actually became one of your favorite places to learn, connect, and grow your personal brand? In this energizing episode of Write Your Own Story, host Betsy Leonis sits down with LinkedIn strategist and storytelling powerhouse Angie Snowball. Together, they bust the myths around LinkedIn (“Isn’t it just for finding a job?”), tackle imposter syndrome...

In this deeply grounding episode of Write Your Own Story, Betsy Leonis sits down with Erin Morrison—therapist, author, and creator of The Conscious Mom—to explore what it really means to mother from a place of inner clarity, not outer pressure. Together, they unpack the internal tug-of-war so many moms feel: the push to get it right and the pull of emotional overload, perfectionism, and self-doubt...

In this inspiring episode of Write Your Own Story, host Betsy Leonidas sits down with interior designer Jackie Barnes to explore the profound connection between our living spaces and our mental health. From her roots as a mental health professional to her thriving design career, Jackie shares how thoughtful, intentional design can transform a home into a sanctuary of peace, comfort, and joy. Toget...

In this heartfelt episode of Write Your Own Story, Betsy sits down with author and artist Jaime Townzen for a powerful conversation on grief, motherhood, and rediscovering yourself after unimaginable loss. Together, they explore: 🌿 The invisible weight women carry when they put everyone else first  🌿 How creativity became Jaime’s path to healing after losing eight loved ones in six years  🌿 The...