Unconditionally Her

Sometimes the journeys that change our lives don't begin with a passport—they begin with the courage to start over. In this inaugural episode of  Legacy Makers , a special series from  Unconditionally Her Conversations , host Karen Shayne, along with Kiya Naka, sits down with luxury travel advisor and entrepreneur Allison Long for a conversation that goes far beyond destinations and dream vaca...

What if the life you’ve been longing for isn’t somewhere out there waiting for you to find it— but is already hidden inside the life you’re living right now? In the middle of your ordinary days your routines, your conversations, your not-so-perfect moments— what if God is already revealing something more? Not louder. Not bigger. But deeper. More meaningful. More alive. Because maybe “immeasurably...

Have you ever heard the saying, 'Busy as a bee in June?”  Well, that couldn’t be more fitting for the story we’re exploring today.   On Unconditionally Her: Conversations, join Karen Shayne and Becky Reid as they speak with author of Bees In June, Elizabeth Bass Parman  as she invites us into the enchanting town of Spark, Tennessee, during the summer of 1969—a time when the world watched in aw...

In today’s world, conversations around diversity, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation are more important than ever. As we navigate challenging times marked by division and uncertainty, education remains one of the most powerful tools for fostering understanding, healing, and meaningful change. In this very special episode, Sandy Williams is joining me as we honor and welcome longtime educator Ci...

Often in life, we are gifted the opportunity to step outside our comfort zone and experience something transformational.  That happened to me recently when I was musically introduced to an artist by the name of Radhika Vekaria.   If I had to describe Radhika, I would start by saying she is a musical visionary whose work transcends cultural and creative boundaries. Drawing inspiration from her heri...

In a world that often glorifies grand achievements and monumental milestones, it's easy to overlook the significance of small things. However, the true essence of a fulfilling and balanced life often lies in the minutiae. The small things, those seemingly insignificant actions and moments Hold immense power in shaping our daily experiences and overall well being. Whether it's a brief moment of min...

It's a chair every musician, artist, composer, and producer wants to be sitting in. On February 4th, 2024, Carla Patullo found herself sitting in that very chair, waiting. Then her category was announced and her name called. The Grammy was for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album. The win that night found Carla with a plethora of mixed emotions.b Knowing what this could mean for her career wa...

Old friends are like warm hugs.  You can pick up a conversation right where you left off never once skipping a beat. That’s how I felt when I reconnected to do a catch up with Leanne Jamison.  It had been a while with life being as busy as usual, but within ten minutes of our call, it was like throwing on your favorite robe and houseshoes, getting comfy and grabbing your favorite cocktail and see...

In the quiet corners of life, we often encounter individuals whose stories resonate like gentle melodies of bn the spring. Today, we step into the world of June, a widow I interviewed just two Christmases ago and a woman whose spirit deeply touched my soul.  As we sit down to chat, we unravel the woven threads of a beautiful and enduring connection to her late husband. Through her words and memori...

How often in our lives do we explore the profound connection between our inner selves (our soul) and the ever-changing landscape of our lives?   Life can be surprising at times sometimes and the whiplash of unexpected changes can often send shockwaves down to the the core of our being. How does our soul respond to these shocks, and what happens to our sense of identity in the process?   Today on t...

have you ever thought the clutter in your head and heart makes as much or more difference as the clutter on the desk or in your desk drawer? Well, it does. Today we're diving into the fascinating topic of organizing. Not just our physical spaces, but also our mental, spiritual, and emotional spaces. Our guest is Sara Skillen. Sara is a certified organizer life coach. She's an author, a spe...

Today's podcast is slightly different in tone due to the significance of this day. Exactly one year from today, The U. S. will exercise its most treasured and valuable act of democracy, the power to vote. This podcast embraces today's understanding there's never been a time in history that voting has been more important, especially for women. This podcast talks about the significance o...

Today, a heartwarming podcast reunion unfolds as Karen Shayne, the host of "Unconditionally Her," and Kiya Naka from Co-XST join forces to collaborate and share the compelling story of the film, "My First Breath: The Story of Carl Gibson." Carl's journey began at the tender age of 7 when he embarked on a hazardous path by experimenting with inhaling gas on his family's...

Language plays a crucial role in our everyday lives, capable of profoundly impacting our existence. Certain words, such as "commitment," "affection," and "gratitude," have the power to alter our emotions and, in some instances, even transform our life trajectories. Conversely, there exist words with darker connotations, such as "terror" and "cancer.&quo...

 I truly believe nothing just happens in life. My mom used to say for everything there is a reason. But imagine being in a foreign country for 10 days on a riverboat with a couple of friends who are waiting to meet yet more of their friends, whom obviously we'll be sharing living quarters with for the next 10 days. You really don't know how things are going to go, so you just wait. And you...

The journey toward self-discovery and personal growth isn’t easy. Whether you're feeling lost, overwhelmed, exhausted, or simply curious about what more life has to offer, this episode is here to guide you toward a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you. Join us as we meet Rhonda HiIcks, a brave and inspiring woman who was unafraid to delve into the complexities of her human...

In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing the importance of loving ourselves unconditionally and how it can positively impact our lives.  As a generation of  women  that has been taught they can – and should – have it all, taking the time to love yourself all too often gets pushed aside. We tell ourselves we’re not worthy of our own love until we’ve run that lost those last few pounds, gotten that a...

In this introduction podcast, Host Karen Shayne welcomes all readers and new listeners tuning in to our Unconditionally Her Podcast, “Conversations”.  This episode gets ready dive into some amazing discussions with some fabulous women (and the occasional man or two).  Conversations will empower and celebrate the modern woman and provide a platform for the multi-faceted woman, from career to mother...

After losing her mother to ovarian cancer in 2009, this Houston, Texas powerhouse was inspired by her mother's strength and passion enough to leave her corporate career and founded The Ovarcome Foundation, a non-profit organization. This non-profit was created specifically to raise global awareness, to fund research in search of a cure, and to provide financial, psycho-social, and information...

This Wisconsin native knows her way around the kitchen!  A breast cancer survivor, Chef Mary Stodola created culinary excellence when she became CEO of her Nashville catering company, Simply Delicious. Fueled by her beloved mother, Chef Mary is an advocate for health, humor, and loving life while delighting us all with amazing recipes right from her kitchen table.  She’s her own spicy spice, alway...

She is a wife, mother of two, a Thelma to your Louise, a corporate IT professional, and entrepreneur extraordinaire. Rhonda Hicks is also a mentor, a leader, a follower of her faith, a motivator, and a giver.  Above all, she’s a cancer survivor; a woman who knows no boundaries in leadership and no limits of how to give back after a shocking cancer diagnosis rocked her seemingly perfect life. _____...

When asked to describe this next cast member I’d say, take Golden Girl Blanche, mix her with a little Dorothy, give her the attitude of Sophia and the wit of Rose, and you’d have Brookshire McDonald! This fiery gal from North Carolina took cancer, stared it in the face, and said, “You ain’t got a chance” . She’s a mother of six and a grandmother of fifteen and she’s about to knock your socks off (...

Rhayne Thomas is a vocalist, author, entrepreneur, inspirational humorist, breast cancer survivor, and…a prune whisperer?   This former Atlanta resident now makes her home in Las Vegas.  Her mission is to heal hearts through laughter and prunes!  As a 40+ year entertainer, Rhayne knows how difficult it can be to keep smiling when you are at your wit’s end, but she’s living proof that you can make...

A Tennessee native, author, and advocate, Navita Gunter’s belief in her own strength, and her gift for poetry, carried this single mother through and out of the horrors of cervical cancer. In 1991, she founded the Tennessee’s first Cervical Cancer Coalition. Now, Navita dedicates her time and efforts to changing the story of cervical cancer deaths in the state by educating about, and advocating fo...

In June, we celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day.   In honor of all courageous cancer survivors from around the globe, Unconditionally Her is showcasing some amazing stories from the original Survivor Stories from the Stage theater shows.  Stories from the Stage was originally produced by the Women Survivors Alliance and was created to give a voice to millions of women survivors of ALL cancers....