StoriesThatInspireUsWithJanis

Stories That Inspire Us welcomed to today’s podcast, Thursday, November 16, 2022, Grant Hanson. Grant is a person who first and foremost insists on enjoying life. The way he enjoys it most is by being a father and pursuing whatever allows him to make the biggest impact. Making an impact (in my opinion) is an understatement. Grant shared with raw and very real authenticity his journey of sobriety to recovery which he admits was self-induced. His long-term recovery has been dedicated to working in the mental health space. He was very candid and shared that at first it was “fun”; “fun with problems” and then just “problems”. He came to a point in his life where he took inventory and as he put it “reconstructed his go.” The idea that a person can begin anywhere in life and become anyone they want as long as they are willing to do what’s required is the primary force behind his passion in what he does. Like any one of us, Grant has goals and ambitions. He recently embarked upon ClubATW.com - (Club All The Way). I shared with Grant that I envisioned him speaking on a TedEx stage as well as writing his own book (we discussed the name of his book as well as the names of his first and last chapters!) How did he take inventory? One day at a time! To connect with Grant further, please check out his website and various other social media platforms: https://recoveryclubamerica.com/ https://www.instagram.com/granthansonofficial/ https://www.facebook.com/grantwhansonentrepreneur https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-hanson-1b8a70130 www.tiktok.com/@granthansonofficial Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Grant - Sharing your story of being a single Dad, showing your true authentic self and owning and developing your purpose and passion is “Truly” beyond amazing as these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us welcomed to today’s podcast on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, Teresa Lodato. Teresa is a former stressed-out financial services executive of a top Wall Street firm and author of Why Aren’t You Listening to Me? Teresa found herself working crazy hours and as a Mom and wife, spent most of her week going through the motions of her daily routine. She felt guilty as a young Mom dividing her time and was going 100 mph during the week and on the weekends, she often found herself dealing with horrible migraines. She did not understand “why” these migraines were happening until she did. She looks back at her early journey and realized that there was a pivotal moment when she realized her career and her marriage were taking a nosedive. “I see what a gift it is now.” She was at a point where she realized she was not listening to her body. There were early warning signs and Teresa went into detailed particulars of what she experienced. She finally learned how to trust herself and went on to earn her certifications, etc. Teresa guides stressed out adults and teens to navigate the complexities of relational trauma and the chronic health challenges that accompany stress, burnout and betrayal. Using cutting edge techniques and proven strategies based on neuroscience and psychology, her clients fully align with their inner knowing, optimizing mental, emotional and physical well being while achieving extraordinary results. Teresa gave some amazing and very practical tips for when we feel stressed and overwhelmed on how to manage and recognize when too much is just that: too much; and when too little is too little. Teresa mentioned an article in her podcast today. Please refer to the link below: https://academic.oup.com/cercor/article/29/6/2331/5017785?login=false To connect with Teresa further, please check out her website and various other social media platforms: https://www.teresalodato.com https://www.instagram.com/teresa_lodato_cpcc/ https://www.facebook.com/teresa.lodato.cpcc Do you suffer from migraines? How have they affected your overall health and life? Do you trust the Woo? As I mentioned in the podcast “The Woo is the glue backed by scientific data.” Trust the Woo!! Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Teresa - sharing your story and relaying it back to yourself and realizing: “I see what a gift it is now” led you on a path to work and coach others in such a meaningful way is “Truly” beyond amazing as these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us welcomed to the podcast broadcasted on Thursday, November 10, 2022, Nichole Howson. Nichole is the owner of AIM Social Media Marketing. As an experienced, award-winning social media strategist and virtual assistant, her work is focused on supporting social media managers with their day to day operations - handling administrative tasks as well as content creation, scheduling and engagement. Nichole was previously my guest on the TrulyYourVA with Janis (my business podcast) which was held on August 31, 2022. (Below is the audio from that podcast.) https://www.trulyyourvawithjanis.com/truly-templatized-with-the-amazing-nichole-howson-083122/ First, let me say that Nichole’s journey has been hit with several unfortunate life events. Her raw authenticity and her wanting to share very personal details about her mental health, was the topic of discussion. Her willingness to speak openly and honestly about her manic episodes and being diagnosed with bipolar disorder was all done with intensity to share her story so that others suffering from mental illness do not feel alone and more importantly, that it’s not their fault. Nichole and I both agreed that the subject of “mental health” is not shared in a positive light. One might ask, “how can there be a positive light when suffering from mental health issues?” Although this is a viable question, I believe that it is perhaps because of the stigma surrounding mental health. There is no “stigma” with Nichole. She owns what she has been through and also shared that she attempted suicide twice. She is postured and even shared how she felt disappointed and ashamed. Thankfully, with the assistance of her parents and being involved with an outpatient recovery program, Nichole is to the point in her life where she is proud that she has accomplished! She has good days and bad days, as we all do; however, she is tuned into her self-care! Her story may strike a chord with many who listen to her podcast but know this: she took AIM and “Truly” is amazing!! To connect with Nichole further, please check out her website, and other various social media platforms: https://www.readyaimsocial.com/ https://www.instagram.com/nicholehowson https://www.facebook.com/nicholehowson https://www.pinterest.ca/AIMSMMarketing/ https://www.tiktok.com/nicholehowson Stores That Inspire Us is the “story” Podcast to share your story to inspire others! Please let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Nichole’s has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Nichole for sharing your story in such a way that honors not only your struggles with mental health but will “Truly” inspire others as these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us welcomed to today’s podcast, Thursday, October 27, 2022, Lauren Litt. Lauren is the owner and lead Social Media Manager at Lil Shameless Plug. Lil Shameless Plug is a social media management company dedicated to the curation and creation of quality content for the creative entrepreneur. It wasn’t until Lauren was an actor living in LA and working as a waitress where she was “fired” that she promised herself that she would no longer change her time just for money. Lauren always loved social media and she had many incredibly talented friends, and not all of them knew how to promote themselves online. Lil Shameless Plug was born. In creating Lil Shameless Plug, her goal was to help creative entrepreneurs build an online web presence to help them find their audience and expand their communities. (Lauren’s favorite social media platform is Instagram!) Since its creation, Lil Shameless Plug has been able to teach the social media rules to independent entrepreneurs, brick and mortars and even an Oscar Qualifying Film Festival! Her social media management company is not just about being social but rather working with individuals and companies who have a passion in their heart to inspire others! This is vitally important for Lauren and her team! Lauren shared amazing tips for which organization apps she uses. When she started, she was using Trello and she also offered the most amazing tip: stay the course! It’s hard to start your own business. What platform to use, what apps to use - so much goes into how, why and the way you want your business to be perceived and of course, at some point, give yourself and your business a ‘lil shameless plug’! To connect with Lauren further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: http://www.lilshamelessplug.com https://twitter.com/lilshamelessplg https://www.instagram.com/lauren.litt/ http://www.facebook.com/LilShamelessPlug Are you or someone that you know looking for a social media agency? Please share this podcast with them and have them reach out to Lauren and her team at Lil Shameless Plug. She would love the opportunity to share with you how she can support you and your business. Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Lauren’s has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Lauren; from being fired to starting your entrepreneurship journey and now employing others that you value in such a meaningful way “Truly” a “Lil Shameless Plug” as these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us, welcomed to the Tuesday, October 25, 2022 episode, Mandy Alexis. Mandy shared her very personal and raw experience and was a functioning cocaine addict for 16 years. She has been clean for more than 3 years! Her relationship and experience with drugs started when she was just 12 years old. At such an early age of 12, she experimented with weed for the first time. Between the ages of 14-15, she was experimenting with mushrooms and acid and by age 16 ecstasy . . . all these mixed with alcohol. To say that she has completely reinvented herself is “truly” an understatement. While Mandy takes full responsibility for the choices she made in her life, she shares her story to impress upon others that “we all have the power within us” to change our outside influences. Mandy realizes she was escaping her reality and that she had to come from a place of loving herself in order to be authentically real, yet gentle and kind to herself at the same time. Setting boundaries was paramount to where she is today. She has changed her mind, body, heart and soul and is now a successful entrepreneur that recently moved to Costa Rica. It is her hope and desire to share her story in a way that will reflect upon others with a message of hope and the essence to share that hope to inspire others. “You can change unhealthy habits no matter how long you have had them for and create the life that you desire.” “I want to inspire and help motivate people to heal, grow and live healthy and happy lives. 💖” To connect with Mandy further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://mandyalexismotivation.ca/ https://instagram.com/mandyalexismotivation/ https://facebook.com/mandyalexismotivation/ Are you or someone that you know going through a similar experience as Mandy? Please share this podcast with them and have them. Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Mandy’s has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Mandy - you are one of those rare gems with the “essence to inspire others” as “truly” these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us welcomed to the Friday, October 21, 2022 episode, Asherah Dominique Boyer. Asherah is French (and has a lovely accent) and lives in the wilderness of an ancient forest of southern France. She is a psychologist, kinesiologist, flower essences practitioner, initiated in the spiritual path of universal sufism, dance leader and mentor, and frame drummer. We started out with our conversation with the essence of Stories is to inspire others and Asherah did that and so much more! I asked her with all of her amazing background how she was led to work with holistic modalities. She recalls that when she was a teenager, she one day had a very serious conversation with her Mom and that was that her goal is to accomplish wisdom. Asherah recalls that she was not even sure that she was talking about but she knew she would accomplish and reach her goal! Her unconventional healing journey has included speech therapy, various holistic modalities, experiencing the medicine of cacao through the creation of a successful chocolate brand and embodied spirituality. She has created her own healing practice "Inner Gardening", a spiraling process in the depth of your Being that unites Body, Mind and Soul and liberates you from your past and helps women who faced abuse reclaim their sovereignty, their joy, their pleasure and their vitality. Perhaps unconventional, her life filled with ups and downs, traumas, victories and learning and accepting where she was and cultivating how she was going to get there, where she is now; I’d say that is quite an accomplishment! To connect with Asherah further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://www.sensualhealing.net/ https://www.instagram.com/asherahdominiqueboyer/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004801245961 Let me know what you thought of this episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Asherah’s has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Asherah for sharing your journey as “Truly” these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Thursday, October 20, 2022, Kelly Swingler. Kelly is the Author of the Book: Mind the Gap: A Story of Burnout, Breakthrough & Beyond. Back in 2013, Kelly had a successful 15-year leadership career, yet she was burned out, exhausted, and missing out on life with family. She was beyond determined to enjoy the success that she had earned by creating a life of balance and boundaries that is also highly successful. At the age of 32, she was crumbling; she had ignored that gut feeling for far too long and she was very articulate on sharing with those who loved her that “she was fine” when in actuality, she wasn’t. She came to realize after her Burnout that the way she was working, was NOT working. It wasn’t until she had a conversation with her twin boys as she saw the look in their eyes and the worry in their faces when one of her son’s said to her “We don’t want you going back to work - your job is killing you.” In 2020, Kelly began her coaching / consulting business where she coaches leaders all over the world to succeed without giving up their career or jeopardizing their wellbeing. It is Kelly’s passion to really coach from a place of “who we are at the core” to prevent burnout.” Kelly is currently working on her 6th book. She will also be a featured speaker on TedEx! To connect with Kelly further, please check out her website and her social media through LinkedIn: https://www.kellyswingler.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyswingler/ To purchase Kelly’s Book, please click the below link: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Gap-Burnout-Breakthrough-Beyond-ebook/dp/B0B4D8BMJM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15JU3LFGTLY9I&keywords=kelly+swingler&qid=1666019432&sprefix=kelly+swingler%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1 Are you or someone that you know going through a similar story? How has feeling burned out affected you and your life? Please share this podcast with them and have them reach out to Kelly. Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Kelly - you are Minding the Gap and have redefined your beyond as “Truly” these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Tuesday, October 18, 2022, Marie Robert. Marie is the Author of the Children’s Book: Georgia’s Far-Away Family. (Her book is published in both French and English.) Marie is also an Irish Speech and Language Pathologist and more importantly, a Mom. Marie took us through her creative process and why she felt compelled to write this book. Through personal experiences, it's a subject that is very close to her heart as she grew up as a third culture child and her daughters are now doing so. Marie always lived in different countries than where her far-away family lived. She also loves to write so it comes as no surprise that when she was reading the story to her daughters about a little girl growing up in a different country to her grandparents and other extended family members that her daughters related to “Georgia” in a very personal way. Marie’s character in the book, Georgia, talks about her emotions around always having to say goodbye and not see them all the time. Then at school she does a project about family and finds out that her classmates think her family is pretty cool which helps her reconcile with the fact that all families are different and hers is wonderful too. Marie has a few other projects in the works and “Georgia”, although no sequels as of yet, might be intertwined with perhaps one of Marie’s upcoming projects! Just my prediction of course. To connect with Marie, please email her at: marierobertbooks@gmail.com To purchase Marie’s Book, click the below link: https://www.amazon.com/Georgias-Far-Away-Family-Marie-Robert/dp/295821740X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12MLR131EFC2L&keywords=Georgia%27s+Far+Away+Family&qid=1666017735&sprefix=georgia%27s+far+away+family%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1 Marie’s book will make a wonderful birthday gift or Christmas! This is one of those books I know will be in the hands of my amazing grand-niece! Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Marie for sharing your story behind writing Georgia’s Far-Away Family as “Truly” these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Saturday, October 15, 2022, Sam Perez. Sam is a television news reporter who loves telling and sharing stories. This passion led her to the University of Georgia, where she graduated with degrees in journalism and Spanish. Growing up, Sam learned from entrepreneurs as she watched her parents Rob and Diane create and open DV8 Kitchen in Lexington, KY. The restaurant and bakery hires people in recovery from substance use disorder. Sam found that this community of people had stories of strength, grit, and hope. Sam also shared her transparency through her personal story of her Dad’s addiction with alcoholism. Sam recall’s that her parents were always open to having those hard family discussions and never brushed off her Dad’s recovery from alcoholism. Not many people have the outreach, love and support of their families and do not know any other way but through their addictions and what they are going through. There is often a societal misconception about so many little things about addiction. We are all affected as a society with the causes and correlations of addiction and what that entails for everyone. We also have to remember that addiction does not discriminate. While Sam stated she is not an expert related to this field, it was her hope and pursuit of this amazing effort to share their experiences and start the conversation about the opioid epidemic, she has written Deviate From Denial: Erasing the Stigma of Addiction and Recovery Through Inspirational Stories. To connect with Sam further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://sam-perez.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sampereznews https://www.facebook.com/sampereznews https://www.twitter.com/sampereznews https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaeliseperez “Stories” simulcasted this podcast through the Wisdom Audio App. Sam and I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Robert James Goodman for coming up on stage and sharing his story and how Sam’s story resonated with him on so many levels. (Dr. Goodman has a book coming out in December, 2022 entitled: Unaware of Your Awareness.) Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Do you know someone who suffers from addiction? How has their experience affected you? To order Sam’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Deviate-Denial-Addiction-Recovery-Inspirational-ebook/dp/B0BCFCC4S1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OCQOD0HKOY0D&keywords=Sam+Perez&qid=1665845339&sprefix=sam+perez%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-1 Do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Sam - opening up the discussion to share conversations about the opioid epidemic was “Truly” amazing as these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Friday, October 14, 2022. Philippa Robinson, Author of the Book: I See, Me. During Philippa’s own personal transformation, through healing childhood trauma and learning to love and live for herself, she arrived at her soul mission to guide people to be the truest versions of themselves because she believes that is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. In her book she shares very intimate and raw experiences she went through as a child and how these events have shaped her into the woman she is today. In many ways, this is her memoir of her experiences and “journey from less than to enough.” Being the first child born to her young parents, “I am quite a novelty” to the unfortunate acceptance at an early age of always pleasing people for the acceptance, nurturing and love she so desired. From feeling less than to negotiating a serious eye condition CNV - Choroidal Neovascularisation (a very serious eye condition where you can sustain permanent loss of eyesight), she held her own and at one point, asked herself the question “What the Fuck am I going to do?” It wasn’t until her late 40’s and going through therapy that she realized “I knew I was betraying what I wanted but I did it because I felt I had no option.” She realizes now that she has many options, as she always knew and the little girl Philippa, well she has been there all along! This is one of those books where you will read it again and again! We never know what someone else is going through and sharing her story from a personal perspective and being vulnerable to others, she is quite a novelty! To connect with Philippa further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://www.safeandsupported.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/safeandsupportedcoaching/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwEsJ7De2Y3YsPbegLKmF2A https://www.amazon.co.uk/See-Me-Philippas-journey-enough/dp/1399909339/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1638357934&sr=8-1 “This book is from little Philippa, my inner child, who always knew I was in there and refused to let me die.” Philippa Robinson Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Do you See You? Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Philippa - you’ve found yourself in a most meaningful way as “Truly” these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, Linda Gunter. Linda is the Founder and CEO of an organization entitled: Love Him, Love Them. This organization, based in Lavonia, Georgia, exists to change hearts and lives in Haiti. Linda is also an Amazon Best Selling Author. Linda’s most recent book is now available on Amazon entitled Choir of Angels / How 30 Orphans Changed Their World. In her amazing book, Linda shared the miracles she witnessed during her North American tour with Love Him, Love Them Haitian orphans choir. Her book is filled with amazing stories of God’s faithfulness. Linda’s story actually started out many years ago, even before she wrote her book. She and her husband flipped houses and it was in one of her encounters with a homeless woman at one of her properties which started the divine process. One of her very dear friends was Haitian; and thus; her love and appreciation and connection with Haiti. On one of her trips to Haiti shortly after an earthquake rattled the country and turned it into rubble, she came across 30 orphans who were living in a broken, torn down building with water running through it. What stood out to Linda was that the orphans' had such love and joy that filled their hearts. They sang for Linda . . . Thus, this began something more than Linda and her husband could have ever imagined! She took the impossible and gave hope to a nation by empowering the youth! It’s possible! While the show notes to this particular podcast really could be a novel, there would be no way for me to articulate this amazing story of God’s miraculous work through one who had faith, and gave hope to orphans of a nation in the midst of doom and gloom, and tragedy beyond belief. Yet, they sang . . . As written on the back of her book “Some people watch the news …others make the news” and Linda and her organization Love Him, Love Them certainly have done that and so much more! To connect with Linda further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://www.lovehimlovethem.org/ http://www.instagram.com/lovehimlovethem https://www.facebook.com/LoveHimLoveThem/ https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdo28Yry/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8r86ueRAxyitAKlDK-VjYA Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Linda’s certainly has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Linda - Giving Hope to a Nation By Empowering the Youth as “Truly” these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us welcomed to today’s podcast, Friday, October 7, 2022, Melissa Miller. Melissa is a former Certified Nursing Assistant turned full time Online Business Owner and Stay At Home Mom and Spousal Caregiver. This is Melissa’s 2nd guest appearance! She was previously on the “Stories” podcast on July 15, 2022. Melissa’s story began in 2019 when her husband suffered an epiletpic seizure. (He had no prior history and the road to a diagnosis was a long and twisted journey. She describes her journey as throwing spaghetti to the wall.) Melissa caught us up on her “chaotic” lifestyle and that she has learned to adjust when she has to. This is not easy as her husband’s health continues to rapidly decline from the series of epileptic seizures that he has been having since December 2019. Melissa’s inspiration comes from her divine faith and setting her priorities that work with her lifestyle including self-care. This for her this past year has taken on more of a spiritual self-care which she describes as “setting” the tone. She emphasized that caregivers and patients have different needs and the only person who can take care of the caregiver is the caregiver herself (or himself.) She continues to try to stay ahead of the game (for example, housework, etc. or in her business, making sure she writes everything down and also sets up her task list in a way that makes sense to her. It continues to be Melissa’s mission to share her story to help other moms/spousal caregivers who were facing similar situations after her own struggle with finding resources in her own transition journey into being a full time Stay At Home Mom and Spousal Caregiver. Melissa coaches and encourages her clients with her Prompt Method: P - Preparing for the Unexpected R - Reaching Out for Support O - Getting Organized Around Your Home M - Managing Your Busy Schedule P - Prioritizing Your Whole Body Self-Care T - Telling Your Story To connect with Melissa further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://programs.melissamiller2011.com https://Instagram.com/melissamiller2011/ https://facebook.com/melissamiller2020/ https://tiktok.com/melissamiller2011/ Are you or someone that you know going through a similar story? How will you apply Melissa’s Prompt Method? Please share this podcast with them and have them reach out to Melissa. She would love the opportunity to share with you how she can support you. You can also sign up for a free 30-minute support call. Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Melissa’s has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Melissa - as “Truly” these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Thursday, October 6, 2022, Enoch Leffingwell. Enoch is an international speaker, best-selling author of the book "I Want A Mentor, Now What Do I Do?", and business advisor with a heart to serve. He mentors authors, speakers, coaches, and other high-level entrepreneurs on how to expand their influence, multiply their income, and increase their impact online. Enoch’s book is one of those books that EVERYONE should have! Enoch is on a mission to coach and provide value in such a way to show his followers and readers “How to Meet New Mentors Maximize Mentorships & Master Any Skill in Half the time.” His book does just that and more and he shares all of his Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Bible. This is not your typical self-help book nor is it a self-help manual. This is a well documented, easy to read and apply to your own way to learn and overcome the challenges that you may be facing as an entrepreneur. Warning, as a result of reading Enoch’s book, you may experience major breakthroughs and achieve higher levels of success! Enoch gives an overview in different Sections of his book as well as easy to follow chapters. From Chapter 1: The First Step to Changing Your Future (Hebrews 11:8) to the last Chapter 20, Becoming a Master of Your Craft (Proverbs 24:16) you will gain a practical understanding and perspective on the challenges that many entrepreneurs have faced. Enoch even shares his recommendations for setting monthly mastery challenges and candidly asks “. . . when are you going to learn those things?” Habits take shape when we apply them in a way that Enoch shares is doable for anyone. He shares his own personal experiences and the timing of his latest Monthly Master Challenge is very fitting. “I am focused on learning anything and everything I can about book marketing.” I would have to say that so far, he has far exceeded this new high-value and high-leverage skill. It goes to say that the more that you know, the more that you learn and apply will not only leverage your time, but leverage your skills! Ask yourself this: how are you leveraging your time? Enoch’s book will guide you through all of this and so much more! I’ll have what he’s having! To connect with Enoch further, please check out his websites and various social media platforms: https://www.iwantamentorbook.com/free54714539 https://www.enochleffingwell.com/ https://www.instagram.com/enochleffingwell/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVt7KrOcYJMt_L84Dzek1UQ https://www.linkedin.com/in/enoch-leffingwell https://www.tiktok.com/@enochleffingwell Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Enoch; you “Truly” are the Advisor with a Heart to Serve as these are the Stories That Inspires Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Wednesday, October 5, 2022, Katherine Marie. Katherine Marie is a speaker and a holistic cancer coach who says that cancer does not define her, but it has shaped her. In 2015 her stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis served as a springboard to help others through their own challenges, and she shares insights on the stage, through numerous podcasts, and her YouTube channel. During coaching and while speaking, Katherine uses her relatable experience and training with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to inspire and guide people in identifying goals and taking action. Her book, Fearless Action, was published in April 2022. Fearless Action is all about the “Strategies and Stories to Help You Manage Your Fears and Pursue Your Goals.” While her book certainly brought about layers of emotions, she stresses that you don’t have to have cancer to really connect with her book and her overall message in such a personal way. I reflected in today’s podcast with Katherine Marie that her book inspired me in such a way that I did not anticipate. You see, we all have those fears, concerns, things that have happened that we literally did not expect and with all of that those fears keep us from moving forward. Katherine Marie wrote to me a personal message in her book that she sent to me: “May you embrace Fearless Action in your life!” I keep her book on my desk as a reminder that whatever fear I’ve had, continue to have and will probably have in the future, does not define me. Life is hard and always predictably unpredictable. When those moments of fear creep in your life, you can choose to do what needs to be done and create that momentum. Katherine Marie shares her ABLE method: A - Acknowledge B - Breath L - Listen E - Execute To connect with Katherine Marie further, you may email her directly at: hhckatherine@gmail.com To purchase Katherine Marie’s book, Fearless Action, click the link below: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WYJS26W?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Also, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://inspiredvitality.life/ https://twitter.com/InspiredMN https://www.facebook.com/InspiredVitalityMN https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoX9RYrnGvRxHFQyc2SZRXw https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-marie-831300179/ Are you taking fearless action in your life? How would taking that action make you feel? Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Katherine Marie’s has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Katherine Marie. As you mentioned on the back of your book, “Born out of a fear of cancer recurrence and a desire to help others . . . “ - Truly these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Tuesday, October 4, 2022, Yvonne Caputo. Yvonne is the Author of the book: Dying with Dad / Tough Talks for Easier Endings. She is also the Author of the book: Flying with Dad (this book about her Dad’s experiences as a combat navigator of B24 bombers in the years leading up to World War II.) While working in a retirement community, Yvonne learns about the Five WishesⓇ, a registered trademark of Aging with Dignity, is a practical tool that acts as a guide for important conversations with family and doctors about how you want to be treated if you or a loved one become seriously ill. (Five Wishes is currently accepted in 42 states; check with a local attorney in your area for further questions and appropriate guidelines per the State where you live.) This can be implemented as your loved one’s legal document that expresses their end-of-life wishes beyond an advance directive. She decided to broach this difficult subject with her Dad, whom she had grown closer with while writing her first book, Flying with Dad.) Dying with Dad inspires us to think about those meaningful discussions for when we or our loved ones are aging or preparing for death. Discussions about death and grief, but also about crossing the finish line joyfully and triumphantly. (Yvonne shared her very raw and intimate details of the day her Dad passed away and what it meant for her to be able to triumphantly know that her Dad went the way he wanted to. As sad as it was for her to lose her Dad, she was left with a sense of peace!) These are the types of discussions that we tend to fear; that we tend to not want to have and honestly want no part of. Yet, it can be the most beautiful and poignant discussion you could have with your loved one. To connect with Yvonne further, please check out her author page through Ingenium Books where you can purchase her books: https://ingeniumbooks.com/yvonne-caputo/ You can also email Yvonne at: Yvonne@yvonnecaputo.com To learn more about the Five WishesⓇ, go to their website: www.fivewishes.org Are you or someone that you know going through a similar experience with your loved ones? What will the outcome of discussing such a dark subject be? We don’t really know what the outcome will be and that’s why it’s that important to have that conversation, as frightening as we think it may be! Let your wishes be known!! Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Yvonne for writing such an amazing book! As Paul Malley, President of Aging with Dignity wrote “. . . a gift of care for those we love the most” and what better gift to give as these “Truly” are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series welcomed to today’s podcast, Friday, September 30, 2022, Anne Marie Del Principe. Anne Marie is the Author (along with Clarissa McNair) of the book: Imperfect Gems: A Memoir. Anne Marie is the Mom of twin girls born with cerebral palsy. She spent 27 years being an advocate for her girls. There were 18+ operations between her twin girls as well as numerous trips to attend physical therapy 3 times per week. Anne Marie’s hope was that her girls would become independent when doctors gave Anne Marie and her husband no hope. In my opinion, you can’t tell Anne Marie that there is no hope. Anne Marie created that hope and wouldn’t take “no hope” as an type of answer. She continued to fiercely advocate for her children and each one of her twin girls became very independent. The testament of a Mother’s love has no boundaries and certainly there was no room for no hope. Her twin girls, Adrianna and Alessandra became quite independent, continued on with their education, and obtained security with their new careers. Life in that moment was blissful. Then, tragedy struck during one of the girl's weddings. As a way to honor and respect the details of such tragedy, no questions were asked on what exactly transpired. (Please purchase the book to read this amazing and heartfelt journey where Anne Marie explains in great detail.) Needless to say, when tragedy strikes, we question the “why”. Although there is no clear answer or even one that makes any type of sense, Anne Marie and her husband started a charity to raise funds for families in need of medical equipment or need any type of financial assistance (click the below website link to learn more.) Last year, the first fundraiser raised 30k! Anne Marie and her husband Larry, are also working with the State of New Jersey on a “bill” that would raise awareness to venues catering to large parties (such as weddings, etc.) to advise their respective clients to hire a medic to attend to any on-site medical emergencies. (Anne Marie will keep me posted on when the bill is approved.) To connect with Anne Marie further and to purchase her book, please check out her website, Amazon link, and various social media platforms: https://delprin.wixsite.com/imperfectgems https://Facebook.com/imperfectgems www.instagram.com/a_breath_for_alessandra/ https://www.amazon.com/Imperfect-Gems-Anne-Marie-DelPrincipe-ebook/dp/B09TBH8T7M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3PXFR1TBB7JJO&keywords=imperfect+gems&qid=1664560856&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC44OSIsInFzcCI6IjAuNzkifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=imperfect+gems%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1 Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Anne Marie’s certainly has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Anne Marie for sharing your family’s story. Your daughters, Adrianna and Alessandra are the most beautiful “Imperfect Gems” as “Truly” these are the Stories That Inspires Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Thursday, September 29, 2022, Fran Garton. Fran is a Speaker, Body Inclusive Personal Trainer, and Pain Reduction Coach. Her passion is advocating for inclusive movement practices, body acceptance, stress reduction and learning to love movement. Fran is also #1 Bestselling Co-Author of the recently released book: Body Bliss: The Journey to Body Acceptance. Fran’s journey to body acceptance is a very raw, intimate and personal story of her inner battle. She shares her journey in a very vulnerable way. This is really her story behind her story. “I rebelled against traditional norms that would label me as beautiful.” Fran Garton What’s important to point out first and foremost, Fran is beautiful inside and out! She’s “rebelled” in such an uncensored way and this is what I absolutely love about Fran! From her journey of being in constant pain (she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia) to the further acceptance of her fate to becoming the Fibromyalgia Warrior that she truly is. It is with her warrior frame of mind that she became a Pain Reduction Coach. She teaches her clients how to live pain free. While many of Fran’s clients can attest to as well as Fran herself, learning to “listen” to the messages that your body is sending you is crucial! (Fran and others that suffer from Fibromyalgia have a very heightened sense and reaction to sensory conditions.) Fran also engages her clients to learn to love movement. This association of movement also works parallel with her clients to identify their triggers. As a result, this helps to reduce stress, set boundaries, and to also stop caring about what other people think. It’s about implementing strategies and tools focusing on mindset, movement and nutrition. While Fran does not label herself your typical type of a personal trainer, she is so much more than that! To connect with Fran further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://www.frangartoncoaching.com https://www.instagram.com/frangartonpaincoach/ https://www.facebook.com/fran.garton https://twitter.com/frangartoncoach https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLgxbhYO43_1B6y77ysx8wQ Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Fran - you may have “rebelled” but you claimed your body bliss in a very beautiful way and “Truly” these are the Stories That Inspires Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us welcomed to today’s podcast, Wednesday, September 28, 2022, Lisa Sharp. Lisa is chronically ill and through it all, started her own business, Lisa Sharp Creative. Lisa Sharp Creative is a digital content creation business. Her entry into entrepreneurship began in 2008 when she started blogging. (This was in the era of MySpace - and yes, I remember MySpace as well!) Lisa obviously loves being creative and in 2012 started to monetize her blogs. We chatted about her favorite social media platform, Pinterest. She explained that with any social media platform, consistency is the key. She also shared that SEO and keywords will help you to optimize your post but cautioned that the “rules” often change. Hashtags are now mostly used on Instagram. Her insight on entrepreneurship and sharing her personal journey of being chronically ill yet creating a business is really beyond amazing! To connect with Lisa further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://lisasharpcreative.com https://instragram.com/lisasharpcreative https://m.facebook.com/lisasharpcreative https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisapiercysharp https://www.pinterest.com/lisasharpcreative/ https://twitter.com/lisasharpcreate Are you or someone that you know chronically ill yet creative and wanting to start your own business? Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Lisa - Truly these are the Stories That Inspires Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Tuesday, September 27, 2022, Lizzy Cangro. Lizzy is an internationally acclaimed nutritionist, wellness coach, and author with a passion for helping other women silence their inner mean girl, ditch their diets, and confidently step into the body they love. Lizzy’s new (and very first) book: Reclaim the Rebel - 12 Rebellious Acts to Achieve Unconditional Love for Your Body achieved a 5-star rating and won the Literary Titan Book Award!! Lizzy shares on today’s podcast that when she was a young and impressionable teenager, at the age of 14 she started to develop an eating disorder which led her to a 10-year battle of negative abusive mean-girl behavior. Fast forward, as a young adult, she found out that she is dyslexic. It was through her own journey and pain that she wanted to confront and move forward with her own life. As a nutritionist and wellness coach, she is able to coach her clients to confront their own inner mean girl and show them that the compassion and love that they show themselves is so much more than just going on a diet. It’s more about honoring the process and not restricting yourself to the rules. Lizzy writes on the back of her book “If you’re like most women, you probably think another weight loss diet or exercise program will get you closer to the body you want. But all that work won’t get you anywhere if you can’t shut up your inner mean girl.” That’s where Lizzy’s “12 Rebellious Acts” comes into play! Her book not only takes you through the process, she walks you through the battleground toward loving yourself and your body! Are you exhausted by fad diets and the constant churn of programs promising you weight loss and total body transformation? Why not afford yourself the opportunity to practice the Rebellious Acts (RAs) and “Reclaim the Rebel”!! To connect with Lizzy further, please check out her website, various social media platforms - also the link to purchase her book on Amazon is provided: https://www.reclaimtherebel.com https://www.instagram.com/nutritionbylizzy/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/312618447359722/ https://www.amazon.com/Reclaim-Rebel-Rebellious-Achieve-Unconditional-ebook/dp/B09KB62YYX/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=reclaim+the+rebel&qid=1664297312&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjk3IiwicXNhIjoiMC43MCIsInFzcCI6IjAuNjgifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-1 How will you reclaim your rebel? Be rebellious - guide and act out your unconditional love for your body!! Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Lizzy, a rebel with a cause as “Truly” reclaiming the rebel are among the Stories That Inspires Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series welcomed to today’s podcast, Saturday, September 24, 2022, Tasha Wilson. Tasha is an International Bestselling Author, Speaker, and Entrepreneur. Tasha has published four books and co-authored one anthology. As a sexual assault survivor, Tasha shares her evolutionary journey to inspire millennial women in breaking glass ceilings by transforming their pain into power and rediscover who they are beyond their trauma. Tasha has transformed her story and redefines it each and every day. She battled with how she was raised (in a lovely, caring family and being respectful to others) vs surviving a sexual assault. Two conflicting patterns and she began to question her identity and self-worth. She was paralyzed. She also questioned whether or not she deserved any happiness. At some point in her life, she realized that she had to share her story. She wanted to use her voice in a way that empowered others and she has done that way beyond what she even thought was possible! Recognizably known as Tasha W: Messenger of Hope™, she helps millennial women unlock the treasure within, confront pitfalls from the past, and explore the power of fearlessness. Tasha is fearless and in 2015, she founded the Royalty Refined Movement, a community network that fosters sisterhood centered around self-discovery, personal development, and freedom. To connect with Tasha further or purchase any of her books, please check out her website, Amazon link and various social media platforms: https://www.lifewithtashaw.com/ https://www.amazon.com/author/tashamwilson https://www.instagram.com/lifewithtashaw_/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifewithtashaw/ She would love the opportunity to share with you how she can support you. Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Tasha’s has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Tasha - you are THE Messenger of Hope™ as these Truly are the Stories That Inspires Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Friday, September 23, 2022, Sandi Schwartz. Sandi is the Founder and Director of the Ecohappiness Project; author of the parenting book Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer; co-author of the children’s book Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness; and journalist specializing in parenting, environmental, and wellness topics. More than just a book, this is a journey for the entire family to enjoy. Each chapter is organized by nature tool and as Sandi explains in her book, except Chapter 1 which provides a general overview. At the end of each chapter, there is an Activity Checklist. Sandi also provides “Resources” such as different organizations for parents to reach out to for further information as well as suggestions of books for the parents to read and further their understanding and books for the children to read to expand and further their knowledge. Sandi shares her personal experiences and the love of creating the Ecohappiness Project. Her mission is to inspire and educate families to build a nature habit to feel happier and calmer. Sandi’s work has been featured in The Washington Post, National Geographic, Library Journal, Yahoo!, Good Housekeeping, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Scary Mommy, and more. She began her career at the United States Environmental Protection Agency and National Academy of Sciences. She has a Bachelors in Environmental Studies from The George Washington University, a Masters in Government (Environmental focus) from Johns Hopkins University, and Specialization Certificate in Foundations of Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. To connect with Sandi further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://ecohappinessproject.com/ https://www.instagram.com/getecohappiness/ https://www.facebook.com/getecohappiness https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Fxz2pX8PY1lJ-NfjP0vyA https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandischwartz-environmentwellnesswriter/ https://www.pinterest.com/getecohappiness To order Sandi’s book - click the link below and please, do not forget to leave a review of her book - it’s that good!!: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Ecohappiness-Nature-Activities-Happier/dp/0941936503/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3530EZOX6QGTI&keywords=finding+ecohappiness&qid=1649789553&sprefix=finding+ecohappiness%2Caps%2C350&sr=8-1 Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Sandi’s has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Sandi! Your journey to inspire others to educate the getting back to basics and having access to nature is ”Truly” Finding Ecohappiness as these are the Stories That Inspires Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Thursday, September 22, 2022, Krystal Quagliara. Krystal is a Coach, Spiritual Teacher, Speaker, Author, Podcast Host and of course, a playfulness expert in the health and wellness coaching industry. Krystal learned at an early age that her relationship with food was a distorted and confused relationship. She was open to learning but aimed for acceptance. Fast forward, and she realized through her own transformation that she liked being a part of the story. It was a realization that came with a playful side. As the author of The Playful Journal and the host of the podcast, The Playful Life, with 17 years of coaching, play is ingrained into Krystal’s methodology. By incorporating this concept into her work, she’s able to help her clients feel ALIVE (Actively Living in Vitality Everyday) and live a life of freedom. She meets them where they are because she understands that none of this comes easy, as her personal health is a choice she has to make daily. Krystal’s coaching is more than just nutritional plans and exercise. It’s life coaching that incorporates stoic virtues of wisdom, courage, moderation, and social justice with all components working symbiotically. Everyone has that feeling of being stuck. We still have to live our lives, be mindful but at the same time be gentle and kind to ourselves. Don’t think of what you can’t do, think of how you can do something differently that complements your lifestyle. It’s all about choices and as Krystal pointed out, start today! To connect with Krystal further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://www.krystalizedhealthadvisors.com https://www.instagram.com/krystal.quagliara https://www.facebook.com/krystalizedhealthadvisors https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIwcxxp82a4KLFcXE1ikI5g https://www.amazon.com/Playful-Journal-Your-12-Week-Guide/dp/1698512678/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IYS4G2RCBZS8&keywords=the+playful+journal+krystal&qid=1658778368&sprefix=the+playful+journal+krystal%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1 Are you or someone that you know going through a similar story? How will you start today? Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Krystal’s has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Krystal!! - Truly the choices we make today are the Stories That Inspires Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Tuesday, September 20, 2022. Stacey Webb. Stacey works as an Intuitive Trauma Release Mentor and Author. Prior to being an Intuitive Trauma Release Mentor, Stacey was a Detective within the Police Force for 16 years. Stacey’s book, ‘The Intuitive Detective’ details how listening to her intuition and following her guidance not only helped her on her own purpose but also helped and supported her own healing journey and nervous system empowerment. She realized that the stories of her life were always directing her in some form or fashion. Although she did not fully understand many of them at the time, she realized that she could no longer push them away. Part of the healing journey for anyone is almost like peeling the layers away from an onion. Each separate and distinct layer carries with it a chapter. It’s important to not only “hear” what each layer signifies but to “listen” intuitively. Sometimes, we may not as we fear what the outcome will be - the fear of the unknown. As Stacey explains in great detail, she not only has experienced these modalities and applied them to her own self-care process, she coaches her clients to do the same. It’s about knowing when to “tune in” to your intuition. From Stacey’s book: “Everyone can access intuition if you are willing to receive it.” So true and as Stacey pointed out, we must have the strength and courage to regulate our intuition. It’s also important to point out “Intuition does not have a timeframe to work by.” Stacey is extremely passionate about guiding and supporting people on their healing journey, by helping build a flexible autonomous nervous system to allow the release of fear and trauma from within to live an embodied life. To connect with Stacey further and purchase her book ‘The Intuitive Detective’, please click the Amazon link below. Also you may reach her through her website and various social media platforms: https://www.amazon.com/author/staceywebb https://www.staceywebb.com.au https://www.instagram.com/_staceywebb https://www.facebook.com/StaceyWebbEFT https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/stacey-webb-0965b9238 Are you tuning into your intuition? What have you learned about yourself in the process? Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story, like Stacey's, will certainly inspire others! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Stacey! Your book is amazing and of course, these are Truly the Stories That Inspires Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Saturday, September 17, 2022, Shashikala Shanmugasundaram “Shashi”. Shashi is an experienced architect and a seasoned project manager who has led iconic developments in Singapore to successful completion. Prior to embarking on the journey of becoming an author, she was the Senior Vice President of a reputed hospitality group in charge of construction projects across South East Asia and Australasia. She was retrenched in Dec 2020 during the peak of Covid-19. Shashi’s “retrench” was just that; however, she turned it around! Her attention to detail led her to chase the happiness chemicals. There is strength when we surrender ourselves - in other words going through a tragic or unexpected experience, we have to acknowledge our journey, honor where we are because when we experience real life, we need to also focus on our body, mind and soul - that is where the “shift” happens!! She decided to use her time meaningfully and write a self-help book that will take a positive message to the world during the pandemic. The book titled — IN THE RING WITH LIFE: taking the punches and winning the game! Her book was launched at the end of 2021. As the title of her book suggests, her book is about taking life’s punches, learning the lessons and standing back stronger. She has touched upon a wide spectrum of life topics — health, happiness, success, goals, continuous learning, living for a cause, parenting, adoption, retrenchment and the struggles associated with them. She has also covered challenges which women have to face during pregnancy, childbirth, and climbing the corporate ladder in male-dominated settings. She believes that the purpose of the book is to inspire someone somewhere, who has been knocked down hard by life, to stand up again and face life head-on! Shashi stood up, honored her journey and was able to shift the trajectory of her life! I’d say that’s ‘karma currency’! To connect with Shashi further, please check out her various social media platforms: https://www.instagram.com/shagram_shinsta https://www.facebook.com/ShashikalaFB https://youtu.be/KdvIelduN0s https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashikala-shanmugasundaram https://www.amazon.com/RING-LIFE-TAKING-PUNCHES-WINNING/dp/9811814708 Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Your story will inspire others as Shashi’s has! If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Shashi - your approach and resiliency to shift your perspective is Truly amazing as these are the Stories That Inspire Us!!

Stories That Inspire Us / The Author Series, welcomed to today’s podcast, Thursday, September 15, 2022, Rita Desnoyers-Garcia. Rita has been helping people reach their true potential for over 30 years. She has a BA in Psychology from College of the Holy Cross and an MSSW from Columbia University. After a long career as a social worker in New York City, and while raising her family, she had a spiritual transformation. She is now a spiritual teacher, speaker, life coach, and author, comedian and musician. She is the author of 3 books: Extraordinary Abundance, Outside of the Box Love Experiments, and The Self-Compassion Project and the creator of The Forest Meditations. Rita, through her education and professional experience, has just that experience and more; however she found herself not being too kind with herself. It wasn’t until Rita gave her work schedule for the day to her au pair and her au pair said “where is your lunch time”? It was at that moment, Rita realized something major. Rita has always been the type of hard-working person, a woman who is dedicated to what she does at full steam ahead; devoted to her husband and her (3) children and to her work. She thought in some respects that she was a terrible person for not doing “something” more. She paused for reflection. a moment and decided she would hire a coach. In Rita’s first conversation with her coach, the coach pointed out to Rita “when are you going to be gentle and kind to yourself?” Rita shared her raw and vulnerable emotions; she cried and realized in that moment that she was not a terrible person. This led her to so many different things and eventually she wrote the book: The Self-Compassion Project (along with (2) other books listed above.) We all need a break, we all need to be more gentle and kind with ourselves and of course becoming emotionally stronger and more effective and happier is a bonus. For most of us, this will continue to be a work-in progress, a day-to-day project. To connect with Rita further, please check out her website and various social media platforms: https://www.becomingawake.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ritadesnoyers/ https://www.facebook.com/BecomingAwake/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB9IkPG54Af6PMAG6B-HHwA https://www.pinterest.com/ritadesnoyers/becoming-awake/ Let me know what you thought of today’s episode. Also, do you have a story you want to share? Have you written a book and want to share it on my podcast? If you are interested in sharing your story, please go to my website and “register as a guest”. https://www.podpage.com/stories-that-inspire-us/ Thank you Rita! Self-Compassion may always be a work-in-progress but what a way to learn “How to become emotionally stronger, more effective and happier by giving yourself a break! - Truly we all need a little more self-compassion as these are the Stories That Inspires Us!!