Apparently, learning to swim as an adult isn’t just about technique—it’s about healing your relationship with water and with yourself. In this episode, mindful swim coach Cori Myka shares her powerful journey from self-taught swimmer to transformational guide. She explains why traditional swim lessons often fail adults and how fear, judgment, and past experiences influence our ability to learn. Cori is the founder of Calm Within Adult Swim, with over 25 years of experience in adult swim educatio...
Jun 23, 2025•45 min•Season 16Ep. 163
Mi invitada, María Virginia Lara Díaz , nació en Caracas el 2 de agosto de 1953. Es ingeniera civil especializada en estructuras, graduada de la Universidad Central de Venezuela en 1979. A lo largo de su carrera, vivió y trabajó en Guatemala, Panamá, Inglaterra y Chile, recorriendo Latinoamérica durante 18 años. Desde niña sintió una profunda pasión por la música. Aprendió a tocar el cuatro a los 7 años y más adelante la guitarra. Aunque una enfermedad le impidió continuar sus estudios musicales...
May 31, 2025•48 min•Season 16Ep. 162
What does it mean to truly belong? When Casey lost her father at 11, her mother at 12, and her brother at 20, she began a lifelong search for family. Through this journey, she realized that what she was truly seeking was a sense of belonging, which would shape everything that followed. I find this conversation about her new memoir, "The Full Catastrophe: All I Ever Wanted, Everything I Feared," to be deeply moving. Her story explores how grief can coexist with joy and how true belonging differs ...
May 05, 2025•48 min•Season 16Ep. 161
El momento en que Luis Alejandro Ordóñez llegó a Chicago marcó un giro decisivo en su vida creativa. Aunque había escrito durante sus años en Venezuela, fue este cambio geográfico el que transformó la escritura de una actividad secundaria a su identidad principal. Como politólogo que trabajaba en Venezuela y enseñaba a nivel universitario, la migración lo obligó a replantearse su identidad profesional y a adentrarse más en los círculos literarios, comenzando con un evento literario en español du...
Apr 15, 2025•31 min•Season 16Ep. 160
Glenn Van Peski shares his journey from free-range kid to ultralight backpacking pioneer and accidental entrepreneur. His experiences include a cross-country bicycle adventure at 17, surviving an airplane incident, and founding Gossamer Gear, a multi-million dollar company, without ever taking a salary from it. Glen, known by his trail name "Legend," is celebrated for his significant contributions to the backpacking community. A native Californian, his backpacking journey began when he led his s...
Mar 17, 2025•40 min•Season 15Ep. 159
Florian Horning takes us on an exhilarating journey exploring what it means to live an extraordinary life. He shares how reading about inspiring figures propelled him toward adventure and discovery, illustrating the importance of individuality and authenticity in our choices. Flohjoe is a "Happy Life" coach, founder of " Simplicity of Happiness ," and an adventurous, human-centric nomad. Discovering the extraordinary in routine life Embracing unique experiences The transition from recruitment to...
Mar 03, 2025•44 min•Season 15Ep. 158
Kirk McCarley's journey of resilience and transformation follows his post-heart bypass surgery efforts to redefine his life through fitness and coaching. Embracing challenges, he shares insights on personal growth, leadership, and the importance of connection across generations. Kirk, author of Thoughts for My Kids...and Other People's Kids , is a seasoned executive and passionate coach helping clients build confidence and reach their full potential. He holds multiple coaching and HR certificati...
Feb 18, 2025•31 min•Season 15Ep. 157
Meet Chelsea , a remarkable entrepreneur who transitioned from teaching high school Spanish to owning a successful construction company in Denver, exemplifying the power of authenticity and resilience. Her story encourages listeners to embrace their narratives, seek healing, and recognize that imperfections are what make us relatable and human. Chelsea Husum: Bestselling Author, Speaker & Construction Trailblazer Chelsea is breaking barriers in the male-dominated construction world with her ...
Feb 11, 2025•40 min
Ryan's powerful story of addiction and recovery showcases the complex interplay between mental health and substance abuse. Through his journey, he sheds light on the importance of hitting rock bottom as a catalyst for change and the critical role of family support in the path to healing. Ryan Gray graduated from the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) in 2016 with a degree in literature. He is now a peer support specialist in behavioural health and has been self-supporting for 15 years...
Jan 27, 2025•26 min•Season 15Ep. 155
In this episode, we explore individuals' intricate relationship with money, emphasizing its emotional and psychological aspects over mere financial strategies. By sharing Erin Gray's personal experiences and transformative insights, we reflect on our money narratives and the potential for a healthier, more empowered relationship with finances. Erin Gray is a financial empowerment coach and former CFP® who spent a decade leading her family's construction business. Having overcome the struggles of...
Jan 13, 2025•46 min•Season 15Ep. 154
Elona Lopari's journey from Albanian immigrant to corporate success showcases resilience and transformation. As her family's bridge to a new life, she balanced logic and discipline with her siblings' creative freedom. Elona , CEO of The Life School, helps purpose-driven leaders build impactful businesses through alignment, branding, and team growth. As a bestselling author and speaker, she connects communities with heart and vision. Elona's transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship spar...
Dec 16, 2024•45 min•Season 15Ep. 153
Nancy Napier , a professor at Boise State University and the author of several books on organizational creativity and innovation, shares how her multidisciplinary approach has shaped her career. Inspired by her father's shift from military service to academia, she combines her languages, political science, and international business interests to enrich her teaching and research. Her story emphasizes the importance of having a wide-ranging knowledge and the diverse viewpoints it brings. She highl...
Dec 03, 2024•44 min•Season 15Ep. 152
What if the path from darkness to light is closer than it seems? Aiden Gabor's tumultuous journey from a life steeped in crime to a powerful transformation is a profound example of the strength of change and resilience. A former associate of a notorious crime family, Aiden spent over a decade as a DOJ informant and undercover officer, leading to the conviction of numerous corrupt officials. Forced into a double life, he juggled his loyalty to family with his duty to expose corruption, navigating...
Nov 25, 2024•43 min•Season 15Ep. 151
What happens when you leave the hustle and bustle of New York City—the career, the comforts, the chaos—and embark on a year-long journey around the globe? For Margaret and her family, this was not just a dream but a life-changing decision. Margaret shares her story of how that extraordinary experience ignited their adventure, the lessons they learned along the way, and the tales that made it all worthwhile. Their journey took them to 29 countries across 6 continents, where they embraced cultural...
Nov 18, 2024•51 min•Season 15Ep. 150
A journey with Sarah, who shares the struggles her husband Ben faces with systemic sclerosis and the life-saving heart transplant he receives. This experience is set against the backdrop of a pandemic as they navigate the challenges of hospital care, discover the kindness of their community, and find strength in resilience and hope. Sarah Cart was raised and educated in New York and New England and wrote for multiple local publications. She and her husband, Ben, raised four sons in northeastern ...
Nov 05, 2024•41 min•Season 14Ep. 149
Pamela's journey is inspiring. She overcame a difficult childhood with an abusive, alcoholic father to become a successful entrepreneur and spiritual leader. Pamela shares how art school served as a sanctuary where she first embraced her uniqueness, and a life-altering encounter with a psychic medium offered the closure she never expected, changing the course of her life. Pamela's journey took her from being an artist to starting a successful marketing and branding firm. She was inspired by spir...
Oct 28, 2024•45 min•Season 14Ep. 148
Neil is a passionate storyteller, a skilled documentary filmmaker turned fiction writer. His travels have taken him from historic libraries in New York to the ancient ruins of the Middle East. Neil's interest in classic films and history books led him to backpack across Egypt and Israel, blending his love for storytelling with travel. He shares the key moments and cultural experiences that have enriched his life and career, emphasizing the exceptional openness and generosity he encountered along...
Oct 15, 2024•47 min•Season 14Ep. 147
Catherine was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer at the tender age of 10 while also enduring an abusive home environment. Catherine shares the harrowing details of her treatments in the 1970s, the emotional isolation she faced, and how her faith became her lifeline. Catherine's journey is detailed in her book "Everyday Awakening." Catherine Duncan is an Integrative Spiritual Consultant, Author, Holistic Healer, Inspirational Speaker, and Resilience Trainer, committed to whole-person healing ...
Sep 30, 2024•37 min•Season 14Ep. 146
Have you ever felt like you're drowning in your success? After more than a decade of relentless work, Hannah found herself in the depths of burnout. In her candid and inspiring narrative, Hannah shares how she transitioned from overwhelming exhaustion to a balanced life brimming with energy and purpose. Discover how recognizing the early, stealthy signs of burnout—like irritability and anxiety—can be a game-changer in reclaiming your well-being. Hannah Tackett is a software design manager turned...
Sep 16, 2024•42 min•Season 14Ep. 145
Joel's journey, which began in Kurdistan, Iraq, offers a unique perspective on resilience and adaptability, shedding light on the enriching experiences that come from living and working in diverse cultural landscapes. Joel David Bond is an American educator whose unexpected five-month stay on a remote Greek island during the COVID-19 pandemic led to profound personal and professional growth. His story draws powerful parallels to the experiences of refugees, emphasizing the universal emotions of ...
Sep 10, 2024•42 min•Season 14Ep. 144
Living a life built on a foundation of addiction and deceit? Logan Hufford shares his profound and deeply personal journey through sexual addiction, starting with early exposure to magazines and leading to a series of destructive behaviours that nearly destroyed his marriage and family. He opens up about the harrowing moment his wife issued an ultimatum, forcing him to confront his addiction head-on and embark on an arduous path to sobriety. Throughout this episode, Logan discusses the gruelling...
Aug 28, 2024•47 min•Season 14Ep. 143
How does one transform from a high-powered corporate executive to a free-spirited nomad? Jenny shares her incredible journey from a life driven by seriousness and fear to one led by heartfulness and play. She shares her early years in an emotion-suppressing family and her rise in the corporate world, where she felt increasingly disconnected from her true self. Jenny Lincoln is a story-weaving sorceress and wise nomadic sage. With 30+ years in the Corporate trenches, Jenny balances authority with...
Aug 19, 2024•51 min•Season 14Ep. 142
Join us as we delve into the personal journey of Marie DeCosse , a young entrepreneur who founded NOMAD Travel Groups, a home exchange platform designed for everyone. Half Senegalese and half American, Marie shares her experiences of embracing diversity through her travel adventures. She talks about how her multicultural background has shattered stereotypes and fostered a more profound sense of global community. Marie takes us through her childhood in Madagascar and Bangladesh, her unfulfilling ...
Aug 05, 2024•42 min•Season 14Ep. 141
Kirsten Rudberg's incredible story begins with eerie coincidences following the death of a close friend, which led her to embark on the Camino de Santiago in 2013. From meeting strangers who resembled her late friend to receiving unsolicited travel guides, every sign nudged her toward a path of spiritual awakening and personal transformation. As an MDiv graduate, panentheist, author, screenwriter, producer, and podcaster, Kirsten brings a unique perspective to her journey. Experience the emotion...
Jul 23, 2024•55 min•Season 14Ep. 140
How do you balance motherhood and a thriving corporate career without losing your authenticity? Doris Jackson Shazier is a resilient mother of four from Orlando, Florida, who has shared her journey of raising children over nearly two decades. Starting motherhood at 19 as a first-generation college student, Doris opens up about societal expectations, internal conflicts, and the transformative experience of young motherhood. Her upcoming book, "Raising Justice," captures her incredible story of fa...
Jul 15, 2024•51 min
D. Arlando Fortune shares his compelling journey of internal conflicts that led him to lead a double life of public success and private struggles, as well as the humbling moments that led him to embrace his faith and higher purpose. From being a top student and baseball team captain to battling addiction and ultimately finding his purpose, he turned his setbacks into stepping stones and reshaped his outlook on life. Fortune is a self-publishing strategist, bestselling author, and founder of No D...
Jul 01, 2024•48 min•Season 13Ep. 138
In this episode, we explore the extraordinary journey of Victoria Pelletier , whose challenging childhood transformed her into a model of resilience and success. Adopted into a loving but financially struggling family, Victoria's determination and her adoptive mother's encouragement propelled her to academic excellence despite her facing social exclusion. Victoria, an award-winning executive leader, bestselling author, and professional public speaker, has over 20 years of experience as a corpora...
Jun 24, 2024•48 min•Season 13Ep. 137
Lea, a Swiss author and voiceover artist, shares her incredible journey from a childhood spent honing her piano skills to discovering new creative avenues in theatre and beyond. Hear how her rigorous training at the conservatory in San Francisco and the cultural leap from Switzerland to the United States shaped her artistic path. Guided by curiosity and encouragement, Lea's experiences in Paris and various artistic settings illuminate the serendipity of her career through the passages of friends...
Jun 10, 2024•32 min•Season 13Ep. 136
Imagine your late grandmother appearing in a dream and urging you to learn a new language. For Regina from Bold Spirit Travel , this dream set her on an extraordinary path of personal transformation. Regina shares her immersive experience in Costa Rica, where she overcame language barriers and thrived in a non-English speaking environment. Her journey took her from Costa Rica to Guatemala and finally to Barcelona, where she had to master both Castilian Spanish and Catalan. Moving to Barcelona ma...
Jun 04, 2024•46 min•Season 13Ep. 135
The voices that speak from personal experience resonate when grief shrouds us in its unpredictable fog. Alexandra Whyman brings one of those voices as she recounts the harrowing tale of her husband's suicide and the complex aftermath that followed. Her vulnerability in sharing this journey casts a light on the often-overlooked intricacies of mourning, self-blame, and the stigmatization she endured. Her story is not just one of loss but also a powerful narrative of the resilience of the human spi...
May 28, 2024•38 min•Season 13Ep. 134
