“My body is not me. Its mine.” Dahn Yoga How are you treating the vessel carrying you around? Are you giving it love and care or are you filling it with no so good things? In this episode we learn the importance of conscious eating and taking the time to cleanse our digestive system. Caring for our bodies also includes clearing our minds through meditation, using deep breathing for stress relief, releasing our monkey mind chatter, and acknowledging our emotions without judgment. Robin Westen tal...
Aug 10, 2014•30 min
At 26 Melissa Pettignano is launching her second book and her first album. She is a shining example of how a positive attitude and a deep faith can help us move mountains. The Empowerment Show host Melissa Heisler and Melissa Pettignano discuss how to be a driving force to bring good into the world. Even when others may attack you, responding with love, understanding, and compassion can heal wounds. Staying positive brings more positivity into your life. Through forgiveness we free ourselves fro...
Jul 13, 2014•29 min
Plain Jane: The Shockumentary is no normal documentary about a woman with disabilities. Because Jane Hash is no ordinary woman. Jane was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a condition which is manifested by extremely brittle bones. At birth, Jane had twenty-six broken bones and was not expected to live three hours. By the time she was in high school, she had broken two hundred bones. But she doesn’t want your sympathy nor does she want praise for making it through her daily routine. As she says,...
Jun 24, 2014•30 min
Robin Marvel had a troubling childhood including domestic abuse, parental kidnappings, drug abuse, and homelessness. She never learned to have self-worth. Robin turned to alcohol and partying when she was fifteen years old to receive validation and attention. This led to a teenage pregnancy which motivated her to not be a statistic and to make a better life for her daughter. Because she was an adult too early between caring for her parents and then her own child, she fell back into drinking in h...
Jun 24, 2014•27 min
At one time in our life or another we feel like we don’t fit in. We feel like an outsider, like we don’t belong. We don’t feel understood and, even worse, we begin to feel like there is something wrong with us. It does not matter if you feel excluded due to your ethnicity or religion, or if you feel outside society because you are lesbian, bi-sexual, gay, transgender, queer, kink, or polyamorous, the result is the same. You feel excluded by mainstream society. In addition to this you may not hav...
Jun 23, 2014•35 min
Ever have someone walk into the room and you can feel their anger – or their joy? Do you know people who seem to always have great opportunities just happen to them? And others who always get the short end of the stick? Could your life be affected by what you are unconsciously projecting? In Donna Scott-Nusrala ’s new book, The Energy of Emotion , she shows how the emotion energy we project can affect our lives for better or worse and how we can reprogram our emotions to create a better life. We...
Jun 17, 2014•19 min
Neil Findlay says he is just, “An ordinary person out there doing some stuff.” But he is so much more than that. Both Neil and his wife have dedicated some of their working years and now their “retirement” to helping children around the world. They are both an inspiration for what we can all accomplish. One of the groups Neil assists is Project Madagascar . The primary goal of Project Madagascar is to educate street children, starting at age 5, to help them out of the cycle of poverty. The child...
Jun 06, 2014•33 min
As I was working on this show and post, a Sly & The Family Stone song came on the radio There is a blue one who can’t accept the green one For living with a fat one, trying to be a skinny one And different strokes for different folks At the same time I was alerted to an anti-Gay Christian group who is refusing letter with the Harvey Milk stamp. Ah, we still have so much to learn about inclusion and diversity. Check out this informative interview with Elizabeth Williams-Riley the President an...
May 31, 2014•29 min
Our current society is based on one and then the masses. There are rating systems, popularity contests, gurus and their followers. The culture has taught us to doubt ourselves and to look for answers and expertise outside of ourselves. We believe that there is just one top position and that is what we should strive and fight for. Our belief is that we need someone else to tell us how things work or that we are worthy. We have lost trust in our self and our self-knowledge. Feminine Leadership is ...
May 17, 2014•37 min
Breast cancer thriver, Sue Bock, joins The Empowerment Show to talk about how to make the most of life’s transitions. Sue supports people going through transitions like empty nesters, divorce, sandwich generation, and cancer survivors. What they all have in common is intense stress and feeling overwhelmed. Sue shares her personal experience and how she learned the importance of sharing a serious illness. Many of us don’t want to bother or worry others with our challenges and problems, but it is ...
May 08, 2014•29 min
After a back surgery, Neva Balduff’s blood pressure dropped very low and doctors told her family things were grave. But not for Neva because she was not in her body. Hearing the words, “Let it go, let it go, set it free, set it free,” Neva then ascended into the sky. She did not experience a tunnel or a bright light. Instead two guides showed her the earth as she had never seen it before, an unimaginable beauty. She then experienced unconditional love and the promise, “My friend, there is so muc...
May 01, 2014•29 min
In this talk Kirk Rhoads focuses on managing addictions, the importance of a community, and what we can do to reduce the amount of sexual trafficking occurring. Kirk was born in Columbus, Kansas in a family of 5 with a Christian background. His parents’ separation and divorce led to his interest in the Buddhist practice after researching a book on Buddhism in the local library. This new study sparked a fire in his spirit. After High school he worked for one year as a welder, but felt unfulfilled...
Apr 23, 2014•25 min
Do you have a hard time explaining your business? Do potential customers have a hard time finding the value in your service? Do you have difficulty answering the question, “why you”? Listen in as Joie Gharrity founder of No. 113 BRANDING explains the importance of a professional pitch and how to craft your own. Joie worked in the Hollywood entertainment industry for more than 15 years at top companies, such as The Walt Disney Company and Sony Pictures, in film, television, original web content, ...
Apr 17, 2014•33 min
A young mother experiences a difficult birth and illness of her first child and then a difficult choice when her own illness affects her next pregnancy. Learn how writing became a saving grace and sense of hope during this difficult time. Devon Volkel is now a 30 year old stay at home mom to a wonderful little boy named Gauge. After a very hard start into this world, Gauge reminds her daily of what strength really is. When her son was only three, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukem...
Apr 16, 2014•25 min
The other week I spoke to a group of entrepreneurs. I felt great about the talk, until I saw pictures of the evening posted online. At just under five foot tall, I am officially in the overweight category of my BMI. Usually I am ok with my body, and then sometimes I see a picture. Cathryn Michon was recently quoted in a Huffington Post article, “A recent survey in Glamour Magazine reveals that 97 out of 100 women have at least one negative thought about their bodies every day, which leads me to ...
Apr 01, 2014•33 min
Empowerment means the power of choice. Empowerment is about courage. It is the belief that we are in control of our experience. Empowerment is not about labeling good or bad, but about actively choosing what makes us happy in each and every moment. The journey to empowerment and great health is not linear and there is no quick fix. The journey is cyclical. There is a progression. We make a commitment, we make progress, we overcome new challenges, and we repeat. Each time, we move inch by inch to...
Mar 16, 2014•38 min
When is a children’s book not a children’s book? When on the surface it is fun and engaging, but below the surface it promotes creativity, scientific knowledge, and being in touch with the senses. Listen in to this fun conversation with author Donna Scott-Nusrala as she leads us through her collection of engaging, entertaining and inspiring children’s books. More than just words on a page, Donna’s books are a feast for one’s imagination. These books actively engage children by connecting with th...
Mar 15, 2014•38 min
What are the signs of child abuse? How can you prevent child abuse? What should you do if a child tells you there is abuse? How to deal with shame of the child and guilt of the parent after abuse? There are staggering statistics that one in four girls and one in six boys have been sexually abused before they turn eighteen years old. An alarming 73% of child victims don't tell anyone they are being sexually abused for at least a year and another 45% of victims keep it to themselves for at least f...
Mar 15, 2014•39 min
There is a lot of talk these days about the healthcare system and what can be done to provide more insurance to individuals in need. But what if the concept of insurance was actually one of the problems with the United States healthcare system? What if the problem was seeing Western medicine critical care as the fix to functional health problems? What if the problem is our reliance on diagnostics versus the knowing of our own body? When I was experiencing major medical issues a decade ago, medic...
Mar 15, 2014•29 min
There are so many who suffer in silence. They are afflicted by a pain that others can not see, yet it is debilitating. Their eyes and nervous systems can be affected. They can be nauseous to the point of throwing up. These individuals have vertigo, dizziness, and other vestibular disorders. Their illness could have come from an injury or it is chronic. Many turn to medication which can help suppress the vestibular system and therefore the pain, but the medication can also cause grogginess. Dr. M...
Mar 15, 2014•22 min
From an early age Rae Luskin allowed her life story to be written by someone else. All she heard and believed where what her family, society, and the media told her: “Don’t aim too high.” “Be happy you have a job.” “You can’t be too thin.” “Don’t tell anyone you were abused.” “You have the perfect life, you should be happy.” After years and years believing someone else’s truth, Rae finally decided to write her own life story – and change the life stories of others. She is now a speaker, author, ...
Mar 15, 2014•30 min
There are so many wise old sayings out there that are powerful – and that can also trigger many of my clients. One of them is when one door closes another door opens. It is a true statement. It can be a powerful to believe. It can give hope. It can also be angering when the time between the one door closing and the other door opening is long and drawn out seeming like an eternity with no end. It is frustrating to be in that dark hallway between what was known and is now gone, and what exciting n...
Mar 15, 2014•30 min
We all know someone with charisma pouring out of every pore. The moment they walk into the room, their energy and presence are immediately felt by everyone. They walk the earth with a spotlight on them at all times. Then there are the rest of us. The introverts, those of us that are shy, the wallflowers, individuals with deep understanding, compassion, and connection but on a one to one level. Obviously public speaking comes easily to those who live in the spotlight, but what about the others? W...
Mar 15, 2014•30 min
Sometimes our challenges seem insurmountable. Between a tyrannical boss, needy children, and inattentive spouse we feel like we have daily battles to fight. However these are all external battles. What if our battle was with our own body? Imagine being born with cerebral palsy and being restricted in the use of the right side of your body. Imagine the physical challenges that would come from that ailment. Then imagine the social stigma, especially as a child, you would receive. Imagine the chall...
Mar 15, 2014•28 min
Debra knew that her daughter Sara was bound for great things. But no one else seemed to agree. Not the doctors who said she would never speak or walk. Not her teachers who thought her best hope was becoming a bagger at a supermarket. Debra and Sara knew differently and now Sara in her 20’s has been named one of the Top 40 Under 40 in Richmond Virginia and has spoken to groups around the world. Sara also has Down syndrome. Sara and her story have affected those near and far to her changing the co...
Mar 15, 2014•30 min
Eliana Gilad joins us from Jerusalem especially for Christmas week to share with us the power and history of sound. Eliana is a motivational speaker, teacher, composer, performer and founder of Voices of Eden Ancient Healing and Transformational Music. She is dedicated to her life’s work to revive the conscious use of voice and rhythm as natural healing instruments. Eliana is a frequent keynote presenter, teacher and performer at healing music, medical, and peace conferences throughout the world...
Mar 15, 2014•37 min
Are you leading an inspired life? A life where you are fulfilling your passion and purpose. A life where your unique gifts support and give to others. Susyn Reeve hopes so and if you are not, she can show you how. With 40 years of experience as a Leadership & Executive Development Coach & Mentor and Self Esteem Expert, Susyn Reeve helps individuals from Fortune 100 companies as well as physicians, attorneys, and educators find their Inspired List. She now also supports those looking for ...
Mar 15, 2014•36 min
Each time a girl opens a book and reads a womanless history, she learns she is worth less. – Myra Pollack Sadker As I was browsing The National Women’s History Project website , I ran across this quote. It was so powerful to me – especially in light of the incredible story of Mala Yousafzai. Mala is a teenage girl who was just nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. At the age of 14, she stood up for everyone’s right to education, at the risk of her own death. It is a powerful story, but she is jus...
Mar 15, 2014•27 min
More and more women are taking the leap and starting their own business. It could be a brand new idea, a franchise, a direct sales business, or some other configuration but women are stepping out from the “My Girl Friday” role and into being their own boss. It is amazingly powerful and inspirational to watch and witness. But it is also uncharted territory for so many. For so long the world of business has been a man’s world, the old boys’ network if you will. As more and more women are stepping ...
Mar 15, 2014•25 min
You may be asking yourself, "What is a magician doing on The Empowerment Show?" The answer is that Joe Diamond's magic empowers us to open our minds, awareness, and sixth sense. Joe's brand of magic blends technique with showmanship, but his special ingredient is a touch of intuition. During performances he reads minds, pulls intimate details about a person just by holding one of their items, and uses audience members to guide him using only his sixth sense. And he has done amazing things. While...
Mar 15, 2014•33 min