Rahti Gorfien is a one-of-a-kind coach for creatives and adults with ADHD. From her hazy days as a young, mischievous actress to embracing her new identity as "Rahti" in an ashram to earning the impressive distinction of getting kicked out of a cult, her journey towards self-discovery and purpose is a wild and wonderful ride. These days, Rahti spends her time guiding others to overcome the "Five Emotions That Stop Success" - shame, grandiosity, envy, boredom, and fear. Get ready for juicy storyt...
Apr 25, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 57
April is Sexual Abuse Awareness Month- a time to raise awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it, honor survivors, and show those who have been impacted by sexual violence that they are not alone. Please share this story. Violated by the adults she looked up to, emotionally abandoned by her parents, and failed by the institutions designed to keep her safe, trauma seeped into every corner of Janelle Hill’s existence. Yet, Janelle embarked on an extraordinary jou...
Apr 18, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In 1967, a young runner named Kathrine Switzer made history by becoming the first woman to officially enter the Boston Marathon. Her defiant act of fearlessness paved the way for generations of female athletes. As Kathrine took off down the marathon course, an infuriated official named Jock Semple realized she was a woman and tried to forcibly remove her from the race. In a dramatic scene captured in a series of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs, Semple lunged at Kathrine and tried to rip off h...
Apr 11, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Some environments will lead you to believe that something is fundamentally wrong with you. I was finally able to sit back and realize there's nothing wrong with me, I just learn differently and I operate differently. When you're able to discover your uniqueness you discover how you individually contribute to the beauty in the world. -Taylor Ratliff This week's episode of The Uplifters Podcast features Taylor Ratliff, the remarkable Founder and CEO of Chocolate Babies in STEM , whose passion for ...
Apr 04, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Have you ever thought you were too old to try something new? In today's episode of The Uplifters Podcast, Gerilynn Berg is going to prove it's never too late. In fact, like Gerilynn, your whole life may have been preparing you for your next big adventure. Recently, on her 70th birthday, Gerilynn competed in a bodybuilding competition. She oiled up, taped her breasts in place, slid on her stilettos and a skimpy bikini, and strutted her stuff while competing with women at least 25 years younger. Y...
Mar 28, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Dr. Aziza Shad , a pediatric oncologist, was nominated for The Uplifters Podcast by Terri Tomoff , whose son was cared for by Dr. Shad during 5 rounds of cancer treatment, beginning at age two. In episode 15, Terri described the family’s journey through their 27-year battle. In this episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Shad how she approaches caregiving as a team effort that involves families, neighbors, and a holistic crew of care providers. Her well-rounded approach also extends to her work leading T...
Mar 22, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 52
One year into the Uplifters Podcast, sharing stories of inspiring women and understanding how they overcome obstacles and grow, and yet, we haven’t talked about periods once! I’m 49 years old (as of yesterday 🎂) and live with two teen daughters, so there’s plenty of talk about periods (coming and going) in our house. In this candid episode, I'm joined by Konika Ray Wong, founder of Girl Power Science, mom, and former science teacher. Together, we dive into the importance of body literacy and em...
Mar 14, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 51
We have joined with other family members who have paid the price for society's failure to act and we pour out our pain to demand action. -Amy Cohen In today’s episode of The Uplifters Podcast Amy Cohen, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets , shares her journey from motherhood to advocacy after her son Sammy was killed in a traffic incident. As I prepared for this episode, I had to confront the fact that the fear of my children being hit by a car is one of my biggest worries as a parent. I was...
Mar 07, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Sean Wachter is a business guy, a husband, and a father of two young girls. He also happens to be a former two-sport collegiate athlete and a former pro football player, and after battling and surviving a rare form of melanoma, he is using wrestling – of all things – to raise awareness and raise funding for cancer research (all while finishing his MBA and working with several major cancer organizations). Sean’s story challenges us all to live large, make the most of every moment, and maybe even ...
Feb 29, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Uplifters , we are going on a magical musical adventure with this week's guest - world traveler, songwriter, and creativity coach Caroline Scruggs! Caroline invites us into her radically courageous creative journey and shows us how embracing imperfection helped her find her authentic voice (and resulted in a song about roadkill). Caroline shares the power of building safe spaces for creative growth and gives us the keys to unlock our vocal confidence - starting with something as simple as a hum ...
Feb 22, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 48
“Not only does it feel good to laugh, but when you find yourself laughing, whether you realize it or not, you're reminding yourself that you're still in there. It's like, ’ Oh wait, I'm still me.’” In the final episode of our Uplifting series on grief and loss, you’ll meet Rebecca Soffer, co-founder of Modern Loss, author of the bestselling “ The Modern Loss Handbook: An Interactive Guide to Moving Through Grief and Building Your Resilience, ” and co-author of the book "Modern Loss: Candid Conve...
Feb 15, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 47
My grandfather, Philip Dwight Baker, was born on February 7, 1929. He would’ve been 95 this week. Just as he thought he was done rearing children, he and my grandmother stepped in to raise me when my parents couldn’t. He couldn’t always live on his own terms, but he got to leave on them. Alongside my grandmother, mother, and aunt, I had the privilege of sitting with him in hospice during his last days. It was a rowdy week of takeout, reminiscing, family reunions, online shoe shopping, laughter, ...
Feb 08, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 46
At the end, almost everyone says, “I wish I had listened to other people less. I wish I had lived larger.” It makes me cry to think about it, to imagine myself at the end of my life, and to think I had the chance, but I didn't out of fear or out of self-imposed limitations. I want to go out knowing I tried everything and I did everything. Today, as part of our month-long series on grief, we are joined by Sundari Malcolm , who has experienced way more than her fair share of grief (if there is suc...
Feb 01, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 45
"I hope that my story will provide hope and peace to those who are accepting a life that isn’t what they envisioned." Lia : I always wanted to be a mother. I always had a maternal instinct. I always wanted to raise a child. Aransas : What did you imagine the journey to motherhood would be? Lia : The journey to motherhood would begin with falling madly in love with a man who would be an amazing partner and father. And that would happen a lot sooner than it actually did. I understood that becoming...
Jan 25, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 44
It’s that time of year when we reassess what’s working, ask ourselves what we want more and less of, set intentions for the year ahead, and wonder if this year will actually be different than last, all while quietly hoping that this is the year that will be . Some of the things we do at this time of year can be really helpful. Many of them are counterproductive and defeating. After 20 years in the goal-getting industry, I feel a big responsibility this time of year to challenge the mental models...
Jan 18, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 43
When Rachel Everson Fink was in her 20s healing from anorexia and an abusive relationship, she discovered the power to change her health through meditation, yoga, quality food, qi gong, and Intention Based Field Resonance Testing. Like so many Uplifters, Rachel Everson Fink loves to give and serve, and she feels things deeply. And like so many of us, she’s learned the hard way that without consistent boundaries, she can lose herself in caring for others. In this episode you’ll learn: The steps R...
Jan 11, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Happy New Year, Uplifters! This big, beautiful, interconnected world of ours can sometimes feel irrevocably broken, and like the problems that most need solving are just too darn messy to tackle. If things are ever going to be better it will be because Uplifters started tiny fires of change that spread throughout communities and moved throughout the world. It’s why Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde’s father told her as a little girl, “You can't fix the world, but you can fix this block.” Dr. Arteaga-...
Jan 04, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In today’s episode of The Uplifters Podcast, you'll meet Tai Abrams, nominated by episode 25's Kymme Williams. Tai is the founder and CEO of Admission Squad Prep, a test prep company that helps talented students from underserved backgrounds in New York City place into the city's most competitive high schools. She's also the author of four books, including Who Am I? An A to Z Career Guide for Teens and Teach Me How to Invest Mommy , which supports early financial literacy. Tai has now turned her ...
Dec 28, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 40
“One of the things that I strongly believe will lead you to succeed, is undeterred resilience: Fall, but get up. Be rejected, but try again. Don’t take no for an answer for something you really want. If you’re tired don’t quit, but rather rest, and come back with a plan. The best way to develop resilience is to nurture that inner conviction that you will succeed, eventually. Do a victory dance and celebrate the good times, and build relationships that will provide guidance, support, and acceptan...
Dec 21, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Hey, Uplifters. Even if you’ve never listened to a single episode of our show before, please go put your headphones on, take a walk, and listen to this episode. I am so much richer for these moments with Katie. I believe you will be too. As a little girl, Reverend Katie O’Dunne loved the color pink, but she didn’t let herself wear it because she didn’t believe that she deserved joy. She believed that the survival of the entire world was dependent on her selfless goodness. So, she did what was re...
Dec 14, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 38
When Meera Hardin, host of Brown Girl Trending Podcast and Woke & Pretty Podcast , immigrated to the US as a child, she and her parents were separated. She understood, even then, that huge sacrifices had been made to give her the best life possible. So, she vowed to make it all worthwhile. She made good grades, got scholarships, and after finishing school found a job that would make her community proud. “I sacrificed my entire senior year to apply and interview and get school paid for. I int...
Dec 07, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Are you struggling to take the first steps towards your dreams or keep them moving forward? Author Kara Cutruzzula and I have become experts at this. But we don’t do it alone, thanks to a superpowered weekly phone call + run that we call VFTR (Virtual Friday Therapy Run). In celebration of Kara’s awesome new book Do It (or Don’t), the third in her bestselling series which includes Do It For Yourself and Do It Today, we wanted to invite you along for a VFTR with us! You’ll hear us challenge and i...
Nov 30, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Ever wondered what it takes to break through barriers and pursue your dreams relentlessly? In our latest episode, we talk to Shannon Eastin, the first woman to officiate in the NFL, and the author of Lady Ref: Making Calls in a Man's World . Tune in to the full episode to gain valuable insights, practical lessons, and a dose of motivation to pursue your dreams despite the challenges. A few highlights from Shannon’s Story: Separating Emotions from the Game: As an official, Shannon discusses the n...
Nov 23, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 35
🌍 Do you dream of a life where you can break free from the monotony, explore the world, and live on your terms? In our latest episode, I talk to Heather Markel , a coach to people who want to become full-time travelers. Heather worked in a corporate 9-5 but dreamed of traveling full-time. Every year, she’d talk herself out of it, though. She finally realized that if she didn’t do it, she’d spend the rest of her life regretting it, so she took the leap. In this conversation, you’ll discover the ...
Nov 16, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Do your own needs sometimes take a backseat to the needs of those you support and care for? Don’t miss this conversation with Dinée Dorame, host/producer of the Grounded Podcast. 🌟 Dinée Dorame is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and also of Yaqui descent. She is Tábąąhá (Edge of Water Clan) and born for Naakai Dine’é (Mexican People Clan). Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Tótsohníí (Big Water Clan) and her paternal grandfather’s clan is Naakai Dine’é. She is an avid runner born and raised in A...
Nov 09, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode, we dive into the world of midlife wellness and pro-aging with a remarkable guest, Denise Pines. Denise shares her inspiring journey of embracing midlife with enthusiasm and empowering others to do the same. Join us as we explore the keys to vitality, resilience, and wellness in your second act. Key Takeaways: 1. **Pro-Aging Philosophy:** Denise shares what it means to be “pro-aging”, emphasizing the importance of embracing the aging process with enthusiasm and positivity. 2. **W...
Nov 02, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 32
“As part of my work with a group called Faith Commons, I facilitate inter-religious conversations. I was making a dual-narrative trip to Israel and Palestine. I left with my mom from Dallas, Texas on Friday, October 6th. We landed in Tel Aviv on Saturday, October 7th at about five o'clock local time. We were the last flight that was allowed in because war had already broken out. I didn't know any of this. I flipped on my phone to text my husband and say we were there. And that's when I found out...
Oct 26, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Welcome to Episode 30 of The Uplifters Podcast! This week we are releasing our episode a couple of days early in light of the tragic events unfolding between Israel and Hamas. Today I am joined by my friend, Sara Axelbaum who leads a global team responsible for keeping diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the center of her company by fostering a true sense of belonging for every employee. Sara was honored as one of the top women in media and ad tech as a DEI champion, and recognized by The ...
Oct 18, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Sarah Dusek’s first company flopped. She grew her next company, Under Canvas , the US' largest glamping company, from infancy to be valued at over $100 million. Along the way, Sarah learned invaluable lessons about leadership and integrity. She then created Enygma Ventures , a venture capital fund investing in female entrepreneurs in Africa, that allows her to mentor and champion future leaders. In this episode you’ll hear: Why Sarah once said no to $7 million Why she embraces crying in meetings...
Oct 13, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 29
This Week on The Uplifters In Episode 28, you’ll hear the inspiring story of Rola Ghasani , who was born in Lebanon, raised in Australia, and now lives in Texas. She was the youngest of a large family, quieted by the voices of others throughout her life. She observed the toll silence took on her mother and was determined to provide a different model for her three daughters. Learning to use her voice set Rola on a mission to care for her mind and body to minimize distress and disease. In this epi...
Oct 06, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 28
