The Life Shift | Pivotal Moments & Life Change

Somewhere along the way, most of us learned to take better care of other people than we do of ourselves. We know the right things to say. We show up. We hold space. And then we go home to the version of our life we haven't quite told anyone about.Misha Brown spent years doing exactly that. A performer from a tiny one-stoplight town, he built a life that looked full from the outside, travel to over a hundred countries, a career on cruise ships and stages, a laugh that could fill any room. But behind the shine was a quiet, persistent loneliness, and a drinking habit that had become the costume he wore instead of a self.The shift came on Christmas Eve in a New Jersey hotel room. Empty cans, a makeshift ashtray, and a phone call with his best friend who was struggling. After hanging up, Misha looked in the mirror and asked himself a question that changed everything: why can't you be your own friend? It wasn't a dramatic moment. It was a quiet one. And sometimes that's exactly what breaks something open.What You'll Hear:How a missed college audition planted the first seeds of a fractured identityWhy performing became both a superpower and a way to disappearThe Christmas Eve hotel room moment that became an eight-year turning pointWhat it actually felt like to get sober, without a support group or a clear planThe structured self-love framework Misha created for himself that became a bookHow social media helped him find his people, and his purposeMisha Brown is an undeniable entertainment powerhouse who excels as an influencer, podcast host, and performer. With a knack for captivating audiences, he shot to notoriety on TikTok in 2021 with the viral Lessons in Not Crossing a Gay Man series, amassing over 6 million followers. Named Motivational Creator of the Year and honored by the Webby Awards for social impact, he also earned a Best Comedy Podcast nomination from the Podcast Academy. Misha’s work has been spotlighted by People, USA Today, and Good Morning America, cementing his status as one of the most compelling voices online.His debut book, Be Your Own Bestie: A No-Nonsense Guide to Changing the Way You Treat Yourself, is available wherever books are sold. He lives in Texas with his husband and a collection of pets he is deeply devoted to. You can find him everywhere at @yourbestie_misha.---Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/---self-love, sobriety, identity, recovery, performing arts, belonging, inner child, self-worth, authenticity, friendship

Some moments arrive quietly. This one arrived with teeth.Tim Thomas spent most of his life moving through the world one decision at a time, eyes forward, gut leading. Fighter. Special Forces operator. A man who found clarity in high-stakes moments and chased them because that was the only place he felt fully present. It worked. And it also kept him from seeing almost everything that mattered beyond the edges of his own experience.Then a shark bit him off the coast of Sydney, and something opened up. Not because of the danger. Because of a friend's eyes in the water. Because of one second where the stress fell out of his body and something unexpected arrived in its place. Peace. Not because the situation was okay. Because another person had his back. Tim calls it the moment he realized we don't need more stuff. We need more trust.What You'll Hear:The shark attack that rewired how Tim understands human connectionHow living only through your own eyes leaves you unconsciously cut off from othersWhat Tim discovered about loneliness, fatigue, and why they're more dangerous together than either is aloneThe "golden question" that broke his isolation during one of his lowest seasonsWhy authentic conversations, not weapons or strategies, are the most powerful thing we carryHow breathwork and sleep became the tools that brought everything else backGuest Bio:Tim Thomas is a Father of two, former MMA fighter They’re Tim’s company's online resource called - The ‘Breathwork in Bed’ app. The app will guide you to sleep with peace and out of bed with power. Enjoy!Apple: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6575362285?pt=127061224&ct=BIB50K&mt=8Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.breathworkinbed.bibsleepapp20&hl=enhttps://breathworkinbed.com.au/<a href="https://www.instagram.com/breathworkinbed/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target=

Some of us build an entire life before we realize the foundation was made of survival, not solid ground. If you have ever pushed hard, achieved big, and still felt like something underneath you was quietly trembling, this episode is for you.Kathleen McKune grew up in a home marked by abuse, neglect, and a kind of chaos that required a five-year-old to climb up to the stove and start making dinner for her siblings. She became a high-achieving entrepreneur, a strategic facilitator, a co-founder, a mother, and an author. She did all of it with what she calls "steeled up Kathleen": walls up, eyes forward, purpose driving every step. The struggles were internal. The world only saw the results.In 2017, Kathleen was facilitating a trauma training in Kansas City when a slide went up showing the Adverse Childhood Experiences scale. She assumed most people in the room would score close to her. Most scored zero, one, or two. She had written down an eight to fib a little, knowing she was actually a nine. That moment, at 56 years old, was the first time Kathleen understood that not everyone grew up the way she did. It did not break her. It gave her language. It gave her science. And slowly, years later, it gave her permission to begin asking who she actually is underneath all the survival.What You'll Hear:How perfectionism rooted in childhood fear shaped Kathleen's entire professional identityThe moment a data slide cracked open sixty years of assumed normalcyWhat it felt like to write a book with her twin sisters and learn, in detail, what had happened to each of themThe difference between managing trauma and actually healing, and the question that finally forced her to reckon with itWhy dancing is the first piece of her authentic self she has found, and what that means for the journey aheadHow Kathleen chose the purpose that was once given to her, and what it means to finally own itAbout Kathleen McKuneKathleen Harnish McKune is a co-founder and CEO of Team Tech, a strategic facilitation firm, and the CEO of Remarkably Resilient, a nonprofit dedicated to trauma-informed resilience education. She co-authored the book Remarkably Resilient: Community Matters alongside her twin sisters Sharon and Karen, sharing the neuroscience of trauma and a framework for building resilience. Kathleen works with state and local governments, corrections, child welfare agencies, and incarcerated populations across Kansas, and brings both lived experience and rigorous research to her mission of helping people understand what happened to them, and how to move through it. You can find her at remarkably-resilient.com.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast

There is a kind of grief that never gets to happen out loud. It stays pressed down inside you, shaped by the people around you who couldn't hold it. Matin knows that grief. She found out her mother had died by reaching for a hand that didn't reach back. She was thirteen. And then the world she had counted on, her mother's family, her father's warmth, the permission to even cry, quietly fell away.What followed was years of building a life on her own terms. Studying in secret. Sleeping on hard surfaces just to avoid going home. Moving from Iran to Japan to finally have room to breathe. She did it without anyone telling her she could. She did it by becoming her own closest companion, the kind of friend who says, I remember when that happened, and we got through it together.Matin is a plant molecular biologist who studies mangrove trees, organisms that live between land and sea, in conditions most things can't survive. She sees herself in them. In this conversation, she shares what it took to finally reach peace, and why she believes all of us should talk about our stories, not as something brave or rare, but as something ordinary and necessary.What You'll Hear:Growing up with a father who was both deeply loving and unpredictable, and what that did to a child's sense of safetyThe moment Matin discovered her mother had died, and being told not to cryLosing her entire maternal family in the grief that followed, and the deep loneliness that set inHow she secretly studied through high school, skipped dinner for four years, and fought her way to college just to surviveBuilding an academic career across continents, including surviving a violent assault in Japan, and still choosing not to become defined by her painWhat turning forty felt like, and the inner bond she credits with getting her hereGuest Bio:Matin Miryeganeh grew up in Rasht, Iran, and is now a plant molecular biologist based in Japan, where she has lived for sixteen years. She studies mangrove trees, and the connection she feels to these resilient organisms runs deeper than science. Matin is also the author of All Is Well, a memoir in which she shares her journey through loss, isolation, and the long, quiet road to peace. You can find her book on Amazon and Goodreads: https://www.amazon.com/All-Well-memoir-survival-strength/dp/B0FHH898H6Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/childhood grief, mother loss, growing up without suppor

Maybe you grew up loving someone who was always somewhere else. Always present in the house but somehow out of reach. If that landed in a part of you that still carries it, this episode might feel like a long exhale.Matt Fogelson grew up wanting more of his father than his father knew how to give. When his dad died unexpectedly during Matt's college years, the grief that followed wasn't just about loss. It was about all the conversations they never had, the closeness that always felt one step away. Matt went to law school, followed the family blueprint, wore his father's suits to work, and spent years trying to fill a hole that kept its shape.Then he brought his own son home for the first time. The baby wouldn't stop crying. The dog was barking. Nothing was working. And without thinking about it at all, Matt started singing. What came out was a Grateful Dead song. It wasn't logical. It was just true. And that small, strange, middle-of-the-night moment quietly became the beginning of something he'd been waiting his whole life to start.What You'll Hear:The specific moment of grief that intensified when Matt became a father himselfWhy music became a bridge to a part of himself he'd put awayHow singing the same song to his son for 14 years shaped their connectionThe bar mitzvah moment that made him realize he was repeating his father's patternsWhat writing a memoir taught him about understanding and forgiving a man he never fully knewThe advice his aunt gave him after his father died, the advice he rolled his eyes at, and why he wishes he'd heard it soonerMatt Fogelson is an author, former attorney, and lifelong music obsessive who spent decades navigating the emotional distance passed down through generations of his family. His memoir, Restrung: Fatherhood in a Different Key, traces the journey from grief to presence through the language of music. He lives with his family and can be found at mattfogelson.com.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/father son relationship, grief after losing a parent, emotional distance in families, fatherhood and identity, music as healing, inherited trauma, becoming a present parent, memoir writing as grief, breaking family patterns, unresolved loss

Maybe you've done something you're not proud of. Maybe you've done it more than once. And maybe the hardest part wasn't the doing, it was the sitting with what it said about you.Nick Gomez grew up moving fast, through friendships, through relationships, through versions of himself he wasn't sure he believed in. Raised in Cancun with a lot of freedom and very little guidance, he learned early that if no one found out, it didn't really happen. That belief followed him into adulthood, into relationship after relationship, until one moment changed the math entirely.This is a conversation about what it actually takes to tell the truth when you know it's going to cost you. About the patterns we carry from childhood without realizing it. About grief, writing, the strange relief of finally saying the thing out loud, and what it looks like to slowly, imperfectly become someone you actually respect.What You'll Hear:Why Nick kept repeating the same pattern across three relationships, and what finally broke itThe three months he spent deciding whether to confess, and what helped him find the courageHow writing a memoir in 30 days helped him process what he'd done and understand whyThe role his father's death played in reshaping who he wanted to beWhat honesty looks like now, in dating, in friendships, in how he shows up for himselfWhy grief so often goes unspoken, and what it actually looks like to support someone who's losing someoneGuest Bio: Nick Gomez is an author, filmmaker, and coach based in the United States. Originally from Cancun, Mexico, Nick has written multiple memoirs exploring identity, honesty, and the messier parts of being human. Two of his books are available as free audiobooks on YouTube. He approaches his work, and his life, with a commitment to authenticity that took years to build and that he keeps rebuilding every day. You can find him at https://www.realnicholasgomez.com/Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/self-sabotage, relationship patterns, emotional honesty, cheating and confession, childhood neglect, self-worth, identity, memoir writing, psychedelic therapy, grief, father loss, authenticity, codependency, personal transformation

Maybe you know this feeling. Someone died and you kept going, because that was what you were supposed to do. You stayed busy, you stayed capable, and somewhere along the way you convinced yourself that you had handled it.Rebe Huntman lost her mother to cancer at 19. The grief counselors told her to move forward. So she did, with discipline and determination and a full, successful life. But 30 years later, on the edge of turning 50, she realized she had never actually let herself miss her. Not really.This episode follows Rebe's pilgrimage to Cuba, a country where the dead are not gone, where ancestors are spoken to daily and the veil between worlds is treated as thin and navigable. What she found there, in the dances, in the drumming, in the quiet workroom of a spiritist in El Cobre, was not magic for its own sake. It was permission. Permission to stop moving past her grief and start staying in it.What You'll Hear:How Rebe mastered the art of moving forward and the cost it quietly carriedThe moment in Cuba when her understanding of death, grief, and ancestry completely shiftedWhat it felt like to reimagine the hospital room scene she had been carrying for 30 yearsHow a country with a different relationship to death gave her a new way to love her motherThe small, daily rituals she brought home from Cuba and what they have meant for her healingWhy showing up fully as yourself can become a quiet gift to everyone around youGuest Bio:Rebe Huntman is a writer, former Latin dancer, and choreographer who has spent her career at the intersection of movement, storytelling, and spirit. She spent decades running a professional dance company and teaching college and high school before turning her full attention to writing. She splits her time between Delaware, Ohio and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Her debut memoir, My Mother in Havana: A Memoir of Magic and Miracle, was published in 2025 and chronicles her transformative pilgrimage to Cuba in search of her mother and herself. Find her at rebehuntman.com and on Instagram @rebehuntman.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/grief after mother's death, ancestral healing, Afro-Cuban spirituality, pilgrimage and transformation, learning to talk to the dead, disenfranchised grief, mother loss, life after 50 identity, Santeria and healing, memoir of magic and grief

Maybe you have had a moment where your body tried to tell you something and you looked the other way. A small signal, easy to explain away. This episode is for anyone who has ever dismissed a whisper, and then had to reckon with what that whisper was trying to say.Shruti grew up as a working mom in Melbourne, living a normal, full life, when tingling in her feet gradually became something she could no longer ignore. Over years, that quiet signal grew into a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, a progression from walker to wheelchair, and a complete reshaping of her career, her home life, and her sense of self. What she found on the other side was not what most people might expect. She found strength, not the performed kind, not the kind someone else told her she had to have, but a deep, steady resilience that rose out of the hardest circumstances of her life.This is a conversation about what it means to carry an invisible illness through a world that cannot see it. It is about traveling alone to Kerala to try Ayurvedic therapy on nothing but hope. It is about reliving your hardest moments to write a memoir, and about looking back at all the worry you carried before, and finally letting it go.What You'll Hear:How Shruti's MS symptoms progressed over nearly a decade before a turning point shifted her entire lifeWhat it felt like to lose her job, her mobility, and her previous identity, and how she moved through thatThe solo trip to Kerala for Ayurvedic treatment, and what she found there beyond the therapy itselfHow writing her memoir, My Invisible Battles, helped her discover a version of herself she had never met beforeThe connection between stress, chronic illness, and finally releasing the need to overthink everythingWhy she believes strength is not something anyone can teach you, and where it actually comes fromGuest Bio:Shruti Ghate is an author and mother of two based in Melbourne, Australia. After years of living with multiple sclerosis, she published her memoir, My Invisible Battles, to offer guidance and solidarity to others navigating an invisible autoimmune illness. Her work is grounded in the belief that sharing our stories can reach farther than we imagine.Find Shruti and her book at www.shrutighate.com, and on Amazon Kindle worldwide.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/living with multiple sclerosis, invisible illness, chronic illness resilience, autoimmune disease journey, progressive MS, finding strength, w

There is a particular kind of grief that does not announce itself. It arrives in the middle of an ordinary drive, through a phone ringing on a Sunday afternoon, in the voice of a stranger delivering news your brain simply refuses to hold. If you have ever felt the world keep moving while you were standing completely still, this episode will find you.Stephen Panus lost his 16-year-old son Jake in August 2020, on a weekend trip that started with a peace sign from the driveway and ended in a parking lot, screaming to the sky. What followed was not a clean journey through stages. It was survival. One hour, then one day. The weight of holding a family together when you could barely hold yourself. The rage that comes when someone else’s carelessness takes everything. And the strange, hard-won realization that forgiveness was not about letting anyone off the hook. It was about releasing himself.In this conversation, Stephen talks about what grief actually does to a body, a marriage, a family. How his wife and son experienced the same loss and walked entirely different paths through it. How the Jake Panus Walk On Scholarship grew from a house full of flowers into something that keeps his son’s name alive in the world. And what it means to show up for someone in pain, when there are no right words and showing up is the only thing that matters.What You’ll Hear:The moment Stephen received the phone call that changed everything, and what happened in the minutes afterThe complexity of grief when anger, self-blame, and love are all happening at the same timeWhy the second year of grief was harder than the first, and the role of therapy in keeping his family togetherHow the Jake Panus Walk On Scholarship grew from an impulse to honor a son into a living legacyThe difference between knowing you lost someone and actually accepting itWhat Stephen would say to anyone who doesn’t know what to do when someone they love is sufferingGuest Bio:Stephen Panus spent his career as a sports marketing executive, building brands behind the scenes. In August 2020, his 16-year-old son Jake was killed in a car accident on Block Island, Rhode Island. In the years since, Stephen has become a speaker, an author, and the creator of the Jake Panus Walk On Scholarship, a series of three scholarships honoring Jake’s spirit of compassion and lifting others. His book, Walk On, is available now and all proceeds support the scholarships. Stephen lives in Connecticut with his wife Kelly and son Liam.https://www.stephenpanus.com/Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: <a href="https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.

There's a moment in Nick Prefontaine's story where the doctors step outside the hospital room to deliver news they don't think he can hear. His mom stops them. She knows better. Even in a coma, she believes her son is taking things in. That one act of belief, quiet and firm and unwilling to accept the ceiling others had set, shaped everything that came after.Nick was fourteen when a snowboarding accident put him in a coma for three weeks and rewrote the map his future was supposed to follow. The doctors said he might never walk, talk, or eat on his own again. What they didn't know was that Nick was already setting a different goal. Before he could even form words, he was mouthing them. He was going to run out of that hospital.This episode is about what it looks like to recover not just a body, but a sense of self, a purpose, and a calling. Nick shares the four-part framework he unknowingly used at fourteen and has spent decades refining. It's not a system built for winners. It's built for people in the middle of the worst thing that's ever happened to them.What You'll Hear:The snowboarding accident that changed everything and the series of unlikely moments that kept Nick aliveWhat his mother did in the hospital room that set the tone for his entire recoveryThe internal voice Nick heard before he could speak, and how he's learned to trust it as an adultThe STEP system: Support, Trust, Energy, Persistence, and how Nick applied it without knowing itThe long quiet after the fanfare faded, and what it felt like when regular life resumedHow Nick finally said yes to the calling he'd been putting off for years and what happened when he didGuest Bio:Nick Prefontaine is a speaker, coach, and founder of Common Goal. At fourteen, a snowboarding accident left him in a coma with injuries so severe that doctors doubted he'd walk again. He did. He ran. And eighteen months later he was door-knocking in neighborhoods, beginning a career in real estate that would eventually make room for the work he was always meant to do. Today, Nick works one-on-one with trauma survivors, accident victims, and people in the middle of life crises, sharing the STEP system he used to recover and helping others find their next step when they can't see it yet. You can find him and download the full STEP system at nickprefontaine.com/step.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Maybe you've felt it too. That sense that if you just did everything right, the story would unfold the way it was supposed to. That the checklist would protect you. That the guardrails were there for a reason.Evan Boyer followed the plan. He was competitive, driven, self-focused in all the ways that tend to work well in corporate America. And then Christmas morning 2021 arrived, and the plan was gone. His wife was rushed to the OR. His daughter was born eleven weeks early, two pounds and six ounces. And Evan sat alone in a hospital room for an hour, waiting for news about whether both of them were okay.Seventy days in the NICU has a way of teaching you things no checklist ever could. For Evan, it planted a seed. And when a second pregnancy and a professional setback arrived at the same time, that seed broke open. He left his corporate job, launched his own PR firm, and started building something that felt like his, for the first time.What You'll Hear:What it felt like to stand beside his daughter in a hazmat suit, not knowing if his wife was okayHow seventy days in the NICU quietly rewired his relationship with controlThe moment two life events collided and made staying put feel riskier than leavingWhat the first slow days of entrepreneurship actually looked like (and why he doesn't pretend it was seamless)How he found community in the NICU parent world by simply reaching out when he was scaredWhy he thinks the version of him sitting in that waiting room needed to hear that change is okayGuest Bio:Evan Boyer is the founder and CEO of Leaders PR, a boutique public relations firm he launched after years in corporate communications. A husband, father of two, and former competitive golfer, Evan lives in North Carolina and brings a grounded, energy-forward approach to everything he does. He is active on LinkedIn and can be reached at [email protected] or leaderspr.com.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Maybe you've built your whole life around being the one who shows up. The one who runs toward the hard thing when everyone else steps back. You know the feeling of being needed. What you might not know is how long you can keep that up before you lose track of who you actually are underneath it all.Dr. Tony Dice spent years chasing the highest version of that identity, from a remote mountain town in Northern California to the Navy SEALs, from the brotherhood of elite service to the unraveling of a nine-year addiction. What looked like strength from the outside was quietly hollowing out everything beneath it. And the moment it all became undeniable wasn't some dramatic public collapse. It was a phone pushed under a bed. A call from a daycare. A son who needed him, and a room he couldn't leave.This conversation is about what happens after that moment. Tony has been in recovery for fifteen years, earned his doctorate, returned to the very treatment center that saved his life, and built a career helping veterans, law enforcement, and high performers face the thing they've been outrunning. His story doesn't wrap up neatly, and he wouldn't want it to. It just points somewhere real.What You'll Hear:The moment Tony's addiction became undeniable, and why he couldn't get out of that roomHow the identity of "the hero" became both a lifeline and a trapWhat the decision between the SEAL teams and his addiction actually felt like in the bodyThe small, unlikely moment in a treatment center that redirected the rest of his lifeWhy he believes addiction is far more universal than most people are willing to admitWhat it feels like to watch someone's guard finally come down, and why that's the work he was built forDr. Tony Dice is a Navy SEAL veteran, 15-year recovery advocate, professor of counseling at Old Dominion University, and founder of Bishop and Dice Defense, a veteran-owned business that pairs tactical training with mental health services. He is the author of After the Trident, a raw, memoir-style account of shame, addiction, and the recovery model he developed over more than a decade of working with high performers.https://bishopdicedefense.com/ Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Some shifts don't arrive all at once. They come slowly, over days and years, asking you to let go of things you weren't ready to release. If you've ever had to reimagine who you are after something took a version of you that you loved, this episode will feel like a hand on your shoulder.Deb Meyerson was 53, healthy, and doing meaningful work as a Stanford professor when a stroke began on a drive to Lake Tahoe. What followed wasn't a quick recovery. It was a slow reckoning with the body, the voice, the professional identity, and the quiet realization that some parts of the old life weren't coming back. Her husband Steve walked every step alongside her, navigating his own grief as a care partner while trying to hold the family together. Together, they eventually found a way to transform the loss into something that now helps thousands of stroke survivors feel less alone.This is a conversation about the kind of grief that doesn't announce itself. The kind that shows up on your happiest days and in your proudest moments, reminding you of the distance between who you were and who you are now. It's also a conversation about what it looks like to keep creating meaning when the old map no longer works.What You'll Hear:How Deb's stroke unfolded slowly over a Labor Day weekend, and what the overnight "slow fall off a cliff" felt like for both of themThe moment three years in when Deb had to leave Stanford, and how that second loss broke something openWhat it actually means to hold multiple identities at once after trauma, and how Deb navigated the "yes and" of still being herselfThe grief cycles that don't end, including the morning after their grandson was bornHow writing a book became the most affordable therapy Deb never expected, and what led them to start Stroke OnwardWhat Steve learned about being a care partner, and why that role is so rarely seen or supportedGuest Bio:Debra Meyerson is a stroke survivor, author, and co-founder of Stroke Onward, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting stroke survivors and care partners through the emotional journey of recovery. A former tenured professor at Stanford, she wrote Identity Theft with her son and husband Steve after her own experience of rebuilding identity in the wake of a stroke and aphasia. Steve Zuckerman brings decades of experience in business, economic justice, and nonprofit leadership to his role as co-founder and care partner. Together, they work to ensure that the emotional side of stroke recovery gets the attention it deserves.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/</a

Some stories start with a loss so early that you don't even have the words for what happened. You just carry it. You carry it into every room, every relationship, every quiet moment where something feels off but you can't name why. That's where Wendy's story begins. She was seven years old when her father died, and nobody sat down to explain it. Nobody said you're allowed to be angry. Nobody said you can talk to him in the moon and the stars. The world just kept moving, and she learned to move with it.What Wendy didn't know until she was 62 is that her instinct of not quite belonging had an answer she hadn't even thought to look for. A DNA test. A buried secret. A biological father who had come to her house while her dad was at work, and a mother who had spent a lifetime protecting everyone except the one person who most needed the truth.This is a conversation about what it costs to grow up without language for your own grief. It's about the way a body holds on to what a family refuses to say out loud. And it's about what happens when the truth, as painful and as complicated as it is, finally lands. Wendy wrote her memoir, My Pretty Baby, as a call to action, not just a personal story. Because 64% of adults have experienced some form of adverse childhood experience, and most of them were never given permission to talk about it.What You'll Hear:What it felt like to lose a parent at seven when no one gave grief a nameThe moment in an acting class in her 20s when 20 years of buried anger finally surfacedHow growing up with an alcoholic stepfather shaped her sense of self and blameThe DNA discovery at 62 that reframed her entire life and answered the question she didn't know she'd been askingWhat it means to feel validated by the truth, even when the truth comes too late for some conversationsWhy she wrote My Pretty Baby as a call to action and what she hopes readers carry with themGuest Bio:Wendy B. Correa is a writer, yogi, speaker, and advocate for honest conversations about adverse childhood experiences. Her memoir, My Pretty Baby, traces her journey through childhood loss, family dysfunction, and the identity-shifting discovery that her biological father was not who she believed him to be. She is committed to breaking the silence around ACEs and helping others find language for the things they were never allowed to say. You can find her at www.wendybcorrea.com and on Instagram at @WendyBCorrea.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodc

There are moments that don't give you any warning. You're living your life, things are working, and then something happens that makes you question every single thing you thought you knew. Including yourself.That's where Chris Magleby found himself in 2017. A small piece of a pot brownie triggered a full psychotic episode, one that landed him zip-tied in his front yard, fighting cops he didn't recognize, hearing sounds that weren't there. It was terrifying. And it was, in a strange and quiet way, the beginning of something.Chris spent the next two and a half years working through acute anxiety, a manic episode, and the slow, painful process of rebuilding a relationship with his own mind. What came out the other side was a man who understood the difference between controlling life and actually living it. Now he's channeling all of that into Mindless Labs, a mental health startup built for people who know what it feels like to be lost inside their own heads.What You'll Hear:How a childhood marked by his parents' divorce shaped his relationship with control and safetyThe night a psychotic episode cracked everything open, and what those terrifying hours felt like from the insideWhy the two and a half years after were, in some ways, harder than the episode itselfHow Chris found his way to mindfulness, meditation, and Eastern philosophy as tools for survivalThe difference between pushing through and actually feeling your way throughWhat it means to turn your hardest experience into something that might help someone else find the lightGuest Bio:Chris Magleby is the co-founder of Mindless Labs, a mental health startup with an apparel line that funds mental health resources and an app built around professional-led content for people navigating their own mental health journeys. He's been married for nearly 22 years, is a father, and brings to all of it a hard-earned understanding of what it means to fall apart and come back differently. You can find him and Mindless Labs at mindless.org or on Instagram at @mindlesslabs.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehi

Some of us spend years learning how to look okay when we are not. We get good at reading rooms, making ourselves small, keeping quiet. Not because we want to, but because it felt like the only way to stay safe. If that sounds familiar, this episode might feel like someone finally said the quiet part out loud.Eugene Z. Bertrand grew up navigating a home shaped by domestic violence. For most of his childhood and into early adulthood, survival meant masking. It meant saying he was fine when he was not. It meant watching and waiting and staying alert. And then, just days after graduating college, something happened that nearly took his life. And the most unsettling part was how calmly he described it afterward.In this conversation, Eugene talks about what it felt like to say it out loud for the first time, to sit with radical acceptance, to forgive not because the other person deserved it but because he did. He talks about EMDR therapy, about the friends who held space for him, about vulnerability as a superpower, and about the book he wrote, five to ten pages a day, just to keep moving forward.What You'll Hear:What it felt like to grow up in a home where uncertainty was the norm, and how that silence shaped who Eugene becameThe moment he almost lost his life, and why it took a friend's reaction to help him truly understand what had happenedHow radical acceptance and EMDR therapy helped him move through trauma without staying trapped in itWhat it actually felt like to choose forgiveness, including the morning after when he was not sure he had made the right callWhy Eugene believes vulnerability is your greatest superpower, and what happens when you finally stop hiding your storyHow writing a book became a form of healing, and what he hopes other survivors of domestic violence find when they read itGuest Bio:Eugene Z. Bertrand is a survivor, author, and social work student at Columbia University. He is the author of Resilience: Breaking the Chains, a fiction-based exploration of domestic violence and the long road toward healing. Eugene is a mentor, speaker, and passionate advocate for vulnerability as a form of strength and for creating spaces where survivors, especially men, feel safe enough to tell the truth.If Eugene's story moved you, send him a message at eugenezbertrand.com or pick up his book, Resilience:

There is a version of grief that nobody warns you about. It is not the loud kind. It is the quiet kind, the one that creeps in slowly until one day you are walking your dogs on a trail you love and you realize you no longer feel connected to the ground beneath your feet. That moment, as small and ordinary as it sounds, was the one that changed everything for Dianette Wells.Dianette has lived her life reaching toward something higher. She grew up in flat Southern California, looking at snow-capped mountains from her backyard and knowing, in the way some people just know, that she was meant for something beyond what she had been handed. That instinct led her to Mount Whitney, to Kilimanjaro, to all seven summits, and eventually to ultramarathons across the world. Movement was not just her passion. It was her language, her therapy, her way of sorting through whatever life threw at her.And then her son Johnny died. He was 23. He was a wingsuit pilot and a base jumper and the kind of person who had climbed the seven summits before he was legally allowed to do most of the things he loved. His death stripped the sparkle from the world for a long time. And Dianette had to find her way back, not to who she was before, but to someone who could hold the grief and still choose to live.What You'll HearHow a girls' trip up Mount Whitney cracked open a hunger for adventure that Dianette had never known she hadThe quiet devastation of losing her son, Johnny, and how grief made the world feel physically differentWhy she believes year two of loss is harder than year one, and what finally shook her out of just existingHer honest take on grief without a roadmap, and why there is no right way to do any of itHow movement, travel, and even a plant medicine journey became her path back to herselfWhat it means to honor someone you lost without feeling obligated to perform that grief for the worldGuest BioDianette Wells is an adventurer, author, and mother who has spent decades pursuing the kinds of experiences that most people only dream about. She has climbed the Seven Summits, run ultramarathons around the globe, and lived in Malibu before relocating to Park City, Utah, where altitude and single-track trails became both her home and her healing. After losing her son Johnny Strange at age 23, Dianette channeled her grief into continued movement, memory-making, and writing. Her book, Another Step Up the Mountain, is avail

There is someone in your life whose story you have not asked about yet. Maybe you keep meaning to. Maybe you figure there is time. This episode is a quiet reminder that time is the one thing none of us actually have on hold.Cristian grew up in Paraguay, surrounded by family lunches that stretched into the afternoon, stories layered on top of stories, and a kind of closeness that most of us only read about. He carried all of that with him, through Stanford, through Google, through the blank whiteboard moment of figuring out what he was actually supposed to build. And then, a few weeks before a trip home to finally sit down with his grandmother and record her story, she had a stroke. The conversation he had been saving for later became one he would never have.What came out of that loss was not just a product. It was a reckoning. Cristian built Autograph, an AI-driven platform that interviews people about their lives, so that the stories we keep meaning to capture do not quietly disappear. This episode is about grief, yes. But it is also about what happens when you stop waiting and decide to become the author of your own life.What You'll Hear:Why the stories we never say out loud are the ones we lose foreverHow growing up in Paraguay shaped the way Cristian thinks about family, identity, and belongingThe moment his grandmother's stroke became the catalyst for everythingWhat it actually feels like to become the main character of your own storyHow grief and technology can hold hands without losing the human partWhy your story matters, even if you have never once believed that it doesGuest Bio: Cristian Cibils Bernardes is the founder of Autograph, a platform that uses AI to help people record, preserve, and share their life stories with the people who matter most. He grew up in Paraguay, studied symbolic systems at Stanford, and worked at Google before stepping back to figure out what he was actually building toward. The answer, it turned out, had been waiting in his own family all along. Learn more at autograph.ai.---Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.

If you have ever loved someone so deeply that the thought of losing them rearranged everything, this conversation is for you. It is for the moments when you try to stay steady while the ground is already shifting beneath you. It is for the quiet questions that surface when life no longer follows the plan you thought you were living.Kathleen Quinn shares a story shaped by devotion, sudden illness, and the long unfolding of grief. She speaks about caring for her husband through a devastating diagnosis, about choosing presence over denial, and about the many small decisions that come with loving someone at the end of their life. This is not a story about moving on. It is a story about staying open. About learning how grief and joy can exist side by side. About discovering that the life you are living now may still hold meaning, tenderness, and purpose.This episode is a gentle reminder that there is no correct way to grieve. Only your way. And that honoring what was lost does not mean closing yourself off from what still remains.What You’ll HearLoving someone through a terminal diagnosis without turning them into a patientThe quiet weight of anticipatory grief and how it shows up unexpectedlyChoosing presence in moments that feel unbearableLetting go of rules about how grief is supposed to lookStaying open to life after loss without rushing yourselfHow grief reshaped her relationship with worth, joy, and purposeGuest BioKathleen Quinn is a mindset coach and former philanthropy leader at Stanford. After more than three decades working closely with high-achieving and high-net-worth individuals, she now helps people explore the deeper questions of worthiness, wealth, and fulfillment. Drawing from her professional experience and personal journey through loss, Kathleen guides clients through meaningful transitions rooted in self-trust, clarity, and impact.Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSupport the show for ad-free and early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcastSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after more than two hundred conversations on The Life Shift.Today I am talking about the small moments that end up changing everything. Not the dramatic events we can point to, but the quieter shifts. The split second where you choose something different. The small yes or no that later becomes a turning point. The thought you almost ignore until it finally lands.In this reflection, I talk about the tiny, almost invisible choices that shape who we become. The gentle nudges. The slow clarifying moments. The things that do not look important at the time but reveal themselves later as the start of a new chapter. Change is rarely loud. Healing is rarely obvious. Most of the time it happens underneath the surface, long before we can name it.If you are feeling stuck or wondering when your own shift will show up, I hope this episode helps you notice what is already happening inside you. Look for the little things. The small questions. The subtle pull toward something new. Those moments matter more than you think. They might be the beginning of your next life.

Some moments do not ask to be fixed. They ask to be felt. To be witnessed. To be held gently until something inside us loosens just enough to breathe again.In this conversation, I sit with someone who understands that grief is not something to get over. It is something to learn how to live with. Day shares what it was like to lose his father, lose a relationship, and find himself standing in a quiet in-between space where nothing felt stable. Instead of rushing through that season, he slowed down. He listened. He followed a small impulse into the woods. And in doing so, he discovered a way to turn pain into presence.This episode is about thresholds. About endings and beginnings that overlap. About how creativity, ritual, and attention can help us stay open when life changes shape. It is an invitation to soften your grip, trust what is unfolding, and remember that even in loss, something meaningful is still possible.What You’ll HearWhy grief is not just an emotion but a skill we can learnThe power of slowing down when life feels unrecognizableHow ritual and creativity can help metabolize lossLearning to hold endings without closing your heartThe quiet role of pleasure in times of deep heavinessFinding meaning in the space between goodbye and helloGuest BioDay Schildkret is an award-winning queer author, artist, ritualist, and teacher known for Morning Altars, a practice rooted in nature, art, and ritual. His work helps people navigate change, grief, and life transitions with intention and care. Day teaches internationally and creates spaces where people can slow down, remember what matters, and reconnect to themselves through creativity and presence.Sign up for Day’s Newsletter: https://www.morningaltars.com/Morning Altars Teacher Training: https://www.morningaltars.com/teachertrainingPurchase Hello, Goodbye: https://www.morningaltars.com/hellogoodbyePurchase Morning Altars https://www.morningaltars.com/morningaltarsbook/1Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningaltars/----Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morningaltarsListen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSupport the show for ad free and early release episodes: <a href="http://www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today, I am talking about starting over and the quiet moments when someone realizes life cannot keep going the way it has been. These beginnings rarely look dramatic. They show up as discomfort, restlessness, or a small truth that refuses to stay quiet. They arrive long before anything changes on the outside.In this reflection, I talk about how starting again is usually a slow noticing rather than a bold leap. It is the moment you finally pay attention to the shift happening beneath the surface. It is the small decision to move toward something more honest, even when your legs feel shaky. Beginning again asks for honesty, patience, and a willingness to let go of the version of you that no longer feels true.If you are standing in your own starting point, I hope this episode meets you gently. You do not need to rush, leap, or reinvent your entire life. You only need to listen to what is pulling you and honor the direction that feels right. Starting over is not a failure. It is a sign that you are paying attention. And that is enough.

If you have ever looked at your life and thought, this is not what I imagined, this conversation is for you.If you have carried love and grief in the same breath, you will recognize yourself here.Sharon’s story moves through absence, devotion, and the quiet reshaping that happens when life asks more of you than you feel ready to give. From early experiences of not knowing where she belonged, to the long years of loving and caring for her son Michael, she shares what it means to live inside uncertainty without closing your heart. This is not a story about fixing what cannot be fixed. It is about learning how to stay present when the future feels fragile.This episode holds space for the kind of grief that does not follow a timeline. The kind that lives alongside laughter. The kind that changes your identity and slowly teaches you how to carry love forward. There is no rush here. Just permission to feel what you feel, and to trust that it all belongs.What You’ll HearWhat it feels like when the life you expected quietly disappearsThe difference between surviving grief and living alongside itHow love deepens when certainty is no longer availableNavigating identity after loss without forcing closureHolding joy and sorrow in the same momentLearning to feel seen after years of feeling unseenGuest BioDr. Sharon Spano works with high-impact leaders who appear successful on the outside but feel something is quietly missing inside. With a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems, she helps CEOs, consultants, and entrepreneurs understand what is actually holding them back, not just in their work, but in their relationships and sense of self.Much of Sharon’s work centers on what she calls the emptiness of success. The feeling that can linger even after you have done all the right things. Through a blend of science, developmental psychology, and deep personal insight, she guides leaders to uncover hidden barriers, including generational patterns and unresolved grief, so they can lead with more clarity, integrity, and wholeness.Sharon is the host of The Other Side of Potential, a podcast exploring leadership, growth, and what it means to live beyond pressure-driven success. She is also the author of The Pursuit of Time & Money. At the heart of her work is a simple belief. True success is not about doing more. It is about becoming more fully yourself.<li data-list="bul

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about the moment you finally say the thing you have been holding in. It is rarely dramatic. It is rarely loud. Most of the time it is a quiet shift in the air. A small release. A truth that has been waiting for you to stop hiding.In this reflection, I talk about the fear that comes before speaking the truth, the relief that follows, and the slow, steady undoing of shame that happens when you let yourself be seen. Many of us carry invisible weight. We carry the stories we were told to keep quiet. We carry the parts of ourselves we were sure would make people run. But the moment you let someone see the real you, everything changes. Even if it is small. Even if it is messy. Even if your voice shakes.If you feel yourself inching toward your own line in the sand, I hope this episode helps you feel less alone. You do not have to shout your truth. You do not have to reveal everything at once. You can take one small step. You can whisper the part of your story that wants to be heard. And when you do, you become a little more you.

Burnout does not always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like a successful career, a stable job, and a life that makes sense on paper. And still, your body knows something is wrong. If you have ever found yourself in the middle of a midlife career shift, questioning your work, or wondering why you feel exhausted even when everything seems fine, this conversation will meet you right where you are.In this episode, I talk with Ellen Whitlock Baker about the quiet unraveling that led to her line-in-the-sand moment. Years of people-pleasing, pushing through, and trying to belong in systems that were never built for her finally caught up with her in the most unexpected place. Sitting in a theater, watching the musical Beetlejuice, Ellen broke down. Not because the show was sad, but because her body had reached its limit. What followed was a brave decision to walk away from a very stable job and begin rebuilding a life and career rooted in alignment instead of obligation.This is a story about workplace burnout and listening to yourself before everything falls apart. About honoring the signals you have learned to ignore. And about trusting that even when the next step feels risky, there is another way to live and work that does not cost you yourself.What You’ll HearWhat burnout feels like before you have language for itHow belonging, or the lack of it, quietly shapes our career choicesThe moment Ellen’s body finally said enoughWhy leaving a stable job can feel terrifying and deeply right at the same timeWhat rebuilding looks like when you choose alignment over approvalA reminder that it is not you that is broken; sometimes it is the systemGuest BioEllen Whitlock Baker is the founder and CEO of EWB Coaching, where she helps professionals learn how to prioritize themselves in a world that often tells them not to. With empathy and honesty at the center of her work, Ellen supports leaders in understanding their strengths and building careers that feel sustainable, human, and aligned.With more than 20 years of workplace experience and certification through the International Coaching Federation, Ellen works with individuals and organizations through one-on-one coaching, workshops, and courses. After navigating her own experiences with burnout and self-doubt, she is on a mission to help others never reach that breaking point. Ellen is also the host of the Hard at Work podcast, which identifies what isn't working in today’s w

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about the quiet ways people rebuild after loss. Not the dramatic versions we often hear about, but the slow work that happens in ordinary moments. The rebuilding that takes shape in private. The kind no one sees.In this reflection, I talk about how grief reshapes us, how healing does not mean going back to who we were, and how rebuilding often looks like small rituals, small connections, and small choices that eventually add up to something stronger. Loss creates a landscape we have to learn how to navigate. There are days we feel lost, days we find small paths forward, and days we simply sit with the weight of it all. None of it is wrong. None of it is failure. It is all part of the rebuilding.If you are walking through loss right now, I hope this episode gives you space to notice the gentle ways you are already putting yourself back together. Maybe it is the first laugh you did not expect. Maybe it is reaching out when you would rather withdraw. Maybe it is the moment you stop judging your grief and let it be what it is. There is no timeline here. There is only your way. And that is enough.

Maybe you’ve had that moment too. The one where burnout shows up quietly, and you sit in your car before work holding back tears, wondering how your life became so small. For anyone experiencing career burnout or questioning their sense of self, this conversation may feel familiar.For Lin Yuan-Su, that moment was a quiet breaking point. She had the job, the title, the security. But none of it felt like her. What began as a career built to please others became a life that asked her to finally listen to herself. That morning became a line in the sand moment where she realized success alone was not enough.Her story is about what happens when you stop performing and start trusting your own truth. It’s about learning to make peace with the child who only knew how to survive, and letting her grow into the woman who can finally breathe.What You’ll Hear:The hidden pressure of living up to other people’s expectationsThe breaking point that began in a silent parking lotHow cultural and familial stories shaped her sense of worthThe moment she chose to walk away from success that no longer fitReconnecting with her inner child after years of silenceBuilding a life that feels aligned instead of approvedGuest Bio:Lin Yuan-Su is a transformational success coach who helps high-achieving professionals simplify their path to success so they can create lives they love without burnout or hustle that no longer serves them. With a background in nutrition and healthcare, Lin once looked accomplished on paper but felt deeply unfulfilled. She works with leaders and entrepreneurs who look successful on the outside but feel disconnected on the inside. A spontaneous moment of truth set her on a path toward purpose, ease, and flow. Today, she guides others to align with their truth, quiet the noise, and live in a way that feels like freedom.Discover more about Lin at: www.enlightenedsuccess.comListen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSupport the show for ad-free and early release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcastSubscribe to the newsletter: <a href="https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/" rel

The Life Shift Podcast is a long form interview podcast about the moments that turn our lives into before and after.Each episode centers on one defining life shift. A moment that changes how someone sees their life and what it takes to live differently after it.This is not a show to offer solutions or advice. These are thoughtful conversations about real experiences, shared by people navigating loss, burnout, identity, grief, and major life changes.Hosted by Matt Gilhooly.Listen to episodes and learn more athttps://thelifeshiftpodcast.com

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today, I am talking about identity and what happens when the life you have been holding together finally cracks open. Identity is not fixed. It shifts and bends. It breaks down and rebuilds. It grows through fear and through honesty. And most of us do not realize how much we have been holding until something inside us asks for change. In this reflection, I talk about the messy work of letting old selves fall away, the long, slow unwinding of perfection, and the courage it takes to face the parts of you that have been hiding for years. Growing into yourself is not clean or linear. Some days you feel brave. Some days you fall back into old patterns. The important part is noticing the opening. Noticing the small truth that something old is no longer working. If you are standing in that breaking open, I hope this episode meets you gently. You do not have to rush toward clarity. You do not need to fix everything at once. You can sit with the crack for a moment. You can let the rawness be real. Because inside that openness is the beginning of who you are becoming.

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today, I am talking about identity and what happens when the life you have been holding together finally cracks open. Identity is not fixed. It shifts and bends. It breaks down and rebuilds. It grows through fear and through honesty. And most of us do not realize how much we have been holding until something inside us asks for change.In this reflection, I talk about the messy work of letting old selves fall away, the long, slow unwinding of perfection, and the courage it takes to face the parts of you that have been hiding for years. Growing into yourself is not clean or linear. Some days you feel brave. Some days you fall back into old patterns. The important part is noticing the opening. Noticing the small truth that something old is no longer working.If you are standing in that breaking open, I hope this episode meets you gently. You do not have to rush toward clarity. You do not need to fix everything at once. You can sit with the crack for a moment. You can let the rawness be real. Because inside that openness is the beginning of who you are becoming.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse and trauma. Please listen with care.Sometimes the light we find is born in the darkest places.In this episode of The Life Shift, Suzanne Roberts shares what it was like to grow up in a home that looked perfect on the outside but felt unsafe within. After surviving childhood sexual abuse, she dissociated into something she did not yet have language for. A quiet presence. A sense of holiness. A light that never left her.This conversation holds grief and wonder side by side. It explores what it means to live after trauma, to slowly feel safe in your own body again, and to loosen the grip of self-hatred that never should have been there in the first place. Suzanne’s story is not about erasing the past. It is about remembering the part of you that stayed whole, even when everything else felt shattered.What You’ll HearThe early moments that shaped Suzanne’s sensitivity and sense of wonderThe line in the sand moment that changed everythingHow dissociation became a doorway to something life-givingRelearning how to trust her body and inner voiceThe slow shift from self-hatred to self worthWhy movement, nature, and connection played a role in her healingGuest BioSuzanne Roberts is the Founder of UnifyingSolutions and a transformational speaker, facilitator, and author with over four decades of experience guiding leaders and organizations toward sustainable, systemic change. She is the creator of Polarity System Design, a methodology that helps individuals and teams reclaim inner capacity, lead with clarity, and design cultures rooted in purpose, equity, and lasting impact. Suzanne creates spaces where people can thrive and contribute with clarity and purpose. Her book and documentary, It’s Deeper Than That: Pathway to a Vibrant, Purposeful Life, premiered in October 2025.Book a free coaching session with Suzanne:https://unifyingsolutions.com/schedule/Listen and follow:www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSupport the show for ad-free and early-release episodes:www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcas

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me long after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today, I am talking about the way grief shows up differently for each of us. Grief is not a single feeling. It is not one path or one expression. It shifts. It breaks open. It softens. It surprises you. And sometimes it says the opposite of what you think it should. In this reflection, I talk about the pressure many of us feel to grieve a certain way, the fear of getting it wrong, and the quiet shame that comes from comparing our grief to someone else’s. Some days you may cry. Some days you may laugh. Some days you may be numb or angry or exhausted. All of it is real. All of it is allowed. Grief has no finish line and no proper form. It simply becomes part of who we are. If you are carrying grief in any shape, I hope this episode gives you space to be honest about what it looks like for you. You do not need to perform it. You do not need to justify it. You can name the feelings, even the unexpected ones, and let them belong. There is room for your version of grief. There always has been.

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me long after the conversations on The Life Shift.Today, I am talking about the way grief shows up differently for each of us. Grief is not a single feeling. It is not one path or one expression. It shifts. It breaks open. It softens. It surprises you. And sometimes it says the opposite of what you think it should.In this reflection, I talk about the pressure many of us feel to grieve a certain way, the fear of getting it wrong, and the quiet shame that comes from comparing our grief to someone else’s. Some days you may cry. Some days you may laugh. Some days you may be numb or angry or exhausted. All of it is real. All of it is allowed. Grief has no finish line and no proper form. It simply becomes part of who we are.If you are carrying grief in any shape, I hope this episode gives you space to be honest about what it looks like for you. You do not need to perform it. You do not need to justify it. You can name the feelings, even the unexpected ones, and let them belong. There is room for your version of grief. There always has been.

In this episode of The Life Shift, we explore a pivotal life shift and the before and after moments that shaped Katie Grimes’ journey toward self-awareness, healing old patterns, and learning to trust herself again.There are moments in life when you look around and realize you have been carrying the weight of everyone else’s expectations. Maybe you know that feeling. The quiet pressure to keep it all together. The fear that if you slow down even for a second, everything you have been outrunning will finally catch up.Katie Grimes knows that place well. She grew up trying to earn belonging, trying to stay safe in a home shaped by addiction, fear, and silence. For years, she filled her life with noise and motion and relationships that echoed her earliest wounds. But somewhere inside the chaos, something steady began to rise. A small voice that said it was time to stop pretending and start healing. That voice became her line in the sand moment.This conversation holds all of that tenderness. The grief she carried. The patterns she had to unlearn. The deep self-awareness she fought for. And the peace she has found in finally listening to herself. I hope that as you hear Katie’s story, you feel a soft reminder that you are not alone in the places that feel messy or unfinished.What You’ll HearThe loneliness that follows a childhood shaped by addiction and fearHow early abandonment patterns echo in adult relationshipsThe breaking point that forced Katie to face her own truthThe long, slow climb into recovery and self-awarenessHow faith, stillness, and support helped her rebuildThe quiet strength she carries now as she chooses a different lifeGuest BioKatie Grimes is a business coach, podcast host, and entrepreneur who helps busy business owners build routines they can actually keep. After growing a relationship coaching business to $550,000, she shifted her focus to business coaching, guiding people as they learn to set boundaries, build confidence, and create work that supports a life they love. Through her podcast, Anything for Love, and her digital courses, Katie has helped more than 100,000 people feel their feelings, speak up for what they need, and step away from the constant pressure to do more.https://www.katiegrimes.com/Listen and follow: <a href="http://www.thelifeshiftpo

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that keep showing up after more than two hundred conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about self trust and what it means to rebuild it after years of doubt, shame, or fear. Trusting yourself is not a single moment. It grows slowly through messy progress, small choices, and the courage to keep showing up even when you feel uncertain. In this reflection, I talk about the back-and-forth nature of healing, the quiet bravery it takes to listen to your own voice, and the way small wins can slowly rewrite the stories you once believed about yourself. Self trust is not perfect confidence. It is the willingness to face your own feelings, try something new, set a boundary, or simply stay with yourself when things feel hard. If you are in a season where trusting yourself feels out of reach, I hope this episode gives you some gentleness. You do not have to be fully healed to begin. You do not have to silence every doubt. You can start small. You can take one step. You can remember that the younger version of you deserved care, and the current version of you does too. You have always been enough.

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that keep showing up after more than two hundred conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about self trust and what it means to rebuild it after years of doubt, shame, or fear. Trusting yourself is not a single moment. It grows slowly through messy progress, small choices, and the courage to keep showing up even when you feel uncertain.In this reflection, I talk about the back-and-forth nature of healing, the quiet bravery it takes to listen to your own voice, and the way small wins can slowly rewrite the stories you once believed about yourself. Self trust is not perfect confidence. It is the willingness to face your own feelings, try something new, set a boundary, or simply stay with yourself when things feel hard.If you are in a season where trusting yourself feels out of reach, I hope this episode gives you some gentleness. You do not have to be fully healed to begin. You do not have to silence every doubt. You can start small. You can take one step. You can remember that the younger version of you deserved care, and the current version of you does too. You have always been enough.

Some moments reshape us before we even have words for them. Erin Snow carried one of those moments for most of her life. What began as a buried truth became a quiet weight she learned to navigate on her own. And somewhere along the way, that silence started to turn into something else. A nudge. A voice. A call to reclaim the parts of herself that had been taken. Her story is not only about what happened. It is about the slow return to her own strength, the tenderness of being heard at the right time, and the courage it takes to tell a truth that once felt impossible to say. Erin reminds us that healing is not tidy. It grows in seasons. It begins in small ways. And often it starts with listening. What You’ll Hear: The childhood moment that marked a clear before and after How silence shaped Erin’s sense of worth The long path toward reclaiming her voice Why advocacy became a way to heal How listening became her life’s purpose The freedom of saying something you once held alone Guest Bio: Erin Snow is a transformative listening strategist who turns the art of hearing into a powerful tool for personal and professional empowerment. As the founder of Seacoast Listening Lounge, she has pioneered a revolutionary approach that creates a sanctuary where women can not just survive, but truly reclaim their narrative and inner strength. With sixteen years of frontline experience as a legal advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, Erin has witnessed firsthand the life changing power of authentic, compassionate listening. She made history as the first paralegal in New Hampshire to represent clients directly in family court, breaking barriers and reshaping traditional legal norms. Her work bridges trauma-informed advocacy with deep emotional intelligence, offering individuals, leaders, and organizations a pathway to genuine, transformative connection. Erin can be reached at seacoastlisteninglounge.com. Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow Support the show for ad-free and early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Content note: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse, trauma, and healing. Please listen with care.Some moments reshape us before we even have words for them.In this episode of The Life Shift, we explore a pivotal life shift and the before and after moments that shaped Erin Snow’s journey toward reclaiming her voice, worth, and sense of self.Erin Snow carried one of those moments for most of her life. What began as a buried truth became a quiet weight she learned to navigate on her own. And somewhere along the way, that silence started to turn into something else. A nudge. A voice. A call to reclaim the parts of herself that had been taken.Her story is not only about what happened. It is about the slow return to her own strength, the tenderness of being heard at the right time, and the courage it takes to tell a truth that once felt impossible to say. Erin reminds us that healing is not tidy. It grows in seasons. It begins in small ways. And often it starts with listening.What You’ll Hear:The childhood moment that marked a clear before and afterHow silence shaped Erin’s sense of worthThe long path toward reclaiming her voiceWhy advocacy became a way to healHow listening became her life’s purposeThe freedom of saying something you once held aloneGuest Bio:Erin Snow is a transformative listening strategist who turns the art of hearing into a powerful tool for personal and professional empowerment. As the founder of Seacoast Listening Lounge, she has pioneered a revolutionary approach that creates a sanctuary where women can not just survive, but truly reclaim their narrative and inner strength.With sixteen years of frontline experience as a legal advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, Erin has witnessed firsthand the life changing power of authentic, compassionate listening. She made history as the first paralegal in New Hampshire to represent clients directly in family court, breaking barriers and reshaping traditional legal norms.Her work bridges trauma-informed advocacy with deep emotional intelligence, offering individuals, leaders, and organizations a pathway to genuine, transformative connection. Erin can be reached at seacoastlisteninglounge.com.Listen and follow: <a href

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that keep showing up in the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about the belief that you have to be fully healed before you can change your life. I do not think that is true. Healing is not a finish line. It is not a requirement you have to meet before you are allowed to grow or move forward. In this reflection, I talk about why healing and change often happen together, and why waiting to feel whole can keep you stuck for years. Change is messy. Healing is slow. Sometimes you start showing up for yourself long before you feel ready. Sometimes the shift begins in the middle of the grief or confusion or fear. You do not need to be perfect or certain to take a step toward the life you want. If you are sitting in a season where you feel broken, overwhelmed, or unsure, I hope this episode helps you breathe a little easier. You do not have to fix everything first. You do not have to have it all sorted out. You can start right where you are, even in the mess, even in the doubt. That small beginning counts.

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that keep showing up in the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about the belief that you have to be fully healed before you can change your life. I do not think that is true. Healing is not a finish line. It is not a requirement you have to meet before you are allowed to grow or move forward.In this reflection, I talk about why healing and change often happen together, and why waiting to feel whole can keep you stuck for years. Change is messy. Healing is slow. Sometimes you start showing up for yourself long before you feel ready. Sometimes the shift begins in the middle of the grief or confusion or fear. You do not need to be perfect or certain to take a step toward the life you want.If you are sitting in a season where you feel broken, overwhelmed, or unsure, I hope this episode helps you breathe a little easier. You do not have to fix everything first. You do not have to have it all sorted out. You can start right where you are, even in the mess, even in the doubt. That small beginning counts.

What if the hardest thing you’ve ever faced became the reason you kept going?In this episode of The Life Shift, we explore a pivotal life shift and the before-and-after moments that shaped John Ulsh’s journey through trauma, recovery, and the rebuilding of a life with purpose.After surviving a horrific car accident that left him with a three percent chance of survival, John Ulsh spent years relearning how to live, move, and believe in the life ahead of him. Across 45 surgeries and 17 years of recovery, he found that healing wasn’t about getting “back” to normal. It was about building something new — one intentional day at a time.In this conversation, we talk about:How John reframed pain into purpose and found strength in progress, not perfectionThe role of patience, humility, and self-compassion in long-term recoveryWhy falling in love with the process can matter more than the goal itselfJohn’s story reminds us that survival can be just the starting line — and that even the hardest chapters can fuel something good.John Ulsh knows what it means to rebuild. In 2007, he, his wife, and their two young children were in a catastrophic head-on collision. While his family suffered serious injuries, John took the brunt of the impact and was given less than a three percent chance of survival. After enduring over 45 surgeries and years of relentless recovery, he discovered that true resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship — it’s about learning to rise from it. Now, as the author of The Upside of Down, a speaker, and a coach, John helps others overcome adversity and turn setbacks into success. Learn more at www.johnulsh.com.Listen to this episode and more at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com.Get ad-free and early access on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.Subscribe to The Life Shift newsletter for behind-the-scenes reflections: thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com.Follow along on social: @thelifeshiftpodcast

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about those quiet or sudden moments when everything in your life shifts. The ground moves. The story you thought you were living no longer fits. And you find yourself standing in a new version of your life without knowing how you got there. In this reflection, I talk about the before and after moments we do not always see coming. The times when you feel stuck in fear, or pulled toward something new, or caught between the life you built and the life you want. Change rarely happens in one dramatic sweep. It shows up in small choices, in discomfort you can no longer ignore, in the quiet recognition that something has to give. If you have felt that internal shake or noticed a line in the sand you cannot uncross, I hope this episode meets you gently. You do not have to understand the whole shift. You only have to name the moment and keep moving with curiosity. These turning points shape who we are becoming, one small step at a time.

What if your greatest teacher had four legs and an endless capacity for love?When licensed therapist Brianna Laricchia lost her dog Molly, the grief cracked her heart wide open. It wasn’t just about losing a pet — it was about losing a constant, unconditional presence that had shaped who she was. In this conversation, Brianna shares how that loss transformed her both personally and professionally, leading her to specialize in grief counseling for others walking the same tender path.You’ll hear:How loving and losing Molly reshaped Brianna’s understanding of empathy and connectionWhat she’s learned about the unique grief of losing a petHow she built Omnia Psychotherapy Group to help others heal through compassion, presence, and shared humanityIf you’ve ever loved an animal like family, this episode will feel like a gentle hand on your shoulder.Listen and subscribe to The Life Shift Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Get ad-free, early access episodes and behind-the-scenes reflections on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcastJoin the newsletter for honest reflections and updates: thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.comFollow The Life Shift on social @thelifeshiftpodcastGuest BioBrianna Laricchia is a licensed mental health counselor and the founder of Omnia Psychotherapy Group, a private practice based in New York. She specializes in grief counseling, focusing on pet loss and the emotional bonds we form with our animals. After losing her beloved dog, Molly, Brianna found her calling in helping others navigate the often-overlooked pain of pet loss. Through her work, she bridges professional expertise with deep empathy, creating safe spaces for healing and remembrance.www.omniapsychotherapygroup.com

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me long after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about those disorienting moments when the life you have been living suddenly feels unfamiliar. The pieces stop fitting together. The story you have been telling yourself begins to crack. And you find yourself standing in the in between, unsure of what comes next. In this reflection, I talk about confusion as part of the process, not a sign that something is wrong. Change is rarely neat or straightforward. It often begins in the fog, in the exhaustion, in the quiet moments when you realize you cannot keep pretending everything is fine. Sometimes clarity arrives only after the breaking open. Sometimes it comes through rest, or release, or the small permission to stop holding everything together. If you are in a season where nothing feels clear, I hope this episode gives you a softer place to stand. You do not need a full map. You do not need to rush the unfolding. It is enough to notice what is shifting inside you and trust that clarity often grows from confusion, one moment at a time.

If you have ever been curious about what actually happens behind the scenes of a meaningful conversation, this livestream is an open door. Not polished. Not rehearsed. Just two hosts sitting together in real time, talking honestly about why we keep doing this work and how it keeps changing us. This special co-hosted livestream on Riverside brought me together with Angela Hollowell to reflect on podcasting, storytelling, and the quiet evolution that happens when you keep showing up. We talked about how our shows began, how different our approaches are, and how both are rooted in care and intention. We explored the learning curve of hosting, creating safety without scripting everything, and letting conversations breathe. Somewhere in the middle of it all, I said something out loud that surprised even me. That podcasting has softened me. That it has made me more forgiving of myself. And that it might be the best thing I have ever done for me. This conversation is less about tactics and more about trust. About curiosity. About giving yourself permission to do it your own way. If you joined us live, thank you for being part of that moment. If you are listening now, I hope this reminds you that there is more than one right way to tell a story and you do not have to do it perfectly for it to matter. What You’ll Hear Different podcasting styles grounded in care Creating safety without controlling the outcome The hosting learning curve and releasing perfection How storytelling changes the people holding the space Why continuing to show up can quietly change you Co-Host Bio Angela Hollowell is the creator of the Please Hustle Responsibly newsletter and the host of the Honey and Hustle podcast. Through both, she highlights North Carolina founders, creators, and nonprofit leaders with care, specificity, and deep respect for the full human story. Her work centers on thoughtful storytelling, community, and creating access to conversations that help people feel less alone in their work and lives. Please Hustle Responsibly: https://www.pleasehustleresponsibly.com/ Honey and Hustle Podcast: https://www.honeyandhustle.co/ Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow Support the show for ad-free and early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

What if the lowest point in your life was actually your turning point?Dr. Robb Kelly knows what it means to lose everything, family, home, and even the will to live, and still find a way forward. From playing music at Abbey Road to living on the streets of Manchester, Robb’s story is a raw reminder of what happens when pain becomes purpose. Through science, faith, and relentless honesty, he rebuilt his life and devoted it to helping others recover from addiction and reclaim their worth.In this conversation, we talk about:How childhood trauma quietly shapes the way we cope, connect, and self-destructWhat it really takes to rebuild a life after addiction and find a new identityWhy embracing our perfectly imperfect selves is key to healing and helping othersThis episode is a powerful reflection on redemption, resilience, and the small moments that can change everything.Listen to The Life Shift Podcast: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followSupport the show for ad-free and early access episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcastSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.comConnect on socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTubeGuest BioDr. Robb Kelly, PhD, is a sought-after recovery expert who believes in treating the causes of addiction and not the symptoms. Dr. Kelly has appeared on shows such as The Doctors, Eye Opener, Good Morning Texas, and KENS 5 Morning News. A frequent contributor to radio and print interviews, including The Jim Bohannon show, Miracles in Recovery, USA Today, and participated in McLean Hospital’s (Harvard Medical School) study on the stigma associated with mental illness. Dr. Kelly hosted the Sober Celebs show on KLIF radio in Dallas, and currently hosts the Breaking Through Addiction podcast featuring special guests discussing a variety of mental health issues.Dr. Kelly created Let’s Get Back to 98% Recovery DVDs, used in prisons and recovery treatment centers throughout the US. He has lectured on addiction

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today I am talking about how hard we can be on ourselves and what it means to slowly learn gentleness. So many of us move through life with old shame, perfectionism, or fear tucked inside. We push ourselves to be better, to get everything right, or to carry more than we were ever meant to hold. In this reflection, I talk about the critical voice we learn as kids, the pressure to be perfect, and the way self-compassion feels like a muscle we have to practice again and again. Healing is not a straight line. Some days you feel softer. Some days you slip back into old patterns. The important part is noticing the shift and remembering that you deserve the same care you give to everyone else. If you have been carrying shame, harshness, or impossible expectations, I hope this episode helps you take one gentler breath. You do not have to earn kindness. You are allowed to give it to yourself, right here, exactly as you are.

What happens when the spotlight fades, and you’re left with silence?Seth Stewart spent years performing on the world’s biggest stages — from Hamilton and In the Heights to touring with Madonna. But at the height of success, something inside him started calling for more. That quiet pull led him away from bright lights and applause, and into the wilderness where he began listening to his own spirit for the first time.In this conversation, Seth opens up about what it takes to walk away from a dream, why stillness can be louder than any stage, and how rediscovering our connection to nature can help us find our way back to ourselves.You’ll hear about:How leaving Broadway became Seth’s most honest act of creationWhat living off-grid taught him about trust, unity, and peaceWhy listening to your inner voice might be the bravest thing you ever doIf you’ve ever felt called to change direction, this episode is a reminder that there’s life beyond what others expect — and that following your vision is a form of truth.For ad-free and early access to episodes, join the community at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.Subscribe to the newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories and reflections: thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.comFollow on social media: @thelifeshiftpodcastGuest BioFrom the stages of Broadway to the depths of the jungle, Seth Stewart is a bridge between worlds. As a performer and creator, he’s played major roles in the Tony Award-winning productions of In the Heights and Hamilton, and performed with artists like Madonna, Jay-Z, and Jennifer Lopez.After leaving the entertainment industry, Seth followed a deep spiritual calling that led him into the forest — a journey that reshaped his entire sense of purpose. He spent years immersed in nature, ceremony, and self-inquiry, learning from shamans and ancient wisdom keepers.Today, Seth guides others toward clarity, embodiment, and unity through True Kings Academy, a transformative space for men’s wellness and leadership. He also mentors young performers through Performer’s Edge, combining artistry and mindfulness. His upcoming memoir, Follow Your Vision. Live Your Truth., released August 8, 2025. https://www.iamsethstewart.com/

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series built around the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift. Today, I am talking about grief and the way it takes shape inside a life. Grief is not something you finish. It is something living and moving, something that changes as you change. Losing my mom, my grandmother, and Mikey shaped the way I understand grief long before I ever sat with a guest and heard their story. In this reflection, I talk about how grief shifts from sharp to distant, how it can still surprise you years later, and how it never follows a straight line. Grief is not linear or predictable. It moves like waves, shadows, seasons. Sometimes it takes up the whole room. Sometimes it sits quietly in the corner. It is still a part of you either way. If you are carrying a loss, I hope this episode gives you a softer place to land. You do not need to rush your way through it or pretend you are fine. Grief is not a problem to fix. It is part of who you are and part of being human. You are allowed to feel it, honor it, and keep moving with one small step at a time.

Sometimes grief arrives before we are old enough to understand it. It lands in the middle of everything familiar and quietly rewrites the map of who we become. Years can pass before we realize how much of ourselves is still standing in that same frozen place.In this conversation, Kristina Amelong shares what it means to finally face what she could not name as a teenager. After losing her younger brother in a sudden accident, she spent decades searching for ways to numb the ache. What began as survival slowly became a lifelong practice of returning to herself — through healing, sobriety, and the simple act of telling the truth.This is a story about finding connection after silence. About discovering that grief can open doors as easily as it closes them. And about the power of one question to bring the past back into the light.What You’ll Hear:The day everything changed and the silence that followedHow addiction became both a shield and a signal for helpThe stranger’s question that opened the path to healingWhat it means to reconnect with people frozen in the same griefThe sacredness of tears and the wisdom they holdFinding peace through storytelling and self-acceptance Guest BioKristina Amelong is the author of Ten Days to Optimal Health: A Guide to Nutritional Therapy and Colon Cleansing and the newly released memoir What My Brother Knew (She Writes Press, May 27). She is the founder and owner of Optimal Health Network, a holistic health business, and serves as a senior board member for the Center for World Philosophy and Religion, a nonprofit dedicated to reweaving the human story through spirituality and global healing. Kristina is passionate about photography, gardening, and pickleball, and she lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her three dogs and a brood of chickens.Book / Author Website: https://www.kristinaamelong.comHealing Work / Company Website: https://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com🔗 Listen to The Life Shift Podcast: <