What if the harshest traumas you’ve faced could become the very fuel that drives you to thrive?

In this deeply moving episode of Thrive LouD, Lou Diamond sits down with Cristina Simmons—a dynamic speaker, trauma-informed wellness coach, pediatric occupational therapist, and author of Eat Your Feelings—for a conversation packed with raw honesty, resilience, and hope. Cristina opens up about her journey through childhood verbal abuse, unimaginable loss, a cancer scare, marital challenges—including infidelity—and raising a son with autism. She shares how these experiences not only shaped her, but catalyzed her mission to help other women move beyond survival into true, lasting healing.

Key highlights include Cristina’s unique perspective on identifying and working with trauma, how “Eat Your Feelings” was born from the intersection of personal and professional wisdom, and the powerful role of self-love and faith in healing. She reveals the “aha” moments from the stage that connect so deeply with audiences. Plus, hear about her upcoming plans: launching a podcast, expanding her publishing company to support vulnerable storytellers, and stepping onto even bigger speaking platforms.

If you've ever wondered how to channel pain into purpose—or just need a jolt of inspiration—this episode is for you.

Episode timestamps

• [00:00:02] Intro & Cristina Simmons’ introduction
• [00:01:26] Cristina’s childhood trauma and the journey to becoming a wellness coach & pediatric OT
• [00:03:05] Origins of “Eat Your Feelings” and connections between emotion and food
• [00:04:36] How to identify and cope with trauma—Cristina’s approach
• [00:06:12] Discovering inner strength and the role of faith in recovery
• [00:07:16] The hidden gift Cristina received from writing her book
• [00:08:32] What’s next: podcast plans, publishing company, bigger stages
• [00:09:56] Cristina’s “aha moments” and audience reactions
• [00:11:02] Where to find Cristina online
• [00:11:43] Fun Street: Movies, music, food, travel, and creative pursuits
• [00:15:05] Closing thoughts and gratitude

Listen in for an episode full of heart, healing, and the unstoppable power of resilience.