Back in college, Monica Byers wrote a business plan about a woman-owned trucking company for a school project. Driven by her entrepreneurial spirit and a few years of transportation experience, Monica ended up turning the hypothetical project into a reality and started Sugar Creek Transportation in the mid-2000s, which is now a very successful 8-figure trucking company.

In this episode, Monica shares her story of turning her dream into a reality and the struggles she had to overcome to get where she is today. In the midst of building her company, she went through a divorce and had to fight to keep the company she worked so hard to build from the ground up. 

Monica shares what it is like to be a woman in the trucking industry and learning to find her balance between feminine and masculine energy. She offers advice to anyone struggling to realize their potential and find their way in this world and encourages us all to do the work to shift our mindset away from thinking we can’t accomplish what we desire. Tune in for more!

Key highlights:

• How Monica got into the trucking industry 
• Monica’s dreams and what is next for her and the company
• The best way to succeed is to help others succeed
• Why Monica wants to help truckers
• What it is like to be a single woman in the trucking industry
• Monica’s advice to someone building a business
• Owning her balance between feminine and masculine energy
• The feelings we feel the most in childhood, we become addicted to and stuck in those modes if we don’t become aware and change them.

Connect with Monica Byers:

Instagram: @monica.byers

Facebook: Monica Byers

Website: Mothertrucker.life | sugarcreektransportation.com 

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

Welcome back for part two of a two-part episode with Alison’s guest Michelle. In part one, Alison began a therapeutic session with Michelle in which Michelle shared that she wants help breaking the cycle she feels stuck in when it comes to relationships. She feels like she struggles to form healthy long-lasting relationships, and realized that this is an issue she needed help addressing. With Alison’s guidance, Michelle was able to see that she is relying on outside sources for her happiness and it is resulting in a never-ending cycle of unhappiness and frustration. 

In this second part of the session with Michelle, Alison addresses the importance of inner child work and making our inner child feel seen and heard. Without doing this, many people become stuck in child-like behavior because their needs were never addressed. The only context our younger self can grow in is through love and acceptance. Alison walks Michelle through a practice that can be very healing in acknowledging the inner child in us that feels as if they have been silenced and ignored for so long.

We become addicted to the feelings we feel the most, which is why it can be so difficult to stop a cycle in our lives without knowing what is fueling that cycle. Alison helps Michelle to see that part of the problem is relying on external forces when we need to be going inward and examining ourselves. Nothing outside ourselves is ever the solution, yet so many times we want to continue to blame others because that is easier and faster than actually looking at the real problem. When you decide to stop letting the outside world have a hold on your thoughts and feelings and become aware of the tendencies that keep you stuck, true change can start to happen and it will be life-changing. Tune in to learn how to break the frustrating cycles in your life.

Key highlights:

• How to get out of a cycle of co-dependence
• If you keep doing what you've always done, you’ll keep getting what you've always gotten
• All emotions want to be felt and addressed, and we need to address the part of us that is desperate to be seen
• How do you identify the issue and determine if it is a rational thought?
• The biggest block to healing is focusing on something else that we think is the problem
• Once we identify the problem, how do we heal?
• Addressing our inner child
• We need to stop tinkering around on the outside when it's an inside problem
• We 100% command how we should be treated
• How to focus on yourself and pivot away from the thoughts you always feel

Quote from the episode:

• “Nothing outside of ourselves is ever the solution.” - Alison

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

This episode is part one of a two-part episode, and it is a very special one in that it is Alison’s first time doing therapy on the podcast. Alison has been a therapist for over 30 years and owns several counseling centers. She provides ongoing training in the latest techniques for healing and recovery and trains each therapist in her centers to specialize in all areas of mental health and clinical technique.

Alison believes that people can change given the right tools, support, and empowerment. We are all capable and powerful enough to create the life of our dreams if given the right insight, awareness, and actionable guidance. The reason for these therapeutic sessions is so that you can be an onlooker observing someone else doing the work to change their life. Most of the principles of recovery, growth, and change can apply to lots of different circumstances, so you can take what you learn from the guest’s struggles and Alison’s insight to make changes in your own life. 

In this episode, Alison facilitates a therapeutic session with her guest, Michelle. Michelle came to Alison wanting to know how to form healthy, long-lasting relationships in her life. She recognized that there are patterns present in her relationships, but lacked the awareness of what is continuing to fuel those patterns. Alison helps Michelle understand herself by asking the right questions and bringing the truth to light. Tune in next week for part 2 of this session with Michelle.

Key highlights:

• What to look for in a therapist
• What Michelle wants to change: forming healthy long-lasting relationships
• How Michelle defines healthy relationships
• Michelle’s childhood as a sheltered only child, being bullied, and feeling lonely
• How bullying can affect us and lead to thoughts about ourselves that repeat throughout our lives
• How Michelle’s last relationship ended and how it affected her
• Why Michelle is constantly craving attention, affection, approval, and acceptance
• Relationships show us how much we value ourselves
• We are all stuck in patterns that repeat, but they won't change unless we see it

Quote from the episode:

• “We join other people in our brokenness, but it will never solve our brokenness.” - Alison

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

We have all heard the saying “everything happens for a reason,” and although it may be very difficult to see a positive outcome in a very hard situation, everything that occurs in our life is meant to shape us into the person we are meant to be. Observing our life through the lens of a creator allows us to get out of the rut of living on autopilot and start to appreciate everything in our lives, good or bad. Being grateful for challenging times allows us to more fully enjoy the good times and live an abundant life. In this episode, Alison’s guest Jeff Brekken urges us all to see the positive in all situations.

Jeff Brekken learned the value of hard work early on as a child, and combining his passion for helping others with his drive to do more and always do better, Jeff founded Blue Sky Benefit Solutions. Jeff's passion for helping others combined with his drive to do more and always be better led him into the world of HR. He founded Iconic, which provides professional staff at affordable rates so businesses can focus on what they do best.

In this episode, Jeff and Alison discuss how people can live a more fulfilled life, even after encountering challenging situations. Most of us are walking around on autopilot and not being present in the moment. Part of the problem is being attached to our phones and living in a constant state of worry. All fear is future based, so if we ground ourselves in the present moment, we have nothing to fear. Jeff and Alison talk about the importance of self-reflection and how we can all live a more positive and fulfilled life. Tune in for more!

Key highlights:

• Learn from life lessons so you can get up faster and better
• Making a conscious effort to rid our life of negative people
• 95% of our thoughts are automated- how do we get out of automation?
• This world is powered by energy and you can be on the negative side or positive side
• Self-reflection is necessary
• See everything as a learning experience
• The biggest gift you can give yourself and others is to be present
• The antidote for fear or concern is being present
• We’re meant to create and value hard times
• Pain is a gift
• If we don't value the dark times, how do we appreciate the good times?
• You have to have faith in yourself and not care about haters
• Change is the most constant thing on earth
• How Jeff’s business helps small businesses

Quote from the episode:

• “Get something good out of everything that happens, whether good or bad, and your life will be abundant.” - Jeff Brekken

Connect with Jeff Brekken: 

Podcast: atwpodcast.com

Iconic HR website: vipiconichr.com

Instagram: @jbrekken35 | @myiconicHR

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

We all get to create our own reality and the outcomes of our life, so the way we view the circumstances in our life greatly impacts our overall quality of life. Everywhere around us, we are seeing fear and negativity because that is what sells and is compelling to people, but we have to make a choice to create our own reality and change the way view our outside world. When going through tragedy, taking the time to mourn and process our emotions is incredibly important, but there comes a time when it is necessary to regain our strength and peace and realize that pain shapes us into the person we are meant to be. 

In this episode, Alison sits down with Steven Slotow. Steven is the director of a digital marketing agency called Globital, he is a former journalist, and grew up in South Africa. In this episode, Steven shares his experience of surviving a brain tumor as a child, almost losing his brother to gun violence, and losing his father to cancer. These tragic events had a significant impact on him and his family, but the way Steven chooses to view his adversity is through a lens of gratitude and viewing pain as a way to build our character and make us who we are.

Key highlights:

• Steven’s story of going through childhood cancer and what he gained about perspective
• Things that we think are hard are just a construct in our mind
• The idea of mental toughness
• The trauma we endure also affects the people closest to us, but we often forget that
• God is chiseling away at everything that is blocking our beauty 
• The problem with social media and the victim mentality
• Getting uncomfortable is where we grow

Connect with Steven Slotow:

Instagram: @stevenslotow

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

Going through traumatic events can sometimes come with a sense of shame that prevents us from letting others know about our pain and struggles. We may feel as though the trauma is our fault, or that it is just who we are, but that is not the truth. The truth is that although we can experience trauma in our life in the form of others hurting us, it is not who we are, and we have to take our power back from the shame that we carry. The guest in this episode is an incredibly inspiring woman that did just that.

Keziah Bussell, or “Kaz” is a survivor of abuse that she experienced at the hands of people that were supposed to love and protect her. In this episode, she shares her story and hearing it will change your life and perspective on the shame that we carry with us. Her bravery and determination are a testament to her strength and will to not let her past define her future.

After finally getting the help she needed to overcome the panic attacks and intense pain from her past, she opened up a virtual gymnastics academy and has a thriving business and beautiful family. Through sharing our stories and reaching out for help, we can overcome and thrive. Tune in for more about this incredible story of breaking the power of shame.

Key highlights:

• Keziah’s story of being born to a teenage mom, being adopted, and growing up in abusive homes without a way to know how to escape
• Alison urges everyone to be a light and pay attention to how kids are you are being treated
• Keziah’s biological parents got custody of her after she escaped abuse
• Overcoming her trauma through therapy and medication
• Keziah’s advice to people feeling hopeless
• Alison explains the “suicide brain.”
• How Keziah teaches gymnastics online

Connect with Keziah Bussell:

Website: coachkazgymnastics.com

TikTok: @KazBussell

Instagram: @KazBussell

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

There is no tragedy or trauma that is too big or difficult to overcome. It might feel like you have pain that is insurmountable, and seeing past it seems impossible, but shifting the way we view our pain and adversity can change our entire lives. The guest in this episode is an amazing example of that and hearing her story of how she turned her adversity into her advantage, will help change how you view pain and hardships.

Marie Cosgrove is an award-winning international speaker, author, business consultant, entrepreneur, and resilience expert. Marie was born into poverty, persevered through a tumultuous upbringing and an abusive marriage, and raised four children on her own while struggling to make her way in the business world. Through it all, she persevered and ended up buying the company that she was previously fired from. Now she shares what she has learned with audiences all over the world. Marie believes we all have unique talents that need to be shared and there is nothing too big to overcome.

In this episode, Marie shares her incredibly inspiring life story that involves tragedy, trauma, and an immense amount of faith and perseverance. She provides her advice to overcome any obstacles you encounter, and how to use your pain as a gift to become resilient.

Key highlights:

• Marie’s story of overcoming tremendous odds from the time she was born
• Tips for conquering whatever obstacles you encounter
• The power of faith and how a school counselor gave her the faith she needed
• Becoming resilient through pain
• Stories can change over time the more we tell them because we tie emotion to it
• How Marie bought the company that fired her
• Marie’s advice to people going through a difficult time and how to use your gifts to serve others
• Forgiveness is for you and not the other person
• How Marie helps businesses as a coach

Connect with Marie Cosgrove:

Website: MarieCosgrove.com

Instagram: @resilientexpert

Twitter: @resilientexpert

Marie’s book: Greater Fortune: Essential Lessons from the Entrepreneur Who Bought the Company That Fired Her

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

We all have uniqueness and the ability to influence the world through adding value. The key is to realize that most of us are reacting to life and the things that happen instead of taking action to create the life we want. Having a growth mindset, knowing that we are in charge of our lives, and having the ability to take action toward whatever it is that we want, is essential. In this episode, Alison sits down with Brian Covey to talk about the amazing power of visualization and speaking your goals into existence. 

Brian Covey went from an Olympic USA Soccer Player to VP of one of the largest mortgage companies in America. Learning to be adaptable, maintaining fitness, and having a growth mindset became masteries for Brian as his career was affected by the 2007 market crash shortly after his soccer days came to an end. Brian is now the VP of one of the largest mortgage companies in America, a proud father, an influencer, a top-rated podcaster, an author, an investor, and a proud soccer dad. Brian calls himself a “creative disruptor” and emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and staying in pursuit of your calling.

In this episode, Brian shares the challenges he faced that led him to pursue greatness. It is about “being where your feet are” and adding value where you are in the moment, which could start as simple as giving a simple compliment to a stranger. Adding value to the lives of others will in turn add value to your life and your energy will come alive. Brian shares his message to those that might be having feelings of hopelessness or lack direction in their life. We all have a greater purpose and Brian believes the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.

Key highlights:

• How Brian helps people stop reacting to life and create the life they want
• What is a creative disruptor?
• The difficulties Brian has experienced and how he used them to create greatness for himself and others
• What Brian would say to someone going through difficulty
• We have to be coachable and receptive to feedback: Brian shares a story of when his doctor was honest with him about his health when his family didn’t want to tell him the truth
• The power of visualization
• How to be confident doing things you have never done before
• The importance of investing in yourself: at least 10% of your income
• The power of speaking your goals into existence
• Finding your uniqueness
• Brian’s mission with his new book, “Conversations with Covey”: highlight some of the most incredible stories he’s gotten to share on his podcast, “The Brian Covey Show.”
• Brian’s advice to someone without hope: Love God and love people

Connect with Brian Covey:

Website: www.briancovey.com

Book: Conversations with Covey

IG: @thebriancovey

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

There is no denying that western medicine has its importance when it comes to dealing with major illnesses, but there is a huge disconnect in our world when it comes to taking care of ourselves in between doctor appointments. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes continues to rise, and we need to take action of our health instead of relying on medication, which doesn’t come without many side effects that we need to be aware of. Today’s guest is very passionate about helping others create a plan to stay on top of their own health.

Mary Yuter worked as a cardiac ICU nurse in New York City for 13 years. Mary wrote her book Heart to Soul Cardiac Wellness as if she was having a heart-to-heart conversation with you. As a nurse, Mary saw the need to provide people with more practical, holistic health and wellness information to apply in their daily life, complementing their doctors’ medical plan, in order to maximize their overall health possibilities.

In this episode, Mary dives into the topic that so many people are sick due to their bodies being out of homeostasis, and what we can do live a vibrant life instead of just existing. Although our genetics can play a factor in the diseases we may be prone to, we have control over our habits and environment and need to take charge of our health.

Key highlights:

• Our body isn't sick from a medicine deficiency, it is sick from not being in homeostasis due to environmental factors, foods, and toxic pollutants. Disease processes start when our body can't keep up
• What clues inflammation can give us and what its purpose is
• The number one thing that we can give up to reduce inflammation
• The problem with western medicine is we don't go to the doctor until we’re sick. What about before that?
• The problems with high sugar intake that no one talks about
• Belly breathing and how it activities our rest and digest nervous system
• Mary walks us through a breath work practice to center and ground yourself

Quote from the episode:

“Genetics loads the gun and our environment pulls the trigger.” - Mary Yuter

Connect with Mary

Masterclass: https://www.thehearthealthaccelerator.com/register

Website: hearttosoulcw.com

Instagram- @hearthealthaccelerator

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac

We have often heard that our children don’t listen to the words we say, but instead, they watch and emulate what they see. In order to make a difference in how we are wiring our children’s brains, we need to be ultra-aware of what they are exposed to and how we are setting them up to be successful and confident people.

Today’s guest is doing incredibly important work to help raise up the next generation of respectful and confident leaders. Anthony Pezzillo is a Chief Instructor at Mastery Martial Arts, where they work on helping children be disciplined, increase confidence, have respect for themselves and others, and have an outlet for physical activity.

In this episode, Anthony and Alison discuss the importance of fostering an environment where our children can thrive and set up their future for success. So many children lack self-esteem, feel like they don’t belong, receive incongruent information from the adults in their life whether consciously or subconsciously, and they struggle with building habits that will carry into their adult life. It is up to us as parents and leaders to set an example and know how to raise children that will be thriving, confident, and successful adults.

Key highlights:

• How to make a difference in how you are wiring your children’s brain
• If we want to help a child, we have to reach the most major influence in their life
• How to motivate children toward a goal
• How Anthony got into martial arts as a child
• Kids need something to work toward that they enjoy and gives them dopamine release
• Kids are absorbing everything around them unconsciously
• How Anthony helps kids with public speaking
• Building daily habits are the best avenue for success
• Your child’s brain is always on record and their behavior is the playback

Quote from the episode:

“Responsible acts produce self-esteem.” - Alison Lager

Connect with Anthony

Website: Masteryma.com

Connect with Alison:

Instagram: @alisonanswers | @lagercounseling

Website: LagerCounseling.com

YouTube: Alison Answers

Facebook: Alison Lager Lcsw Casac