Courageous Destiny™ Podcast with Kristin Crockett

What if getting healthy wasn’t about trying harder, restricting more, or fixing everything you think is wrong with your body?

In this episode of the Courageous Destiny™ Podcast, Kristin Crockett sits down with Savannah Taube, founder of VitalPath Wellness, certified personal trainer, and nutrition coach, for a powerful conversation about rebuilding your health—and rebuilding trust with yourself.

Savannah shares her own courageous journey through adversity, addiction, sobriety, motherhood, and ultimately reclaiming her health and her life. Today, she uses what she has learned personally and professionally to help women create sustainable change in their own lives.

Kristin and Savannah dive into something much deeper than diet and exercise: self-trust.

What happens when you start keeping the promises you make to yourself? What changes when you stop approaching your body from frustration and instead begin learning what it actually needs?

They talk about moving away from restrictive diets and all-or-nothing thinking and toward strength training, proper nutrition, sustainable habits, and small choices that can create lasting change.

Savannah also shares why women’s bodies can change over time and why doing more of what used to work isn’t always the answer. Sometimes you don’t need more discipline—you need a better strategy.

This conversation is about health, but it’s also about courage. It’s about taking ownership of your choices, rebuilding trust with yourself, and recognizing that where you’ve been does not have to determine where you go next.

Because sometimes living your Courageous Destiny begins with one courageous decision: choosing to take care of yourself again.

Savannah Taube is the founder of VitalPath Wellness and a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach who specializes in helping women restore their metabolism, build strength, and feel confident in their bodies again.

She works primarily with women who feel like their body has changed and isn’t responding the way it used to—especially when it comes to energy, weight, and overall health. Through a science-backed approach focused on strength training, protein-forward nutrition, and sustainable lifestyle habits, Savannah helps women move out of the cycle of frustration and into lasting, realistic results.

Savannah believes that most women aren’t failing—they’ve simply never been given the right strategy for their body.

Website: https://vitalpathwellness.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VitalPathWellness/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitalpath_wellness

In this deeply honest and beautifully real conversation, Kristin Crockett sits down with longtime friend, author, educator, keynote speaker, and creator of Soul Not Skin (soulnotskin | The Stories We Carry), Jen Slumac.

Jen opens up about her journey through alcoholism and long-term recovery, the inner work that helped her untangle patterns born from survival, and the courage it took to walk away from her dream of Hollywood when she realized staying could jeopardize her sobriety. Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the bravest decision isn't pushing harder toward the life we thought we wanted — it's choosing ourselves.

Kristin and Jen also explore what happens when we stop hiding the parts of our stories we're ashamed of and begin using them to create connection. Jen shares how hearing other people speak openly about experiences she thought she would take to the grave helped her realize, I'm not the only one. That realization became part of her mission: sharing real stories of adversity, healing, and hope so others feel less alone.

Together, they talk about:

• Breaking old patterns and learning new ways of being
• Recovery, healing, and the courage to choose yourself
• Following a calling even when the path doesn't look the way you expected
• Turning your greatest challenges into something you can give the world
• The power of listening to understand instead of listening to respond
• Why our stories can create connection between people who seem completely different
• Finding your voice and having the courage to use it
• Becoming more fully who you were created to be

Jen describes her calling as ultimately being about connection — bringing people together, sharing stories, giving hope, and helping us remember how much we have to learn from one another.

This episode is raw, funny, vulnerable, faith-filled, and deeply human.

Because living your Courageous Destiny isn't always about becoming someone new.

Sometimes it's finally having the courage to choose yourself, heal what needs healing, use your voice, and become who you were always meant to be.

Takeaways:

• In the podcast episode, the speakers discuss the transformative journey of recovery from addiction, highlighting the importance of inner healing and personal growth.
• The importance of storytelling is emphasized as a means of connecting with others and fostering understanding among diverse communities.
• The speakers share their experiences of overcoming personal struggles and the significance of sharing these narratives to inspire hope and resilience in others.
• The discussion touches on the idea that genuine connection among individuals is essential for a healthier society, urging listeners to engage with and support one another.
• A key takeaway is the recognition that many people suffer from unaddressed emotional pain, which can hinder their efforts to build meaningful relationships and achieve personal success.
• The podcast also highlights the critical need for tools and resources to help individuals navigate their journeys of healing and transformation.

About Jen Slumac:

Jen SluMac is a published author, educator, keynote speaker, and storyteller whose work draws on recovery, education, comedy, reinvention, and more than a decade teaching inside jails and prisons. Through soulnotskin (find the podcast at soulnotskin | The Stories We Carry), she shares honest human stories on her podcast, creates workbooks, learning and speaking experiences designed to deepen reflection, strengthen connection, and help people find the courage to begin again.

Credibility (if valuable here)

• M.Ed. in Education / Instructional Design

• California Adult Education Teaching Credential

• Certified Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor (SUDCC)

• More than a decade teaching inside jails and prisons

• Restorative Justice facilitator

• 25 years working with people toward recovery

In this inspiring episode of the Courageous Destiny: Build a Business and Life You Love Podcast, Kristin Crockett sits down with Kathy Facenda, Founder and Facilitator of Gather & Grow, to explore the incredible power of trusted relationships in business. Kathy shares how years as a business owner revealed a common challenge—entrepreneurs often have to figure everything out alone.

Together, they discuss how Gather & Grow creates intimate groups of six to eight business owners who meet regularly to solve real business challenges, exchange ideas, share resources, and become trusted referral partners. From marketing and lead generation to staffing, sales, and creating consistent revenue, these Growth Partner Collectives are designed to help entrepreneurs grow faster with the support of people who genuinely want to see each other succeed.

Kristin and Kathy also dive into why so many passionate business owners struggle with the business side of entrepreneurship, how authentic relationships produce higher-quality referrals than traditional networking alone, and why generosity—not competition—is the foundation of sustainable success. Kathy's passion for serving others, combined with her integrity and heart for helping entrepreneurs thrive, shines throughout the conversation.

If you've ever felt like you're building your business alone, this episode will encourage you to surround yourself with people who challenge you, support you, celebrate your wins, and help you create a business—and life—you truly love.

Takeaways:

• The Gather and Grow collective serves as a vital support network for small business owners, fostering trusted relationships that lead to collaborative problem-solving.
• Participants in the collective experience significant growth through shared strategies and insights, enhancing their business practices across various sectors.
• By engaging in monthly discussions, members discover innovative solutions to common challenges, such as marketing, client retention, and staffing.
• The collective emphasizes the importance of forming authentic connections, which ultimately leads to improved business referrals and increased revenue opportunities.
• Being part of a supportive group alleviates the loneliness often felt by solopreneurs, providing a sense of community and shared purpose.
• Overall, the Gather and Grow collective not only aids in professional development but also contributes to personal fulfillment by aligning members with like-minded individuals.

About Kathy Facenda:

Kathy has built a career of serving others. After 34 years in higher education, she has owned a personal training fitness studio for nearly a decade. Beyond dealing with a pandemic and a 10-week business shutdown, she has faced challenges with staffing, marketing effectiveness and finding more free time. Sound familiar? She created The Gather & Grow Collective as a trusted space for business owners and professionals to discuss the things that keep them up at night: finding additional high value clients, creating consistent income, and working more efficiently and strategically. Her mastermind groups form a community that meets monthly to share insights, offer practical solutions and support each other's success.

For the last four years, Kathy has also facilitated a networking group for professionals in the health & wellness industry. Healthy Connections members have appreciated the relevant discussion topics, learning from each other, and making new connections within the industry. Impactful collaborations have resulted including quality client referrals, presentations, workshops.

Grow your business while building trusted relationships with The Gather & Grow Collective. Kathy can be reached at [email protected] or through her website www.gatherandgrowco.com.

In this heartfelt and deeply authentic episode of the Courageous Destiny podcast, Kristin Crockett sits down with photographer and entrepreneur Serena Hughes for a powerful conversation about identity, resilience, healing, and the beauty of becoming who we truly are. Serena shares her personal journey through adolescence, early motherhood, and the emotional challenges that shaped her life and perspective. Through vulnerability and honesty, she opens up about navigating guilt, shame, self-worth, and the ongoing process of forgiveness.

At the center of the conversation is Serena’s passion for photographing high school seniors and why this stage of life matters so deeply to her. She reflects on how misunderstood and uncertain many teens can feel during this transition from childhood into adulthood and explains how her photography experience is designed to help seniors feel seen, celebrated, confident, and authentic. Rather than simply taking pictures, Serena creates an environment where young people can embrace who they are and honor the unique journey they are walking.

Kristin and Serena also explore the deeper emotional layers many women carry throughout life — the pressure to perform, the stories we tell ourselves, and the healing that begins when we offer ourselves grace instead of judgment. Together, they discuss the importance of self-compassion, owning our stories, and recognizing that our past does not define our future.

This episode is a moving reminder that courage is often found in vulnerability and that healing begins when we stop hiding from our story. Through laughter, reflection, and meaningful conversation, listeners are encouraged to embrace their journey, forgive themselves, and step more fully into the life they were created to live.

✨ Key Takeaways:

• The transition from high school into adulthood is a sacred and transformative season deserving to be honored.

• Photography can be a healing and empowering experience that helps people feel seen and accepted.

• Guilt and shame can keep us disconnected from ourselves until we begin practicing self-forgiveness.

• Authenticity and vulnerability create deeper connection and personal freedom.

• Our stories, even the painful parts, can become sources of strength and purpose.

• Living courageously begins with learning to love and accept ourselves fully.

About Serena Hughes:

Serena Hughes is the owner and photographer behind MyShutterBugPhoto, based in the charming town of Grayslake, Illinois. With over 20 years of photography experience, Serena specializes in High School Senior Photography and is passionate about capturing one of life’s most meaningful milestones. Having experienced this season with her own children, she deeply understands the emotions, excitement, and significance surrounding the transition from adolescence into adulthood.

Known for offering a personalized boutique-style experience, Serena takes time to truly connect with each client before their session, creating a fun, comfortable, and confidence-building environment. Whether photographing seniors, families, or professional headshots, her gift lies in bringing out the authentic personality and uniqueness of every individual she works with. Through her work, Serena helps clients feel seen, celebrated, and confident both in front of the camera and beyond it.

You can connect with Serena at www.myshutterbugphoto.com

From Breakdown to Breakthrough – A Conversation with Paloma Greer

I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Paloma Greer on the podcast, and this conversation is one that will stay with you.

Paloma vulnerably shared her journey from hitting rock bottom—navigating heartbreak, anxiety, and even a stay in the hospital—to discovering the power of true healing. Not just mindset… but healing at the level of the nervous system, the body, and the soul.

What stood out most is this:

👉 You can say all the affirmations in the world…

👉 You can try to “think positive”…

But if your nervous system is still in survival mode, your life will keep reflecting that.

Paloma reminds us that healing doesn’t have to be complicated or out of reach. It can start right where you are:

💗 Movement and somatic dance

💗 Breathwork and grounding

💗 Nature, presence, and reconnecting to YOU

She shared how “little by little,” she rebuilt herself—and how we all have the power to do the same.

And here’s the truth we both aligned on:

✨ You are not stuck.

✨ You are not broken.

✨ You are becoming.

When you begin to heal from within, everything you attract begins to change—your relationships, your opportunities, your results.

This episode is for the woman who is ready to rise… not perfectly, but powerfully.

Paloma Greer

Founder, Caché Marketing & Events

Paloma is a powerhouse of creativity and vision, bringing over 15 years of marketing experience to the table. As the founder of Caché Marketing & Events (http://www.cachemarketingandevents.com), she has fostered a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, helping aspiring business owners turn bold ideas into tangible success. Her expertise is a dynamic blend of artistry and strategy, combining premium web design, video marketing, and unique event experiences.

With a career that thrives on originality, Paloma is a master of crafting magnetic online presences. At Caché Marketing & Events, she transforms ideas into thriving businesses by fusing high-energy concepts with proven strategies that resonate deeply with audiences. As a creative force and marketing innovator, Paloma is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, her clients, and those striving to launch their businesses. Beyond being a marketing expert, Paloma is an artistic visionary lighting the way to success.

💬 Tell me—what’s one way you’ve been called to reconnect with yourself lately?

Takeaways:

• In the realm of personal development, one must confront the complexities of one's own psyche, as it is imperative to embrace the pain that often accompanies healing.
• The transformative journey necessitates a profound surrender to one's emotional turmoil, facilitating a path toward self-discovery and acceptance.
• Healing is intrinsically linked to understanding the nervous system's response to trauma, which significantly influences our emotional and psychological state.
• To achieve true transformation in life, it is essential to cultivate a holistic approach that integrates the mind, body, and spirit, recognizing their interconnectedness.
• The process of healing often involves unraveling deeply embedded patterns formed through past experiences and relationships, allowing for personal growth and reinvention.
• Ultimately, the most courageous act one can undertake is to embrace vulnerability and allow oneself to authentically experience and process the spectrum of human emotion.

In this powerful and heart-centered episode, Kristin Crockett sits down with artist, entrepreneur, and fellow sister in sobriety, Brazil Oswald, to explore what it truly means to choose yourself and build a life aligned with your purpose.

Brazil shares her incredible journey—from navigating sobriety, leaving an unhealthy relationship, and facing major health challenges, to stepping fully into her creative calling and building her art business, Use the Creep, in just over a year.

What started as uncertainty transformed into momentum through courage, community, and taking aligned action. With the support of her sister and a deep commitment to her passion, Brazil turned art into a thriving business—growing a strong presence on TikTok, selling her work, creating murals, and teaching others.

But what makes Brazil’s story truly extraordinary is her heart.

She is using her gifts to give back—transforming children’s rooms, creating meaningful art for families experiencing loss, and now expanding her vision into a nonprofit to serve even more children in need.

Together, Kristin and Brazil dive into:

✨ The courage it takes to choose yourself

✨ Rewriting your identity and breaking old cycles

✨ Building a business through authenticity (not perfection)

✨ Using social media as a tool for impact and growth

✨ Turning pain into purpose and purpose into service

This episode is a reminder that your past does not define you… your courage does.

💗 Your courageous destiny is waiting—and it may be closer than you think.

1. Choosing oneself is a profound act of courage that leads to personal transformation and purpose.
2. The journey from uncertainty to momentum is achievable through community support and aligned actions.
3. Success in business is not predicated on perfection, but on authenticity and the willingness to be vulnerable.
4. Social media serves as a powerful tool for artists to connect, grow, and impact their communities positively.

Follow her journey, support her mission, and watch her art transform lives.

Brazil Oswald is a 37-year-old self-taught artist from Chicago and the founder of Uza Kreep (U-Z-A-K-R-E-E-P). Specializing in murals, commissioned pieces, and paint-and-sip experiences, she has spent the past year and a half building her business and bringing creative visions to life. In addition to her work, Brazil is dedicated to giving back—she uses GoFundMe to support projects that transform the bedrooms of underprivileged children through custom murals. As a single mother and a woman in recovery, she channels her life experiences into her art, using creativity as a tool for healing, connection, and change.

In this deeply moving episode, Kristin Crockett sits down with Jen Bianco for a conversation that reaches straight to the heart. Jen opens up about the sacred journey of carrying, meeting, and saying goodbye to her son A.J.—a journey filled with love, uncertainty, and an unwavering courage that continues to shape her family today.

Together, Kristin and Jen explore the duality of joy and sorrow, and what it means to hold both at the same time. Jen shares how A.J.’s brief but powerful life changed the way she sees motherhood, faith, family, and the purpose of each new day. Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the quiet bravery required to walk through grief while still choosing love.

This episode also highlights the healing that comes through connection—between friends, through community, and through the legacy we choose to create. Jennifer reflects on the ways her family continues to honor A.J., turning heartbreak into meaningful acts of remembrance that touch others and keep his light alive.

If you have ever navigated loss, felt the tension between hope and heartbreak, or wondered how to keep moving forward when life breaks open, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are. It’s a story of resilience, tenderness, and the courage to keep showing up.

Listen in and be reminded: even in our deepest pain, we can rise, we can love, and we can live our Courageous Destiny.

About Jen Bianco — Storyteller, Creative Visionary, and Heart-Led Guide

Jen Bianco is the co-founder and owner of Bianco Productions, a Chicago-based, family-run creative production company dedicated to telling stories that matter. Purpose-driven and rooted in community impact, Jen creates high-quality visual content for municipalities, nonprofits, and small businesses—bringing missions to life and showcasing the heart behind every organization she serves.

A proud Filipino American artist from Chicago’s northern suburbs, Jen built an international career across stage, film, and television, with performances spanning New York City, the Philippines, and China. Her work has included major films, TV series, commercials, and theatre productions, as well as the development of intercultural arts programs and community initiatives that use storytelling to connect people and purpose.

Beyond the camera, Jen is a devoted birth doula and the owner of A Joyful Blessing Birth Services, where she supports families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Blending her creative eye with her calling to serve, she also captures birth stories as a videographer and photographer, preserving the sacred beauty and strength of each family’s journey.

Whether she’s producing mission-centered films or standing beside a mother in labor, Jen leads with compassion, creativity, and courageous purpose. She believes deeply in the power of story—how it heals, inspires, and reveals who we are becoming.

Jen and her husband, David, are the grateful parents of four sons who continue to shape her purpose and inspire her work every day.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Alicia Rayner, a courageous mother, former middle school educator, and fierce warrior currently navigating a long-term journey with stage four leiomyosarcoma. Alicia’s story is not just about survival — it’s a living embodiment of radical presence, faith, and the unstoppable power of the human spirit.

Through her voice, we explore what it truly means to live courageously in the face of the unknown — to keep loving, laughing, and making memories even when life delivers the unthinkable. Alicia generously opens her heart to share how community, faith, and intentional gratitude have carried her through the darkest of days.

• Illness doesn’t define your spirit — it can awaken it. Alicia’s cancer journey has reshaped her entire perspective on purpose, joy, and what truly matters.
• Community is lifeline, not luxury. No one should ever walk their hardest chapters alone.
• Faith and prayer change everything. Her spiritual grounding has been her anchor through every storm.
• The present moment is holy. Small joys, deep conversations, soft moments — that is where life is actually happening.
• Your story is someone else’s survival guide. Sharing is not weakness — it is leadership.
• Celebrate while you can. Love louder, laugh longer, and create memories now — not someday.

This episode is an invitation — to slow down, open your heart, and live fully now. Alicia reminds us that courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s love, faith, and intention in motion.

This episode of Courageous Destiny: Build a Business & Life You Love presents a rich and illuminating conversation between Kristin Crockett and Krista Brea, diving into the multifaceted journey of self-publishing. Together, they peel back the layers of what it truly takes to bring a book into the world—not just as a creative endeavor, but as a bold pathway toward freedom, income, and impact.

Krista, a ten-time author, shares her unique insights into the self-publishing process, emphasizing that while the idea of writing a book can feel overwhelming, it doesn’t have to stop you. She stresses the value of a structured, courageous approach: using ghostwriters to support your voice, leveraging AI to create outlines, and breaking down the writing journey into actionable steps that anyone can follow.

Throughout the conversation, Krista highlights the importance of market research—checking tools like Google and Amazon to ensure that book topics align with real reader demand. This strategic lens transforms writing from a daunting dream into an achievable, profitable venture. With smart planning, appealing book covers, targeted keywords, and the power of reviews, Krista reveals how authors can generate visibility and create streams of passive income through platforms like Amazon.

At its heart, the dialogue echoes a Courageous Destiny principle: overcoming fear with clarity, structure, and action. Listeners walk away not only with strategies to self-publish but also with the empowered mindset to push past the inner voice that says, “I can’t.”

• Plan with courage: Understand market demand before committing to a project.
• Leverage support: Use ghostwriters and AI to streamline the writing process without losing your unique voice.
• Break it down: Tackle book writing in manageable steps to reduce overwhelm.
• Market smart: Optimize keywords, covers, and reviews to stand out on Amazon.
• Create freedom: Passive income from self-publishing is real with the right structure and strategy.
• Move through fear: Courageously face the overwhelm of writing and transform it into confidence.

Krista Brea is a vibrant, self-published author who began her journey in 2022 after becoming a mother, seeking a way to create passive income while embracing the joy of family life. What began as a bold experiment quickly turned into a thriving stream of royalties and a proven, repeatable process.

With ten books under her belt in just a few short years, Krista now teaches her strategies through her self-publishing course, showing others how to turn their ideas into income. Her energy is contagious, her approach is practical, and her story embodies what it means to step courageously into new possibilities.

Krista reminds us all that self-publishing isn’t just about books—it’s about creating a destiny by design, where your words, wisdom, and willingness to take bold action can change your life and the lives of countless readers.

Krista's community on Skool for emerging author's turning pages to paychecks:

We invite you to join Krista Brea’s Skool community (https://www.skool.com/kdp-publishing/about)— the ultimate space for aspiring and experienced self-publishers who want to turn their ideas into published books and create real passive income. Inside, members connect with like-minded creators, share wins, and get expert insights from Krista, a seasoned author and publishing mentor with over 15 years of digital marketing experience.

New members get instant access to Krista’s Book Challenge Course, a step-by-step program that walks you through how to launch your very first book on Amazon — from idea to physical paperback. Whether you’re looking to publish for profit, grow your brand, or share your story with the world, this community gives you the tools and support to make it happen. Join today at the link below and start your publishing journey.

In this heartfelt and joy-filled episode of Courageous Destiny: Build a Business & Life You Love, I sit down with the incredible Ronnis Oher, president of Life Maps, to explore the beauty of preserving our stories in the most creative and meaningful way.

Ronnis shares how her journey—from teacher to corporate leader to courageous entrepreneur—led her to create Life Maps, a service that transforms cherished memories into visually stunning works of art. These maps don’t just tell a story; they connect generations, strengthen families, and celebrate individuality in a way that’s unforgettable.

Together, we laugh, reflect, and celebrate the power of memories—how capturing them through Life Maps can become the most thoughtful gift, whether for a milestone, a loved one, or even honoring a business journey. This episode is a reminder that your life, your story, and your courageous journey are worth celebrating… beautifully, boldly, and forever.

Tune in and discover how you can honor your story and the stories of those you love with Life Maps.

🔗 Explore more at lifemaps.com

About Ronnis Oher:

Ronnis is an artist and the creator and owner of LifeMaps – The Story of a Lifetime, creating custom, hand-drawn maps that illustrate the life stories of individuals, couples and companies.

She has a BA in elementary education, was an elementary school teacher in Palatine, taught Transcendental Meditation, worked as a corporate trainer for the Federal Government and BMO Harris Bank (facilitating programs in Customer Service, Supervisory/Management training, Effective Meeting Management, Change Management, teambuilding) and had her own performance management consulting company, consulting on projects and/or doing training for such companies as: BMO Harris Bank, Navistar, Market Day, and Hewitt Associates.

She has given presentations for many organizations: The Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber, the Des Plaines Chamber, the Vernon Area Library, the Business Referral Networking group of the BGLCC and many presentations for SCORE at various locations