Embrace Balance, Discover Joy

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Dr. Linda Varisco, author of The Girl with the Million Dollar Smile, to talk about resilience, redemption, healing, and finding the strength to rise after life takes an unexpected turn.

Linda’s journey is anything but ordinary. A successful chiropractor and mother, she found herself facing challenges she never imagined—including the collapse of her marriage, financial hardship, and ultimately time in federal prison.

But somewhere in the middle of that turmoil, Linda found something unexpected: her voice.

With a pen and paper, she began writing her story. What started as a way to process everything she had experienced became a deeply personal and vulnerable trilogy that allowed her to reconnect with herself beyond the roles she had spent years carrying.

Their conversation explores what it means to rise from the ashes, let go of what no longer serves us, and choose not to let our circumstances define who we become.

In this episode, they explore:

• Finding strength in the midst of adversity

• Why our most difficult seasons can become catalysts for transformation

• The healing power of writing and telling your story

• Rediscovering yourself beyond the roles and identities you carry

• Learning to trust, forgive, and embrace vulnerability

• Letting go of the past so it no longer controls your future

• Choosing resilience when life gives you every reason to give up

Linda’s story is a powerful reminder that we are not defined by our lowest moments. Even when life feels like it has completely fallen apart, there is still a path forward.

You may not be able to change what happened—but you can decide what happens next.

And sometimes, finding your way to the other side begins with reaching deep within yourself and choosing to rise.

About Linda

Dr. Linda Varisco is the best-selling author of "The Girl with the Million Dollar Smile", a powerful trilogy that chronicles her journey of resilience, redemption, and self-transformation. Through deeply personal storytelling, she uses the timeless symbolism of the phoenix as a powerful metaphor for rising above adversity and transforming challenges into strength and purpose. After facing profound personal and professional adversity,  Dr. Varisco discovered that resilience is not simply about surviving hardship. It is about transforming through it. Her work inspires readers to reclaim their strength, rewrite their story, and find hope even in the darkest moments. A former chiropractor for nearly 30 years, Dr. Varisco now shares her insights as a speaker and author, encouraging audiences to embrace change, persevere, and recognize that setbacks do not define their future. They are simply chapters that do not define our lives. Like the phoenix, we are not defined by the ashes we leave behind, but by the strength with which we rise.    

Learn more about Linda:

lindavarisco.com 

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/⁠

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Kirana Sidin, whose personal transformation began with an unexpected and painful comment from her son at the dinner table.

Those words forced Kirana to take an honest look at her life. She realized she had been drifting and knew there was more she wanted to experience, create, and become—but she didn’t have a grand plan for how to get there.

Instead, she started small.

Kirana returned to something she loved: reading. She committed to spending an hour each day expanding her mind and investing in herself. What began as a simple daily habit gradually created clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose. That journey ultimately led her to write Cheers for a Good Life, sharing what she learned along the way.

In their conversation, they explore how transformation doesn’t always begin with a dramatic life change. Sometimes, it begins with one small decision to do something differently—and then choosing to keep going.

In this episode, they explore:

• How an uncomfortable moment can become a powerful wake-up call
• The difference between drifting through life and intentionally creating it
• Why small, consistent habits can lead to meaningful transformation
• How reading and learning can reconnect us with ourselves
• Finding clarity and purpose when you know you want something more
• Turning your personal journey into something that can inspire others

Kirana’s story is a beautiful reminder that you don’t need to have your whole life figured out before you begin. One small step can be enough to change your direction.

About Kirana

Kirana Sidin is an author and strategic life coach. Her debut book, Cheers for a Good Life, became an Amazon #1 New Release in Philosophy, Ethics & Morality and an Amazon #1 Best Seller in Interpersonal Relations.

She lives in Jakarta, the busiest city in Indonesia, where she spends much of her time exploring one question that has quietly shaped everything she does: What does it really mean to build a good life?

Through writing, coaching, and speaking, she draws from philosophy, psychology, and everyday life to translate timeless wisdom into practical ideas for modern living—helping people gain clarity and make better decisions.

Because she believes a good life isn't something we find. It's something we build, one ordinary choice at a time.

Connect with Kirana

My website is the best place for listeners who want to continue the conversation. They'll find thoughtful articles, resources on intentional living, information about Cheers for a Good Life, and ways to connect for coaching and future events.

https://cheersforagoodlife.com

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirana-sidin-2a16b4114/

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Kimberly Petschen, a restorative leadership and business agility coach, for a thought-provoking conversation about authenticity, self-trust, ancestral wisdom, and what it really means to lead.

Kimberly challenges us to think beyond traditional ideas of leadership. Restorative leadership isn’t just about leading in the workplace—it’s about how we lead ourselves, our families, our communities, and the world around us. Drawing from her corporate experience, personal journey, and ancestral wisdom, Kimberly offers a different perspective on how we can begin restoring what has become disconnected within ourselves and our communities.

Their conversation also explores the impact of hustle culture and societal expectations, and how they can cause us to lose touch with our own instincts, power, and potential. Kimberly shares how a profound personal loss led her on a journey of healing and rediscovering her heritage—and ultimately inspired her work helping others reconnect with themselves.

They talk about rebuilding self-trust, embracing vulnerability, creating genuine inclusion, and recognizing that each of us has something meaningful to contribute.

In this episode, they explore:

• What restorative leadership really means—and why it extends far beyond the workplace

• How societal expectations can disconnect us from our authentic selves

• The wisdom we can find by looking to our ancestors

• Rebuilding trust in yourself and your own instincts

• Why vulnerability and authenticity are essential to meaningful leadership

• Rethinking inclusion as something deeper than checking a box

• How reconnecting with ourselves can help us create stronger communities

If you’ve ever felt like you’re living on autopilot, questioning your path, or trying to fit yourself into someone else’s definition of success, this conversation offers an invitation to pause, reconnect, and remember who you are.

Sometimes, the most powerful leadership begins with leading yourself back home.

About Kimberly

Kimberly Petschen is a restorative leadership coach, author, speaker, educator, and sacred-space facilitator whose work explores what becomes possible when we heal the wounds shaping how we lead, live, relate, and serve.

After more than 35 years leading change across corporate systems, Kimberly now brings together leadership wisdom, human development, ancestral teachings, spirituality, systems thinking, and lived experience through Presents of Peace™, the movement she founded to help restore wholeness within people, relationships, organizations, and communities. Her work includes her Wounds to Wisdom framework, restorative coaching and consulting, speaking and teaching, and the creation of sacred spaces including the Listening Lounge, where people can slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with themselves and one another.

She is the author of the forthcoming book, Letters to Leaders: Ancient Wisdom for Those Ready to Restore Our Humanity, and has spent the past two and a half years living and working from her RV, where she is affectionately known as RavenHeart on the road and in sacred circles. She travels with her copilot Bengal cat, Benji, while exploring a question at the heart of both her life and her work: How do we create lives of meaningful service without abandoning ourselves in the process?

Free Resource: Treasure Map You Carry Within

Website: https://presentsofpeace.com/

Book Waitlist: https://presentsofpeace.com/letters-to-leaders

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/

With a special introduction by Adrian Paul.

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Priscilla Manriquez, who has participated in an incredible 89 Sword Experience events. Created by Adrian Paul of Highlander fame, the Sword Experience combines sword training with personal growth, confidence, discipline, and focus.

Priscilla shares how what began as simple curiosity—and a lifelong love of martial arts—became a transformative journey. As an introvert who initially wondered whether she belonged in what she perceived as a male-dominated environment, she discovered something she didn't expect: a welcoming community, meaningful friendships, and opportunities to challenge herself in ways that extended far beyond learning to wield a sword.

They talk about the power of community, the importance of continually learning, and how helping others overcome their own fears can become a powerful source of confidence and empowerment.

Priscilla’s story is a beautiful reminder that growth can happen in the most unexpected places—and sometimes the thing that pushes us outside our comfort zone is exactly what helps us discover what we’re capable of.

In this episode, they explore:

• How curiosity can open the door to transformation

• Finding confidence when you step outside your comfort zone

• The unexpected power of community and belonging

• Why there is always something new to learn

• How mentoring and supporting others can strengthen your own confidence

• What the Sword Experience taught Priscilla about herself

If you’ve ever wondered what might be possible if you were willing to try something new, this conversation is for you.

About Priscilla

Priscilla considers herself a Nerd mom with a sword. Training with the Highlander since 2016.

The links to the fan group she runs and her blog:

Sword Experience fans

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1JsHBZXFzo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Sword Experienced blog

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HaGxh6Dy5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Sword Experience

To find out more about the Sword Experience and attend an event, check out their website or follow them on social media

https://swordxp.com/

On Facebook and YouTube: #swordxp

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/

Have you ever taken a personality test, read the results, and wondered, Now what?

In the Season 5 premiere of the Embrace Balance, Discover Joy podcast, Amanda is joined by Arky Jones, creator of PersonalityPeek, to explore a different approach to personality assessments—one that focuses on growth rather than labels.

They discuss:

• Why traditional personality tests often leave people feeling stuck

• How PersonalityPeek's six-dimensional approach provides deeper, more personalized insights

• Why your personality isn't fixed—and how it can evolve through different seasons of life

• How greater self-awareness can help you make more intentional decisions and continue growing

Arky also shares the personal journey that inspired him to create PersonalityPeek and explains how his background in Stoicism and personal development shaped the platform.

Whether you love personality tests or you're simply looking for new ways to better understand yourself, this conversation will leave you with a fresh perspective on personal growth.

About Arky:

Arky Jones is the creator of PersonalityPeek, a platform focused on helping people better understand themselves through personality insights, self-awareness, and personal growth. He combines personality concepts, Stoic wisdom, and practical self-help to help listeners gain clarity, improve their mindset, and build a stronger relationship with themselves.

Connect with Arky:
Website: https://personalitypeek.com/

PersonalityPeek helps listeners better understand themselves through personality insights and self-awareness tools. The site gives people a simple way to explore their personality, gain clarity about how they think and behave, and use that understanding for personal growth, better relationships, and greater self-mastery.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who is on their own journey of self-discovery.

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/

In this Season 4 finale, Amanda sits down with Jasmyn Quianna, the author of Falling Madly in Self-Love and founder of the Absolute Self-Love Movement, for a deeply transformative conversation about healing, self-realization, and creating a life rooted in joy and authenticity.

After achieving the success society told her should bring fulfillment, Jasmyn found herself burned out, disconnected, and questioning everything. That journey ultimately led her to discover a deeper truth: self-love isn’t selfish—it’s foundational.

Together, they explore:
✨ What “Absolute Self-Love” truly means
✨ The connection between burnout and disconnection from self
✨ How self-awareness shapes your reality
✨ Why honesty and accountability are essential for growth
✨ The importance of embracing every part of yourself with compassion
✨ How self-love creates a ripple effect in relationships and communities

Jasmyn also shares insights from her book Falling Madly in Self-Love and introduces the 12 Pillars of Absolute Self-Love—a framework designed to help individuals reconnect with their authentic selves and create lasting transformation from the inside out.

This conversation is a reminder that joy isn’t found through external achievement—it’s cultivated through the relationship you have with yourself.

About Jasmyn

Jasmyn Quianna is the author of Falling Madly in Self-Love and founder of the Absolute Self-Love Movement. A former oncology clinical research leader, she now helps high-achieving women who feel stuck and burned out realize they don’t have a burnout problem — they have a self-trust problem. They already know what they want, but don’t trust themselves enough to choose it. Through her work, she helps them stop overthinking, stop second-guessing, and finally act on what they know is right so they can build a life that actually feels as good as it looks.

Your Free Gift

Free Gift – The Absolute Self-Love Morning Ritual (15 min morning practice): https://www.jasmynquianna.com/morning-ritual

Connect with Jasmyn

Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GJRDZVCY/

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

Website: https://jasmynquianna.com

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call

Website: ⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/

In this episode, Amanda sits down with psychotherapist and coach Dr. Glenn Berger to explore the transformative process of self-cultivation—the lifelong journey of becoming more aligned, self-aware, and intentional in how we live.

Dr. Berger shares why true growth goes beyond simply talking about problems and requires active participation, reflection, and practice. Together, they discuss the importance of identifying core values, building self-love, developing courage, and creating a supportive community that nurtures transformation.

In this episode, they explore:
✨ What self-cultivation really means
✨ Why awareness alone isn’t enough for lasting change
✨ How to identify your authentic core values
✨ The role of community and connection in personal growth
✨ Why patience is essential in the healing process
✨ Practical exercises that can help you align your life with what truly matters

This conversation is a powerful reminder that transformation isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about uncovering who you truly are beneath conditioning, fear, and old patterns.

If you’ve been craving deeper growth, more clarity, or a stronger connection with yourself, this episode offers both inspiration and practical insight for the journey ahead.

About Dr. Glenn Berger

Dr. Glenn Berger has been a psychotherapist and coach for over twenty-five years and has come up with an innovative solution to the problem of people's stuckness. He has created an interactive, online self-cultivation course to help people live their best lives, feel great about themselves, have peace of mind and find fulfillment. Dr. Berger is also the author of his memoir of his days in the music business called, Never Say No to a Rock Star: In the Studio with Dylan, Sinatra, Jagger and More. His experience with these great artists taught him many of the keys to success in life that he has brought into his program for self-realization.

Connect with Dr. Glenn Berger

Self-cultivation course: https://www.skool.com/heartfinders/about

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

X: https://x.com/GlennBerger

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennbergerphd/

Tictok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glennberger120

Website: https://www.glennberger.com/

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book and introductory call: https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call

Website: https://www.autumnhealing.com/

In this episode, Amanda sits down with wellness coach and author Kerisma Vere to explore the deep connection between creativity, self-worth, and holistic healing. Through her own journey of recovery and personal growth, Kerisma shares how creativity became a powerful pathway back to herself—and how it can be for you, too.

This episode is an invitation to release perfectionism, quiet the inner critic, and reconnect with your authentic voice.

Together, they explore:
✨ Why creativity is a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery
✨ How to move past perfectionism and fear of judgment
✨ The connection between self-worth and creative expression
✨ Practical ways to nurture your creativity in everyday life
✨ How to shift negative self-talk into self-compassion
✨ What it really means to embrace all parts of yourself

Kerisma offers a beautiful perspective on healing—not as something that requires fixing who you are, but as a journey of integration, acceptance, and unconditional self-love.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your creativity or struggling with your self-worth, this conversation will gently guide you back to yourself.

About Kerisma

Kerisma Vere is a holistic wellness coach and author who helps people move away from all-or-nothing self-help and toward healing, self-trust, and quality of life. Drawing from lived experience and years of coaching, her work explores trauma-informed, non-prescriptive approaches to change. She’s the author of The Light Switch Myth: Contemporary Approaches to Creating Lasting Change, the companion journal Ways I Showed Up for Myself, and the creator of the seven-module course From Pressure to Path: A Compassionate Framework for Change

Connect with Kerisma

Website: https://towardswellness.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keri.vere

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KerismaVere

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerisma-vere-a327428/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kerismavere

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@towards_wellness_coaching_

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book and introductory call: ⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/⁠

In this episode, Amanda sits down with Stanley Bronstein—attorney, CPA, life coach, and author—who shares his powerful journey from a lifetime of obesity to vibrant health and wellness. After reaching a turning point at age 50, Stanley made a decision that would transform everything: he started walking.

But this isn’t just about weight loss. It’s about healing, mindset, and reconnecting with yourself on a deeper level.

Stanley opens up about how childhood trauma shaped his relationship with food, the moment he decided to take his life back, and how walking became both a physical and emotional practice that changed everything.

In this episode, we explore:
✨ How small, consistent actions can lead to massive transformation
✨ The connection between walking, mindfulness, and self-discovery
✨ Why nutrition plays a bigger role than we often realize
✨ The mindset shifts that make lasting change possible
✨ The importance of community, support, and emotional healing

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that it’s never too late to choose a different path—and that transformation doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful.

About Stanley

Stanley F. Bronstein is an attorney, CPA, life coach, and multi-book author focused on two big missions: helping people reach their maximum potential and helping those who need it, to lose weight permanently through healthy, sustainable lifestyle change — without drugs or surgeries. Stanley created The Way of Excellence, a structured personal development system centered on living excellence as a way of life, and he’s written several books on that topic, all of which he's making available on his website. Stanley’s own story is remarkable — he lost over 220 pounds, going from 367 to the 140s, and has maintained that transformation for over 17 years.

Connect with Stanley

Website: https://thewayofexcellence.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewayofexcellence

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanleybronstein/

Substack: https://healthymindbodyspirit.substack.com/

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book and introductory call: ⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/⁠

In this episode, Amanda sits down with dyslexia researcher Russell Van Brocklen to explore what truly supports individuals with dyslexia—and what often gets overlooked. Drawing from both his personal journey with severe dyslexia and his work developing impactful educational programs, Russell offers a fresh perspective on how we can better understand and empower dyslexic learners.

They talk about why traditional learning methods often fall short, the unique ways dyslexic brains process information, and how shifting our approach can unlock confidence, engagement, and success.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
✨ Why dyslexia is more than just a reading challenge
✨ How to support learning through strengths—not struggles
✨ Simple, practical tools (including technology) that make a real difference
✨ The power of multi-sensory learning and interest-based engagement
✨ Common mistakes parents and educators make—and how to avoid them

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply someone who wants to better understand different ways of learning, this conversation will expand your perspective and leave you with actionable tools you can start using right away.

About Russell

Russell translates structured-literacy methods proven most effective for struggling readers into bite-size actions parents can use.

Connect with Russell

Access the free guide that describes the 3 reasons your child's dyslexic education isn't working and what to do about it: https://mailchi.mp/dcacd9a6f9ae/3-reasons-ebook

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cqwfxn9FqFx1Idl0YbeHg

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87

Website: https://dyslexiaclasses.com/

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book and introductory call: ⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/⁠