I Wasn't Buried...I Was Planted

What happens when life knocks you down — not once, but twice, twenty years apart? In this episode, Gen sits down with Irene Vaksberg, a Soviet-born immigrant, hairdresser, mother, grandmother, and soul inspirer whose story will stop you in your tracks.

At 23, Irene was pulled from a crushed car by the Jaws of Life — and had a full near-death experience where she met God, watched her life like a movie, and was sent back with an assignment. Then at 43, a second car accident shattered everything she'd built and forced her to finally answer that original call. She walked through years of chronic pain, depression, financial loss, and isolation — and came out the other side with her soul dancing.

Gen and Irene discover just how much they share: car accidents, chronic pain recoveries, the word surrender as a turning point, sobriety, and the strange grace of losing everything only to find something better. The episode weaves in live tarot and oracle card pulls and closes with Irene's message to her 20-year-old self: "You're a rock star. Keep shining. You're going to survive all of it — and it's going to become your superpower."

Episode Timestamps:

• [00:00] Welcome & Introduction to Irene Vaksberg
• [00:51] Irene's Background: Soviet Immigrant, Hairdresser, Grandmother
• [02:27] Tarot Pull: Seven of Pentacles & Knight of Swords
• [04:55] Irene's First Car Accident at 23 & Her Near-Death Experience
• [06:20] The Assignment: Sent Back to Teach, Guide & Share
• [08:44] The Second Car Accident at 43 — 20 Years Later
• [10:39] Rock Bottom: Praying to Leave & the Miracle She Almost Said No To
• [12:54] Getting What You Need, Not What You Expected
• [15:47] The Word That Changed Everything: Surrender
• [17:15] Gen Opens Up About Recovery & AA
• [19:42] Women, Voice & Why We Were Ever Quiet
• [23:49] "Your Accent Is Your Golden Card"
• [29:50] Gen's Car Accident & Her Own Healing Journey
• [34:30] "I Wasn't Buried — I Was Planted"
• [39:49] Letting Go of What No Longer Serves You
• [43:20] Stop Stressing, Start Blessing
• [47:36] Healing Through Food & the Yuka App
• [51:09] Goddess Oracle: Mary Magdalene — Unconditional Love
• [53:00] Wild Offering: Solitude — The Right People Arrive
• [54:10] What Would You Tell Your 20-Year-Old Self?

If you love warm, real midlife conversations with humor and heart, you'll feel right at home here.

Follow the show & connect with Gen: Gen's Website: http://www.soulfulexistence.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulfulxistence TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soulfulxistence Podcast homepage: http://www.fatefortyandbeyond.com Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatefortyandbeyond Podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fatefortyandbeyond