Internally Guided Life

In this inspiring and deeply human episode of Internally Guided Life, host Kayla Sweet invites Katelyn “Katie the Dream Lady” Marshall, Founder and Director of The Dream Factory of Idaho, to share her journey of turning adversity into purpose, heartbreak into healing, and compassion into a lasting legacy of leadership.

Katelyn’s story begins with the birth of her son, Tommy, who was born with spina bifida and faced life-threatening complications that changed everything she thought she knew about love, leadership, and what truly matters. Through moments of grief, courage, and grace, Katelyn discovered the transformative power of resilience, the ability to rise, adapt, and create meaning in the midst of unimaginable challenges.

Out of her family’s story came The Dream Factory of Idaho, a nonprofit organization dedicated to granting joy-filled, meaningful experiences to children with chronic and complex conditions who may not qualify for traditional wish-granting programs.

Kayla and Katelyn explore what it means to lead with empathy, purpose, and presence, and how personal transformation can ripple outward into community impact.

Together, they discuss:

• How Katelyn’s personal story of parenting through adversity became a masterclass in resilience, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership.
  

• What it takes to build a mission-driven organization that balances compassion, community impact, and sustainable self-care.
  

• The life-changing lessons learned through navigating grief, uncertainty, and personal growth.
  

• Why self-awareness, vulnerability, and values-based leadership are essential in both nonprofit and organizational leadership today.
  

Whether you’re a leader, parent, or purpose-driven professional, this conversation is a powerful reminder that some of life’s hardest moments can become the very soil where your purpose takes root.

Katelyn’s story reflects the heart of what Internally Guided Life is about: transforming from the inside out, leading with love, and creating a life and legacy guided by compassion.

Meet the Guest

Katelyn Marshall is a speaker, nonprofit leader, and the Founder and Director of The Dream Factory of Idaho, a wish-granting organization that brings hope and joy to children with chronic and complex conditions.

Her journey through motherhood, advocacy, and healing reshaped her entire approach to leadership and life. Katelyn became a voice for inclusion, accessibility, and compassionate action.

Today, she empowers teams, leaders, and communities to embrace difference, practice empathy, and create safe, inclusive environments where every person feels seen and valued. Through her talks, nonprofit work, and storytelling, she reminds us that purpose is born from presence and that resilience is what transforms pain into power.

Connect with Katie:

Meet the Host:

Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth.

Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at internallyguidedleadership.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming.

Connect with Kayla:

Linktree

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources:

Visit Internally Guided Leadership

Episode Credits:

Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/

In this soulful and thought-provoking episode of Internally Guided Life, host Kayla M. Sweet sits down with Michele Iseri, a transformational leadership coach, consultant, and entrepreneur whose journey from corporate leadership to conscious entrepreneurship embodies the true meaning of transformation.

Together, they explore what it takes to lead and live authentically through seasons of change. From releasing old identities to redefining success on your own terms, this conversation shines a light on the emotional, spiritual, and practical dimensions of transition.

Michele shares her powerful journey from more than 30 years in leadership roles across corporate America, including tech giants like Verizon and Google, to founding Compass 4 Transformation, a leadership coaching and consulting practice dedicated to helping others cultivate courage, clarity, and conscious leadership.

Through stories, reflections, and lived wisdom, Kayla and Michele explore:

• The difference between change (external) and transition (internal), and why both matter for authentic leadership.
  

• How to redefine identity and success after leaving a long-term career.
  

• Practices for mindfulness and self-care during uncertainty and reinvention.
  

• The role of transformational leadership in creating workplaces rooted in empathy and inclusion.
  

• What it means to live, and lead, with curiosity, courage, and compassion.
  

If you’re navigating a career shift, feeling called to something new, or simply longing to reconnect with your authentic self, this episode will remind you that transformation isn’t about becoming someone else; it’s about remembering who you truly are.

Meet the Guest: Michele Iseri

After over 30 years working in leadership positions in corporate America, primarily in the tech industry, Michele Iseri decided it was time to align fully with her authentic self and live her vision. Through her personal and professional leadership experience, the completion of a second Master’s degree in Leadership and Transformative Studies (specializing in Leadership and Coaching), and years of deep self-discovery, she now helps others do the same.

As a transformational leadership coach and consultant, Michele supports clients in setting and attaining meaningful goals by focusing on the whole person. Her approach integrates curiosity, lifelong learning, courage, collaboration, and the cultivation of inclusive and diverse relationships.

Her mission is to empower individuals and organizations to become transformational leaders,people who lead with integrity, authenticity, and heart.

Connect with Michele:

Learn more: compass4transformation.com

Connect with Michele on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/micheleiseri

Meet the Host:

Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth.

Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at internallyguidedleadership.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming.

Connect with Kayla:

Linktree

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources:

Visit Internally Guided Leadership

Episode Credits:

Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

What happens when your entire world is torn apart in a single moment, and how do you begin again?

In this profoundly moving episode of Internally Guided Life, Kayla Sweet sits down with Susan Snow, author of The Other Side of the Gun, to talk about what it really means to live, love, and lead after trauma. At just 17 years old, Susan’s father, LAPD Detective Thomas C. Williams, was ambushed and killed in 1985. That tragedy set her on a lifelong journey through the depths of grief, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the courageous act of healing.

With raw honesty and profound wisdom, Susan shares how decades of silence and survival eventually gave way to forgiveness, self-compassion, and purpose. Together, Kayla and Susan explore the tender and often untold layers of trauma recovery: the fear, the resistance, the exhaustion, and the profound moments of grace that come with choosing to heal.

This episode is for anyone who has ever carried invisible pain, questioned their strength, or longed to feel whole again. It’s a reminder that healing isn’t about erasing what happened; it’s about transforming your relationship to it.

Kayla and Susan discuss the importance of finding a trauma-informed therapist, the healing power of vulnerability, and how sharing your story can help you reclaim a sense of safety and freedom. They explore the distinction between private healing and public leadership, showing how courage grows from the quiet spaces where truth and tenderness meet.

Susan’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for resilience, forgiveness, and growth. Whether you’re navigating your own healing journey or supporting someone through theirs, this conversation will leave you with hope, tools, and a deeper understanding of what it means to move from victimhood to empowerment.

Meet the Guest:

Susan Snow is a published author, speaker, and trauma resiliency coach whose story began in tragedy but evolved into one of profound hope and leadership. At 17, Susan lost her father, LAPD Detective Thomas C. Williams, when he was ambushed and killed on Halloween night in 1985.

Her book, The Other Side of the Gun, offers a raw and redemptive look at loss, PTSD, and the lifelong process of healing. Today, Susan uses her voice to inspire others to bulldoze their fear, face their pain, and step into freedom. Her mission is to reach 10,000 people through storytelling, coaching, and public speaking, reminding us all that forgiveness, though difficult, is one of the most powerful acts of self-liberation.

Connect with Susan:

Buy Susan’s Book: The Other Side of the Gun on Amazon 🌐 Website: Susan Snow’s Official Site

Meet the Host:

Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth.

Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at internallyguidedleadership.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming.

Connect with Kayla:

Linktree

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources:

Visit Internally Guided Leadership

Episode Credits:

Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/

In this transformative episode, host Kayla Sweet welcomes Veronica “Ronnie” Soria, retired U.S. Marine Corps leader, leadership development coach, and international bestselling author, for a powerful conversation on authentic leadership, self-worth, and empowerment for women leaders. Together, Kayla and Ronnie explore how women can rise in their careers, embrace their authentic selves, and cultivate confidence, self-love, and resilience in leadership roles.

Drawing from over 20 years in the military and federal government, Ronnie shares her inspiring career transition story, including how she overcame burnout, found clarity of purpose, and launched her own leadership coaching business. She opens up about the challenges of balancing strength and compassion, the importance of aligning leadership with personal values, and her proven methods for developing self-awareness and bold authenticity.

Listeners will gain actionable insights into how to:

• Develop authentic leadership skills rooted in empathy, values, and courage
  

• Overcome burnout and reclaim your sense of purpose and worth
  

• Build confidence and self-love practices to support personal and professional growth
  

• Lead with integrity, vulnerability, and influence
  

Meet the Guest: Veronica “Ronnie” Soria

Veronica “Ronnie” Soria is a retired United States Marine who proudly served for 20 years. She later continued her passion for developing others in the Federal Government as a Learning & Development consultant, Program Manager for an Aspiring Leaders Program, leadership coach, and speaker. Veronica holds an Ed.S. in Curriculum & Instruction, an M.A. in Education and Human Behavior, an M.Ed. in Training and Development, and a B.S. in Psychology.

As the founder of MVS Solutions LLC, she helps individuals and organizations grow through purpose-driven coaching and training. Veronica blends real-life experience with professional insight to create safe spaces for reflection, healing, and transformation. Known for her nurturing spirit and unshakable integrity, she brings heart to every conversation and believes in the power of grace, accountability, and personal growth.

She is also the author of the international #1 bestseller Amigas Rising: Leading Others as We Climb (2025), the Amazon bestseller Camouflaged Sisters: Stories of Strength and Resilience in the Military Transition (2024), and Camouflaged Sisters: Strength in Service Inspirational Devotional (2025). Her mission is simple yet profound: to help others rediscover their strength, embrace their story, and step boldly into their purpose.

Connect with Veronica “Ronnie” Soria:

• Email: [email protected]
  

• LinkedIn
  

• TikTok: Coach Ronnie @msveeva
  

• Facebook: MVS Solutions LLC
  

Meet the Host:

Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth.

Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at internallyguidedleadership.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming.

Connect with Kayla:

Linktree

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources:

Visit Internally Guided Leadership

Episode Credits:

Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 
Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/

Are you searching for practical, science-backed strategies to heal from burnout, chronic illness, anxiety, or self-doubt? In this powerful episode of Internally Guided Life, host Kayla M. Sweet speaks with Heidi Blackie, an Occupational Therapist, speaker, consultant, and creator of UnshakableMe®

Heidi opens up about her personal journey of navigating chronic illness, loss, and burnout, revealing how transforming her core beliefs about healing shifted everything. Together, Kayla and Heidi explore how neuroplasticity, nervous system regulation, mindfulness practices, and belief work can reshape your brain and your life. This conversation blends evidence-based science with soulful wisdom to give you hope, inspiration, and tangible steps for your own healing journey.

In this episode, you’ll discover how to:

• Use neuroplasticity and brain retraining techniques to change ingrained patterns

• Apply mindfulness, meditation, and journaling to reduce stress, manage anxiety, and build emotional resilience

• Challenge and rewrite limiting beliefs about your health, worth, and capacity for change

• Let go of external labels and rediscover your true identity

• Build self-compassion and self-acceptance as powerful tools for healing and personal growth

• Create daily habits that reinforce your mind-body connection and support sustainable well-being

  
  

Kayla and Heidi also dive into why many high-achieving women and helping professionals experience burnout, the psychology of self-worth, and how to stop outsourcing your sense of value to external achievements.

If you’re a high achiever, caregiver, wellness seeker, or anyone looking for chronic illness recovery tips, burnout prevention tools, or a holistic approach to stress management, this episode is a must-listen. Heidi’s story is proof that healing is possible and that rewiring your brain, nervous system, and beliefs can unlock a new chapter of health, joy, and self-trust.

Meet the Guest: Heidi Blackie

Heidi Blackie is a speaker, consultant, and creator of UnshakableMe®, a science-meets-soul program that helps women dismantle limiting beliefs and reclaim their inner power. After chronic illness brought her to rock bottom, Heidi made a radical choice to believe in her body’s ability to heal, a turning point that reshaped her life from the inside out.

With 25 years as an Occupational Therapist and hard-won lived experience, Heidi now guides others to meet adversity with clarity, connection, and self-trust. Her story is an invitation to anyone facing personal challenges, offering grounded hope, actionable tools, and a powerful reminder that we are far more capable than we think.

Connect with Heidi Blackie

• Website & Free Resources

• Instagram

• Facebook

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

  
  

Meet the Host:

Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth.

Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at internallyguidedleadership.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming.

Connect with Kayla:

Linktree

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources:

Visit Internally Guided Leadership

Episode Credits:

Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

Grief is one of the most universal experiences we face, yet so many of us feel unprepared when it comes crashing into our lives. In this profoundly moving conversation, I sit down with Marie Alessi, bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and grief advocate, to explore what it means to find healing, love, and resilience after sudden loss.

Marie shares her story of losing her husband Rob to a sudden brain aneurysm, a moment that changed the course of her life forever. From navigating the heartbreak of telling her children to creating a global movement that touched thousands, Marie’s journey shows us that grief, while painful, can also hold unexpected light and growth. Her perspective offers a compassionate and empowering roadmap for those learning how to cope with grief, rebuild after loss, and discover meaning in the midst of pain. We discuss moving beyond survival, embracing love after loss, and finding the courage to trust your heart, even in the darkest moments.

Together, we explore:

• The importance of reframing the language of grief and loss
  

• Why family support and presence are crucial in healing
  

• How anger can be a doorway into deeper healing
  

• The power of physical presence in our grief journeys
  

• Why trust, vulnerability, and intuition guide us toward resilience
  

This episode is both tender and empowering, a reminder that healing after loss is possible, even in the face of sudden grief, and that the journey through pain can also become a journey back to love.

Meet the Guest: Marie Alessi

Marie Alessi is a mother of two boys, a bestselling author, TEDx & keynote speaker, and the founder of a global grief movement that has reached thousands worldwide. After the sudden passing of her husband, Rob, from a brain aneurysm, Marie made a conscious choice to honor him by choosing joy, love, and resilience.

Her bestselling book, Loving Life After Loss, and her inspiring keynotes shine a light on a new way of approaching grief, one rooted in love rather than fear. Marie’s mission is to shift the narrative of grief, helping others embrace healing, connection, and the hidden gifts that emerge through the journey.

Connect with Marie:

• Website: www.MarieAlessi.com
  

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarieAlessiPublicFigure
  

• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/marie.alessi.speaker
  

• YouTube: youtube.com/@MarieAlessi
  

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-alessi/
  

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marie.alessi.speaker
  

Resources & Links Mentioned\

• Marie’s Book: Loving Life After Loss
  

• Marie’s Podcast: Unsilence Grief
  

Meet the Host:

Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth.

Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at internallyguidedleadership.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming.

Connect with Kayla:

Linktree

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources:

Visit Internally Guided Leadership

Episode Credits:

Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

In this deeply moving episode of Internally Guided Life, Kayla sits down with Erica Neubert Campbell, breast cancer survivor and author of The Mastectomy I Always Wanted. Together, they explore the power of vulnerability, resilience, and transformation when facing life’s hardest challenges.

Erica shares her personal breast cancer journey, including her decision to undergo a double mastectomy, the emotional and physical healing that followed, and how journaling and openness became lifelines along the way. She speaks candidly about body acceptance, grief, empowerment, and the role of resilience in navigating health challenges.

This conversation goes beyond cancer. It’s about the universal human capacity to transform pain into strength, to trust the process even in uncertainty, and to embrace vulnerability as a superpower. Whether you or someone you love has faced breast cancer, or you are navigating your own season of difficulty, this episode offers hope, wisdom, and practical guidance for choosing resilience and healing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why vulnerability is essential for healing and connection
  

• Erica’s personal mastectomy journey and the power of choice in cancer treatment
  

• How grief and loss can carry unexpected gifts of wisdom and growth
  

• Practical mantras and coping strategies to navigate fear and uncertainty
  

• The importance of open conversations around women’s health and body acceptance
  

Meet the Guest

Erica Neubert Campbell is a writer, longtime cancer advocate, and breast cancer survivor who lost her mother to the same disease. Speaking what she calls the “vocabulary of cancer,” Erica brings authenticity, humor, and vulnerability to every conversation.

In her debut memoir, The Mastectomy I Always Wanted, Erica shares her raw, honest story of diagnosis, mastectomy, and healing. Her work combines practical advice with intimate storytelling, offering hope and guidance to women facing breast cancer and their loved ones. Erica’s mission is to normalize conversations about mastectomies, body image, and resilience while empowering women to trust the process and embrace their journeys.

Learn more about Erica’s work and download her free resource, “Top 10 Tips for Preparing for a Mastectomy,” at www.ericaneubertcampbell.com.

Connect with Erica Neubert Campbell

• Website: ericaneubertcampbell.com
  

• Facebook: Erica Neubert Campbell
  

• Instagram: @ericaneubertcampbell
  

• LinkedIn: Erica Neubert Campbell
  

Meet the Host:

Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth.

Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at internallyguidedleadership.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming.

Connect with Kayla:

Linktree

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources:

Visit Internally Guided Leadership

Episode Credits:

Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” but still feel drained, disconnected, or one step away from burnout, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Internally Guided Life, I’m joined by Nicole Richards, a former CPA turned performance and lifestyle coach, who brings a fresh, empowering perspective to success and self-care. Together, we unpack what it means to care for yourself strategically, not as an afterthought, not as a reward, but as a foundation for sustainable success.

Nicole shares her personal story of burning out in the corporate world, checking all the boxes, and still feeling empty inside. Her turning point? Redefining success through the lens of rest, alignment, and intentional living. She introduces her powerful CPA Framework, and shares how it helps high-achieving women break free from the hustle-and-prove cycle.

We talk about:

• The mindset shifts every high-achiever needs to make to avoid burnout
  

• How to use rest as a strategy
  

• Why community and self-awareness are non-negotiable
  

• Letting go of toxic definitions of success and reclaiming joy
  

• Real self-care vs performative self-care
  

Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, executive, or woman navigating life transitions, this episode will remind you that you don’t have to choose between success and wellbeing; you’re meant to have both.

Meet the Guest:

Nicole Richards is a Certified Public Accountant turned Certified Master Coach who helps high-achieving women break free from burnout, prioritize self-care, and step into their purpose with confidence. After building a successful career in finance and living the “perfect” life on the outside, Nicole realized she was completely disconnected from herself. Now, she helps women rewrite the narrative around rest, success, and self-worth, proving that rest isn’t a reward; it’s a requirement for aligned leadership.

Through her coaching, retreats, and signature framework, Nicole empowers women to embrace strategic self-care, overcome self-doubt, and build lives that feel as good as they look.

Connect with Nicole

• Website & Free Burnout Quiz: www.cpa-coaching.com
• Free Strategy Session:  https://calendly.com/nicolerichardscoaching/15min
  
• 
  
  

Journal Prompt: Where in my life am I using self-care as a reward instead of a strategy? What might shift if I let rest lead?

Share Your Thoughts: What resonated most from this episode? Tag me on Instagram @internallyguided and let’s keep the conversation going.

If this conversation spoke to you, please subscribe, rate, and share, so more women can feel empowered to lead, heal, and thrive from the inside out.

Meet the Host:

Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth.

Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at Internallyguidedleadership.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming.

Connect with Kayla:

Linktree

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources:

Visit Internally Guided Leadership

Episode Credits:

Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

What if the key to abundance wasn’t doing more but opening more?

In this deeply soulful and illuminating episode of Internally Guided Life, I’m joined by intuitive mentor and spiritual guide Keri Nola to explore a concept that often doesn’t receive the spotlight it deserves: receptivity. Together, we unravel what it truly means to soften, receive, and open to the abundance, healing, and inner wisdom already available to us.

Keri shares how her personal and professional journey, starting as a licensed psychotherapist and evolving into the Receptivity Queen and creator of the Messages From Shadow Oracle Deck, led her to a deeper understanding of the sacred feminine, emotional maturity, and shadow integration. We talk about the pain of scarcity conditioning, the courage it takes to want more, and the often overlooked nuance between intuition and trauma-informed fear.

This conversation is rich with wisdom on:

• How scarcity consciousness shows up in subtle ways (even in spiritual spaces)

• Why emotional and spiritual maturity require alignment with truth, not comfort

• The role of community and supportive spaces in lasting transformation

• How to begin discerning intuition from trauma response

• The healing power of shadow work

• A powerful collective reading from Keri’s Messages From Shadow Oracle Deck
  

Whether you’re a healer, coach, therapist, or simply someone on a journey of self-discovery, this episode will invite you into a deeper relationship with your own enoughness and the divine mystery that lives within your shadow.

Don’t miss the special offer just for listeners: get $10 off the Messages From Shadow Oracle Deck using the code INTERNALLYGUIDED at www.MessagesFromShadow.com

Meet the Guest: Keri Nola

Known as “The Shadow Mama” and “The Receptivity Queen,” Keri Nola is an intuitive mentor, spiritual guide, and former licensed psychotherapist with over a decade of experience supporting trauma recovery and healing. After retiring her clinical license in 2017, she expanded her work to guide healers, spiritually aware entrepreneurs, and conscious leaders through the sacred alchemy of shadow work, emotional integration, and divine receptivity.

Her teachings blend energetics, psychology, soul strategy, and spiritual insight, empowering others to harmonize giving and receiving while embodying their soul’s mission. She is also the creator of the Messages From Shadow Oracle Deck, a powerful healing tool that supports self-exploration and integration.

Keri’s work is a sanctuary for those ready to transmute wounds into wisdom and lead from a place of embodied wholeness.

📍 Learn more at: www.kerinola.com

💌 Download Keri’s free Money Date Journal

📦 Shop the Messages From Shadow Oracle Deck → www.MessagesFromShadow.com

🔮 Use code INTERNALLYGUIDED for $10 off the deck

📱 Follow Keri on Instagram: @kerinola

Meet the Host:

Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth.

Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming.

Connect with Kayla:

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

LinkedIn

Linktree

Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources:

Visit Internally Guided Leadership

Episode Credits:

Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 
Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/

In this inspiring and deeply human episode of Internally Guided Life, Kayla welcomes author, speaker, and Ubi Global founder Laura Bratton for a powerful conversation on resilience, inner vision, and navigating change with courage, grit, and gratitude.

Diagnosed with an eye disease at age nine, Laura shares her remarkable story of gradually losing her sight and learning to see life through a new lens. With warmth and honesty, Laura opens up about her emotional journey, from denial and anxiety to strength and empowerment, and offers real, actionable tools for moving through life’s hardest moments.

Together, Kayla and Laura explore:

• The role of grit in building resilience during transition
  

• How to practice gratitude even when life is difficult
  

• Why trusting yourself is essential to growth
  

• The importance of community support during change
  

• How to navigate the emotional weight of life’s challenges with mindful courage
  

• What it truly means to be courageous in a world that often asks us to numb or push through

Whether you’re currently navigating loss, change, career shifts, identity transitions, or the unknowns of life, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that resilience is a skill and one we can each cultivate with compassion, intention, and grace.

Listen now to embrace your own journey of courage and healing.

Meet the Guest: Laura Bratton

At the age of nine, Laura Bratton was diagnosed with an eye disease and faced the difficult reality that she would become blind. Over the next ten years, she experienced the traumatic transition of adjusting to life without sight. Now, she shares her story to empower others through speaking, coaching, and her organization Ubi Global.

Laura is the author of Harnessing Courage and is passionate about helping individuals navigate personal and professional change with grit, gratitude, and spiritual resilience. Her message is grounded in lived experience and offers a roadmap for anyone facing life's obstacles, reminding us that while we may not choose our challenges, we can choose how we respond to them.

Learn more and connect with Laura:

Website: https://www.laurabratton.com

LinkedIn: Laura Bratton on LinkedIn

Meet the Host:

Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth.

Connect with Kayla:

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Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources:

Visit Internally Guided Leadership

Episode Credits:

Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ 

Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/