Welcome to Episode 10—a milestone moment! Today I'm celebrating 10 episodes of Journey with Rita Podcast and reflecting on the incredible wisdom, courage, and resilience we've witnessed together.

Journey with Rita was established in 2020 as an online platform after I came across a quote by Brené Brown that truly resonated with me: "One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will become someone else's survival guide."

Having been a peer supporter to those fighting breast cancer, those words didn't just inspire me—they became my North Star. They gave me language to something I had been feeling but couldn't quite articulate: that our experiences, our struggles, our lessons can serve someone else. That our stories, when shared honestly, can become lifelines.

In this episode, I reflect on:

Lessons from Our First 10 Episodes:

Faith & Community: We explored how community holds us up when we can't hold ourselves, and how shared experiences help us grow through hardship, not just survive it.

Transformation & Authenticity: We learned that transformation begins with self-trust and the courage to release what no longer fits.

Mental Health Matters: Behind every polished success story is real work and real struggle—mental health can never take a backseat.

Rewriting Mom Guilt: We unpacked mom guilt and rewrote the narrative around it.

Gratitude as Discipline: We explored gratitude not as a cliché but as a daily practice that reshapes perspective.

Financial Resilience: We challenged the narrative that financial literacy belongs in someone else's hands and affirmed that women have the intelligence and vision to make confident financial decisions.

Designing an Intentional Life: We discussed manifesting dreams by aligning actions with values, not just checking boxes.

Integrity & Discipline: We heard how staying true to yourself—even when the industry rewards something else—creates meaningful success.

Resilience Isn't Magic: We were reminded that resilience isn't something we access when life falls apart—it's the ability to draw from strengths we've been building all along.

Key Message: Resilience is contagious. When we see someone else navigate hardship and come out stronger, it lights a path for our own resilience and growth. Our stories, when shared honestly, become lifelines for others.

What's Next: This is only the beginning. More conversations, more wisdom, more tools for building resilience together.

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The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice

References:

What happens when the very thing that defines you—your ability to move—is threatened by a disease you can't control? How do you keep performing ten dances a night on tour when your legs go numb? How do you keep showing up when your body won't cooperate?

Meet Courtney Platt: world-class dancer, actress, choreographer, and powerful voice for living fully with multiple sclerosis. Courtney started her dance career as a New York Knicks City dancer, was a top four finalist on So You Think You Can Dance, and has danced and choreographed for some of the biggest stages and screen productions of the last decade.

But at the height of her career, at only 23 years old while on tour with So You Think You Can Dance, Courtney's legs went completely numb from the waist down. Doctors found plaque on her spinal cord and lesions on her brain. The diagnosis: relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Instead of letting MS define her, Courtney transformed it into her mission—using her platform to advocate, educate, and inspire others living with autoimmune diseases. Today, she's not only a celebrated performer but a mother of three, a dance teacher, and a powerful reminder that resilience isn't about never falling—it's about refusing to stay down.

In this episode, Courtney shares:

Going numb from the waist down while performing 10 dances a night on tour

How she knew something was MS before doctors confirmed it

Dancing with completely numb legs because she refused to be taken off tour

The moment of clarity when diagnosis finally came—and the relief of knowing

Being pissed off and disappointed in her body after diagnosis

The frustration of wanting to push her baby out but needing a C-section

Learning to appreciate her body's gifts instead of taking movement for granted

Why giving yourself grace and compassion is essential

The guilt of needing rest when you're "supposed to" be hustling

Her husband's unwavering support: "Tell me you're not being lazy"

Why napping like a small child is non-negotiable now

Traveling with MS: Planning around energy levels and recovery time

The wheelchair at the airport and dealing with judgment from strangers

Teaching her kids about MS: the conversation she dreaded but handled beautifully

Why surrounding yourself with the right people is everything

Having a third baby through surrogacy—and why it was the right choice

Her body producing breast milk even though she didn't give birth to Gianna

The advice that made her angry: "Find a less stressful job"

✨Follow me on Instagram @JourneyWitRitaOrg 

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The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice

References:

Follow Courtney Platt on Instagram

Connect with Rita @journeywithritaorg and @ritanaffasdesign

Visit www.journeywithrita.org for more episodes and resources

Some careers unfold quietly—and then there are careers built in rooms where the stakes are high, the conversations are charged, and the pressure is relentless. Today's episode is about what it takes to earn a seat at those tables and keep it.

Meet Lisa Daftari: award-winning investigative journalist, foreign policy analyst, and founder and editor-in-chief of the Foreign Desk, an independent global affairs platform focused on international security, human rights, and Middle East geopolitics. She's also the host of the highly acclaimed Foreign Podcast.

Lisa's expertise has taken her into some of the most influential rooms—briefing institutions like the United Nations and Congress, contributing exclusive reports for the Pentagon, and working closely with the White House during the rollout of the Abraham Accords. Her work has been recognized with the Medal of Valor, the Simon Wiesenthal Award, and the Champion of Freedom Award.

But this conversation isn't just about what Lisa does—it's about who she is, how she built resilience while navigating male-dominated spaces, and how she stays grounded while working in some of the most demanding fields in the world.

In this episode, Lisa shares:

The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only.

✨Follow me on Instagram @JourneyWitRitaOrg 

✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast

The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice

References:

What does it really take to rise after life knocks you down? Not once, but twice? I’ve spent the last few months inviting remarkable women to sit on this couch with me, to be raw, vulnerable, and honest about the challenges that shaped them.  And I knew—if I’m asking my guests to go there, then I have to go there too.  In this deeply personal episode, I'm flipping the script and sitting down with someone who has walked beside me through my darkest moments: my therapist of 10 years, Lesley Lasker.

Lesley Lasker is a licensed marriage and family therapist and parent education specialist who has been an anchor in my life, guiding me through breast cancer, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and the unraveling and rebuilding that came with both. Today, she interviews me about the hardest chapters of my life, the moments I haven't shared publicly, and the lessons that shaped who I am as a mother, wife, and woman.

This conversation is raw, vulnerable, and honest. We talk about the fear of telling a three-year-old about cancer, the devastation of not being able to hold my seven-month-old son, the shame of needing a wheelchair, and all of the lessons along the way- including the moment I realized the universe was forcing me to stop, breathe, and just be.

In this episode, I share:

The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment or therapy. If you are struggling with your mental health or are in crisis, please reach out to a professional for support. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7. Help is available, and you don’t have to go through it alone.

✨Follow me on Instagram @JourneyWitRitaOrg 

✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast

The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice

References:

New Year's resolutions often set us up for disappointment: long lists of goals, mounting pressure, and the weight of unmet expectations. But what if there was a better way? What if instead of waiting for January 1st to give us permission to change, we embraced a process that honors our growth every single day?

In this episode, I share the three powerful practices that have carried me through 15 years of personal transformation, major life challenges, career shifts, and achieving goals that once felt impossible. These aren't quick fixes or empty promises. They're intentional practices that bring clarity, strengthen belief, and reveal the ways we might be standing in our own way.

In this episode, I share:

When we stop waiting for a date on the calendar and start stepping into a process that nurtures our growth, aligns with our dreams, and honors the life we're meant to live, that's when real transformation begins.

✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast

Follow @journeywithritaorg on Instagram to keep building resilience through proven guiding principles, practical tools, and weekly inspiration.

The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice

References:

As women, we're encouraged to be emotionally resilient, spiritually resilient—but financially resilient? We don't talk about that enough. That part of the conversation can feel intimidating or even off-limits. But not here, not today.

Meet Roxana Maddahi: financial advisor, president of Maddahi Wealth, and contributor for Forbes and HuffPost. Roxana's journey isn't just about spreadsheets or portfolios. She's seen what it's like to lose everything—to watch her savings slip away when Lehman Brothers filed for the biggest bankruptcy in history. Out of that painful experience rose her dedication to help others avoid the same struggles.

In this conversation, we explore what financial resilience really means—and how to build the habits, knowledge, and mindsets that help us withstand and recover from financial shocks like illness, job loss, market downturns, or divorce.

Disclaimer: This conversation is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial professional for guidance tailored to your personal situation.

In this episode, Roxana shares:

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The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice

References:

Gratitude isn't meant to be a once-a-year tradition reserved for the Thanksgiving table. It's something we can weave into our daily lives—a practice that shapes how we see the world, respond to challenges, and move through each day.

In this solo episode, I share my personal journey with gratitude, from hearing Oprah talk about gratitude journals as a teenager to how this simple practice carried me through breast cancer, miscarriages, and Guillain-Barré syndrome when I temporarily lost the ability to move.

In this episode, I share:

When gratitude becomes part of how we live—not something we only visit once a year—life truly begins to shift. We start seeing beauty in ordinary moments, we become more resilient in hard times, and we realize that even when everything feels uncertain, there's always something to be thankful for.

✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast

Follow @journeywithritaorg on Instagram to keep building resilience through proven guiding principles, practical tools, and weekly inspiration.

The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice

References:

What happens when the woman who appears to “have it all” pulls back the curtain and shares her failures, talks openly about mental health, and dispels the myth that women can have it all?

Meet Roxana Eli: accomplished litigation attorney, devoted mother of two, and the first female elected president in Sephardic Temple's 100-year history. In this raw conversation, Roxana pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to break barriers while staying true to yourself.

In this episode:

This conversation is about more than success. It's about the messy, beautiful journey of becoming who you're meant to be.

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References:

When successful litigation attorney Melody Godfred started hallucinating spiders crawling on her walls every night, she knew her body was sending an urgent message: this perfect job with the ocean-view office wasn't her path. In this transformative conversation, Melody shares how she left law to become a poet, author of five books, including "Moon Garden: Poetry for Manifestation," and a voice for women reclaiming their authentic selves.

Her journey back to the 9-year-old poet she'd buried under decades of achievement offers profound lessons about listening to our bodies, trusting our intuition, and believing we deserve the life we're meant to live.

In this episode:

Melody reminds us that resilience isn't just about pushing through—it's about allowing ourselves to evolve, trusting the process of transformation, and believing in what's waiting on the other side.

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References:

What happens when a spiritual leader's own faith is shattered by unimaginable loss? And how does community become the thread that holds us together when everything falls apart?

Meet Rabbi Nicole Guzik: Co-Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, the first woman to hold that role in the congregation's 100+ year history, licensed therapist, mother of three, and my dear friend. In this deeply personal conversation, Rabbi Guzik opens up about the role of faith in building resilience and shares the story of losing her close friend in her twenties—a loss that tested everything she believed about God.

In this episode:

This conversation is about more than faith. It's about the messy, beautiful journey of finding your way back to hope when life breaks your heart.

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References: