Let's Fly Podcast with Susie Schumacher

In honor of Pride Month, John Berndt shares his powerful coming-out story and journey toward self-acceptance.

Through faith, therapy, community, and courage, John discovered the freedom that comes from living authentically.

John talks about believing he could pray away his sexuality, the impact that belief had on his mental health, and how finding the right therapist and a supportive group therapy community helped him begin to accept himself.

We also discuss what it means to create safe spaces for others, what to say when someone shares their story with you, and why love, acceptance, and community matter so much.

This is a conversation about courage, belonging, and the freedom that comes from living authentically.

As John says, "Closets are for clothes." And in the end, love wins. Always.

About John Berndt

John Berndt is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 20 years of experience helping individuals and couples navigate life's challenges. He maintains a private therapy practice, serves as a Wellness Clinician with USC Keck School of Medicine's Graduate Medical Education Wellness Program, is an adjunct professor at Antioch University Los Angeles, and teaches in the counseling psychology program at the University of San Francisco. John's work focuses on self-acceptance, relationships, communication, and helping people live more authentic and connected lives.

Connect with John:
www.couplestherapywithjohn.com

In this powerful episode of Let's Fly, Tierra Wilson shares her personal story of losing her husband, Anderson Wilson, to Colon Cancer at just 42 years old. She opens up about caregiving during terminal illness, navigating hospice, advocating through difficult medical decisions, and living through grief as a young widow, mother, and entrepreneur.

This conversation explores caregiver resilience, widowhood, anticipatory grief, hospice care, and how life changes after the loss of a spouse. It is also a moving tribute to love, partnership, and finding strength after profound loss.

About Tierra Wilson (Tee):

My guest, Tierra Wilson (Tee), is Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Lovely Impact and a web designer for coaches. She handles all the internal branding, marketing, and sales for Lovely Impact.

She is also a certified marketing coach and a recognized digital business consultant, content expert, and advisory board member for Google Small Business and GoDaddy.

Her personal mission at Lovely Impact is to help their audience and customers grow their businesses and implement proven industry strategies.

Once your website is live, she’ll be the one to help you take your brand to the next level.

Resources & Mentions

• Schedule a Personal Coaching Session with Susie: ⁠https://susieschumacher.com/coaching⁠

• Connect with me: Web ⁠https://www.susieschumacher.com/⁠ Instagram: ⁠@coachwithsusie⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/coachwithsusie/⁠

Produced by Focus & Bloom Studios

What if the feeling of “this doesn’t fit anymore” isn’t a problem to solve—but a signal to listen to? In this episode of Let’s Fly, Karen Dendy Smith joins me to unpack what really happens when your work, relationships, or identity start to feel misaligned—and why you’re not wrong for outgrowing what once worked.

Drawing on her journey from co-founding a successful marketing and branding firm to becoming a full-time animal communicator and soul-level intuitive coach, Karen shares the messy middle of change: the inner beliefs that keep us small, the fear of being seen as “the bad person,” and the moment life starts to repel what no longer matches who you’re becoming.

And we talk about the turning point that changed everything—the loss of her beloved cat, Hockey Puck, an “awakening animal” whose impact didn’t just break her open…it redirected her path.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “not fitting” can be a form of inner guidance—not failure
• How childhood patterns (not feeling seen, supported, or steady) can show up in adulthood as acting out, shutting down, or people-pleasing
• What to do when your environment starts pushing back as you grow
• A grounded way to work with ego—without letting it drive the bus
• How to come back to your heart and body when your mind is racing
• Why you don’t need a perfect plan—you just need the next honest step

If you’ve been doing everything “right” but still feel off…this conversation will help you name what’s real, trust what’s changing, and choose what’s next—without abandoning yourself in the process.

About Karen Dendy Smith

Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the University of VT certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective® (ACC). And she co-hosts a weekly podcast called The Animal Communication Podcast.

With her background in medical qigong and energetic systems Karen helps animals share how they are feeling regarding their health on a physical and emotional level. This information may be shared with medical professionals to help with their healing process.

Karen finds immense joy helping people build deeper connections and relationships with their animal families, alive or in spirit, including past lives. She delivers the messages animals feel are most important to help us heal and grow. Karen believes that when we allow ourselves to see our animals as true partners, we begin to communicate as peers at the soul level. This is where the magic happens.

Find Karen here:

WEBSITE: https://www.karendendysmith.com/The Animal Communication PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-animal-communication-podcast/id1726260907

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

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

Resources & Mentions

Produced by Focus & Bloom Studios

In this conversation, Erin Prewitt shares what happens after the unthinkable. An impaired driver killed Erin’s husband—and in this episode, she shares why she chose to start dating again sooner than people around her thought was “acceptable,” and what it meant to claim, “I’m doing this for me.”

We talk about the judgment she faced from others (and herself), the pressure to “grieve the right way,” and the messy, very human reality of dating after loss. Erin opens up about letting go of the idea of a “traditional” family, and how she ultimately found the love story she wanted—even though it didn’t look like what others might have chosen for her.

She also shares what happened when she finally stepped into the emotional pain she had been holding and allowed herself to feel angry, devastated, and honest—not just “purposeful” about her loss.

We close with the simple inner practice Erin uses to create a more satisfied, contented, peaceful life—and how you can begin to try it, too.

This episode is part 2 of a two-episode series on Grief.

Listen to episode 6 for part 1

Resources & Mentions

• Want to know more about Erin? Go to ⁠erinprewitt.com⁠ or @therealerinprewitt

• Schedule a Personal Coaching Session with Susie: https://www.susieschumacher.com/offerings

• Connect with me: Web https://www.susieschumacher.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachwithsusie/
• Produced by Focus & Bloom Studios

Welcome to Let's Fly Podcast's channel.Let’s Fly with Susie is about being human. The moments that test you, shape you, and ultimately help you grow.Each episode dives into the real stories behind life’s hardest experiences: caregiving, loss, transitions, and the quiet work of finding yourself again. You’ll hear from people who’ve faced the unimaginable and still found a way forward. Not by pretending everything’s fine, but by learning to meet life as it is.If you’re tired of perfect success stories and want to hear real people navigating real life with honesty and heart, this podcast is for you.🔹 Book a Personal Coaching Session:https://www.susieschumacher.com/offerings🔹 Stay Connected:Instagram: @SusieSoulCoachWebsite: www.susieschumacher.com

Grief is a complex journey that many of us will face, often when we least expect it. In today’s episode, we explore the profound and personal story of Erin, a woman who became a widow in an instant, and how she chose to navigate her grief in a way that honored her late husband while also allowing her to find joy in life again.

Erin Prewitt is a seasoned life and intuitive coach with over 15 years of experience. She has been a guiding light for countless individuals seeking to uncover their true potential. Erin specializes in intuitive coaching, relationship support, online dating mentorship, and keynote speaking.

To learn more about Erin and her work, visit erinprewitt.com or linktr.ee/ErinPrewitt

Resources & Mentions

• Schedule a Personal Coaching Session with Susie: https://www.susieschumacher.com/offerings

• Connect with me:

  Web ⁠https://www.susieschumacher.com/⁠

  Instagram⁠ @coachwithsusie/⁠

• Produced by ⁠Focus & Bloom Studios⁠

  
  

In a world full of curated success stories, I think it’s more important than ever to share the raw, unfiltered moments that shape who we truly are. On my newly rebranded podcast, “Let’s Fly,” (previously “Soul, Hustle and Hype”) I open up space for the real journeys—the ones built on resilience, inner growth, and the courage to keep going. In this episode, I dive into the heart of why this podcast exists and what I hope you’ll take away from every story we explore together.

Resources & Mentions

• Schedule a Personal Coaching Session with Susie: https://www.susieschumacher.com/offerings

• Connect with me:

  Web https://www.susieschumacher.com/

  Instagram @coachwithsusie/

• Produced by Focus & Bloom Studios

  
  

In this episode, I share the story of literally hitting a wall—an unexpected moment that became a wake-up call to pause, reflect, and look honestly at the choices I was making. I talk about how self-awareness, inner work, and self-compassion helped me move through fear and anxiety, and why these practices matter when life feels heavy or uncertain.

I also explore the power of choice—not needing it to be perfect, but recognizing that even small decisions can shift us forward. And I share a simple tool to help you break out of the fear freeze and return to peace. My hope is that this conversation reminds you that you can meet yourself where you are, and take your next step with courage and clarity

Chapters

00:00 Hitting the Wall: A Wake-Up Call

02:54 Navigating Fear and Anxiety

06:06 The Power of Inner Work

09:00 Self-Compassion and Awareness

11:51 Responding to Triggers

14:44 The Importance of Choice

18:01 Finding Your Voice and Purpose

20:55 Celebrating Growth and Change

Resources & Mentions

• Schedule a Personal Coaching Session with Susie: https://www.susieschumacher.com/offerings

• Music: “Soul on Fire” by Cortez Jordan

• Connect with me: Instagram @SusieSoulCoach | SusieSchumacher.com 

• Produced by Focus & Bloom Studios

In this coaching session, Cortez discusses the challenges he faces in balancing his wife's catering business with his own responsibilities, revealing deeper issues related to pressure, control, and past trauma. The conversation explores how family dynamics and the loss of his mother have shaped his outlook on life and his approach to personal and professional challenges. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, understanding one's past, and finding a balance between work and personal life. In this conversation, Susie and Cortez dive deeper into the impact of childhood upbringing on personal habits and self-sufficiency, the challenges of leadership and communication, and the significance of making conscious choices in shaping one's identity. This live coaching episode shines a light on the need for self-care and celebrating personal achievements while navigating the complexities of leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Why unresolved grief can show up as overworking or control

• Impact of using negative patterns to distract or avoid feeling emotional pain.

• What it means to lead with vulnerability and heartWhy celebrating yourself is an act of resilience, not arrogance

• How to unpack past traumas in a way that creates empowerment.

• Care and service are powerful—but you need both, too

Timestamps

00:00 Navigating Transitions in Life and Business

02:51 The Pressure of Balancing Work and Relationships

05:35 The Weight of Responsibility and Control

08:09 Unpacking Family Dynamics and Personal Loss

11:15 The Impact of Childhood Experiences on Adulthood

13:51 Honoring the Past and Moving Forward

16:31 Finding Faith and Purpose in Service

25:36 Navigating Personal Beliefs and Acceptance

27:15 Reflections on Upbringing and Identity

29:29 Life Skills and Self-Sufficiency

31:04 Leadership and Support in Relationships

33:14 Balancing Work and Self-Care

35:46 Communication and Team Dynamics

38:00 Understanding Dyslexia and Vulnerability

39:48 Creating a Supportive Environment

44:42 The Concept of Instant Karma

47:16 Celebrating Personal Achievements

Resources & Mentions

• Schedule a Personal Coaching Session with Susie: https://www.susieschumacher.com/offerings

• Music: “Soul on Fire” by Cortez Jordan

• Connect with me: Instagram @SusieSoulCoach | SusieSchumacher.com 

In this episode of Soul Hustle and Hype, Susie Schumacher sits down with HR leader and soul-centered powerhouse Seantea Stewart for a raw, real, and inspiring conversation on leadership, integrity, and what it really means to be human in Human Resources.From navigating high-impact decisions to building trust through vulnerability, Seantea shares how her inner work, values, and commitment to care have redefined her leadership—and empowered her team to lead with courage.Whether you're a leader, aspiring HR professional, or just someone trying to stay grounded while navigating change, this episode offers gems on aligning work with values, creating authentic teams, and the power of saying “I don’t know… but I’ll figure it out.
Key Takeaways:

• Why integrity, compassion, and fairness are non-negotiables in leadership.

• How to lead through resistance and still uphold your values.

• What it means to create a values-based framework in HR—even when decisions come from above.

• Why vulnerability builds trust and transforms teams.

• The powerful ripple effect of doing your inner work.Redefining success and “winning” in leadership.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & how Susieand Seantea met

01:00 – Seantea’s unexpected journey into HR

03:00 – The real skills that matter in HR: reading the room & communication

06:00 – Compassion in crisis: handling difficult exits with humanity

10:00 – Respect, values & being called in to clean up messes

13:00 – Frameworks vs. resistance: fighting for what’s fair

17:00 – Leading a team through organizational change

22:00 – A new definition of winning in leadership

27:00 – Vulnerability, trust, and authentic team culture

33:00 – The active hope for HR’s future

38:00 – Leading from your values for your team, and your family

46:00 – Susie’s closing reflections and gratitude

Resources & Mentions

• Music: “Soul on Fire” by Cortez Jordan

• Connect with me: Instagram @SusieSoulCoach | SusieSchumacher.com