Life Shift | True Stories of Healing, Grief & Loss

In this episode, Alyse Maslonik shares her story of surviving domestic abuse and sexual assault during her childhood. She talks about the constant state of fight or flight that she lived in and how it affected her personal development. Alyse also discusses her upcoming book, "The Anger She Keeps: A True Story of Rage and Redemption," which explores the theme of holding onto anger as a way of healing.

"I get if no one wants to believe me, but I wouldn't feel right or if I would just not try one more time and then someone else becomes a victim. So that is why I told my mom. But it's interesting. There was so much turmoil in my life, even when I told my mom, it was not a turning point."

Alyse challenges the societal notion that anger is a negative emotion that must be suppressed, especially for women and victims of trauma. She shares her experience of how harnessing her anger helped her find healing and move forward. Her healing journey was not linear, however, and she had to overcome obstacles such as her mother's initial disbelief in her accusations of abuse, which led to a decade-long estrangement between them.

Despite these challenges, Alyse could understand her mother's perspective and extend grace to her. She also had to relearn the concept of love through her husband's actions, which were different from what she had experienced in the past.

Key Takeaways:

Alyse's journey from a difficult childhood to success in the corporate world led her to found RedefinED Advisors LLC, a strategic development partner for non-public and private schools. Through the Triumph Over Tragedy Scholarship Award, Alyse continues her lifelong mission of helping underprivileged children achieve their full potential by providing additional scholarships to students who have demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity.

Visit http://www.redefiningeducation.org/ to learn more about RedefinED Advisors LLC and the Triumph Over Tragedy Scholarship Award.

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Trauma healing, Personal growth, Finding hope after trauma, Breaking cycles of abuse

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LOLO Pritchard, a talented songwriter and performer, shares her inspiring story, filled with passion, determination, and the courage to pursue her wildest dreams.

"Your voice is so powerful. And it's so important to use it because that's how we make change in the world." - Lolo Pritchard.

LOLO started her journey in the entertainment industry at the age of nine. She talks about her early commitment and strong work ethic, making a bet with her parents to prove her dedication. Lolo emphasizes the importance of authenticity and defining success on one's own terms.

She talks about the pivotal moments that led to her personal and professional success and offers insights on how to find your voice and make a difference. From auditioning for the Broadway show "Spring Awakening" to writing music for Panic! At The Disco, Lolo's journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and self-belief.

So, let Lolo's story inspire you to embrace your true passions, navigate challenges with grace, and define success on your own terms.

LOLO, also known as Lauren Pritchard, is a multi-talented artist, songwriter, actress, composer, and activist from Jackson, Tennessee. She originated the role of Ilse in Spring Awakening on Broadway at 18 years old. She has released four albums, including Wasted In Jackson and In Loving Memory Of When I Gave A Shit. Lolo writes for other artists and bands and composes musicals. She was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2017 for her work on Panic! At The Disco's Death Of A Bachelor. She co-wrote "High Hopes" and "Say Amen" for Panic! At The Disco's 2018 follow-up album. Lauren also composed and wrote the lyrics for the musical Songbird. She is currently working on three new musicals: Finding Helena, Beethoven, and Pink Boxes. Lolo lives in Tennessee with her family and pets.

Connect with LOLO: http://www.lolomusic.com

Subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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• https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

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1. Power of Questions

2. Importance of Comfort in Finding Happiness

3. Persistence Pays Off: The Importance of Perseverance

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to Ear Worthy - Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards

https://podnews.net/press-release/ear-worthy-awards-2024

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On September 1, 1989, when I was just eight years old, my mother was killed in a motorcycle accident. As I have discussed on this show, this moment shaped not only my childhood but also my adulthood. It is also the reason The Life Shift Podcast exists. Through the Life Shift podcast, I have had the opportunity to heal parts of myself that I didn't even know were broken.

In honor of my mother, Joan Gilhooly, I have dedicated September as "Super September," where I will be releasing two impactful episodes per week. I hope that listeners will find different elements of each story that resonate with them, and perhaps the show will continue growing in that way.

If you have the heart space, please join me in remembering my mother on September 1st, the day she passed away 34 years ago. I am so grateful for the support of everyone who has been a part of this journey, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

For more information on The Life Shift and to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes, please visit my website - http://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Get access to ad-free episodes released two days early and bonus episodes with past guests through Patreon. https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Connect with me:

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast

Website: http://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to Ear Worthy - Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards

https://podnews.net/press-release/ear-worthy-awards-2024

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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Alice Chun shares an inspiring story of innovation and invention. Her focus on solar energy began when she was a material technology specialist and started sewing solar panels to fabric and thin plastic. After the Haiti earthquake, Alice turned her studio into an innovation studio to help Haiti. She realized that 2.6 billion people live without access to electricity and are using kerosene to light their world, spending a third of their income on it. Alice designed collapsible solar lights with Origami that are simple yet beautiful and can be fit into hundreds in a box. She has distributed these lights in war-torn areas and natural disasters, bringing hope and utility to those in need.

Alice believes that everyone has the power inside them to innovate and invent, but it takes courage, grit, and empathy.

Finding Your Passion

• Alice shares her experience discovering her passion for technology and how it led her to found her startup. She emphasizes the importance of following your interests and finding a problem you are passionate about solving.

Building a Strong Team

• Alice discusses the importance of building a team that shares your vision and values. She shares tips for finding people and creating a positive work culture.

Overcoming Obstacles

• Alice discusses the challenges she has faced as a female founder in the tech industry, including the lack of representation and the difficulty of raising funding. She offers advice for other women looking to break into the field.

Alice's story is an inspiring example of how hard work, determination, and passion for your work can lead to success. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to make a change, her insights offer valuable guidance for finding your path to success.

Alice is an author, TEDx speaker, and female inventor of Solight-Design and SEEU95. She has been featured on Tamron Hall, Good Morning America, MSNBC, Marie Claire's Powertrip 2022, The Skimm, The Story Exchange, Fast Company, The New York Times, Cheddar, Huffington Post, Heavy, Men's Journal, and was nominated for USPTO Patents for Humanitarian Winner in 2018. Alice was nominated as one of Forbes 50 Over 50 recognizable women of 2022. Alice was also recently featured in the new Apple TV+ show 'Gutsy,' alongside other female rock stars such as Jane Goodall, Wanda Sykes, Meg Thee Stallion, Kim Kardashian, and others.

Alice Chun LinkedIn

Solight Website

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The Life Shift:

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1. Harnessing Inner Light

2. Creating a Global Ripple Effect

3. The Paradox of Success

4. Thriving Through Challenges and Struggles

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to Ear Worthy - Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards

https://podnews.net/press-release/ear-worthy-awards-2024

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I wanted to share this clip from Heidi Kirby's bonus episode recording for the Patreon members. In these recordings, I reconnect with past guests to discuss their experience on The Life Shift Podcast, share their stories, and allow them to share any updates since their episode aired.

In this clip, we talk about the value of sharing stories to create connections and understanding. The full bonus episode with Heidi is available on the Patreon feed. Please consider supporting the show with the link below.

Heidi Kirby's Full Episode (#19) can be found here: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/are-you-going-to-stop-drinking-forever-heidi-kirby/

Thank you for the support along the way. If you want to help support the show and join the Patreon, please check out www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/join

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to Ear Worthy - Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards

https://podnews.net/press-release/ear-worthy-awards-2024

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This bonus episode recaps the final statements from episodes 61-70, where guests reflect on what they would say to themselves before their life shift moment and offer advice to those going through similar experiences. These conversations are raw, personal, and deeply inspiring. These conversations remind us that life is full of unexpected twists and turns, but with self-love, resilience, and a willingness to take risks, we can overcome our challenges and thrive. Please tune in to the Life Shift Podcast for candid conversations about the pivotal moments that shape our lives.

Guest Appearances in order:

From Misunderstood to Empowered: Breaking Free from ADHD Stigma and Labels | Heather Taylor

Overcoming Mental Traps And Finding Your Compass | Jenna Irving

Transforming Negative Habits into Personal Growth: The Empowering Benefits of Journaling | Kristy Olinger

Normalizing Trauma Responses: Navigating Grief and Family Relationships | MC McDonald

Overcoming Shame, Toxic Masculinity, And Finding Purpose | John D’Agostini

From Burnout To Spiritual Awakening: A Journey Of Self-discovery And Corporate Success | Elizabeth Rosenberg

Entrepreneurship, Family, and Mental Health: Learning Life Lessons from Tragedy | Larry Sprung

From Heartbreak to Healing: Writing through Grief and Loss | Lori Keesey

Transforming the Relationship with Food and Body: Journey to Health and Happiness | Laura Harless

The Art of Kindness in the Face of Tragedy | Robert Peterpaul

Access to ad-free, early-release episodes and bonus episodes with past guests through Patreon. https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Connect with me:

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to Ear Worthy - Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards

https://podnews.net/press-release/ear-worthy-awards-2024

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses suicide.

Sunny Chang shares his journey of finding strength, healing, and hope in mental health after coping with grief and guilt. Sunny emphasizes the importance of processing emotions and feelings and shares his strategies for dealing with loss, including practicing mindfulness, therapy, and exercise. He talks about finding hope and healing through mental health and emphasizes that seeking help is a sign of strength.

“I think that's important to me now, where it sounds almost cliche, but it's okay to not be okay. It's okay to sometimes just lay in bed and cry, and you need to process those emotions and those feelings.”

Sunny's story is a powerful example of how mental health practices can be a tool for finding hope and healing in the face of adversity. He discusses the importance of cherishing happy moments and embracing emotions and encourages listeners to live in the present. Through his insights, listeners can learn how to cope with grief and guilt in a healthy way.

This episode with Sunny Chang is a testament to the power of personal stories and the resilience of the human spirit. It serves as a reminder that no matter our challenges, we can find strength, healing, and hope by embracing our emotions, connecting with others, and cherishing the moments that bring us joy.

Sunny is the creator and host of the Three Siblings Podcast and works for Google in Austin. He keeps an active lifestyle through boxing, marathon running, and world travel.

threesiblingspodcast.com

Resources: Subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early and bonus episodes with past guests through Patreon.

• https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

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Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

1. Mental health podcast

2. Coping with grief and guilt

3. Finding strength and healing

4. Personal mental health stories

5. Impact of sharing experiences

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to Ear Worthy - Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards

https://podnews.net/press-release/ear-worthy-awards-2024

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Life Shift Podcast, guest Olivia Dreizen Howell shares her personal story of going through a divorce as a single mother with two young children.

"I really knew my kids deserved a life that didn't include walking on eggshells all the time. And they deserved a mother that could show up for them. I mean, Matt, I have letters I wrote to my sons apologizing for the things I had to do to survive at that time. You know, and I was so scared that something would happen to me, and they wouldn't know that I believed in them, or that I thought that they were okay to be themselves, or that they could be whoever they wanted to be.” 

She recounts how she met her ex-husband and how their relationship quickly progressed, leading to them moving in together and getting married. As the relationship evolved, she felt exhausted trying to be the person her ex-husband wanted her to be, and her eating issues were used against her in the relationship.

Olivia describes the pivotal moment when she realized her marriage was over and felt a sense of freedom when her ex-husband said he wanted a divorce. She talks about staying in the marital residence with her children and cleaning out everything that reminded her of her marriage. Olivia also shares her idea for a registry for people going through challenging moments like divorce where they could receive items they need when everything feels like it's crumbling around them.

Olivia Dreizen Howell is the co-founder and CEO of Fresh Starts Registry, the first and only platform for everything you need to begin again, including divorce or breakup, moving, career changes, stepping into your truth, or starting again after grief.

Guest Information:

Subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a friend!

Get access to bonus and ad-free & two days early episodes through Patreon. https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Connect with The Life Shift Podcast:

Topics: divorce, single mother, Fresh Starts Registry, Olivia Dreizen Howell, podcast, The Life Shift, personal growth, healing, overcoming adversity.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to Ear Worthy - Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards

https://podnews.net/press-release/ear-worthy-awards-2024

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newton Cheng, Director of Health and Performance at Google, world champion competitive powerlifter, and father, shares his story of growing up in a traditional Asian American family and feeling the pressure to achieve success by checking all the boxes. He talks about how this pressure led him to pivot from a career in engineering to a career in health and wellbeing.

"I'm not sure what happened, but in the moment, I started to cry, and I could feel like the tears just start welling up in my eyes, and I said, right now I'm struggling because the number of days that I'm proud of how I'm showing up as a father is going down and I don't know how to turn that around." - Newton Cheng

Newton was conditioned to believe that success was all about checking boxes, as his parents had a clause in their will that said he wouldn't receive his portion of the inheritance unless he graduated college. To Newton and his family, education was the key to a successful life, and he made sure he ticked all the boxes, got good grades, and achieved all his academic goals. However, as the pandemic hit and the world shut down, Newton found himself struggling to keep up with work demands while trying to be a present father to his two daughters.

In a vulnerable moment during a work meeting, Newton broke down in tears and shared his struggle with feeling like he was failing as a father. This moment of vulnerability led to a deeper understanding of himself and his priorities. Newton realized that he needed to be more open with his colleagues and family about his struggles to maintain a balance between his work and personal life.

Newton Cheng is a husband and father, competitive powerlifter, and Director of Health and Performance at Google. He has spent his career at Google developing, launching, and scaling global programs aimed at helping Googlers to thrive. He oversees a global portfolio of Google's physical and digital health and wellbeing amenities and explores how Google can leverage spaces, services, community, culture, and technology to support the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of Googlers, their families, and neighbors.

Newton's journey of self-discovery and self-care is a reminder that we all need to prioritize our mental and emotional health to achieve true success in life. Newton's story is one of courage, vulnerability, and the power of change.

Connect with Newton Cheng on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes early and bonus episodes with past guests through Patreon. https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

1. Vulnerability

2. Emotional depth

3. Powerlifter

4. Mental health

5. Personal growth

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to Ear Worthy - Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards

https://podnews.net/press-release/ear-worthy-awards-2024

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I wanted to share this clip from Pamela Topjian's bonus episode recording for the Patreon members. In these recordings, I reconnect with past guests to discuss their experience on The Life Shift Podcast, share their stories, and allow them to share any updates since their episode aired.

In this clip, we talk about the value of sharing stories to create connections and understanding. The full bonus episode with Pamela is available on the Patreon feed. Please consider supporting the show with the link below.

Pamela Topjian's Full Episode (#48) can be found here: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/a-bus-ride-to-finding-hope-overcoming-childhood-trauma-to-start-anew-pamela-topjian/

Thank you for the support along the way. If you want to help support the show and join the Patreon, please check out www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/join

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to Ear Worthy - Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards

https://podnews.net/press-release/ear-worthy-awards-2024

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices