Life Shift | True Stories of Healing, Grief & Loss

In this episode of the podcast, we discussed the importance of hard work and dedication when it comes to achieving success. We heard Grant Baldwin's inspiring story of how he landed his first gig and how much legwork he put in to make it happen.

"If you don't enjoy at least 80% of what you're doing, you should find something else. And I remember just thinking like, really we can, we can do that. And I remember leaving that session and calling my wife, and we've been having some of these conversations, but I remember leaving that session, calling her and saying like, I think we're done again. I don't know what's next. But I remember leaving that session and calling her thinking like, okay, we're gonna rip the Band-aid and figure it out from there."

We explored how everyone starts from zero when trying to get that first client and how it can be challenging to stay motivated, but the first check can give you the confidence and drive to keep going. Grant is the founder and CEO of The Speaker Lab, a company that has helped thousands of people build successful and sustainable speaking businesses.

Grant's expertise and insight have been featured on the Inc. 5000 list, Forbes, Inc. Entrepreneur, and The Huffington Post. His leadership and commitment to creating a unique organizational culture are evident in his team's impact.

This episode will inspire you to never give up on your dreams. Tune in to hear more of Grant's story and his valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

To learn more about The Speaker lab, please visit http://www.thespeakerlab.com

Resources:

To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, 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 - http://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/join

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

Charting a Career Path Against the Grain and Bringing Stories to Life | Wayne Partello

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

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

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

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

Content warning: This episode discusses depression, suicide ideation, and abuse. Please take care while listening.

Pamela Topjian shares her inspirational story of overcoming childhood neglect and trauma to live a life she loves.

“I left this husband that was an alcoholic, drug abuser who abused me. I left him, I went down a path of deep depression, high anxiety, get on this bus sort of last-ditch effort.”

Pamela faced depression and suicidal thoughts but took a friend’s suggestion to start a new life by moving to California. Despite not knowing how to go about it, she researched, and two weeks later, she was on the bus. In this episode, Pamela shares her story of how childhood trauma affected her marriages and how she eventually advocated for herself to find joy in her life, including a respectful and loving marriage, writing, painting, and speaking about her life story.

In this episode, we discuss how:

1. Pamela’s childhood trauma affected her marriages.

2. She considered suicide but was encouraged by a friend to leave town and start fresh somewhere else.

3. Pamela advocated for herself and eventually found joy in her life, including a respectful and loving marriage, writing, painting, and speaking about her life story.

Listen to this episode to hear about Pamela’s incredible transformation journey and how talking with someone else can help unlock things in us that we didn’t know before and bring comfort. Pamela Topjian is an inspirational figure, having overcome a childhood marred by neglect and abuse, two toxic marriages, and a battle with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. After a cross-country trip alone, she experienced a breakthrough and has since dedicated her life to helping others. She is a board-certified hypnotherapist and author and has moved to Northern California with her third husband. Through her moving memoir, Topjian seeks to provide solace and encouragement to those in similar situations, proving that it is possible to make it through the darkest of times and live a life of fulfillment.

Connect with Pamela - https://linktr.ee/PamelaTopjian

Resources:

Please subscribe to "The Life Shift" 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

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

From Surviving to Thriving: Overcoming Trauma & Finding Purpose | Sarah Blankenship

Connect with me:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

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

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

I wanted to celebrate a milestone on the Patreon page and share a clip from one of the Patreon Bonus Episodes this week. The Patreon is growing, and we recently hit the first goal of 15 subscribers. The first two winners of the t-shirt giveaway were my supporters, Bryan and Marisa.

I wanted to share this clip from Randy Redd's bonus episode recording about worrying about what others (and society) might think about major life decisions.

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

In this week’s episode, Josh Painter shares his inspiring journey of taking risks and how it eventually paid off. And how he has found a way to create the best version of himself ever, going against living the life that others expect of them.

“I get a text from the office manager, and it says do you want to work with some investors in San Diego? And this is just a concept that I talked about in the book and sometimes you just say yes to things and then figure it out later and you don't always have to know the reason or where it's going, but for whatever reason, I said yes, I remember thinking of all these questions and just said, just figure it out, yes. And he goes, okay, great, they'll be in the office on Thursday, you're going to meet with them, and I was like, oh, that escalated quickly.”

Josh talks about the crucial moments that altered his life, like taking a job working at the jail at 21, investing in real estate after a shocking phone call, and embracing opportunities even if he didn't feel ready (say YES!). He also stresses the importance of hiring coaches to help you reach your goals. Tune in now to hear Josh's story and learn more about the power of taking chances!

Josh founded the Best Version Ever community after realizing that most people live a life that others expect of them, not a life true to themselves. Unfortunately, he was living this same life, moving from one job to the next, barely getting by, and almost losing everything at one point.

Since then, Josh has built and sold a successful real estate company, started a charity organization, and lives his Best Version Ever by helping others crush their goals and reach their full potential in all areas of life.

www.bestversionever.com/book

Chapters:

00:16:22 Realizing The Wrong Side Of A Deal

00:32:06 The Power Of Saying Yes: How One Text Led To 400 Home Sales

00:38:59 An Introvert's Unexpected Experience At Event

Resources:

To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, 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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Life Shift Podcast is now on Patreon - 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:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

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

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

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

Matt Drinkhahn's inspiring journey is one to be admired! From overcoming bullying to his three-day golf tournament with his father, which gave him a deeper understanding of parenting, his life has been shaped by strong moments of resilience. Throughout the conversation, we continually return to a moment with his father after a tough day in school when Matt faced his first real sense of rejection. It is this moment that Matt attributes to his strength and resilience.

“I know I was reawakened, you know, by this legacy of dad and moving forward in the future. Uh, you asked about emotional intelligence Matt, I could say I didn't really have much of it. I was able to read people very, very well. I was good at sales. I was good at business, but being able to feel process emotion was not a strength. I could read the room well. I didn't process things. I just, I just buried them.”

Matt is an entrepreneur and corporate veteran in sales, coaching, recruiting, leadership, and sales management. He has coached high-performance individuals and Teams for 8 years with ProAdvisorCoach and has led dozens of offsite retreats and conferences. He is best known for his integrity and highly energetic and enthusiastic personality. After losing his father, Matt also faced a freak zipline accident that could have taken away his ability to work. However, he used this moment and transformed it into teaching, coaching, and speaking to teams and companies while recovering. This was a defining moment in his career, and he credits the support of his family and the preparation of his mindset for his success.

Check out his life’s work on the social media channels below:

Website: www.eternaloptimistpodcast.com

Instagram: @EternalOptimistPodcast, @Coach_Drink

LinkedIn: Eternal Optimist Podcast, Matt Drinkhahn

YouTube: The Eternal Optimist

Twitter: @PodcastOptimist, @MDrinkhahn

Resources:

Follow/Subscribe to "The Life Shift" wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Life Shift Podcast is now on Patreon - https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

Fulfilling the Final Wishes of a Mentor | J. Rodríguez, Ph.D.

Connect with me:

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

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 celebrate a milestone on the Patreon page with everyone and share a clip from one of the Patreon Bonus Episodes this week. The Patreon is growing, and we just hit 15 subscribers. This is a milestone because I created a t-shirt giveaway where once I hit 15 subscribers, I would draw a random name for every five new subscribers and send that person a Life Shift Podcast t-shirt (one of two designs) I created.

So, one or two people will soon receive their very own The Life Shift Podcast T-shirt.

I wanted to share this clip from Kelly Anderson's bonus episode recording. At the end of each bonus episode, I like to ask the guests if they have anything to share with someone considering sharing their story with someone (or the show) and the value it could provide.

So in this clip, you will hear Kelly Anderson's response.

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

After ten years of teaching chemistry and dreading a future of 25-35 years of the same job, Lorraine Connell applied for a middle management position, only to be met with disappointment when she was not chosen. Without waning support from the administration, Lorraine had to innovate to find a way to enjoy teaching and challenge her students.

"It was five years later where something landed in my lap, and I felt that same excitement that I had felt that first week that I told you, where I burst into tears. So my mentor was moving on, and he was teaching a class called Peer leadership. And so it was student leadership development, and kids were actually given course credit to learn leadership skills. And this, in addition to my chemistry class, just changed everything for me. I felt really connected again. I was happy."

Lorraine was a successful chemistry teacher for many years and loved her job. She connected with her students and was passionate about her subject matter. However, she felt it was time to move on to something else. After applying for a middle management position, Lorraine was devastated when she was not chosen.

For the next five years, Lorraine felt less and less supported by her administration. In 2018, however, she was given the opportunity to teach a student leadership class. This allowed her to make more authentic connections with her students and rediscover her love for teaching.

Lorraine is now the owner of Peers not Fears, LLC, and a veteran educator of over 20 years. She works with schools and youth-serving organizations to coach educators and students and is the host of the podcast Education Unimagined. In 2022, Lorraine left her full-time chemistry teaching job to work with interested schools, families, and communities to develop more equitable access and empowerment of students.

Lorraine's story is an inspiring one. It's proof that making a career change is possible and that it can lead to amazing opportunities. To learn more about Lorraine's story and hear from current and past students about their educational experiences, check out Education Unimagined Podcast. To learn more about Peers not Fears, LLC and their work, visit www.peers-not-fears.com.

Don't let fear hold you back from making a change - you never know what opportunities might come your way. So take a chance and make the shift.

The Life Shift Podcast is now on Patreon - https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

From Public to Private: This Teacher's Story of Finding Fulfillment | Jackie Scully

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

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

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

In this episode, Claudia Noriega-Bernstein shares her story of betrayal and how it has shaped her life.

“But I have learned in all these years to take that responsibility of what could I have done different. And when I think about our marriage, I was very happy. He seemed to be very happy.”

After experiencing a devastating betrayal, Claudia was determined to regain control of her life. She faced her fears and confronted the person who had wronged her, refusing to let them off the hook. Through this experience, she learned that the power lies within herself and that she is enough.

Despite facing a cancer diagnosis three times and losing her father when she was 25, Claudia has found strength in her pain and used it to grow. She now coaches others on creating an abundant life within themselves and shares her story of resilience with those who need it most.

With courage and determination, Claudia has shown us that no matter what life throws at us, we can always come out stronger on the other side.

Claudia is an artist, writer, philanthropist, abundance coach, mentor, mother, and wife. During her career as a journalist, she has worked for magazines and television in South America and the US, touching on subjects from parenting, forgiveness, and growth to political issues.

She has dedicated the last twelve years of her life to empowering people, especially children and women. As a life/abundance coach, she has helped people from different backgrounds discover and implement their creative powers' full potential for personal growth and self-healing.

www.BrighterDaysBook.com

Instagram: @Cindifreakinrella

FB Page: @MyBloomingFamily

Twitter: @Noriega_Clau

Resources:

To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, 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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Life Shift Podcast is now on Patreon - Get access to ad-free episodes released two days early and bonus episodes with past guests through Patreon.

https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

Triggered by Two Words | Leaving a Toxic Relationship | Diane Diaz

Burning Everything to Find True Purpose | Kelly Anderson

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

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

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

Are you feeling stuck in life and don't know where to turn?

“You know it's all of these moments that you it's when you don't think, and you don't over process that life tends to take you in the craziest and most amazing direction.”

When Liam was younger, he was too scared to get on a bus to school in the morning due to anxiety and insecurity. This caused him to miss a lot of school during important exam years. Eventually, Liam had a moment where he realized that he needed to make a change and decided to look up university applications at midnight on the day of clearing. This allowed Liam to apply for last-minute places on courses that couldn't be filled by universities through the normal application process.

Liam shares a few other instances where a little late-night curiosities and impulses led to big changes in his life. Through hard work and determination, he was able to find his place in the world.

This story proves that it's never too late to make a change and find your purpose. With the right mindset, you can take control of your life and create the future you want. So don't wait any longer - take that first step today!

Liam is an award-winning freelance podcast producer, Audio Director at The Podcast Boutique, and co-creator of Emmeline, a brand-new podcast network supporting female and non-binary podcasters. His passion for audio began in hospital radio, which remains to this day as he volunteers for the Hospital Broadcasting Association in the UK. In a past life, he was an Oscars expert, film critic, and banker, but now he is a proud husband and dad of two fur babies, looking forward to starting a human family as they go through the adoption process.

Twitter: @ThisIsTheHeff

LinkedIn:  Liam Heffernan | LinkedIn

Resources:

To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, 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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

The Power of YES! - How Others Helped Identify True Passions | Marisa Eikenberry

From Behavior Analyst to Award-Winning Filmmaker | Robin Hofmann

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

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

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

This is a REPLAY of episode 11, launched in May 2022. I wanted to share this episode again for new subscribers that have yet to hear my story and the WHY behind The Life Shift Podcast.

In this episode, we flipped the script so I could tell my story. Throughout the first batch of episodes, the guests (and listeners) asked when I would tell my story. So, in this episode, my first guest, Christin Lindley, leads the conversation as I share the pivotal moments that shaped my life and eventually led to The Life Shift podcast.

As a child, Matt faced his mother's sudden and unexpected death. At just 8 years old, he had to grapple with the grief and sadness that comes with such a tragedy. He was also forced to adjust to a new life in Georgia, where he had to start school as "the new kid." Despite all this, he found comfort in his grandmother's love and support. Unfortunately, she eventually got a lung cancer diagnosis, and it became clear that her time was limited. On her 82nd birthday, they had a wonderful celebration surrounded by family. During this time, they had an honest conversation about their relationship and expressed gratitude for each other. After she passed away, he took time to process his grief and come out on the other side with clarity. He realized that he had been living his life to other people's expectations, but now he could live authentically for himself. He learned that it's okay to be sad but also happy for the experiences you shared together. Grief is something you never get over, but it's important to process it to move forward in life.

---

Matt Gilhooly is a creator - podcaster, communicator, and educator. He is the creator, producer, editor, and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Spurred by his life-altering experiences, Matt helps others share the stories of pivotal moments that changed everything forever on The Life Shift Podcast. Matt has self-published over 10 coloring books on Amazon and released a children's book that celebrates individuality and confidence, "I Can Be Anyone: A Soul's Journey," in June 2021. Matt earned his master’s in mass communications from the University of Florida in 2022 and an MBA from the University of Central Florida in 2004. He believes that we must take time to support the people around us to achieve success.

Resources:

Follow "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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Life Shift Podcast is now on Patreon - 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:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

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