Life Stories Podcast with Shara Goswick: Real People. Inspiring Stories. Making a Difference.

In this milestone 200th episode, Shara sits down with podcaster, founder, and pro-aging advocate Ande Lyons for a deeply affirming and energizing conversation about purpose, visibility, and staying engaged at every stage of life.

In this episode, we talk about:

*Why ageism is wasting generations of talent
*What “pro-aging” really means—and why anti-aging messaging is harmful, especially for women
*Why retirement has been called a global epidemic
*The importance of staying curious, connected, and engaged after 65
*The power of intergenerational relationships
*Ande’s journey through entrepreneurship, startup mentoring, and podcasting
*Why podcasting is one of the most powerful tools for connection, purpose, and community
*How Ande built the New England Podcasters Group—and why in-person community still matters


This episode is a reminder that life doesn’t end at a certain age—it expands, and the world still needs what only you can bring.

To connect with Ande, visit dontbecagedbyyourage.com

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Hilary Powers shares her extraordinary journey, from childhood fame as the voice of Sally Brown in Peanuts to addiction, trauma, recovery, and a life devoted to helping others heal.

Hilary opens up about growing up in an abusive and chaotic home, how early trauma shaped her identity, and why success on the outside doesn’t always reflect what’s happening within. She explains how addiction became a way to soothe pain she didn’t yet understand—and how recovery taught her that healing is about far more than just putting substances down.

Together, we talk about:

• Childhood trauma and the hidden cost of early success

• Addiction as a mind, body, and soul dis-ease

• The “triangle of trauma” and how it shapes behavior

• Why people-pleasing, fear, and perfectionism are survival responses

• How recovery begins with stabilization, not self-improvement

• The power of pausing, grounding, and reconnecting with the senses

• Turning anxiety into wonder and fear into curiosity

• Using your scars—not your success—as your greatest asset

• Why joy is deeper and more lasting than happiness

• How reinvention is possible at any stage of life

Hilary also shares practical tools anyone can use when they feel overwhelmed, stuck, or trapped in fight-or-flight and reminds us that healing doesn’t happen all at once, but one small, intentional step at a time.

To connect with Hilary, visit https://www.hilarymombergerpowers.com/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

In this episode, Shara sits down with Dana DiPrima, founder of the For Farmers Movement and host of One Bite Is Everything, to talk about why small farmers matter, how a personal journey turned into a national movement, and simple ways anyone can stand shoulder to shoulder with the people who grow our food.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How Dana went from “never wanting to be a farmer” to becoming a leading advocate for small farms

• Why small farmers are often invisible — and what it means to truly see them

• The For Farmers grant program and real stories of impact across the country

• Simple, everyday ways listeners can support local farmers and food systems

• Why food choices connect to health, community, the environment, and the economy

Connect with Dana & For Farmers:

• Website: forfarmersmovement.com

• Instagram: @xoxofarmgirl

• Podcast: One Bite Is Everything

In this episode of Life Stories, host Shara Goswick talks with Dan McQueen, a two-time traumatic brain injury survivor and keynote speaker. Dan shares how a sudden brain hemorrhage in London in 2014 changed his life forever and how he rebuilt it through grit, perspective, and a commitment to being better than yesterday.
From waking up from a coma unable to walk, talk, or smile, to setting a bold goal of skiing again after ten years, Dan’s story is a powerful reminder that setbacks don’t define us. Our response does.
In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:
*Dan’s life before his injury and the moment everything changed in London
*Waking from a coma and relearning the basics of life
*The mindset shift that helped him turn rehab into growth
*Learning to walk again in busy Tooting Broadway
*Setting big goals, like skiing again, through small wins
*His mantra Play Loose, Look Tight and what it means for everyday life
*Why progress matters more than perfection
To find out more about Dan and his work, visit https://www.macqueendan.com/
Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

Today's update episode includes to incredible former guests who continue to help others in unique and powerful ways.

My first guest is Jeaneen Tang, author, speech-language pathologist, and early childhood expert, for a warm and honest conversation about life, balance, and the exciting work she’s doing behind the scenes. She shares the process of building her new online course for parents, educators, and speech therapy assistants, and how coaching has helped her grow personally and professionally. We also talk about the evolution of her book, her hopes for future speaking opportunities, and the joy of seeing children find their voice through speech therapy.

You can find out more about Jeaneen's work at https://www.playdumbandsabotage.com/

My next guest is Jessica Clancy. Jessica shares major updates since her last appearance, everything from entering and winning book competitions to actively pursuing the possibility of turning her story into a feature film. She talks about learning the media world, partnering with wellness brands, and creating toolkits to support teachers and underserved communities. Jessica also opens up about her passion for helping people prevent kidney disease, using her platform to educate others, and expanding her reach through speaking, travel, and growing her online presence.

You can find out more about Jessica and her work at loveiskindwellness.com.

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

Hospital stays can be overwhelming, confusing, and at times unsafe—and most families don’t know what to look for or how to speak up. In this episode, Dr. Julie Siemers, a nurse, educator, and patient safety expert with more than 40 years of experience, shares the real risks inside hospitals and the practical steps every patient and family member can take to stay safe. Her stories are powerful, her advice is clear, and her mission is to help families advocate with confidence before harm occurs.

In This Episode, We Cover:

*Why preventable medical harm is so common—and the true statistics Julie discovered while researching patient safety.
*The number one hidden cause of hospital errors: communication breakdown.
*What patients should do before entering a hospital, including how to research safety grades.
*How to speak up respectfully when something doesn’t seem right, even if you’re afraid of being dismissed.
*The most important questions to ask at nurse shift change.
*How to properly prepare aging parents or vulnerable loved ones for a hospital stay.
*What to do if you feel brushed off by medical staff and how to use the chain of command.
*Real stories from Julie’s career that reveal how harm happens—and how it can be prevented.
*A look at Julie’s book, her upcoming patient safety app, and her nonprofit work to educate families.


To find out more about Julie and her work, visit https://drjuliesiemers.com/.

To find the health grade of the hospitals in your area, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org

#podcast #podcasting #podmatch #sharagoswick #lifestoriespodcast #lifestories #conversation #interview #healthcare #hospital #nursing #doctor #patientsafety #care #communication #peoplehelpingpeople Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

In this episode, I sit down with Debbie Weiss, best-selling author, speaker, and host of the Maybe I Can podcast, to talk about what it really looks like to rewrite your story after decades of caregiving, loss, and self-sacrifice.

Debbie opens up about becoming a caregiver at just 17 years old, navigating her father’s stroke, raising a son with multiple diagnoses, supporting a husband through mental and physical illness, and ultimately facing widowhood. For years, she believed her circumstances defined her… until an unexpected trip with friends at age 50 sparked an aha moment that changed everything.

In this conversation, Debbie shares how she traded a lifetime of “why me?” thinking for a mindset of ownership, courage, and small, sustainable steps. She walks us through the mindset shift that helped her lose 90 pounds, write two books, appear on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and launch her powerful new life-approach, The Sprinkle Effect™.

If you’ve ever put yourself last, felt stuck in survival mode, or wondered whether it’s “too late” to chase a dream… you need this episode. Debbie’s message is filled with hope, honesty, humor, and practical wisdom for every woman ready to reclaim her joy.

In This Episode We Cover:*How Debbie spent 40 years in caregiving roles and what it cost her
*The Bermuda trip that sparked her mindset awakening
*What “victim mentality” looked like in real life — and how she recognized it
*Why small changes (“sprinkles”) matter more than big leaps
*Her 3.5-year journey to losing 90 pounds and what actually worked
*What it felt like to speak publicly for the first time
*How she ended up writing a memoir and landing on The Kelly Clarkson Show
*The importance of saying no and setting boundaries
*How The Sprinkle Effect and Workbook help women change their lives one small step at a time

Connect with Debbie Weiss: https://www.debbierweiss.com/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

In this episode of Life Stories: People Helping People, host Shara Goswick sits down with Frankie Casey, co-founder of Floss, a groundbreaking new platform using emotional intelligence to match patients with the right dentist.

Frankie shares his journey from a 22-year career in wealth management to launching a tech-driven healthcare startup alongside his wife, a practicing dentist in London. Together, they set out to solve a real problem—why millions of people avoid or ghost their dental appointments.

Through this conversation, Frankie reveals how emotional intelligence, trust, and empathy can transform not just patient experiences but entire industries.

Find out more about Floss here: https://floss-dental.co.uk

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast?Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

In this powerful episode of Life Stories: People Helping People, Shara sits down with Janelle Martin, founder of the Mind Connection Brain Health Center in Houston, Texas. Janelle opens up about her deeply personal journey through abuse, parental alienation, and her daughter’s battle with addiction. What began as heartbreak became a mission — to understand recovery, heal her family, and help others find hope through brain-based and trauma-informed therapies.

Today, Janelle is an addictions counselor, licensed professional counselor, and microcurrent neurofeedback provider helping people heal from trauma, anxiety, addiction, and more. She also shares about her books — Losing Her, Finding Us, co-written with her daughter, and her contribution to Rising Above, both written to bring light and connection to others walking through similar pain.

Together, Shara and Janelle discuss the power of faith, healing, and restoration, and how our brains and hearts can truly recover through connection, compassion, and courage.

Topics covered:
*Janelle’s journey from abuse and heartbreak to healing and purpose
*Parental alienation and its lasting impact on families
*Walking alongside a child struggling with addiction
*How recovery transformed both Janelle and her daughter’s lives
*The science and power behind microcurrent neurofeedback and brainspotting
*Encouragement for parents walking through similar pain


Connect with Janelle Martin: https://www.tmcbrainhealthcenter.com/

In this fascinating episode of Life Stories: People Helping People, Shara talks with Mica L. Anders, a professional genealogist, historian, and artistic placemaker whose work helps individuals uncover forgotten family stories. What started as a hobby turned into a calling — helping people trace their roots, heal old family wounds, and understand their identities in a deeper way.

Mica shares how her background in art led her to create genealogy quilts, how DNA testing can reveal surprising truths, and how she helps both descendants of enslaved people and enslavers navigate their shared history. She also opens up about her work as the first history fellow at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum, where she uncovered stories of African Americans who lived in Minnesota long before statehood.

This conversation is full of insight, empathy, and encouragement — reminding us that everyone’s story matters and that curiosity about our past can bring healing and connection in the present.

Topics include:
*How Mica turned her love of art and history into a career
*The challenges and beauty of African American genealogy
*The surprising stories DNA can reveal
*Why recording family stories now is so important
*The healing that can come from understanding your ancestry
*Her work uncovering early African American life in Minnesota


Connect with Mica: https://www.andersgenealogicalservices.com/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683