Listen for REAL

REAL conversation with Alycia Anderson - a wheelchair user who responds with candor to discriminatory assumptions and uncomfortable conversations that happen in her presence or after she has rolled away. 

Alycia helped me to remove the fear and pity lens that I was looking at disabled folks through. I was operating from an ableist perspective - a notion that a “normal” body is the ideal - concluding that people in bodies different from the norm would want to be fixed or restored to whole. That is not necessarily the case and it’s favoring one ability over another. 

I am starting to unwire my old operating system; when we define someone by their disability we risk missing the person! 

About our guest:

Alycia Anderson is an international TEDx motivational speaker, disability advocate, DEI & accessibility corporate inclusion educator,  podcast host of Pushing Forward with Alycia and founder / CEO of The Alycia Anderson Company, LLC. Alycia’s company focuses on the education and advocacy of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Alycia was recently awarded 2022 Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) Program of the Year.

Alycia holds a European Master’s Degree in Adapted Physical Activity emphasizing the benefits, practices and principles of inclusion. She is a tennis player, cyclist, identical twin and has been a wheelchair user since birth.

Alycia shares her journey globally to help companies and organizations understand the true benefits inherent to building a diverse, inclusive and accessible workplace and society. Shining light on how our diversities are core to the qualities that make each of us uniquely qualified and able in life.

Alycia’s authenticity and charisma draw others to her, and she naturally connects with them to inspire, mentor, champion, and support. Alycia right sizes everyday obstacles to open minds to a world of possibility. "And that's how she rolls!"

Alycia has spoken for the likes of: TEDx, Victoria's Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch Co.,  eHarmony, Hyatt, AAA, AbbVie, Blue Shield of California, Arizona State University, Burlington Stores and has been featured in an AT&T commercial, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and the Orange County Register. She's also been a guest on the Leeza Gibbons show, spotlighted on CBS news, and featured on the covers of Living Low and New Mobility Magazines.
 

TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah_NWrE291o

Website: https://alyciaanderson.com/

Podcast link: https://alyciaanderson.com/podcast/

Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/alyciaspeaking/

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCcsHc2guyzv7waaN6EVag

Linkedin link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyciaranderson/

About Jen Oliver:

Jen Oliver is a speaker, podcaster, and communications coach - equipping people to speak with greater impact and presence. Whether you are speaking on stage, promoting your brand, or voicing your needs in a relationship - communicating with your truest voice and cultivating human connection with your audience is the key to influence. Jen coaches individuals privately and within her Signature group programs - in addition to delivering workshops as a guest expert in a variety of settings.

Jen serves as a 4-season Executive Producer, Director of Curation, and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom. She is a committed force behind WomanSpeak™ - an internationally recognized body of work teaching the art and soul of public speaking. Jen is on a mission to support 1 million women as they speak with uncommon levels of freedom and confidence. Tap into more at

REALjenoliver.com

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATOR

WomanSpeak™

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@thejenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @jen.oliver.806001

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

I learned so much during this conversation with Emelda De Coteau. Our motherhood journeys look very different - as we talk about the emotional terrain of raising a child with unique needs.

Tears were definitely shed in this episode; Emelda speaks honestly about her journey as a mother to her vibrant, neurodivergent child. At one point, she describes how it feels to watch your child struggle to find a playmate and be understood by other children - and what you do and don't do in hard moments like that. It was a wakeup call for me. We delve into the practical aspects of parenthood that many families encounter, from advocating for suitable educational resources to nurturing communication with children who experience the world differently. This was a very REAL and important talk that sharpened and bonded both of us. May no parent feel alone on their journey!

Our Guests Bio:

Emelda Juanita De Coteau is a loving wife, mama, creative (writer, podcaster, spiritual activist / organizer), and believer seeking God anew in each moment. Although based in Baltimore, this daughter of a Honduran immigrant feels at home throughout the world. She leads Pray with Our Feet (PWF), an online community lifting the intersection of progressive Christian faith and social justice; she co-hosts the PWF podcast with her Mom, Trudy.  

She is also the founder of When Motherhood Looks Different, a community-based small business helping Mamas of neurodivergent kids and Moms with chronic illness center well-being and connect in community by offering events, resources, support and mindfulness coaching. Emelda is a certified mindfulness coach and trauma informed mindfulness facilitator.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

When Motherhood Looks Different Self-Compassion Meditation - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wE9AWQCLNMm1fS92NcQgjFN-6UW0Bvh_/view?usp=share_link

WMLD Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/whenmotherhoodlooksdifferent/ 

Pray with our Feet website - https://www.praywithourfeet.org 

PWF post on Ryan Gainer - https://www.instagram.com/p/C4dnyZcJ09f/?img_index=1

WMLD post on Ryan Gainer - https://www.instagram.com/p/C4jPOcwOxOC/?img_index=1

Video of Ryan Gainer, WMLD post - https://www.instagram.com/p/C4d7LY5RDcw/

Blog - https://www.praywithourfeet.org/blog

Devotional and Prayer Page - https://www.praywithourfeet.org/devotionals

Pray with our Feet Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/praywithourfeet/

About Jen Oliver:

Jen Oliver is a speaker, podcaster, and communications coach - equipping people to speak with greater impact and presence. Whether you are speaking on stage, promoting your brand, or voicing your needs in a relationship - communicating with your truest voice and cultivating human connection with your audience is the key to influence. Jen coaches individuals privately and within her Signature group programs - in addition to delivering workshops as a guest expert in a variety of settings.

Jen serves as a 4-season Executive Producer, Director of Curation, and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom. She is a committed force behind WomanSpeak™ - an internationally recognized body of work teaching the art and soul of public speaking. Jen is on a mission to support 1 million women as they speak with uncommon levels of freedom and confidence. Tap into more at

REALjenoliver.com

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATOR

WomanSpeak™

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@thejenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @jen.oliver.806001

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

I am back with the insightful Christie Watrous for a heartfelt conversation on the intricacies of sisterhood.  We get REAL about the social conditioning that often pits women against each other and share our own journeys toward meaningful connections. 

--------- HIGHLIGHTS ---------

0:03:33 - Reconnecting Through Sisterhood and Intimacy

0:14:18 - Understanding the Concept of Containers

0:22:44 - Building Sisterhood and Safe Spaces

0:33:52 - The Importance of Passing Down History

0:39:46 - Exploring Erotic and Personal Voice 

Our Guest: Christie Watrous

Christie (she/her) is currently a Sex & Relationship Coach practicing in Folsom, CA. She is clinically trained with a Master’s in Social Work and has spent most of her career working in a wide variety of grassroots and non-profit settings ranging from runaway and homeless youth to adults with traumatic brain injuries.  She graduated from the Advanced Sex & Relationship Coaching Program with the Somatica Institute. And most recently, Christie completed a sex educator mentorship program with the Back to the Body team and received her certification as a facilitator of The Lotus Lift Meditation ©, created by Pamela Madsen & featured in Oprah Magazine.

Christie's practice focuses on helping those whom identify as women to stay connected to their bodies in the midst of life transitions. She helps women discover their own unique erotic energy, prioritize pleasure, explore desire and integrate this awareness into daily life. Her work is inspired by her own mid-life embodied journey back to her erotic self and fuels her passion for women’s sexual wellness. 

As the founder of Embodied Life Transitions providing 1:1 Coaching for women, Christie also facilitates a collaborative community based Book Club called “Between the Covers”. She hosts a monthly, sex-positive Sisterhood Happy Hour with a focus on sexual wellness for women and teaches her own in-person experiential workshops in Historic Folsom as part of the Back to the Body Collective. She is an advocate for women's sexual wellness & is passionate about creating spaces for sisterhood, intimacy, and connection in her community.

website: https://www.embodiedlifetransitions.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christie-watrous-b3b350172/

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

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

About Jen Oliver:

Jen Oliver is a speaker, podcaster, and communications coach - equipping people to speak with greater impact and presence. Whether you are speaking on stage, promoting your brand, or voicing your needs in a relationship - communicating with your truest voice and cultivating human connection with your audience is the key to influence. Jen coaches individuals privately and within her Signature group programs - in addition to delivering workshops as a guest expert in a variety of settings.

Jen serves as a 4-season Executive Producer, Director of Curation, and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom. She is a committed force behind WomanSpeak™ - an internationally recognized body of work teaching the art and soul of public speaking. Jen is on a mission to support 1 million women as they speak with uncommon levels of freedom and confidence. Tap into more at

REALjenoliver.com

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATOR

WomanSpeak™

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@thejenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @jen.oliver.806001

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

My conversation with Christie Watrous expands my limited viewpoint…again. We unpack what it means to connect with our bodies and each other, defining intimacy and pleasure in REAL terms. Spoiler alert: intimacy and pleasure are not always sexual and wow sometimes they are - AND it can look different than what the culture dishes up. 

As the founder of Embodied Life Transitions, Christie brings her personal experience of transformation and empowerment to our discussion, offering insights into reclaiming our bodies and desires. We talk candidly about our need to deconstruct shame narratives and embrace the pursuit of pleasure, which extends beyond the confines of the bedroom and into the joy of our simple daily rituals, from sipping a warm beverage to soaking in the melody of our favorite tune.

Christie and I confront our individual and collective truths - from unhealthy self-concepts to narratives that frame the end of a marriage as failure. Join the conversation. 

Resources referenced:

Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life by  Emily Nagoski Ph.D.

--------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS ---------
(0:00:01) - Exploring the Erotic and Love
(0:10:10) - Prioritizing Pleasure and Desire
(0:24:10) - Unpacking Shame and Embracing Truth
(0:30:55) - Deconstructing Shame and Celebrating Growth
(0:41:59) - Human Need for Connection and Intimacy
(0:48:02) - Exploring Sexuality and Intimacy Beyond Stereotypes
(1:00:28) - Navigating Consent and Boundaries in Relationships

Our Guest: Christie Watrous

Christie (she/her) is currently a Sex & Relationship Coach practicing in Folsom, CA. She is clinically trained with a Master’s in Social Work and has spent most of her career working in a wide variety of grassroots and non-profit settings ranging from runaway and homeless youth to adults with traumatic brain injuries.  She graduated from the Advanced Sex & Relationship Coaching Program with the Somatica Institute. And most recently, Christie completed a sex educator mentorship program with the Back to the Body team and received her certification as a facilitator of The Lotus Lift Meditation ©, created by Pamela Madsen & featured in Oprah Magazine.

Christie's practice focuses on helping those whom identify as women to stay connected to their bodies in the midst of life transitions. She helps women discover their own unique erotic energy, prioritize pleasure, explore desire and integrate this awareness into daily life. Her work is inspired by her own mid-life embodied journey back to her erotic self and fuels her passion for women’s sexual wellness. 

As the founder of Embodied Life Transitions providing 1:1 Coaching for women, Christie also facilitates a collaborative community based Book Club called “Between the Covers”. She hosts a monthly, sex-positive Sisterhood Happy Hour with a focus on sexual wellness for women and teaches her own in-person experiential workshops in Historic Folsom as part of the Back to the Body Collective. She is an advocate for women's sexual wellness & is passionate about creating spaces for sisterhood, intimacy, and connection in her community.

website: https://www.embodiedlifetransitions.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christie-watrous-b3b350172/

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

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

About Jen Oliver:

Jen Oliver is a speaker, podcaster, and communications coach - equipping people to speak with greater impact and presence. Whether you are speaking on stage, promoting your brand, or voicing your needs in a relationship - communicating with your truest voice and cultivating human connection with your audience is the key to influence. Jen coaches individuals privately and within her Signature group programs - in addition to delivering workshops as a guest expert in a variety of settings.

Jen serves as a 4-season Executive Producer, Director of Curation, and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom. She is a committed force behind WomanSpeak™ - an internationally recognized body of work teaching the art and soul of public speaking. Jen is on a mission to support 1 million women as they speak with uncommon levels of freedom and confidence. Tap into more at

REALjenoliver.com

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATOR

WomanSpeak™

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@thejenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @jen.oliver.806001

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

Here I am, a white chick, learning what’s appropriate to ask of a black woman when it comes to her lived experience. Thank God for Wanda Smith who is grace and wisdom embodied into one beautiful human. I ask a lot of careful, race-related questions because I am so afraid of doing it wrong - but she gets me.

Our conversation highlights the importance of curious dialogue to create empathy and self-awareness. We talk about the importance of being in circles with safe people who get us and forged even greater bonds discussing grief and struggle. So grateful. Join us…

Resources mentioned during this podcast:

Ms. Wanda's Full Circle Radio - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iammswanda

She Believed, Vol II Book - https://www.amazon.com/She-Believed-II-Unapologetic-Determined/dp/1726711714/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mfAeqDkSrASMo9NsegZpPQ.4CyGlegEqkNbQ_XXYOPhAZD_XoTu40yzst8E0qM112w&dib_tag=se&qid=1710719111&refinements=p_27%3AWanda+Abney&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Wanda+Abney

SB188 The CROWN Act signed into law, making California the first state to ban hair discrimination in work and school - https://www.thecrownact.com/california

Wanda Smith's Bio:

Wanda Smith is a highly sought-after speaker, coach, moderator, talk show host and Founder of SpeakHer Consulting LLC. Ms. Smith walks alongside those who seek to become confident speakers by helping them craft a message that supports their vision and authentic voice.

Wanda is the host of Full Circle, a weekly radio show dedicated to empowering black women through conversation. Each week she hosts lively dialogue aimed at inspiring women to achieve their desired vision for their lives. You can hear “Ms. Wanda’s Full Circle Radio” on your favorite podcast platform.

Wanda is enthusiastic and has a heart for seeing people thrive in every situation. As a 20-year cancer survivor, she readily shares stories of her journey on stage and in workshops. In the anthology, She Believed, Vol. II, her chapter, “Freedom by G.R.A.C.E.”, recounts the steps she took to heal after a painful divorce. Her talk “Becoming Ms. Wanda” is one of the most viewed segments on Creative Mornings, the world's largest face-to-face creative community.

Wanda obtained her coaching certification from the UC Davis Coaching for Life and Work Program to add to her more than 25 years as a training and learning development professional for the State of California. By developing meaningful relationships with her clients, Wanda is an expert at creating space for individuals to disrupt thought patterns, get clear and show up and deliver their message with confidence. As a result, her clients grow their businesses, gain visibility in their organizations and become community leaders.

In 2019, Wanda was recognized as an Exceptional Women of Color by the Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation. When not speaking or training, Wanda can be found spending time at the ocean, traveling or training for her next 5K.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/full_circle97.5/?fbclid=IwAR3DslCSI_RO9pO7WOo4jCbPmKCzgPPRDZO2qhSgO-g6c1VAlfG4kk5T318

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100045496076412

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wanda-smith-b1003b125/

About Jen Oliver:

I pursue and create environments where we converse on the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.

REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@realjenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @realjenoliver

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at

 REALJenOliver.

About Jen Oliver:

Jen Oliver is a speaker, podcaster, and communications coach - equipping people to speak with greater impact and presence. Whether you are speaking on stage, promoting your brand, or voicing your needs in a relationship - communicating with your truest voice and cultivating human connection with your audience is the key to influence. Jen coaches individuals privately and within her Signature group programs - in addition to delivering workshops as a guest expert in a variety of settings.

Jen serves as a 4-season Executive Producer, Director of Curation, and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom. She is a committed force behind WomanSpeak™ - an internationally recognized body of work teaching the art and soul of public speaking. Jen is on a mission to support 1 million women as they speak with uncommon levels of freedom and confidence. Tap into more at

REALjenoliver.com

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATOR

WomanSpeak™

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@thejenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @jen.oliver.806001

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

A love letter ended up in my hands. It’s the week of all things LOVE and I’m feeling moved to record an impromptu, mini-episode with just us…you and me – as I share a message received on Valentine's Day. I hope that revealing something this personal - and then unpacking all that it represents - sets the stage for deeper love for ALL of us… Join me. 

WomanSpeak™ 6 Week Intensive

Speaking REAL Masterclass

Impact Speaker Coaching Program

About Jen Oliver:

I pursue and create environments where we converse on the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.

REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@realjenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @realjenoliver

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at

 REALJenOliver.

About Jen Oliver:

Jen Oliver is a speaker, podcaster, and communications coach - equipping people to speak with greater impact and presence. Whether you are speaking on stage, promoting your brand, or voicing your needs in a relationship - communicating with your truest voice and cultivating human connection with your audience is the key to influence. Jen coaches individuals privately and within her Signature group programs - in addition to delivering workshops as a guest expert in a variety of settings.

Jen serves as a 4-season Executive Producer, Director of Curation, and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom. She is a committed force behind WomanSpeak™ - an internationally recognized body of work teaching the art and soul of public speaking. Jen is on a mission to support 1 million women as they speak with uncommon levels of freedom and confidence. Tap into more at

REALjenoliver.com

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATOR

WomanSpeak™

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@thejenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @jen.oliver.806001

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

Another REALity check on the couch with one of my besties - Christina and I share honest stuff about our bodies and how to process emotions and the sensations we feel. This episode comes with a CONTENT WARNING given I speak on matters relating to sex and trauma work and Christina discusses her experience around grief. 

We unpack my struggle with what can be trusted and acted upon and what can't. Sometimes the "antidote to the echo chamber" looks like this; verbally processing new info, experiences, and ways of being with a trusted person who asks key questions and refuses to go along with me when my perspective is limited. 

Guest Bio:

Christina Fichera is one of my (Jen) BFFs and a person with an abundance of roles and titles. I am settling on these… 

This girl is REAL - a deep feeler and eternal learner. She loves to break things down and mine for the most essential aspects in everything. Christina is a speaker, salesperson, athlete, customer relationship manager and curious soul.

A podcast junkie in the best way; she listens to dozens of podcasts each week and is known to stick Post-it® notes all over the place (literally and on social media) as a means of documenting and sharing what she is learning.

Christina is a loyal friend and collaborator AND the best pup-mom ever to a very spoiled dog named Teddy. 

You can follow Christina on Instagram @ChristinaFichera_

Resources mentioned on this episode:

Gone From My Sight, "The Little Blue Book" that changed the hospice industry by Barbara Karnes, RN

Episode 42 of Listen For REAL with guest, Christina Fichera

About Jen Oliver:

I pursue and create environments where we explore the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.

REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@realjenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @realjenoliver

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

About Jen Oliver:

Jen Oliver is a speaker, podcaster, and communications coach - equipping people to speak with greater impact and presence. Whether you are speaking on stage, promoting your brand, or voicing your needs in a relationship - communicating with your truest voice and cultivating human connection with your audience is the key to influence. Jen coaches individuals privately and within her Signature group programs - in addition to delivering workshops as a guest expert in a variety of settings.

Jen serves as a 4-season Executive Producer, Director of Curation, and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom. She is a committed force behind WomanSpeak™ - an internationally recognized body of work teaching the art and soul of public speaking. Jen is on a mission to support 1 million women as they speak with uncommon levels of freedom and confidence. Tap into more at

REALjenoliver.com

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATOR

WomanSpeak™

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@thejenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @jen.oliver.806001

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

This talk with Dr. Sarah Almilli underscores the very reason I started this podcast! We start with my recap of when I was called a racist (among other fun things) on social media – and my determination to pursue conversations that broaden my limited perspective.

AND, Sarah delivered a REAL convo to be sure.

She moved from Egypt to the U.S. at the age of 17 and reflects on the challenges she faced as an immigrant and as a woman pursuing a career in medicine. As a middle easterner, she was often associated with terrorism and faced misconceptions about her home country. 

As a woman, she was discounted despite her brilliance and determination.

Sarah also shares vulnerably about the trauma of childhood displacement during the Iraq-Kuwait war. A timely recount given all that is occurring right now in places like Gaza, Ukraine, and even our own southern border.

It is incredible how all of this struggle informs her professional life; Dr. Almilli is both a clinician and entrepreneur redefining the human aspect in healthcare. 

Guest Bio:

Dr. Sarah Almilli, Advanced Clinical Pharmacist is the CEO of ELAK Health Inc. She graduated from the Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy and continued her post-graduate residency career at the Veterans Affairs HealthCare system in Southern California. 

Dr. Almilli is a certified Improvement Advisor with extensive clinical and executive leadership experiences - driving execution for healthcare organizations, leading them to remarkable organizational successes. Additionally, she is a clinical provider specializing in chronic conditions management, with special interest in cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Almilli is a compassionate, eager and empathetic advanced clinical ambulatory care pharmacist provider. Her passion is driven by the bonds she builds with her patients and physicians over the course of their journey and the enjoyment she holds in keeping them engaged while saving thousands of dollars. Her patients call her “a true healer” and “lifetime health coach.” Physicians call her a “wonder worker with a magic wand.”

In her spare time, Dr. Almilli enjoys spending days on the beach, fashion browsing, and spending time with her husband and friends. She loves to travel and has been to countries in most continents of the world. She is conversant in Arabic and English.

Website: https://elakhealth.org/contactus/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ELAKhealth.org/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRIUodZ8OE8kHXRbj-JG6SA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elakhealth/

About Jen Oliver:

I pursue and create environments where we converse on the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.

REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@realjenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @realjenoliver

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

About Jen Oliver:

Jen Oliver is a speaker, podcaster, and communications coach - equipping people to speak with greater impact and presence. Whether you are speaking on stage, promoting your brand, or voicing your needs in a relationship - communicating with your truest voice and cultivating human connection with your audience is the key to influence. Jen coaches individuals privately and within her Signature group programs - in addition to delivering workshops as a guest expert in a variety of settings.

Jen serves as a 4-season Executive Producer, Director of Curation, and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom. She is a committed force behind WomanSpeak™ - an internationally recognized body of work teaching the art and soul of public speaking. Jen is on a mission to support 1 million women as they speak with uncommon levels of freedom and confidence. Tap into more at

REALjenoliver.com

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATOR

WomanSpeak™

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@thejenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @jen.oliver.806001

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

As someone who spent decades experiencing God and a faith practice in a limited, narrow way  - I am always looking to learn and stretch my perspective. Kerri Naber and I delve into an honest chat - touching on various aspects of faith plus the challenges of navigating religious constructs. She and I merge and diverge as we reflect on our experiences - in and out of organized religion.  We talk prayer, intuition, Holy Spirit, and the merits of raising kids with a faith practice and without. I also love Kerri’s take on spirituality from the millennial's perspective.  

Guest Bio:

Kerri Naber has an educational background in Social Work with a Mental Health concentration. She used her degree in the non-profit realm for 14 years via advocating, program direction, and fundraising. Through her personal business, Holy Spirit Hustler, Kerri hosts workshops that provide time, space, and encouragement for women to find their passion, gain confidence and build community. That first step of business ownership led the way for Kerri to retire her non-profit career in 2022 and start her own consulting company, Naber Engagement Consulting. Kerri is a Visionary Director for entrepreneurs. By identifying and solving blind spots, Kerri helps business owners thrive. 

On the personal side, Kerri is a new mom to Luke, a wife to David, a dog mom to a Corgi, Arrow and, as an Enneagram Type Seven, she is constantly dreaming, creating, and celebrating everyday life.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/Kerri_naber

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrinaber/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/holy-spirit-hustler/

https://www.facebook.com/HolySpiritHustler

https://www.instagram.com/holyspirithustler/

About Jen Oliver:

I pursue and create environments where we converse on the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.

REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@realjenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @realjenoliver

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

About Jen Oliver:

Jen Oliver is a speaker, podcaster, and communications coach - equipping people to speak with greater impact and presence. Whether you are speaking on stage, promoting your brand, or voicing your needs in a relationship - communicating with your truest voice and cultivating human connection with your audience is the key to influence. Jen coaches individuals privately and within her Signature group programs - in addition to delivering workshops as a guest expert in a variety of settings.

Jen serves as a 4-season Executive Producer, Director of Curation, and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom. She is a committed force behind WomanSpeak™ - an internationally recognized body of work teaching the art and soul of public speaking. Jen is on a mission to support 1 million women as they speak with uncommon levels of freedom and confidence. Tap into more at

REALjenoliver.com

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATOR

WomanSpeak™

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@thejenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @jen.oliver.806001

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

Megan explains the struggle of putting on a brave face while wanting to disappear in plain sight - the sheer exhaustion and sense of hopelessness when searching for help. This is the experience of countless individuals affected by post traumatic stress injuries.

Megan also shares hopeful insight from her current perspective as a coach and group facilitator for first responder peer support, outlining the actions that helped her on her journey. 

Guest Bio:

Megan is a PATHH Guide for the Boulder Crest Foundation guiding Veterans and First Responders through the Warrior PATHH Program - a week-long Post Traumatic Growth Training.

She spent 15 years in the Fire Service and retired as a Fire-Engineer/Paramedic after struggling with PTSD. Megan now runs her own First Responder Peer Support Group and has a weekly Zoom meeting where people from all over the country can voice their struggles, receive support, and find fellows and community.

In addition to being a Certified Life Coach, Megan also works as a Health Mentor and educates on using dōTERRA Essential Oils and holistic approaches to help with PTSD and everyday health concerns.

Megan lives in the Sierra foothills with her 2 dogs outside of El Dorado Hills, CA and has a vision of bringing people together for soulful gatherings, classes, in-person peer support groups, camping, and connection on her property.

Megan’s email is [email protected]

Website: https://www.4valiantcore.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-o-connor-b60577258/

Resources mentioned on this episode: 

Bouldercrest.org Boulder Crest Foundation created the Warrior PATHH Training.

The Struggle Well Experience for first responders. 

Struggle Well by Ken Falke and Josh Goldberg - an excellent resource on Post Traumatic Growth

FRSN.org First Responder Support Network who puts on the WCPR the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat. They also have a great resource list of First Responder Meetings and Support Groups and calls on the website. 

My website (although more coaching focused and still under construction) is 4valiantcore.com

The Body Keeps the Score and resources by Bessel Van Der Kolk MD

Resource lists created by Megan O’Connor:

Preview attachment Megan's Resource and Tool List PDF.pdfMegan's Resource and Tool List PDF.pdf1.6 MB

Preview attachment Megan's Resource and Tool List.pagesMegan's Resource and Tool List.pages2 MB

About Jen Oliver:

I pursue and create environments where we explore the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.

REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@realjenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @realjenoliver

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.

About Jen Oliver:

Jen Oliver is a speaker, podcaster, and communications coach - equipping people to speak with greater impact and presence. Whether you are speaking on stage, promoting your brand, or voicing your needs in a relationship - communicating with your truest voice and cultivating human connection with your audience is the key to influence. Jen coaches individuals privately and within her Signature group programs - in addition to delivering workshops as a guest expert in a variety of settings.

Jen serves as a 4-season Executive Producer, Director of Curation, and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom. She is a committed force behind WomanSpeak™ - an internationally recognized body of work teaching the art and soul of public speaking. Jen is on a mission to support 1 million women as they speak with uncommon levels of freedom and confidence. Tap into more at

REALjenoliver.com

email: [email protected]

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATOR

WomanSpeak™

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@thejenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @jen.oliver.806001

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.