LIVE BOLDLY with Sara

How do you stay centered on a challenging journey?  

This is Molly-Anne. In September, in the middle of the pandemic, she skated solo 800 miles on a longboard down the Eastern Seaboard from Maine to New Jersey in just 20 days. A graduate of Berkeley and nearly two years sober, life was at its most chaotic internally and externally. She got sober on December 6th, 2018 and her story is one of the many that goes untold—a story of absolute survival. And sometimes survival means riding 800 miles just to prove to yourself that you still exist.

In this episode, we jump right into what it means to suffer. We openly talk about depression and anxiety, especially during the pandemic. However, there’s so much more out there that we don’t speak about. Suffering is happening all around us. Unfortunately, not enough people talk about their deep sorrows and deep feelings of dread. Thus, leaving so many people feeling entirely alone and dehumanized.

Later, we talk about breaking the chain of abuse within a family. Sadly, Molly-Anne cannot fully know what happened in her family; she doesn’t have many memories from her life. If you don’t recognize abuse in your life, then you will perpetuate the cycle. That’s why people say, “hurt people will hurt people.” Tune in as we speak all about Molly-Anne’s 800-mile longboard trip.

In This Episode:

• About Molly-Anne [ 2:15 ]
• What people misunderstand about suffering [ 12:55 ]
• How abuse can cycle throughout generations [ 27:10 ]
• All about Molly-Anne’s 800 miles solo skate [ 29:30 ]

• The importance of staying centered on a harrowing journey [ 52:25 ]

• Molly-Anne explains why we need to see people for who they are [ 62:05 ]

 

Quotes:

• “Skating became a way to handle what was being thrown at me.”
• “Everybody is trapped in a cycle of decay.”
• “I got sober right after my grandpa died.”
• “My journey was mentally challenging.”
• “When you go on an adventure, you take it all with you.”

 

Links Mentioned: 

• Sara’s Facebook
• Live Boldly
• Walk Through This
• Join My Retreats
• Molly-Anne’s Instagram

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

How are you best supporting your children in this world?

Sylvia Farbstein has spent the last 2 decades learning how life presents us with unexpected twists and turns that can shake us to our core, stop us in our tracks or provide a catalyst for exciting change. Her professional world took a leap from the predictable and defined realm of private banking in New York City to one of few answers and no blueprint when her son, 21-year-old Brandon, was diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism. Their experiences navigating a world not built for somebody like him prompted them to seek out ways to neither be confined nor defined by limitations, perceived or otherwise. This has led to an entrepreneurial career path for both mother and son that has impacted millions of lives.

In this episode, we have an in-depth conversation about raising your child when there is trauma within the family. Sylvia says that we can make a real change in someone’s life by making positive statements. Plus, Sylvia speaks about how her family has gone through an evolution. All of their experiences have impacted how they became and who they are.

Later, Sylvia explains how our children have incredible resiliency and strength. At the very least, our children need their parents to show up authentically for their spirits. One day, Sylvia realized that she had no control over the path of Brandon’s life. She learned to let go and let Brandon live on his own journey. Tune in as we talk about parenting despite challenges, how Sylvia and Brandon are navigating Covid, and what Sylvia would tell a former version of herself.

In This Episode:

• About Sylvia Farbstein [ 2:20 ]
• How Sylvia found hope after Brandon’s diagnosis [ 10:40 ]
• Who Brandon is today [ 16:10 ]
• The importance of showing up authentically for your kids [ 30:20 ]
• Learning to be okay with the obstacles in life [ 37:10 ]
• How Brandon and Sylvia are navigating pandemic challenges [ 43:45 ]
• What Sylvia would tell a former version of herself [ 49:10 ]

Quotes:

• “Embrace all the differences.”
• “We don’t have to protect our kids from the hard stuff.”
• “When we surrender to the outcome, it’s not always going to be good.”
• “Sometimes, you have to show up and encourage people to try new things.”
• “Now is the time for us to take more risks and put ourselves out there.”
• “Show your kids that life does not end because there’s a pandemic.”

Links Mentioned: 

• Sara’s Facebook
• Live Boldly
• Walk Through This
• Join My Retreats
• Speak Beyond Words on Facebook
• Speak Beyond Words on Instagram
• Speak Beyond Words on LinkedIn
• Brandon’s Instagram

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

Lonnie Mayne is an internationally recognized, high-performance, #1 rated keynote speaker, published author and executive consultant. He’s the founder and pioneer of Red Shoes Living, Inc., an award-winning philosophy and five-step framework that leadership teams are deploying organization-wide to engage employees, win the battle for top talent, create standout customer experiences, and build meaningful cultures that people get inspired to be a part of.

Did you know that you can carry joy and grief together?

Nancy Berns is the author of Closure: The Rush to End Grief and What It Costs Us, and professor of sociology at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she teaches classes on grief, death, emotions, violence, and justice. She is also the author of Framing the Victim: Domestic Violence, Media, and Social Problems (Aldine de Gruyter 2004). 

Her current research explores how people live with grief and joy after loss. Nancy gives talks for various community groups, including counselors, pastors, bereavement support groups, and hospice volunteers and staff. Her work attracts a national and international audience through her TEDx talk (Beyond Closure: the space between joy and grief), blog, and interviews such as those with The Boston Globe, The Guardian, The L.A. Times, U.S. News & World Report, CBS News, Real Simple, and Prevention. For more information, see her website:  www.nancyberns.com.

In this episode, we have an in-depth and beautiful conversation about grieving. There are misconceptions in our culture around how emotions work. We think there are good emotions and bad emotions. Grief gets misunderstood as a negative emotion. Plus, people think we can only feel one emotion at a time. It’s simply not the case; we carry all sorts of emotions all the time. The balance between our emotions will vary depending on the person. However, the more that we feed the light, the more that we can step into our joy and process the grief. Tune in as we talk about how to support a grieving person, how grief affects the body, and the complications behind forgiveness. 

In This Episode:

• About Nancy and her work around grief [ 3:30 ]
• How to experience joy while you’re grieving [ 5:55 ]
• Giving support to someone who is grieving [ 10:00 ]
• What to understand when you’re grieving [ 13:15 ]
• How grief will affect the body [ 21:25 ]
• Suggestions for people in the grieving process [ 24:30 ]
• What we can learn from other cultures about grief [ 29:00 ]
• How forgiveness can be complicated [ 34:50 ]
• Reclaiming the holidays during grief [ 44:45 ]

 

Quotes:

• “We can carry anger while also learning to forgive.”
• “Don’t feel guilty if you have joy while you’re grieving.”
• “Everyone grieves differently.”
• “Try and take off the weight of social expectations when grieving.”

Links Mentioned: 

• Sara’s Facebook
• Live Boldly
• Walk Through This
• Join My Retreats
• Nancy’s Website

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

How can you elevate your capacity for attracting more abundance in your life and career?

Amber Lilyestrom is a transformational branding strategist and business coach, author and speaker. Her work has been featured by Forbes, Entrepreneur and Working Mother Magazine and appeared on countless top-rated podcasts. Amber helps visionary entrepreneurs and CEOs align their purpose with their profit and position themselves as sought-after experts and thought leaders through her life-changing Brand Love Method.

She is the author of multiple books, including Paddle Home, Master Your Money Mind and co-author of Quantum Wealth. Amber lives on a lake in the woods of New Hampshire with her husband Ben and their daughter Annika.

In this episode, we have a robust soul-centered conversation about loving your life, all while overcoming deep and challenging things. First, Amber dives into the inspiration behind her book, Master Your Money Mind. So many of us use money as a pawn in the game that we play with ourselves. The game is defining how worthy we are. Unfortunately, we value money more than connection and collaboration. However, it’s ironic that connection and collaboration are the things that will always lead to more money. 

Later, we talk about how we need to grieve the former versions of ourselves. Amber got divorced at age twenty-six. She knew it wouldn’t be popular, and she knew it would be complicated. However, Amber understood that it was the mountain she needed to climb. Coming home to yourself is the most beautiful and inspiring gift you can give. Tune in as we talk about the importance of listening, how to practice worthiness, and why we need a pause button.

In This Episode:

• About Amber Lilyestrom [ 2:35 ]
• All about Master Your Money Mind [ 8:20 ]
• How we can grieve the former versions of ourselves [ 17:45 ]
• Why we can’t live up to our ideal [ 32:40 ]
• The ways that Amber works on her worthiness [ 41:15 ]
• About finding your inner peace [ 49:25 ]

Quotes:

• “We idolize money; currency means more than connection.”
• “Collaboration always leads to more money.”
• “We spend a lot of time choosing to suffer.”
• “We have the capacity to do all of the things.”
• “I want to savor my life.”

Links Mentioned: 

• Sara’s Facebook
• Live Boldly
• Walk Through This
• Join My Retreats
• Amber’s Instagram
• Amber’s Facebook
• Amber’s Website
• Buy Amber’s Books

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

How are you embracing life to the fullest?

Robert is one of the world's leading experts on the relationship between happiness and success. He helps individuals and organizations achieve an energizing balance of authentic personal happiness and effortless professional success, based on time-tested, face-valid, empirical data and timeless, transcendental wisdom. Robert's work has been endorsed by Oprah, Vanessa Williams, and many others, and he ​has been a regularly featured guest expert on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Access Hollywood, E! Networks, OWN, and KTLA, and in magazines like GQ, Self, Health, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour.

Robert's first book, Happiness from the Inside Out: The Art and Science of Fulfillment, is celebrity-endorsed and critically-acclaimed. It has been translated into various other languages, including Chinese. 

In this episode, Robert dives deep into his story and talks about how he found absolute peace from within. We live in our heads; once we drop into our hearts, we can find love for ourselves. Simply, Robert puts most of his focus and attention on peaceful aliveness. Robert even finds joy in every breath; he discovers gratitude and love through breathing, even on a tough day. Tune in as we talk about getting back to the source of our experience, the importance of slowing down, and how to find your happiness islands.  

In This Episode:

• About Robert Mack [ 1:45 ]
• How divine intervention saved Robert’s life [ 9:50 ]
• The ways we can be aware of our underlying reality [ 17:00 ]
• Why we need to get back to the source of our experience [ 25:05 ]
• All about Robert’s work [ 29:45 ]
• The importance of slowing down [ 37:45 ]
• How to find your happiness island [ 44:10 ]
• Why we need to always focus on the good [ 47:50 ]
• All about Happiness from the Inside Out [ 54:10 ]

 

Quotes:

• “Presence is perfect peace.”
• “Consciously enjoy your breath like it’s the last breath you’ll take.”
• “Enjoy presence itself.”
• “The worst thing that can happen to any of us is that everything goes perfectly according to plan.”
• “If you’re only happy when you achieve a goal, then you’ll spend your entire life basically miserable.”
• “The more you relax, the more quickly things happen.”

Links Mentioned: 

• Sara’s Facebook
• Live Boldly
• Walk Through This
• Join My Retreats
• Robert’s Website
• Robert on Instagram
• Robert on Facebook
• Get Happiness from the Inside Out

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

Did you know that our connection to nature is much more important to our cognition than we think?

Florence Williams is a journalist, author, and podcaster. She is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine and a freelance writer for the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, The New York Review of Books, Slate, Mother Jones and numerous other publications.

She is also the writer and host of two Gracie-Award-winning Audible Original series, Breasts Unbound and The Three-Day Effect, as well as Outside Magazine’s Double-X Factor podcast, and is the author of The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative.

In this episode, Florence (my soul-sister) and I have an in-depth conversation about nature-healing and nature-therapy. We talk about how nature affects our brains and our body. For instance, a brain study found that our prefrontal cortex will deactivate during a walk in nature. At the end of the walk, people will have fewer negative thoughts. It's one of the reasons why nature-therapy is so powerful. Tune in as we talk about the benefits of meditation and the inspiration behind Florence's book, The Nature Fix.

In This Episode:

• About Florence Williams [ 1:00 ]
• How we can feel better during the pandemic [ 8:10 ]
• What happens to our brains when we are in nature [ 11:30 ]
• The importance of reconnecting to our senses [ 16:55 ]
• How much nature time we need monthly [ 20:20 ]
• The inspiration behind The Nature Fix [ 25:35 ]
• How nature will comfort people with PTSD [ 28:00 ]
• The benefits of meditation in nature [ 34:10 ]

Quotes:

• “When we experience awe, we feel like we are connected to something larger than ourselves.”
• “We need to feel a sense of collectivity.”
• “Nature can provide comfort.”
• “Walking helps you get in a different brain state.”
• “Being physical is very healthy and grounding for the body.”

Links Mentioned: 

• Sara’s Facebook
• Live Boldly
• Walk Through This
• Join My Retreats
• Florence’s Website
• Florence’s Instagram
• Florence’s Facebook

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, And More Creative

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

Are you not attracting the right relationships, finances or job opportunities?

Gail Kauranen Jones is an intuitive coach and change expert, who has been leading others through transformation for more than 20 years. She has a gift for identifying the hidden, limiting beliefs that keep clients feeling stuck, and then carefully crafting and customizing the right empowering words to help them move forward. She is the author of two books, Cancer as a Love Story: Developing the Mindset for Living, and To Hell and Back...Healing Your Way Through Transition.  Both books were met with rave reviews on Amazon and elsewhere. Gail has taught many leading-edge workshops at top spas and well centers.  She lives a passionate and simple life writing, hiking, connecting in meaningful ways, aligning in joyful collaboration and thriving in nature.

In this episode, we are talking about self-worth. It’s so important, especially if you have dealt with relational and betrayal trauma. After going through trauma, worthiness will take a hit. Gail dives deep into her story. She explains how her childhood caused her to get breast cancer later in life. When Gail got diagnosed, she knew that she needed to clean up her internal self. Gail reveals the four C’s of cancer:

1. Curveball: the initial trauma.
2. Callings: what are you going to do with your trauma or cancer that will serve a purpose?
3. Compassion: have compassion that you went through this.
4. Courage: it takes courage to do the inner work.

Later, we talk about the ways to track worthiness. Gail says to write down how you find worthiness every single day physically. For instance, you can write down that you received a compliment. Plus, the first five minutes of the day and the last five minutes of the day are most important for rewiring the brain. Make sure that you say affirmations of worthiness during this time; train your mind to be pleased. Stay tuned as Gail talks about the importance of alignment, how to change our energy, and finding the strength to forgive.

In This Episode:

• About Gail Kauranen Jones [ 2:35 ]
• How mothering can affect our health [ 12:55 ]
• About the four C’s of cancer [ 17:45 ]
• How to track our worthiness [ 24:50 ]
• The importance of alignment [ 34:35 ]
• Why we need to find the strength to forgive [ 40:00 ]
• About learning to give yourself a hug [ 44:45 ]
• Why we need to say yes to life [ 52:50 ]

Quotes:

• “What would your life look like if you knew you were worthy?”
• “A vision board works because you get into the feeling of the end result.”
• “Cancer is a wakeup call to a new life.”
• “Track evidence of worthiness every day.”
• “A clear intention plus an elevated emotion is how we change our energy.”
• “Find space for grace.”

Links Mentioned: 

• Sara’s Facebook
• Live Boldly
• Walk Through This
• Join My Retreats
• ClaimYourWorthiness.com
• Get Cancer As A Love Story

To contact Gail, call 978-325-1911

Email [email protected]

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

Is it true that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?

Lisa Valtierra is the cross-cultural marketing director of a major pharmaceutical company where her work touches on both health disparities and representation. She previously worked with AIDS Service Organizations (ASO) as a patient advocate for women with HIV and other underrepresented communities. During that time, she saw conditions so dismal for underserved populations, it was easy to assume the larger industry would be no better.

In this episode, Lisa speaks about the moment she found out she was HIV positive. Lisa reveals what it was like to face her family, friends, and the absolute truth. Facing death, Lisa had the moment of ultimate awakening.

In 1991, Lisa got a call from the doctor’s office on a Saturday; the nurse is in tears. She tells Lisa that she is HIV positive. In 1991, HIV was a death sentence – there was one drug that wasn’t working. Lisa has never done drugs and never had a blood transfusion; she got HIV from an ex-boyfriend.

It would have been easier to let go. Lisa could have surrendered everything – she needed the will to live. There’s a difference between life and living. We can all simply lead a life, or we can choose to live that life—live life on our terms. Stay tuned for next week as Lisa picks up in the year 2000.

In This Episode:

• About Lisa Valtierra [ 3:00 ]
• 1991: Lisa got the call [ 08:00 ]
• Navigating the judgment of HIV [ 19:30 ]
• Sharing the news of HIV [ 23:00 ]
• Feeling disconnected from our identity [ 29:45 ]
• The drug options for HIV [ 33:45 ]
• 1995: Asking for help [ 40:00 ]
• Wishing for the will to live [ 54:30 ]
• Finding strength within ourselves [ 57:10 ]
• Getting on the right path to life [ 58:30 ]
• Losing the ability to eat [ 66:45 ]
• Finding a purpose and a path [ 70:40 ]

Quotes:

• “With one phone call, my life was rolling down an abyss.”
• “Hold compassion for people, regardless of what their path is.”
• “The gay community saved my life.”
• “The universe kicked me in the ass in so many ways.”
• “I made a choice between existing and choosing to live.”

Links Mentioned: 

• Sara’s Facebook
• Live Boldly
• Bailey’s Instagram
• Lisa’s LinkedIn
• Lisa’s Twitter
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

 

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

Are you living life in fear or in courage?

Morgan Harper Nichols is a writer, artist, and musician who makes her work around people and their stories.

Morgan spent the first few years of her adult life as a college admission counselor, and then, as a full-time touring singer-songwriter and musician. It was on the road that she cultivated her curiosity and passion for the written word and art, and slowly began to share her art with others online.

In 2017, Morgan started a project where she invites people to submit their stories to her website. From there, she creates art inspired by what they send her, and then, sends them the art, for free. Nearly everything Morgan creates and shares today is from this project, and she always keeps the names and stories anonymous. The fruit of this project is shared daily around social media, in publications, on murals, and more.

As an artist, Morgan has been commissioned by and collaborated with publications and brands including Adobe, LiveNation, Aerie, Coach, Esquire Singapore, and more. She has been featured on social platforms for publications such as Teen Vogue, Refinery 29, Hello Giggles, and SoulPancake.

Morgan is a #1 Amazon Bestseller and her latest book has just been released, ’ALL ALONG YOU WERE BLOOMING: Thoughts for Boundless Living'. Morgan is now a full time writer, artist, and musician, and travels to speak, teach, and perform. She is on the board of directors at TWLOHA (To Write Love on Her Arms).

In this episode, Morgan dives deep into her background and explains the inspiration behind her famous artwork. Morgan uses social media to make the world a better place and connect with others. We never know how our words or photos will connect with someone else.

Later, we talk about the best ways to motivate ourselves and others. When we show up, we find our strength and bravery. Most people are being flooded with messages every day about what they should be doing. Morgan doesn’t feel like she needs to tell anyone what to do – instead, she writes about encouragement.

Stay tuned as we talk about becoming unstuck, finding inspiration, and Morgan reveals her favorite poets.

In This Episode:

• About Morgan Harper Nichols [ 4:00 ]
• Using social media for good [ 18:15 ]
• The passion behind Morgan’s creations [ 21:45 ]
• What motivation should look like [ 28:45 ]
• Morgan had no idea what she would be doing today [ 34:10 ]
• How we can get unstuck [ 41:50 ]
• Where Morgan finds most of her inspiration [ 51:20 ]
• Recommended resources [ 55:45 ]
• Pay attention to what’s going on around you [ 63:15 ]

 

Quotes:

• “I connect with people through art.”
• “I try and write for the journey.”
• “All of the little moments matter.”
• “Every time I go to the Grand Canyon, I remember where I was last time I was there.”
• “Let it surprise you.”

Links Mentioned: 

• Sara’s Facebook
• Live Boldly
• Bailey’s Instagram
• Women’s Breakthrough Coaching Journey
• Co-Ed Breakthrough Coaching Journey
• Morgan’s Website
• Morgan’s Instagram
• All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living

 

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