Live To Thrive podcast

Ermias Hagos is the host of The Black Experience Podcast, a platform dedicated to amplifying voices, stories, and perspectives from across the Black community. With a passion for authentic conversations and cultural storytelling, Ermias dives into topics that shape identity, challenge narratives, and celebrate resilience. Each episode offers listeners thought-provoking dialogue, personal insights, and meaningful connections that shed light on the richness and complexity of the Black experience.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbe_ermiashagos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbe_ermiashagos

Host Lizzy Koetsier takes a pause to share what’s been going on behind the scenes of Live To Thrive. From navigating life’s unexpected changes to managing the demands of producing a passion project, Lizzy opens up about why she’s shifting the show to a bi-weekly schedule. This honest update is also a gentle reminder that it’s okay to set boundaries, slow down, and protect your mental well-being—while still keeping the passion alive.

Kwame Terra is the founder and CEO of bEHR Health Systems, Inc., a New Orleans–based digital health platform dedicated to advancing health equity in Black communities. An alumnus of Xavier University of Louisiana with a background in neuroscience research and an MPH in public health and health equity, Kwame is also a world-record holder for the most steps in a single month and a passionate endurance athlete. Under his leadership, bEHR Health has engaged thousands through personalized health assessments and community-driven challenges, using technology and a CBPR approach to create lasting, culturally relevant health solutions.

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Instagram: @behrhealth

What happens when the life you’re living doesn’t look anything like the one you imagined? In this honest, heart-centered episode, we’re talking about unmet goals, shifting timelines, and learning to find peace in the in-between.

If you’ve been feeling out of sync with your vision, this conversation is a gentle reminder that your path still holds value, even when it doesn’t follow the plan. From the glow-up dreams that never took off to the quiet growth you didn’t see coming, we’re holding space for all of it.

Because hope isn’t about pretending everything’s fine—it’s about trusting that something meaningful can still unfold.

Shaun Murphy, also known as Mister Motivation, is redefining what it means to be a motivational speaker. A speaker, educator, and U.S. Army veteran, Sean is the author of “Unbreakable Valor: Triumph Through the Soul of Resilience (May 2025).” A Brooklyn native raised in poverty and without a father (who was murdered when Shaun was six), he turned pain into purpose — serving in the U.S. Army, overcoming academic setbacks, and rising to national prominence as an educator and recruiter for the nonprofit organization Teach for America. While recruiting veterans, he became a national face of the program, landing on CBS Evening News and earning a Michelle Obama Service Award.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misterm0tivati0n
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmurphy1/
https://www.youtube.com/@mistermotivation492
https://www.instagram.com/misterm0tivati0n/

In this episode of the Live To Thrive Podcast, host Lizzy Koetsier shares her personal experiences with anxiety and the emotional complexities that arise during significant life events, such as her recent honeymoon. She emphasizes the importance of taking breaks, holding space for oneself, and acknowledging feelings of overwhelm. Lizzy encourages listeners to practice self-compassion and to understand that thriving does not mean always being okay. The episode serves as a reminder to prioritize mental health and to give oneself permission to rest and feel.

Takeaways

• I've been feeling a lot of anxiety lately.
• It's okay to feel overwhelmed.
• Choosing rest isn't avoidance.
• Honoring your limits is not a weakness.
• You are not alone.
• Thriving isn't about always being okay.
• You deserve to take care of yourself.
• It's important to hold space for yourself.
• Rest without guilt is essential.
• Sometimes all you need is a pause.

Michelle Dean is a brand marketer turned barista from South Florida. Though her former day job in marketing brought her to Seattle in 2022, family, community, and her coffee bar, Bonhomie Coffee, have made Seattle home.

Michelle is Haitian-American and spent most of her life in Florida. Before earning her MBA from Georgia Tech, Michelle’s marketing career began in church ministry, managing communications for a South Florida congregation. Since then, she’s managed category wide strategic growth channels, owned the P&Ls, and led cross functional teams for multimillion dollar consumer packaged goods brands. She also has led brand strategy for an online automotive retailer and for kid tech products.

Inspired by her Haitian heritage, in 2024, Michelle and her wife Victoria opened Bonhomie Coffee, a Haitian-inspired coffee bar situated in Pioneer Square. What started as a weekend side quest has become a space for lovers of coffee and culture.

She is passionate about wellness, running, rest, pizza, and Jeff Probst.

@bonhomiecoffeebar, @michelle.lately

Hey friends — so much has happened lately, and I’m excited to finally share it with you! I recently got married (!!) and have been soaking in all the joy and love that came with this new chapter. 💫Now that things are settling down, I’m officially back to weekly podcast episodes — and I couldn’t be more excited to reconnect with you all. Expect fresh conversations, real talk, and inspiring stories every week on Live to Thrive. Let’s keep growing together. 🌱Thanks for being here. Let’s get back to it 💛

Building Creative Community with Kyla In this special episode of the Live2Thrive Podcast, we switch things up with a unique roundtable format featuring four amazing guests and a spotlight interview with Kyla—a talented brand strategist, photographer, and all-around awesome human being.We dive deep into the importance of community, especially for creatives navigating life and work in Seattle. Kyla shares personal stories, professional insights, and how connection fuels creativity and resilience. Plus, our group explores what it really means to build meaningful support systems as artists, entrepreneurs, and humans.Tune in for real talk, creative wisdom, and inspiration to thrive in your own journey.

From Boston to Seattle and soon heading To the Midwest, Francisca Moliere is a first-generation Haitian American with over 9 years of experience in Media Advertising. Throughout her career, she has worked with major brands such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Ulta Beauty, Amazon Fresh, and BECU, helping clients navigate complex business challenges and drive impactful audience engagement.

In addition to her professional work, Francisca is deeply passionate about community-building. She is the co-founder of Serenity Urban Retreat, an event bringing young professionals of color together, and the former Marketing Director of Queens Co., a membership organization for women of color.

Outside of work, Francisca loves to travel, collecting foreign currency along the way, and is an active participant in a flag football league.