Overcoming Anything

Episode 063: Overcoming Binge Drinking with Colleen Clifford

Binge drinking does not always look like drinking every day or fitting the stereotypical picture of alcohol addiction. Sometimes it looks like functioning normally most of the time, until one-night changes everything. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Colleen Clifford to talk about binge drinking, grief, shame, denial, coping, sobriety, and what happens when you finally become curious about the story underneath your relationship with alcohol.

Colleen Clifford is a commercial fisherwoman, health coach, and mental health advocate who transformed devastating loss and her own experience with binge drinking into a message of hope, healing, and resilience. After losing her husband to an alcohol related suicide and later experiencing her own wake-up call with alcohol, Colleen chose an alcohol-free life and now encourages others to examine their relationship with drinking without shame or judgment.

Key Takeaways
• Binge drinking does not necessarily mean drinking every day. Colleen describes how occasional episodes of drinking too much can still carry serious consequences even when most drinking experiences appear controlled
• Shame and rationalization can keep people stuck in unhealthy patterns, while curiosity can help uncover what alcohol may be helping someone avoid, numb, or cope with
• Changing your relationship with alcohol does not have to begin with committing to forever. It can begin with asking honest questions, understanding your why, finding support, and taking one step at a time 

Timestamps
• 00:00: Introduction: overcoming binge drinking
• 01:45: Colleen’s favorite quote and the legacy of who we become
• 03:30: What binge drinking means and why the definition surprised Colleen
• 05:30: The 95 5 trap and how occasional binge episodes kept her in denial
• 08:00: Why alcohol can affect memory, judgment, and decision making
• 10:30: When should someone begin questioning their drinking patterns?
• 13:00: The devastating loss of Colleen’s husband to alcohol related suicide
• 15:30: The night Colleen drove home drunk and realized something had to change
• 18:00: Recognizing the warning signs of binge drinking
• 20:00: Why chasing the euphoric feeling of the first few drinks can lead to drinking more
• 22:00: Shame, regret, and the rationalizations that kept Colleen drinking
• 24:30: Seeing herself intoxicated on video and realizing she was not as in control as she believed
• 27:00: Looking beneath the drinking to uncover unresolved emotional pain
• 29:30: Why therapy, coaching, or trusted support can help uncover the story underneath the behavior
• 32:00: Navigating happy hour, sporting events, and social circles without alcohol
• 34:30: Nonalcoholic alternatives and why you do not owe anyone a long explanation
• 37:00: The practical steps Colleen took when she decided to stop drinking
• 39:30: Finding accountability and investing in support instead of trying to do everything alone
• 42:00: Discovering she did not need alcohol to be likable or comfortable socially
• 44:30: Building a new identity and becoming more intentional in conversations and relationships
• 47:00: How to know whether alcohol may have become a coping mechanism
• 49:30: Writing down what alcohol gives you and what it takes away
• 52:00: “Don’t get furious, get curious” and approaching drinking without shame
• 54:30: Why thinking about never drinking again can feel overwhelming
• 56:30: Taking change one step at a time instead of trying to solve everything at once
• 58:30: What Colleen wishes someone had told her about grief and asking for help
• 01:01:00: Why friends can offer support but may not always have the tools to help you change
• 01:03:30: Learning to allow grief instead of immediately trying to numb it
• 01:06:00: Retreats, spirituality, quiet time, and practices that supported Colleen’s healing
• 01:09:00: Deepak Chopra, intentional mornings, reflection, and mindfulness
• 01:11:30: Why alcohol is woven so deeply into social culture
• 01:13:30: How Colleen handles parties and gatherings where everyone else is drinking
• 01:15:30: Challenging the belief that alcohol is the answer to stress or relaxation
• 01:17:30: Colleen’s mission to raise awareness about suicide support and healthier relationships with alcohol
• 01:20:00: Learning to become comfortable with quiet instead of constantly filling the space
• 01:22:30: What Colleen would tell the version of herself who believed alcohol was the only way to cope
• 01:24:30: First steps for someone questioning their own binge drinking
• 01:26:00: Where to connect with Colleen and learn more about her work 

Connect with Colleen Clifford
• Website: https://lifebeyondthebinge.com
• Additional resources, book information, and ways to connect with Colleen are available through her website 

Resources
• Life Beyond the Binge by Colleen Clifford, https://a.co/d/001uiuvV
• Women for Sobriety, the organization founded by Jean Kirkpatrick, https://www.womenforsobriety.org/
• Jean Kirkpatrick quote shared by Colleen: “The only thing you take with you when you die is what you have become.”
• The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra’s, https://a.co/d/014bQ7fg
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 in the United States 

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who may be quietly questioning their relationship with alcohol or using drinking to cope with grief, stress, loneliness, or pain. You do not have to wait until something devastating happens to become curious about what alcohol is giving you and what it may be taking away. Change can begin with one honest question, one decision, and one willingness to ask for support.

I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.
 ❤️ Anne

Disclaimer
The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care, mental health treatment, addiction treatment, diagnosis, therapy, or crisis support. Alcohol withdrawal can be medically dangerous for some people, particularly after regular or heavy alcohol use. Do not abruptly stop drinking without appropriate medical guidance if you may be physically dependent on alcohol. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services.

#overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #bingedrinking #alcoholawareness #sobriety #alcoholfreelife #soberliving #griefhealing #mentalhealth #suicideawareness #copingmechanisms #emotionalhealing #selfcompassion #selfawareness #mindfulness #alcoholrecovery #womenandsobriety #soberjourney #healingjourney #personaldevelopment #selftrust #griefrecovery #mentalhealthawareness #overcomingadversity #podcast #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podcasthost

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Episode 062: Overcoming the Unthinkable: From Quadriplegia to Skydiving Again with Gary Pacelli

What happens when your life changes in an instant and everything you thought you knew about your strength is put to the ultimate test? In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Gary Pacelli, whose extraordinary story takes him from dangerous narcotics investigations and a near fatal encounter on duty to a devastating skydiving accident that left him unable to move and unsure whether he would ever walk again.

Gary Pacelli is a decorated former narcotics detective, bestselling author, and inspirational speaker who has survived multiple life altering experiences. After breaking his neck during a skydiving accident and facing an uncertain recovery, Gary fought his way back through intensive rehabilitation, eventually walking out of the hospital and returning to the sky as a solo diver.

Key Takeaways
• You do not need certainty to keep going. Sometimes a tiny amount of hope is enough to take the next step
• Your mind can become either your greatest ally or your greatest obstacle during adversity, and learning to challenge the voice telling you to quit can change what happens next
• Resilience is built through experience. Every time you survive something difficult, you carry that strength into the next challenge 

Timestamps
• 00:00: Introduction: from quadriplegia to skydiving again
• 02:00: Gary’s mantra: “A champion is someone who gets up when they can’t”
• 05:00: Gary’s belief that the hard road reveals what we are capable of
• 08:00: What working high level narcotics taught Gary about how quickly life can change
• 13:00: The mental toughness required for dangerous undercover police work
• 18:00: A routine investigation that suddenly became a fight for Gary’s life
• 24:00: Surviving a violent encounter and nearly being struck on the highway
• 30:00: Why training took over when Gary had no time to consciously think
• 36:00: The aftermath of the incident and being medically retired from law enforcement
• 41:00: Losing his identity after leaving the career and team that had defined much of his life
• 46:00: Weight gain, pain medication, and the photograph that became Gary’s wake up call
• 51:00: How skydiving became a defibrillator that brought Gary back to life
• 56:00: Discovering wingsuit flying and falling in love with the challenge
• 01:02:00: The equipment warning signs Gary sensed but chose to ignore
• 01:08:00: The moment Gary deployed his parachute and heard his neck break
• 01:13:00: Realizing a mile above the ground that he could no longer move his body
• 01:18:00: Facing mortality while trying to find a way back toward the landing area
• 01:23:00: The internal battle between surrendering and continuing to fight
• 01:28:00: How a sudden change in the wind helped redirect Gary toward the landing area
• 01:33:00: Hitting the fence that Gary believes helped absorb the impact and save his life
• 01:38:00: Military personnel arriving within moments and protecting his injured spine
• 01:43:00: Being transported to a hospital equipped to handle a severe spinal injury
• 01:48:00: Gary’s darkest emotional moment after believing his future was gone
• 01:53:00: Why he now says the mind can either launch you toward greatness or pull you into despair
• 01:58:00: The neurosurgeon who happened to be at the hospital when Gary arrived
• 02:03:00: Learning that his spinal cord had not been completely severed
• 02:08:00: The doctor’s message that recovery would require Gary to do the work
• 02:13:00: The first tiny movement in Gary’s toe that changed everything
• 02:18:00: Relearning how to move and celebrating victories measured in fractions of an inch
• 02:23:00: Why Gary began noticing that every setback seemed to be met by something that helped him survive
• 02:28:00: Being told the odds were extraordinarily small and choosing to focus on the fact that he still had a chance
• 02:33:00: Refusing negative predictions and protecting his mindset during rehabilitation
• 02:38:00: Advocating for himself and other vulnerable patients while hospitalized
• 02:43:00: The personal loss that nearly made Gary give up during recovery
• 02:48:00: Remembering everything he once taught police recruits about never quitting
• 02:53:00: Increasing the intensity of rehabilitation and committing fully to walking again
• 02:58:00: Walking out of the hospital approximately two months after the accident
• 03:03:00: Why returning to skydiving became Gary’s next mission
• 03:08:00: The friend who finally agreed to give Gary an opportunity to prove he could safely jump again
• 03:13:00: Returning to the sky before he could fully button his clothes or reliably hold his phone
• 03:18:00: Completing his first solo jumps after the accident
• 03:23:00: Another setback when cold temperatures affected the feeling and movement in Gary’s hands
• 03:28:00: Dealing with judgment from other skydivers and refusing to let it become the end of his story
• 03:33:00: Finding a supportive skydiving community that allowed Gary to rebuild on his own terms
• 03:38:00: Completing more than 100 additional jumps after his injury
• 03:43:00: Why Gary believes adversity prepares us for what comes next
• 03:48:00: What to do when a battle feels impossible and hope feels gone
• 03:53:00: Using past victories as evidence that you can survive the challenge in front of you
• 03:58:00: Is resilience something we are born with or something we build?
• 04:03:00: Why every time you get back up you add another layer of strength
• 04:08:00: Gary’s message for anyone thinking they cannot take anymore
• 04:13:00: Why you should never quit when you do not yet know how your story ends
• 04:18:00: What Gary would tell the man lying paralyzed on the ground that day
• 04:23:00: Learning to recognize the negative voice as noise rather than truth
• 04:28:00: Where to connect with Gary and learn more about his work 

Connect with Gary Pacelli
• YouTube: The Hard Road with Gary Pacelli
• Website: http://www.forgedinthefire.coach

Resources
• The Hard Road with Gary Pacelli on YouTube
• Not My Time, but Gary Pacelli, https://a.co/d/0d83awVO

• Forged in the Fire by Gary Pacelli, https://a.co/d/0iyAxLGY

• Jack Dempsey quote shared by Gary: “A champion is someone who gets up when they can’t”
 • Gary’s personal reminder: “People resent the hard road because it reminds them that they chose the easy one”
 • If you or someone you know is in emotional crisis or considering suicide, call or text 988 in the United States for immediate support 

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who feels like the battle in front of them is impossible or who needs to remember that a little bit of hope can carry you farther than you think. You do not have to know how your story ends to keep fighting for the next chapter. Sometimes the greatest victory begins with simply refusing to quit.

I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.
 ❤️ Anne

Disclaimer
The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care, mental health treatment, diagnosis, therapy, rehabilitation, or crisis support. Gary shares his personal experiences with severe spinal injury, paralysis, recovery, suicidal thoughts, and returning to skydiving after his accident. His experience should not be interpreted as medical guidance or evidence that another person with a similar injury will have the same outcome. Always follow the recommendations of qualified medical and rehabilitation professionals. If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988.

#overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #nevergiveup #quadriplegia #spinalcordinjury #spinalinjuryrecovery #skydiving #traumarecovery #overcomingadversity #mentalstrength #resiliencemindset #hope #secondchance #comebackstory #survivorstory #mindset #perseverance #rehabilitation #recoveryjourney #mentalhealth #inspiration #personaldevelopment #courage #hardroad #garypacelli #podcast #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podcasthost

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Episode 061: Overcoming "Normal Labs": How to Feel Like Yourself Again with Lisamarie Pietragallo

What happens when you know something feels wrong in your body, but your lab results keep coming back “normal”? In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Lisa Marie Petro Gallo to explore why women can experience exhaustion, brain fog, stubborn weight gain, bloating, anxiety, sleep problems, hormone changes, and other frustrating symptoms even when traditional testing does not provide clear answers.

Lisa Marie Petro Gallo is a board-certified family nurse practitioner, functional medicine clinician, and PhD in holistic nutrition with more than 30 years of experience in medicine. After surviving cancer in her twenties and later experiencing her own unresolved health challenges, Lisa Marie began exploring functional medicine approaches focused on nutrition, hormones, gut health, metabolism, and identifying patterns behind persistent symptoms.

Key Takeaways
• Lisa Marie encourages women to look beyond whether a lab result simply falls within a standard reference range and to have deeper conversations with qualified practitioners when symptoms persist
• Gut health, thyroid function, metabolic health, stress, sleep, nutrition, and hormones can influence one another, which is why Lisa Marie prefers looking at the body as an interconnected system
• Sustainable health changes do not require perfection. Lisa Marie emphasizes consistent nutrition, adequate protein, stress management, sleep, movement, and understanding what your individual body needs 

Timestamps
• 00:00: Introduction: when your labs say normal but you still do not feel well
• 02:00: Lisa Marie’s mantra: “Pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and move on”
• 04:00: What “normal” laboratory values mean from Lisa Marie’s functional medicine perspective
• 08:00: Why Lisa Marie looks at trends and what she considers optimal ranges in addition to standard reference ranges
• 12:00: The bucket analogy and how symptoms can gradually accumulate over time
• 16:00: Why Lisa Marie encourages women to become informed participants in their healthcare
• 20:00: Traditional medicine versus functional medicine approaches to laboratory testing
• 24:00: Lisa Marie’s cancer diagnosis and why it changed the way she approached her own health
• 28:00: Feeling lost in the medical system despite years of experience as a healthcare professional
• 32:00: Lisa Marie’s personal experience with thyroid issues and chronic health symptoms
• 36:00: Why Lisa Marie believes the body needs to be viewed as an interconnected system
• 40:00: Gut health, thyroid health, inflammation, and Lisa Marie’s personal recovery journey
• 44:00: Why nutrition became a major focus of her functional medicine approach
• 48:00: Gut bacteria, digestive health, and the connections Lisa Marie explores with clients
• 52:00: Processed foods, changing food quality, and concerns about modern diets
• 56:00: Helping families make healthier food choices without striving for perfection
• 01:00:00: Reading labels and reducing heavily processed foods
• 01:04:00: Lisa Marie’s approach to protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates
• 01:08:00: Making nutrition practical for busy parents and families
• 01:12:00: Why moderation and consistency may be more sustainable than extreme dieting
• 01:16:00: Lisa Marie’s upcoming cookbook and creating higher protein versions of favorite foods
• 01:20:00: Her “carbohydrate bank” approach to flexibility and moderation
• 01:24:00: Building resilience instead of pursuing perfection
• 01:28:00: Stress, cortisol, insulin, and the hormone hierarchy Lisa Marie uses in her practice
• 01:32:00: What Lisa Marie learned while wearing a continuous glucose monitor
• 01:36:00: Why stress can influence blood sugar even when eating habits do not change
• 01:40:00: Understanding fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1C
• 01:44:00: Why Lisa Marie also evaluates fasting insulin
• 01:48:00: Insulin resistance, metabolic symptoms, brain fog, and difficulty losing weight
• 01:52:00: How Lisa Marie uses laboratory trends to identify potential metabolic concerns earlier
• 01:56:00: Why every organ has a purpose and the importance of understanding the whole body
• 02:00:00: Lisa Marie’s experience after thyroid cancer and lymph node removal
• 02:04:00: The lymphatic system, liver, digestion, and how body systems work together
• 02:08:00: Why some women struggle to lose weight despite feeling like they are doing everything right
• 02:12:00: Insulin, sleep, progesterone, cortisol, thyroid function, and metabolism
• 02:16:00: A simple explanation of TSH, T4, and T3 from Lisa Marie’s perspective
• 02:20:00: Thyroid medication and questions Lisa Marie encourages women to discuss with their healthcare providers
• 02:24:00: Gut health, mineral status, and the foundation Lisa Marie focuses on with clients
• 02:28:00: Lisa Marie’s personal experience maintaining a 30 pound weight loss
• 02:32:00: Magnesium, minerals, and why individual testing matters
• 02:36:00: Melatonin, sleep, and the importance of addressing sleep habits first
• 02:40:00: Caffeine, evening eating, blood sugar, and better sleep habits
• 02:44:00: Protein paired with carbohydrates and Lisa Marie’s practical nutrition tips
• 02:48:00: Why there is rarely one simple answer to persistent symptoms
• 02:52:00: Where to connect with Lisa Marie and learn more about her work
• 02:55:00: Lisa Marie’s upcoming cookbook and closing message 

Connect with Lisa Marie Petro Gallo
• Website: https://lisamarienpasanursepractitioner.com
• Instagram: Lisa Marie the NP, https://www.instagram.com/lisamariethenp/
• Facebook: Lisa Marie NP, https://www.facebook.com/lisamarie.pietragallo
• YouTube: Lisa Marie NP, https://www.youtube.com/@lisamarienp

If this episode helped you, share it with another woman who has been told that everything looks normal but still knows something does not feel right in her body. Your symptoms deserve to be taken seriously, and asking better questions can be an important part of becoming a stronger advocate for your own health.

I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.
 ❤️ Anne

Disclaimer
The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, treatment, nutritional counseling, or individualized healthcare advice. The laboratory ranges, dietary strategies, supplements, hormone discussions, and functional medicine perspectives shared in this episode reflect the guest’s approach and should not be interpreted as universal medical recommendations. Laboratory results must be interpreted in the context of your individual medical history, symptoms, medications, and overall health. Do not start or stop medications, hormones, supplements, or significantly change your diet without consulting a qualified healthcare professional who knows your medical history.

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Episode 60: Overcoming the Not-Worthy Wound with Ruth Kent

What happens when you have spent your life achieving, helping, performing, proving, and pushing forward, yet somewhere underneath all of it you still carry the belief that you are not good enough? The not-worthy wound can show up quietly. It can look like people pleasing, overachieving, constantly seeking validation, taking responsibility for everyone else, or feeling as though no accomplishment is ever enough to finally make you feel worthy.

In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Ruth Kent, a former trauma and intensive care nurse, speaker, author, intuitive healer, and Emotion Code, Body Code, and Belief Code practitioner and trainer. Ruth shares her own journey through chronic pain, physical limitations, relationship struggles, and decades of feeling not good enough, and how she began looking beneath the surface at the emotional beliefs and patterns she believed were shaping her life. Together, Anne and Ruth explore self-worth, people pleasing, inherited beliefs, boundaries, emotional healing, faith, becoming your own best friend, and learning to stop looking outside yourself for proof that you are enough. Pasted markdown

Key Takeaways

• The not-worthy wound can hide behind achievement. You can be accomplished, capable, successful, and still carry an internal belief that you are not enough. Ruth explains how that belief showed up in her own life through overdoing, self-doubt, people pleasing, and constantly looking outside herself for validation.

• Healing can begin when you stop trying to change everyone else and start looking inward. Ruth shares how one of the turning points in her marriage came when she began examining what she was carrying into the relationship, setting boundaries, and taking responsibility for her own emotional healing.

• Become your own best friend. Ruth’s practical starting point for anyone struggling with unworthiness is to change the relationship you have with yourself. Instead of constantly judging, criticizing, or abandoning yourself, begin speaking to yourself with the same encouragement, compassion, and belief you would offer someone you love.

Timestamps

• 00:00: Introduction to Ruth Kent and the not-worthy wound
• 01:15: The five words Ruth removed from her vocabulary
• 03:10: How old emotional patterns follow us into relationships
• 07:00: Discovering Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
• 08:20: The anniversary gift that changed Ruth’s approach to her marriage
• 12:55: Growing up believing she was not good enough, pretty enough, or smart enough
• 15:59: Ruth’s turning point at age 45 and losing her sense of identity
• 18:48: Searching for healing after years of chronic pain and physical limitations
• 19:48: Healing from the inside out and changing the “I’m not worthy” story
• 22:09: How unworthiness shows up in overachieving and people pleasing
• 26:39: The different reasons clients come to Ruth for help
• 27:11: Why men and women begin recognizing repeating emotional patterns
• 29:20: Success on the outside versus fulfillment on the inside
• 30:35: Relationships, separation, and choosing to work on yourself first
• 31:45: Becoming your own best friend
• 32:53: What Ruth would say to someone who still feels like they are not enough
• 34:04: Learning to have faith in yourself as well as a higher power
• 35:14: Ruth’s “double God wink” and the St. Francis of Assisi quote that guides her
• 36:24: How to connect with Ruth and learn more about her work
• 37:20: Final message of hope and closing

Connect with Ruth Kent

Website: RuthKentllc.com

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

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

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

Phone: (828) 778-0254

Ruth also offers a 15-minute Connect with Ruth conversation through her website for people who would like to learn more about her work.

Resources

• Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, https://a.co/d/03Va8j0p

• The KNOTS Prayer —
Dear God:
Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life.
Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots, that I have in my mind.
Erase the will nots, may nots, might nots that may find a home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct my life.
And most of all, Dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and my life all of the ‘am nots’ that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough.
AMEN

• Emotion Code, Body Code, and Belief Code — Ruth discusses these approaches throughout the episode and how she incorporates them into her work with clients.

• St. Francis of Assisi quote shared by Ruth:
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

If you have spent years proving yourself, taking care of everyone else, achieving more, or trying to finally become “enough,” this episode is an invitation to look underneath the doing and ask a different question: What if your worth was never something you had to earn in the first place?

If this episode helped you, please share it with someone who may be carrying the same not-worthy wound and needs to hear that healing and change are still possible.

Please follow, download, and rate Overcoming Anything on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps more people find these conversations and reminds someone who may be struggling that they are not alone.

I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.

❤️ Anne

Disclaimer

The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical or mental health condition. The personal experiences, spiritual beliefs, energy-healing approaches, and opinions discussed by guests are their own and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or mental health care. Always consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual needs.

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Episode 059: Overcoming the Business That’s Running You with Kimberly Smith

Entrepreneurship is supposed to create freedom, but for many business owners, the business slowly becomes the thing controlling their time, energy, relationships, and life. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Kimberly Smith to talk about burnout, boundaries, delegation, systems, scaling, and how to build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it.

Kimberly Smith is a fractional COO, systems advisor, bestselling author, speaker, and creator of Systemize for Success™ and The Phoenix Blueprint™. She helps founders build stronger systems, create healthier boundaries, delegate effectively, and scale with greater purpose, structure, and freedom.

Key Takeaways
• If every decision, client issue, task, and deadline still depends on you, you may own the business, but the business is running you
• Systems, delegation, and clear boundaries create freedom by removing the founder from work that someone else can successfully handle
• Scaling does not mean doing more. It means creating the structure, technology, team, and processes that allow the business to grow without sacrificing yourself

Timestamps
• 00:00: Introduction: overcoming the business that is running you
• 02:10: Kimberly’s mantra: “I’ve already done it. I can do it again”
• 05:00: How Kimberly manages multiple businesses, writing, family, rescue work, and personal projects
• 09:00: Time blocking and taking small steps instead of trying to finish everything at once
• 13:00: How to know when your business has started running you
• 17:00: Working late, skipping real vacations, holding onto everything, and the subtle signs of burnout
• 22:00: Kimberly’s own experience with burnout and weak client boundaries
• 27:00: The client request that forced Kimberly to finally say no
• 32:00: Why setting a boundary is not enough unless you are willing to enforce it
• 37:00: Leaving a long term client relationship when the boundaries continued to be ignored
• 42:00: How entrepreneurs leave corporate life for freedom and accidentally build another set of handcuffs
• 47:00: Why Kimberly recommends starting with as little as five hours of support
• 52:00: What a virtual assistant can take off a founder’s plate
• 57:00: Why founders struggle to delegate even when they desperately need help
• 01:02:00: Control, trust, identity, and the fear that no one will do it as well as you
• 01:07:00: Why standard operating procedures are the backbone of a scalable business
• 01:12:00: Where an overwhelmed founder should begin systematizing
• 01:17:00: Using systems that evolve instead of treating them as permanent rules
• 01:22:00: How to decide what should be automated, delegated, eliminated, or kept by the founder
• 01:27:00: Why your vision and leadership should remain with you while much of the execution can be delegated
• 01:32:00: Hiring help before you feel like you are making enough money
• 01:37:00: How delegation can free your time to generate more revenue
• 01:42:00: The essential technology Kimberly recommends before scaling
• 01:47:00: Website, email, domain, calendar, payment systems, and customer relationship management
• 01:52:00: Building systems without making the customer experience feel robotic
• 01:57:00: Where automation ends and personal human connection should remain
• 02:02:00: Growing a business versus building a business that can operate without you
• 02:07:00: Creating a business around your personal definition of freedom
• 02:12:00: Why your original business vision is allowed to change as you change
• 02:17:00: The biggest task successful entrepreneurs should have delegated long ago
• 02:22:00: Common mistakes business owners are making today
• 02:27:00: Why ideas need an action plan instead of immediate execution
• 02:32:00: Protecting personal time, vacations, health, and family
• 02:37:00: Morning routines and why productivity does not have to begin the second you wake up
• 02:42:00: What systematizing taught Kimberly about boundaries and purposeful business
• 02:47:00: How to hold yourself accountable without always needing a coach
• 02:52:00: Using calendars, journaling, and accountability partners
• 02:57:00: AI in business and the difference between using it as a tool and letting it replace your voice
• 03:02:00: How Kimberly uses AI to streamline standard operating procedures
• 03:07:00: The first exercise for the exhausted entrepreneur who wants their life back
• 03:12:00: Taking inventory of what energizes you and what drains you
• 03:17:00: How to fall in love with your business again
• 03:22:00: Recommended book for releasing overthinking and emotional chaos
• 03:27:00: When entrepreneurs build a prison and call it freedom
• 03:32:00: Asking why the business became a prison before trying to escape it
• 03:37:00: Kimberly’s final message for entrepreneurs: you are capable of building what you want
• 03:40:00: Where to connect with Kimberly and learn more about her work

Connect with Kimberly Smith
• Website: Virtual Life Alchemist, https://virtuallifealchemist.com/
• Kimberly Smith website: currently being developed and redirected to Virtual Life Alchemist
• Social media: available through Kimberly’s website, https://virtuallifealchemist.com/

Resources
• Stop Letting Everything Affect You by Daniel Chidiac, https://a.co/d/0hexJOQ2
• Systemize for Success™ by Kimberly Smith, https://virtuallifealchemist.com/work-with-me/
• The Phoenix Blueprint™ by Kimberly Smith, https://virtuallifealchemist.com/the-phoenix-path/

If this episode helped you, share it with an entrepreneur, founder, or small business owner who is exhausted from doing everything themselves and wondering when the freedom they started their business for is finally going to arrive. Your business should support the life you want to live, not become another prison you have to escape. I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.
 ❤️ Anne

Disclaimer
The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional business, financial, legal, medical, or mental health advice. Business strategies and technology should be evaluated based on your individual goals, resources, and circumstances.

#overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #businesssystems #businessgrowth #businessowner #founder #scalingbusiness #businessautomation #delegation #virtualassistant #fractionalcoo #operationsmanagement #businessstrategy #entrepreneurburnout #businessburnout #worklifebalance #businessboundaries #systemizeyourbusiness #sops #smallbusinessowner #womeninbusiness #personaldevelopment #overcomingadversity #podcast #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podcasthost

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Episode 058: Overcoming Waiting for Permission with Wren Valentino

Waiting for permission can quietly keep your dreams on hold for years. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Wren Valentino to talk about creative courage, self-worth, rejection, storytelling, and what happens when you stop waiting for someone else to tell you that you are good enough, talented enough, ready enough, or worthy enough to begin.

Wren Valentino is a film reviewer, film scholar, screenwriter, author, and creator of Fantastic Classics, where his work celebrates classic cinema, storytelling, and the creative courage to follow your passions without waiting for permission. Through his writing, teaching, film work, and decades of creative experience, Wren helps others understand that the stories inside them matter and that sometimes the only permission they need is their own.

Key Takeaways
• Waiting for permission often means giving someone else more authority over your dream than you give yourself
• Rejection does not mean your work is not worthy. Sometimes it means you have not found the right audience, publisher, person, or path yet
• Giving yourself permission can lead to a more authentic life, stronger creative work, deeper joy, and a clearer sense of purpose

Timestamps
• 00:00: Introduction: overcoming waiting for permission
• 02:10: Wren’s mantra: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”
• 06:00: What waiting for permission really means
• 10:00: Why we look outside ourselves for validation, approval, and proof that we are ready
• 15:00: People pleasing, creative pressure, and the fear of saying no
• 20:00: Taking back your power and proving your dream to yourself first
• 25:00: Getting out of your own way and quieting the inner critic
• 30:00: Why risk takers, inventors, writers, and rule breakers change the world
• 35:00: Growing up without creative parents and choosing an unconventional path
• 40:00: Asking the deeper question: whose life are you living?
• 45:00: Writing safe stories versus writing from truth
• 50:00: The question that changed Wren’s creative life: are you writing for your audience or your younger self?
• 55:00: Writing the stories he needed as a young person
• 01:00:00: The fear of changing the recipe after commercial success
• 01:05:00: Writing Marijuana Mermaid and staying loyal to the story for fifteen years
• 01:10:00: Facing rejection from publishers and questioning his creative future
• 01:15:00: The message from a young reader that reminded Wren why stories matter
• 01:20:00: How one vulnerable note helped him reconnect with purpose
• 01:25:00: Finding the right publisher and watching Marijuana Mermaid become his strongest selling novel
• 01:30:00: Why truth, authenticity, craft, purpose, and grit made the difference
• 01:35:00: Giving himself permission to become more than one thing
• 01:40:00: Storytelling as the thread through writing, acting, film review, screenwriting, and teaching
• 01:45:00: How storytelling helped Wren understand his own life
• 01:50:00: Why good editors push writers toward the real story
• 01:55:00: The childhood author visit that validated Wren’s dream at age thirteen
• 02:00:00: Helping students own the word writer and stop hiding their creative gifts
• 02:05:00: Where midlife dreamers can begin when they have put themselves last
• 02:10:00: Why thirty minutes a day can become the beginning of something meaningful
• 02:15:00: Changing “I’m too busy” into “I’m choosing not to”
• 02:20:00: The beautiful boomerang of putting hope, faith, and positive action into the world
• 02:25:00: How to know when a dream still belongs to you or when you have outgrown it
• 02:30:00: Why it is okay for dreams to evolve as you evolve
• 02:35:00: Reclaiming joy through small pauses, presence, and intentional choices
• 02:40:00: Asking whether an opportunity will bring joy before saying yes
• 02:45:00: Giving yourself permission to work less, live more, and be remembered for who you are beyond the work
• 02:50:00: Studying Italian, collecting Nancy Drew books, and choosing joy in a new season
• 02:55:00: Learning self-love, self-pride, and recognizing what you have already overcome
• 03:00:00: Where to connect with Wren and find his books

Connect with Wren Valentino
• Wren’s website: http://wrenvalentino.com/
• Fantastic Classics: https://fantasticclassics.com
• Social media: links to be added
• Marijuana Mermaid by Wren Valentino, https://a.co/d/0ankhMe9
• Swimming to Chicago by Wren Valentino, https://a.co/d/035i0AJn
• Wren Valentino’s books, amazon.com/author/wrenvalentino
• Eleanor Roosevelt quote discussed in the episode: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who has been waiting for permission to write the book, start the project, change direction, claim their creativity, or finally choose the dream that has been calling them for years. You do not need someone else to tell you that you are ready. Sometimes the most powerful permission is the one you give yourself. I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.
 ❤️ Anne

Disclaimer
The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, diagnosis, legal, medical, career, publishing, or creative business advice.

#overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #permissiontogrow #creativecourage #selfworth #storytelling #writerslife #authorlife #creativewriting #screenwriting #filmmaker #filmreview #classiccinema #midlifereinvention #creativecareer #rejectionrecovery #personaldevelopment #selftrust #followyourdreams #creativeconfidence #healingjourney #overcomingadversity #podcast #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podcasthost

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Episode 057: Overcoming the Family That Looked Normal with Patricia Grenelle

Some families look normal from the outside, but inside the home there can be pain, confusion, fear, secrecy, and wounds that no one else can see. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Patricia Grenelle to talk about childhood trauma, sexual abuse, family silence, Complex PTSD, attachment wounds, boundaries, and what it takes to begin healing from a childhood that looked fine to the world but felt unsafe on the inside.

Patricia Grenelle is a psychologist, bestselling author, trauma informed speaker, and survivor who brings both clinical insight and lived experience to conversations about childhood trauma, recovery, relationships, and reclaiming your voice. Through her book We Were a Nice Normal Family, Patricia helps survivors understand that what happened to them matters, their pain is valid, and healing can begin with truth, support, education, and safe connection.

Key Takeaways
• A family can look normal from the outside while still causing deep emotional, relational, and nervous system wounds on the inside
• Childhood trauma can shape adult relationships, boundaries, attachment patterns, self trust, shame, and the way safety feels in the body
• Healing often begins by naming what happened, seeking support, learning about Complex PTSD, setting boundaries, and finding safe people who can help you process the truth

Timestamps
• 00:00: Introduction: overcoming the family that looked normal
• 02:10: Patricia’s mantra: “You are not alone”
• 05:00: Realizing at age 27 that what happened in childhood was sexual abuse
• 09:00: Why Patricia thought she had a nice normal family
• 13:00: The pain of having no language for childhood abuse
• 17:00: Patricia’s sister, shared trauma, and dedicating the book to her
• 21:00: Staying connected to family and the complicated impact of unresolved abuse
• 26:00: How childhood trauma affected Patricia’s adult relationships
• 31:00: The therapist who helped Patricia process what happened
• 36:00: Why Patricia pursued education, psychology, counseling, and trauma work
• 41:00: Leaving an unsupportive marriage and stepping into a more respectful environment
• 46:00: Finding safety, support, and love with her third husband
• 51:00: Validating trauma when nothing looked wrong to other people
• 56:00: The importance of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Test
• 01:01:00: Signs that family trauma may still be affecting someone years later
• 01:06:00: Hypersensitivity, startle responses, physical triggers, and discomfort with touch
• 01:11:00: How childhood trauma and attachment wounds can shape self worth and adult relationships
• 01:16:00: Trauma, the body, physical symptoms, and Patricia’s experience with Parkinson’s
• 01:21:00: What survivors of sexual abuse can do to begin healing
• 01:26:00: Why therapy, hotlines, education, and trauma resources matter
• 01:31:00: How Patricia’s healing journey shifted after moving to Cape Cod
• 01:36:00: Boundaries, guilt, self protection, and learning what childhood trauma can explain
• 01:41:00: Handling family backlash when you begin setting boundaries
• 01:46:00: Shame, triggers, and learning to recognize where the response comes from
• 01:51:00: Complex PTSD and how long term childhood trauma can show up in everyday life
• 01:56:00: Depression, trauma, and why professional support can be essential
• 02:01:00: Grieving the family you wish you had while accepting the family you got
• 02:06:00: Healing without closure, apology, accountability, or reconciliation
• 02:11:00: Reclaiming your voice after being dismissed, silenced, or unseen
• 02:16:00: Breaking trauma driven patterns in love, friendship, family, and parenting
• 02:21:00: Why boundaries are necessary when people cannot respect you
• 02:26:00: Patricia’s advice for anyone beginning to realize their childhood was not safe
• 02:31:00: Recommended books, crisis resources, and where to connect with Patricia

Connect with Patricia Grenelle
• Patricia’s website: https://patriciagrenelle.com
• Substack: Patricia Grenelle, https://patriciagrenelle.substack.com/about
• Instagram: Patricia Grenelle, https://www.instagram.com/patriciagrenellepsyd/
• LinkedIn: Patricia Grenelle, https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-a-grenelle-psyd-5b0836115/

Resources
• We Were a Nice Normal Family by Patricia Grenelle: https://a.co/d/0c2X4LUT
• Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker: https://a.co/d/0dnH5eNa
• Adverse Childhood Experiences Test: https://americanspcc.org/take-the-aces-quiz/
• RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800 656 4673
• RAINN text support: Text HOPE to 64673
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888 373 7888 or text 233733
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
• SCO Family of Services Foster Care Emergency Assistance Hotline: 718 674 7800

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who grew up in a family that looked normal from the outside but felt painful, confusing, unsafe, or lonely on the inside. You are not alone, what happened to you matters, and healing can begin one truth, one boundary, and one safe conversation at a time. 

I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.
❤️ Anne

Disclaimer
The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, diagnosis, legal, medical, trauma care, or crisis support. If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services in your area. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. If you are a survivor of sexual assault or abuse and need confidential support, contact RAINN or a qualified crisis support resource.

#overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #childhoodtrauma #familytrauma #sexualabusesurvivor #traumarecovery #complexptsd #cptsdrecovery #attachmentwounds #innerchildhealing

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Episode 056: Overcoming the Complexities of Motherhood with Jennifer Griffith

Motherhood is beautiful, complicated, emotional, exhausting, and deeply shaped by the mothers who came before us. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with Jennifer Griffith to talk about the complexities of motherhood, the grief of being mothered imperfectly, the courage it takes to mother differently, and the power of rewriting the story you inherited.

Jennifer Griffith is a former sales leadership professional, writer, storyteller, and author of Both Sides of Then. Through her writing, workshops, and personal story, Jennifer explores reinvention, resilience, motherhood, identity, family history, and the emotional truths that shape who we become.

Key Takeaways
• Motherhood is not about perfection. It is about facing what you inherited, deciding what you want to carry forward, and choosing what needs to end with you
• Curiosity about your mother’s life before she became your parent can help you understand your own identity in a deeper way
• Pain can become purpose when you are willing to name it, write through it, move through it, and use it as part of your healing

Timestamps
• 00:00: Introduction: overcoming the complexities of motherhood
• 02:10: Jennifer’s mantra: keep getting up and keep putting one foot in front of the other
• 06:00: Why movement, walking, running, and writing can help build resilience
• 10:00: Losing two pregnancies and reevaluating work, motherhood, and what truly mattered
• 15:00: Jennifer’s father choosing death with dignity and the life changing words, “It just went so fast”
• 20:00: Leaving a successful tech sales career to pursue writing and motherhood
• 25:00: Writing Both Sides of Then and honoring her mother’s story
• 30:00: Jennifer’s mother being raised in an orphanage after tragic loss
• 35:00: Relinquishment, shame, motherhood, and the emotional impact of her mother’s early life
• 40:00: Understanding how your mother’s story shapes the mother you become
• 45:00: Why pain can become purpose when shared with honesty and vulnerability
• 50:00: The importance of real stories beyond filtered images and curated success
• 55:00: How pregnancy loss and grief changed Jennifer’s perspective on life
• 01:00:00: Why curiosity became Jennifer’s framework for healing and identity
• 01:05:00: Asking your parents who they were before they became your parents
• 01:10:00: How family stories help us understand what we received and what we did not receive
• 01:15:00: How to choose a different parenting path than the one you inherited
• 01:20:00: Writing the scenes of your life and using reflection as a tool for healing
• 01:25:00: The myth of the perfect mother and the guilt and shame many mothers carry
• 01:30:00: Why motherhood forces women to face both the past and the future at the same time
• 01:35:00: Leaning out instead of leaning in and choosing the lane that is right for you
• 01:40:00: Why women cannot do everything without cost to their bodies, marriages, and wellbeing
• 01:45:00: Burnout, menopause, gray divorce, and the pressure placed on modern mothers
• 01:50:00: The life lesson Jennifer learned from pursuing her writing dream
• 01:55:00: Showing up for yourself every day, even when the path takes longer than expected
• 02:00:00: How to honor a dream when you cannot leave your paycheck yet
• 02:05:00: The power of 15 minutes of inspired work a day
• 02:10:00: Why small steps, like running one block or writing one page, can eventually become something much bigger
• 02:15:00: Female writers who helped Jennifer find her own voice
• 02:20:00: Where to connect with Jennifer and find Both Sides of Then

Connect with Jennifer Griffith
• Jennifer’s website: by Jennifer Griffith, https://byjennifergriffith.com/
• Instagram: by Jennifer Griffith, https://www.instagram.com/byjennifergriffith/
• Book: Both Sides of Then, Jennifer Griffith, https://a.co/d/093zLdgs

If this episode helped you, share it with a mother, daughter, writer, or woman who is trying to understand her story, heal what she inherited, and become more intentional about the life she is creating. Motherhood is complex, but your story can still become a source of wisdom, connection, and purpose. I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.
 ❤️ Anne

Disclaimer
The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, diagnosis, legal, medical, grief support, or mental health care.

#overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #motherhood #motherhoodjourney #motherdaughterhealing #motherhoodtruths #motherhoodunfiltered #griefandhealing #pregnancyloss #familyhealing #generationalhealing #writingtoheal #memoirwriting #reinvention #resiliencepodcast #womenwriters #healingjourney #personaldevelopment #selfreflection #emotionalhealing #overcomingadversity #podcast #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podcasthost

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Episode 055: Overcoming Intimacy Shame with George Goulburn

Intimacy shame can keep people disconnected from their bodies, their confidence, their desire, and their ability to receive authentic connection. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with George Goulburn to have an honest, compassionate, and eye-opening conversation about intimacy, loneliness, shame, companionship, and the deep human need to be seen, heard, touched, and valued.

George Goulburn left a 30-year corporate career to become a professional companion, offering women a safe, respectful, and customized experience of connection, affection, conversation, and intimacy. Through his work, George helps women overcome shame, rebuild confidence, reconnect with their worth, and remember that it is never too late to feel desired, alive, and deeply human.

Key Takeaways
• There is not one right way to experience relationships, intimacy, companionship, or love
• Many women are not looking for sex first. They are longing for safety, affection, attention, conversation, tenderness, and the feeling of being truly seen
• Intimacy shame begins to heal through compassion, self-acceptance, honest communication, and safe human connection

Timestamps
• 00:00: Introduction: overcoming intimacy shame
• 02:10: George’s belief about intimacy that he had to unlearn
• 05:00: Why there is not only one way to do relationships
• 08:00: Walking away from a 30 year corporate career
• 12:00: How dating and curiosity about people led George toward companionship work
• 16:00: The woman who first asked to pay for intimacy and emotional boundaries
• 20:00: Why George’s role is about far more than physical intimacy
• 24:00: The biggest misconceptions about professional companionship
• 28:00: Why many women over 50 feel invisible as sexual and desirable women
• 33:00: How companionship can become a bridge back to confidence and relationships
• 38:00: Why every client experience is deeply personal and customized
• 42:00: The importance of safety, trust, and emotional presence
• 47:00: What women are truly longing for emotionally
• 52:00: The confidence killers women carry around body image, shame, and self worth
• 57:00: Why the brain, curiosity, and open mindedness can be deeply attractive
• 01:02:00: Dating again after years or decades away from intimacy
• 01:07:00: Green flags, red flags, and the importance of communication
• 01:12:00: Why listening matters more than impressing someone
• 01:17:00: What George’s clients have taught him about love, connection, and loneliness
• 01:22:00: Why human connection is essential for emotional wellbeing
• 01:27:00: How this work changed George personally
• 01:32:00: The caring economy and finding purpose through helping others feel seen
• 01:37:00: Why it is never too late for affection, intimacy, and love
• 01:42:00: George as the bridge or doorman into a more connected life
• 01:47:00: What George has learned about human connection
• 01:52:00: What happens if George falls in love while doing this work
• 01:57:00: Advice for men who want to connect more deeply with women
• 02:02:00: Recommended books, podcasts, and relationship resources
• 02:07:00: Where to connect with George and learn more about his work

Connect with George Goulburn
• George’s website: link to be added
• Instagram: link to be added

Resources
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, https://a.co/d/06oUoxZ4
• Esther Perel’s books, podcast, and relationship resources, https://www.estherperel.com/

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who feels disconnected, lonely, ashamed, undesirable, or afraid that intimacy is no longer available to them. You are still worthy of affection, connection, tenderness, and love. It is never too late to be seen, to be cared for, and to come home to yourself again. I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.
 ❤️ Anne

Disclaimer
The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, diagnosis, legal, medical, or relationship counseling.

#overcominganything #midlifetransformations #energyhealing #resilience #intimacyshame #intimacyhealing #relationshiphealing #emotionalhealing #selfworth #selflove #datingafter50 #datingafter60 #womenover50 #loneliness #companionship #humanconnection #confidencebuilding #intimacy #relationships #healingjourney #personaldevelopment #overcomingadversity #mentalhealth #podcast #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podcasthost

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Episode 054: Overcoming the Identity Shift from Corporate Marketer to Artist with April Page

Leaving a successful corporate identity can feel exciting, terrifying, and deeply disorienting, especially when your title, income, achievements, and sense of worth have been tied to who you were for decades. In this episode of Overcoming Anything, host Anne Vryonides sits down with April Page to talk about the identity shift from senior corporate marketer to full time fine artist, and what it really takes to choose creativity, peace, and self-trust over burnout.

April Page is a fine artist, former senior corporate marketer, and host of Artist Antics with April. After decades in corporate marketing, multiple layoffs, and a serious wake-up call from her body, April decided to go all in on herself, her art, and a more authentic chapter of life.

Key Takeaways
• Leaving a corporate identity is not just a career change. It is an emotional, financial, and spiritual identity shift
• Your body will often tell you when the old life no longer fits before your mind is ready to admit it
• Creativity requires courage, strategy, boundaries, self-trust, and the willingness to start before everything feels perfect

Timestamps
• 00:00: Introduction: overcoming the identity shift from corporate marketer to artist
• 02:10: April’s mantra: “Just do it”
• 05:00: Why strategy matters before making a major life or business leap
• 08:00: The identity shift from senior corporate marketer to full time fine artist
• 12:00: Letting go of the old title and learning to own the artist identity
• 16:00: Why achievement, awards, and corporate validation can become tied to self-worth
• 20:00: The emotional and financial pressure of starting over
• 24:00: The advice from April’s mother that helped her stop pressuring herself
• 28:00: Learning how to paint, play, and be present again
• 32:00: The plane ride that revealed corporate life was no longer sustainable
• 36:00: Burnout, travel, stress, and the body shutting down
• 41:00: Why April knew she could not keep living at that pace
• 45:00: Layoffs, contract work, and creating an exit plan
• 49:00: Building a strategy around money, investments, and business growth
• 54:00: The biggest life lessons: time, self-care, boundaries, and balance
• 59:00: Learning when to say no and protect the main focus
• 01:04:00: Transferring corporate confidence into an art business
• 01:09:00: Delegating social media, editing, and tasks that are not the best use of time
• 01:14:00: Advice for anyone who wants to leave corporate life and grow a side hustle
• 01:19:00: Researching the reality of the industry before making the leap
• 01:24:00: Why shadowing, networking, and asking real questions can save time and money
• 01:29:00: April’s childhood creativity and learning to trust her inner world
• 01:34:00: Building tough skin in male dominated industries
• 01:39:00: What April learned from layoffs, silence, resilience, and resourcefulness
• 01:44:00: Why peace matters more than title, income, or chaos
• 01:49:00: How listeners can reconnect with creativity in simple ways
• 01:54:00: Journaling, sketching, classes, creative groups, and starting small
• 01:59:00: Recommended books for creativity, resistance, and authentic expression
• 02:04:00: Where to connect with April and find her art

Connect with April Page
• April’s website: https://aprilpaigefineart.com
• YouTube: Artist Antics with April, https://www.youtube.com/@artisticanticsllc
• Social media links are available in the footer of April’s website

Resources
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, https://a.co/d/0jgACwF4
• The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, https://a.co/d/06wfJoFA
 
 

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who is questioning their career, craving a more creative life, or wondering whether it is too late to choose a new chapter. Sometimes the next version of you is not waiting for permission. She is waiting for you to finally choose her. I’ll see you next time on Overcoming Anything.
 ❤️ Anne

Disclaimer
The content of this episode is for informational and inspirational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, diagnosis, legal, medical, financial, or career advice.

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