Own Your Truth Podcast

As a nationally-recognized strategic communications leader, social innovator, and the CEO of Tower26, Naomi Seligman has advised congressional leaders, entertainment visionaries, and advocacy groups on how to maximize their social impact and solve some of the most pressing problems facing our nation today.

When I was introduced to Naomi and learned about the significance of her work and the impact she was making across so many industries, my first thought was: "How can one human being become such a powerful force for change in so many people's lives and also maintain the balance in their own life?"

What she shared during our interview gave me a whole new perspective on life, work, family, and the choices we make to become the example that inspires the next generation.

Naomi's story is the origin story of courage and this episode will open your eyes to the possibilities that you can create by taking meaningful action in your life.

The families of our nation's fallen military heroes are known as the Gold Star Families. This is an honor that no one wants as the void left behind in the wake of this ultimate sacrifice is one that can never be filled.

For the ones who made it back home, hanging up the uniform is often the beginning of a new battle with isolation, a lack of community, or a sense of purpose.

Combat veteran and former Navy SEAL, Perry Yee understands the difficulties and emotional roadblocks that many veterans face during the transition from active duty to civilian life.

As the founder of Active Valor, this incredible non-profit organization gives new purpose to veterans by pairing them as one-on-one mentors to Gold Star Children.

This powerful idea of mentorship and mission-based adventures has created an opportunity for veterans to pass on the skills they've gained during their military careers and make a significant impact within the Gold Star Community.

If you ever needed a moment to pause, reflect and put your life in perspective, this episode is it. It's a reminder that there are good people out there who selflessly give their energy and their time to promote healing, build community, and create positive change in the world.

For any child, a home should be the most sacred place on earth. But what happens when the people we love the most betray our trust and destroy our sense of belonging?

Rebecca Schaper is an extraordinary woman who has experienced the depths of this betrayal and used her story of survival as an inspirational example of hope, and forgiveness.

Her documentary "A Sister's Call" and her book, "The Light in His Soul" are powerful stories of reconnection, and an intimate look into the heart of a family who has struggled to restore their lives, and face the dark traumas of their past.

Before you listen to this episode, I highly recommend you watch "A Sister's Call" available now on Amazon Prime Video.

As an author, filmmaker, philanthropist, and mental health advocate, Rebecca's journey of healing and growth has inspired countless people to share their stories of abuse and lift the painful burden of silence from their lives.

By owning her truth as a domestic violence survivor, therapist, coach, and mom, Kelly Lynch has cultivated a safe space for women to own the identities they can be proud of, and to stop apologizing for not living up to the stories that were never meant for them.

In 2014, she walked out of an abusive marriage with a suitcase in one arm and her daughter in another. Her courageous journey of self-discovery and growth is a reminder to all of us that it's ok to fall to pieces in order to rebuild our lives.

This episode is about the valuable lessons we can find within life's darkest moments and the impact we can make when we have the courage to speak up and own our story.

"There is no finish line where we spike the ball and do the victory dance. We are all a work in progress. There's always something to learn about yourself." -Liz Scott

This was an excerpt from an original essay by Liz Scott, a psychologist with over 40 years of experience and the author of This Never Happened, an absolutely heart wrenching memoir about her childhood journey with narcissistic parents, and her relentless search for the truth, for belonging, and a deeper understanding of her own life.

Liz Scott is an extraordinary woman who had arrived at the intersection of despair and made a conscious choice to live a full life.

This interview is a deep dive into what it means to take an unflinching look at ourselves and our history, in order to create change.

In 2016, Miry Whitehill delivered a baby jumper to a Syrian family who had moved to Los Angeles as refugees. When she visited their home, she discovered what she described in her 2019 Tedx Talk as: "...a haunting vacancy in the bathroom, with no evidence of life to be seen. There were no towels on the towel racks, no shampoo, toilet paper, soap, or cleaning supplies."

When she realized the significance of the need for resources, she started to make a list of all the items they needed to turn their sparsely furnished apartment into a functional home for a family of five.

This moment would become the origin story of Miry's List, a Los Angeles based refugee resettlement organization that has helped over 350 families settle into their new lives in America and provide them with the resources and support they need to thrive.

As the Founder and Executive Director of Miry's List, Miry Whitehill's journey of purpose and connection is about the bonds we all share as human beings, and the simple yet powerful difference we can make with a single act of kindness.

If your house or apartment was on fire right now and you only had a few minutes to grab the most important things in your life, what would they be?

The answer to this "fire salvage" question is your truth, it's your foundation, and it's the most powerful source of growth and human momentum that you have.

This episode is about taking a few minutes to ask yourself: "What is it that I really need, and why?"

Linden Wolbert is many things to many people. To her loyal and loving fans, she is known as Mermaid Linden, the professional mermaid who specializes in "Ocean Edutainment" for kids and adults, ocean conservation, and swimming safety.

To the countless families with kids who are faced with life-threatening illnesses, she is known as a granter of wishes, an angel, and a carrier of hope.

As the Founder of Mermaids in Motion, LLC., her brand Mermaid Linden is also developing and designing swim products with Body Glove, and her Monofin design has sold in some of the biggest retailers in the world and is currently listed as "Amazon's Choice" for monofins.

Linden is not just an inspirational example of "Entrepremermaidship," she is also the living embodiment of what we can achieve, and the lives we can touch, by listening to our internal guide and trusting in the power of our purpose.

Lisa Hickey is the CEO of Good Men Media, Inc. and the publisher of The Good Men Project, an online platform that is taking a deep look into what enlightened masculinity looks like in the 21st Century. With over 3 million visitors per month, The Good Men Project has evolved into a diverse, global community of contributors, who are opening up about mental health, sexual identity, marriage, fatherhood, intimacy, and what it means to be at the "front lines of modern manhood." With the courage to have the conversation that no one else is having, Lisa Hickey is cultivating a movement that challenges those cultural notions of what a "real man" must be. Her story of resilience, human connection, and creative innovation is a powerful example of what it means to live a purpose-driven life.

Belinda Farrell is an author, teacher, master hypnotherapist, and a reconnective, and Huna Healing practitioner, who has opened my eyes to the strength, and the capacity of the human spirit.

She has overcome incredible adversity including the tragic death of her son to suicide, complete financial loss, and healing a degenerated spine without surgery.

This episode is full of powerful reminders that we are more than we think we are. It's also a story of survival, healing, and self forgiveness from an incredible human being who has literally walked across fire to prove that in life, she can, she must, and she will.