Own Your Truth Podcast

No matter who we are, we are all going to struggle at some point in our lives. While this is an inevitable truth of being human, what if we could talk openly about our struggles, share our stories, and build a toolbox for better living? This is the foundation of the message, and the mission of the Beyond Well podcast with Sheila Hamilton.

As a five-time Emmy award winning journalist, Sheila has worked in every media platform including documentary film, television, radio, podcasting, and is also the author of: All the Things We Never Knew, a powerful memoir about the journey of loving and losing someone with mental illness.

It's not an easy task to try and summarize the strength, courage, and resilience of Sheila Hamilton, and my hope is that when you listen to this interview you will be inspired to read, absorb, and connect with her work as an author, mental health advocate, and professional storyteller.

In this episode I open up about a dark moment in my past that has taken me ten years to reconcile, and ultimately accept as part of who I am.

For some of us, our identity is the way we look, what we do, who we love, or the roles we fulfill in people's lives. Now imagine what it would feel like to suddenly have all the layers of your identity violently stripped away in a single moment.

For Gina Cummings, this moment was May of 2003, when she survived a nearly fatal car accident that left her with the permanent loss of normal phonation of her vocal cords, and stage five laryngeal separation.

This episode is not just an incredible story of survival, healing, and growth, it's an invitation to take a deeper look at our lives and ask ourselves what's really important.

Gina is living proof that we have the power to redefine ourselves, even in the midst of trauma, suffering, and isolation.

In life, we can't predict the unforeseen chaos that may destroy our vocal cords, but we can make a conscious choice to believe in the power of our own voice.

Diane Babcock and Rocky Cave were high school sweethearts who hadn't seen each other in over forty three years. Then, one night while relaxing on the couch, with a glass of Merlot, and watching Pulp Fiction, a particular song, in a certain scene, triggered a powerful emotional response within Diane to reach out immediately to her long lost love.

She had no idea that her phone call would arrive at a pivotal moment in Rocky's life, and ignite the journey of healing, reconnection, and true love, that I'm honored to share with you today.

Diane is an incredibly talented writer, and a gifted communicator with a natural ability to listen, let go, and trust in the unseen, intangible truth within.

Whether you believe in destiny or coincidence, Diane's story is one of those rare reminders that life's most beautiful moments may arrive when we have no reason left for hope.

Fear absolutely has a place, and purpose in our lives, and there will definitely be those moments when our brains signal fear in order to protect us from bodily harm, death, or being arrested.

But what about those pivotal moments in life, and those difficult decisions that keep us up at night?

Like when we had to decide whether or not to leave that toxic work environment, or that relationship we were about to end or begin, or that painfully awkward conversation we had to have in order to establish healthy boundaries?

This episode is a six min dive into a personal truth that has provided me with some powerful insight, and much needed momentum in my life.

Katina Makris is many things to many people. As a Certified Homeopath, Intuitive Healer, author, speaker, and radio host, she is an inspirational example of someone who has embraced their inherent gifts, and used their powers in service to others.

During my interview with Katina, she shared some of the most powerful and insightful moments of her ten year journey of recovery from Chronic Lyme disease, and her story left me with some profound realizations about the paths we all take to discover our purpose.

She's not just a survivor of a chronic disease, she's someone who made a conscious choice to push beyond the pain of losing her marriage, her income, her health, and her home, in order to rebuild her broken spirit, and connect with her true calling in life.

If you or someone you love is going through a difficult time right now, this episode will shed some much needed light into the purpose of pain, and how the dark moments in life can become our greatest teachers.

On February 13th, 2019, I e-mailed a new subscriber to thank her for joining my mailing list, and for being a listener of the podcast. I had no idea that this simple gesture would ultimately lead to one of the most rewarding, unexpected, and beautiful friendships of my life.

Elizabeth Aaroe is living proof that we can find our joy, we can choose bravery, and we can choose optimism even in the face of unrelenting trauma, disease, and abuse.

As a Neurological Lyme disease survivor, her journey of misdiagnosis, breathing machines, tests, and waiting lists would only forge the foundation for Elizabeth to stand completely within her own truth, and endure the pain that was yet to come.

To try and summarize Elizabeth's strength of spirit, belief, and grace, in a few paragraphs, would be an impossible task...so in her own words:

"In spite of a near-death illness, I remain a relentless, intrepid woman, albeit in an entirely different guise than my former self, but still a remarkably benevolent and creative force of nature, and the master gardener of my life, mind, body, and soul."

-Elizabeth Aaroe

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and this episode is released in honor of Elizabeth Aaroe, and the incredible Lyme Disease survivors, families, loved ones, and healers, who are doing their part to survive, to thrive, and bring awareness to this vital cause.

This episode is about looking closer, and having the courage to challenge those preconceived notions we have about ourselves, and our place in the world. It's about digging deeper, beneath the label of our profession, arriving at our truth, and using our story as a force for positive change in the world.

My next guest, Iggy van Dinther, is on a mission to spread a powerful message of body positivity, self awareness, and sustainable health for the mind, and body.

As an runway model, and host, she's worked with international brands like: Ralph Lauren, Avon, Cartier, Oscar de la Renta, Guess, and Clarins.

In this interview, we explore the physical and emotional demands of working in the highly competitive world of modeling, and entertainment, and how to create sustainable mind/body health in the age of social media.

Thank you Iggy, for having the courage to be vulnerable, to speak your truth, and for using your story to transform lives.

Something I've learned from this podcast, is that the power of human connection is an immeasurable force. We can meet one person, and have a single conversation, that can completely change the trajectory of our thinking, and bring awareness to those habits that are hijacking our potential.

Daniel Mangena is this person, and our conversation unlocked so many compelling truths about life, and what it means to fully embody our natural state of abundance.

As a transformational coach, international radio host, public speaker and author, Daniel has witnessed his clients step completely into their own power, and recognize they are the author, and creator of their life.

After my chat with Daniel, I took a moment to pause, and reflect on the kind of courage it takes to share what he shared in this episode.

Thank you Daniel, for giving so much of yourself to your clients, to your work, and for bringing the Beyond Intention Paradigm into the world.

We all have a story, and that story includes: how we were raised, our family, our culture, and what we experienced leading up to this moment in our lives. However, it's the way we perceive, and interact with our stories that makes us who we are. This is one of the many powerful insights learned from my conversation with Julianne Chapman.

She is a licensed clinical social worker currently working in private practice as a holistic mental health therapist, and self love and wellness coach. After eight years of investigating child abuse for the State of Oregon, she is now the founder and Executive Director of Family Friend, a non-profit organization that supports foster youth, and the families impacted by trauma and poverty.

In addition to her years of clinical experience, she is also a trainer and mental health consultant who is passionate about educating, and raising awareness of vicarious trauma, and the importance of self care for all individuals in the healing profession including: medical, mental health, social services, and education.

What makes Julianne extraordinary is the lens with which she views the human experience, and her ability to connect, and cultivate a safe space for people to rediscover their own self worth.

So when you listen to this episode, I'd encourage you to pause, rewind, and take notes (unless you're driving of course;) as there are so many insights, and powerful moments of reflection on the messy, and beautiful journey of being human.

This episode is a special dedication, and acknowledgement to Julianne, and the other incredible mental health providers out there who are fighting the uphill battle against the stigma of mental health.