Have you ever felt like you had something important to say,  but fear kept you from saying it?

In this inspiring episode of Real Talk, I sit down with Matthew Cossolotto, former aide to Congressman Leon Panetta, speechwriter for leaders at NATO and the U.S. House of Representatives, and author of The Joy of Public Speaking.

From working alongside influential leaders to helping everyday people find their voice, Matthew has dedicated his life to one powerful mission: empowering others to overcome fear, unlock their potential, and share their message with confidence.

Together, we explore why public speaking is about so much more than standing on a stage, it’s about personal empowerment, self-belief, and having the courage to be seen.

The Joy of Finding Your Voice

Matthew shares how our greatest limitations are often created by the stories we tell ourselves. He explains why public speaking is really an inner game, how shifting our mindset can transform fear into confidence, and why finding our voice has the power to change not only our careers… but our lives.

He also opens up about the heartfelt promise he made to his mother that ultimately changed the direction of his life and inspired his work helping others step into their full potential.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

🔹 From Stage Fright to Stage Delight: Why fear of public speaking is more common than most people realize, and how to begin overcoming it.

🔹 The Inner Game of Confidence: How your thoughts shape your performance and why mindset matters more than technique.

🔹 Finding Your Voice: The connection between public speaking, personal empowerment, and having the courage to be seen.

🔹 The Joy Gap: Why the way you think about speaking directly impacts your ability to perform at your best.

🔹 Success Habits vs. Failure Habits: Why awareness is the first step toward personal transformation and lasting growth.

🔹 Turning Goals into Promises: How connecting your goals to your heart can dramatically increase your commitment and follow-through.

This conversation is a reminder that your voice matters.

Not because you have all the answers.

Not because you're perfect.

But because there is something only you can say in the way that only you can say it.

The world doesn't need fewer voices.

It needs more people willing to share them.

Thank you for being on this journey with us!

Grace

P.S. If you've ever questioned whether your voice is important enough to be heard… this episode will remind you that it is.

Connect with Matthew Cossolotto

🔹 MatthewCossolotto.com

🔹 LinkedIn: Matthew Cossolotto

🔹Watch this Episode :https://youtu.be/Ayz8cBxKqU0 The Joy of Public Speaking (Available on Amazon)

Follow Me:

🔹 Subscribe to the Podcast: Real Talk with Grace Redman

🔹 Website: www.graceredman.com

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦

Have you ever wondered what can happen when a community comes together with a shared mission—to ensure every young person feels seen, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential?

In this inspiring episode of Real Talk with Grace Redman, I return to my alma mater, Hillsdale High School, where Empowerment Through Action (ETA) first began, for a meaningful conversation with Co-Executive Directors Brett Stevenson, Rachel Lauderdale, Ed Kanda, and Deshawn Mitchell.

What started as a mentoring program serving students at Hillsdale High School has grown into a transformative movement impacting students and families throughout San Mateo County. Today, ETA's reach extends to San Mateo High School, Aragon High School, Bridge Academy, and several feeder middle schools, with an ambitious vision to expand even further through the Empower San Mateo initiative.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that when people choose to lead with compassion, invest in relationships, and believe in the potential of the next generation, they can create lasting change that transforms lives and strengthens entire communities.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞:

🔶 How ETA helps students feel seen, heard, and supported and why that changes everything

🔶 The power of mentorship and building relationships that last far beyond graduation

🔶 Why ETA believes you can only move at the speed of trust

🔶 How students discover strengths and leadership qualities they didn't know they possessed

🔶 The Bridge-to-Bridge program that supports students from middle school through their first steps after high school

🔶 How ETA helps students explore careers, entrepreneurship, trades, college pathways, and real-world opportunities

🔶 The inspiring stories of students who transformed when someone finally believed in them

🔶 The impact of the Peace Pantry, Community Closet, and Community Garden serving families throughout the community

🔶 How the Empower San Mateo initiative is expanding support to even more students and families across the district

Empowerment Through Action (ETA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students furthest from opportunity through mentorship, leadership development, enrichment programs, academic support, family engagement, and community resources. Their mission is to ensure every student has the support, opportunities, and encouragement needed to reach their highest potential.

What makes ETA unique is its commitment to walking alongside students for years, building trust, creating community, and helping young people discover that they are capable of far more than they may believe.

Whether you're interested in volunteering, mentoring, partnering, donating, or simply learning more, there are many ways to support the mission of Empowerment Through Action.

Every act of kindness creates a ripple.

Every student deserves to be seen.

Every young person deserves the opportunity to dream.

Thank you for being on this journey with us.

Grace

𝘗.𝘚. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩.

Connect with Empowerment Through Action

🔶 Website: https://empowermentthroughaction.com

🔶 Watch this Episode: https://youtu.be/dFrZ6InCCMg?si=UZynz2odgEfUJJkf

🔶 Learn More About Volunteering, Mentorship & Community Support Opportunities

Follow Me

🔶 Subscribe to the Podcast: Real Talk with Grace Redman

🔶 Website: www.graceredman.com

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐲𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬

Have you ever achieved something you once thought would make you happy... only to realize there was still something missing?

In this episode of Real Talk, I sit down with Olympian, well-being coach, and founder, Robyn Stevens, for a powerful conversation about success, identity, integrity, and what it truly means to create a life that feels good from the inside out.

Robyn isn't just an Olympic athlete. She's someone who has spent her life questioning the stories society tells us about achievement, happiness, and worth. From giving up television at just 11 years old to qualifying for the Olympics, overcoming an eating disorder, navigating anxiety, and helping others create holistic wellbeing, her perspective is both refreshing and deeply inspiring.

What I love most about this conversation is that it's not just about athletic performance.

It's about human performance.

It's about learning how to stop abandoning ourselves in the pursuit of success.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞:

🔶 The Eight Pillars of Wellbeing: Why true success goes far beyond fitness, money, or career achievement and how every area of life impacts the others.

🔶 Success from the Inside Out: Why some of the world's most accomplished people still struggle with fulfillment, and what we can learn from that.

🔶 The Stories That Shape Us: How childhood beliefs, family dynamics, media, and culture influence the way we see ourselves and what's possible.

🔶 Anxiety, Fear & Self-Trust: Robyn shares a simple yet powerful mindset shift that helped her navigate anxiety and build greater trust in herself.

🔶 Accountability Without Shame: How taking ownership of your life can actually create more freedom, confidence, and peace.

🔶 The Difference Between Being Nice and Being Kind: A powerful conversation about truth, integrity, boundaries, and authentic leadership.

🔶 Why Rest Is Part of High Performance: What Olympic athletes understand about recovery that many entrepreneurs and leaders overlook.

🔶 Learning to Be Your Own Best Friend: Why the most important relationship you'll ever have is the one you have with yourself.

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that success isn't about sacrificing yourself.

It's about becoming more fully yourself.

Not chasing someone else's definition of success.

Creating your own and running your own race. 💫

Thank you for being on this journey with us.

Grace

𝘗.𝘚. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘹𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳.

Connect with Robyn Stevens

🔹 website: https://www.walknrobyn.com/

🔹 Instagram: @robyndesign

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🔹 Website: www.graceredman.com

What happens when life literally stops you in your tracks… and you come back completely transformed? 

In this episode of Real Talk, I sit down with world renowned medical intuitive healer, and bestselling Hay House author, and host of the globally syndicated Medical Intuitive Miracle Show on iHeartRadio, Kimberly Meredith, for a fascinating conversation on healing, intuition, faith, forgiveness, and the spiritual awakening happening in our world right now.  

Following two near death experiences, Kimberly says she returned with extraordinary intuitive abilities and a mission to help others heal.  

Kimberly unpacks everything from stress and illness to faith, forgiveness, energy frequencies, and learning how to trust the quiet voice within. 

This episode feels like sitting on the couch at 11pm having the kind of conversation that cracks your heart open in the best way possible. 

✨ In This Episode, We Talk About: 

💫Why she believes many people disconnect from spirit and themselves  

💫The difference between living in “3D” vs “5D” consciousness  

💫Stress, emotional energy, and how they impact the body  

💫Why both Western medicine and holistic healing can work together  

💫Meditation, nervous system regulation, and social media detox  

💫Toxic relationships, toxic environments, and energetic frequencies  

💫Forgiveness as freedom and why letting go is ultimately for YOU  

🌿This Episode Is For You If…  

💫You’re curious about intuition, consciousness, or energy healing 

💫You’ve struggled with forgiveness or letting go 

💫You know there’s more to life than just surviving and pushing through 

💫You’re learning to trust yourself, your faith, and your inner voice 

And if this episode spoke to you, please: 

✨Subscribe! 

✨Share it with someone who needs this conversation! 

✨Leave a review! 

✨Send it to that friend who is deep in their healing era and questioning everything 👀  

Because conversations like this remind us, we are far more powerful, connected, and capable of healing than we have been taught to believe.💞 

🎧 Listen Now or Watch 

💎Subscribe to the Podcast: Real Talk with Grace Redman 

💎Website: www.graceredman.com  

💎Instagram: @gracesredman  

✨Connect with Kimberly Meredith 

💖Website: www.thehealingtrilogy.com  

💖Book: Awakening to the Fifth Dimension: Discovering the Soul’s Path to Healing 

💖Instagram: @meredith.kimberly  

Thank you for being on this journey with us! 

Grace💕 

Have you ever felt like you had to choose between being fully yourself and being taken seriously?  

During Arab American Heritage month I had the honor of chatting with Loureen Ayyoub, award-winning journalist, spoken word poet, and the first Arab American woman on air with CBS News in the Bay Area.

From navigating identity in spaces where she hasn’t always felt represented to using her voice to tell stories that matter, Loureen is creating impact through truth, storytelling, and presence.  

The Power of Voice and Identity  

Loureen opens up about what it really feels like to carry both visibility and responsibility, not just as a journalist, but as a woman representing her culture in rooms where she hasn’t always seen herself reflected.  

She shares how storytelling isn’t just about reporting facts; it’s about honoring people, experiences, and perspectives that deserve to be understood, not just seen.  

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:  

🔶Softness as Strength: Why you don’t have to harden yourself to be respected, your humanity can be your greatest power.  

🔶Beyond Representation: The difference between being visible and being truly understood… and why that matters more than ever.  

🔶Owning Your Voice: How Loureen has learned to trust her perspective, even in spaces that challenge it.  

🔶Storytelling with Intention: Why the way we tell stories has the power to either divide… or deeply connect.  

🔶Balancing Identity and Ambition: What it looks like to pursue success without leaving parts of yourself behind.  

🔶Turning Experience into Impact: How Loureen uses both journalism and poetry to create meaning, connection, and change.  

This conversation is a reminder that your voice matters.  

Not the polished version.  

Not the edited version.  

The Real version! 💫 

Thank you for being on this journey with us!  

Grace  

P.S. If you’ve ever felt like you had to shrink parts of yourself to fit into certain spaces, this episode will remind you that you don’t.  

Connect with Loureen Ayyoub! 

🔹 LoureenAyyoub.com   
🔹 @LA_Loureen   

Follow me:  

🔹 Subscribe to the Podcast: Real Talk with Grace Redman  
🔹 Website: www.graceredman.com  

Have you ever wondered if the very obstacles that seem to be holding you back, your background, your "unconventional" path, or the doors slammed in your face, are actually the keys to your greatest success?

In this high-impact episode of Real Talk with Grace Redman, I sit down with Robert Jweinat, a California attorney, entrepreneur, and San Ramon City Council member. From loading UPS trucks to pay for college to winning a contested city election through pure grassroots grit, Robert is the founder of Jweinat Law Group and a visionary leader at the intersection of law, AI, and public service.

The Grassroots Mindset

Robert opens up about the "no-quit" philosophy that has defined his career. He shares the reality of navigating stereotypes, the discipline required to build a legal practice from the ground up, and why he believes that being "kicked in the teeth" by life is often the best preparation for leadership.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• The Grassroots Blueprint: Why "reverse-engineering" your smallest goals leads to your biggest wins.

• Resilience Over Rejection: How to stop playing the "victim card" and start building the muscle of perseverance.

• The Ego Trap: Why the most successful leaders are the ones willing to be coached by those younger than them.

• Boring Habits, Extraordinary Results: Why consistency, not luck, is the true common denominator of high achievers.

• The Future of Law: How Robert is using AI tech to make high-quality legal services accessible to everyone.

• Public Service Heart: What it really looks like to balance a high-level career while giving back to your community.

This conversation is a masterclass in staying grounded while aiming for the stars, a reminder that if you don't quit, you can't fail.

Thank you for being on this journey with us!

Grace

P.S. If you want to know how to keep your drive alive while serving something bigger than yourself, this is the episode for you.

Connect with Robert Jweinat

🔹 Website: www.RJLG.law

🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjweinat/  

🔹 City Council: https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/city_council/councilmember_robert_jweinat 

Follow me:

🔹 Subscribe to the Podcast: Real Talk with Grace Redman

🔹 Website: www.daretoachieve.com

Have you ever wondered what it takes to perform at your peak when the pressure is at its highest and uncertainty is the only constant?

In this deep-dive episode of Real Talk with Grace Redman, I sit down with mental performance coach and sports psychology expert Grant Parr. A former NCAA quarterback and author of The Next One Up Mindset: How to Prepare for the Unknown, Grant has dedicated his career to helping athletes and high-level professionals master the game that is won in the mind.

The Energy Game: Beyond the Mental Mindset Grant reveals that true mental performance isn't just about the "mental game", it’s actually an "energy game". He shares how to align, calibrate, and ground your energy through consistent habits such as breathwork and intentional language, so your "light" never dims, even in high-stress situations.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:

• The Energy Game: Why managing your frequency and "light" is the foundation of a high-performance mindset.

• Perfectionism vs. Excellence: Why perfectionism is a "trap" and how to shift your focus toward excellence rooted in behavior.

•  "Walk to Win": The power of slowing down to connect with nature and your surroundings to calibrate your energy.

• Response over Reaction: How to use breathwork to regulate your nervous system and move from a reactive state to a thoughtful response.

• Building Real Confidence: Why confidence is the result of consistent preparation merged with powerful internal language.

• The Power of Focus: Why focus is the center of all performance and how the breath acts as the initiator for it all.

This conversation is a masterclass in mental resilience, a reminder that peak performance starts from the inside out and that your state of being is your most valuable asset.

Thank you for being on this journey with us!

Grace

P.S. If you want to learn how to master the unknown and keep your focus razor-sharp under pressure, this is the episode for you.

Connect with Grant Parr 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gfpmindset/ 

• Website: gamefaceperformance.com 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-parr-5ab3033/ 

Follow me:

• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realtalkwithgraceredman 

• Website: https://www.daretoachieve.com
  

Have you ever wondered what it takes to stay at the top of your game for over 40 years without losing your spark?

In this high-energy episode of Real Talk with Grace Redman, Grace sits down with Bay Area legend Vern Glenn, Emmy Award-winning Sports Director for KPIX CBS San Francisco and Silver Circle Hall of Famer. Known as “Mr. Involvement,” Vern is famous for jumping into the story whether it’s skydiving, bull riding, or crashing dirt bikes, to bring heart and storytelling to sports.

41 Years of Fire and Hustle

Vern opens up about the grit behind the "glamorous" world of TV, sharing how he has maintained a legendary career for four decades with only one sick day. He discusses the reality of the hustle, the sacrifices made by his family, and how he manages to bring a "high vibe" to the screen every night despite a grueling schedule.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🔹 The origin of the “Mr. Involvement” nickname and his fearless reporting style.

🔹 The discipline of a 41-year career and the sacrifice of "civilian" holidays and weekends.

🔹 Why "checking your ego at the door" is the key to longevity in any industry.

🔹 Vern’s personal health journey: losing 30 pounds and reclaiming his energy.

🔹 The power of sports as a universal connector for the community.

🔹 Why asking for help and having a strong support system at home is vital for success.

🔹 His mission with the Vern Glenn Invitational Foundation to give back.

This conversation is a masterclass in passion and resilience a reminder that when you love what you do, you never truly work a day in your life.

Thank you for being on this journey with us!

Grace

Connect with Vern Glenn

🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vernglenn/

🔹 Website: https://www.vernglenninvitational.net/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vernon-vern-glenn-822335267/ 

Follow Grace

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realtalkwithgraceredman

Website: https://www.daretoachieve.com

Have you ever worked hard, done everything “right,” and still felt burned out, disconnected, or stuck?

In this powerful and deeply expansive episode of Real Talk with Grace Redman, Grace sits down with Steph Saffer, speaker, workshop facilitator, certified executive coach, licensed acupuncturist, and wellness leader, for an honest conversation about energy, impact, fear, and what it really means to live an aligned life.

Steph is the host of the Impact Ready Podcast and co-founder of Optimize You, a wellness brand dedicated to helping people create their own version of a ten-out-of-ten life, one rooted in health, confidence, and meaningful impact. With over 15 years of experience as an acupuncturist and a background in fitness, coaching, and leadership development, Steph brings a rare blend of grounded wisdom and lived experience.

Living with Impact and Alignment

Steph shares how decades of working closely with people revealed a powerful truth: most people aren’t stuck because they lack discipline or talent, they’re stuck because they don’t manage their energy or understand their impact. Together, Grace and Steph explore how self-awareness, intentional energy management, and choice shape both our internal world and the life we create externally.

The conversation deepens into burnout, high performance, fear, and the balance between hustle and ease including Steph’s courageous journey navigating breast cancer while continuing to serve, lead, and live with purpose.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🔹 Why burnout isn’t caused by laziness, but by unmanaged energy

🔹 How high performers get stuck pushing instead of flowing

🔹 Why impact starts internally, not externally

🔹 How to move forward despite fear, not waiting for it to disappear

🔹 The role of self-awareness in leadership and fulfillment

🔹 Why asking for help is a leadership skill, not a weakness

🔹 The unseen aftermath of health crises and why support matters long after treatment ends

🔹 Why success without alignment leads to emptiness

🔹 How integrating hustle and ease creates sustainable growth

Steph also shares deeply personal reflections on navigating breast cancer, receiving support as a lifelong giver, and redefining strength, resilience, and leadership through compassion and presence.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and lead your life with intention even in the presence of fear, uncertainty, and challenge.

Thank you for being on this journey with us!

Grace

Connect with Steph Saffer

Website: https://stephsaffer.com

Have you ever found yourself in a season where nothing feels clear, yet everything feels urgent?

In this deeply grounding episode of Real Talk with Grace Redman, Grace sits down with Brenda Reynolds, a trusted organizational and leadership consultant, executive coach, award-winning author, and TEDx speaker, for an honest conversation about navigating uncertainty, transition, and what she calls “the fog.”

Brenda has spent decades guiding leaders and organizations through moments of change, partnering with global institutions like Goldman Sachs, The Body Shop, QVC, and Villanova University. In this episode, she brings wisdom, compassion, and practical tools for anyone feeling overwhelmed by what’s next.

Navigating Transition Fog

Brenda introduces the concept of transition fog, those moments when the future feels unclear, emotions are heightened, and answers seem just out of reach. Rather than rushing toward certainty, she explains why growth requires patience, presence, and trust.

Using the powerful metaphor of driving through fog, Brenda reminds us that clarity doesn’t come from turning on the high beams; it comes from focusing on the next right step, one stretch of road at a time.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🔹 What “transition fog” really is, and why it’s unavoidable

🔹 Why are there no shortcuts through uncertainty

🔹 The danger of forcing clarity before it’s ready

🔹 The difference between authentic gratitude and emotional bypassing

🔹 How leaders can show up with real energy instead of perfection

🔹 How uncertainty often becomes the greatest catalyst for growth

Brenda also shares deeply personal moments, from navigating divorce and career transitions to standing on a TEDx stage while grieving the loss of her grandmother, offering a powerful reminder that resilience is built through lived experience.

This episode is a steadying presence for anyone standing at the edge of what’s next. It’s about releasing pressure, honoring where you are, and trusting that clarity unfolds in its own time.

Thank you for being on this journey with us!

Grace

Connect with Brenda Reynolds

Website: https://www.brendakreynolds.com

Follow Grace

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/realtalkwithgraceredman

Website: https://www.daretoachieve.com