SAYge Real Stories

"Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure." Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist. The message is timeless.  There can be many obstacles women face when trying to follow their dreams.  In this recorded SAYge Real Stories event, we hear from Vi and Georgiana, two women who had much to overcome but were unwavering and courageous in following their personal legends. 

Georgiana Danet’s  story starts with eating rock-hard bread and rotten tomatoes from a trash bin and being kicked out to the street multiple times by landlords for practicing yoga in a communist country (where yoga illegal for many years). Her story ends with being an internationally certified Yoga & Tantra teacher, holistic coach, international speaker, book author and sociologist working with thousands of people in 15 countries.  Hear the details of this truly incredible journey.

Five years ago, Vi Nedd-Jackman had no idea that a laptop and a suitcase could disrupt the back end of her life forever. From life on the twin island of Trinidad and Tobago to being trained as a highly successful Dietitian after “ditching a victim’s mindset for a winner’”, her story is one of rising up, determined and unwavering to create her own destiny.  She is now a sought-after certified health coach and a board-certified mental health coach helping many in the greater Chicago area. 

Delve into the poignant and inspiring story told by Jackie Nicoll, a remarkable woman who has faced the unfathomable challenge of being a caregiver for her late husband, Jamie, as he battled metastatic prostate cancer.  Jackie, a 55-year-old mother of two grown children, had her life take an unexpected turn when Jamie was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the young age of 47. Despite the devastating prognosis, Jackie, Jamie, and their two children, Josh and Julia, embarked on a tumultuous journey filled with hope, resilience, and unwavering love.

With a deep reservoir of strength and resilience, she continues to honor Jamie's legacy by imparting the invaluable lessons he lived by right until the end– lessons that illuminate the transformative power of living each day to the fullest, embracing gratitude in times of adversity, and cherishing the precious moments that define our existence.  Listeners are invited to witness the indomitable human spirit and find solace in the universal truths that bind us all. 

Special thanks to three incredible SAYges Debra Banks, Rose Maloney and Sandy Dressler who shared how the choices they made led them to a life of fulfillment and knowing that "Aging Gracefully" has little to do with vanity and more to do with pausing to listen (and breathe!), following our hearts and making choices to live a life that makes us feel good inside and out.

Check out Debra Bank's organization to help you age fabulously better called My Fab Circle, take a look HERE.

Rose Maloney has an incredible Beauty & Wellness center, Pure Eco Spa, check it out HERE.

Motherhood is often described as a challenging endeavor, yet the complexities are further heightened for mothers of children with special needs. Imagine the daunting task of raising not just one, but two special needs children - and as a single parent.  In this episode, Karinna Hogan graciously invites listeners to embark on her journey, navigating the intricate emotional and practical hurdles presented by this reality.  With each of her daughters bearing two distinct special needs diagnoses - one grappling with a rare genetic disorder and the other with autism - Karinna vulnerably delves into tumultuous emotions after each consecutive diagnosis including shock, denial, anger and sadness. She also shares the transformative process that helped her through it.  One of accepting and embracing a new normal, their normal. 

Discover how Karinna found strength and support in connecting with another mom who understood her journey, inspiring her to help other women facing similar challenges. Through her own self-love, growth, and lessons learned, Karinna has transformed her experiences into a coaching business offering workshops and tailored programs to assist special needs moms in navigating the unique challenges of raising children with rare diseases or disabilities.

Tune in to explore Karinna's story of resilience, hope, and empowerment, and learn how she is making a difference in the lives of mothers who need support on this challenging journey.  As with all SAYges, Karinna has an open door to outreach and would love to chat with any moms out there who are interested in asking her questions, venting or just having a chat with someone who understands.  If you’d like to connect with Karinna, email [email protected]!

Find out more about Karinna and her support for moms of special needs children HERE . She also offers a free mastermind class.

Being a mother is undeniably challenging, and caring for special needs children takes it to a whole new level. In this special episode of Real Stories: SAYges in our Backyard, we meet Karen Philips and Midsieka Costelli, two Connecticut moms who have formed a strong bond and found invaluable support in each other on this unique motherhood journey. Karen is a devoted mother to a 14-year-old son with severe Autism, requiring close supervision almost around the clock. Midsieka's 17-year-old daughter has multiple disabilities, including physical, intellectual, visual, and hearing impairments.

Despite the immense challenges they face, Karen and Midsie have found solace and strength in their friendship, as well as a shared sense of humor. They believe that laughter is essential in coping with their situations, finding light in the midst of their struggles. Their love for their children is unwavering, but they also acknowledge the difficulties of their circumstances. Finding acceptance and understanding in each other's company has helped them navigate their journeys with greater ease.  Listen in as Karen and Midsieka share their uplifting perspectives and compassionate desire to support other moms who may be feeling overwhelmed and isolated. 

As with all of our SAYges, Karen and Midsie are open to connecting with you.  If one of their stories resonates and you would like to ask questions or just have a chat, email ⁠[email protected]⁠.  We will link you!

Resource suggestion for mothers with autistic children mentioned in episode: 

Julie Swanson ⁠www.lifeskillslady.com

⁠

In this episode we speak with Dr. Rikki, a remarkable woman who dared to take a leap of faith and completely transform her life after a breast cancer scare. Despite having a seemingly perfect life as a doctor, mother, and wife, Rikki realized that she was utterly unfulfilled.  Driven by a deep desire for authenticity and depth, she embarked on a profound journey where she awakened intimate spiritual and sexual parts of herself hidden away.  Through this journey she not only rediscovered herself but also found the courage to live in her truth.  

Rikki is now living her dream life in alignment and brimming with deep intimacy.   Not only has she remarried to her great love, renowned chef Seamus Mullen, but she boldly pivoted her career to find heartfelt purpose.  Drawing upon her medical background from USC and Cedars-Sinai, as well as her training from the Somatica Institute and Layla Martin, she now uniquely integrates science and spirituality as a Sex, Love, and Relationship Coach.  Through her new career, Dr. Rikki is able to empower individuals and couples to foster deeper intimacy both within themselves and in union, guiding them toward more authentic and fulfilling lives.

As with all of our SAYges, Rikki is open to connecting with you. If her story resonates and you would like to ask questions about her incredible journey or just chat with her, email [email protected]. We will link you!

Learn more about Dr. Rikki and her journey on her Instagram page or by visiting her website www.gushwithrikki.com

Welcome to a special episode of our podcast, where we had the pleasure of hosting Jennifer K. Hill, a brilliant evolutionary leader, speaker, podcast host, author, and entrepreneur. Jennifer's journey towards personal growth and transformation is truly inspiring.

After exiting her first company in 2018, Jennifer embarked on a new venture, building her software company, OptiMatch. Through OptiMatch, she has managed to crack the code of human connection,  revolutionizing the way we understand and foster interpersonal relationships.  In this episode, we dive deep into Jennifer's personal struggles and how they became catalysts for profound change. She opens up about her battle with bulimia, depression, and a suicide attempt, sharing how these experiences served as wake-up calls, propelling her towards intentional and conscious-minded transformations.

Jennifer also discusses her autism diagnosis and how it has become her superpower in leading a successful life and career. With her unique perspective and approach, she showcases how embracing neurodiversity can enhance personal growth and empower individuals to reach their full potential.  One of the most captivating aspects of our conversation was the beautiful circling back to the importance of human compassion. Jennifer candidly discussed her journey from being a "recovering jerk” in dire need of a compassionate mirror for understanding herself. Through her introspection and personal growth, she came to realize that this understanding and compassion were not only essential for her own well-being but for successful connection with others.  

Join us as we delve into a remarkable journey, discovering the power of intentional change and the transformative potential hidden within our own uniquely diverse qualities.  Jennifer’s story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity to overcome adversity and find purpose.  Be inspired and empowered as we explore the depths of human connection and the limitless potential within each and everyone one of us.

As with all of our SAYges, Jennifer is open to connecting with you. If her story resonates and you would like to ask questions about her journey or just chat, email [email protected]. We will link you!

Learn more about Jennifer’s brilliant company OptiMatch at https://www.om.app

Listen to her enlightening podcast Regarding Consciousness

In this SAYge Real Stories episode I sat down with Kathy Mcafee, an accomplished author, renowned speaker, entrepreneur, business leader and coach. Perhaps her greatest defining success however is being an ovarian cancer survivor.  This powerful Real Stories conversation takes us through her emotional journey from diagnosis to acceptance and then to thriving toward survival.  As expected when faced with your mortality, the journey changed Kathy in profound ways.  “Cancer taught me a lot, mostly that I couldn’t control everything that happened to me - but I could shape my experience.  Meeting and spending time with my mortality helped me evolve as a human being.”   She shares the enlightened perspectives she gained and offers new ways of viewing life that can benefit all of us.

Kathy is intent on utilizing her life experiences and lessons learned to help other women and “paying it forward”.  Her professional background is also one that thrives on supporting females.  After a successful 20-year career in corporate marketing/branding with companies such as Levi and Maybelline, Kathy made the brave decision to dive into entrepreneurship.  As CEO of her own company for the last two decades, Kathy has made an incredible impact cultivating leadership diversity by advancing more women and people of color into positions of influence. Her signature work is The Fearless Leader program, a group mentoring experience designed to help female and BIPOC individuals overcome barriers to leadership.  This program recently led her to coauthor her 5th book, Fearless Female Leaders, an imperative guide for women in leadership and those that support them, to be released early 2024.  The book deconstructs antiquated beliefs that have held women back from reaching their leadership potential and creates a roadmap on how to get there.  You can learn more about the incredible work Kathy is doing through the links below. 

As with all of our SAYges, Kathy is open to connecting with you.  If her story resonates and you would like to ask questions about her journey, learn more about her programs or just chat, email [email protected] and we will link you with her!

Learn more about Kathy at her website www.AmericasMarketingMotivator.com

Learn more about her signature program at www.TheFearlessLeader.com