In this engaging conversation, Blaine Greenfield, known as Chief Encouragement Officer, connects with Amanda on the importance of encouragement, the concept of rewirement instead of retirement, and the significance of pursuing passions and creativity.

Blaine discusses the value of relationships, navigating change, and the influence of childhood on career choices. He emphasizes the power of communication, the impact of influential figures in his life, and the importance of truthfulness in discussions.

The conversation concludes with his personal mantra for soulful living, one that just might help everyone who listens in to this episode of the SolFul Connections podcast.

For more: Blainesworld - Blainesworld.net

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Blaine Greenfield

04:07 The Concept of Rewirement

08:30 Pursuing Passion and Creativity

12:17 The Importance of Relationships

17:16 Navigating Change and Identity

21:18 Childhood Influences and Career Choices

24:59 The Power of Communication

28:39 Influential Figures in Blaine's Life

34:07 Pet Peeves and Truthfulness

37:52 Soulful Living and Personal Mantras

What happens when you leave behind a full life to beginagain somewhere new?

In this episode of SolFul Connections, I connect with Valentina Escobar-Gonzalez, MBA, international speaker, award-winning social media strategist, and co-author of The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever, for a conversation that blends business insight with deep humanity.

Valentina shares what it was like to move to a new state:the excitement of possibility paired with the grief of leaving behind people, rhythms, and a version of herself she loved.

We talk about how our past experiences don’t disappear when we start over, they come with us, shaping how we show up, lead, and connect.

Whether you’re building a business, redefining yourself, or simply standing at the edge of something new, Valentina’s story and insights will resonate.

Guest: Craig Pelkey-Landes
Writer | Entrepreneur | Author | Podcast Host
Founder of Words Beyond Content
Author of A Brief History of White Nonsense
Host of the Yell Fire podcast

In this episode of SolFul Connections, Amanda sits down with writer, entrepreneur, and cultural commentator Craig Pelkey-Landes for a thoughtful, honest conversation about race, privilege, responsibility, and inner peace.

Craig brings clarity to a topic that is often misunderstood or avoided, what white privilege actually is, how it operates in everyday life, and why understanding it is essential if we truly want to live into the values this country claims to stand for.

Beyond the social and political lens, Craig also shares pieces of his personal journey, including how he sustains himself emotionally and spiritually while continuing to “fight the good fight.” This conversation explores the tension between activism and inner calm, burnout and purpose, outrage and hope, and how we can hold all of it without losing ourselves.

In this episode, we explore:

• What white privilege is and what it isn’t

• Why so many conversations about race miss the mark

• How language shapes understanding (and misunderstanding)

• Living your values in a divided culture

• Finding peace without disengaging from justice

• How Craig stays grounded while doing hard, necessary work

This is a courageous, human conversation - not about blame, but about awareness, responsibility, and possibility.

A Brief History of White Nonsense https://www.amazon.com/Brief-History-White-Nonsense-Throughlines/dp/B0CFZCKQQ3/

Yell Fire! Podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/4uobpo8DDbLfj16hYFDXQK?si=6412f9257c9e46f1

Yell Fire! on Substackhttps://yellfire.substack.com/

In this moving episode of SolFul Connections, Amanda connects with Manizha Wafeq, the founder of the first Women’s Chamber of Commerce in Afghanistan.

Manizha shares what it took to build opportunities for women in a country where leadership came with real risk, and how her childhood, culture, and inner world shaped her vision long before she had language for it.

Manizha discusses what it felt like to grow up as a girl in Afghanistan, the role of women and family in her early life, and the quiet strength she carried inside, even in moments of uncertainty.

The discussion extends to what courage looks like and how it has evolved as Manizha's life has changed across borders. The conversation also explores loss, identity, and what it means to carry home in your heart while building a life elsewhere.

Along the way, Manizha reflects on what lights her up today, the rituals and wisdom that ground her, and the life lessons she’s learned through both hardship and hope.

The "SolFul" conversation delves into empowerment, impact, and Manizha's hopes for young girls in Afghanistan and beyond. This episode is a reminder that even in the face of immense challenge, one person’s story can become a doorway for others.

In this episode of SolFul Connections, Amanda sits down with Kelly Schaefer, mom of four, business owner, advocate, and founder of The Concierge Academy and Operation Panda Healing.

Kelly’s story didn’t start with privilege or ease. She faced adult responsibilities long before most people do, and the challenges of her early years could have easily written a different ending. Instead, she built a life anchored in possibility, resilience, and fierce belief in what’s possible.

Today, she leads a multiple 6-figure concierge business, teaches others how to grow service-based companies, and champions mindset as the foundation for lasting change. Kellyann also shares why empowering women, giving back, and creating community-driven impact remain at the heart of her work.

We talk about:

• How her early experiences shaped the woman she is today

• The mindset shifts that helped her rise above the odds

• Building a thriving concierge business that creates opportunity for others

• Why she believes women rising together creates real transformation

This conversation is about resilience, courage, and carving a life you believe in, no matter where you start.

For More: The Concierge Academy: Leading Resource for Personal Concierge

Meet Gloria Walker.

Gloria is known for her cheerfulness, her professionalism, and her steady presence in every room she enters. She shows up—consistently, prepared, and engaged. But there’s far more to her story than what meets the eye.

In this episode of SolFul Connections, Gloria reflects on decades of determined leadership and professional growth through her work with Mary Kay. Her path hasn’t been a straight line but her resolve never wavered.

Beneath her composed exterior is a sharp, resilient leader and a woman deeply committed to her faith, her family, and the life she has worked to build. We talk candidly about navigating grief, sustaining a long-term marriage, and how she approaches life’s highs and lows with steadiness and conviction.

This is a conversation about perseverance, discipline, and the quiet strength required to keep showing up—especially when the road has been long.

To check out Gloria's Mary Kay site: Mary Kay | Official Site

In this powerful episode of SolFul Connections, Amanda sits down with former U.S. Congressman James Greenwood for a grounded and human conversation about leadership, courage, and the responsibility we share in today’s fractured moment in history.

Jim reflects on the moral complexities of public service, the bravery required to speak truth in dangerous political climates, and the values that guided him through decades of work centered on children and vulnerable communities, even when it meant standing apart from his own party.

But this conversation goes beyond politics. Greenwood opens up about the personal parts of his life: the joy he finds in his family, his love of the natural world, and the soulful escape he discovers through photographing birds, sometimes traveling across the world to capture a single moment of beauty.

This is an episode about integrity, purpose, curiosity, and where we find meaning as the world grows noisier and more divided. It’s a reminder that leadership can be principled. That courage might be necessary. And that our stories, when spoken honestly, can help light the way.

Click this link for a very special glimpse of James Greenwood's photography:

https://jamesgreenwood.zenfolio.com/p940705974

Welcome to SolFul Connections, where we share the stories that shape us. In this episode Judith Zozzaro is a successful corporate leader, a two-time author, and a lifelong seeker of personal growth. She’s now channeling that passion into a new venture designed to support women through meaningful books, workshops, and honest conversations.

Judy opens up about the lessons that shaped her, some forged in the corporate world, others rooted in early childhood experiences where many of our deepest beliefs begin.

Join us for a thoughtful, heartfelt conversation about resilience, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to turn your own growth into a gift for others. You’ll walk away with insights you can immediately apply to your own life and journey.

For more about Judith & her books, visit: Lead with Confidence and Purpose

In this SolFul Connections podcast episode, Amanda talks with Beatriz Victoria Albina, MPH, NP, author of End Emotional Outsourcing, about what it means to reclaim your emotional autonomy.

Beatriz shares how so many of us unknowingly give away our emotional power seeking validation, peace, or self-worth from others, and how we can begin to take it back.

If you’ve ever struggled with people-pleasing, perfectionism, or the need for external approval, this episode offers a compassionate framework for finding your way back to yourself.

For more: Book Launch - End Emotional Outsourcing - Beatriz Victoria Albina

In this heartfelt episode of SolFul Connections,Amanda sits down with best friends Cheryl and Todd to explore the rare and beautiful gift of deep, supportive, and honest friendship.

Their story is one of mutual respect, laughter, and trust, afriendship that defies easy labels and reminds us what it means to truly see and be seen. Cheryl and Todd share how their bond began, how it’s grown over the years, and how they navigate life, work, and connection as a man and awoman in the business world.

They open up about:
The friendship spark that drew them to one another &  how their friendship has evolved
The power of honesty, vulnerability, and humor in keeping their connection strong
How they balance friendship with life, their families, and career
What true friendship means to them — and how it sustains them through life’s challenges

This conversation is a warm reminder that friendships likethese don’t just happen, they’re built on intention, trust, and genuine care.

Whether you’ve had a friend who’s felt like family or you’restill searching for that kind of connection, this episode will leave you smiling, reflecting, and maybe even reaching out to your own “person.”

Listen in and feel the magic of what it means to liveand connect SolFully.