What does it take to live fiercely joyful?

💛 In this inspiring conversation, Natasha “Tash” Durkins — life coach, speaker, and author of Fiercely Joyful: 11 Keys to Living Authentically & Creating a Life You Love — shares her personal journey from burnout, people-pleasing, and perfectionism to a life filled with boundaries, freedom, and unapologetic joy.

We dive deep into:

✨ Why joy is not a luxury but a necessity

✨ The hardest chapter of her book to write — and why

✨ How to set boundaries as an act of self-love

✨ The daily practices that help her stay grounded in joy

✨ The writing process behind Fiercely Joyful

✨ Her best advice for anyone writing a book from a place of healing

Whether you’re navigating change, reclaiming your voice, or dreaming of writing your own book, this episode is your permission slip to choose yourself and live authentically.

📚 Grab Tash’s book: https://amzn.to/4fJORPl

Visit her website: https://www.fiercely-joyful.com/

📸 Follow Tash on Instagram: https://instagram.com/onlytash

📚 Other Books Mentioned:

• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz: https://amzn.to/45BLjdv

• Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto (Rest Is Resistance, 1) by Tricia Hersey: https://amzn.to/4lrU7IO

🎙 Work with Brooke-Sidney: Schedule your free Book Chat: https://brookesidneybooks.com  or https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats

📸 Follow Brooke-Sidney on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebrookesidney

📸 Follow the Soul Story® Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/soulstoryshow

📌 Subscribe to The Soul Story® Show: https://YouTube.com/@SoulStoryShow  

#FiercelyJoyful #SoulStoryShow #NatashaDurkins #BookInterview #SelfLoveJourney #ChooseJoy #AuthorInterview #BookTube #BookTalk

🎙️ Sticky Note Mantras: How to Rewire Your Mind with Affirmations, Mindset & Manifestation Featuring: Helene Ann Zupanc & Beth G. Valdez | Hosted by Brooke-Sidney   In this episode of The Soul Story® Show, we dive into the healing power of mantras, the science behind affirmations, and how simple sticky notes can interrupt negative thought patterns and transform your inner dialogue. I’m joined by the incredible co-authors of Sticky Note Mantras: The Art and Science of Choosing Your Thoughts — therapists, mindset leaders, and lifelong friends Helene Ann Zupanc and Beth G. Valdez.   Together, we explore how sticky notes evolved into a therapeutic tool used in counseling sessions and daily life to support mental health, mindfulness, and manifestation. Whether you’re deep into mindset work or just beginning to reclaim your thoughts, this conversation is your permission slip to choose better, more empowering beliefs—one mantra at a time.    🧠 We talk about: • How Sticky Note Mantras began in graduate school • Using affirmations and sticky notes in therapy sessions • The role of imposter syndrome and personal storytelling • How sticky notes disrupt Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) • The science behind mantras, neuroplasticity, and mindset rewiring • The overlap between affirmations, manifestation, and mindfulness • Why vulnerability is a superpower in healing • What’s next: workbooks, school curriculum, and community impact    🔗 Connect with the Authors: 🌐 Website: www.stickynotemantras.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/stickynotemantras 🎵 TikTok & Facebook: @stickynotemantras 📚 Grab the book: Sticky Note Mantras: The Art and Science of Choosing Your Thoughts: https://amzn.to/4m3AnMM    💬 Quotes You’ll Love: “Change is possible for everyone. It’s built into us.” “Sticky notes are more than reminders—they’re rewiring tools.” “You can choose your thoughts—and change your life.”    📚 Books Mentioned: • The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz - https://amzn.to/3IVZjqQ • The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak - https://amzn.to/4o6zvrU • The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - https://amzn.to/475VcSU • Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristen Neff, Ph.D. - https://amzn.to/4fr9nEf • Brain Lock: Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior by Dr. Jeffrey M. Schwartz - https://amzn.to/4mg3E6o • The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls - https://amzn.to/4ff1B0h • Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs - https://amzn.to/4lVkZBV    ✍🏽 Ready to write your book or Soul Story®? I help authors, coaches, and creatives bring their book ideas to life and publish with impact. 📅 Book your free consultation: https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats Visit: https://brookesidneybooks.com ⸻   🧘🏽‍♀️ Want manifestation + mindset tools? Subscribe to my second channel: Make Miracles Manifest™ : youtube.com/@UCdCp7zOvF_1kwOyAaST9jQg   🔔 Like this video? Subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who’s rewriting their story too.   Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/soulstoryshow and https://instagram.com/thebrookesidney

 

🎙️ Soul Story® Show – Episode 5 

Guest: Gwenda Bond, NYT-Bestselling Author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds & The Frame-Up

Title: Writing Magic, Facing Betrayal & Finding Power in Our Gifts – with Gwenda Bond

Host: Brooke-Sidney Harbour

📺 Watch Now on YouTube → https://youtube.com/@soulstoryshow

💡 Episode Summary In this episode of The Soul Story® Show, Brooke-Sidney Harbour sits down with Gwenda Bond—bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds, The Frame-Up, and over a dozen fantastical novels blending magic, mystery, and heart.

They talk about writing into the voids of trust and betrayal, how gifts we want to reject might be our greatest sources of power, and the deeper soulwork behind writing stories that heal, liberate, and reveal who we are becoming.

You’ll also hear what it was like to write the first official Stranger Things prequel novel, and why The Frame-Up is more than a magical art heist—it’s a mirror for anyone who’s ever doubted their power, questioned their gifts, or tried to outrun their past. Whether you’re a reader, writer, or recovering perfectionist with a messy magic inside… this one’s for you. 

🔑 In This Episode, We Explore:

• What it’s like writing an official Stranger Things prequel—and how Gwenda approached expanding Eleven’s origin story

• The soul story behind The Frame-Up: a tale of power, betrayal, forgiveness, and the magic of second chances

• Why Dani (the main character) thought her life would be easier without her gift—and what that reveals about our real-life struggles with self-worth

• Elliott and Dani: love, loss, and trying again when trust is broken

• How betrayal, especially from people we love, shapes us—and how writing can offer closure

• Gwenda’s writing process (spoiler: she’s a structured pantser!)

• Her take on giftedness, personal magic, and how we hide or weaponize what makes us different

• The power of art as magic—and how creativity can be a portal for healing

• Why writing fantasy still requires radical honesty

• Advice for writers struggling with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or messy drafts

 

📘 Featured Books

📖 The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond – https://amzn.to/4ew8B6E A dazzling, fast-paced magical art heist story with heart, secrets, and second chances. Perfect for fans of The Night Circus, The Magicians, or The Inheritance Games.

📖 Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond – https://amzn.to/4m44NOr The first official Stranger Things novel, revealing the secret history of Eleven’s mother and the terrifying MKUltra experiments that shaped her daughter’s powers. 

 

📘 Other Books 

📖 Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond – https://amzn.to/3IzJWUF

📖 The Date From Hell by Gwenda Bond – https://amzn.to/4eUz7bO

📖 Mr. & Mrs. Witch by Gwenda Bond – https://amzn.to/4nUKlkC

📖 Fallout (Lois Lane, Book 1) by Gwenda Bond – https://amzn.to/4kLO7Kg

📖 Double Down (Lois Lane, Book 2) by Gwenda Bond – https://amzn.to/45as9Mt

📖 Triple Threat (Lois Lane, Book 3) by Gwenda Bond – https://amzn.to/4nUKN2i 

 

🧠 Favorite Quotes

“Every book breaks you a little—and puts you back together differently.”

“We’re afraid of our power. We’re afraid of what we might become if we truly use it.”

“Dani didn’t want her gift… but she needed it to become who she really was.” 

“Writing fantasy is just truth wearing a little glitter.”

“Betrayal leaves a scar, but stories can stitch it into something useful.”

 

⚡ Lightning Round Highlights

📝 Favorite Writing Ritual: Coffee (of course!)

📚 Last Book That Blew Her Mind: These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean — a surprising contemporary shift from the author - https://amzn.to/3IzJWUF

✨ Magical Power She’d Want: Teleportation — “No airplanes. Beach whenever you want it.”

🎨 Dream Art Heist Piece: She wouldn’t steal art—but she’d steal it back to return it to the museum where it belongs

🎶 Theme Song for The Frame-Up: “C’est Si Bon” by Eartha Kitt — slinky, stylish, and perfectly Parisian 

 

🧭 Connect with Gwenda Bond

🌐 Website: https://www.gwendabond.com

📘 Instagram: https://instagram.com/@gwendabond

📘 Bluesky: ‪https://bsky.app/profile/gwenda.bsky.social

📘 Substack: https://gwendabond.substack.com ⸻

 

📣 More from Brooke-Sidney

🎥 Subscribe to The Soul Story® Show on YouTube: YouTube.com/@soulstoryshow

📖 Ready to write your soul story? Book a 1:1 call: https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats

📲 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/soulstoryshow | https://instagram.com/thebrookesidney ⸻

 

✨ Final Word This episode is a heartfelt reminder that our magic may not look the way we imagined—but it still matters. Gwenda Bond shows us that the stories we write (and live) can be messy, broken, and still… full of power.

→ Listen now & don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

🎙 Host: Brooke-Sidney, The Soul Story® Show

💥 Episode Overview:

As fireworks fade and flags are folded, we’re asking the real question: Whose freedom was really declared on July 4, 1776?

In this powerful solo episode, host Brooke-Sidney goes beyond the barbecue and deep into the bookshelf—featuring truth-telling books that reframe American history through the voices of the marginalized: Black people, Indigenous people, women, immigrants, and the working poor.

From Howard Zinn to Nikole Hannah-Jones to Mikki Kendall, these books challenge the myth of American exceptionalism and spotlight what liberation really means.

📚 Books Mentioned in This Episode

🟥 History Reclaimed • A People’s History of the United States – Howard Zinn - https://amzn.to/4eJrvsM • The 1619 Project – Nikole Hannah-Jones - https://amzn.to/4kqt2Fh  • Stamped from the Beginning – Ibram X. Kendi - https://amzn.to/44oqvVW

🟧 Decolonize the Holiday • This Land Is Their Land – David J. Silverman - https://amzn.to/44zhLMX • What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? – Frederick Douglass - https://amzn.to/44sLqHv

🟪 Women’s Truth in the Story • Hood Feminism – Mikki Kendall - https://amzn.to/45X9Z1S • They Were Her Property – Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers - https://amzn.to/4nyVO9t

⏱️ Timestamps for Easy Following:

00:00 – Introduction: Rethinking July 4th 01:15 – A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn 02:45 – The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones (Book + Docuseries) 04:15 – Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi 05:45 – This Land Is Their Land by David J. Silverman 06:30 – What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? by Frederick Douglass 07:00 – Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall 08:00 – They Were Her Property by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers 09:00 – Final Reflection: Reclaiming Truth and Personal Independence

🧘🏽‍♀️ Soul Story® Reflection Questions:

 • What story were you taught about July 4th?  • Whose voices were missing from your understanding of American history?  • What does freedom mean to you today?

🎁 Bonus Resources:

📺 The 1619 Project Docuseries – now streaming on Hulu 📺 The 1619 Project Netflix Documentary – extended exploration available now

🔔 Subscribe for more soulful book conversations + storytelling truth: https://www.youtube.com/@soulstoryshow 📚 Ready to write your Soul Story? Apply for a book chat at: https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats

✨ Let’s Stay Connected:

🌐 Website: https://brookesidneybooks.com

📸 Instagram:   / @soulstoryshow  

📘 Facebook:   / brookesidney  

📘 Facebook:   / soulstoryshow  

📧 Email for interviews & speaking: [email protected]

🎙️ Soul Story® Show – Episode 3 Guest: Clarence Wooten, Tech Visionary & Author of CoFounder.AI

Title: Why Clarence Wooten Says AI Is the New Capital — and Vision Is Your Ultimate Asset

Host: Brooke-Sidney Harbour Watch Now on YouTube → https://youtu.be/kNk5nr_YZG0 

💡 Episode Summary In this episode, Brooke-Sidney Harbour sits down with serial tech entrepreneur, investor, and visionary Clarence Wooten to talk about his new book CoFounder.AI and the future of business building in the age of artificial intelligence. Clarence shares how growing up in Baltimore ignited his entrepreneurial fire, why he chose to self-publish, and what it means to build with vision, strategy, and soul.

But this isn’t just about startups—it's a blueprint for building anything big and meaningful, including your own story. Whether you’re an aspiring founder, author, or innovator, Clarence offers a fresh perspective on scaling ideas, redefining ownership, and embracing the new world of AI-powered creation. 

🔑 In This Episode, We Explore:

• The moment Clarence realized he wanted to build big businesses—not just small ones
• Why Clarence believes AI is the ultimate form of leverage
• The real difference between a startup and a small business
• How underrepresented founders can use AI to level the playing field
• What entrepreneurs must unlearn if they want to scale
• The biggest mindset shift entrepreneurs must make to scale
• Why Co-Founder.AI is part book, part blueprint, and part tech launchpad
• The truth behind successful co-founder relationships (human or AI)
• How knowing your strengths (and blind spots) helps you find the right co-founder—human or AI
• Clarence’s take on AI as a digital species, emotional intelligence, and the future of work
• What building a company has in common with writing a book
• Why failure is education—and how Clarence turns every “L” into a lesson
• What it really takes to build a billion-dollar idea with a small team

📘 Featured Books

🧠 Co-Founder.AI by Clarence Wooten - https://amzn.to/4kCQ38L

A bold, AI-powered blueprint for startup founders who want to do more with less. Part playbook, part workbook, part digital co-founder—with quick actions, tool alerts, and access to Clarence’s evolving platform. 

📈 Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future by Mike Maples Jr. & Peter Ziebelman - https://amzn.to/3FZay0f

A must-read for founders who want to ride inflection points and create disruptive businesses at the perfect moment. Clarence cites this book as a top recommendation for understanding how timing and vision shape long-term success.

📈 The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries - https://amzn.to/45q5s7R

🧠 Favorite Quotes

“AI is more powerful than venture capital—if you know how to use it.”

“You don’t need to own 100% of a grape when you can own 10% of a watermelon.”

“Writing a book is like founding a company. It’s your soul turned into structure.”

“Failure isn’t loss—it’s learning. It’s the founder’s education.”

“The future is here, and it will be built by those who think big and use smart tools.”

⚡ Lightning Round Highlights Favorite App:

Any major large language model (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude)

Morning Ritual Must-Have: Early morning workouts

Book Recommendation: Pattern Breakers by Mike Maples Jr. & Peter Ziebelman

One Word to Describe His Journey: Prolific

Next Chapter: Helping millions of founders build AI-powered companies with small teams and big ideas

🧭 Connect with Clarence Wooten

🌐 Website & Platform: https://www.cofounder.ai

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwooten/

📣 More from Brooke-Sidney

🎥 Subscribe to the Soul Story® Show on YouTube: YouTube.com/@UCIeDSx2-59Yy59MZfo72zBg 📝 Ready to write your story or book? Visit brookesidneybooks.com and schedule a Book Chat: https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @soulstoryshow

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @thebrookesidney

✨ Final Word This episode is your masterclass in building with vision, soul, and smart systems. Clarence Wooten is not just shaping the future—he’s inviting you to shape yours too. Whether it’s your book, your business, or your next bold idea, this episode will light the path forward. → Watch now and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe! 

In this soul-stirring episode of the Soul Story® Show, host Brooke-Sidney Harbour sits down with Derek Lewis—author of Survive and Advance—for a powerful conversation on resilience, purpose, and faith. From growing up in a broken home in Washington, D.C., to leading at the highest levels of corporate America, Derek’s story is a testimony of transformation.

 

Together, they explore how childhood dreams can become blueprints, why legacy matters, and what it truly means to “live without compromise.” Derek opens up about his battle with cancer, how faith and family shaped him, and how he's now stepping fully into his next chapter as a go-giver, mentor, and entrepreneur.

 

🔥 Topics Covered

• Why he wrote Survive and Advance (and what almost stopped him)

• The truth about growing up in chaos and choosing a different path

• Family secrets, generational healing, and rewriting the story

• The 3 B’s: Bet on yourself. Believe in yourself. Be yourself.

• How he manifested his childhood dreams through discipline and faith

• Living without compromise in a world that pressures conformity

• How his marriage to Sherene was built on shared vision and trust

• What sports taught him about leadership, parenting, and legacy

• Golf as a spiritual and strategic practice

• Derek’s perspective on DEI rollbacks and why equity is still worth fighting for

• Writing as legacy: why everyone should document their story

 

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Many Black families are connected by secrets and complexity… We are part of a hidden system of people who were never permitted to claim each other, to be families, and to act as one.” – Derek Lewis

“You can’t deliver for your family, company, or culture if you’re not the best version of yourself.” “I’ve shifted from go-getter to go-giver.”

“The triangle is simple: consumer, culture, and community. You can't grow without honoring all three.”

“Survival isn’t the end of the story—it’s the beginning of the breakthrough.”

 

📚 Grab the Book

Survive and Advance: Lessons on Living a Life Without Compromise by Derek Lewis

📖 https://amzn.to/3HrlS5D 

 

📲 Connect with Derek

Instagram: @realdereklewis 

Website: https://realdereklewis.com

 

✍️ Ready to Write Your Book?

If today’s conversation stirred something in you, and you’re ready to finally write the story that’s been living inside you—I’d love to help. 

➡️ Visit: https://brookesidneybooks.com

➡️ Apply for a Book Chat: https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats 

 

🎧 Listen & Subscribe 💫 Real conversations. Soulful stories. Your next chapter starts here. Subscribe on YouTube and never miss a moment that could change your life.

In the premiere episode of the Soul Story® Show, host Brooke-Sidney welcomes Shelah Marie —author of Unruly, founder of Curvy, Curly, Conscious, and a leading voice in self-love and radical authenticity.

This conversation dives deep into themes of healing, identity, and empowerment. Shelah shares her journey of embracing her full self, discussing the importance of "main character energy," the practice of "Serious Daydreaming," and the courage it takes to live unapologetically.

Key Takeaways:

• Embracing one's full identity without apology
• The transformative power of self-love and acceptance
• Practices for reclaiming personal power and authenticity
• What it means to manifest in a "crooked room" as a Black woman

💬 Notable Quote:

“If self-love is the destination, self-acceptance is the vehicle.” – Shelah Marie

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=latiLSKent8

🔗 Connect with Shelah Marie:

• Website: shelahmarie.com
• Instagram: @theshelahmarie
• Buy her book: https://amzn.to/43wvhjR 

 

🔗 Connect with Brooke-Sidney:

• Website: brookesidneybooks.com

• Instagram: @thebrookesidney

• Buy her book, the Mama Love Planner™: https://amzn.to/4jnzCfc

🎧 Subscribe to the Soul Story® Show: YouTube.com/@soulstoryshow Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations by subscribing to your favorite podcast platform.