Autism, Confidence & Building a Life Your Own Way - Sam Mitchell S2 EP23Premieres June 10 • NEW TIME → Wednesday at 6:00 AM PacificWhat if the thing people see as your limitation… became your greatest strength?At just 23 years old, Sam Mitchell has built an international podcast, launched a nonprofit, spoken around the world, and is helping people better understand life with autism—one conversation at a time.In this episode, Sam shares what it’s really like living with autism, navigating a world that doesn’t always understand, and learning to build confidence without changing who you are.This conversation isn’t about overcoming autism.It’s about understanding it.Because sometimes…the things that make us different are the exact things that make us powerful.In this episode:• What life with autism actually feels like• Building confidence and independence• Why special treatment isn’t always helpful• Turning challenges into purpose• Starting a podcast and creating impact at a young age• Finding your own path instead of fitting inABOUT SAM MITCHELLHost of the Autism Rocks and Rolls podcastSpeaker • Advocate • Entrepreneur • Nonprofit FounderSubscribe, share & join our Facebook community:Soulmates & Suitcases — Tell Your Story, Amplify Your VoiceVisit us:ForwardWalkingChoices.comQuestion for you:What part of yourself have you been trying to change… that might actually be your strength?

What Depression Really Feels Like (And What Actually Helps) : Pamela Wells EP22🗓️ Premieres at our NEW TIME (each Wednesday 6AM Pacific) June 3 → Wednesday at 6:00 AM PacificWhat if depression isn’t sadness at all?After surviving severe depression and a suicide attempt, Pamela Wells shares what she wishes people understood sooner—and how the smallest acts of support can sometimes save someone.This conversation isn’t about fixing people.It’s about understanding them.Because sometimes…the most powerful thing you can say is:“I’m here.”✨ In this episode:• What depression actually feels like• What helps (and what hurts) when supporting someone• Why people hide their struggles• The role of community, therapy, and connection• Small actions that make a bigger difference than you thinkABOUT PAMELA J. WELLSAuthor of *In Their Shoes: A Journey to Understanding and Supporting Someone Who’s Battling Depression*Contact Pamela:📧 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])✨ Subscribe, share & join our Facebook community:Soulmates & Suitcases — Tell Your Story, Amplify Your VoiceVisit us:ForwardWalkingChoices.comQuestion for you:Who in your life might need support… not solutions?

EPISODE 21 — Rick DellaRatta: Can Music Help Heal the World?What happens when one moment changes the direction of your entire life?After experiencing 9/11 firsthand in New York City, jazz pianist and humanitarian Rick DellaRatta created Jazz for Peace — a global movement using music to unite people across cultures, religions, and borders.In this powerful episode of Soulmates & Suitcases, Rick shares stories from 25 years of performing around the world, raising support for over 850 causes, and bringing people together through creativity, humanity, and connection.Together, Lisa, Scott, and Rick explore purpose, consciousness, resilience, the healing power of music, and why small actions can create massive ripple effects.Because sometimes…changing the world starts with one person choosing to live differently.CONNECT WITH RICK:https://jazzforpeace.orgVISIT:ForwardWalkingChoices.com

Michael Foglietta: Rebuilding Life After Everything Changes

What happens when your entire life changes overnight… and the person you once were no longer exists in the same way?

In this deeply honest and emotional episode of Soulmates & Suitcases, Lisa sits down with AVM survivor, author, veteran, and advocate Michael Foglietta to talk about resilience, identity, grief, and learning how to rebuild a life after catastrophic brain trauma.

At just 32 years old, Michael experienced a sudden Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) rupture in his brain — a life-threatening event that led to a flatline, coma, memory loss, physical disability, PTSD, and years of recovery. Overnight, everything changed.

But this conversation isn’t just about survival.

It’s about what happens after the crisis.
After the hospital.
After everyone assumes you should be “better.”

Michael opens up about losing memories of his childhood, relearning how to walk, navigating invisible disabilities, struggling to return to work, rebuilding confidence, and eventually discovering purpose through writing, advocacy, and helping others.

Together, Lisa and Michael explore the emotional reality of living with a brain injury, the grief of losing your “before life,” and the quiet courage it takes to create a new future when there’s no roadmap.

Because sometimes…
healing isn’t about returning to who you were.
It’s about learning who you can become now.

⸻

IN THIS EPISODE:
• Life after a traumatic brain injury
• PTSD and invisible disabilities
• Losing memories and rebuilding identity
• Recovery, resilience, and acceptance
• Caregiver struggles and emotional healing
• Finding purpose after major life change

⸻

ABOUT MICHAEL FOGLIETTA

Michael Foglietta is a U.S. Navy Submarine Veteran, AVM survivor, author, and disability advocate who transformed a life-altering brain injury into a mission to help others navigate recovery and adaptation.

He is the creator of the Dual-Track Recovery Journal Series — guided journals designed for both survivors and caregivers navigating trauma, PTSD, disability, chronic illness, and life after unexpected medical crisis.

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL:
Instagram: @mfoglietta1
Facebook: @mike.foglietta
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/michael-foglietta

Author Site:
https://authors.tertulia.com/michaelfoglietta-draft5a8eat

⸻

SUBSCRIBE & CONNECT

Website:
https://forwardwalkingchoices.com

Join Our Facebook Community:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/716952587483381

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
Subscribe on YouTube for more real conversations about healing, relationships, resilience, and growth.

⸻

QUESTION FOR YOU:
What part of your life have you been grieving…
and what new version of yourself might still be waiting to emerge?

KRYSTIAN HORDYJEWICZ – Breaking the Reaction: Finding Real Choice at the RootSoulmates & Suitcases | Season 2 – Episode 19What if the reactions you can’t control…aren’t really *you*?In this powerful and thought-provoking conversation, Lisa and Scott sit down with Krystian Hordyjewicz — creator of the Clarity Strike method — to explore how emotional triggers are formed… and how they can be changed at their source.Instead of years of analysis, Krystian shares a different approach: working directly at the moment a reaction is created—so it no longer takes over.Because sometimes…the issue isn’t what you’re doing—it’s what’s been driving you underneath it all.---In this episode:• Why triggers come from deeper past experiences• The difference between awareness and real change• What “shadow” actually means in everyday life• How reactions can lose their emotional charge• What it feels like to finally have a choice---Why this matters:If you’ve ever felt stuck in the same reactions…or wondered why awareness alone isn’t enough…This conversation will shift how you see change.---About Krystian:Krystian Hordyjewicz works at the root of emotional reactions, helping people move from automatic response to conscious choice—often within a single session through his Clarity Strike method.---Connect with Krystian:PDF: [https://www.naffy.io/krystian-hordyjewicz/shadow-integration-in-60-minutes-change-of-the-control-point-clarity-strike-method-pdf-dfL](https://www.naffy.io/krystian-hordyjewicz/shadow-integration-in-60-minutes-change-of-the-control-point-clarity-strike-method-pdf-dfL)Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/share/17RU8YM2h6/](https://www.facebook.com/share/17RU8YM2h6/)Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/krysswissconsulting](https://www.instagram.com/krysswissconsulting)YouTube: [https://youtube.com/shorts/tgNounqAyOc](https://youtube.com/shorts/tgNounqAyOc)TikTok: [https://www.tiktok.com/@krysswissconsulting](https://www.tiktok.com/@krysswissconsulting)---Watch on YouTube:[https://www.youtube.com/@TheBrearleys/podcasts](https://www.youtube.com/@TheBrearleys/podcasts)Listen on Spotify:[https://open.spotify.com/show/18ylZP0crUfncbAgkC82C0](https://open.spotify.com/show/18ylZP0crUfncbAgkC82C0)Connect with Lisa & Scott:[https://forwardwalkingchoices.com](https://forwardwalkingchoices.com)---A question for you:What if your biggest reactions…aren’t yours to carry anymore?

MICHAEL DOVE – Awakening to the Truth Within YouSoulmates & Suitcases | Season 2 – Episode 18What if awakening isn’t about becoming someone new...but remembering who you already are?In this powerful conversation, Lisa and Scott sit down with Michael Dove - spiritual teacher, humanitarian, and founder of the Deep Soul Awakening Community.After years in India studying spiritual traditions and serving on the Ganges, Michael shares how to reconnect with your inner voice, trust your intuition, and break free from patterns that keep you stuck.This episode is about clarity, purpose, and learning how to trust yourself again.Because sometimes...the answers you’re searching forare already within you.In this episode:How to trust your intuition and inner voiceWhy you feel stuck and how to shift itWhat real spiritual awakening looks like in everyday lifeHow past patterns shape your decisionsSimple ways to reconnect with your true selfWhy this matters:If you feel lost, stuck, or unsure of your path...this conversation will help you reconnect with clarity, confidence, and purpose.Learn more about Michael Dove:https://deep-soul-rise.base44.app/LandingWatch more episodes:https://www.youtube.com/@TheBrearleys/podcastsListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/18ylZP0crUfncbAgkC82C0?si=uE6qUkO7SC-nPf_trc2ZcwConnect with Lisa and Scott:https://forwardwalkingchoices.comQuestion for you:When was the last time you truly trusted yourself?

PHILIPP KOBALD – Raising Children Who Stay Real in an Artificial Age
Soulmates & Suitcases | Season 2 – Episode 17

What if the biggest threat to childhood today…
is not danger outside the home—
but disconnection inside it?

What happens when children are surrounded by screens, stimulation, pressure, and artificial connection… but slowly lose touch with nature, resilience, trust, and what feels real?

In this bold, thought-provoking, and refreshingly honest conversation, Lisa and Scott sit down with Philipp Kobald — author, entrepreneur, meditation teacher, and founder of HolisticCircle.

With over 30 years of meditation experience and a life built across business, creativity, and personal growth, Philipp shares why modern parenting needs less perfection… and more presence.

This episode explores what children actually learn from us…
why modeling matters more than lectures…
and how to raise kids who stay human in a world becoming increasingly artificial.

Because sometimes…
the greatest gift we give our children is not control—
it is truth, steadiness, and connection.

In this episode:

• Why children copy what parents live more than what parents say
• How screens and overstimulation can dull emotional presence
• The importance of nature, rituals, movement, and real experiences
• Why labels can sometimes limit growth
• How to build trust so your child comes to you first
• Parenting through consistency instead of guilt or perfection
• Why boredom may be healthier than we think
• How parents can stay grounded while raising grounded children

Why this matters:

If parenting feels harder than ever…
If you worry technology is replacing connection…
If you want to raise strong children without losing yourself in the process…

This conversation will meet you there.

Because raising children is not about controlling every outcome.
It is about creating an environment where truth, trust, and character can grow.

🎥 Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheBrearleys/podcasts

🎧 Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/18ylZP0crUfncbAgkC82C0?si=uE6qUkO7SC-nPf_trc2Zcw

🌐 Philipp Kobald / HolisticCircle:
https://holisticcircle.org

📘 Philipp’s Book:
https://holisticcircle.org/blogs/book/spiritual-parenting-by-podcaster-philipp-kobald-raising-children-who-stay-real-in-an-artificial-age

🌐 Connect with Lisa & Scott:
https://forwardwalkingchoices.com

A question for you:

What are your children learning from the way you live… that words could never teach?

MIXTAPE - He Told the Truth Most People Are Afraid to Look At... | Rewriting Your Story – Johnzelle AndersonSoulmates & Suitcases | Season 2 – Episode XX

What if the story you have been living...was built from survival, not truth?

What if parts of your identity were shaped by pain, silence, or expectations that were never yours to carry?

In this raw, honest, and deeply human conversation, Lisa and Scott sit down with therapist and storyteller Johnzelle Anderson to explore identity, race, healing, and what it really takes to rewrite your life from the inside out.

Born to a white mother from Michigan and a Black father from Sierra Leone, West Africa, Johnzelle's life has always been a kind of mixtape - a blending of cultures, contradictions, and lived experiences. But behind that story is a deeper truth... growing up mixed race in 1990s Virginia, navigating abuse, neglect, racism, and the search for belonging in a world that often made him feel like an outsider everywhere.

And yet - this is not a story about staying stuck.

It is about awareness. Growth. Choice.

It is about becoming the man, and the father, who does things differently.

Including one of the most meaningful moments in this episode...a special appearance from his daughter, Maya-Jane - the person he dedicated his book to.A reminder that the work we do on ourselves does not end with us.

Because sometimes...healing is not about erasing your past - it is about finally understanding it.

In this episode:

• What it is like to grow up between identities and how that shapes your sense of self

• How trauma, racism, and family dynamics quietly influence your beliefs and patterns

• The shift that happens when you gain real self-awareness

• Finding your people and discovering your worth along the way

• Choosing differently as a parent, even while still doing your own inner work

• Living with anxiety honestly, even naming and facing it head-on

Why this mattersIf you have ever felt like you do not fully belong...If you are trying to grow while still carrying pieces of your past...If you want to understand yourself on a deeper level without pretending everything is fine...

This conversation will meet you there.

Because growth is not about becoming someone new.It is about telling yourself the truth about who you have been and choosing what comes next.

About Johnzelle

Johnzelle Anderson is a licensed therapist and storyteller who believes in the power of stories to heal, challenge, and transform. His work explores mental health, race, relationships, and identity with honesty, depth, and humanity. He is also an avid reader (around 100 books a year) and a father intentionally creating a different path forward for his daughter.

Website: https://johnzelle.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnzelle_

Featured Work - Mixtape: A MemoirA raw, lyrical coming-of-age story told in tracks instead of chapters, blending music, memory, and meaning. It is a story about the sound and silence of survival, and the rhythms that carry us home.

Order here: https://johnzelle.co

Support the Podcast

Like - Share - Subscribe

Connect with Lisa and Scotthttps://forwardwalkingchoices.com

A question for you:What parts of your story are shaping you that you have never stopped to question?

The Disrespect Was So Loud… | Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse – Jodi PavlockSoulmates & Suitcases | Season 2 – Episode 15

What happens when love feels powerful…but something inside you knows it’s not right?What if the connection keeps pulling you back…even when it’s slowly breaking you?And what if the truth is—you can’t heal in a relationship that requires you to abandon yourself?In this honest and deeply personal conversation, Lisa and Scott sit down with Jodi Pavlock, who shares her experience navigating narcissistic relationships, emotional manipulation, and the cycle that keeps so many people stuck.This isn’t just a conversation about toxic relationships.It’s about self-awareness, self-respect, and the moment you begin to choose yourself.Because sometimes…✨ when the disrespect becomes undeniable… everything begins to change.🎧 In this episode:• The reality behind narcissistic relationships• Trauma bonding and emotional dependency• Why love alone is not enough• Recognizing the moment it’s time to walk away• Reclaiming your voice and your self-worth❤️ Why this mattersIf you’ve ever questioned what you’re feeling…or stayed longer than you knew you should…This conversation will meet you there—and remind you that you can choose differently.🌟 Connect with Jodi🌐 https://www.jodilynnpavlock.com📸 https://www.instagram.com/jodipavlock📘 https://www.facebook.com/jodilynnpavlock👉 Support the survivor community:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18kAB63p11/🔔 Support the PodcastLike • Share • Subscribe🌿 Connect with Lisa & Scotthttps://forwardwalkingchoices.com✨ A question for you:What changes… when you stop abandoning yourself?

Here’s a Spotify-optimized version—slightly tighter, smoother flow, and designed for listening platforms:

From Imagination to Impact… What If Your “Boring Life” Was Actually Your Superpower?
Soulmates & Suitcases | Season 2 – Episode 14

What if the stories in your head… weren’t just distractions—but the beginning of something real?

In this episode, Lisa and Scott sit down with Neo ShadowFall, a 19-year-old author who is proving that you don’t need a traditional path to start creating something meaningful.

No formal training.
Hardly any reading background.
Just imagination, life experience, and the willingness to try.

Neo shares how boredom became the birthplace of his ideas, how fear shows up in both his life and his writing, and what it looks like to take action before you feel fully ready.

This conversation goes beyond writing.
It’s about identity, growth, and challenging the story you tell yourself about who you are.

Because sometimes…
the life you think is small or uneventful is actually where everything begins.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Turning “boredom” into creativity and purpose

• Starting before you feel confident or qualified

• Facing fear and using it as fuel instead of a barrier

• How your inner world shapes what you create

• Learning through failure instead of avoiding it

• Letting go of labels like “I’m not good at this”

Why this matters:

If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsure, or like you’re not doing enough…
this episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t come from having it all figured out.

It comes from starting anyway.

About Neo ShadowFall:

Neo is a 19-year-old fantasy author who creates stories based on imagination and personal experience rather than traditional influences. His work explores fear, transformation, and the blurred line between hero and villain, while he continues to grow and discover his own voice through writing.

Featured book:
Chamber of Horrors: Season One – Project Phobos
https://bookshop.org/p/books/chamber-of-horrors-season-one-project-phobos-tales-by-death-neo-shadowfall/7a8016b795bb3368?ean=9798233229602&next=t&digital=t

Free ebooks:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1991356
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/2003491

YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@xploringwiththewatcher?si=JKenuOXkXJbOfXu6

Neo shared after the episode:
“I had a great time and would love to come back. Thank you for the opportunity.”

A question to reflect on:

What might change…
if you stopped waiting to feel ready—and just began?

Connect with Lisa & Scott:

Website: https://forwardwalkingchoices.com

Books & Resources: https://payhip.com/LisaScottBrearleyAuthors