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

Holding It All Together… While Falling Apart Inside | Learning to Say “I’m Not Okay” – Paul Gehring
Soulmates & Suitcases | Season 2 – Episode 13

What happens when life doesn’t just test you once…
but keeps hitting you again and again?

And what if the strongest thing you could ever say…
is “I’m not okay”?

In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, Lisa and Scott sit down with Paul Gehring—author, husband, and father of four—who shares what it truly looks like to be the one holding everything together… while quietly falling apart inside.

From his wife’s multiple open-heart surgeries…
to a life-altering stroke…
to navigating the pressure of being the caretaker, provider, and “strong one”…

Paul opens up about the reality so many people live—but rarely talk about.

This episode goes beyond hardship.
It’s about honesty.
It’s about breaking.
It’s about finally allowing yourself to be human.

Because sometimes…
✨ the moment you admit you’re not okay… is the moment everything begins to shift.

🎧 In this episode, we explore:
• The emotional weight of being “the strong one”
• Feeling alone—even when you’re surrounded by support
• How depression distorts reality and isolates us
• The life-saving power of opening up and talking
• Breaking generational cycles through vulnerability
• Teaching emotional awareness to the next generation

❤️ Why this matters

If you’ve ever felt like you have to hold it all together…
If you’ve buried your feelings just to get through the day…
If you’ve believed no one could understand what you’re carrying…

This conversation will meet you there.

And remind you—
you were never meant to carry it alone.

🌟 About Paul & His Work

Paul Gehring is an author and mental health advocate who shares his lived experiences with trauma, caregiving, anxiety, and depression to help others feel seen, heard, and less alone.

His books were born from healing—not perfection—and are meant to start the conversations many of us avoid.

📘 Scars You Can’t See
📗 The Courage to Say I’m Not Okay

👉 Connect with Paul:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.gehring.3/

🔔 Support the Podcast

If this episode resonates:
👍 Follow the show
💬 Share your biggest takeaway
📤 Send it to someone who needs this
⭐ Leave a rating—it helps more than you know

🌿 Connect with Lisa & Scott

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

✨ A question for you:

What would change in your life…
if you gave yourself permission to say, “I’m not okay”… and meant it?

🎙️ From Breakdown to Unbreakable LightTrusting Your Voice & Awakening Your Truth – Carrie CorcoranSoulmates & Suitcases | Season 2 – Episode 12

What if the moment that broke you… wasn’t meant to end you—but to wake you up?And what if the voice you’ve doubted, quieted, or pushed aside… is actually the one trying to guide you back to who you really are?In this deeply honest and expansive conversation, Lisa and Scott sit down with Carrie Corcoran to explore what it truly means to unravel—and rebuild from a place of truth.

This episode isn’t just about resilience.It’s about identity.It’s about awakening.It’s about the courage it takes to stop living a life that looks right… and start listening to what feels right.From a 20-year marriage to a complete personal transformation…From corporate leadership to stepping fully into her voice on stage…From breaking moments to creating her movement Unbreakable Light…Carrie shares what happens when life asks you to let go of everything familiar—and trust something you can’t always explain.Because sometimes…✨ the breaking isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of who you were always meant to become.🎧 In this episode, we explore:

• What a real spiritual awakening can feel like (beyond the surface)
• The moment you realize you can no longer be a version of yourself that isn’t true
• How to trust your intuition—even when it doesn’t make logical sense
• The connection between breaking, healing, and personal truth
• Why your voice may be your greatest gift—and your greatest responsibility

🌟 Carrie Corcoran is a global keynote speaker on resilience, known for her powerful and deeply human storytelling. Through her work and her movement Unbreakable Light, she invites others to reconnect with their inner strength, trust their voice, and live with courage.Connect with Carrie:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarrieTulsaTime

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/employerbrandingleader/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carriecaresebconsulting

❤️ Why this mattersIf you’ve ever felt your life shifting—and couldn’t explain why…If you’ve outgrown a version of yourself but didn’t know what comes next…If there’s a quiet (or loud) pull inside you toward something more honest…This conversation will meet you there.

🌿 Support the PodcastIf this episode resonates, follow Soulmates & Suitcases on Spotify and share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

Connect with Lisa & Scott:

Website: https://forwardwalkingchoices.com

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

✨ A question for you:What part of your life is asking you to stop performing… and start telling the truth?

From Playing Music to Finding Purpose | The Shift That Changes Everything

How do you turn creativity into real purpose?

Lisa and Scott sit down with Ian Beaty of Honeybear, the Band to explore the shift from playing music to creating with meaning, authenticity, and impact. A powerful conversation on purpose, identity, and expressing what truly matters.

Together, they explore the shift from creating for enjoyment… to creating with intention, depth, and truth.

From humble outdoor jam sessions during the pandemic to becoming a rising name in soul, blues, and roots music, Ian shares what it means to create something that truly connects—with yourself and with others.

This episode goes beyond music. It’s about:

• Finding purpose in your passion

• Letting go of performance and stepping into authenticity

• Understanding that sometimes… it’s not what you play, but what you leave out

• Writing, creating, and living in a way that actually means something

Featuring insights on songwriting, creativity, and the story behind Honeybear, this conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered if what they’re doing really matters—and how to make it matter more.

🎶 Featuring the single “Unbroken” — a quiet anthem to resilience blending soul, blues, and modern influence.

If you’re on a journey of growth, purpose, or creative expression… this episode will meet you there.

Soulmates & Suitcases | Season 2 – Episode 10 Radical Ownership in Relationships with Chad Taylor

What if the biggest problem in your relationship… isn’t your partner?What if it’s a pattern you don’t yet see?In this honest and thought-provoking episode of Soulmates & Suitcases,

Lisa and Scott sit down with Australian psychotherapist, author, and podcaster Chad Taylor.

Chad, author of It’s You, Oh Fuck, It’s ME, challenges the common belief that relationship problems are mostly about the other person. Instead, he invites us to look inward at the unconscious patterns, projections, and behaviours that quietly sabotage intimacy.

Together, Lisa, Scott, and Chad explore:•

Why personal growth is cyclical, not linear•

The difference between awareness and responsibility•

How projection shows up in relationships•

Why many people seek validation instead of transformation in therapy•

The tension between love and desire•

How addiction, recovery, and honesty shape relationships•

Why relationships often act as mirrors for our own patterns

At the heart of this conversation is a simple but powerful shift:Instead of asking“Why are you like this?”What if we asked ourselves“How can I love you today?”

✨ Stay until the end — Chad shares a simple “Making Love Challenge” that may change the way you approach intimacy.Connect with Chad Taylor🌐

https://chadtaylorpsychotherapy.com.au📸 Instagram: @chadtaylor.itsyou🎙 Podcasts• Conversations for Conscious Relationships• It’s You, Oh Fuck, It’s ME — In Session with a PsychotherapistConnect with Lisa & Scott🌐 https://forwardwalkingchoices.com📚 Books• A Year of Love• Six Months of Love• My Perfect Storm👉 eBookshttps://payhip.com/LisaScottBrearleyAuthors

#SoulmatesAndSuitcases#ChadTaylor#ConsciousRelationships#RelationshipGrowth#ForwardWalkingChoices#LisaBrearley #ScottBrearley

God Is in My Calendar: Choosing Recovery Every Day

Season 2 | Episode 9

What does long-term sobriety actually look like?

In this powerful episode, Lisa and Scott sit down with Janice Mulligan — retired U.S. Marine Veteran, author, speaker, and mom of five — to talk about what it truly means to choose recovery every single day.

With over 18 years of sobriety, Janice shares her journey from letting alcohol make the decisions… to building a life grounded in faith, discipline, and personal responsibility.

She opens up about:

• Healing the inner child while staying sober
• Living with chronic pain without narcotics
• Running as meditation
• The strength it takes to ask for help
• Why recovery isn’t a moment — it’s a daily commitment

Janice says, “God is in my calendar.”
For her, sobriety isn’t about restriction. It’s about freedom.

If you or someone you love is navigating addiction, grief, or personal transformation, this conversation offers honesty, hope, and practical wisdom.

Connect with Janice:
www.sobrietyrocks365.com
📞 1-760-583-8208

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

If you’d like, I can also give you a 1–2 sentence ultra-short version for Apple Podcasts, since that platform favors even tighter summaries.

God Is in My Calendar: Choosing Recovery Every Day