Speak LOUD

In this episode, I talk to author, speaker, and professional bodybuilder Jewels. Jewels wrote "The Making of a Woman: From the Inside Out" and is here to speak about childhood abuse, alcoholism, recovery and rediscovery. Jewels hopes she can reach people and show that ‘it’--whatever ‘it’ is--is not pretty, but is possible. 

Jewels describes her early life as the 'first stage,' one that she had to endure to evolve. The first Jewels was small, and according to her, scared. Suddenly one-in-five kids after her mother remarried, Jewels suffered abuse in the shadows. Her silence was her way of coping with the abuse, which went on for three years.

At 14 she dropped out of school and left home. She had started drinking, drugs, and brought those bad habits into adulthood. Jewels was 'functioning with a 10-year-old's idea of what adults do.' She lacked guidance. But during this time, her mother was her rock as she was her cheerleader when Jewels was 'circling the drain,’ and handed Jewels her first 30-day sobriety chip. Jewels’ mother died a year after Jewels became sober. 

For 19 years, Jewels struggled to get her feet under herself long enough to go it alone. Even in the depths of alcoholism, she had a mission to be independent. Her initial push into sobriety had no fireworks, but was no less powerful. After casually mentioning to a pair of women that she wished she didn't drink so much, she was in her first room of recovery within 30 minutes. 

The support and attention Jewels received in meetings allowed for an emotional release. Now, she sponsors and speaks for others, which she describes as part of the gift of sobriety. 

The title for Jewels’ book came to her in a meditation, after a friend told her she needed to write a book. Jewels put it into the universe that she wanted to share her story, and in six months she had finsihed her book.

Listen in to hear what Jewels would tell her past self, how she unlearned the false truths others taught her, and how she transformed her fight-or-flight instincts into an energy for change.  

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***Disclaimer: All content found on Speak Loud Podcast, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Material contained on Speak Loud Podcast website, podcast, and social media postings are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice. Information on this podcast and guest comments, opinions, and content are solely for educational and entertainment purposes. Use of this information is at your own risk.**

In this episode, I talk with AnneMarie Shrouder, a diversity and inclusion speaker and consultant. She’s the author of, “Being Brown in a Black-and-White World: Conversations for Leaders about Race, Racism and Belonging,” and a mother. Today, she’s here to talk about the reality of being “bi-racial” in a world that encourages you to choose one or the other. 

AnneMarie was raised in Montreal by two immigrant parents: a mother from Austria and a father from Jamaica. Growing up, AnneMarie was more connected to her mother’s side of her family. But in many social situations, she was either 'too black' or 'too white' to fit in. She felt pressured to choose one or the other, and didn't come to the realization that she could choose 'both, and,' until adulthood. Overcoming that polarization of 'either or' was an most empowering part of her journey. 

AnneMarie talks about some of the struggles she’s faced in raising her daughter. Her daughter racially identifies as black, while AnneMarie identifies as bi-racial. While she made it a priority to instill pride in her daughter's identity, she was floored when her daughter went through a phase of wanting to be white. Friends and colleagues reminded her, however, that she lived in a world built on--and for--whiteness. It’s easier to be white, and AnneMarie’s daughter saw that, even at a young age. 

Despite being at a disadvantage in some aspects of her child’s identity, AnneMarie prioritized exposing her child to black culture. They spent seven months in Barbados with her child’s grandparents. AnneMarie marveled at how much her daughter grew when surrounded by black people. Her friends, her teachers, their public figures, were all black. 

AnneMarie initially avoided writing her book, “Being Brown in a Black-and-White World.” She stared writing when she was pregnant, and intended to write about how her daughter came to be. But in the process, a different book poked its head out. Although it wasn’t what AnneMarie set out to write at first, it was something she realized had to be said. 

Her personal journey is intertwined with her business in diversity and inclusion. Because of this, it made sense to write not just a book on business or a personal story, but to write them together. AnneMarie’s book could technically be read for just the business or the personal side. But she hopes that by putting them together, she encourages people to truly see each other. She believes that everyone loses when we don’t see all of who someone is. 

Listen in to hear AnneMarie’s take on the effect of the internet and technology on racism, the instances she felt the most discriminated against, and how she’s making the world a better place for her daughter.

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***Disclaimer: All content found on Speak Loud Podcast, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Material contained on Speak Loud Podcast website, podcast, and social media postings are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice. Information on this podcast and guest comments, opinions, and content are solely for edu

Today's guest is Murielle Fellous, we are speaking about emotional mastery through EFT tapping. Murielle is a single mother of 3, who discovered EFT while raising her teenage children. Her journey inspired her to create ‘Co-Parenting With the Universe,’ through which she helps single moms in their own journeys through parenthood. 

Murielle felt herself spiraling during her kids' teenage years. She discovered EFT tapping as a powerful tool to interrupt those spirals. She used EFT first on herself, and later on her kids, and saw amazing results. 

She now practices clinical EFT, which she shares in her coaching. Her goal is to prevent other women from going where she went during her struggles as a single mother. Murielle says that falling into the depths of anxiety or depression helps no one: not the moms, not the kids. 

EFT works by soothing the nervous system while thinking about an emotional stressor. By tapping meridian points on the body, EFT eases the physical response we feel to anxiety or trauma.

According to Murielle, repetition is key. She calls it as a path in the grass: if you don't walk in it, the grass is going to grow back. She recommends tapping every time you feel anxiety or have recurring thoughts. This helps your body understand that there is no threat, and frees you from a trap of anxiety or depression. 

Murielle describes ‘co-parenting with the universe’ with a metaphor. Energy is like an elevator, she explains. You stop at the floor at which you vibrate. If you’re giving off helplessness, you’re going to come out on the floor where everything you see reminds you of your helplessness. But if you vibrate hope, you’ll begin to see things that give you hope. Murielle saw this phenomenon in her own life, and hopes listeners will 'tap in' and find the same. 

Listen in to experience an EFT session with Murielle, hear her talk about her struggles as a single mother, and how opening up to new solutions from the universe changed her and her kids’ lives. 

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Get in touch with Murielle on her website 

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***Disclaimer: All content found on Speak Loud Podcast, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Material contained on Speak Loud Podcast website, podcast, and social media postings are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice. Information on this podcast and guest comments, opinions, and content are solely for educational and entertainment purposes. Use of this information is at your own risk.***

In this episode, I’m chatting with Danny Greeves, who’s across the pond in Norwich, England. Danny is a physio and hypnotherapist, author, and winner of the Prestige 2021 Life Coach of the Year Award for London. He also has a 12-week program called “Speak Up and Stand Out” where he helps people realize their value and express it to the world. 

With bright orange hair, Danny didn’t always get much of a choice in being seen as a child. He found it hard to express himself and be emotionally vulnerable. This struggle followed him into adulthood, as he floundered in relationships. 

Once he made the decision to seek help, Danny became fascinated with how the mind works. The more he learned, the more confident he became. This snowballed into a desire to work professionally, and a love for helping others have more self-confidence. Within ten days after deciding to get help, Danny met the woman who would later become his wife. 

After thorough research, Danny “cracked a code” and devised his 12-week program that consistently helps clients learn who they are and how to share with the world. The program is grounded in examining your own unique history and translating this to your current self. As Danny puts it, “the past is full of breadcrumbs of how we got here today.” The program has several practical strategies for self-confidence that become a habit by the end of the 12 weeks. 

Danny emphasizes that communication is universal. His program can be for anyone, both in professional and everyday life. He’s worked with teachers, businessmen, and parents alike in achieving their lifestyle goals. 

One of Danny’s specialties is hypnotherapy. While most people misconstrue hypnotherapy for what they see on TV, Danny describes hypnotherapy as a deep trance-like state of relaxation, that allows for a lot of change in a short amount of time. This deep state of comfortability allows the mind to make different connections and release emotions from the past without a whole lot of conscious effort. Most people enjoy hypnotherapy once they learn the process.

Listen in to find out how Danny began his own journey with expressing self-confidence, what voids and values in childhood shaped his life as an adult, and what free resources are available to help you jumpstart your self-confidence journey. 

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Find Danny on his website here

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***Disclaimer: All content found on Speak Loud Podcast, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Material contained on Speak Loud Podcast website, podcast, and social media postings are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice. Information on this podcast and guest comments, opinions, and content are solely for educational and entertainment purposes. Use of this information is at your own risk.**

In this episode, I’m chatting with Christine, a podcast producer who has worked under Louis Hauz and his production company for several years. Christine teaches people how to podcast like a pro. “I train teams to become in-house media producers.”

Finding a Common Thread Amongst Successful Guests

Deciding to leave her corporate job, Christine cold-called a podcast producer and convinced him to produce his show. Moving to LA, she learned her new career on the job. During this time in her life, she was exposed to famous, successful people and realized the throughline for the guests. “Everyone had a rock-bottom moment, a reckoning of their worth, and a key decision where they pivoted and followed their calling.” In addition, the guests found their self-worth, which gave them the means to become successful.

Coming Into the World with Innate Worth

The idea that we are already full of worth has meaning for Christine; she calls it "worthful" - the concept being that we are always full of worth. Exploring the concept on her podcast eventually evolved into a blog and her own podcast. "When we know our worth, we show up and contribute our best to the world because we know that we have it in us and we want to evolve along the way."

Christine is passionate about sharing what she's learned and hopes her listeners know that no matter what you've been through, your worth is intact. It isn't determined--or shaken--by your job, circumstances, or society. Instead, worth is within you, ready for you once you're ready for it.

Listen in to find out how Christine invested in her own worth, what tools she recommends for beginning your own worthful-ness journey, and her advice for getting through the uncertain times we face now.

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Find out more about Christine Baird

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***Disclaimer: All content found on Speak Loud Podcast, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Material contained on Speak Loud Podcast website, podcast, and social media postings are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice. Information on this podcast and guest comments, opinions, and content are solely for educational and entertainment purposes. Use of this information is at your own risk.***

In this episode, I’m chatting with Terry Tucker, who is a resident of Denver, Colorado,  a father of one daughter who is a Lieutenant in the Space Force and a husband of 28 years. Besides playing in the NCAA, Terry has also authored a book, is a blogger, and has been an officer on the local SWAT team where he lived, and is currently battling a rare form of cancer.

Family and Sports

While he had a great family growing up, Terry was picked on because of his height. At the age of 13, he grew to 6’5”, with big ears and a size 14 shoe. Fortunately for Terry, he was great at basketball, which landed him a scholarship to college. After several knee surgeries, 

Terry learned several life skills from his days playing ball. The biggest lesson he learned from playing a team sport is the necessity to do your job as a player and learning that everyone is in the game together - the game he played and the game of life.

From Athlete to SWAT Team

The oldest of three boys, Terry was one of three athletes in the home, all standing at 6’5” and higher. After graduating from college, he moved home to find a job and landed a corporate job with Wendy’s restaurant chain. For the next three years, Terry was at home while working his new job taking care of his father and grandmother who were both terminally ill with different types of cancers.

After his corporate job, he worked as a high school administrator for a stint and then went on to get a position in the local SWAT team, acting as the SWAT team hostage negotiator and undercover cop busting drug dealers. 

Living the LIfe Terry Needed to Lead for Himself

Terry’s grandfather was a cop during prohibition and the Al Capone days of Chicago. His grandfather and his dad wanted him to steer clear of law enforcement, however; Terry decided that he needed to live his life for him, not for others.

Listen in to find out howTerry has survived his rare form of cancer, how he created his book from his battle with cancer, and how he carried on after losing his leg after having it removed from cancer.

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Check out The Motivational Check Blog

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***Disclaimer: All content found on Speak Loud Podcast, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Material contained on Speak Loud Podcast website, podcast, and social media postings are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice. Information on this podcast and guest comments, opinions, and content are solely for educational and entertainment purposes. Use of this information is at your own risk.***

In this episode, I’m chatting with Lily Walford.  Lily is an international relationship and dating coach specializing in behavioral profiling and body language. Lily is inspired and excited by having the creative freedom to use her passion for psychology and behavioral change to help relationships worldwide.

Many people don’t realize the abuse that goes on in a relationship with this type of person. After three years of being in this relationship, Lily ended the relationship. However, her ex-boyfriend stalked her for the next five years. She went into two more toxic relationships and couldn’t figure out why she attracted these negative people.

After using several behavioral therapy modalities, she found behavioral profiling and reading body language. These skills gave her the confidence to find the right relationship. 

When you love someone, you tend to make excuses for their behavior, known as confirmation bias. “We justify their behavior. When you’re in these types of situations, you create a story that allows you to be in that relationship.” Even though the relationship starts out great, it quickly goes downhill with control and abuse.

Someone narcissistic has an undeveloped empathy part of the brain. As a result, you have a person who can’t connect and can’t empathize. Missing facial expressions and loving behaviors from parents and caregivers will leave the child without empathy. Then, the person will grow up attempting to mimic empathy, using it as a tool to control and manipulate others.

Listen in to find out why you can’t change a narcissist, the difference between narcissistic traits and a true narcissist, and how you can break away from a narcissistic relationship.

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Visit Lily Walford on Love with Intelligence

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***Disclaimer: All content found on Speak Loud Podcast, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Material contained on Speak Loud Podcast website, podcast, and social media postings are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice. Information on this podcast and guest comments, opinions, and content are solely for educational and entertainment purposes. Use of this information is at your own risk.***

Please welcome my guest Cindy Mulonas!  She lives outside of Detroit, Michigan, and is the mother of three children. In addition, she has coached many high-profile personalities in her work and has helped them overcome childhood abuse.

Being Attracted to Toxic Relationships

“For some reason, in the past, I was attracted to people who were not good for me.” She met her boyfriend in high school and was dating him for some time when they moved to Michigan together. He publicly ridiculed and mocked Cindy, including making fun of her when she gained weight. After three years, she left that relationship and entered into another more abusive one.

Looking Back at her Journals

When she looks back at her journals, she can see the patterns of abuse and what she lived through. At the age of 24, her boyfriend was gaslighting her and blaming her for all relationship issues. Cindy felt that she could change him and make him a different person. These are the moments she wants others to be aware of in relationships and how to avoid these types of people.

Making Excuses to Stay in an Abusive Situation

Cindy realized that she was making excuses about her relationship to stay married. “You stay in an abusive situation because you feel that you aren’t qualified to stand on your own.” Also, your self-esteem can become so low that you don’t believe you can accomplish what you set out to do.

She was the only income earner in the family; however, her husband spent money but refused to work. He took out multiple loans against their home and physically abused her daily. Cindy remembers patching up holes in their walls after he punched through them numerous times. Lastly, they took his dad in their home, who was dying of cancer, and he verbally abused his father on his deathbed.

Listen in to find out how Cindy broke the cycle of abuse and the importance of leaving an abusive relationship.

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***Disclaimer: All content found on Speak Loud Podcast, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Material contained on Speak Loud Podcast website, podcast, and social media postings are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice. Information on this podcast and guest comments, opinions, and content are solely for educational and entertainment purposes. Use of this information is at your own risk.***

Chad Peevy joins me today. He’s an Arkansas native who grew up in an abusive household in a small, rural town. In addition, Chad had to hide his sexuality and learn how to lean into his own truth as an adult.

Growing Up in Arkansas

Some kids grow up with book smarts, some kids grow up with street smarts. Chad had to stay off his dad’s radar at home and tried to manipulate his environment to create safety at school. “For me that meant staying small, quiet, and avoiding confrontation.” At school, he also had a girlfriend to avoid gay slurs and sat on the school council so teachers would like him and offer him a shield of protection. He was constantly shifting and changing to stay safe and wasn’t able to be himself because of his environment.

Changing Survival Skills in Adulthood

As a kid, those survival skills Chad created worked well, but as an adult, he needed to change his tactics with a different set of adult challenges. “I created a mask that I wore with beliefs and mindsets that developed out of necessity.” Although he was successful in business, he was miserable inside as he brought his childhood skills into adulthood. “I had to figure out what was going to make my life better as an adult.

Coming Out Gay

Chad realized at the age of five that he was different from other boys. Later on, as a teen, he realized he had stronger feelings towards boys than girls. Growing up in a fundamentalist baptist church, being gay was strongly looked down upon. “There was no healthy role model for me to grow into.” Today, Chad wants to give words and feelings to others in a similar situation as he was with his new book.

Listen in to find out how Chad came out in college, how he learned to be comfortable with himself, and how he is making an impact in the world today.

Resources Mentioned

Get Chad’s book and grab a copy today!
https://chadpeevy.com/freebook

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***Disclaimer: All content found on Speak Loud Podcast, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Material contained on Speak Loud Podcast website, podcast, and social media postings are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice. Information on this podcast and guest comments, opinions, and content are solely for educational and entertainment purposes. Use of this information is at your own risk.***

My guest is Ashley Michelle, who has resided in London for the past decade. Her book, "Finding Strength Through Tragedy" sheds light on her life and how it was changed forever after she walked into a murder scene, hearing the door lock behind her, and being told she was next! Trusting her intuition helped her to escape, but her life has been filled with PTSD, depression, and anxiety from that moment on.

Writing About Her Healing Process

Instead of letting this traumatic moment take over her life, Ashley chose to write about the steps of her healing process to inspire others to turn around their lives after going through tough times. She wants to let others know they don't have to be a victim their entire life. "I want someone to look at me and say, because of you, I didn't give up!"

Raising Awareness Around Trauma

Ashley wants to be a teaching tool for others to learn how to break free of trauma. Having a childhood of neglect and physical abuse, she brought those aspects into her first relationship in college. Her boyfriend was physically and emotionally abusive, and her parents weren’t there to help her resolve any issues in her life. Luckily, she had a good friend in college who was able to help her get out of that relationship.

Her Grandparents as Ashley’s Support

Even though her parents were neglectful and abusive, her grandparents were a supportive part of her family. “They helped to raise me and taught me how to read and write.” Ashley had a good example of virtuous adult figures with her grandparents.

At the Scene of the Crime

As an adult, Ashley had a new relationship. She and her boyfriend lived in separate apartments. One morning he asked her to come over, locked the door behind her, and told her to clean up a murder scene that he committed. The deceased was a mutual friend. He wanted to have sex with her, threatened to murder her with a knife to her back.

After this experience, she never felt like the same person. “I became anti-social and all I wanted to do was to sleep.” Several months after the incident, she mixed pills and alcohol in a suicide attempt.

Listen in to find out how Ashley turned her situation around, how she pieced back her life, and how she deals with survivor guilt.

Resources Mentioned

Visit Ashley Michelle on the web

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***Disclaimer: All content found on Speak Loud Podcast, including text, images, audio, or other formats were created for informational purposes only. Material contained on Speak Loud Podcast website, podcast, and social media postings are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice. Information on this podcast and guest comments, opinions, and content are solely for educational and entertainment purposes. Use of this information is at your own risk.***