Among many other topics, we explore:

Growing Up Different in the 1950s: Bella recalls her early years in a male-dominated household, long before there was language or support for what she was experiencing.

The Mask of Normalcy: From sports to music to marriage, Bella describes how she built a “normal” life while carrying a hidden truth.

Halloween Outfits to Honesty: What started as a playful tradition with her wife became the first space where Bella could explore her authentic self, and eventually led to seeking therapy and beginning transition in her 60s.

The Tipping Point: How decades of suppression, one too many goodbyes to her true self, and finally seeing role models like Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox pushed Bella to say, “When is it my turn?”

Transitioning Later in Life: From hundreds of hours of electrolysis to major surgery, Bella shares the physical and emotional journey of aligning her inner and outer self.

Writing The Uninvited Passenger: Why Bella turned to writing as a way to process her story, and how her memoir became a message of hope for anyone carrying silent battles.

Hope in the Midst of Gaslighting: Bella speaks to today’s political climate, the dangers of misinformation, and why her book is also a call to protect and encourage vulnerable young people.

Join us for an honest, inspiring conversation about identity, resilience, and the joy of finally living as your true self—proof that it’s never too late to embrace who you are.

The Uninvited Passenger releases September 12, 2025, in paperback and eBook. Visit

 HezzieMae.com

 to order your copy and step into this powerful story.

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to [email protected] to book Heather for your next event.

Among many other topics, we explore:

Leading from the Heart: Jen shares what it means to lead with a strong sense of community and stay rooted in your values, even when the outcome isn't what you hoped for.

The Firecracker Grandma: We talk about how Jen's grandmother, a "firecracker" who advocated for everyone, taught her the heart of inclusion and the importance of having a strong support system.

Brewing Community: We dive into Jen’s family business, Spiral Brewery, which is more than just a business—it's a mission to "brew community through quality beer and rich history."

Join us for a beautiful and inspiring episode filled with layers of richness about how hope lives right next to despair, how to be part of the "untangling process" of problems, and the powerful lesson that showing up with what you can is always enough.

www.spiralbrewery.com

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to [email protected] to book Heather for your next event.

Sam Nelson returns to the podcast to discuss her personal journey as a neurodiversity advocate. She opens up about receiving her own ADHD diagnosis a little over two years ago and how she and her family had to navigate their own unique ADHD-related circumstances. Sam also discusses her new brand, "Neurodivergent Not Broken," which she created to share her experiences and build a community where people can feel supported and less alone.

Among many other topics, we explore:

A Family's Journey: Sam shares that just two years ago, she received her own diagnosis, which led to clarity and the realization that all four members of her family are in different neurodivergent categories. This prompted her to become an advocate and share her story.

The Lack of Support: Sam describes how, after her diagnosis, medical professionals provided very little follow-up support beyond a sheet of paper with recommended books. She had to pursue an understanding of neurodivergence by herself.

Accommodations and New Understandings: Sam outlines five accommodations her family has made since the diagnosis to create a smoother home life. These include allowing for quiet downtime after work and school, implementing sensory accommodations, letting go of expectations around family meals, and a few more!

The "Neurodivergent Not Broken" Brand: Inspired by her and her husband's experiences, Sam has started a brand called "Neurodivergent Not Broken" that aims to offer help and support to others and create a community with more compassion, grace, and less shame.

Join us for an inspiring and empowering episode about understanding how your brain works, finding new ways to support your family, and being courageous enough to share your story to help others.

Connect with Sam!

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

Substack: https://substack.com/@neurodivergentnotbroken

Hustle & Heart Salon:https://hustleandheartsalon.com/

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to [email protected] to book Heather for your next event.

In this episode, I’m joined by Adarryl Hunter, a lifelong friend of George Floyd. We announce our joint project, a book titled Floyd's Baller, set to be released in February 2026, which is Black History Month. The book aims to serve as a resource for schools and is designed to teach and engage students on important life themes. We’ll talk about Adarryl (and his nickname “Baller”), his friendship with George Floyd, and this book’s inception. 

Among many other topics, we explore:

Becoming a “Hood Philosopher”: Adarryl says he gained many of his people skills from Floyd, while Floyd saw Adarryl as a "hood philosopher" who could provide perspective on life.

The Reluctance to Tell a Story: After Floyd's murder, Adarryl was hesitant to share his story, not wanting to appear to be capitalizing on his friend's death. 

A Creative Collaboration with a Spiritual Twist: Adarryl recounts that Floyd used to refer to himself as Morpheus from  The Matrix and Adarryl as Neo, which provides a fitting metaphor for George's role in telling the story. 

More Than a Story, It’s a Gumbo: The collaboration itself is a testament to this message, as a Black man and a white woman from the Midwest come together for a common purpose - a “gumbo” of perspectives, if you will. 

A Shared Purpose: The project’s timeline, delayed for several months, now seems perfectly aligned with the current political climate and educational needs. Both of us are fully invested in this project, believing it's not about achieving specific results but about sharing an authentic, loving story with the world.

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to [email protected] to book Heather for your next event.

Among many other topics, we explore:

From Liberia to the United States: Jebeh shares her journey as a Liberian American, detailing how her parents immigrated from West Africa to the U.S. and instilled in her a strong sense of heritage, education, and family.

A Father's Profound Impact: We discuss the powerful moment when Jebeh's father visited her sixth-grade classroom to teach her peers about Liberian history, a moment that instilled in her a sense of responsibility and pride in her identity. This experience, along with her father's passing years later, inspired her to take a leap and pursue her business full-time.

The Village Mentality: Jebeh explains the importance of extended family and kinship in Liberian culture, highlighting how this strong support system provided her with a sense of belonging and helped her navigate challenges like racism and prejudice.

The Pivot from Classroom to CEO: Our guest recounts how she went from being a first and fifth-grade teacher for 18 years to founding Jebeh Cultural Consulting. Her decision was a direct response to her father's death, prompting her to create a business that provided cultural resources and promoted positive change.

Fact vs. Opinion in the Digital Age: We dive into the challenges of misinformation and implied messages in today’s world. Jebeh emphasizes the need for critical thinking and checking multiple sources to ensure accuracy, a practice she taught her own students.

A Love Letter to Her People: She shares the inspiration behind her upcoming novella, The Orange Blossom, revealing that it is a love letter to her Liberian people. The book, a soap opera with a purpose, honors her family and cultural heritage, particularly her grandmother, who introduced her to the world of soap operas.

Join us for an inspiring and empowering episode about honoring your heritage, trusting your inner voice, and being courageous enough to take a leap and start your own ripples.

Connect with Jebeh!

Website: https://jebehedmunds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jebeh-edmunds-ms-teaching-3b9334101/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Jebeh-Cultural-Consulting/100063708180388/

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to [email protected] to book Heather for your next event.

In this heartwarming conversation, we talk about:

• How the pandemic led me to a significant life shift, embracing roles as an author, speaker, and creative.
• My passion for connecting with students who "didn't quite fit the model" and creating a non-judgmental space where social-emotional skills and life planning were as important as academics.
• The incredible story behind my tradition of sewing personalized, handmade pillowcases for her graduating seniors. 
• The powerful message I instilled in my students with each pillowcase: "When you put your head down at night, don't you forget what it took for you to get here."
• A new chapter for me at the time, including a book and the publishing business I’m in now. 

Grab your favorite drink and join us for a conversation that reminds us all of the profound impact one person can have.

Check out The Storyteller's Porch here:
https://thestorytellersporch.com

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to [email protected] to book Heather for your next event.

Among many other topics, we explore:

From Sick Kid to Health Advocate: Jessica opens up about her chronic childhood pain, the chiropractors who changed her life, and why she’s never stopped asking questions about health, inflammation, and root causes.

The Birth of a Remedy (and a Brand): How one moment of maternal intuition—and a syrup that actually tasted good—led to a quiet Facebook post, a rush of orders, and a full-blown business overnight.

Nature Knows What She’s Doing: We talk about the power of elderberries, the synergy of raw honey and organic ingredients, and why Jessica believes the body is designed to heal when we support it with what it needs.

Growth, Overwhelm, and Rediscovering Voice: As the business expanded, Jessica lost touch with her own identity. She shares how burnout pushed her to reclaim her story, redefine her role, and come back home to herself.

Why She’s Finally Stepping Forward: For years, Jessica stayed in the background while her product spoke for itself. Now, she’s choosing to be seen—and to speak the truth of how healing, faith, and courage built this from the ground up.

Purpose Over Perfection: Jessica reminds us that success doesn’t require polish or a business plan—just a deep why, a willingness to learn, and a heart rooted in service.

Join us for a vulnerable, empowering episode about trusting your body, owning your story, and honoring the call to create something that heals—inside and out.

Website: https://thepowerofelderberries.com/pages/about-the-poe

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ThePOWERofElderberries

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to [email protected] to book Heather for your next event.

From Marriage to Business Partners (Again): We talk honestly about our personal history, what made us reconnect professionally after divorce, and why this unusual path is working better than either of us expected.

What Makes a Chef, Really: Steven unpacks his no-nonsense view on the culinary world, why the word “chef” is overused, and what it truly takes to show up in the kitchen with presence, soul, and skill.

The Magic of Fish Sauce: Yes, really. We go deep on umami, fermentation, and how fish sauce can be a game-changing ingredient—plus beginner tips for how to use it.

Creative Integrity Over Ego: Steven shares why he turned down the Food Network, what he looks for in a mentor, and how real creative leadership starts with alignment, not applause.

Regeneration Over Sustainability: We discuss what sets Third Coast Superior apart—its ethos of regeneration, hyper-local impact, and how even your pantry staples can support ethical fishing, regional salt harvesters, and environmental stewardship.

Scaling with Soul: As we grow this business, we talk about doing it with mindfulness, keeping connection at the center, swaying between roles, and designing systems that allow us to show up as our full, integrated selves.

Tarot, Intuition, and Starting Again: From spontaneous emails to upside-down tarot spreads, we share how trust, flow, and spiritual nudges have shaped this new chapter—not just in business, but in life.

Join us for an honest, funny, and deeply human conversation about love, business, fermentation, and the sacred, messy art of building something meaningful together.

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to [email protected] to book Heather for your next event.

Among many other topics, we explore:

What Belonging Really Means: Amy explains the “B” in DEI&B and why fostering a true sense of belonging is crucial for equitable systems, especially in education and corporate spaces.

From Teacher to Changemaker: How burnout, motherhood, and a post-pandemic shift led Amy to leave the classroom and expand her mission in new and unexpected ways.

The Power of Simulated Empathy: A poverty simulation rocked Amy’s world and ignited a fire to build programs that connect stakeholders with the real challenges marginalized families face.

Designing a Support Ecosystem: Amy lays out her vision for a mentorship-based, multi-layered program that connects families in need with accessible, relevant, and local resources through tailored workshops and personal guidance.

Funding and Sustainability in Service Work: We discuss the myth that good deeds are free, and why sustainable funding, partnerships, and social enterprise models are essential to scale meaningful change.

Reimagining Education for Adults: Amy shares her idea for digital “packages” on personal finance and healthcare navigation, designed for working adults who didn’t learn these life skills in school, and how every purchase could support someone in need.

Join us for this energizing and grounded conversation about service, systems change, and what happens when an educator takes her compassion beyond the classroom.

Connect with Amy!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-spohn-7b489136/

Email: email:[email protected]

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to [email protected] to book Heather for your next event.

In this episode, I’m joined once again by illustrator, designer, and creative scholar Chani Becker, who returns to share one of her favorite fairytales: Tatterhood. Chani guides us through a vivid retelling of this lesser-known Norwegian folktale and invites us to explore its powerful psychological symbolism through a Jungian lens.

As part of her MFA thesis in Illustration, Chani used Tatterhood as a springboard for a deeper conversation about the ego, shadow self, transformation, and wholeness. Together, we reflect on what this bold, wild heroine can teach us about embracing all parts of ourselves.

Among many other topics, we explore:

The Power of Archetypes and Fairytales: How stories like Tatterhood can mirror the deep structure of our psyche—and why they stay with us for decades.

Ego, Shadow, and Wholeness: Understanding how the two sisters in the tale represent a balanced psyche—and what happens when we suppress parts of ourselves.

Transformation Through Initiation: How symbolic moments in the tale, including decapitation (!), speak to the disorientation and rebirth we often experience in adulthood.

Visual Storytelling Through Psychology: Chani shares how she illustrated Tatterhood using principles of Jungian dream analysis, bringing both narrative and subconscious symbolism into her artwork.

Honoring the Shadow Self: Why the “ugly,” “wild,” or “socially unacceptable” parts of us may actually carry our greatest strength and vitality.

Art as Personal and Cultural Reflection: Chani opens up about how five years of MFA study (while raising a family!) helped her deepen her creative process and reconnect with her own story.

Join us for a playful, profound conversation that celebrates the beauty of fairytales, the wisdom of our inner wildness, and the joy of lifelong creativity.

Connect with Chani!

Websites: http://www.chanibecker.com | https://www.hothousedesignandpost.com

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to [email protected] to book Heather for your next event.