Stories of Inspiring Joy

Sophia Lorena is the host of The Shit Show of My Twenties Podcast. She got furloughed for almost three months this year and decided to move past her limiting beliefs and start the podcast she always wanted to start. Since April, she has interviewed over 95 people and has released over 85 episodes. She is passionate about helping women get out of their own way and create the life they desire.

In today’s episode, Sophia shares her journey through the rollercoaster of 2020. From a horrific car accident, being furloughed from her job, to starting her podcast, it’s been a crazy year. If there’s one thing she’s taken from this year, it’s that this life is precious. After being furloughed from her job, Sophia realized in that moment that she had two choices, she can either go into a victim mindset, say why me, start emotional eating again gain a bunch of weight, maybe start drinking again, mope around the house and wait to go back to work. Or she could purse the creative projects that have always been calling her and see what happens. Sophia decided to go with the second option and she’s so grateful that she did. As Sophia so beautifully shares, when you hit a setback, when you lose your job and find yourself unemployed, it’s probably happening to you for a reason. Maybe the universe is showing you what you’re meant to do, maybe you’re being shown your gifts, and maybe, you’ll find yourself on the path you’re meant to walk on. Trust where you are and where you’re going, because there’s always something beautiful, inspiring, and hopeful that we can create from life’s messiest moments.

To learn more about Sophia and her podcast visit her website https://www.theshitshowofmytwenties.com and on Instagram @theshitshowofmytwenties and you can listen to her podcast here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here

Phoebe Leona is the founder of nOMad always at OM, a collective global community of yogis, wellness practitioners, healers, travelers, and wanderers of all kinds.

In today's episode, Phoebe shares a story about a vow that her husband made to her to always keep her smiling, and her journey experiencing her smile and joy, on her terms. While there were (many) smiles throughout their marriage, it also wasn’t without its challenges. Phoebe quickly realized that by putting herself aside to be of service to others, she was repeating old patterns, and putting her life’s work, passions, and own life to the side.

To learn more about Phoebe and her work check out her website www.nOMadalwaysatOM.com and https://phoebeleona.com and on Facebook @nomadatom and @phoebe.kelly1, Instagram @phoebemiller.love and @nomadalwaysatom and you can find her podcast nOMad’s The Space in Between here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, visit www.storiesofinspiringjoy.com

Meet Amanda Joy! Joy seeker, connector, motivator, life coach and joy connoisseur! Amanda has made a career of helping people live happier and healthier lives from the inside out and has over 15 years of experience in marketing and coordinating health and wellness programs. Her true passion lies in helping people create the lives that they love. She is a certified NLP Life Course and hosts the Journey to Joy Podcast.

In today’s episode Amanda shares her journey from a people pleaser perfectionist, chronically fatigued and depressed, to finding her joy. She was living to check off boxes that she thought she was supposed to do. That life, the go go go, all led to darkness and depression. When Amanda experienced burnout she was just under 30 years old, and she really didn’t know what she was experiencing. She couldn’t sleep through the night, she didn’t have an appetite, and she was losing her hair. Finally Amanda had to surrender, and that’s when her healing journey began. She focused on self-care, nutrition, and healing herself, and she began her journey to joy.

To connect with Amanda visit her website https://amandajoygill.com and on Instagram @amandajoygill Twitter @amandajoygill11 Facebook @lifecoachamandajoygill and you can find her podcast Journey to Joy here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Sharon Shannon, also known as the Faith Coach, is a Speaker, CEO of In Sharon's Heart, and Organizer of Women of Movement. Sharon helps emerging and aspiring faith-based women entrepreneurs build their online businesses using their God-given gift(s) in order to live a life of service and financial freedom.

Sharon focuses on online business coaching, consultation, and mentoring for women who are ready to take their business to another level by learning the tools that will make them successful. She helps women with their voice, faith, confidence, and grind (consistency in working smart). Her Faith Model enables women to use their gift(s) to build their empire. With faith, Sharon believes that you can start the process of doing the abundant things God has for you to do (James 2:17).

In today’s episode, Sharon shares her journey walking in faith. She realized that she wasn’t living her dreams. Instead, she was living for everyone else. Every time she got a little courage to do something outside of her comfort zone, she found herself becoming idle if anyone around her had an opinion about her next move. But one day Sharon got sick and tired of watching everyone else live their dreams, and she decided that she would build her business. She decided she was going to do it afraid, take chances, and start speaking her truth. Sharon’s story and journey will ask you to think about the gifts in your life, what may be holding you back from using them, and inspire you to take bold steps to walk in your path.

To learn more about Sharon and her work visit her website https://www.insharonsheart.com/group-coaching and on Facebook @faithandgrindcoaching Instagram @insharonsheart and you can find her podcast here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Ashley Surma is the co-founder of For The Good, created with the mission to help people maximize their potential to serve the world with purpose. For The Good is a community created for sharing uplifting messages and stories with the intention to inspire and impact people in a deeper, meaningful way.

After digging in, Ashley and her husband Jordan recognized how our mindset impacts the way we live our life - and in the way we react to what comes our way. As Ashley shares in this week’s new episode, through their experiences they’ve learned how important it is to have a strong mindset based on positivity and gratitude. Through For The Good, Ashley and Jordan strive to uplift people through the elevation of mindset - with the understanding that although we don't control what happens to us in life, we do control how we respond. As Ashley so beautifully shares, when you realize the power to overcome anything that comes your way is already within you, you will feel an empowerment like never before.

In this week’s new episode Ashley opens up about the loss of her father, his struggle with addiction, the power of forgiveness, and how her experiences led to her purpose. As Ashely shares, most of us follow a path that has been laid out by culture, society, or our family's expectations. At the end of the day, it’s our decision and choice to create the life we want, and the kind of mindset we want to have. You can overcome any experience and obstacle, and through sharing her story and For The Good, Ashley is on a mission to empower others to discover their purpose in difficult times too.

To learn more about Ashley and her work visit her website www.forthegood.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @forthegoodofficial @ashurma Twitter @forthegood Facebook @forthegoodofficial

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Dr. Nicole Theron Parkes is a dance witch and trauma-healing dance coach. She believes that unresolved trauma is the root cause of most struggles and issues in today’s world. She also believes that it is possible to heal from trauma and go on to live a happy, gorgeous life of your choosing. She herself, is living proof!

Nicole works to help people heal their traumas and fall in love with who they are, through the process of healing, soul-guided dance. When not working on her business, BodyLove Dance, you can find her at the beach, reading a book, having a dance party, and snuggling with her dog, Hope.

In today’s new episode, Nicole shares her passion and love for dancing and writing. She shares two beautiful poems and a dance flow. Her first poem is called “Build Me a Castle” and her second “Again”. In many ways, her poetry is an exploration of our inner child. As Nicole shares, when she looks at her younger self and loves on her, she’s reminded that there are no limits. Nicole walks us through a beautiful and healing dance flow, encouraging us to move as if we’re already healed, to dance with our shadows, and a knowing that it’s safe to receive the gifts of this movement.

To connect with Dr. Nicole Theron Parkes and her dance parties, working with her 1:1, and mini healing dance sessions visit her website www.bodylovedance.org and on Instagram @bodylovedance Pinterest @bodylovedance and via email [email protected]

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Shari Leid received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Washington in 1992 and graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 1995. A former litigator, she currently owns and operates An Imperfectly Perfect Life, LLC, a professional life coaching business serving women, helping guide them towards recognizing their power. Her debut book, The 50/50 Friendship Flow: Life Lessons From and For My Girlfriends offers a conscious path to not only maintain friendships but to deepen those relationships to support connection while bringing joy and a sense of purpose to both of you. The book details the personal challenge the author embarked on by sitting down one-on-one with 50 friends over the course of one year to share the positive impact they had made in her life.

In today’s new episode, Shari shares the moments that changed her life overnight. Every time, these moments made her life amazing - not immediately, but eventually. When Shari was just 22 years old, she was in a car accident that would change her life forever. She felt lost. The sadness was so heavy, and she can still feel it when she allows her mind to wonder back to that time. One evening when Shari was having a difficult time, there was an evening janitor at the hospital who looked at her and said, “it will be ok, you will be ok, and you will be better.” Shari knew he wasn’t just talking about her appearance, she knew he was talking about who she was as a person. He knew that hardships make us better, and for Shari - he was an angel sent from heaven. She was able to come out of her darkness and gain perspective, she focused on becoming physically and mentally strong, and she began to look for the lessons in her experience. His words kept her going, and have carried her through a number of hardships in her life.

To connect with Shari and learn more visit her website https://animperfectlyperfectlife.com/ and on Facebook @animperfectlyperfectlife Instagram @an_imperfectly_perfect_life and you can find her book on Amazon here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Alexandra Spergel is the CEO and founder of The Nomad's Direction - a company that creates personalized, custom made travel itineraries to fit each type of traveler. Alexandra's story of pursuing her own philosophy of yes will inspire you to follow your passions and joy and choose you, all while updating your passport and booking your next trip ASAP.

Alexandra takes us through her journey of solo travel around the world, what she's learned along the way, the strength she discovered in herself, and she's been able to turn her love for travel into a successful business. She also shares with us the importance of surrounding yourself with other women who are growing, expanding, and stepping out on their own to create their dreams. She's created her own timeline, set her own path, and her story will leave you feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to hit the ground running.

To learn more about Alexandra and her awesome company The Nomad's Direction, visit her website thenomadsdirection.com and make sure to follow her on Instagram @thenomadsdirection

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Dr. Lise Deguire is a clinical psychologist in private practice for over 20 years. The lone surviving child of unsettled and iconoclastic parents, she grew up all over New Jersey and Long Island. Following a horrific fire where she suffered burns on two-thirds of her body, she spent much of her childhood alone in a Boston hospital, undergoing countless surgical procedures.

In today’s episode Dr. Lise shares her incredible story of resilience. After being trapped in a horrific fire at the age of four, Dr. Lise endured third-degree burns on two-thirds of her body. Her neck, chin and lower lip were melted away, and her upper arms were fused to her torso. Dr. Lise’s story is one of survival and overcoming tremendous odds to forge a happy ending. Through her story and her new memoir, it’s Dr. Lise’s hope that she can bring comfort and inspire others who suffer deeply. As Dr. Lise shares, life can be brutal but we can overcome challenges - have hope, and keep going.

To learn more about Dr. Lise, her new book, writing, speaking and blog visit her website www.lisedeguire.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and you can find her new book Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience From a Burn Survivor is available now on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

Chelsea Cahill is a native New Yorker who has found her passion with Brow Sculpting and Microblading. Born with tweezers in her hand, professionally she has been sculpting brows for over 4 years. Growing up she her mother would tell her inspirational stories about the connections she made with her clients, and Chelsea has always been more than excited to choose this path as her career.

Chelsea joins us to share her story with mental health, and how she’s continued to put her health and wellness first. After graduating from high school, Chelsea made the move to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams of being an actor. Upon graduating, she was hit with the harsh reality of what life is like as a 20 year old in one of the most challenging cities, pursuing one of the most challenging careers. She faced many trials and tribulations, and she learned many life lessons. Chelsea’s honesty and vulnerability in this episode will remind you of the power of being our own advocate, honoring who we are and how we feel, and the importance of putting our mental health first.

To connect with Chelsea visit her website www.browdiva.com and on Instagram @chelsmarie13

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.