Stories We Haven't Shared®

Shaneequa Brokenleg (she/her), a Two-Spirit member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Episcopal priest, offers a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be Two-Spirit and the significance of this identity within Lakota culture. Having navigated between Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds, masculine and feminine, and church and secular spaces, Shaneequa sees herself as a cultural translator, helping people and institutions navigate differences and better understand one another. Her experience of homelessness as a teenager deepened her compassion for others and informs her work supporting Indigenous communities and advancing racial reconciliation. She also explores how historical trauma disrupts the transmission of cultural DNA across generations, and why healing those wounds is essential to breaking the cycle. Shaneequa reminds us that even when life knocks us down, we can honor our grief and discover new possibilities for growth.

Shaneequa Brokenleg is the Staff Officer for Racial Reconciliation and Interim Indigenous Missioner for The Episcopal Church. She holds a Masters of Public Health from the University of Minnesota and a Masters of Divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Before the seminary, she worked as a clinical epidemiologist with experience in public health practice and research.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate leader, and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders, and guides underrepresented professionals to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling — and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Shaneequa and Shanti at the campfire:

• Exploring the distinction between coming out and coming in within Lakota culture.
• Explaining how pronouns work differently in the Lakota language and why Shaneequa uses she/her in English.
• Understanding why being in right relationship is essential to healing and allyship, and why relationships move at the speed of trust.
• Discovering why Shaneequa embraces confluence over intersectionality as a way of understanding our shared struggles and common humanity.

Thank you for listening! Tune in to all episodes for stories and insights on navigating your career as an outsider — and on the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

Learn more about the podcast at storieswehaventshared.com   

CONNECT WITH SHANEEQUA BROKENLEG
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“Buy Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer
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Danielle Morris (she/her) spent decades navigating a world in which being transgender had little visibility or representation. Growing up before the internet, she pieced together an understanding of herself through the limited portrayals she could find, moving through cycles of experimentation, guilt, and hiding before gradually finding the confidence to live more fully as Danielle. Her journey taught her that authenticity doesn't always have to be all or nothing, and that we each get to choose what it means to live as ourselves. Having navigated the transition from Daniel to Danielle, she brings a unique perspective to her work as a business advisor and strategist, seeing new pathways and possibilities within clients’ often complex situations. Danielle invites us to look beyond binary choices, meet people with respect and dignity, and remain open to new perspectives that might challenge what we thought we knew.

Danielle Morris spent more than three decades building and leading a Silicon Valley professional-services firm. Today, she leads Triconal, where she works at the intersection of business strategy, economics, ownership, family, and transition — helping people make sense of complicated decisions before those decisions become transactions.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders, and guides underrepresented people to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling — and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Danielle and Shanti at the campfire:

• Hearing how two suitcases became part of Danielle’s life as she navigated between Daniel and Danielle while traveling.
• Learning why Danielle believes in giving grace to people who need time to adjust as we become more fully ourselves.
• Exploring how experiencing the world from both sides of the gender equation reshaped Danielle’s understanding of privilege. 
• Revisiting the college moment when Danielle knew she would be happier living as a woman, years before she began doing so publicly.

Thank you for listening! Tune in to all episodes for stories and insights on navigating your career as an outsider — and on the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

Learn more about the podcast at storieswehaventshared.com.

CONNECT WITH DANIELLE MORRIS
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Substack: Beyond the Binary
Substack: Shifting the Ground

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Lindsay Johnson (they/them) knows how easily the identities and labels we carry can begin to shape what we believe is possible for us. The business advisor, entrepreneur, speaker, and competitive powerlifter explores that idea through the lens of their own complicated relationship with weight. After decades of crash diets and weight cycling, Lindsay briefly found freedom in the fat-acceptance movement before rejecting what they experienced as increasingly rigid views around weight loss and health and finding their own more nuanced path toward self-acceptance and wellbeing. They share how challenging long-held limitations and doing things they once thought were out of reach suddenly made everything seem possible. Along the way, Lindsay reminds us that radical self-acceptance means seeing and accepting all the parts of ourselves, doing the deeper work, setting our sights on where we want to go, and knowing we're worthy and capable of getting there. 

Lindsay Johnson is a business advisor who runs a scaling agency for service-based business owners. When not supporting founders on their scaling journey, Lindsay is a speaker & facilitator, part-time podcaster, YouTube creator… and a mentor for early-stage entrepreneurs still learning the ropes.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders, and guides underrepresented people to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling — and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Lindsay and Shanti at the campfire:

• Recognizing that creating safe spaces for others to fully show up begins with doing the work to accept and understand ourselves.
• Sharing how Lindsay challenged Shanti to go deeper in their work together, surfacing unexpected emotions and creating a welcome opportunity for self-reflection.
• Hearing how one tucked-in shirt became an exercise in facing discomfort, asking for support, and choosing not to hide.
• Learning how Lindsay challenged the belief that they needed to lose weight before pursuing a triathlon, transforming what they believed was possible. 

Thank you for listening! Tune in to all episodes for stories and insights on navigating your career as an outsider — and on the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

Learn more about the podcast at storieswehaventshared.com   

LEARN MORE ABOUT LINDSAY JOHNSON
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Dāli Rivera (she/her) was seven years old when her family sought asylum from Nicaragua, thrusting her into a new country where she endured years of bullying, racism, colorism, and domestic violence at home. Today, the speaker, military veteran, leadership trainer, and bullying prevention advocate reflects on the experiences that silenced her for years — and how facing harassment and discrimination in the military became the catalyst for using her voice to advocate for herself and others. She shares how her daughter's experience with bullying led her to uncover gaps in school policies, empowering other families and inspiring the work she does today. Along the way, Dāli reminds us that asking questions, speaking up, and sharing knowledge can transform even our most painful experiences into opportunities to help others.

Dāli Rivera provides professional development training focused on leadership, team building, communication, and bullying prevention. A proud U.S. Army veteran and mother of two, she combines discipline, compassion, and expertise to help families and schools build safer, more empathetic communities — empowering parents and educators to raise confident, inclusive children.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders, and guides underrepresented people to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling — and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Dāli and Shanti at the campfire:

• Exploring the lasting impact bullying, domestic violence, and instability can have on a child's confidence, nervous system, and ability to learn.
• Recognizing the powerful role mentors can play in helping us navigate fear and step into difficult conversations.
• Discussing how one principal lovingly transformed a painful bullying incident into a lesson about understanding instead of shame.
• Examining how children often repeat prejudice they don't yet understand, and why honest conversations matter. 

Thank you for listening! Tune in to all episodes for stories and insights on navigating your career as an outsider — and on the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

Learn more about the podcast at storieswehaventshared.com   

LEARN MORE ABOUT DALI RIVERA
Work with Dali!
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Read Dali’s Book, “Confident, Bully-Proof Kids”
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Dr. Melissa Bird (she/her) has spent her life navigating spaces where she was told not to ask questions, not to speak too loudly, or not to fully be herself. Fresh off a run for Congress in Oregon's 4th District, the nationally-recognized speaker, policy strategist, and advocate reflects on discovering her Native heritage in her 30s and reconnecting with her roots as a descendant of the Shivwits Band of Paiutes, growing up in the shadow of her father's suicide, coming out as bisexual in Utah, and learning to embrace the "liminal spaces" where she never quite fit. She shares how healing childhood trauma and listening to what she calls "the push" led her to advocacy work, earning a PhD, teaching, writing, and ultimately launching her campaign for Congress. Along the way, Dr. Bird offers a powerful reminder that courage isn't the absence of fear — it's the willingness to disrupt the narrative, speak the truth even when your voice shakes, and trust that life's most meaningful chapters rarely unfold the way you planned.

Dr. Melissa Bird is a proud Native woman, nationally recognized keynote speaker, policy strategist, grassroots politician, lay preacher, feminist, and author. An unapologetic advocate for working people, she has spent her career championing abused and neglected children, homeless youth, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and healthcare access. She holds a master's degree and PhD in social work.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders, and guides underrepresented people to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling — and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Dr. Bird and Shanti at the campfire:

• Hearing Dr. Bird's grandfather's adorable and insightful response to her coming out, and his reminder that sexual identity exists on a continuum.
• Confronting the reality that even today, in 2026, a simple gesture of affection doesn't feel safe for many LGBTQ+ people (me included).
• Exploring colonization and Native religious practices that were illegal until 1978, and the deep negative impact that’s often felt through lost connection.
• Recounting a funny, loving exchange with her husband before a Brandi Carlile concert that highlights persistent misunderstandings about bisexuality.
• Reflecting on the role of trauma, and how to give voice to it while holding ourselves with compassion and love.

Thank you for listening! Tune in to all episodes for stories and insights on navigating your career as an outsider — and on the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

Learn more about the podcast at storieswehaventshared.com   

LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. MELISSA BIRD
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Recommended reading: "The Discovery of America," Native Peoples and US History

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At 96 years old, Tibor Spitz (he/him), a Holocaust survivor, scientist, inventor, artist, and speaker, shares a story that is almost impossible to comprehend – and somehow even more extraordinary because of the remarkable life philosophy that emerged from it. Tibor discusses surviving as a Jewish boy in Slovakia during World War II, including years in hiding with his family to escape deportation to Nazi death camps, during which every moment could have been his last. That journey ultimately led them to more than 200 days underground in a tiny, makeshift shelter, where they nearly starved, carefully whispered to avoid detection, and slept pressed tightly against one another in freezing conditions. He reflects on the guiding voice that helped him survive and why he chose to release hatred and let go of ego. This conversation is a powerful reminder that even in the face of unimaginable brutality, we always have choices about how we respond, and how we can honor the extraordinary gift of being human through curiosity, strength, kindness, and gratitude.

After surviving the Holocaust, Tibor Spitz became a chemical engineer with a Ph.D. in ceramic engineering, specializing in glass science and technology - and publishing multiple patents. He also developed essential hardware in the emerging digital technology space. For the last 28 years, he has dedicated himself to being a full-time artist and motivational speaker.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders, and guides underrepresented people to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling — and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Tibor and Shanti at the campfire:

• Recounting how releasing hatred led him to befriend and help the daughter of a man connected to Nazi atrocities after the war.
• Reflecting on how losing five years of formal education during the Holocaust showed Tibor how to think in images, shaping his rare ability to thrive as both a scientist and artist.
• Exploring his unforgettable philosophy: don’t cry over spilled milk…bring a cat!
• Sharing his career advice for keeping your mind fresh by shifting between different types of thinking.

Thank you for listening! Tune in to all episodes for stories and insights on navigating your career as an outsider — and on the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

Learn more about the podcast at storieswehaventshared.com   

LEARN MORE ABOUT TIBOR SPITZ
PBS Documentary Song of Survivors feat. Tibor
Tibor's Song: All is Changing, We are Witness, We are Life
Article About Tibor’s Story
Tibor Documentary
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Jules (they/them), founder of Hair for Humans, and their father, Brian (he/him), a pastor, reflect on Jules’ experience growing up as a transgender person, before and after transitioning. Brian recalls early moments, like strong resistance to wearing dresses, and a persistent feeling that something about Jules wasn’t fully visible. Jules also shares the in-between years – marked by anxiety, disconnection, and charting unknown territory – before finding a way to reconnect with their body and feel at home in themselves, a shift that ultimately changed everything. Brian reflects on how his work in the ministry mirrors Jules’ work behind the chair as a hairstylist, both centered on listening deeply and creating safe spaces for people to discover how to show up in the world authentically. Together, they explore how support – through the coming out journey and beyond – wasn’t about having all the answers, but about showing up with trust, curiosity, and a willingness to grow alongside each other.

Jules Heron is the founder of Hair for Humans, providing hair services to people who struggle to feel seen or heard in the hair industry. They are passionate about creating transformational short haircuts and teaching their craft to others via group and individual classes.

Brian Heron is a minister, author, pilgrimager, and proud father of a trans human. In his semi-retirement, he blogs and is working on a book that explores the intersection of religion and culture – both lessons and thoughts on what’s ahead. He joyfully plays guitar and writes music.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders, and guides underrepresented people to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling, and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Jules, Brian, and Shanti:

• Reflecting on a Home Depot moment that heightened Jules’ awareness of being newly perceived as a white male — and the “obligation to be one of the good guys” that came with it.
• Choosing values over moment-to-moment feelings to make business decisions with greater clarity and alignment.
• Recognizing that strong reactions often reflect internal fears, and choosing self-awareness and conversation as a path to deeper understanding.
• Highlighting the power and skill of listening without judgment, creating space for people to feel seen and discover who they are.

Thanks for listening — and don’t forget to follow, rate, and review! Check out all episodes at storieswehaventshared.com.

CONNECT WITH JULES HERON
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CONNECT WITH BRIAN HERON
Brian Work & Blog
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Sue Wicks (she/her) is a New York Liberty WNBA All-Star from the league’s inaugural season and a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She is also a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports who became the first active WNBA player to come out publicly in 2002 and was recently inducted into the LGBTQ+ Hall of Fame. In this conversation, she reflects on building a career in women’s basketball before professional opportunities truly existed, playing for years overseas before the formation of the WNBA created a path to return home and compete in the United States. Sue also shares what it meant to come out publicly — an opportunity she welcomed — at a time when visibility carried real personal and professional risk. Along the way, she reflects on growing up feeling like an outsider and how that perspective shaped her views on leadership, gender, and representation in sports. Today, she sees that outsider lens as a strength — one that allows people to see, build, and sustain things others might miss.

Sue Wicks is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Rutgers women’s basketball history, a former New York Liberty WNBA All-Star who played in the league’s inaugural season, and a Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Today, she farms oysters and kelp on Long Island as the founder of Violet Cove Oyster Company, a sustainable aquaculture venture.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders and, as an executive coach, guides underrepresented people to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s free Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling — and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Sue and Shanti at the campfire:

• Remembering the newspaper clipping about Rutgers winning a women’s championship that convinced her she would play there — even before she’d seen women’s basketball at that level.
• Admitting that even after decades of success in professional basketball, she still sometimes shrinks herself in certain environments after a lifetime of self-regulation.
• Reflecting on how her focus later in her career shifted from individual performance to leadership and ambassadorship in women’s sports.
• Observing that women often develop a unique skillset because they’re constantly asked to unpack and explain their thinking in ways men often aren’t.
• Explaining why oyster farming became a new chapter after her professional basketball career — and why working on the water feels freeing, with no gender roles.

Thank you for listening! Tune in to all episodes for stories and insights on navigating your career as an outsider — and on the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

Learn more about the podcast at storieswehaventshared.com   

CONNECT WITH SUE WICKS
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In this episode, Shanti Joy Gold (she/her) sits down with her freshman-year roommate, Caren Lissner (she/her) — a news editor, reporter, essayist, and published novelist. Caren recently began sharing how housing insecurity and financial instability shaped her upbringing, including periods of living out of her car during college summers without anyone knowing. Caren shares what it was like to grow up navigating poverty alongside a parent’s mental illness, and how hiding those realities became a necessary way to cope. The conversation explores themes of outsiderhood, resilience, creativity, and the pressure to hustle quietly in an effort to break the cycle of instability. Caren reflects on how she never let go of her dreams, leaning into creativity as a way to heal herself and support others — and how determination and persistence shaped a path that finally felt like her own.

Caren Lissner is a news editor and reporter who currently writes for local news websites. Her humorous and serious essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. Her first novel, Carrie Pilby — an independent coming-of-age comedy-drama — was adapted into a feature film. She is currently working on a memoir, How We Became Homeless, which chronicles downward mobility from the 1980s to today.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders and, as an executive coach, guides underrepresented people to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s free Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling — and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Caren and Shanti at the campfire:

• Reflecting on the gradual unraveling of stability — from living modestly in a suburb to her mom’s mental illness quietly taking its toll over time.
• Sharing how publishing her Pennsylvania Gazette essay created space for others with similar financial insecurity to reach out and feel seen.
• Describing how Caren worked her way out of poverty one job at a time, squirreling away money and continuing to take small steps toward supporting herself and her family.
• Offering her belief that everyone’s story matters, and that telling it can help someone else feel less alone.

Thank you for listening! Tune in to all episodes for stories and insights on navigating your career as an outsider — and on the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

Learn more about the podcast at storieswehaventshared.com   

CONNECT WITH CAREN
Read Caren’s Work
Penn Gazette Essay "Close Your Eyes"
Buy Carrie Pilby - The Book
Watch Carrie Pilby - The Movie
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In this episode, Shanti Joy Gold (she/her) sits down with Felix Sutherland (they/them), a white, queer, nonbinary, autistic coach whose work is shaped by their lived experience. Felix shares their stories of self-recognition around identity and neurodivergence - along with the relief, grief, and clarity that surfaced as they began to understand and share themselves more fully. The conversation explores allyship, including the advice to stay present and engaged when discomfort arises. Felix discusses themes of masking, workplace safety, and the emotional labor required to navigate systems not designed with neurodivergent or nonbinary people in mind. They also reflect on how overcompensating through perfectionism and overachievement leads to deep exhaustion, and how cultivating self-trust supports a shift toward work that is aligned, joyful, and sustainable.

Felix Sutherland helps high-masking and late-/un-diagnosed autistic and ADHD folks sort through the identity crises that come with understanding your brain for the first time in adulthood. They offer coworking sessions, 1:1 coaching - and more - to help people build more joyful relationships with themselves and others.

Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders and, as an executive coach, guides underrepresented people to confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.

👉 Try Shanti’s free Thriving Assessment here to get clarity on where you’re excelling - and where you can increase fulfillment, joy, and impact.

Other stories shared by Felix and Shanti at the campfire:

• Recounting the range of reactions Felix experienced after sharing their pronouns at work, from support to subtle resistance.
• Sharing how an unexpected layoff disrupted ideas of safety at work and, in the end, offered a sense of freedom.
• Exploring what the words “queer” and “nonbinary” mean to Felix - and their experience of how others within the LGBTQIA+ community relate to the language
• Learning about Felix’s passion for roller derby and what the sport is actually about (hint: not throwing elbows).

Thank you for listening! Tune in to all episodes for stories and insights on navigating your career as an outsider — and on the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review!

Learn more about the Stories We Haven’t Shared podcast at storieswehaventshared.com   

CONNECT WITH FELIX
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