Stumbling Through Growth

What does it take to pursue a dream when life takes you in a different direction first? In this episode of Stumbling Through Growth: Honest Conversations About Life’s Journey, host Ciara Gogan reconnects with Irish author Sharon Black for a warm, funny conversation about motherhood, creativity, confidence, and starting again at any age. Sharon shares how she went from journalism and raising a family to becoming a published novelist, after years of writing, rewriting, setting work aside, & almost giving up! She reflects on how writing helped her reconnect with herself after feeling lost in the demands and comparisons of motherhood, and why asking other people for advice can be a sign of strength, not failure. The conversation also explores Sharon’s latest novel, By Next Christmas, inspired by the Dublin–New York portal. The romantic story follows Ria Joyce, a Dublin woman who unexpectedly spots a former boyfriend through the portal, setting off a viral reunion, a podcast appearance, and an unexpected journey to New York. Ciara and Sharon talk about growing up together in Dublin, the pressures of fitting in, how school experiences can shape confidence, and the ways social media affects younger generations. Sharon also shares what she has learned about parenting adult children, making time for creative work, and appreciating the everyday moments that bring joy. Her advice for anyone with a dream? Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start messy, take the chance, and remember that you’re never too old to reinvent yourself.

Connect with us

Purchase “By Next Christmas” in the US - https://www.amazon.com/Next-Christmas-Chance-Encounter-Unforgettable-ebook/dp/B0HGGHDY1R/ref=sr_1_1 

Available in all good bookstores in Ireland

Connect with Sharon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonblackwriter/

Sharon’s website: https://sharonblackwriter.ie/

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

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Thanks so much!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Sharon Black’s journey to becoming a published author
• How writing helped her rediscover herself
• The inspiration behind By Next Christmas
• Motherhood, self-doubt, and asking for support
• Changing careers and pursuing a dream later in life
• Confidence, belonging, and growing up in Dublin
• Parenting adult children and learning to let go
• Finding joy in family, friendship, creativity, and small everyday moments

In this episode, Minessa shares her journey of decolonization, the importance of community, and how embracing creativity and authenticity can lead to personal and societal transformation. I love how Minessa’s brain works and how they connect the dots of life! 

Achievement can hide conditioning, burnout, and self-betrayal. If you’re a high-performing person who feels successful on paper but still feels stuck, this one might resonate!

Connect with us:

Subscribe to Minessa’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@minessa.konecky

Follow Minessa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minessam

Connect with Minessa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minessakonecky

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

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Key Topics

• Minessa shares: that joy is not a luxury but a necessity, and that even in painful conditions, people can find small threads back to themselves.
• We discuss: dismantling internal capitalism, including leaving a high-earning business model that no longer aligned with Minessa’s values.
• Minessa shares: how decolonization, redistribution, and anti-oppression work changed the way they think about money, privilege, and responsibility.
• We discuss: creativity as a form of problem-solving and self-acceptance—not just visual art—and how art helps Minessa process emotion.
• Minessa shares: why relationships can be seasonal, including their reconciliation with their sister after time apart.
• We discuss: the importance of telling people what they mean to you while they are still here.

Takeaways

Everyone can contribute in their own way, no matter how small.

Unlearning societal rules is essential to personal freedom.

Creativity is a form of problem-solving and self-expression.

Planting seeds today benefits future generations.

Authenticity and self-love are revolutionary acts.

Ciara Gogan sits down with Minessa for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, trauma, decolonization, creativity, and what it means to build a gentler life while living inside oppressive systems. Minessa shares how they moved from survival mode and assimilation toward deeper self-awareness, and why joy, boundaries, and specificity matter in healing and in public work.

Connect with us:

Subscribe to Minessa’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@minessa.konecky

Follow Minessa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minessam

Connect with Minessa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minessakonecky

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to support it.

Follow & Subscribe: Hit follow so you never miss an episode.

Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star rating to help others find us.

Share: who do you know who needs to hear this conversation? Text this episode link to them.

Thanks so much!

Key Topics

In this episode: Minessa explains their core shift from “what I do” to “who I am becoming,” describing identity as something that can calcify if it is never questioned.

We discuss: how colonialism, capitalism, racism, and the patriarchy shape self-worth, and why unlearning those systems is lifelong work rather than a one-time breakthrough.

Minessa shares: a story about growing up in Pakistan, moving to the US in their twenties, and realizing how deeply assimilation had shaped their sense of belonging.

We discuss: trauma, including war trauma and childhood experiences, and how those experiences can be part of a person without becoming their whole identity.

Minessa shares: how a difficult period in 2018 became a major turning point in their healing.

We discuss: the difference between carrying trauma and using a stage or platform to process it, especially in speaking, coaching, and teaching settings.

Action items

• Notice where you may be confusing survival, trauma, or conditioning with your identity.
• Identify one small “drop in the pond” you can make, rather than trying to do everything.
• Tell one person, while they are still here, what they have meant to you.
• Check whether your words are reinforcing what you want or what you are trying to escape.
• Spend time in your body in a way that feels accessible, whether through movement, nature, or rest.

Award-winning filmmaker Julie Rubio joins Ciara Gogan for an honest conversation about the hidden history of artist Tamara de Lempicka, the power of documentary filmmaking, and finding the courage to tell stories that have been overlooked. Julie shares how personal hardship shaped her empathy and resilience, how a film-set crisis unexpectedly pushed her into directing, and why she kept fighting to bring The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka and the Art of Survival to audiences. Years of archival research uncovered new evidence about Lempicka’s identity and heritage, challenging the familiar myths around the Art Deco artist and revealing a story of survival, creativity, and self-determination. The conversation also explores how researching Lempicka helped Julie better understand and embrace her own bisexuality, why representation matters, and how women filmmakers navigate persistent barriers in the industry. Julie reflects on protecting your peace, using art to foster empathy, speaking up for others, and finding joy in the middle of difficult times.

Connect with Julie & Ciara:

Julie's full bio: https://www.julierubiofilms.com/about

"The True Story of Tamara De Lempicka & the Art of Survival": https://www.tamaradoc.com/

Follow the documentary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamaradelempickadoc/

Follow the documentary on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590479550049

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to support it

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Share: Who do you know who needs to hear this conversation? Text this episode link to them.

Thanks so much! Ciara xo

In this episode:

• Julie’s passion for overlooked stories and the people behind them
• Growing up with a mother experiencing mental illness—and learning empathy, independence, and compassion
• Why asking “What happened to you?” can be more powerful than asking “What’s wrong with you?”
• The lesson that you don’t have to know everything before you begin
• The archival research behind The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka and the Art of Survival
• How Julie’s documentary challenges misconceptions about Tamara de Lempicka
• The realities of independent filmmaking, including funding barriers and discrimination
• How Lempicka’s story helped Julie embrace her bisexuality
• Representation, identity, and the importance of seeing yourself reflected in art
• Why stories, community, and collective action can help create a more equitable world

This episode is a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Anouska Bhattacharyya about what it means to show up fully human in a system that often rewards performance over honesty, the power of play and community, and how embracing discomfort can lead to innovation and growth. They also share personal stories about karaoke, the value of rest, navigating unemployment, and why connection matters more than polish.

Key Topics:

• Workplace authenticity and the importance of bringing your whole self
• The role of community and collective support in overcoming challenges
• The value of play and trying new things to learn and grow
• Using karaoke as a metaphor for facilitation, community, and vulnerability
• The significance of rest and re-framing unemployment as a period of reflection and growth

Try these our for size:

1. Ask yourself who you are beyond what you do.
   Write down a few things that bring you joy, create connection, or make you feel most like yourself—none of them need to belong on a résumé.
2. Build more room for human reality.
   In your work, relationships, or community, look for one place where people could be offered more grace, support, or time to pause instead of being expected to keep pushing through.
3. Invest in community as deliberately as you invest in achievement.
   Reach out to a friend, join a conversation, or create a small moment of shared joy. Connection is not a distraction from growth—it is part of how we grow.

Connect with Anouska -

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anouskaisonline/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anouska/

Connect with Ciara -

Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to support it.

Follow & Subscribe: Hit follow so you never miss an episode.

Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star rating to help others find us.

Share: who do you know who needs to hear this conversation? Text this episode link to them.

Thanks so much!

In this episode, Dr. Anouska Bhattacharyya shares her joyful, insightful reflections on how upbringing, friendship, and lived experience shape the way we connect with others, handle conflict, and navigate work. It’s a conversation about being seen, being supported, and learning to make room for both grief and joy. I absolutely adored this conversation and know you will too!

Key Topics:

• Anouska's childhood and immigrant experience
• The paradox of excellence and assimilation
• The role of friendship and community in well-being
• Systemic injustice and emotional resilience
• The importance of authentic connection and support
• The impact of systemic inequities in education and work
• The balance between individual identity and societal expectations
• The role of vulnerability and emotion in leadership

Try these suggestions:

1. Notice how people speak about others when they are not in the room.
   Let that guide you toward relationships and communities where people are generous, trustworthy, and willing to advocate for one another.
2. Try something before you feel completely ready.
   Choose one low-stakes, slightly uncomfortable activity and treat it as play rather than performance. Let yourself learn by doing—and possibly by failing.
3. Make space for rest without needing to earn it first.
   Notice when you reach for another task, project, or achievement to avoid stillness. Practice remembering that your value is not dependent on constant output.

Connect with Anouska -

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anouskaisonline/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anouska/

Connect with Ciara -

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to support it.

Follow & Subscribe: Hit follow so you never miss an episode.

Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star rating to help others find us.

Share: who do you know who needs to hear this conversation? Text this episode link to them.

Thanks so much!

Follow This Podcast wherever you get your podcasts & share with a friend! https://stumblingthroughgrowth.riverside.com/

I sat down with Ayanna Freedom for a tender, honest exploration of healing, embodiment, trauma, recovery, and the quiet work of becoming more fully yourself. Ayanna shares how healing lives in the body, why community matters, and how silence, rest, and joy can be powerful forms of resistance. In this episode, we hear Ayanna’s story from childhood loss and addiction to recovery, then into the work of helping others unlearn harmful systems and reconnect with their bodies. It’s a powerful conversation about truth, tenderness, and the courage to live out loud.

Connect with Ayanna:

Website - https://www.ayannafreedom.com/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AyannaFreedom-d6q

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ayannanfreedom/

Connect with Ciara:

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to support it.

Follow & Subscribe: Hit follow so you never miss an episode.

Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star rating to help others find us.

Share: who do you know who needs to hear this conversation? Text this episode link to them.

Thanks so much!

Highlights:

• Ayanna shares what it means to be “deeply embodied in bringing the earth to life” and why her work centers collective healing, not individual striving.
• We discuss how dominant culture pushes individualism, hustle, and separation, while healing asks for rest, community, and interdependence.
• Ayanna explains how her mother’s addiction and repeated missed train station meetings shaped her earliest understanding of love, trauma, and abandonment.
• She describes how that childhood wound later showed up in her own alcohol addiction, relationships, and fear around being late or being cancelled on.
• The conversation explores how embodiment work helps people notice what is happening in the body before the mind turns it into shame or self-blame.
• We talk about racial justice, white complicity, and why white people need to say the things out loud instead of leaving people of color to carry that labor alone.
• Ayanna reflects on the stigma around mental health in communities of color and the need for therapists to ask about a person’s lived experience in the world, not just their symptoms.
• The conversation returns often to joy as resistance, with singing, dancing, laughter, and rest framed as vital forms of survival and repair.
• Ayanna closes with a reminder that silence matters and that truth often arrives when we stop rushing to fill the space.

In this episode, the incredible Heidi Clements shares her journey of embracing aging, self-love, and authenticity. We explore topics like pro-aging, anti-alcohol, smashing the patriarchy, mental health, social media's impact, and overcoming societal expectations.

Connect with Heidi & Ciara:

Check out Heidi's Podcast with Constance Zimmer - Talk Fifty to Me - https://talkfiftytome.com/

Follow Heidi Clements on Instagram - https://instagram.com/welcometoheidi

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to support it.

Follow & Subscribe: Hit follow so you never miss an episode.

Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star rating to help others find us.

Share: who do you know who needs to hear this conversation? Text this episode link to them.

Thanks so much!

Main topics:

• The importance of loving oneself at any age
• Challenging societal beauty standards and patriarchy
• The role of social media in self-expression and community
• Overcoming body dysmorphia and ageism
• The journey to sobriety and mental health awareness
• The significance of self-acceptance and authenticity

Key takeaways:

• Loving yourself radically is the key to happiness and confidence
• Social media can be a tool for community and self-expression when used intentionally
• Challenging societal beauty standards is essential for true self-acceptance
• Addressing mental health openly helps break stigma and promotes healing
• Self-love and authenticity are powerful tools for overcoming societal pressures

If you enjoy this episode, please share with someone who needs to hear the messages! & Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Honest Conversations

02:46 Reframing Aging and Women Over 50

05:37 The Importance of Discussing Menopause

08:26 Empowerment and Self-Love in Midlife

11:24 The Role of Social Media in Community Building

14:07 Navigating Trauma and Personal Growth

17:08 The Journey of Self-Acceptance

19:57 The Impact of Relationships on Personal Growth

22:52 The Importance of Setting Boundaries

25:47 Lessons in Self-Discovery and Acceptance

31:35 Navigating Vulnerability in the Digital Age

33:58 Body Positivity and Aging Gracefully

38:42 The Impact of Societal Standards on Self-Image

40:17 Creativity and the Pressure to Perform

45:22 Sobriety and Self-Discovery

50:26 Finding Joy in Everyday Life

Explore how identity, vulnerability, and artistic expression intersect in this heartfelt conversation with drag artist and theater enthusiast, Novaczar. Discover personal stories of resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of authenticity in art and life.

Main Topics:

• The fluidity of identity and the persona as armor
• The transformative power of drag and theater in healing and self-expression
• Navigating criticism, societal expectations, and personal growth
• The influence of iconic art and performance on identity and purpose
• Strategies for managing inner critics and building resilience

Resources & Links:

Novaczar - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/novaczar/

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

Tamara de Lempicka - Official Website - https://tamaradelempicka.org/

Lempicka Musical - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lempickamusical/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to support it.

Follow & Subscribe: Hit follow so you never miss an episode.

Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star rating to help others find us.

Share: who do you know who needs to hear this conversation? Text this episode link to them.

Thanks so much!

In this episode:

• Novaczar shares her journey from childhood in Virginia Beach to becoming a celebrated drag artist in NYC
• Discussions on the significance of Tamara de Lempicka's art and its impact on her identity
• The importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and community in creative expression
• How drag creates a space for healing, confidence, and human connection
• Practical insights on managing triggers, inner saboteurs, and the fear of rejection
• Future aspirations including returning to theater and embracing new creative ventures

I can’t wait for you all to meet Lawrence, he is a remarkable, fascinating man whose enormous capacity to love and support is truly unique.

He is a fervent supporter of the arts, his former students, his Mom, his chosen family, and he makes the world a better place by being in it. I struggled with what to call this episode, as it was so rich with so many wonderful insights and lessons, but I settled on “Pouring Into Each Other” because at its heart, this conversation is about how Lawrence pours into others, how he has been poured into, and how all of this love and support has lasting ripples across generations and time. I cannot overstate how huge this man’s heart is, how boundless his capacity to love and support others is, and how his reflective nature is such a gift!

Connect with Ciara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaragogan13/

Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/

Work with Ciara (Coaching) - https://calendly.com/ciara-upliftinclusion/uplift-30-minute-call

Ciara's Inclusion Coaching & Consulting - Uplift Inclusion: https://www.upliftinclusion.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to support it.

Follow & Subscribe: Hit follow so you never miss an episode.

Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star rating to help others find us.

Share: who do you know who needs to hear this conversation? Text this episode link to them.

Thanks so much!

I touch on his bio at the top of the show, but it's extensive so I'm sharing more here.

His areas of professional expertise include:
✔Educator Preparation
✔ Leadership Development 
✔ Mentorship & Youth Resiliency
✔ Administrator & Teacher Induction
✔ Human Services
✔ Career Development
✔ Career Technical Education 
✔ Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
✔ Performing Arts & Entertainment Production

Dr. Lawrence V. Fitz is a transformational leader with extensive experience in the field of education, working in public institutions, Fortune 500 corporations, and non-profit organizations. His roles have included coaching and developing organizational leaders, designing curriculum, conducting program evaluations, serving as a lead school site administrator, and teaching at all levels from K-12 through graduate study. He has been honored with a service award of distinction from the California State Senate for his “commitment to inspiring vision and leadership excellence” and received a commendation from the California Assembly for his “dedication and support in mentoring youth.”

Recognized as an expert in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in professional and educational settings, Dr. Fitz focuses his research on social and educational justice leadership. His work emphasizes three key areas: Mentorship (establishing support systems for transitional-aged youth and developing leaders), Human Capital Development (enhancing value and self-worth through education and career attainment), and Arts Advocacy (amplifying justice through inclusive practices in the performing arts). He presents nationally on these topics.