What can storytelling teach us about life, death, love, loss, and purpose?

In this episode of Tender Space, we sit down with Niki J. Borger, an international writer, actor, and producer whose creative work explores the complicated and beautiful spaces between beginnings and endings.

Niki opens up about the experiences that shaped her writing, her award-winning films, her one-act plays, and her passion for creating stories that make people think and feel.

We also talk about her upcoming television series NFTease, her guided meditation app 5-Minute-Meditations, digital nomad life, personal transformation, grief, creativity, and finding purpose during uncertain seasons.

This is a conversation about what it means to live fully, create honestly, and find meaning even in life's most difficult chapters.

About Niki J. Borger

Niki J. Borger is an international writer, actor, and producer known for her original plays, award-winning short films, and personal transformation work.

Her films include Because I Could and A Portrayal of a Subtle Suicide, while her theatrical work has been featured in the Extravaganza Theater Festival in Los Angeles.

Niki recently released In-Between: Eight Gender-Neutral One-Act Plays Between Life and Death, a collection exploring themes of life, death, purpose, love, hardship, and personal loss.

She is also developing NFTease, a television sitcom currently in pre-production and audience-building, and creating 5-Minute-Meditations, a meditation app designed to make mindfulness accessible even for people with busy schedules.

Currently living as a digital nomad, Niki continues to create stories and projects that invite audiences into conversations that are joyful, thought-provoking, emotional, and deeply human.

Guest Link:

https://nikijborger.com

What if the thing you're most insecure about could become your greatest strength?

In this episode of Tender Space, we sit down with Peter George, a public speaking coach, professional speaker, TEDx coach, and six-time award-winning author.

Peter shares his personal journey of growing up with a lisp and stutter, avoiding communication, and eventually transforming his relationship with his voice.

We talk about public speaking anxiety, confidence, nervous energy, audience connection, overcoming adversity, and what it really takes to become a captivating speaker.

Whether you're a professional, student, entrepreneur, leader, or someone who simply struggles with speaking up, this conversation offers practical encouragement to help you stop hiding your voice and start using it with confidence.

About Peter George

Peter George is a public speaking coach, professional speaker, award-winning author, TEDx coach, and creator of the AMP'D Framework™.

With more than 22 years as a public speaking coach and 38 years as a professional speaker, Peter has trained over 120,000 professionals across more than 50 countries.

He is the author of the six-time award-winning book The Captivating Public Speaker and host of Public Speaking with Peter George.

His work helps executives, professionals, and speakers become calmer, more confident, credible, and engaging communicators.

Peter's guiding philosophy is simple: “It's all about the audience!”

Guest Link:

http://PeterGeorgePublicSpeaking.com

What happens when we stop hiding the parts of ourselves that hurt?

In this episode of Tender Space, we sit down with Mr. Whiskey—a U.S. Navy veteran, speaker, podcaster, author, preacher, comedian, and addiction recovery coach.

Drawing from his experiences in the military, recovery, ministry, and trauma, Mr. Whiskey opens up about the importance of difficult conversations and why honesty can be an important part of healing.

We talk about mental health, addiction recovery, trauma, faith, suicide prevention, military life, identity, resilience, and finding purpose after hardship.

This is a conversation about facing the darkness without allowing it to define you—and learning that healing and rebuilding are possible.

About Mr. Whiskey

Mr. Whiskey is a U.S. Navy veteran, podcaster, speaker, author, preacher, comedian, and addiction recovery coach. He is the founder of Couple O’ Nukes LLC, a media and education company focused on creating resources, connection, and community through honest conversations.

His work addresses mental health, suicide prevention, addiction recovery, trauma, faith, military matters, leadership, communication, and personal growth.

Through his podcast and other work, he brings together voices that are often overlooked or misunderstood, creating space for education, accountability, and genuine connection.

Guest Link:

https://www.coupleonukes.com/

What if the answer to feeling overwhelmed isn't doing more—but learning how to return to yourself?

In this episode of Tender Space, we sit down with Katharine Chestnut, a mindfulness teacher, author, and speaker, to explore what it means to live in survival mode and how we can begin finding our way back.

After nearly 30 years as a corporate executive and navigating her own experience with emotional trauma, Katharine developed The Return, a practical approach centered around mindfulness, nervous system regulation, breathwork, and rebuilding self-trust.

We talk about chronic stress, burnout, emotional exhaustion, mindfulness, self-trust, and why high achievers can appear successful while quietly struggling underneath.

Most importantly, Katharine reminds us that returning to ourselves doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes it begins with simply pausing, breathing, listening, and remembering that we're still here.

About Katharine Chestnut

Katharine Chestnut is a mindfulness teacher, author, and speaker who helps high achievers move out of survival mode and reconnect with themselves.

After nearly three decades as a corporate executive and rebuilding her life following emotional trauma, she created The Return, a grounded approach that combines mindfulness, nervous system regulation, breathwork, and intentional awareness.

Her philosophy, “This Moment Is Right and Perfect,” encourages people to recognize that every moment offers an opportunity to return to their breath, their body, their wisdom, and themselves.

Guest link:

https://katharinechestnut.com/mindfulness-quiz/

https://katharinechestnut.com/

What happens when your own health struggles become the reason you want to help others?

In this episode of Tender Space, we sit down with Anthony Guastella, a certified health coach who has overcome multiple health challenges and now helps others better understand their wellbeing.

We talk about resilience, healthy habits, sleep, hormones, chronic health concerns, and why understanding your health doesn't have to feel complicated or overwhelming.

Anthony shares how his personal experiences shaped his mission to make complex wellness topics easier to understand and give people practical tools to pursue greater health, freedom, and happiness.

About Anthony Guastella

Anthony Guastella is a certified health coach through the Institute of Transformational Nutrition. After overcoming multiple health challenges himself, he developed a passion for helping others navigate their own wellness journeys.

His work focuses on making complex health and wellness topics easier to understand while encouraging people to take practical steps toward healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Guest Links;

https://anthonyguastella.com/

What happens when faith becomes less about pretending we're okay and more about being completely honest?

In this episode of Tender Space, we sit down with Jeff Dalton, an author, poet, and speaker who shares his deeply personal journey through depression, rejection, church hurt, mental health struggles, and finding his way back to a more honest relationship with Jesus.

Jeff opens up about the experiences that made him question his worth and his place within the church, as well as the role poetry played in helping him express emotions he had spent years carrying.

We talk about vulnerability, mental health, religious performance, spiritual doubt, church hurt, and what it can mean to bring our unfiltered selves into our relationship with Jesus.

This is a conversation about faith without pretending, healing without hiding, and finding the courage to acknowledge the parts of ourselves we may have been taught to suppress.

About Jeff Dalton

Jeff Dalton is an author, poet, and speaker whose work focuses on helping believers develop a more honest, personal, and conversational relationship with Jesus.

His book, Expressions of the Heart: Poems and Devotionals, combines raw poetry with devotional reflections, exploring pain, faith, doubt, mental health, and the human experience of walking with Jesus.

Drawing from his own experiences with depression, bipolar disorder, rejection, church hurt, and spiritual questioning, Jeff encourages people to stop hiding their struggles and bring their authentic selves into their relationship with Jesus.

His message is simple: you don't have to pretend you're okay to come to Jesus.

Learn more and get Jeff's book;

https://a.co/d/08VZox7l

https://www.expressionoftheheart.com/my-blog

What happens when the life you've built no longer feels like the life you're meant to live?

In this episode of Tender Space, we sit down with Jazzmyn Lauff, host of When the Heart Calls, for a deeply honest conversation about identity, grief, transformation, consciousness, and learning to trust yourself again.

Jazzmyn shares how experiencing profound loss, depression, and a growing sense of disconnection eventually led her to question the life she had built around achievement, relationships, and external expectations.

We talk about what it means to listen when your heart is calling for change, the courage it takes to leave behind what no longer feels aligned, and how slowing down can help us reconnect with the wisdom already within us.

This is a conversation about becoming more present, trusting your inner voice, and finding the courage to live more authentically.

About Jazzmyn Lauff

Jazzmyn Lauff is the host of When the Heart Calls and creates spaces for curiosity, presence, authentic conversation, consciousness, and personal transformation.

After experiencing profound loss and recognizing that external success could not resolve her deeper sense of disconnection, Jazzmyn chose to step away from a successful career and relationships that no longer felt aligned.

Her work now focuses on creating thoughtful conversations that encourage people to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and trust their own inner wisdom.

Guest Links;

https://www.whentheheartcalls.com/

What happens when the biggest obstacle standing between you and the life you want is your own hesitation?

In this episode of Tender Space, we sit down with Dennis McCurdy, a financial advisor, entrepreneur, author, Air Force veteran, and personal development advocate who has spent decades learning how to turn setbacks into opportunities.

Dennis shares his experiences with failure, resilience, procrastination, motivation, and personal growth while exploring why we sometimes become our own biggest obstacles.

With his trademark humor and straightforward approach, Dennis offers practical insight into taking action, overcoming self-doubt, and creating meaningful change.

This is a conversation about getting unstuck, taking responsibility, and learning to move forward—even when life doesn't go according to plan.

About Dennis McCurdy

Dennis McCurdy is a financial advisor, entrepreneur, author, Air Force veteran, and experienced business owner whose life has been shaped by resilience, reinvention, and a determination to keep moving forward.

Dennis began working at the age of 12 and struggled academically before graduating high school. His early experiences taught him the importance of persistence and learning through real-world challenges.

After experiencing failure in real estate at 24, Dennis rebuilt his career and eventually achieved significant financial success. He has since launched ten businesses, owned millions of dollars in real estate, written four books, and developed personal-development workshops.

His book Suck It Up Cupcake: Stop Screwing Yourself and Get the Life You Want explores procrastination, setbacks, motivation, mental toughness, and the everyday ways people can prevent themselves from reaching their goals.

Through his work, Dennis combines humor, honesty, and practical advice to help people recognize what is holding them back and begin taking meaningful action.

You can find Dennis, his free resources, and more information about his work here:

DennisMcCurdy.com

What if growth doesn't require you to become someone completely different—but instead asks you to reconnect with the person you already are?

In this episode of Tender Space, I'm joined by Brigitta Dau, a life coach, Reiki Master, author, speaker, facilitator, and creative synergist.

We talk about finding purpose, creativity, self-worth, food and healing, Reiki, personal growth, and learning to trust the wisdom within us.

Brigitta also shares how her own experiences—including her creative career and journey through eating disorders—shaped the compassionate approach she brings to helping others.

From Landing on Your North Star to her work with creativity and energy, Brigitta offers a perspective on transformation that is both reflective and practical.

This is a conversation about choosing growth, releasing the need to constantly prove yourself, and creating something meaningful from the life you're already living.

About Brigitta Dau

Brigitta Dau is a life coach, Reiki Master, author, speaker, facilitator, and creative synergist who helps people reconnect with their inner wisdom, overcome personal blocks, and create lives infused with purpose and creativity.

She is the co-author of Landing on Your North Star: A Guide to Finding Your Life's Purpose and Crafting a Better Life: Creative Approaches to Personal Growth.

Brigitta's work brings together Reiki, coaching, creativity, personal expression, and lived experience. She also co-hosts the retreat series Crafting Your Magnetic Soul, where participants explore intuition, personal growth, and meaningful change through hands-on creativity.

Before becoming a coach and energy practitioner, Brigitta worked as an actress, including starring on a Canadian television series before relocating to Los Angeles at 21. Her experiences in the entertainment industry helped shape the resilience, emotional depth, and creative perspective she now brings to her work.

Her guiding philosophy is simple: Change is inevitable. Growth is a choice.

If Brigitta's work resonated with you and you'd like to explore her workshops, Reiki experiences, coaching, classes, or other offerings, you can visit

://www.brigittadau.com/in-person-workshops

You can also explore her books, including Landing on Your North Star: A Guide to Finding Your Life's Purpose.

What if emotional eating isn't a lack of willpower—but your nervous system trying to protect you?

In this episode of Tender Space, Confidence sits down with Galina Denzel to explore the hidden connection between trauma, emotional eating, and the nervous system. Together, they discuss self-compassion, body awareness, shame, and how healing begins when we stop fighting ourselves and start listening with kindness.

Whether you've struggled with emotional eating or simply want to build a healthier relationship with yourself, this conversation offers a hopeful and deeply compassionate perspective on what lasting healing can look like.

About the Guest

Galina Denzel is a somatic educator, author, and somatic practitioner specialising in helping women heal from emotional eating through trauma-informed nervous system work. After overcoming her own 25-year struggle with disordered eating, she founded Pure Belonging, where she helps women reconnect with their bodies and develop a peaceful, nourishing relationship with food. She is the author of Peace with Self, Peace with Food: A Trauma Healing Approach for Emotional Eating and combines lived experience with extensive training in Somatic Experiencing, NARM, and embodied recovery practices.

Guest Link: https:

//purebelonging.com/podcastgift

https://purebelonging.com/confidence

https://purebelonging.com/chapter

https://purebelonging.com/peace-with-food-transformation-group/