Welcome to Season 2 Episode 7 of That Really Happened. Today we are talking with my friend Kimberly Bressler. We launched this episode on March 12, 2021 in honor of her mother who lost her life two years ago. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, do not hesitate to reach out for support. It doesn't mean you are failing. It doesn't mean you're not strong. There are many resources to help you navigate difficult emotions and you can find important numbers here at opencounseling.com/hotlines ..... National Suicide Hotline 800-273-8255

Today we hear from special guest, Sam Volrie Jr who of Foralina.com after the tragic passing of his love, Maria Corona. Follow along with his journey on the website or Instagram @styleandmoves. For statistics about maternal morbidity rates in the United States, you can search CDC.gov. For resources regarding maternal health. you can follow @4kira4moms #momnibus @abide_women and @wearerobyn

Scott Smith is a creative evangelist, spoken word artist, and champion of others. He founded Ripe Creatives 501(c)3 in 2019. Learn how his non-profit thrived in 2020 and how he’s paving a new way for Christian creatives in Philadelphia. Learn more at ripecreatives.com or Instagram @ripecreatives @scott7smith

I got to have someone I admire AND get to call my friend on for the last episode of 2020. Join this conversation with Larissa Murphy, co-author of Eight Twenty Eight: When Love Didn't Give Up.  We get into the harsh reality of putting your story in print and what she and Ian are up to now.

Today our special guest is Tawnee Leonardo. I met Tawnee about 7 years ago in college and it's been so fun to see her walk out her dreams on social media during the past couple years. If you're a fan of American Ninja Warrior, you may recognize her from Season 9 and 10. Today we get to talk about some of her ninja experience, but also hear about a surprise that changed her life after her run on Season 11.

Today’s episode is with special guest Janice Dietrich. She shares with us her mental health journey and what it was like to reach out for help. I love her honesty and insight into what that season was really like. If you want to follow along with her journey, head over to Instagram @potentionaltothrive.

* Trigger warning. That Really Happened podcast covers personal stories that may bring up strong emotions.*

In this episode, we hear from my Pastor, the lovely Kim Masengale. She is the founder of the annual She Is Conference in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Her mission is to see women know God and be rooted and grounded in who they are in Him.  I brought her on to talk about shame. It's something we've all felt, but do we recognize it for what it is? I believe shame creates HUGE barriers to connection. Thank you, Kim, for talking with us and being gracious to share some of your own story.

You can learn more about her ministry at sheisconference.org. There you will find conference details, merch, and ways to get connected. Kim is also the co-host of the She Is Community podcast that you can find anywhere you enjoy listening.

Join us as we hear from Bob Santos, the author of The Search for Rest. He shares with us his journey and some practical tips about the writing process. Thank you, Bob for being so generous to share with us. You can read more from him at sfme.org

December 4th marks the start of Season 2 which means more stories. It’s my desire to give you an opportunity to flex your empathy muscle through listening. Learn more about the vision behind That Really Happened with your host Emily Versace. Follow the journey on Instagram @thatreallyhappenedpodcast

It’s been 6 years of hard work, but the Versaces are going strong and the best is yet to come. Listen to your host, Emily, and her husband, Dominic, process how they’ve made it this far and why differences aren’t dealbreakers.