The DaliTalks Podcast

What if your kid's business idea wasn't something to manage down but something to build up?

Leah Ellis, mom of four and founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, joins Dali to talk about how she's teaching kids as young as six to start and run real businesses, and why that changes everything.

From her daughter launching a custom art business at four years old during COVID to hosting children's business fairs where kids barter, refer customers, and build their own little economy, Leah shares how entrepreneurship becomes the classroom for confidence, resilience, and financial literacy.

They also get into the Sochi Circle, her new online membership launching for parents, educators, and homeschool communities, and what she tells parents when their kid's business hits a rough day.

Find the Society of Child Entrepreneurs at socieict.org Instagram: @sochiict | Facebook: Society of Child Entrepreneurs

Is the U.S. healthcare system broken from the inside out? I went to a screening of Suck It Up Buttercup with retired pediatrician and healthcare advocate Erin Hurley, and what I learned will stay with me for a long time.In this episode, I share what the film revealed about the pressure, bullying, and systemic greed that doctors face every day, and the alarming suicide rate among medical professionals that nobody seems to be talking about.This is not just a healthcare worker issue. This affects every single one of us as patients, as families, and as a society.Watch the trailer, share the film, and if you feel moved to take action, reach out to your legislators. I have a free handbook with scripts to help you do exactly that. Link below.In this episode:✔️Why I went to see Suck It Up Buttercup and what surprised me most✔️The hidden crisis of physician burnout and suicide✔️How insurance companies and big pharma are blocking good care✔️Why healthcare must be treated as a human right✔️How to reach out to legislators and make your voice heardResources mentioned:Suck It Up Buttercup documentary: https://siubfilm.com/Dali's Legislator Outreach Handbook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o-1AUH6gPJ3QO9hkZi3A1Vi3PA6DmRyT/view?usp=sharing Erin Hurley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhurleymd/ Connect with Dali:https://www.DaliTalks.com/LinkTree#healthcarereforms #SuckItUpButtercup #physicianwellness Please like, share, subscribe to this channel, and comment below. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

What if the biggest thing holding you back from visibility is the belief that you're not ready?

In this episode, I sit down with Deborah Drummond, entrepreneur maven, founder of Mission Accepted Media, and the visionary behind the 262 Movement. With 30+ years in business, Deborah has helped 1,000+ women and men share their stories on stages and in publications across the world.

Deborah shares the wild, beautiful, winding road that took her from the music industry to holistic health to building seven international companies and eventually creating a thriving media empire that includes the Women's Channel, anthologies, summits, and TV production.

We talk about what it really means to get your story out into the world, who's ready for media (hint: probably you), and the one mindset shift that changes everything for entrepreneurs who want longevity.

In this episode we cover:

• How a gluten-free muffin and a pink flyer changed the entire trajectory of Deborah's life

• The moment she woke up and knew she needed to build a media company

• What a media gatekeeper looks for in a story worth putting on stage

• Why the "earn your wings" mentality is costing you time and opportunity

• The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when trying to get visible

• Why TV might actually save you time on social media (yes, really)

• How Deborah helps women go from terrified first-time speakers to owning their own TV shows

• What the 262 anthology is and how to get involved

• Why your story is probably more ready than you think

Connect with Deborah: https://debdrummond.com

LI – https://www.linkedin.com/in/DebDrummond/FB – https://www.facebook.com/deborahldrummond/IG – @deborahldrummond; @debdrummond_official; @missionaccepted_mediaYouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsnh0BsWjHS1aba4cItw4rw

These women changed the world. Nobody told you about them.

In this Women's History Month special, Dali Rivera takes you on a personal journey from her childhood dreams of becoming everything from a pilot to an architect, through 10 years of military service as a mechanic and drill sergeant, all the way to her calling as a bullying prevention educator. 

Along the way, she spotlights the women from her 2017 book "Embracing Differences: 21st Century Women Debunking Stereotypes" and the trailblazers who deserve a seat at every dinner table conversation this March.

You will learn about:

Olga Custodio, the first Latina to complete U.S. Air Force military pilot training and the first Latina captain of a commercial airliner at American Airlines.

Simone Manuel, the first Black American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Peggy Whitson, a biochemistry researcher who applied to become a NASA astronaut for 10 years before becoming the first woman to command the International Space Station.

Misty Copeland, the first African American female principal dancer with a major American ballet company.

Isabella Springmuhl Tejeda, a Guatemalan fashion designer with Down 

Syndrome who became a prominent figure in the global fashion industry at just 19 years old.

Aja Brown, the youngest and first female mayor of Compton, California, elected at 31 after defeating 12 candidates.

Shayla Rivera, an aerospace engineer and former NASA rocket scientist turned keynote speaker, author, comedian, and TV host.

Graciela Tiscareno-Sato, a Mexican American Air Force veteran, KC-135 aviator, award-winning entrepreneur, and author of the Goodnight Captain Mama book series.

Stella Prezeres, a researcher who successfully grew passion fruit in desert conditions through a USDA experiment in Riverside, California.

Erin Schrode, the youngest woman to run for Congress at 25, and co-founder of the nonprofit Turning Green.

And Dali herself, a Nicaraguan-born Army mechanic turned bullying prevention educator, who found her voice through women and gender studies and never stopped using it.

This episode is for every parent raising kids who need to know that women have always been builders, leaders, inventors, and pioneers. Share it with them.

Connect with DaliTalks: 

Website: https://www.DaliTalks.com

Subscribe for weekly episodes on conscious parenting, family leadership, and raising empowered kids.

Fear is running your divorce. And it's costing you more than you think.In this episode, Dali sits down with Liz Goll Lerner, psychotherapist, life coach, author, and divorce wellness expert, to have the real conversation about what it looks like to separate with dignity, intention, and care for your kids. Liz draws from decades of clinical work AND her own personal divorce journey to share exactly what most people get wrong, and what actually works.This is not about promoting divorce. It is about doing it right, if and when it's the path forward for your family.What you'll hear in this episode:✔️Why fear is the number one thing blocking a peaceful divorce, and the simple antidote ✔️How to tell family and friends about your separation without losing control of the narrative What to say to your kids (and what to absolutely avoid) Why "strategy" is not a dirty word when it comes to divorce ✔️The three types of divorce processes, including one most people have never heard of (collaborative divorce) ✔️Why your marriage ending is not a failure✔️Liz also walks through her book, Divorce Well and Thrive: How to Be Your Best Self Under the Worst Circumstances, chapter by chapter, so you know exactly what's inside before you grab your copy.If you are in the middle of a separation, thinking about one, or supporting someone who is, this episode is for you.About Liz Goll Lerner:Liz Goll Lerner is a licensed psychotherapist, certified life coach, author, and artist. Her book Divorce Well and Thrive: How to Be Your Best Self Under the Worst Circumstances is available on Amazon. She offers courses and one-on-one coaching at YourInspiredChoices.com.Social: @LizGollLerner on Instagram | Your Inspired Choices on FacebookFor more information about Dali or DaliTalksvisit us at https://www.dalitalks.com/LinkTreePlease like, share, subscribe to this channel, and comment below. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!#divorce #divorcesupport #familysupport

She was a military spouse, a journalist, a grad student, and nearly divorced.

Brittany Anderson turned her family's breaking point into a movement.

Brittany is the founder of Renala Families and author of Living Room Leadership.

In this episode she sits with Dali to unpack how military families can stop surviving and start leading, why she ditched traditional therapy for coaching, and how building things with your hands (yes, Legos) can unlock deeper family connection than years of talk therapy ever did.

You will hear about the Be-Do-Have Blueprint her family lives by, the Family Score Assessment you can take for free today, and the real reason so many well-meaning parents are quietly eroding their authority at home without knowing it.

This is a must-listen for parents, military families, and anyone who wants to lead better at work by leading better at home first.

Key Topics Covered

• Why military marriages are harder than most people realize

• When coaching works better than therapy and why

• LEGO Serious Play: what it is, how it works, and why it activates more brain function than talking

• How guardedness in parents quietly affects their children

• Building a family vision, purpose, and values that actually stick

• Strengths-based parenting and the seeds, needs, and weeds framework

• The Family Score Assessment and where to start when everything feels like chaos

Guest Bio

Brittany Anderson is the founder of Renala Families, a family coaching and retreat organization based in Orlando, Florida. A former journalist and corporate leader turned certified coach, Brittany built Renala out of her own family's near-collapse in 2019 when her husband was flying Air Force One and their marriage was quietly unraveling. She is certified in LEGO Serious Play, CliftonStrengths, and experiential narrative practice.

Her book Living Room Leadership outlines the 9-part Be-Do-Have Blueprint she uses with families around the world. Brittany serves military families, couples, and parents who want to build a stronger family culture that spills over into powerful leadership at work.

Connect with Brittany

https://www.leadwithfamily.com

https://livingroomleadershipbook.com

Social: @RenalaFamilies on Instagram and LinkedIn

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Paying Yourself First Emotionally | A Conversation with Janice Claire DaCosta

In this episode of DaliTalks, I sit down with author, mind-shift advocate, and TEDxMallardCreek founder Janice Claire DaCosta for a powerful conversation about emotional wealth and why it may be the most overlooked driver of sustainable leadership and personal effectiveness.

We explore what it really means to pour back into yourself, why high performers are often the most emotionally depleted, and how to start building emotional wealth even when life feels overwhelming.

Whether you are a leader, a parent, an educator, or a professional who has been giving more than you have been receiving, this one is for you.

IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER:

What emotional wealth really means and why it matters, how high performance can mask emotional depletion, the difference between emotional intelligence and emotional wealth, what The Mind-Shift Experience is and how it connects to the book, practical steps to start building your emotional wealth today, how to recognize when your emotional reserves are overdrawn, and who this book was written for and what Janice wants readers to walk away feeling.

ABOUT JANICE CLAIRE DaCOSTA

Janice Claire DaCosta is an author, speaker, and The Mind-Shift Advocate™ dedicated to helping individuals and leaders transform adversity into clarity and purpose. She is the founder and curator of TEDxMallardCreek and the creator of The Mind-Shift Experience. Her debut book, Pay Yourself First: The Blueprint to Emotional Wealth, released March 2nd, 2025, offers a powerful framework for building emotional resilience from the inside out. Janice believes that the moments that break you are the very ones that remake you.

📖 Get the book: www.payyourselffirst.pro

🌐 Website: https://iamjaniceclaire.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicedacosta

CONNECT WITH DALITALKS

🌐 Website: https://www.DaliTalks.com/LinkTree

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. That is how we create change together.

Thinking about joining the military?

In this episode, I, Dali Rivera, share my unfiltered 10-year military career journey - from enlisting as a mechanic to becoming a drill sergeant and staff sergeant. I break down everything you need to know about military service, including the ASVAB test, MEPS process, enlisted vs. officer paths, ROTC, military academies, and the real challenges of reclassifying your job.

I also discuss the hard truths: harassment in the military, toxic barracks culture, mental health struggles, promotion obstacles, and the challenges of attending college while serving. But it's not all negative - I share the incredible leadership opportunities, benefits, and life-changing experiences that made it worth it.

Topics covered:

✅ ASVAB test tips and how it determines your military job

✅ MEPS physical examination process (including uncomfortable experiences for women)

✅ Enlisted vs. Officer vs. Warrant Officer career paths

✅ ROTC programs and military academy options

✅ How to reclassify your military job (and why it's harder than recruiters say)

✅ Military promotion system and GT scores

✅ Harassment, mental health, and toxic military culture

✅ Benefits: free education, TSP/401k, healthcare, housing

✅ My experience as a mechanic and drill sergeant

✅ Why you should shadow active-duty members before enlisting

If you enjoyed this episode, leave a comment or review.

Don't forget to subscribe and share the episode with one more person.

For more information about Dali, visit https://www.DaliTalks.com

What happens to the grief of the people on the edges of a family’s loss?

In this episode, Dali, host of the DaliTalks Podcast sits down with Trish Springsteen - Australia’s leading expert in empowering introverts, multi-international award-winning mentor, inspirational speaker, and international bestselling author - for a conversation about grief, resilience, and the family members who are often forgotten in the aftermath of tragedy.

Trish has spent decades empowering startups, small businesses, and solopreneurs to build visibility and confidence. She has contributed to 22 books and been featured in Corporate Escapists, Mo2vate, and Disruptive Author Magazines. She is a celebrated force in the world of personal empowerment.

And she has walked through one of the hardest things a parent can face. Trish’s son transitioned due to suicide. In this honest and compassionate conversation, Trish opens up about the grief that rippled through her entire family - and the people on the edges of that loss, including grandparents and extended family members, who grieved deeply but were often overlooked.

This episode covers what it means to hold space for an entire family’s grief, how to show up for the people who loved from the outside of the immediate circle, and how Trish has continued to show up for others even while healing herself.

Whether you have experienced loss, supported a grieving family, or simply want to understand grief more deeply - this conversation is for you.

📚 Connect with Trish Springsteen:

www.trishspringsteen.comhttps://www.facebook.com/trishspringsteenauthorhttps://www.facebook.com/Trischelhttps://www.facebook.com/trishspringsteenspeakinghttps://www.instagram.com/trishspringsteen/https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishspringsteen/https://bit.ly/TrishTalks

🌐 Learn more about DaliTalks: https://www.DaliTalks.com/LinkedIn

☎️ If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US). In Australia, call 11 13 14 or text 0477 13 11 14

What unconscious beliefs are shaping your parenting without you realizing it?

In this episode of The DaliTalks Podcast, Dali explores how subconscious biases form early in childhood and how everyday experiences shape children’s beliefs about gender, identity, and belonging.

Through simple but powerful examples, including a well-known bias exercise and reflections on toys, colors, and social expectations, this episode breaks down why discomfort with difference often leads to bullying, discrimination, and silence. Dali also explains why early conversations matter so much, especially since children form core beliefs by ages 7 to 8.

This episode is for parents, educators, and caregivers who want to raise kids who think critically, treat others with respect, and feel safe being themselves.

If you have ever wondered what messages your child is absorbing from the world around them, this conversation is for you.

• What unconscious and subconscious bias really is

• How gender stereotypes are reinforced through everyday objects

• Why children form fixed beliefs earlier than most parents realize

• How social norms contribute to bullying and bystander behavior

• The role of media, music, and online content in shaping values

• The difference between facts, opinions, and respectful disagreement

• Why being a good human is about values, not conformity

As you listen, ask yourself:What beliefs did I grow up with that I have never questioned, and which ones might I be passing on without realizing it?

If this episode resonated with you, follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with at least one other parent or educator.

These conversations matter.

As you listen, ask yourself:

What beliefs did I grow up with that I have never questioned, and which ones might I be passing on without realizing it?

Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you, follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share this episode with at least one other parent or educator.

These conversations matter.

Call to Action

If this video helped you reflect or rethink something, please:

• Like and subscribe

• Share with at least one other parent or educator

• Leave a comment or review

These conversations are how we raise safer, kinder communities.

Learn More About Dali:

https://www.DaliTalks.com/LinkTree