What if the hardest thing you’ve ever faced became the reason you kept going?

In this episode of The Life Shift, we explore a pivotal life shift and the before and after moments that shaped John Ulsh’s journey through trauma, recovery, and rebuilding a life with purpose.

After surviving a horrific car accident that left him with a three percent chance of survival, John Ulsh spent years relearning how to live, move, and believe in the life ahead of him. Across 45 surgeries and 17 years of recovery, he found that healing wasn’t about getting “back” to normal. It was about building something new — one intentional day at a time.

In this conversation, we talk about:

1. How John reframed pain into purpose and found strength in progress, not perfection
2. The role of patience, humility, and self-compassion in long-term recovery
3. Why falling in love with the process can matter more than the goal itself

John’s story reminds us that survival can be just the starting line — and that even the hardest chapters can fuel something good.

John Ulsh knows what it means to rebuild. In 2007, he, his wife, and their two young children were in a catastrophic head-on collision. While his family suffered serious injuries, John took the brunt of the impact and was given less than a three percent chance of survival. After enduring over 45 surgeries and years of relentless recovery, he discovered that true resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship — it’s about learning to rise from it. Now, as the author of The Upside of Down, a speaker, and a coach, John helps others overcome adversity and turn setbacks into success. Learn more at www.johnulsh.com.

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This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift.

Today I am talking about those quiet or sudden moments when everything in your life shifts. The ground moves. The story you thought you were living no longer fits. And you find yourself standing in a new version of your life without knowing how you got there.

In this reflection, I talk about the before and after moments we do not always see coming. The times when you feel stuck in fear, or pulled toward something new, or caught between the life you built and the life you want. Change rarely happens in one dramatic sweep. It shows up in small choices, in discomfort you can no longer ignore, in the quiet recognition that something has to give.

If you have felt that internal shake or noticed a line in the sand you cannot uncross, I hope this episode meets you gently. You do not have to understand the whole shift. You only have to name the moment and keep moving with curiosity. These turning points shape who we are becoming, one small step at a time.

What if your greatest teacher had four legs and an endless capacity for love?

When licensed therapist Brianna Laricchia lost her dog Molly, the grief cracked her heart wide open. It wasn’t just about losing a pet — it was about losing a constant, unconditional presence that had shaped who she was. In this conversation, Brianna shares how that loss transformed her both personally and professionally, leading her to specialize in grief counseling for others walking the same tender path.

You’ll hear:

If you’ve ever loved an animal like family, this episode will feel like a gentle hand on your shoulder.

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Brianna Laricchia is a licensed mental health counselor and the founder of Omnia Psychotherapy Group, a private practice based in New York. She specializes in grief counseling, focusing on pet loss and the emotional bonds we form with our animals. After losing her beloved dog, Molly, Brianna found her calling in helping others navigate the often-overlooked pain of pet loss. Through her work, she bridges professional expertise with deep empathy, creating safe spaces for healing and remembrance.

www.omniapsychotherapygroup.com

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me long after the conversations on The Life Shift.

Today I am talking about those disorienting moments when the life you have been living suddenly feels unfamiliar. The pieces stop fitting together. The story you have been telling yourself begins to crack. And you find yourself standing in the in between, unsure of what comes next.

In this reflection, I talk about confusion as part of the process, not a sign that something is wrong. Change is rarely neat or straightforward. It often begins in the fog, in the exhaustion, in the quiet moments when you realize you cannot keep pretending everything is fine. Sometimes clarity arrives only after the breaking open. Sometimes it comes through rest, or release, or the small permission to stop holding everything together.

If you are in a season where nothing feels clear, I hope this episode gives you a softer place to stand. You do not need a full map. You do not need to rush the unfolding. It is enough to notice what is shifting inside you and trust that clarity often grows from confusion, one moment at a time.

If you have ever been curious about what actually happens behind the scenes of a meaningful conversation, this livestream is an open door. Not polished. Not rehearsed. Just two hosts sitting together in real time, talking honestly about why we keep doing this work and how it keeps changing us.

This special co-hosted livestream on Riverside brought me together with Angela Hollowell to reflect on podcasting, storytelling, and the quiet evolution that happens when you keep showing up. We talked about how our shows began, how different our approaches are, and how both are rooted in care and intention. We explored the learning curve of hosting, creating safety without scripting everything, and letting conversations breathe. Somewhere in the middle of it all, I said something out loud that surprised even me. That podcasting has softened me. That it has made me more forgiving of myself. And that it might be the best thing I have ever done for me.

This conversation is less about tactics and more about trust. About curiosity. About giving yourself permission to do it your own way. If you joined us live, thank you for being part of that moment. If you are listening now, I hope this reminds you that there is more than one right way to tell a story and you do not have to do it perfectly for it to matter.

What You’ll Hear

Co-Host Bio

Angela Hollowell is the creator of the Please Hustle Responsibly newsletter and the host of the Honey and Hustle podcast. Through both, she highlights North Carolina founders, creators, and nonprofit leaders with care, specificity, and deep respect for the full human story. Her work centers on thoughtful storytelling, community, and creating access to conversations that help people feel less alone in their work and lives.

Please Hustle Responsibly: https://www.pleasehustleresponsibly.com/

Honey and Hustle Podcast: https://www.honeyandhustle.co/

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What if the lowest point in your life was actually your turning point?

Dr. Robb Kelly knows what it means to lose everything, family, home, and even the will to live, and still find a way forward. From playing music at Abbey Road to living on the streets of Manchester, Robb’s story is a raw reminder of what happens when pain becomes purpose. Through science, faith, and relentless honesty, he rebuilt his life and devoted it to helping others recover from addiction and reclaim their worth.

In this conversation, we talk about:

This episode is a powerful reflection on redemption, resilience, and the small moments that can change everything.

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Dr. Robb Kelly, PhD, is a sought-after recovery expert who believes in treating the causes of addiction and not the symptoms. Dr. Kelly has appeared on shows such as The Doctors, Eye Opener, Good Morning Texas, and KENS 5 Morning News. A frequent contributor to radio and print interviews, including The Jim Bohannon show, Miracles in Recovery, USA Today, and participated in McLean Hospital’s (Harvard Medical School) study on the stigma associated with mental illness. Dr. Kelly hosted the Sober Celebs show on KLIF radio in Dallas, and currently hosts the Breaking Through Addiction podcast featuring special guests discussing a variety of mental health issues.

Dr. Kelly created Let’s Get Back to 98% Recovery DVDs, used in prisons and recovery treatment centers throughout the US. He has lectured on addiction and trauma at high-profile universities, national conferences, treatment facilities, public schools, churches, business organizations, and hospitals. Dr Kelly is currently the CEO of the Robb Kelly Recovery Group, an addiction and mental illness recovery coaching company he founded based on extensive research and behavioural studies he conducted over the past 20 years. Dr. Kelly shares his personal highs and lows as he struggled and overcame crippling alcoholism in the November 2019 release of the book “Daddy, Daddy Please Stop Drinking”.

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series shaped by the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift.

Today I am talking about how hard we can be on ourselves and what it means to slowly learn gentleness. So many of us move through life with old shame, perfectionism, or fear tucked inside. We push ourselves to be better, to get everything right, or to carry more than we were ever meant to hold.

In this reflection, I talk about the critical voice we learn as kids, the pressure to be perfect, and the way self-compassion feels like a muscle we have to practice again and again. Healing is not a straight line. Some days you feel softer. Some days you slip back into old patterns. The important part is noticing the shift and remembering that you deserve the same care you give to everyone else.

If you have been carrying shame, harshness, or impossible expectations, I hope this episode helps you take one gentler breath. You do not have to earn kindness. You are allowed to give it to yourself, right here, exactly as you are.

What happens when the spotlight fades and you’re left with silence?

Seth Stewart spent years performing on the world’s biggest stages — from Hamilton and In the Heights to touring with Madonna. But at the height of success, something inside him started calling for more. That quiet pull led him away from bright lights and applause, and into the wilderness where he began listening to his own spirit for the first time.

In this conversation, Seth opens up about what it takes to walk away from a dream, why stillness can be louder than any stage, and how rediscovering our connection to nature can help us find our way back to ourselves.

You’ll hear about:

If you’ve ever felt called to change direction, this episode is a reminder that there’s life beyond what others expect — and that following your vision is a form of truth.

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From the stages of Broadway to the depths of the jungle, Seth Stewart is a bridge between worlds. As a performer and creator, he’s played major roles in the Tony Award-winning productions of In the Heights and Hamilton, and performed with artists like Madonna, Jay-Z, and Jennifer Lopez.

After leaving the entertainment industry, Seth followed a deep spiritual calling that led him into the forest — a journey that reshaped his entire sense of purpose. He spent years immersed in nature, ceremony, and self-inquiry, learning from shamans and ancient wisdom keepers.

Today, Seth guides others toward clarity, embodiment, and unity through True Kings Academy, a transformative space for men’s wellness and leadership. He also mentors young performers through Performer’s Edge, combining artistry and mindfulness. His upcoming memoir, Follow Your Vision. Live Your Truth., released August 8, 2025. https://www.iamsethstewart.com/

This episode is part of The Things We Carry, a solo series built around the themes that stay with me after the conversations on The Life Shift.

Today, I am talking about grief and the way it takes shape inside a life. Grief is not something you finish. It is something living and moving, something that changes as you change. Losing my mom, my grandmother, and Mikey shaped the way I understand grief long before I ever sat with a guest and heard their story.

In this reflection, I talk about how grief shifts from sharp to distant, how it can still surprise you years later, and how it never follows a straight line. Grief is not linear or predictable. It moves like waves, shadows, seasons. Sometimes it takes up the whole room. Sometimes it sits quietly in the corner. It is still a part of you either way.

If you are carrying a loss, I hope this episode gives you a softer place to land. You do not need to rush your way through it or pretend you are fine. Grief is not a problem to fix. It is part of who you are and part of being human. You are allowed to feel it, honor it, and keep moving with one small step at a time.

Sometimes grief arrives before we are old enough to understand it. It lands in the middle of everything familiar and quietly rewrites the map of who we become. Years can pass before we realize how much of ourselves is still standing in that same frozen place.

In this conversation, Kristina Amelong shares what it means to finally face what she could not name as a teenager. After losing her younger brother in a sudden accident, she spent decades searching for ways to numb the ache. What began as survival slowly became a lifelong practice of returning to herself — through healing, sobriety, and the simple act of telling the truth.

This is a story about finding connection after silence. About discovering that grief can open doors as easily as it closes them. And about the power of one question to bring the past back into the light.

What You’ll Hear:

Kristina Amelong is the author of Ten Days to Optimal Health: A Guide to Nutritional Therapy and Colon Cleansing and the newly released memoir What My Brother Knew (She Writes Press, May 27). She is the founder and owner of Optimal Health Network, a holistic health business, and serves as a senior board member for the Center for World Philosophy and Religion, a nonprofit dedicated to reweaving the human story through spirituality and global healing. Kristina has a passion for photography, gardening, and pickleball, and she lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her three dogs and a brood of chickens.

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