What happens when the story you've believed for 35 years turns out to be incomplete?

When Lisa Sugarman was ten, she was told her father died of a heart attack. But decades later, one unexpected question revealed a long-held secret that shifted everything. In this open and emotionally honest conversation, Lisa and I explore what it means to grieve someone twice, how silence can shape our stories, and the power of finally speaking the truth out loud.

You’ll hear how she:

• Moved through deep grief and anger after learning her father died by suicide
• Found clarity by reframing her beliefs about mental illness
• Channeled her story into service and created a safe space for others to heal

→ If you connected with this story, please share it with someone who might need to hear it.

Lisa Sugarman is an author, a nationally syndicated columnist, a 3x survivor of suicide loss, and a mental health advocate. She serves as a storyteller with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project, and the founder of The HelpHUB, a free and inclusive online platform offering mental health resources, tools, and crisis support. Lisa is the cohost of The Survivors Podcast, a facilitator for Safe Place support groups at Samaritans Southcoast in Boston, and a contributor to the Mental Health Television Network (MHTN). Her writing has appeared in outlets such as Healthline Parenthood, Psychology Today, Thrive Global, The Washington Post, and TODAY Parents. She is also the author of How To Raise Perfectly Imperfect Kids And Be Ok With It, Untying Parent Anxiety, and LIFE: It Is What It Is.

Lisa lives and writes just north of Boston. You can connect with her at TheHelpHUB.co.

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What do you do when the life you dreamed of looks nothing like the one you’re living?

Jenny always knew she wanted to be a mom. But when her first child, Sarah, was born with special needs, the parenting story she had imagined began to unravel. For years, she carried invisible bricks of guilt, believing she had to fix what wasn’t broken. Everything shifted the day she gave herself permission to just love her daughter exactly as she was.

• Letting go of the guilt and shame that clouded early motherhood
• Finding hope and community in the Son-Rise Program
• Discovering that love, not perfection, was the connection her daughter needed

In this conversation, Jenny shares what happens when we stop chasing a picture-perfect life and start honoring what is. It’s about love, resilience, and learning to see the spark that’s always been there.

Jennifer Celeste Briggs is a writer, mother, and advocate for emotionally connected parenting. She has a BA in English Literature from Swarthmore College and lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two daughters. Her daughter Sarah has a genetic anomaly and autism, which led Jenny to create and lead a home-based Son-Rise Program called Sarah-Rise. After training at the Autism Treatment Center of America, she coordinated hundreds of hours of therapeutic play with the help of volunteers. Her blog, Watching Sarah Rise, has become a source of comfort and inspiration to others navigating life’s unexpected paths. Jenny’s mission is to help parents feel seen and to spread the word about the power of presence, joy, and connection.

Connect with Jenny

Website: www.watchingsarahrise.com

Facebook: facebook.com/jenniferbriggsauthor

Instagram: @jennifercelestebriggsauthor

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What if burnout wasn't the end—but the beginning of your most authentic life?

After ten years in the classroom, Ryan Hennessey realized he was running on fumes. A powerful moment at a heart-led business retreat cracked something open in him and gave him the clarity he’d been chasing. He didn’t just walk away from teaching—he walked toward a life built on freedom, integrity, and impact.

• The exact moment Ryan knew it was time to leave the classroom
• How he navigated grief, guilt, and identity loss in choosing himself
• What abundance looks like when you finally stop people-pleasing and start living aligned

This one’s for anyone standing at the edge of change, wondering if they’re allowed to want more.

Ryan Hennessey is a former beloved science teacher who walked away from the classroom after a decade to pursue a life aligned with purpose, freedom, and impact. After a powerful realization at a heart-led business retreat, Ryan made the courageous decision to leave a career that once defined him to create a life that truly fulfilled him. Now, he hosts adventure-based wellness retreats, coaches others through major life transitions, and helps people reconnect with what sets their soul on fire. His story is one of integrity, reinvention, and what it really means to take back your power.

Connect with Ryan:

Instagram: @IamRyanHennessey

Substack: substack.com/@iamryanhennessey

Website: www.Ryan-Hennessey.com

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What do you do when your life changes in an instant?

When Donna Kendrick lost her husband to suicide, she was left standing at a painful crossroads – three young kids, a new house, and a future she could no longer picture. But by the light of a backyard bonfire, she made a vow: this would not be the end of her story.

In this honest and deeply human conversation, Donna shares how she navigated grief, rebuilt her life, and created a purpose-filled path for her family. Through heartbreak, she discovered strength she didn’t know she had – and now, she’s helping others do the same.

You’ll hear how she:

• Told her children the truth with compassion and created space for real grief
• Rebuilt a career that now helps widows and families through financial transition
• Found love again and blended two families into one sarcastic, supportive household

Listen to Donna’s full story and the moment she chose to keep going – with grit, purpose, and heart.

Donna Kendrick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and founder of Sephton Financial. After losing her first husband suddenly in 2013, Donna navigated widowhood with three young children, inspiring her to support families in transition through financial planning. She is the host of the Wisdom and Wealth Podcast and author of A Guide to Widowhood and A Guide for Blended Families. Donna is also an avid long-distance runner who, through her running group, raises funds for causes such as Safe Harbor, a grief counseling program for children. She lives in Jenkintown, PA, with her husband Jim and their six children.

✨ Don’t leave your loved ones without answers. Get instant access to a complimentary personal document locator and on-demand webinar at sephtonfinancial.com/webinar

Resources

To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to The Life Shift on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

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Can one quiet moment change everything you thought your future would be?

When Mikelann Valterra sat across from her husband at their favorite sushi spot, she didn’t plan to end her marriage with a handshake. But that one act, quiet and deeply human, cracked open the life she had built and forced her to rebuild it from scratch. At 40, with her son by her side, she moved into her childhood bedroom and began the long, messy, and ultimately beautiful work of becoming herself again.

For anyone who has felt like their future disappeared in a single moment, this conversation offers hope, healing, and a reminder that starting over is never the end.

Three powerful takeaways from Mikelann’s story:

• Starting over is possible, even when everything feels lost
• Creativity can become a lifeline in healing
• Money stories carry power, and you can learn to rewrite yours

Listen to the episode to hear how Mikelann turned heartbreak into a whole new rhythm.

www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Mikelann Valterra, MA, AFC, is a money coach, financial recovery expert, author, and Argentine tango dancer who helps women in midlife reclaim their lives after divorce. After a painful split left her with $7,000 in debt and no financial foundation, Mikelann confronted her childhood money story and rebuilt from the ground up, moving into her high school bedroom at 40 and slowly rebuilding her life and her confidence. For over 25 years, she’s been a respected voice in financial psychology, offering practical tools to reduce money anxiety and transform earning, saving, and spending habits. Her latest book, Rise Above the Money Fog, is available now.

Connect with Mikelann:

Website: seattlemoneycoach.com

Medium: Read her story

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikelannvalterra

Instagram: @seattlemoneycoach

More from The Life Shift Podcast:

To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to The Life Shift on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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What do you do when the dream you’ve chased your entire life suddenly stops feeling right?

By the age of 17, Miron Pingasov had raced at 150 mph, broken bones, lost a close friend on the track, and watched his childhood passion for racing turn into something more political than purposeful. Faced with the weight of expectation and the pull of something deeper, Miron made a decision most wouldn’t at his age – he walked away.

In this episode, Miron opens up about the grief, clarity, and courage it took to choose a new path. His story is a reminder that we’re allowed to outgrow our dreams and that starting over doesn’t mean failure. It can actually be the beginning of real freedom.

Three things you’ll take away from Miron’s story:

• How letting go of a lifelong dream can make space for something more meaningful
• Why early failure is actually a gift that accelerates growth
• The power of being a sponge – and listening when others share wisdom

About Miron Pingasov

Miron Pingasov has raced open-wheel cars at 150 mph, flown solo at 10,000 feet, and co-founded businesses in real estate, clothing, and media – all before turning 18. Now a student at Syracuse University pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering, he’s also the co-founder of PT Development in Florida and works alongside his former racing sponsor on litigation funding initiatives in the UK.

Miron believes that the earlier we fail, the sooner we learn – and the sooner we learn, the sooner we succeed. Whether behind the wheel, in a boardroom, or on campus, he brings speed, structure, and a deep curiosity for growth. He’s especially passionate about helping younger individuals trust themselves, take risks, and find meaning on their own terms.

Learn more at www.ptdevelopmentfl.com or follow him (when he’s not on a social break) on Instagram @mironpingasov.

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This is episode 9 of my other podcast: It’s Okay If… Permission Slips for Mental Health, Self-Acceptance, and Growth

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Doing nothing can feel uncomfortable, especially when you care deeply about your work, your goals, or the people you're showing up for. But sometimes, pushing through becomes too much.

This short reflection is a reminder that rest isn’t laziness.

Taking a break isn’t a failure.

Pausing doesn’t mean you’ve given up – it means you’re listening to what you need.

If you’re feeling the weight of burnout, this is your permission slip to stop producing for a moment, to let things breathe, and to remember that stillness is its own kind of strength.

Subscribe to It's Okay If... https://its-okay-if.captivate.fm/

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What if we treated everyone like they were stage four of something?

We’re all carrying something we can’t always see. In this episode, I talk with author and storyteller Adam Erwin about what happens when we slow down and choose to lean in, to really see people instead of scanning past them. Adam shares the life-altering moment on a post-9/11 flight that changed how he moves through the world and ultimately led him to launch a multi-year project: interviewing strangers on airplanes and capturing their stories in his book Lessons from Coach.

For anyone feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure how to make a difference, Adam’s story is a reminder that presence is power. By leaning into the moment, we don’t just change someone else’s day.

We change ourselves, too.

Takeaways from Adam’s life shift:

🎧 Listen now at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/189

Guest Bio:

Adam Erwin is a speaker and author of three books. His latest book, Lessons From Coach: Restoring Empathy, Curiosity, and Being Present One Flight At a Time, captures the lessons he learned from passengers that he interviewed on plane flights... in coach. Adam is a father of two daughters, a fitness and health enthusiast, and is on a mission to challenge others to see more value in the person next to you. Learn more about Adam, his books, and his work at authoradamerwin.com.

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

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Jealousy can feel uncomfortable – even shameful. But it's also human. You might feel it when someone else gets the opportunity you’ve been dreaming of, or when their joy highlights something you still deeply want.

This short reflection offers a compassionate reminder: jealousy doesn’t make you bad or ungrateful.

It often points to a dream or desire within you that still matters.

Instead of pushing the feeling away or layering it with guilt, this episode invites you to notice it, name it, and let it move through without judgment.

You're allowed to feel jealous and still be kind to yourself.

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What do you do when your partner says, “I have tumors in my lungs and spine”?

We don’t get instructions for that kind of moment. And we definitely don’t get told what it means to carry someone you love through the hardest, slowest, most beautiful goodbye. In this episode, I talk with Tony Stewart—writer, partner, caregiver—about what shifted the day his wife, Lynn, was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and what he learned as they walked through the next six years together.

This conversation isn’t just about loss.

It’s about presence.

And what happens when you let yourself feel every bit of it.

🎧 Listen to this episode now to hear how love and grief reshaped one man’s understanding of what it means to live.

Tony Stewart is the author of *Carrying the Tiger: Living with Cancer, Dying with Grace, Finding Joy While Grieving*, a memoir chronicling the six years he spent walking alongside his wife through her terminal illness. Originally written as journal entries to keep friends and family updated, the story became a powerful testament to love, presence, and emotional truth. Tony now shares his journey to help others feel less alone in their own grief and caregiving experiences. Learn more at tonystewartauthor.com.

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/

The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

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