The Life We're Given: Stories of Resilience Through Life's Challenges

In this inspiring episode of The Life We’re Given podcast, host Brandi Lewis sits down with Shayla Webb, an attorney turned entrepreneur, to share her powerful story of resilience after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Shayla opens up about the moment her life changed, the emotional toll of her diagnosis, and how she found strength, hope, and purpose through faith. She shares her journey from working in law to launching her own business, The Aroma Room in Carmel, Indiana — a space designed to help others heal and find peace.

Together, Brandi and Shayla discuss what it means to rebuild your life after hardship, how to embrace your story, and how faith can guide you through even the darkest moments.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone walking through struggle, seeking healing, or looking for proof that miracles still happen.


Links
The Aroma Room: https://www.thearomaroom.us/

In this inspiring episode of The Life We’re Given, Brandi sits down with Christine Valdes to share her powerful journey from hardship to purpose.

From immigrating to the United States as a child to becoming a young mother, Christine opens up about the challenges she faced and the moment she chose to rebuild her life.

After leaving with nothing, she found herself relying on sleeping on a friend’s couch and fighting through one of the hardest seasons of her life. But through faith, resilience, and a commitment to personal growth, she transformed her circumstances—eventually building a successful career and stepping into leadership.

In this conversation, Christine shares the importance of self-belief, positive affirmations, and the power of speaking life into yourself, even when your situation says otherwise.

This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, is starting over, or needs a reminder that your current situation does not define your future.

In this deeply moving episode of The Life We’re Given, Brandi Lewis sits down with Dr. Delicia Munfus-McCray to share her powerful story of loss, healing, and purpose.

After the devastating loss of her stillborn daughter, Priscilla, Dr. Delicia transformed her grief into a mission to help other families. As a pediatric perinatal pathologist, she now advocates for access to autopsies and has developed non-invasive methods to provide answers and closure to grieving parents.

This conversation explores the emotional journey of grief after stillbirth, the importance of understanding loss, and how purpose can emerge even from the most painful experiences.

Dr. Delicia also shares her work supporting children with special needs and the heart behind her nonprofit, which continues to impact families navigating loss.

This episode is for anyone walking through grief, seeking answers, or looking for hope after loss.

In this powerful solo episode of The Life We’re Given, Brandi Lewis shares a deeply personal reflection on the moment she had to choose herself — and how that decision changed everything.

Through storytelling and lessons from past podcast guests, Brandi explores a common thread: the pivotal moment where growth begins. Whether it’s walking away from something that no longer serves you, setting boundaries, or prioritizing your mental and emotional well-being, choosing yourself is often the first step toward real transformation.

This episode is a reminder that choosing yourself is not selfish — it’s necessary. When you begin to honor your needs, your growth, and your healing, you show up better in every area of your life.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected, this conversation will help you reflect, reset, and take that first step forward.

Sign up to receive weekly emails: https://wonderful-leaf-262.myflodesk.com/thelifeweregiven

Grief is something we all experience—but when it comes to children, it’s often misunderstood.

In this powerful episode of The Life We’re Given Podcast, Brandi Lewis sits down with child therapist and author Stacy Schaffer to explore how children process grief, trauma, and loss—and how adults can better support them through it.

Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, Stacy shares how to build trust with children, recognize nonverbal signs of grief, and create safe spaces for emotional expression. This conversation also dives into real-world challenges families face today, including anxiety, school safety concerns, and the impact of social media on mental health.

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or someone navigating grief yourself, this episode offers practical tools, emotional insight, and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to support a child through loss.

This is more than a conversation—it’s a guide to showing up with compassion when it matters most.

https://stacyschaffer.com/

In this powerful episode of The Life We’re Given, Brandi Lewis sits down with pre-licensed therapist Letisha Harris for an honest and practical conversation about mental health, emotional wellness, and personal growth. Together, they dive into real-life topics including anxiety, stress management, self-esteem, setting healthy boundaries, forgiveness, and the importance of self-care.

Letisha shares clear, actionable strategies to help listeners understand their emotions, navigate difficult seasons, and create healthier patterns in everyday life. Brandi and Letisha also explore how to find direction, the difference between goals and expectations, and why self-reflection is essential for growth.

Whether you're working on strengthening your mental health, seeking clarity in life, or learning how to protect your peace, this episode will encourage you to embrace your journey and prioritize your well-being.

What does it take to face cancer not once—but four times?

In this powerful episode of The Life We’re Given, Brandi Lewis sits down with Dr. Michele Kehrer, a four-time breast cancer survivor, to talk about resilience, mindset, and healing through adversity.

Dr. Michele shares her journey through repeated cancer diagnoses, opening up about the emotional, mental, and physical challenges she faced along the way. Through it all, she discovered the power of gratitude, self-care, and choosing strength—even in the hardest moments.

This episode explores:
Breast cancer survival and recovery
Mental and emotional resilience during illness
Mindset shifts for overcoming adversity
The importance of gratitude and self-care
Turning pain into purpose

If you or someone you love is facing a health diagnosis or if you’re navigating a difficult season, this conversation will remind you that strength and hope are still possible.

Dr. Michele Kehrer Links:
https://michelekehrer.com/
https://a.co/d/06OFqYTp

What happens when life changes in an instant?

In this powerful episode of The Life We’re Given, Brandi sits down with brain injury survivor Dan MacQueen to discuss his incredible journey of overcoming two traumatic brain injuries and rebuilding his life through resilience, mindset, and determination.

Dan shares how he navigated the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that followed his injuries and the mindset shifts that helped him keep moving forward. Instead of focusing on what he lost, he chose to focus on what was still possible.
Through small, consistent steps and a powerful belief in himself, Dan turned adversity into purpose and now inspires others to push through life’s toughest moments.

This conversation explores the importance of resilience, mental strength, and the belief that, even after devastating setbacks, growth and purpose remain possible.
If you are facing challenges, rebuilding after hardship, or looking for motivation to keep going, this episode is a powerful reminder that resilience is built one small step at a time.

Contact Dan
https://www.macqueendan.com/

How do you break generational patterns when they’re all you’ve ever known?

In this powerful episode of The Life We’re Given, Lin Green opens up about her healing journey from childhood trauma and the story behind her memoir, Enough with the Secrets. She shares how secrecy, silence, and generational pain shaped her early life — and what it took to finally choose boundaries, vulnerability, and truth.

This conversation dives deep into:
-Breaking generational curses
-Healing from childhood trauma
-Setting healthy boundaries with family
-Embracing vulnerability as strength
-Reclaiming joy and purpose

If you’ve ever felt stuck in family patterns, struggled to use your voice, or wondered if healing is truly possible — this episode will remind you that cycles can be broken.

You are not bound by what you inherited.

Lin Green Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Enough-Secrets-Mama-Immigrant-Overcoming/dp/1636982867

https://greenconsultingofficial.com/about


Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Healing and Resilience
02:38 The Journey of Writing 'Enough with the Secrets Mama'
05:35 Understanding the Mother-Daughter Relationship
08:42 The Impact of Childhood Trauma
11:41 Navigating Anxiety and Seeking Therapy
14:39 The Role of Perfectionism in Healing
17:27 Breaking Generational Cycles
20:33 Finding Identity Beyond Trauma
23:22 The Importance of Self-Acceptance
26:24 Moving Forward: Strategies for Healing
32:00 Finding Purpose Through Adversity
33:36 The Power of Self-Compassion
36:14 Establishing Healthy Boundaries
39:27 Navigating Family Dynamics
44:56 Breaking Generational Barriers
53:57 Understanding Our Parents' Past
56:12 Embracing Personal Growth and Healing

In this insightful episode, David DeWitt shares his journey with depression, from the early signs he experienced as a teenager to the challenges of high-functioning depression and the impact on his career. He opens up about a personal crisis that led to hospitalization and his subsequent recovery, highlighting the importance of self-care, therapy, and mental health awareness.

David also discusses his transition into life coaching, where he helps others navigate life goals and challenges. This conversation emphasizes the need for open discussions about depression, coping strategies, and resilience, offering guidance and inspiration for anyone managing mental health struggles.

Links

Suicide Prevention

If you need to talk, dial 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, counselors are there for you. You are not alone!

https://988lifeline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=onebox

Suicide Prevention Resources

https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/resources/index.html

https://dmh.lacounty.gov/mental-health-resources/suicide-prevention/

David DeWitt Essay “Depression is an illness – and it’s time we got real about that”

https://www.salon.com/2023/05/27/depression-is-an-illness-and-its-time-we-got-real-about-that/

Go Your Own Way Coaching

https://www.goyourownwaycoaching.com/