How do you move from pain and trauma to a life of freedom, purpose, and self-love?

In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast, life coach and author Brooke Deboer shares her deeply personal journey from experiencing bullying and emotional abuse to building a life rooted in healing, confidence, and purpose.

Brooke opens up about the lessons that shaped her transformation and the tools she now uses to help others break free from limiting beliefs and emotional wounds.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How trauma can shape your mindset and relationships
• Practical tools for healing and building self-worth
• The role of self-care in personal transformation
• How to overcome imposter syndrome and self-doubt
• Turning painful experiences into powerful growth opportunities

If you are on a journey of healing or looking to create a more intentional and fulfilling life, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical guidance.

🌐 Learn more and connect: https://www.thebrookedeboer.com/author
📸 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freebrooke/

👍 Subscribe for more real conversations on healing, growth, and personal transformation.

#BrookeDeboer #HealingJourney #OvercomingTrauma #SelfLove #PersonalGrowth #MentalWellness #EmotionalHealing #ImposterSyndrome #LifeCoaching #TheMakingOfMe #AroBenaiah #SelfDevelopment #Resilience #HealingFromWithin #LivingTheFreeLife

What happens when you start writing a novel at 19 and finish it 37 years later?

In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, author Rodney Phillips shares how decades of life experience, coaching, and leadership shaped his debut novel Dissension into something far deeper and more authentic than he could have created as a teenager.

After shelving his manuscript for nearly four decades, Rodney returned to it with a new perspective bringing richer character development, emotional depth, and a powerful understanding of how choices and communication shape our lives.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How life experience can transform your creative work
• The power of patience and revisiting unfinished projects
• How to write more authentic and complex characters
• Why communication breakdowns play a key role in storytelling
• Motivation to return to your own creative ideas and bring them to life

If you are a writer, creative, or someone who has put a dream on hold, this episode will inspire you to pick it back up and keep going.

🌐 Learn more and connect: https://www.rodneyphillipsauthor.com/
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-phillips-mba-cmr-author-5723285b

#WritingProcess #AuthorJourney #RodneyPhillips #Dissension #CreativeProcess #WritingInspiration #Storytelling #PersonalGrowth #CreativeJourney #WritersLife #TheMakingOfMe #AroBenaiah #Inspiration #KeepGoing #FinishWhatYouStart

Are you approaching or already living through the empty nest phase?

In this empowering episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Hanna Bankier, acclaimed coach and founder of Birdie Launcher, shares a fresh and hopeful perspective on one of life’s biggest transitions. Instead of seeing it as a loss, learn how this season can become your greatest opportunity for growth, purpose, and rediscovery.

Through the Birdie Launcher Framework, this conversation breaks down the three key phases every parent experiences: grief, relief, and joy and how to navigate each one with clarity and intention.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why the “empty nest” is not truly empty
• The three emotional phases of launching your kids
• How to process grief and embrace a new sense of freedom
• Ways to rediscover your identity and purpose
• How to build new relationships and design your next chapter intentionally

If you are stepping into this new season or preparing for it, this episode offers practical tools and encouragement to help you move forward with confidence and joy.

🎁 Download your FREE guide to thriving in the Birdie Launcher phase:
https://www.birdylauncher.com/freeoffer

🌐 Learn more and connect:
https://www.birdylauncher.com
🔗 Connect with Hanna Bankier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanna-bankier/

#EmptyNest #HannaBankier #BirdieLauncher #LifeTransitions #ParentingJourney #NextChapter #PersonalGrowth #PurposeDrivenLife #EmptyNestSyndrome #SelfDiscovery #LifeAfterKids #TheMakingOfMe #AroBenaiah #NewBeginnings #EmotionalGrowth #ThrivingAfterParenting

What happens when life takes an unexpected turn and everything you planned begins to change?

In this heartfelt episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Jeff Ton shares his powerful journey retracing the Lewis and Clark Trail with his wife and how that adventure was interrupted by a life-altering illness that reshaped everything.

From becoming a full-time caregiver to redefining his identity, marriage, and vision for retirement, this conversation offers a deeply human perspective on navigating uncertainty, loss, and unexpected responsibility.

Instead of global travel and long-term plans, life became about presence, resilience, and finding meaning in everyday moments with family.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How caregiving can transform your sense of identity
• What it means to support a partner through serious illness
• How marriage evolves during life’s most challenging seasons
• Redefining retirement when life does not go as planned
• The power of presence, listening, and adapting to uncertainty

If you are facing a difficult season, supporting a loved one, or navigating major life changes, this episode offers real stories, honest reflection, and encouragement to help you move forward with strength and purpose.

👉 Learn more about Jeff Ton, his upcoming book, and reflective stories: http://www.jeffreyston.com
🔗 Connect with Jeff Ton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtonindy

#Caregiving #LifeTransitions #MarriageJourney #RetirementRedefined #Resilience #JeffTon #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalStrength #FamilyFirst #NavigatingUncertainty #TheMakingOfMe #AroBenaiah #RealLifeStories #PurposeInPain #LifeAfterChange

How can leaders thrive in a fast-paced, tech-driven world without losing the human touch?

In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Mariam Chtchyan, COO of HAC Tech LHC, shares her journey from project management to the C-suite and what it really takes to lead effectively in an era shaped by AI, automation, and constant change.

Mariam reveals how to balance operational excellence with people-first leadership, build strong virtual teams, and create real collaboration between technical and non-technical professionals.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How to lead effectively in a technology-driven environment
• The importance of human skills in the age of AI
• Strategies for building and managing high-performance virtual teams
• How to foster clear communication and collaboration across teams
• Why adaptability is essential for modern leadership success

If you are a leader, manager, or aspiring executive, this episode offers practical insights to help you stay relevant and lead with both competence and empathy.

🌐 Learn more about HAC Tech: https://gohacktech.com/
🔗 Connect with Mariam Chtchyan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariam-chtchyan-2b2b3b167/

🎧 Listen to more leadership conversations on The Making of Me Podcast.

#Leadership #TechLeadership #MariamChtchyan #AI #FutureOfWork #Teamwork #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #DigitalTransformation #VirtualTeams #PeopleFirstLeadership #TheMakingOfMe #AroBenaiah #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment

Can red light therapy really transform recovery, performance, and overall wellness?

In this episode of The Making of Me Podcast, John Graham Harper, CEO of Lumaflex, shares his powerful journey from overcoming serious injuries and a brain tumor to developing a breakthrough solution that is helping athletes and everyday people recover faster and perform better.

Discover how red light therapy works at a cellular level and why it is gaining attention as a science-backed tool for pain relief, recovery, and overall health optimization.

In this episode, you will discover:

• What red light therapy is and how it works
• The science behind cellular healing and recovery
• How Lumaflex was created and the story behind it
• Practical ways to incorporate red light therapy into your routine
• Benefits for athletes, injury recovery, and daily wellness

Whether you are an athlete, recovering from injury, or simply looking to optimize your health, this episode offers valuable insights into one of today’s most talked-about wellness technologies.

👉 Learn more and explore Lumaflex products: https://lumaflex.com
🔗 Connect with John Graham Harper on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-graham-harper-168234163/

👍 Subscribe for more conversations on health, innovation, and personal transformation.

#RedLightTherapy #Lumaflex #JohnGrahamHarper #AthleteRecovery #WellnessTech #HealthInnovation #Biohacking #RecoveryTools #PainRelief #PerformanceOptimization #TheMakingOfMe #AroBenaiah #HealthTechnology #FitnessRecovery #HolisticHealth

Can stories of monsters, magic, and trauma actually help us heal?

In this episode of The Making of Me Podcast, network engineer and “accidental universe builder” Justin Anderson (J. Vaelorin) shares how his dark fantasy world transforms grief, depression, and unseen emotional struggles into powerful, meaningful narratives.

Through his creation, the Vaelorinverse, Justin reveals how trauma can become a source of strength and storytelling, offering a unique path to processing pain and finding purpose. His work resonates deeply with first responders, caregivers, and anyone carrying invisible wounds.

This conversation explores the intersection of creativity, healing, and emotional truth reminding us that you are not broken and that your experiences can be transformed into something meaningful.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How dark fantasy can be a tool for emotional healing
• Why trauma became the source of magic in the Vaelorinverse
• How storytelling helps process grief and depression
• Why his work resonates with first responders and caregivers
• How to find permission to feel, heal, and transform pain into strength

If you have ever struggled with unseen battles or are searching for a creative way to process your experiences, this episode offers a powerful and inspiring perspective.

🌐 Explore more and connect: https://www.vaelorinverse.com/
📸 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jvaelorin

#DarkFantasy #HealingThroughStories #EmotionalHealing #CreativeHealing #JustinAnderson #J. Vaelorin #Vaelorinverse #MentalHealthAwareness #Storytelling #TraumaHealing #PersonalGrowth #TheMakingOfMe #AroBenaiah #HealingJourney #CreativeExpression

Are you working harder than ever in your leadership role but still not seeing the results you expect?

In this insightful episode, leadership transition coach Tyler Clapp explains why the issue may not be your effort at all it may be that the context around you has changed. When workplace dynamics shift, strategies that once worked can become ineffective, leaving leaders frustrated, exhausted, and stuck in what feels like an endless effort trap.

This conversation explores how to recognize invisible changes in your environment, adapt your leadership approach without burnout, and succeed in times of uncertainty and transition.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why more effort does not always produce better leadership results
• How changing workplace context affects leadership effectiveness
• Signs that your old strategies no longer fit your environment
• How to identify hidden organizational dynamics
• Practical tools to adapt and thrive during leadership transitions

If you are navigating change, new responsibilities, or leadership frustration, this episode will help you rethink your approach and lead with greater awareness and impact.

🌐 Learn more about leadership transition support: https://www.divedeepdevelopment.com/
🔗 Connect with Tyler Clapp on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylergclapp/

#LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipTransition #TylerClapp #WorkplaceChange #AdaptiveLeadership #CareerGrowth #LeadershipSkills #ProfessionalDevelopment #ChangeManagement #BurnoutPrevention #LeadershipMindset #TheMakingOfMe #AroBenaiah #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipStrategy

Have you been told to “fake it till you make it” when trying to manifest your dream life but it never seems to work?

In this enlightening episode, manifestation coach Kelsey Aida Shugarts reveals why this common advice often creates inner resistance instead of real results. Rather than helping you align with abundance, success, and happiness, forced positivity and empty affirmations can lead to self-sabotage and emotional disconnection.

This conversation uncovers the real foundation of manifestation: energetic alignment, authentic belief, and inner clarity. Learn what it truly takes to attract what you want without pretending to be someone you are not.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why “fake it till you make it” can block manifestation
• The difference between forced affirmations and true energetic alignment
• How subconscious resistance sabotages your goals
• The real steps to manifest abundance authentically
• How to align your emotions, beliefs, and actions for lasting results

If you are ready to stop pretending and start manifesting from a place of truth and alignment, this episode is for you.

👉 Learn more about Kelsey Aida Shugarts and her work: https://kelseyaida.com
📸 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyaida/
🌟 Pre-order The Manifesting Fix and access more free resources on her website.

#Manifestation #KelseyAidaShugarts #EnergeticAlignment #PersonalGrowth #SelfImprovement #AbundanceMindset #MindsetShift #LawOfAttraction #AuthenticManifestation #ManifestingTips #InnerAlignment #SuccessMindset #TheMakingOfMe #AroBenaiah #ManifestYourDreams

Why does self-improvement sometimes make us feel like we are never enough?

In this thought-provoking episode, licensed therapist and author of The Process of Unbecoming, Lacey Kelly, explores the hidden downside of self-help culture and why the constant pressure to “fix yourself” can create a damaging cycle of self-doubt and dissatisfaction.

This conversation challenges the belief that you are broken and need endless improvement. Instead, it offers a healthier perspective on growth one rooted in self-acceptance, awareness, and reclaiming your inherent wholeness.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why self-improvement can sometimes reinforce feelings of inadequacy
• How the “fix yourself” mindset keeps people emotionally stuck
• The psychological cost of constant self-optimization
• How to question the belief that something is wrong with you
• A new approach to personal growth based on wholeness, not deficiency

If you are exhausted by the endless chase for becoming “better,” this episode offers a refreshing and healing perspective on what true growth can look like.

💡 Ready to step off the hamster wheel of constant improvement?
🌐 Visit: https://theunbecominghub.com
📝 Weekly essays and resources: https://theunbecominghub.substack.com/

#SelfImprovement #MentalWellness #Unbecoming #PersonalGrowth #LaceyKelly #SelfAcceptance #EmotionalHealing #MindsetShift #InnerGrowth #TheMakingOfMe #MentalHealthAwareness #HealingJourney #AuthenticLiving #SelfWorth #PersonalDevelopment