What happens when the place that's supposed to offer grace becomes the place that wounds you most?

In this honest and courageous episode of The Making of Me Podcast, author and poet Jeff Dalton opens up about his deeply personal journey through depression, bipolar disorder, and the painful stigma he faced from church leaders who didn't understand his struggle — and how he found genuine healing and freedom on the other side.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• Jeff's raw, unfiltered journey battling depression and bipolar disorder while navigating faith
• How church stigma around mental illness caused deep wounds — and why that needs to change
• The harmful impact of leaders who shame instead of support those struggling with mental health
• How vulnerability and authentic faith became the bridge to Jeff's healing and freedom
• Why a loving, grace-filled relationship with Jesus goes far beyond performance and perfection
• Why faithfulness — not flawlessness — is what truly matters in the eyes of God

If you've ever felt shamed for your mental health, judged for your struggles, or rejected by the very community that should have held you — Jeff's story will remind you that you are seen, loved, and never too broken for grace.

🔗 Learn more & connect with Jeff: http://www.expressionoftheheart.com/
🔗 Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-dalton-22920524
🔗 Get Jeff's book Spaces of the Heart — Poems and Devotionals: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5Y3XTJK

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💬 Comment below — Have you ever felt judged or misunderstood by a community that was supposed to support you? How did you find your way through?

#MentalHealth #ChurchStigma #MakingOfMePodcast #JeffDalton #Faith #BipolarDisorder #Depression #Podcast #ChristianFaith #Healing #Vulnerability #Transformation #Grace #Inspiration #Wellness

What if the secret to feeling younger wasn't found in a bottle — but in the way you think?

In this vibrant episode of The Making of Me Podcast, life success coach Carolyn Hatton shares her extraordinary journey from battling weight, self-doubt, and limiting beliefs to reclaiming her confidence, health, and vitality — even into her 80s. Carolyn breaks down her powerful "body lesson" and reveals exactly how your mindset, beliefs, and self-talk shape not just how you feel — but how you age.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• What the "body lesson" is and why it could be the most important shift you ever make
• How Carolyn went from weight struggles and self-doubt to vibrant health and unshakeable confidence
• The powerful connection between your thoughts, beliefs, and how your body ages
• Why self-talk is one of the most underestimated tools for transformation at any age
• The exact principles Carolyn teaches women to help them reclaim their Second Act
• How to start your own vibrant reinvention — no matter how old you are or how long you've felt stuck

If you've ever felt like your best years are behind you — Carolyn's story and the body lesson will prove that your most vibrant chapter may still be ahead.

🔗 Connect with Carolyn Hatton & learn more: https://the-foreveryoung.com/home
🔗 Follow Carolyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolyns_hatton/

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💬 Comment below — What's one mindset shift that has genuinely changed how you feel about yourself?

#MindsetShift #AgingGracefully #MakingOfMePodcast #CarolynHatton #BodyLesson #SecondAct #Podcast #WomensWellness #Reinvention #PersonalGrowth #Confidence #Transformation #Inspiration #Wellness #Motivation

What if the business you built to give you freedom is actually the thing keeping you trapped?

In this eye-opening episode of The Making of Me Podcast, bestselling author Peter Boolkah breaks down why so many founders unintentionally build a prison around themselves — creating businesses that can't survive a single day without their constant presence, energy, and effort.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why so many founders trap themselves in businesses that were supposed to set them free
• The hard truth about solopreneurship — and why it often leads to burnout instead of freedom
• Why 80% of small businesses fail in the first 5 years and what the survivors did differently
• The most common mindset traps that keep founders running faster but going nowhere
• Practical steps to break free from the hamster wheel and build a business that works without you
• How to achieve true entrepreneurial freedom — and what that actually looks like in real life

If you're working harder than ever but feeling more trapped than free — this episode will give you the honest wake-up call and practical roadmap you need.

🔗 Learn more about Peter Boolkah & his work: https://www.boolkah.com/
🔗 Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boolkah/

📌 Don't forget to:
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💬 Comment below — In what way has your business ever felt more like a trap than a freedom?

#Entrepreneurship #MakingOfMePodcast #PeterBoolkah #BusinessFreedom #HamsterWheelTrap #Solopreneurship #Podcast #SmallBusiness #Founder #Mindset #BusinessGrowth #PersonalGrowth #Inspiration #Leadership #Motivation

What if one moment of obedience could change the course of your entire life — and the lives of thousands around the world?

In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Gary Janzen — Executive Director of the International Church Mission Service — shares the remarkable story of how he walked away from comfort and certainty to answer a single, life-altering calling rooted in Genesis 12:1.

From youth pastoring in Canada to planting churches and supporting 86 missionaries across 50 countries, Gary's journey is a testament to what happens when you say yes to faith — even when the path ahead is unclear.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• The moment Gary heard the call from Genesis 12:1 and what made him choose obedience over comfort
• What it really cost him to leave a stable, comfortable life in ministry to step into the unknown
• How one step of faith led to planting churches and mobilizing 86 missionaries across 50 countries
• The role of trust, risk, and surrender in building a global ministry from the ground up
• What Gary has learned about purpose, calling, and obedience after years on the mission field
• How Gary's story can help you discern and respond to your own God-given calling

If you've ever felt the pull toward something greater but fear has kept you from saying yes — Gary's story will remind you that faith always rewards the obedient step.

🔗 Support the ministry or connect with Gary: https://www.icms.org/

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💬 Comment below — What's one step of faith you took that completely changed the direction of your life?

#Faith #MakingOfMePodcast #GaryJanzen #Missions #Leadership #Obedience #ChristianFaith #Podcast #GlobalMissions #Purpose #Calling #Inspiration #Transformation #Resilience #Motivation

What if joy wasn't something you had to chase — but something you just had to learn to notice?

In this beautiful episode of The Making of Me Podcast, award-winning author Peg Guilfoyle shares how the simple, deliberate act of paying attention can help us rediscover everyday joy — even in the middle of busy, messy, difficult seasons of life.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• How simple acts of noticing can completely shift the way you experience your everyday life
• The powerful connection between curiosity, creativity, and joy — and how to cultivate all three
• How Peg balanced a full, busy life while staying rooted in wonder and beauty
• Practical tips for slowing down and paying attention in a world that never stops moving
• The story behind her Midwest Book Award-winning book An Eye for Joy and what inspired it
• How to start seeing the world through new eyes — no matter how ordinary your day feels

If you've been rushing through life and missing the moments that matter most — this episode will gently slow you down and remind you where joy has been hiding all along.

🔗 Sign up for Peg's joyful essay series & explore her work: https://pegguilfoyle.com/
🔗 Follow Peg on Instagram: http://instagram.com/peg_guilfoyle_author/

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💬 Comment below — What's one simple everyday moment that brings you genuine joy?

#EverydayJoy #MakingOfMePodcast #PegGuilfoyle #AnEyeForJoy #Mindfulness #Podcast #Curiosity #Creativity #Inspiration #SlowDown #PersonalGrowth #Gratitude #Transformation #Wellness #Motivation

What happens when the world keeps telling you "you can't" — and you decide to create anyway?

In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Zac Baldwin shares how a lifetime of rejection didn't break his creative spirit — it became the very fuel that powered it. From struggling through dance classes to writing powerful female action heroes in Hollywood, Zac's story is one of stubborn persistence, relentless creativity, and an unshakeable refusal to compromise his vision.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• How Zac turned a lifetime of being told "you can't" into his greatest creative superpower
• The real story behind his journey from rejection and self-doubt to writing for Hollywood
• Why stubborn persistence is often the most underrated ingredient in any creative career
• How embracing hard work and discomfort became the foundation of his creative process
• The powerful message behind writing strong female action heroes and why representation matters
• Why staying true to your vision — even when the industry says no — might be the most courageous act of all

If you've ever been told you're not enough, not talented enough, or not the right fit — Zac's story will remind you that rejection is just redirection in disguise.

🔗 Get the book The Legend of Johnnie Swann: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-legend-of-johnnie-swann-zac-baldwin/1147862102

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💬 Comment below — What's one "you can't" moment in your life that ended up pushing you toward something greater?

#Rejection #Creativity #MakingOfMePodcast #ZacBaldwin #Hollywood #Persistence #Podcast #LegendOfJohnnieSwann #Resilience #CreativeSuperpower #PersonalGrowth #Inspiration #Storytelling #Motivation #Transformation

What happens when life keeps handing you setbacks — do you fold, or do you build something out of the wreckage?

In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Nakia Navarro — author, entrepreneur, educator, and single mother — shares how she turned every closed door into a blueprint for something new. From building nonprofits from the ground up to starting businesses, earning two master's degrees, and raising children all at once, Nakia didn't wait for opportunity — she created it.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• How Nakia built nonprofits and businesses from scratch by creating what she could not find
• What it really looked like to raise children, run organizations, and earn two master's degrees simultaneously
• The role of faith and resourcefulness in turning her biggest setbacks into her greatest fuel
• How she navigated the unique challenges of being a single mother and entrepreneur at the same time
• Why Nakia learned to turn heartbreak into humor — and how that shift changed everything
• The hard-earned wisdom she wants every person facing obstacles to walk away with

If you're in a season of setbacks and wondering how to turn the pain into purpose — Nakia's story will move you, motivate you, and show you exactly what's possible.

🔗 Explore Nakia Navarro's work & books: https://www.nknavarro.com/
🔗 Connect with Nakia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AUTHORNK

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💬 Comment below — What's one adversity in your life that ended up opening a door you never expected?

#Adversity #MakingOfMePodcast #NakiaNavarro #Entrepreneurship #SingleMother #Faith #Resourcefulness #Inspiration #Podcast #PersonalGrowth #Resilience #Opportunity #WomenInBusiness #Transformation #Motivation

What happens when your world sounds different from everyone else's — and the silence feels like it's swallowing you whole?

In this heartfelt episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Desiree Taylor shares her deeply moving journey navigating progressive hearing loss from childhood — and how isolation, depression, and a painful encounter with legalistic religion almost kept her from discovering the freedom and faith that would ultimately heal her.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• What it was really like growing up with progressive hearing loss and feeling different from the world around her
• How isolation and depression took hold — and what finally broke through the silence
• The painful impact of legalistic religion and how it almost pushed her away from faith entirely
• How Desiree discovered a true, living relationship with faith beyond rules and religion
• The moment she found real hope, healing, and purpose on the other side of her pain
• What Desiree wishes she could tell her younger self today

If you've ever felt alone in your struggle, misunderstood by the world around you, or trapped by religion without relationship — Desiree's story will remind you that healing is possible and freedom is real.

🔗 Connect with Desiree Taylor & find more resources: https://www.arenewedcreation.com/
🔗 Connect with Desiree on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desiree-taylor-536827199/

📌 Don't forget to:
👍 Like this video if it touched your heart
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💬 Comment below — What's one thing that carried you through your loneliest season?

#HearingLoss #Faith #MakingOfMePodcast #DesiréeTaylor #Loneliness #MentalHealth #Healing #OvercomingAdversity #Podcast #ChristianFaith #Transformation #Hope #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #Inspiration

What do you do when you survive something that should have killed you — but the hardest battle is the one happening inside?

In this powerful episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Emillio Rodriguez opens up about surviving a devastating car accident at just 16 years old — and how the years that followed became a journey through guilt, depression, and a deep search for purpose.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• How Emillio survived a near-fatal car accident at 16 and what the emotional aftermath really looked like
• Why guilt and depression can outlast physical wounds — and how Emillio found his way through
• The role that family, friends, and mentors played in carrying him through his darkest moments
• Why healing often starts not with grand gestures but with someone simply showing up and seeing your potential
• How Emillio rebuilt his identity and found new purpose on the other side of trauma
• The SPACE framework — Emillio's powerful model for building trust and meaningful human connection

If you've ever felt lost after a life-altering moment, or wondered how to truly show up for someone in pain — this episode will move you and give you the tools to connect more deeply.

🔗 Learn more & download Emillio's practical guide: https://www.emilliorodriguez.com/
🔗 Connect with Emillio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilliorodriguez/

📌 Don't forget to:
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💬 Comment below — Who showed up for you during your darkest season, and what did that mean to you?

#SurvivorStory #MakingOfMePodcast #EmillioRodriguez #Resilience #HumanConnection #MentalHealth #OvercomingAdversity #Trauma #SPACEFramework #Podcast #PersonalGrowth #Healing #Purpose #Motivation #Inspiration

What do you do when you've done everything "right" — and still feel completely unfulfilled?

In this inspiring episode of The Making of Me Podcast, Chad Betz — author of The Authentic Successor — shares the pivotal moment sitting alone in a parking garage that changed his life forever, and how he redefined success to finally serve his values, not just his resume.

🎯 In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why outward achievement isn't always enough — and what to do when it isn't
• How to conquer sunk cost thinking and reinvent your life at any stage
• The daily habits and mindset shifts that made a lasting difference for Chad
• Practical actions to get unstuck TODAY no matter where you're starting from
• Why it is never too late to redefine what success means to you
• Insights from Chad's book The Authentic Successor on living a life true to your values

If you're feeling stuck or wondering if it's "too late" to make a change — this conversation will give you fresh hope and a clear plan to start moving forward.

🔗 Learn more about Chad Betz, his book & free resources: https://www.anauthenticsuccess.com/
🔗 Connect with Chad Betz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadcbetz/

📌 Don't forget to:
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💬 Comment below — What's one moment that made you question whether you were living true to your values?

#Reinvention #Success #PersonalGrowth #MakingOfMePodcast #ChadBetz #AuthenticSuccessor #Podcast #Mindset #SunkCost #LifeChange #Fulfillment #Authenticity #GetUnstuck #NeverTooLate #Transformation