What if self-trust didn’t start as confidence — but as survival?

In this Season 3 episode of The Self-Trust Solution Podcast, Dawn Ledet sits down with Chanda Coston, a woman whose life story is a powerful testament to courage, resilience, and the quiet strength of taking the next best step.
Chanda shares her journey from escaping an abusive relationship to serving in the military, rising into corporate leadership, and ultimately stepping into entrepreneurship and coaching. Along the way, self-trust wasn’t something she set out to build — it was something she had to access in order to survive, protect what mattered, and keep moving forward when clarity was scarce.
This conversation explores how self-trust often begins long before it has a name — as instinct, devotion, responsibility, or simply the willingness to choose differently. Chanda reflects on pivotal moments that reshaped her identity, leadership, and direction, and how those decisions created not just personal change, but the potential for generational impact.
This episode is a reminder that self-trust isn’t about having it all figured out — it’s about giving yourself permission to move, pivot, and grow anyway.
In this episode, we explore:
How self-trust often begins as survival, responsibility, or love for others
Navigating life-altering transitions and identity shifts
The power of taking the next best step when certainty isn’t available
How leadership, resilience, and self-trust are built through lived experience
Why allowing yourself to change can create transformational and generational impact
Whether you’re navigating a major life transition, standing at a crossroads, or sensing that the version of you that got here isn’t the one meant to take you forward, this episode offers clarity, courage, and grounded permission to trust yourself where you are.
⏱️ Episode Chapters
00:00 – Introduction & Chanda’s story at a glance
01:36 – Military service, discipline, and resilience
05:00 – Transitioning from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship
08:13 – Personal growth, reflection, and identity shifts
19:59 – Chanda’s current work and offerings
22:35 – Final reflections and parting wisdom
🔗 Resources & Next Steps
✨ Learn more about Chanda & her work
http://chanda-co.com
✨ Chanda’s 1:1 Tiny Challenge
A focused, one-on-one experience designed to help you solve a pressing issue in your business with clarity and momentum
https://join.chanda-co.com/home-page-page
✨ Explore the Self-Trust Identity Map
A gentle, three-minute reflection to help you understand where you are in your becoming — and what your next level is asking of you:
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/identity-map
✨ Learn more about Claimed
Dawn’s private coaching experience for entrepreneurs and leaders ready to trust themselves fully and lead from alignment:
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/claimed
📩 Have a self-trust story of your own or a question for the show?
Email us at [email protected]
or share your story here:
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/yourstory
⭐ If this episode resonated, please take a moment to leave a rating and review — it helps more people find conversations like this.🎥 Prefer to watch this conversation?
The full video version of this episode is available on YouTube, where you can see the moments, expressions, and pauses that make this story even more powerful.
👉 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSelfTrustSolution

What if the most meaningful chapter of your life hasn’t happened yet?
In this Season 3 episode of The Self-Trust Solution Podcast, Dawn Ledet sits down with Judy Katz, a book collaborator, ghostwriter, publisher, and marketer who didn’t step into her true calling until age 65 — and has since completed more than 60 books, including award-winning memoirs and national bestsellers.

Judy shares the pivotal moment when she realized her long-standing career in PR no longer fit, and how trusting herself — without waiting for permission, validation, or certainty — led her to reinvent her work, her identity, and her impact. Now 85, Judy continues to help others tell their stories, change the conversation around aging, and stop postponing the lives they feel called to live.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that self-trust isn’t about fearlessness — it’s about listening deeply, taking risks anyway, and honoring the voice within that says there’s more for you.

In this episode, we explore:

• What it really looks like to reinvent yourself later in life
• The moment Judy stopped seeking outside validation and trusted her own knowing
• Why “level five listening” is essential to self-trust and meaningful work
• How aging can become a season of expansion instead of limitation
• Why it’s never too late to begin again — and often better when you do
  

Whether you’re navigating a career shift, questioning what’s next, or feeling the pull toward something new but unfamiliar, this episode will meet you with encouragement, clarity, and permission.

⏱️ Episode Chapters
00:00 – Introducing Judy Katz & the power of reinvention
01:15 – From journalism and PR to a crossroads moment
04:30 – Early independence, courage, and trusting her instincts
07:06 – Ghostwriting as a calling — and helping others find their voice
13:15 – Changing the narrative around aging and possibility
18:07 – Judy’s current work, reflections, and parting wisdom

🔗 Resources & Next Steps

✨ Learn more about Judy & her work: https://katzcreativebooksandmedia.com
Get Judy's Memoir Essays- From 18 to 84: https://a.co/d/5T59Vp1

Email Judy at [email protected]

✨Explore the Self-Trust Identity Map
A gentle, three-minute reflection to help you understand where you are in your becoming and what your next level is asking of you:
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/identity-map

✨ Learn more about Claimed
Dawn’s private coaching experience for entrepreneurs and leaders ready to trust themselves fully and lead from alignment:
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/claimed

📩 Have a self-trust story of your own or a question for the show?
Email us at [email protected]
or share your story here:
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/yourstory

⭐ If this episode resonated, please take a moment to leave a rating and review — it helps more people find conversations like this.

What actually changes your life?
Not willpower. Not hustle. Not motivation.
It’s self-trust.
In this powerful episode of The Self-Trust Solution Podcast, Dawn sits down with transformation coach Jesse Ramos, whose story embodies what becomes possible when you stop abandoning yourself — and start choosing the life you were meant for.

Jesse spent 15 years in retail banking, quietly struggling with self-trust, identity, weight gain, alcohol abuse, anxiety, and the pressure to be someone he wasn’t. After losing 90 pounds, getting sober, and walking away from a corporate career that no longer aligned, he rebuilt his life from the inside out.

Today, Jesse is a transformation artist whose mission is to inspire 8 million people to trust themselves again.
Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
✨ How to rebuild self-trust after years of self-doubt
✨ How Jesse lost 90 pounds through identity change—not discipline
✨ The mindset shifts that helped him overcome addiction and anxiety
✨ Why discomfort is the entry point to growth (and not a red flag)
✨ How he knew it was time to leave his long-term corporate job
✨ The practices he uses daily to stay grounded and self-led
✨ How self-trust shapes purpose, relationships, and success

If you’re navigating a transition
…trying to break old patterns
…or wondering whether you can really trust yourself again—
this story will move you, challenge you, and show you what’s possible.
Jesse’s journey is a masterclass in courage, clarity, and radical self-honesty.

🔗 Helpful Links
✔️ Explore Jesse’s coaching: Www.bbtfitness.nyc

✔️ Download the Self-Trust Identity Map: https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/identity-map
✔️ Learn about my private coaching program, Claimed: https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/claimed
✔️ Share your self-trust story: https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/yourstory
✔️ Questions or feedback? Email: [email protected]

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:07 Jesse's Early Career and Transformation

01:34 Struggles with Self-Trust and Identity

04:12 Overcoming Addiction and Personal Loss

09:03 Career Shift and Building a New Life

12:58 The Importance of Self-Trust and Patience

19:27 Clearing Out the Past

20:53 Reflecting on Early Competitiveness and Fear-Driven Motivation

22:22 Overcoming Anxiety and Embracing Radical Acceptance

24:10 Transforming Through Client Relationships

25:36 Practices for Maintaining Confidence and Self-Trust

27:13 The Power of Inner Dialogue and Self-Mentorship

31:48 Mission to Inspire and Motivate Millions

32:24 Embracing Discomfort and Finding Purpose

35:05 Rising Above Circumstances and Inspiring Others

36:51 Virtual and In-Person Coaching Services

38:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

⭐️ Enjoying the podcast?
Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating + review, and sharing this story with someone who needs a reminder that transformation begins with a single act of self-trust.

What if rest was a business strategy?
What if self-trust was the key to scaling — not sacrifice?
In today’s episode, Dawn sits down with Dr. Lakila Bowden, COO of iSee Technologies, leadership expert, and author of The Sho’ Nuff Principle, to explore how high-achieving women can rewrite their relationship with success, rest, and self-celebration.
Lakila shares the pivotal year that changed everything — losing her mother, becoming a new mom herself, and finally choosing to lead differently. Her story is a powerful example of how listening inward reshapes how we work, parent, achieve, and care for ourselves.
You’ll learn how she:
✨ Transformed her leadership style through self-trust
✨ Built a 7-figure wellness company grounded in accessibility and care
✨ Navigated grief and growth simultaneously
✨ Redefined success through rest, intention, and radical self-permission
✨ Helps other women release guilt and reclaim energy
✨ Uses simple rituals (like her 5-5-5 Rewards List) to anchor joy and celebration
This episode is a beautiful reminder:
Achievement doesn’t require depletion. Self-trust scales better than hustle ever will.
If you’ve been craving a new way to lead — one rooted in clarity, rest, self-compassion, and grounded ambition — this conversation will feel like an exhale.
🕒 Episode Chapters
00:00 – Welcome to The Self-Trust Solution
00:16 – Meet Dr. Lakila Bowden
01:38 – Early corporate years & the first cracks of misalignment
03:59 – Stepping into operations + leading large teams
05:30 – The year that changed everything
05:52 – Founding iSee Technologies
06:27 – Balancing caregiving, grief, and entrepreneurship
08:47 – Wisdom, perspective, and redefining success
16:27 – The Sho’ Nuff Principle™ and true self-care
23:51 – Protecting your schedule through intention
24:42 – Lakila’s 5-5-5 Rewards List
27:26 – Silence, nature, and deep replenishment
30:24 – Intuition in leadership + motherhood
42:30 – Navigating guilt and reclaiming energy
45:28 – Closing thoughts & resources
📘 Resources Mentioned
👉 Download Dr. Lakila Bowden’s Guilt Detox™
A powerful guide to help you release guilt and reclaim energy.
👉 Follow Lakila & iSee Technologies
@lakilajhttps://lakilabowden.com/
✨ Your Next Step: Build Your Self-Trust Identity
Start with the free Self-Trust Identity Map — a gentle, 3-minute reflection to understand where you are in your becoming and what your next level is asking of you.
https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/identity-map
If you're ready for high-level, embodied coaching, explore CLAIMED, Dawn’s signature private mentorship for leaders:
https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/claimed
💛 Love this episode?
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review — it helps this work reach more leaders who need it.
Have a question or want to share your story?
Email: [email protected]
Share your Self-Trust Story:
https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/yourstory

🎥 Prefer to watch this conversation?
The full video version of this episode is available on YouTube, where you can see the moments, expressions, and pauses that make this story even more powerful.
👉 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSelfTrustSolution

Today’s episode is one of my favorites — because it’s the very first self-trust transformation story I recorded for Season 3. And Madelyn Furlong set the bar high.
Madelyn is a marketing strategist and website designer who helps entrepreneurs grow their business with strategic marketing and high-converting ShowIt websites. But before she could confidently help others use their voice… she had to learn how to trust her own.
In this conversation, Madelyn shares:
✨ Her lifelong fear of public speaking (including panic attacks + sleepless nights)
✨ The moment she realized her voice mattered for her business
✨ How she grew confidence through small, repeatable self-trust steps
✨ The mindset shifts that helped her stop shrinking and start leading
✨ How building evidence changed the way she markets, sells, and serves
✨ Why discomfort isn’t a problem — it’s proof you’re growing
Her story is a powerful reminder that self-trust isn’t something you’re born with — it’s something you build.
🔥 Highlights from this episode:
00:00 — Intro
01:32 — Madelyn’s accidental path into entrepreneurship
04:12 — The fear of being seen and the role of self-trust
09:27 — Expanding your “confidence circle”
14:20 — Worthy discomfort vs. unsafe discomfort
19:40 — Building evidence and identity through action
23:50 — How confidence shifted her client work + leadership
28:17 — Language shifts that build inner confidence
33:40 — Final encouragement for entrepreneurs learning to trust themselves
✨ Connect with Madelyn
Website: https://www.madelynvictoriaco.com
Instagram: @madelynvictoriaco
📌 Download the Self Trust Identity Map
A gentle three-minute reflection to help you understand where you are in your becoming,
what’s guiding you forward,
and what your next level is quietly asking of you.
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/identity-map
💫 Explore CLAiMED — my private coaching experience for high-achieving women
Create the kind of success that feels like truth, not pressure.
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/claimed
🎧 Share your Self-Trust Story
If you have a before-and-after story of when self-trust changed everything, I’d love to hear it.
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/yourstory
💛 If this episode supported you…
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review — it helps more people discover this work and learn how to trust themselves again.
And if you have questions, reach out anytime:
📩 [email protected]

As we close out Season 2 of The Self Trust Solution Podcast, this episode is both a celebration and an invitation.

This season has been packed with powerful conversations with experts on leadership, productivity, health, purpose, writing, travel, and entrepreneurship—plus short solo episodes designed to help you make firm decisions, follow through with clarity, and have your own back every step of the way.

Whether you’re listening as the year turns or months down the line, this reflection is for anyone who wants to pause, reclaim their power, and step boldly into what’s next.

🌿 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• A look back at the most powerful strategies, frameworks, and insights from Season 2.

• Why self-trust isn’t just personal development—it’s a strategic advantage.

• How stories of success, struggle, and self-trust will shape Season 3.

• A personal invitation to reflect on your own wins, endurance, and growth.

✨ Mentioned in this episode:

• Share your self-trust story: theselftrustcoach.com

• Follow the show for Season 3 guest episodes, real-world stories, and actionable strategy.

💬 If this podcast has supported you this year, take a moment to rate, review, or share it with someone who needs this message.

Your next level begins with who you believe yourself to be.

Start with The Self-Trust Identity Map—a gentle, three-minute reflection designed to help you understand where you are in your becoming, what’s guiding you forward, and what your next level is quietly asking of you.
Clarity doesn’t require pressure. It requires presence.
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/identity-map

And if this episode sparked something deeper—if you’re ready to be supported at the highest level—explore Claimed, my private coaching partnership for leaders and entrepreneurs who are ready to step into their next season with grounded clarity, unshakable self-trust, and real momentum.👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/claimed

What makes a brand unforgettable isn’t just a strategy—it’s that certain something only you can bring.
In this conversation with brand stylist and founder of jSQ Creative Agency, Jenée Naquin, we talk about uncovering your je ne sais quoi—your unique, magnetic essence—and using it as your foundation for showing up with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.
We explore how to stop outsourcing your confidence to “best practices,” how to use tools like AI without losing your voice, and why showing up like you mean it is the most stylish strategy of all.
🎯 Perfect for: entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and small business owners who want to stand out online without pretending to be someone they’re not.The Find Your Je Ne Sais Quoi Archetype Quiz: https://jsqcreativeagency.com/find-your-je-ne-sais-quoi - a first step in showing up online with clarity and style.

Your next level begins with who you believe yourself to be.

Start with The Self-Trust Identity Map—a gentle, three-minute reflection designed to help you understand where you are in your becoming, what’s guiding you forward, and what your next level is quietly asking of you.Clarity doesn’t require pressure. It requires presence.👉 ⁠https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/identity-map⁠

And if this episode sparked something deeper—if you’re ready to be supported at the highest level—explore Claimed, my private coaching partnership for leaders and entrepreneurs who are ready to step into their next season with grounded clarity, unshakable self-trust, and real momentum.👉 ⁠https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/claimed⁠

🎧 Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!
📩 Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!

In this episode of The Self Trust Solution, Dawn explores what it really means to claim your next level—whether it’s a book, a business, or a bolder message. If you’re tired of circling the idea that won’t leave you alone, this one’s for you. No hype. No fluff. Just a clear call to step into who you were always meant to be.

✨ Your next level begins with who you believe yourself to be.

Start with The Self-Trust Identity Map—a gentle, three-minute reflection designed to help you understand where you are in your becoming, what’s guiding you forward, and what your next level is quietly asking of you.
Clarity doesn’t require pressure. It requires presence.
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/identity-map

And if this episode sparked something deeper—if you’re ready to be supported at the highest level—explore Claimed, my private coaching partnership for leaders and entrepreneurs who are ready to step into their next season with grounded clarity, unshakable self-trust, and real momentum.
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/claimed

🎧 Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!
📩 Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!

What if time management wasn’t about finding the perfect system… but designing one that fits you?

In this conversation with time management coach and keynote speaker Anna Dearmon Kornick, we unpack why most productivity advice fails—and how to finally build a rhythm that supports your life, goals, and energy instead of draining it.

Anna shares how her background in political scheduling and crisis communications shaped her unique HEART Method, a personality-driven framework that makes productivity more intentional and less overwhelming.

Whether you’re juggling multiple roles, scaling a business, or simply tired of rearranging your calendar and calling it “strategy,” this episode will help you stop outsourcing your schedule—and start leading it with clarity and self-trust.

Free instant-access video course: Blueprint to Balance blueprinttobalance.com

About our Guest: Anna Dearmon Kornick is a highly sought after time management coach and keynote speaker, top 1% globally ranked podcast host of It's About Time, and founder of the It’s About Time Academy. A true Louisiana firecracker who has become known for making time management fun, Anna helps busy professionals and business owners struggling with overwhelm manage their time using her personality-driven HEART Method.
Building on more than a decade of experience in the fast-moving, high-stakes world of political and crisis communications, it’s no surprise that Anna thrives on creating order out of chaos. Early in her career, she wrangled media for a Lt. Governor and managed the hectic schedule of a U.S. Congressman. Her rapid response background and relentless approach to problem-solving position her as the go-to expert for purpose-driven time management for busy professionals. 🎧 Like the show? LEAVE US A REVIEW wherever you listen!📩 Have a question? CONTACT US at [email protected]!🚀

And if you’re ready to Decide + Do when it comes to your next goal- grab the free ⁠Decide + Do Guide and Audio companion⁠ to make your next move clear, confident and aligned.

Your next level begins with who you believe yourself to be.

Start with The Self-Trust Identity Map—a gentle, three-minute reflection designed to help you understand where you are in your becoming, what’s guiding you forward, and what your next level is quietly asking of you.
Clarity doesn’t require pressure. It requires presence.
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/identity-map

And if this episode sparked something deeper—if you’re ready to be supported at the highest level—explore Claimed, my private coaching partnership for leaders and entrepreneurs who are ready to step into their next season with grounded clarity, unshakable self-trust, and real momentum.
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/claimed

Season 3 of The Self Trust Solution Podcast is on the horizon, and this time, it’s not just about frameworks and strategies—it’s about your story.

In this special preview, Dawn shares why real stories of self-trust in action are the most powerful proof that lasting success is possible. Whether you’re just starting to see the need for intentional self-trust in your career or business, in the middle of applying it, or celebrating a major breakthrough, your journey has the power to inspire others.

Inside this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why stories create more transformation than information alone

• Real examples of everyday self-trust that lead to big shifts

• The collective advantage of sharing your experience (and tuning in to others)

• How to submit your own story to be featured in Season 3

✨ Takeaway: You already have evidence of self-trust in your life. And when you uncover it—and share it—you help create a ripple effect for entrepreneurs and leaders everywhere.

Season 3 is coming in 2026, but you don’t have to wait to be part of it. Share your story here → Submit Your Story

🎧 Tune in now and be part of building a movement where self-trust isn’t fluff—it’s strategy.

Your next level begins with who you believe yourself to be.

Start with The Self-Trust Identity Map—a gentle, three-minute reflection designed to help you understand where you are in your becoming, what’s guiding you forward, and what your next level is quietly asking of you.
Clarity doesn’t require pressure. It requires presence.
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/identity-map

And if this episode sparked something deeper—if you’re ready to be supported at the highest level—explore Claimed, my private coaching partnership for leaders and entrepreneurs who are ready to step into their next season with grounded clarity, unshakable self-trust, and real momentum.
👉 https://www.theselftrustcoach.com/claimed