What if one of the most overlooked solutions to addiction recovery was also one of the most meaningful ways to build a purpose-driven business?

In this episode of The Small Victories Podcast, Pauline Victoria sits down with Jim Boad, co-founder of Group Home Accelerator, to explore the powerful intersection of impact and entrepreneurship through sober living homes.

Jim shares how growing up around alcoholism and nearly losing everything during the COVID pandemic led him to discover a model that helps people rebuild their lives while creating sustainable income. Today, he has helped launch more than 14 sober living homes—with many more on the way—providing structured, supportive environments for people committed to staying sober.

This conversation sheds light on the critical role sober living homes play in the recovery journey, the realities of running these homes responsibly, and how mission-driven entrepreneurs can create both financial stability and life-changing impact.

If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to combine purpose, compassion, and entrepreneurship, this episode will challenge how you think about opportunity.

Key Takeaways

• Recovery doesn’t end when treatment does—many people need structured environments to help them stay sober after rehab.

• Purpose-driven businesses thrive when mission comes before money; the impact you create often fuels sustainable success.

• Fear of starting something new often comes down to simple actions we avoid—sometimes the most powerful step is just picking up the phone.

• Structure, accountability, and clear boundaries can be acts of compassion that protect the well-being of everyone involved.

• The most meaningful businesses are built when purpose and practical systems work together.

• Setbacks and crises—like the financial uncertainty many experienced during COVID—can become the doorway to discovering a deeper calling.

• Communities are more likely to support recovery homes when they see professionalism, clear rules, and genuine care for both residents and neighbors.

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life might purpose and practicality be waiting to come together in a new way?

2. What fear might be holding you back from taking the first simple step toward something meaningful?

   
   

Connect with Jim Boad

Learn more about Jim’s work and the Group Home Accelerator program:

🌐 https://grouphomeaccelerator.com/

🌐 http://www.jimboad.com/

What if the popular mantra “I am enough” is actually setting the bar too low?

In this powerful conversation, Pauline Victoria sits down with Clarissa Burt, internationally recognized media personality and author of The Self-Esteem Regime, to unpack what real self-esteem actually requires — and why it’s built through daily choices, not feel-good slogans.

Clarissa shares why comparison is one of the biggest confidence killers, how to recognize the hidden signs of low self-esteem, and what it really means to live with integrity, loyalty, and authentic human connection in today’s digital world.

If you’ve ever caught yourself shrinking, apologizing for your existence, or feeling disconnected despite being constantly online, this episode offers both perspective and practical next steps.

Her book The Self-Esteem Regime provides a concrete, step-by-step framework designed to help readers build lasting confidence and self-awareness.

This is your invitation to stop comparing… start doing the work… and step more fully into the person you’re becoming.

Key Takeaways

• “I am enough” may be too small a target. Expanding your identity beyond “enough” shifts you from survival thinking into growth and possibility.

• Comparison distorts reality. What you see online is often curated perception — tending your own “lawn” creates more progress than watching someone else’s.

• Self-esteem is built through practice, not positive thinking alone. Real confidence grows from consistent inner work, reflection, and aligned action.

• Your value system is your personal blueprint. When you clearly define your core values, decisions and relationships become easier to navigate.

• Low self-esteem often hides in everyday behaviors. Chronic apologizing, gossip, or needing to diminish others can signal deeper self-worth work to be done.

• Genuine human connection is an antidote to digital isolation. Getting off devices and into real-world interaction helps regulate confidence and belonging.

• Courage comes before confidence. Trust in yourself grows each time you take brave action — even when it feels awkward at first.

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life might you be settling for “enough” instead of stepping into who you’re truly capable of becoming?

2. What is one small action you can take this week to strengthen real-world connection instead of staying in digital comparison?

Connect with Clarissa Burt

Website: http://www.clarissaburt.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ClarissaBurtOfficial, https://www.facebook.com/ClarissaBurtInternational

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/clarissaburt

X: https://www.twitter.com/clarissaburt

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/clarissaburt

Instagram: http://instagram.com/clarissaburt

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clarissaburtofficial

What if the only permission you’ve been waiting for… is your own?

In this empowering episode of The Small Victories Podcast, Pauline Victoria sits down with Patty Aubery — powerhouse coach, best-selling author, speaker, and the visionary behind helping thousands of women stop playing small and start showing up boldly. From helping build the billion-dollar Chicken Soup for the Soul brand to creating her transformational Permission Granted movement, Patty shares the truth about confidence, visibility, and stepping into the life you know you’re meant for. 

Together, Pauline and Patty unpack the fears that keep people hidden, why success often requires discomfort, and how to stop waiting for invitations and start creating your own opportunities. If you’ve ever doubted your voice, hesitated to share your message, or felt called to something bigger, this conversation is your wake-up call.

Key Takeaways

• Confidence is not something you wait for — it is built through courageous action.

• Many people hide behind busyness, service, or perfectionism instead of taking the next brave step.

• The fear of being seen is often ego trying to keep you safe, not truth trying to guide you.

• Your network, community, and cheerleaders can become the “bumpers” that keep you moving forward.

• Visibility grows when you integrate all parts of yourself instead of separating your personal and professional life.

• You don’t need someone else to choose you — you can choose yourself today.

• It’s never too late to reinvent yourself, grow, heal, and become the fullest version of who you are.

  
  

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life are you waiting for someone else’s permission instead of granting it to yourself?

2. What brave action could you take this week that would help you become more visible in your purpose?

Connect with Patty Aubery

🌐 Website: http://pattyaubery.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pattyaubery/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-aubery-a19869b/

In this episode of Small Victories, host Pauline Victoria sits down with Angie Lion, author of Emerge: Rise From the Depths, Realign Your Soul, Reclaim What Matters, to explore how we can meet life’s transitions with strength, wisdom, and grace. Angie pulls from her own journey—raised amidst trauma, walking through deep loss, divorce, and the unraveling of identity—to show us what it looks like to emerge from the mud stronger, more aligned, and more resilient.

Key Takeaways

• Transitions refine you more than they break you. The endings we detest often become the soil in which a new life grows.

• Transitional Intelligence can be cultivated. Just like emotional intelligence, navigating change skillfully is a learnable capacity rooted in awareness, adaptability, and resilience.

• You already are enough—even while becoming. Growth doesn’t begin from lack; it begins from remembering your inherent worth and meeting your fears with curiosity.

• Obstacles are invitations, not punishments. When we turn toward challenge rather than resist it, we surface purpose, creativity, and hidden capacity.

• Stagnation signals an invitation, not a verdict. Feeling stuck is not proof of failure—it’s evidence that something deeper is trying to be born.

• You don’t heal in isolation. Asking for help, naming your fears, and connecting with guides or community is how you move from survival to mastery.
  

Whether you're in the middle of a painful transition or bracing yourself for one ahead, this conversation offers you a map and a companion to walk with you as you emerge.

Reflection Questions

1. Which transition in your life has felt most “stuck,” and what is one internal shift (e.g. reframing, asking for help, releasing a script) you can begin today to move through it?
   

2. When you look back on a difficult season you survived, what strengths or wisdom were born out of it that you now carry—and how could you intentionally lean into those as you move forward?
   

Angie Lion – Contact & Follow

• LinkedIn: Angie Lion https://www.linkedin.com/in/angielion?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

• Website: https://www.angielion.com/podcast-1?utm_source=chatgpt.com (for her book, coaching, speaking)

What if you didn’t have to convince people to buy from you—because your clients already did it for you?

In this episode of The Small Victories Podcast, Pauline Victoria sits down with Tommi Murshed-Parish, founder of Conversions for Coaches, to explore how genuine video testimonials can become one of the most powerful—and ethical—growth tools in a coach’s business.

Tommi shares why authenticity always outperforms polish, how deep listening unlocks stories that truly resonate, and why the best testimonials don’t feel like sales pitches at all. Drawing from his personal journey, professional filmmaking background, and years of helping coaches convert clients without pressure, Tommi reframes testimonials as relationship builders, not marketing assets.

This conversation is a must-listen for coaches, speakers, consultants, and service-based entrepreneurs who want their impact to be felt before the sales call—and their results to speak louder than their words.

Key Takeaways

• Testimonials don’t work because you have them—they work because of what’s actually said. Quality, emotion, and believability matter more than polish.

• A powerful video testimonial is like a movie trailer, not the whole film. Its job is to spark curiosity and trust, not explain everything.

• People connect to humans, not scripts. The more natural, imperfect, and real someone sounds, the more relatable—and persuasive—the testimonial becomes.

• Being interviewed creates better testimonials than self-recording. Live conversation reduces nerves, uncovers deeper layers, and captures emotional truth.

• Long-term testimonials are often more powerful than immediate ones. The real impact of your work compounds over time—and that’s where the strongest stories live.

• How you ask for feedback determines what you receive. Removing the word “testimonial” and leading with vulnerability invites honesty instead of performance.

• Testimonials are a byproduct of relationships. Coaches who nurture real connections get more referrals, better feedback, and stronger social proof.

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your business are you still trying to sell harder instead of letting real client stories build trust for you?

2. Which past or long-term clients might now be able to reflect on the deeper, lasting impact of your work?

Guest Contact Information

Tommi Murshed-ParishFounder, Conversions for Coaches

🌐 Website: https://conversionsforcoaches.com/

This episode is a powerful reminder that truth sells where polish fails. When you lead with honesty, listen deeply, and let real stories rise to the surface, trust forms naturally—and that’s where sustainable, victorious growth begins.

What happens when an ordinary working mom says yes to extraordinary challenges? In this inspiring conversation, Felicity Ashley—Atlantic rower, cancer survivor, motivational speaker, and author of Stronger Than the Storm—shares how resilience, mindset, and a powerful “why” can carry us through life’s toughest storms. From rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to navigating a stage-three cancer diagnosis, Felicity reminds us that adversity doesn’t define us—it refines us.

Key Takeaways

• Opportunities often show up disguised as challenges—saying yes can change your life.

• A powerful why will carry you through any how.

• Resilience grows through setbacks; each challenge strengthens you for the next.

• Fear can be fuel—channel it into preparation and action.

• You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great.
  

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life are you focusing on reasons to say no instead of finding your reasons to say yes?

2. What challenge in your life right now could actually be refining you for something greater?
   

   
   

Connect with Felicity Ashley

🌐 www.felicityashley.com

📧 [email protected]

📞 +44 (0) 20 8050 1357

In this episode of Small Victories, Pauline Victoria sits down with author and speaker Daryl Dittmer to uncover how a life once defined by hardship and addiction transformed into one rooted in meaning, influence, and hope. Daryl opens up about confronting inner battles, learning to surrender control, and stepping into vulnerability and humility as the foundation for real change.

Key Takeaways 

• Many of our deepest conflicts are internal — and until we name and tend those internal battles, fighting external problems won’t bring real peace.

• The phrase “when you stop fighting, the fighting stops” is more than a saying — it’s a lived principle that Daryl continues to practice daily.

• Saying “I don’t know” and becoming teachable is not a weakness — it’s one of the most powerful doorways to transformation.

• Taking risks is not about blind leaps — sometimes it’s simply doing the uncomfortable thing you know will move you forward.

• Humility and gratitude anchor growth — staying open, small, and teachable helps guard against ego-driven distortions.

• Progress is not linear. Some days you win, some days you don’t — but choosing to face yourself is always a win.

• Letting go of “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” helps dissolve internal warfare and replace judgment with grace.
  

Reflection Questions

1. What is one “internal battle” you’re currently fighting — and how might your struggle change if you simply stepped back and offered yourself grace instead of resistance?

2. What is one small, risky move (even uncomfortable) you could take this week to lean into growth — simply because you believe that doing so matters more than playing it safe?
   

Connect with Daryl Dittmer

• Website: www.daryldittmer.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whenistopfighting/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095169161814

• Facebook (alternate): https://www.facebook.com/daryl.dittmer/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daryl-dittmer-734205294/

Have you ever achieved success on paper, only to feel a quiet ache for something more? In this thought-provoking episode of the Small Victories Podcast, Pauline Victoria sits down with James Robbins—international keynote speaker, leadership author, and creator of The Call to Climb—to explore what it means to live in alignment with your soul's calling.

Through personal story and powerful metaphors, James shares how even a purposeful life can feel hollow when it’s out of sync with your true self. Together, they unpack the courage it takes to listen to your inner whispers, the difference between ego-driven goals and soul-aligned commitments, and the idea that your greatest contribution to the world is not what you do—but who you become.

If you’ve ever wondered if there’s more to life than just checking off achievements, this episode will give you the spiritual compass to find your way forward.

Key Takeaways:

• Purpose is not a position—it’s your most honest and authentic expression. You can live your purpose in many forms, but it starts with being fully yourself.

• The soul doesn’t care what the crowd thinks—only the ego does. Learning to distinguish between these voices is essential to living a fulfilled life.

• Discontent can be a divine signal. Feeling out of alignment isn’t failure—it’s your soul summoning you to a deeper conversation.

• You don’t need permission to live your life—you need intention. Crafting a “spiritual compass” can help you define what success really looks like for you.

• Fear keeps us in familiar patterns. True transformation begins by sitting with your fear and asking, “What is this in service to?”

• Not every soul-calling needs to be monetized. Some passions are meant simply to nourish your spirit—and that’s enough.
  

Reflection Questions:

1. Where in your life do you feel out of alignment, even if things seem “good” on the surface?

2. What beliefs or fears might be keeping you from expressing your most authentic self?
   

Connect with James Robbins:

• Main Website: www.jamesrobbins.com

• The Call to Climb Book Website: iwillclimb.com 

• Books:

• Nine Minutes on Monday: View on Amazon 

• The Call to Climb: Learn More

• Social Media:

• Instagram: @james.r.robbins https://www.instagram.com/james.r.robbins 

• YouTube: @james.r.robbins https://www.youtube.com/@james.r.robbins 

• Facebook: James Robbins https://www.facebook.com/jamesrobbins97/ 

What if starting over isn’t failure — but an invitation to rise wiser?

In this raw, hilarious, and powerfully honest conversation, I sit down with Jessica Danel—author of Bucket List from a Redneck Girl and host of the Jess Saying podcast. Jess shares her rollercoaster story of resilience: from being the "Popeye Girl" and surviving a school shooting, to building a million-dollar preschool business, facing public shaming, and walking away from it all to protect her daughter and rebuild her life again—and again.

Her life isn’t linear, and that’s exactly the point. Through tragedy, loss, reinvention, and steamy romance novels (!), Jess shows us that the only thing standing in our way is... ourselves.

This conversation will remind you that setbacks are setups, humor is healing, and you can start over — not from scratch, but from experience.

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience isn’t about being polished. It’s about falling down and choosing to get back up — again and again.

• Starting over doesn’t erase your progress. It compounds your wisdom and sharpens your clarity.

• Being unapologetically yourself is a superpower. Authenticity is magnetic and healing — both for yourself and others.

• You don’t need permission to write your story. Everyone’s life has value, and someone needs the wisdom your experiences carry.

• Your lowest moments don’t define you. How you rise from them does.
  

Reflection Questions:

1. What’s a moment in your life when you had to start over — and how did it shape who you are today?

2. Are there stories from your past that deserve to be shared, even if they’re messy, painful, or unfinished?
   

Connect with Jessica Danel:

• 🌐 Website: www.jesssaying.net 

• 🎧 Podcast: Jess Saying — Available on Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube & wherever you get your podcasts 

• 📘 Book: Bucket List from a Redneck Girl 

• 📲 Social Media: 

• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@jessdanel

• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jessdanel/

• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Jessicadanel3

  X / Twitter https://x.com/Jesssaying2025

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-danel-mba-88970283/
  

• 
  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jessicadanel4240

What if success in business didn’t come at the expense of people or the planet—but because of how you treat them? In this inspiring episode of The Small Victories Podcast, host Pauline Victoria sits down with Dr. Bruno Cignacco—international business consultant, TEDx speaker, and author of The Art of Compassionate Business—to reimagine what it means to thrive in business today.

Bruno shares how compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, and generosity are not just feel-good values—they’re smart business strategies that foster loyalty, innovation, and long-term profitability. Backed by decades of research and practical examples, he reveals how the most successful organizations are those that put humans, relationships, and meaning at the heart of their operations.

Whether you’re leading a team, growing your business, or redefining success for yourself, this episode will challenge you to see kindness not as a soft skill, but as a strategic advantage.\

Key Takeaways

• Compassion in business isn’t weakness—it’s a strength that builds trust, collaboration, and long-term success.

• The most valuable business resource isn’t technology or capital—it’s people and relationships.

• A psychologically safe workplace boosts creativity, engagement, and innovation.

• Fear-based cultures kill compassion; generosity-based cultures unlock potential.

• Companies that integrate social and environmental purpose attract more loyal customers, talented employees, and aligned partners.

• Conscious leadership is about asking, “How can I add value, support, and understanding to those around me?”
  

Reflection Questions

1. How might your business or leadership style shift if compassion became your core strategy, not just a personal value?

2. What’s one relationship—personal or professional—where you could choose understanding over urgency this week?
   

Connect with Dr. Bruno Cignacco

🌐 Website: www.brunocignacco.com

📘 Book: The Art of Compassionate Business – Available here http://www.routledge.com/9781032445427