Sara returns for a solo episode prompted by her upcoming 39th birthday and nearly one year since the shows launch (June 22).

She thanks listeners worldwide and shares how a family member’s feedback reassured her that the podcast’s vulnerability and community connection help people feel less alone.

Reflecting on how society celebrates marriage, kids, and corporate milestones more than personal growth, Sara recommits to celebrating herself and decides to go “all out” with a full day of birthday celebrations. 

Using a deathbed-regret exercise, Sara identifies four themes to work on: fear, control, scarcity, and disconnection from joy, and urges stopping the habit of waiting for “special” moments to live life to the fullest.

She creates a “39” word vision list (e.g., laughter, ease, health, freedom, wealth, travel, thriving) to help lead our lives with more intention and purpose.

00:00 Birthday Reflection Mode

01:58 Gratitude for Listeners

03:17 Validation Story

06:02 Why Connection Matters

08:53 Celebrating Small Wins

14:24 Birthday Blues to Shift

16:14 Stop Waiting to Live

20:29 Mortality and Regrets

23:57 Fear and Control Patterns

28:17 Scarcity and Comparison

29:26 Finding Joy Again

31:16 Healing Got Too Serious

32:43 Finding Balance Again

34:56 Stop Waiting Start Living

36:25 Turning Regret Into Fuel

37:28 Designing My 39th Year

40:06 My 39 Words List

44:20 Authenticity And Connection

48:48 Entering Your 40s Mindset

50:17 Reciprocal Friendships Only

54:01 Birthday Plans And Thanks

Connect With Sara:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/

Host Sara Jaswal returns to her podcast after months away due to technology issues, travel, and a difficult period. She shares a life update: January felt restorative, but February brought restlessness, and March became overwhelming after she got severely ill, which intensified loneliness, depression, intrusive thoughts, and fears about losing her parents. 

She reflects on grief, family enmeshment, her ongoing vision deterioration and limitations, and sadness about being single and nearing 40 without a partner or children, while emphasizing that even as a therapist and coach she still struggles.

 She describes a rejuvenating trip to Japan while noting grief still surfaced in dark environments. She closes by encouraging listeners to find daily glimmers of joy and gratitude.

Connect With Sara:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/

DISCLAIMER: This episode includes a brief mention of sexual trauma as part of the guest’s personal healing journey. While we do not go into detail, we recognize that this topic can be sensitive. This conversation reflects one individual’s lived experience and is shared in the spirit of openness and awareness. Please use your own discernment when listening and take care of yourself. This podcast is not a substitute for therapy or professional medical or mental health support. If this episode brings up anything for you, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified professional or trusted support resource.

Sara welcomes Margaret Pineda, a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) and Certified Breathwork Facilitator, to discuss body-centered healing, nervous system regulation, and shifting from “fixing” to grounded presence. 

Margaret shares how desk-job pain led her into massage therapy, later expanding into craniosacral therapy and mindfulness-based approaches. She describes postpartum anxiety, eczema flare-ups linked to stress, and insights from bioenergy training in Costa Rica that connected her symptoms to early heart surgery, generational trauma, and childhood sexual trauma; after disclosing her secret to her mother, her eczema disappeared.

Margaret explains conscious connected breathwork (continuous open-mouth breathing) as a transformational tool that can surface emotions and patterns, emphasizes the need for integration and support, and offers simple breathing practices. She also explores “be a lighthouse, not a lifeguard,” boundaries, and letting others follow their own timelines.

Connect With Magaret:

Website: https://thespaciousbreath.com/

Substack: https://thespaciousbreath.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaciousbreath/

Connect With Sara:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/

In this insightful and empowering conversation, Sara sits down with her dear friend and fellow therapist, Harjeet (Harj) Thiara (Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling-Provisional). 

Harj shares her journey from a traditional Punjabi upbringing to becoming a counselor and private practice owner. 

They discuss the profound impact of Harj's mother's stage four cancer diagnosis, her transition from public relations to counseling, and her deepening spiritual journey. 

The conversation delves into themes of grief, identity, and the importance of following one's calling. 

Harj emphasizes the significance of community support, self-acceptance, and the transformative power of facing life's challenges head-on. 

This episode offers valuable insights and encouragement for anyone navigating difficult times and seeking deeper personal growth.

Connect With Harjeet: 

Website:  https://onetruthwellnesscounselling.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onetruthwellness/

Connect With Sara:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/

In this episode, your host Sara welcomes Corinna Killeen, a Registered Therapeutic Counselor (RTC) and Certified Life Coach, who shares her profound journey through grief and loss. Corinna recounts the heartbreaking experiences of losing her younger brother, father, and stepfather, discussing the differences between anticipatory and sudden grief.

She delves into the complexities of medical trauma, the impact on family dynamics, and the isolating nature of grief. Corinna also shares coping mechanisms for anxiety and the importance of acknowledging our grief. 

The discussion transitions into Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), emphasizing resilience, self-awareness, and the continuous journey of healing. Corinna’s insights, both personal and professional, provide listeners with a deeper understanding of grief and a hopeful perspective on finding joy amidst loss.

Connect with Corinna:

Website:  https://www.corinnakilleen.com/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/counsellorcorinna/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/counsellorcorinna/about

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

Connect With Sara:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/

In this solo episode, Sara reflects on the holiday season and the emotional impact it can have, acknowledging that this time of year is not joyful for everyone. She speaks openly about her own experience of being single and the longing for partnership, family, and children, and explores a lesser-talked-about form of grief: grieving the future, milestones, and hopes that have not yet come to pass, and how this kind of grief can feel especially present during the holidays.

Sara also commemorates six months of podcasting by sharing six insights from starting something new, offering honest reflections on growth, uncertainty, and what it means to keep showing up even when the path isn’t clear. She concludes the episode with journal prompts to support listeners as they transition from 2025 into 2026 with greater awareness, intention, and self-reflection.

Connect With Sara:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/

Join host Sara Jaswal as she welcomes Chandra, a friend, and advocate for the visually impaired. In this episode, Chandra shares his personal journey with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), discussing its impact on his life, career, and daily routines. They delve into the emotional and mental challenges of vision loss, the misconceptions people have about visual impairments, and the transformative power of acceptance and adaptation. 

Chandra also talks about his passion for running marathons, and the incredible support he's received from organizations like CNIB and Achilles Canada. This episode is a testament to resilience, finding joy despite limitations, and the power of community and technology in overcoming life's challenges.

Connect With Sara:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/

In this heartfelt episode, Sara returns after a brief hiatus to share a deeply personal story about her late paternal grandmother, Kaushalya Devi Jaswal, on the tenth anniversary of her passing. Sara discusses her first encounter with death, her grieving process, and the profound lessons she learned from her grandmother's life and death. The episode is a dedication to her grandma's memory, filled with personal anecdotes, family experiences, and spiritual insights into the afterlife. Sara emphasizes the importance of family, forgiveness, and living a meaningful life. She concludes by sharing ten pivotal lessons from her journey, offering a touching tribute to her grandmother's enduring legacy.

Connect With Sara:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/

In this raw and vulnerable solo episode, Sara opens up about grief, loss, and the complex relationship we have with anger. She shares candid reflections on living with chronic fatigue and the emotional weight that comes with seasonal transitions. 

Drawing from her own experiences of vision loss, Sara explores how grief shows up in unexpected moments including a recent incident that deeply unsettled her and brought up intense feelings of anger. 

Through honest storytelling and reflection, she unpacks what it means to sit with anger rather than suppress it, offering gentle insights and practical tools for expressing it in healthy ways. 

This episode is a reminder of the strength found in vulnerability, and the healing power of community and shared experience.

Connect With Sara:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/

In this honest and moving conversation, Sara sits down with Tara Accardo, a grief and soul purpose coach and host of the Life with Grief podcast. Tara shares her profound journey through multiple losses, including the deaths of both her parents to cancer within six months of each other, a traumatic birth experience, and the subsequent self-discovery and transformation that followed.

 Tara discusses the complexities of grief, the importance of self-care, and finding meaning and purpose amidst loss. She emphasizes the significance of community, intuition, and maintaining a balance between grieving and living a fulfilling life. This conversation is a powerful exploration of how to navigate grief, find gains from losses, and ultimately rebuild a life filled with joy and purpose.

Connect With Tara:

Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-with-grief-podcast/id1688812587

Connect With Sara:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/