The Truth that Heals

About This Episode

In this episode of The Truth That Heals, I sit down with artist and brain aneurysm survivor Kayla Hickman to talk about rebuilding life after a ruptured brain aneurysm. Kayla shares her experience with memory and speech loss, recovery, caregiving, finding her voice, and eventually rediscovering her passion for art and creativity as part of her healing journey.

Connect with Kayla:Threads: @Hickman.Kayla

https://kannette68.wixsite.com/kayla-hickman-artist

Thank You for Watching!Thank you for tuning in to The Truth That Heals Podcast. If these conversations have encouraged, informed, or inspired you, you can help support the podcast here:

☕ www.buymeacoffee.com/truththath7

Your support helps me continue sharing meaningful conversations and stories of healing, resilience, and hope.

In This Episode

We discuss anxiety and mental health, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), intrusive thoughts and overthinking, self-doubt and the inner critic, Michelle’s work with clients, practical ways to challenge anxious thinking, and the ideas behind The Bully in Your Head.

About Michelle Ross

Michelle Ross is a CBT therapist, speaker, and author with nearly 20 years of experience helping people work through anxiety, panic, OCD, health anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt. She is the author of The Bully in Your Head, which explores how anxiety can disguise itself as our own inner voice and influence our choices and confidence.

Connect With Michelle

🌐 Website: www.michelle-ross.com

📖 The Bully in Your Head — Amazon: www.a.co/d/0hIzUTjz

A Note From Me

Thank you for watching and supporting The Truth That Heals. My goal with this podcast is to create meaningful conversations about mental health, healing, resilience, spirituality, and the experiences that shape our lives.

If you enjoy the show and would like to help me continue creating these conversations, you can support the podcast here:

☕ Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/truththath7

And please remember to like, subscribe, comment, and share the episode. Every bit of support helps the podcast reach more people.

In this episode of The Truth That Heals, I speak with Australian writer and former Queensland Police Officer Yvonne Richardson-Hay about her lifelong experience with stage 4 endometriosis.

After a 17-year journey to diagnosis, Yvonne faced severe endometriosis, numerous surgeries, fertility concerns, and the lasting effects of chronic illness—all while fighting to build the life and career she wanted.

We discuss the realities of living with endometriosis, the importance of greater awareness and earlier diagnosis, and why the impact of the disease can continue long after treatment. Yvonne also shares the story behind her forthcoming memoir, Inside & Out – A Life with Endometriosis, which explores her decades-long journey of resilience, loss, family, career, and life beyond the disease.

Connect with Yvonne Richardson-Hay

Website: yvonnerichardsonhay.com.au
Instagram: @yvonne.richardsonhay.writer

Support The Truth That Heals
If you enjoy the conversations on The Truth That Heals and would like to support the podcast, you can Buy Me a Coffee:

buymeacoffee.com/truththath7

Your support helps me continue creating conversations about healing, health, resilience, mental health, and the personal stories that often go unheard.

Guest Info

Shea LeJeune, a is life coach, author, and TikTok influencer (hypegirl.Shea) who has spent the last five years helping thousands navigate the complexities of anxiety through her platform, writing, speaking and community volunteer work.

With a 90% success-rate framework, Shea is dedicated to helping her clients move past their pain to find true hope and write a new, vibrant chapter as they discover the healed self!

As a neurodivergent artist, she brings a unique, creative perspective to inner healing, turning chaos into clarity for her clients.

To learn more about her work, book a 20-minute 360-assessment call at SheaCoaching.com and/or pick up her book, Becoming Shea : My quest to find significance, emerging from a cult and traversing an anxiety disorder. On amazon now! For a signed copy, email Shea at : [email protected]

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Guest Information

Sheilah Jane is a writer, entrepreneur and wellness advocate, with a degree in Engineering. Born in the Philippines and now residing in the U.S., she brings lived experience and lyrical prose to her unforgettable debut. She is a Certified Yoga Instructor and the co-founder of Sempre Avanti Imports, focused on family-run wineries and distilleries. She is also the founder of Foxy Flower CBD, rooted in natural wellness.

Link:

SheilahJane.com

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If you would like to support my work and podcast please consider leaving a small contribution at:

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Thank you :)

Dr. Stefanie Bennett is a transpersonal psychologist, author, poet, songwriter, and founder of Hagiagraphia. Her work lives at the intersection of depth psychology, Spiritual Science, and Aramaic mysticism, offering a path toward healing that honors both the soul and the sacred.Specializing in recovery from narcissistic abuse and complex trauma, Dr. Bennett integrates contemplative psychology, ancient Aramaic wisdom, and spiritual practice to help people reclaim their inner authority and return to their deepest center. Through her books, sacred art, courses, and teachings, she invites others into a journey of remembrance, healing, and transformation.Her work explores the profound relationship between psychological healing and spiritual awakening, revealing how trauma recovery can become a path of initiation into a more authentic, sovereign life.

If you would like to support my channel please consider:

buymeacoffee.com/truththath7

Thank you for all of your support and for helping to make this channel a reality :)

ABOUT ME

AUTHOR. POET. HEALER. STORYTELLER

I obtained my Juris Doctor Degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. I practiced U.S. immigration law for twenty-three years, and continue to practice Canadian immigration law. I've written a trilogy of poetry books. “Killing Justice” is my debut memoir, which can be found at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3Y5XKRM & now on all other platforms at https://books2read.com/killingjustice

. I currently live in Culver City, California. I'm passionate about raising awareness about mental illness and the criminal justice system and encouraging others on their healing journey, especially through the arts. My poetry can be found at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kellyab3/ & my poet website is http://www.kgstoryteller.com/.

And for more info on the memoir I'm currently collaborating with my award-winning Canadian filmmaker friend Bernard on adapting for the screen, please go to my author site, www.kellygiles.com (and please feel free to subscribe to my author newsletter on the home page where it says "Stay Updated".)

If you would like to support my podcast the Truth That Heals please consider contributing at buymeacoffee.com/truththath7

Guest Info:

Dana S. Diaz is a bestselling, multi-award-winning author, global speaker, magazine contributor, and creator of the SHIFTING GEARS™ transformation system, which helps people overcome adversity, rebuild self-worth, and rewrite the subconscious beliefs that shape their lives.

After surviving childhood trauma and decades of domestic abuse, Dana discovered that lasting transformation doesn't begin by changing circumstances—it begins by changing the beliefs that define who we think we are.

She now teaches audiences how to break free from limiting conditioning, trust themselves again, and create lives rooted in confidence, authenticity, and purpose.

Dana is the award-winning author of the memoir trilogy Gasping for Air, Choking on Shame, and Rising from the Ashes. She has appeared on nearly 300 podcasts worldwide, been featured on NBC Chicago, and spoken on major stages including the Ultimate Women's Expo in Chicago.

Her message is simple but life-changing: Change your mind. Change your life.

Visit me at danasdiaz.com

Order Print and Audio Books on Amazon Follow and Connect with me on Social MediaInstagram Facebook TikTok LinkedIn

Dana S. Diaz

Guest Info

Heather Morgan is a writer and podcast host behind Wandering the Wild Mess. After walking away from a life that looked right on paper, she made the bold decision to start over—leaving Utah to rebuild from scratch in Nashville, Tennessee.

Her work centers on identity, personal growth, and navigating life’s messy in-between seasons. Through honest reflection and conversation, she explores what it means to evolve, let go of what no longer fits, and build a life that feels aligned from the inside out.

You can find more of her work at wanderingthewildmess.com and listen to her podcast on all streaming platforms.

Guest Info

Peggy Sweeney-McDonald is a Southern storyteller, actress, author, and speaker from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, whose work celebrates the power of memory, food, and family to connect us all.

Her memoir, Life in the A-Zone, grew out of her caregiving journey with her mother, and her podcast of the same name has been heard in over 30 countries. She is also the creator of the Pink Cloud Moments Journals, designed to bring comfort, reflection, and hope to those navigating caregiving, grief, and life transitions.

Peggy is the creator of the live storytelling show Meanwhile, Back at Café Du Monde…, and the book by Pelican Publishing. She continues to inspire audiences through her writing, speaking, and creative work centered on finding beauty in everyday moments. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and her 90-year-old father.

Book: https://a.co/d/8QRWzn1

Website: https://www.peggysweeneymcdonald.com