This episode marks the end of my podcast, Think Courageously. For three years, I’ve been discussing topics that center around women’s courage and resilience, and how to cultivate a courageous mindset.

I’ve been privileged to speak with amazing women who have shared their stories of success, pivots and of course, courage.

The podcast has been a perfect platform for me to reach out to other women as they embark on their own journey of growth and self-discovery. In this last episode, I want to take some time to reflect on the experience that this show has given me and what it has meant to me.

One of the most important things that I learned from this experience is that each story of courage is unique. Including mine!

The Think Courageously podcast may be ending but my mission remains the same—to Think Courageously! My company, Think Good Coaching & Consulting continues its mission by providing one-on-one and group coaching. 

Through these services I intend on continuing my work towards empowering more women everywhere!  

And I am committed to sharing the incredible stories and lessons learned through this show. Look for updates about the book I am committed to beginning in 2023.

This final episode of Think Courageously marks an important milestone in my life—it is both an ending and a beginning at once!  It has allowed me to connect with so many amazing people who have inspired me along the way. Although I am saying goodbye today, it doesn't mean that my work here is done—in fact, it only serves as motivation for future endeavors! So thank you for joining me on this journey – here's looking forward to more inspiring conversations ahead!

In 2001 at the age of 3 years old, Michelle Zenie’s son was diagnosed with leukemia. Although he is now a successful 24 year old adult, Michelle knows that you can never go back from being a cancer mom. 

From 2005-2013, Michelle experienced profound grief as she lost 6 people in her life. In the midst of all of this was a difficult divorce. 

In her healing process, Michelle connected with the  Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley as a volunteer. Since January 2014,  Michelle has served as the agency's  Executive Director. With personal experience in the world of pediatric cancer to back her professional expertise, 

In our conversation, the final installment of  The Think Courageously Podcast, we discuss the silver linings found in every traumatic event. We explore what it feels like to be in the direct pathway of grief. 

Michelle shares her own lessons from living and leading with grief and loss. We talk about how life’s reality is that it is hard. To live a full life, we must appreciate how sadness and beauty are both part of our shared experiences. 

We talk about Michelle’s philosophy on healing from trauma which includes:

• Acknowledging that life is really hard. 
• Accepting that life is a journey. 
• Recognizing that no is coming to save you. You are the only one that will save you. 
• Each of us can figure out how to survive and thrive after trauma.
• Allow creativity to pave your way. 
• Give yourself a moment to take in the beauty of life
• It’s important to sit in hard moments. 

Finally , we explore embracing the notion that we are all a mess. That we all have moments of not feeling good enough. Moments where we are battling imposter syndrome. And the power of finding grace in all of the ups and downs of our shared experiences. 

As the Executive Director of PCFLV, Michelle's passion for this cause, along with her business acumen, has helped her grow PCFLV into an award-winning organization and one of the Lehigh Valley's most well-respected non-profits. PCFLV helps over 300 families in the Greater Lehigh Valley area. In addition, she received the Lehigh Valley Business’ Women of Influence award in 2022. 

Her vision for PCFLV is to bring a compassionate network of resources and services to families during the most challenging time in their lives, while collaborating with Lehigh Valley businesses, organizations, and community partners. PCFLV works closely with Lehigh Valley Health Network to provide their pediatric oncology patients with programming and services and access to help with bills through the Family Assistance Fund. 

In her personal life, Michelle is blessed to be mom to three kids: Cole (a pediatric cancer survivor), Aidan, and Makenna. She is a Reiki Master, a Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher, and enjoys yoga, art, writing, hiking and travel with her kids and husband, Eric Rounds.

Learn more about Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley at: https://www.pcflv.org/

Today, I welcome back our very own Katharina Stuerzl to The Think Courageously Podcast. This is  another installment in our “The End of an Era…Conversations with Members of the Think Courageously Community”.

Since our last recording,  Kat has been on a major journey  towards becoming the best version of herself.  Kat has completed her certification as an iPEC coach.  She is also an Amazon bestselling author, contributing a chapter in the collaborative book “Step Into Your Brave.” 

Our conversation today focuses on pivoting towards alignment…or what we call the “Katvolution.” 

In today’s conversation, we talk about how when you challenge yourself, you challenge the box that you’ve put yourself in. You lose the weight of expectations and show up in a place of choice. Kat shares the power of being brave enough to take responsibility for what we move towards. And, how our thoughts create our reality.

We also talk about:

• The power of coaching
• Women supporting other women 
• The importance of daily mindset work 
• Breaking cultural and family expectations
• The continuum of courage
• Creating the space for growth

Kat is a Certified Professional Coach and also has her SHRM Certification. As a coach, Kat empowers young professionals and leaders of various experience levels to leave the box of expectations, limiting beliefs and comfort behind. She is 

To learn more about Kat, visit www.leaveyourboxwithkat.com

“Mindset is a practice. Just because you make a step forward doesn’t mean that you cleaned up all the triggers…."

Today, I welcome back  Leanne Smith to The Think Courageously Podcast. This is another installment in our “The End of an Era…Conversations with Members of the Think Courageously Community.”

You may remember that Leanne was my accountability partner in the “Elevate Your Voice” storytelling project. She is a coach, storyteller and dear friend.

Since the launch of the book, Leanne’s story has evolved and blossomed. She is pivoting towards the most powerful version of herself.

Her story today starts with this…Hello my name is ___ and I am a failure.

In today’s show, we talk about what it takes to deny your inner critic and silence self doubt.  For so long, Leanne was not able to show up as her authentic self. Her evolution is focused on how to dig deeper and claim her own personal happiness.

She takes us on a very personal journey of a divorce and  bankruptcy. And the moment she realized how self-doubt was claiming her future. Leanne describes when she knew that she needed to claim back her own power. In that moment she gave herself permission to unleash her awesomeness.

“I was looking for failure and I needed to flip that switch.”

Now, today she can say…”Hello My Name is Awesome."

She shares some great insight into starting your day and planning for happiness.

Leanne Smith is a life and self-esteem specialist that teaches you a piece-by-piece approach to living the life of your dreams, so you can create happy and successful days by using vision planning. She is the founder of Force of Happiness and an active leader inside her VIP women's membership Board of Masterminds. She also authors “The Happiness Report” substack.

To learn more about Leanne visit:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/197285848389268
https://www.instagram.com/absoluteleanne/

Welcome to our first installment of what I’m calling “The End of An Era…Stories from The Think Good Community.”

Today, I welcome Vicki Grossman Capps. Vicki is trained as a therapist and is a licensed professional counselor, a licensed addiction counselor, a nationally certified therapist, an approved clinical supervisor and an EMDRIA certified trauma therapist.  She has worked for nearly 19 years at a program within the District Attorney’s office that offers first time juvenile and adult offenders an alternative to formal court filing by going through a therapeutic counseling program and restorative justice process.

At the heart of this episode is the story of one woman’s journey of survivorship. Vicki shares how being swept off her feet as a young professional in New York City set the stage for a marriage that looked promising to her (in all of the bright shiny ways that we can all relate to) and almost more importantly, to others. She talks about the emotional blackmailing that happens in abusive relationships and the final words that put her in a place of action.

Vicki’s storytelling is powerful and courageous. She talks about trusting her gut. She also shares a very real internal questioning that happens with the brain of  survivors…does my experience qualify as abuse? Was it “real”? And how this mindset contributes to not sharing our stories for fear of not being believed.

By sharing her story, Vicki hopes to shine a light on issues of domestic violence with others. She also hopes that she can model the way for her teenage daughters as she owns and steps into her own think courageously moment.

For more information on Vicki, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickilcapps

This episode of the Think Courageously podcast is brought to you by The Pivot Project…my signature group coaching program. 

Created for courageous women like you.

The Pivot Project is a 6-month virtual group coaching program.

Six months. A small tribe of courageous women ready for deep connection and a mindset transformation. 

Elevate your confidence. Get crystal clear on who you are and where you are headed. Build resilience. Think courageously. For more information on the Pivot Project, visit: https://www.thethinkgoodcompany.com/pivot-project

Natalie Suppes is a Mother, a Daughter, and a Wife. In 2007, she was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's). 

In today’s episode of The Think Courageously Podcast, Natalie shares her stories of redefining success, leaning towards pivots and living a courageous life. From her days of being a University student to walking away from a corporate gig while on maternity leave to the launch of her business (@SickandSuccessful) , Natalie provides us powerful insight into thinking courageously. And, what I’m calling Pivot Pops…those moments when you trust your intuition enough and make a quick pivot. 

As the owner of Sick and Successful, Natalie leads a company that has  redefined our traditional stories about work and chronic illness. In today’s show, we explore the challenges of holding boundaries and modeling the way for other women. 

We also explore:

• Creating businesses that align with our values
• The difference between thinking courageously and living courageously
• The secret life of those dealing with chronic pain
• Keeping joy front and center in life
• Glass balls and rubber balls

This inspiring interview is filled with nuggets around the stories that limit us and those stories that we chose to set ourselves free. 

For more information about Natalie, visit:

https://www.sandscreative.ca
https://ca.linkedin.com/company/s-and-s-creative-media
https://www.facebook.com/sandscreativemediaa/
https://www.instagram.com/s.and.s.creative
https://www.instagram.com/for.the.success

In today’s episode of the Think Courageously Podcast, I chat with Beth Jones, a brand-new Amazon Best-Selling author! 

Beth is one of the contributors for “Step Into Your Brave”, another collection of powerful stories brought to you by April Adams Pertuis and Lanette Pottle, my publishers!

Beth describes herself as a survivor. For 45 years she lived behind a wall that she built to protect herself from trauma and perpetual abuse.

In this interview Beth shares her personal pivot…the choice to move towards healing., Beth shares the moment when she knew she could no longer live behind the walls that she had spent years constructing. Through a transformational hypnotherapy session, Beth was able to see how the disjointed pieces of her life were holding her back from unconditional love.  We talk about the impact of severe emotional neglect. Today, Beth gives herself permission to thrive…not just survive.

We also talk about 

·   the power of survivorship

·   the importance of finding your tribe and getting connected

·   the continuum of courage and the readiness for a pivot 

“Through the healing journey that I've been on for the last two years. I'm discovering who I am, why I'm here on earth and what I will do to help people. It's been very difficult at times and that has required courage to push through. But it's like I'm on autopilot driving through, despite the pain sometimes.  I’m stepping into my brave to heal. And now to take my personal experience to others to help where I can.”

“Breakdown the Walls”, Beth’s chapter in “Step Into Your Brave” is a powerful story of self-discovery. She tells her story of hope to inspire others to heal and to tell fellow survivors that they, too, can heal and find love.

To learn more, you can contact Beth at [email protected] 
https://www.facebook.com/scorpiorising1070

Osunyameye is Ghanaian phrase meaning nothing is Impossible with God. And it is the title of Hilda Manyo Dickson’s powerful book. 

Hilda Manyo Dickson is based in Nigeria. She has been a finance professional for over two decades and is a John Maxwell certified speaker and coach. She is passionate about financial management and harnesses her experience as a chartered accountant to educate other women about their finances and help them multiply their streams of income so they can stand on their own.

While living through unimaginable personal challenges of her own, she was inspired to write about her experience in order to help others stay hopeful amid their storms.

At 21 months, Hilda’s daughter was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Hilda also learned at this time that she was pregnant with her second child. She began writing little notes of hope and  inspiration during these days.This is where Hilda’s passion around the power of a positive mindset emerged.

In our conversation, Hilda shares her writing journey. It took her a year to write five chapters, but she persisted. 

We talk about her three tips for facing life’s challenges…

1. Accept your reality.
2. Do a mindset reset around fears. Surround yourself with positive messages and positive people. 
3. Intentionally see the end of any challenge as good.

In this episode, we also chat about:

• Holding boundaries
• Finding good in everything
• Manifesting the positive outcome of her daughter’s cancer treatment

Hilda believes that a positive mindset cannot be separated from any goal she wishes to achieve and doubles as a Personal Finance and Mindset strategist /coach.

Learn more about Hilda at: 

https://www.facebook.com/hilda.m.dickson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilda-manyo-dickson-a58593213/
https://www.instagram.com/glidewithhmd/
https://www.instagram.com/hilda_manyo_dickson/

Sara Giita Flores is a vocal empowerment coach, speaker, and singer/songwriter based near Denver, Colorado, USA. With 16 years of facilitation experience, she helps women to deepen their confidence in their voices through playful vocal practices, creative expression, and inner child healing.

In today’s episode of The Think Courageously podcast we talk about Sara’s journey to reclaim her voice. 

As a survivor of sexual assault, Sara learned early how to shut down her voice in times of intense shame. Sara became a master of  pleasing and  perfectionism. Doing all that she could to maintain a sense of safety. 

When she discovered the magic of music, everything changed for Sara. 

We talk about how unblocking the voice starts and ends with inner child healing. And the power of speaking your story. The work of building confidence in your voice starts at a very deep level and helps clear the channel for your bold, whole self-expression to come through. Along with this greater capacity for authentic self-expression, women naturally increase their visibility, success, and ability to make pivots aligned with their potential.

Courage is a lifelong exploration. Power/sensation in my body. Powerful core. Accessing the imagery with a tiger. (Retreat) When I sense the power I can also feel the fear. 

Sara and I explore:

• Creating and stepping out onto the “stage” of your own life. 
• The role of your nervous system in the journey to think courageously
• Anticipatory pleasing
• How women can heal vocal blocks and build confidence in their voices

Learn more about Sara at:
https://saragiita.com/home
https://www.facebook.com/saragiita
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClSqWJYtuXF0waFTFna2GrQ

Monica Cox is a top Holistic Functional Fertility Coach and Infertility Warrior. She's supports women in finding the root cause of their fertility issues and become the conscious mother they were born to be! 

In our conversation, we discuss how Monica dealt with years of unexplained infertility, failed IVF's & survived several miscarriages before becoming an IVF mom & getting pregnant naturally  even though the doctors said there was nothing she could do to improve her situation.

Monica also shares:

• The concept of embryo quality
• The role of mental health and fertility
• Why fertility is run by your gut and other systems
• How desperation feeds the situation
• Why infertility is 98% physical and emotional
• The role of intuition

We also discussed my favorite topic… how to take a crappy situation and turn into an opportunity to work on the things they need to work on. And, finally how we can change the limiting beliefs are the word to infertility to becoming a fertility warrior!

Monica is the  author of the best-selling journal "Boost Your Embryos" and host of the highly popular podcast Finding Fertility, Monica is dedicated to inspiring women to look beyond their infertility diagnosis and take control of their health. Her signature online program, The Fertility Formula,  & personal Fertility Focused Coaching, has helped women increase their chances of creating the family of their dreams.

For more info on Monica and the work she is doing visit:
https://www.findingfertility.co
https://www.instagram.com/findingfertility/
https://www.tiktok.com/@findingfertility
https://www.facebook.com/FindingFertility