Think Courageously with Deb Cummins Stellato

It's a celebration! 

Today marks the one year anniversary of The Think Courageously podcast! 

I couldn't be more excited to have my dear friend, my coach, and my mentor, April Adams Pertuis, as of today's special guest as we celebrate the one year anniversary of the Think Courageously podcast. 

April Adams Pertuis is a former journalist, video producer, content creator, and founder of the Lightbeamers Facebook community. 

She is a self-proclaimed storytelling junkie who believes that when we share our stories, we shine a light.

In this episode we talk about:

• The continuum of courage
• Vulnerable storytelling
• The myths of vulnerability
• The process April used to pull the story out of me (it wasn’t easy!)
• How I found the three pillars of the podcast
• Igniting your own light and illuminating the way for others
• Being in service and sharing our stories with others
• Making life pivots and the act of decision making
• Drawing a line in the sand, and then showing up for it.
• The powerful public declaration that she asks each of her new members to share
• The role courage and pivots have played in her business success and her own line in the sand moment

As always, we talk about the courage that we find in sharing our stories.The courage it takes to be open and expose ourselves to things as we navigate life.

Join us as we "thinkcourageously" with #AprilAdamsPertuis

You can find April at:
IG: @lightbeamers community
FB: LIGHTbeamers
Podcast: The Inside Story
Website: lightbeamers.com

New York Times best-selling author, magazine editor, yogi and podcaster, Anne Alexander is on a mission... to help others unleash their awesomeness. 

In this episode, Anne shares her journey from super-achiever to a super transformer. Through her personal awakening, she has learned how to use her media and personal voice.   

We talk about speaking up, listening deeply, healing what hurts... all in service of unleashing your brightest light.

A self-proclaimed "extraordinary disapappearer and people pleaser",  hiding has been the story of Anne’s life.  Yet, in spite of her conditioning, she found the courage to become exceptionally successful in traditional terms.    

Her past motto of  "how can I help you" has been replaced by "just be."  

 Today, we talk about:

• Courageously redefining success. 
• Living your life in chapters.
• Navigating life’s external experiences, while also processing it internally.
• Unlearning what we've learned
• And the role of the universe and intuition play in our lives as women.

Anne shares three basic principles that she practices daily. Accepting your feelings, knowing your purpose, and doing what needs to be done.  

And, as always, we talk about courage, success, and pivots. The courage found in the everyday decisions we make. And, the courage it takes to be open and exposed ourselves to things as we navigate this thing called life.  

Join us as we “thinkcourageously” with #AnneAlexanderUnleased.

Learn more about Anne at:
https://www.soulcandy.com/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-alexander-666908/
https://www.facebook.com/SoulCandyFounder
https://www.instagram.com/soulcandyfounder/

On today's show, I'm taking a little stroll down memory lane.  I'm reflecting on the lessons learned through the remarkable women who happened to share their stories during this remarkable time. 

I've been fascinated by what connects my guests. And this show tackles what I've learned this year.  The messages are powerful. And as diverse as these women are, each of their stories is connected in powerful ways. 

This show is full of wonderful nuggets about lessons in success courage and pivots. And it honors these guests who have become my tribe. Women who are willing to speak truth to triumph. 

On today's episode of the Think Courageously Podcast, I'm taking listeners' questions about...podcasting!

From finding dynamic guests to insights into my favorite shows to the possibility of highlighting men on the show...you'll get a birdseye view into what it takes to bring this weekly show to you. 

You'll learn about my role in getting the show ready for launch, what I am seeking in guests, and why podcasting is my passion project. 

I'm also offering a #courageouschallenge to listeners. Consider your own story of courage, success, and pivots. I'm offering YOU the opportunity to be a guest on the show in 2021. 

In this first of three episodes, I'm taking a deep dive into listeners' questions. Some of the topics I cover today include:

• My daily mindset and routine
• My favorite thing...right now
• Getting unstuck
• What's ahead in 2021
• My courageous inspirations
• My superpowers
• Confidence
• And a peak into my wild and crazy blended family (including furbabies!)

Melanie Curtis has jumped out of an airplane over 11,000 times. She has competed at the highest levels in the sport of skydiving, set world records, stunt doubled in commercials and has worked around the world as a headling professional skydiver.

Her collective experiences, Melanie leads and creates from her belief that courageous self-expression is one of the most powerful avenues to our deepest healing and highest contribution to others, ourselves, and the world. 

Melanie is also a life coach, speaker, author and activist. 

In our conversation, we start at the beginning...her days as a banker. We journey through topics including happiness, passion, and alignment. We talk about the limiting beliefs we have around pivots. And harnessing your greatest resources and inner passion. 

It's been some time since I've done a solo show. And I was feeling like we could all use a boost of positive energy. 

On today's episode, I'm talking about one of my favorite topics.. managing our own dynamic energy. 

Coronavirus. Crazy election season. Homeschooling. Disrupted holiday plans. Zoom fatigue. Our 2020 reality.

Anxious. Angry. Overwhelmed. Depressed. Disconnected. Overworked. Depleted. All words that any of us might use right now to describe our own energy.  How is all of this catabolic energy serving you right now? What can you do to shift your energy?

 Understanding and choosing how you want to show up... in spite of the circumstances is a game-changer. 

I introduce you to the 7 levels of energy.  And I share a bit about my own daily energy dynamic practice. 

You'll also get a sneak-peak into my 5 C strategies for combatting catabolic energy:

• controlling what you can control
• celebrating the small stuff
• creating contemplation time
• community engagement
• and commitment to connections

Think about this show as a shot of Vitamin C for your spirit.

Sometimes we choose the pivot, sometimes the pivot chooses us. 

Meet Annie Scranton. 

Annie is a former TV producer working on shows on FOX, CNN, MSNBC, and ABC's Good Morning America, and NBC's TODAY Show. Now, as a PR-pro, she helps craft messages for brands like Hint Water, Fast Company, Saffron Roads, and travel darling, Away suitcases.

Over a decade ago, Annie Scranton was a producer for some of the biggest networks on TV. But when her show was canceled, she found herself an unexpected entrepreneur. Utilizing her own story as inspiration.

Our conversation focuses on Annie's rebuild after a setback in the high-pressure media industry. 

Annie shares tips and tricks on how to face your challenges head-on and turn them into your biggest successes. Including:

•  getting blunt and honest feedback from your network of friends and families
• getting granular about your skillset
• your personal value proposition...what can an employer get from working with you
• positioning yourself as an expert
• and celebrating your successes

In this episode, we share our mutual admiration for Katie Couric,  the concept of career currency, celebrating small wins, and imposter syndrome.  

This is a great conversation into #thinkingcourageously about your career with a media maven.

Taylor’s expertise is in inspirational leadership, talent development and facilitation. 

Taylor began her career as a consultant with Mercer Human Capital, and has since held roles with a variety of organizations around the world, including as an advisor to Rio Tinto in Mongolia and as President of the nonprofit Born Free Africa. Her experience spans North America, Africa and Asia.

Taylor, and her business partner, Mollie Khine,  are the creators of Convers(ate) ...a time-tested method for sparking conversation, rooted in the art of asking thoughtful questions. 

During this episode of the podcast, we talk about the "birth" of the Convers(ate). And what it's like to be an entrepreneur and working mom. 

Convers(ate) has three grounding principles...be present, be curious and be respectful. 

In this conversation, we talk about getting uncomfortable. Especially in the political season of 2020. 

How do we navigate challenging discussions with families and friends? How do we show up in a place of curiosity and growth? How do we move forward with those who have political views that don't align with ours?  What values are at the core of our differences? How do we find common ground?

Bottom line...we talk about the importance of trying first to understand..then be understood " Let's listen and learn before we pitch and persuade..." This episode is about the  power of courageous conversations in our lives. 

 Academic. Student. Scientist. International Activist. Entrepreneur. Mother. 

Survivor a childhood sexual abuse, 

Khine lives her life with the hope of impacting one person at a time. 

" Basically, my own trauma allowed me to see the world with a different perspective that we all need to be kinder."

Khine was born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) and came to United States in 2013 with her former husband who is Allentown-native after obtaining her Ph.D in Human Security from University of Tokyo. 

During this podcast, we explore Khine's fascinating journey and stories of courage. From getting a full-scholarship to leave Myanmar to study to the incredible encounter with a young girl she met that forever changed her life. And the courage this meeting had on her ability to make the ultimate pivot. 

We explore finding your voice and the power of impacting one person at a time; throwing that small pebble into the ocean and seeing it ripple. And of course we talk about Khine's entrepreneurial journey and her business; Khineder Creations. 

Khine talks about the courage it took her to choose a different path in her traditional family. And challenges our limited beliefs on external expectations.

At 24, Khine understood that "whatever I was going to become from that point onward, I wanted it to be of service. I wanted to be of service to especially girls. And helping them was helping my own wounds."

This is a remarkable story of #thinkcourageously and #livingcourageously.