Think Courageously with Deb Cummins Stellato

In today’s episode of The Think Courageously podcast, I’m welcoming back one of our most popular guests, Coach Kofi Williams!

Kofi Williams, CPC, ELI-MP, is a certified Empowerment & Leadership Coach and founder of the Next Chapter Academy, a transformative personal and professional development group coaching experience for women who want the clarity, confidence, and power to transform their lives from the inside out.

Her work focuses on bringing women back to themselves. 

Our conversation focuses on creating and re-defining mid-life relationships. 

We share our personal story of building an unexpected friendship through compassion, listening and deep understanding. We talk about how our relationship unfolded and our shared commitment to building a powerful friendship.

We also explore:

• Letting go of toxic relationships
• How self-awareness lives at the root of all healthy relationships
• How COVID has given us an opportunity to build powerful virtual friendships
• Radical acceptance of each other’s gifts
• Standing strong in our values as we find healthy relationships

Learn more about Coach Kofi at: 

www.myidealcompanion.com
coachkofi.com
www.facebook.com/coachkofi
www.instagram.com/coachkofi

Meet Kelly Falardeau. Burn survivor since the age of 2 of 75% of her body. Kelly has spent her life thinking courageously…turning her challenges into powerful pivots. She found a way to go from a near death to success, from the ugly scar-faced girl to the TEDX stage…twice! 

During our conversation we talk about the power of controlling your own narrative. Kelly is passionate about clarifying your values and finding ways to serve others. She knew that at the heart of her transformation journey was a strong desire to help others. To choose your story and leave a powerful legacy. 

In today’s episode, we also discuss:

• Giving up the comparison game
• How Kelly has redefined UGLY
• The power of just doing it
• Overcoming limited beliefs
• Redefining success

Kelly is a remarkable force of nature that is a 7X international bestselling author, recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal and a YWCA Woman of Distinction. 

She is also featured in the documentary “Still Beautiful”. 

Learn more about Kelly at: 

www.facebook.com/kellywoodhousefalardeau
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kellyfalardeau
Clubhouse: @kellyfarlardeau @authorclub

Anyssa Lucena is a rock climbing and hiking guide in New York. She is the owner and founder of Genuine Climbing and  the Confident Climbers Club.

In today’s episode of The Think Courageously Podcast, Anyssa and I explore the courage it took her to build the life of her dreams. 

Like many of us, Anyssa was on the trajectory for traditional success. She had the corporate gig, the nice home, the husband and three kids. But there was something missing. And she was open to finding out what it was. 

Anyssa had the strong belief that there was something more for her and that’s when she reignited her love affair with the great outdoors. Anyssa’s pivot was gradual. It was an unhappiness that was festering. In trusting the universe, she found her way back to her true self through nature.  

Anyssa has always loved the outdoors and fell instantly in love with climbing in 1995 during a kayaking trip in Maine that included a day of rock climbing.  She tapped back into this passion while redefining her pivot. She grew physically stronger and more curious about what it was about climbing that reignited her purpose. 

As the owner of Genuine Climbing, Anyssa now introduces the lessons of success, pivots and courage to other women through the outdoors and rock-climbing.  

Anyssa has climbed in New York, New Hampshire, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Canadian Rockies, Kentucky, California, and Chamonix.  She is also allured by the challenge of the alpine world and has summited peaks including the Eiger and the Matterhorn.  She is a firm believer that nature is the perfect way to learn.

To find more on Anyssa:
www.genuineclimbing.com
www.instagram.com/genuineclimbing
www.facebook.com/GenuineClimbing

Meet Stephanie Talia. Stephanie learned at an early age what it was like to be different and to rise above it all to become successful in her career and business. 

She has been on a quest to love the skin she is in, figuratively and literally. 

In this episode of the podcast, Stephanie shares her story of courage and persistence around finding natural and transformational solutions to find comfort and power in her own skin.

We talk about her powerful belief in alternative solutions. She has been on a relentless journey to vet products and solutions. From structured water, mud, minerals, salt and botanicals, Stephanie is driven by her belief that people can feel better in the skin they are in.  

Stephanie shares her long battle around redefining success and thinking courageously. We also talk about her pivot into becoming a H.O.P.E giver, educator, advocate and supporter for others who suffer because of skin problems. 

Stephanie also shares her story in the newly released book, “Elevate Your Voice”. 

“I could have quit. I could have hid in the shadows. I could have been miserable. I chose not to be. In choosing not to be I had to be courageous and over come a lot. Ultimately being courageous lead to many, many successes in my life...big and small."

You can learn more about Stephanie at www.stephaniesmindfulsolutions.com or follow @stephaniesmindfulsolutions on Facebook and Instagram.

On today’s episode of the Think Courageously Podcast, I’m taking a deep dive into the rollercoaster ride of becoming an author. 

Three weeks after my major spinal surgery in July, I said "yes" to the opportunity to contribute a chapter to the book "Elevate Your Voice". 

Writing my chapter (Living and Grieving with Courage) and seeing it through the editing and publication process has been a big deal for me and an amazing journey. It has been nine months in the making, and the official launch date of the book is April 6th.

I am excited and proud to be an author, but it is also scary. 

In this episode, I share my feelings about the actual writing experience and the collaborative process that was deployed to bring this book to life. 

I talk about the community of women who are authors, the role accountability played in the process and the wonderful friendship I developed with my partner, Leanne Smith. 

I describe how, through an intensive brainstorming process, I kept coming back to the one story that I knew I had to write. Let me be clear, it is not the story I expected to write. It is the story I needed to write. 

Finally, I share the powerful lessons  that came from writing my chapter including: 

• The not so subtle reminder  that we can do hard things. 
• How writing gave me the closure I needed to work through the most painful experience of my life. 
• The importance of my message in supporting others who are also on a grief journey. 
• The unexpected feeling of really creating a legacy piece for my family and their families for the future
• And of course the power of finishing what you start. 

Please purchase your book on April 6th on Amazon. Be sure to leave a review and share the book with others. 

And, I would love for you to send me an email at [email protected] about the book and my chapter. I can’t wait to hear from you!

Meet Charity Majors. Author, inspirational speaker, soulful mindset coach and savvy business coach. 

A few fun facts…Charity is a self-proclaimed  recovering plant killer and  total book-nerd!

In this episode of The Think Courageously podcast, Charity shares insights into her remarkable growth journey.  Charity has a powerful story around redefining courage and success. And of course we talk pivots…or as Charity calls them…ZIGS and ZAGS.

Charity provides us with transformational language around our life challenges. We talk about  small bullet holes, bomb size wounds and repeated leassons. 

By doing the deep-heavy values work, Charity has created a life of soulful work and aligned purpose. 

We discuss:

• Limiting beliefs
• Imposter syndrome
• Divine Miracles
• The difference between knowing and doing
• Leaving the expert at the door

And, we even sprinkle in a little poetry in today’s show. Link to the poem HERE!

To learn more about Charity visit:

www.instagram.com/CharityMajors

In this episode of the “Think Courageously” podcast, I have a very special treat in store for you. This courageous conversation features some of the contributing authors of the book, "Elevate Your Voice."

Unforgettable women. Unforgettable stories

Gain a unique perspective on the process of writing your story with this inspiring conversation with some of the #bookmamas of the storytelling anthology. 

We’ll explore how #thinkingcourageously was part of our process in writing Elevate Your Voice: Courageous Stories to Inspire Strength, Perseverance and Hope.

Be a part of the excitement on April 6th as the book launches!

Follow our FB page for more info on the book: www.facebook.com/thethinkgoodcompany

The remarkable Dr. Brittany Clayborne joins us today on this very special episode of The Think Courageously podcast🦁

In another author spotlight of our collaborative book "Elevate Your Voice", Brittany shares her unforgettable life changing journey.

At age 26, Brittany Clayborne found herself propelled into her destiny after unexpected heart failure and a battle with stage 4 cancer.

Dr. Brittany gives new meaning to thinking and living courageously.

During this interview we discuss:

-Making the choice to evolve and thrive instead of simply survive
-Healing yourself first to heal others
-Her journey of motherhood and the power of a mother/son bond
-Living a life of intention and purpose

Ultimately, this is the story of how courage it takes to find your sword and slay your dragons.

Finding little to no support for the mental health of critically ill patients, Brittany earned her Doctorate in Psychology in order to help others navigate the type of journey that she had faced. 

I know I will never eat a peach cobbler or chocolate dipped strawberry without savoring their sweetness. And without thinking about Dr. Brittany. 

Born and raised in New Orleans, Dr. Brittany draws the city's deep love of music as a classically trained percussionist. She shares this love of music with her 11 year old son, Micah. When they aren't having a jam session they enjoy traveling, watching football, and swimming. Both also share a passion for helping adults and children improve mental health through their nonprofits, Brittany Speaks and Micah Gives respectively. 

To learn more about Dr. Brittany, visit:

www.brittanyspeaks.com
www.facebook.com/drbrittanyspeaks
www.instagram.com/drbrittanyspeaks
www.tiktok.com/@drbrittanyspeaks
mobile.twitter.com/drbrittanyspeak

On today’s podcast, I welcome Julia Buck Barton, a fellow author in the “Elevate Your Voice” book (which you can purchase on April 6th on Amazon).

The seeds of Julia Barton's life mission were planted when she earned her Reiki I certification at the age of eight. A born intuitive and empath, young Julia used Reiki to make herself feel safe and protected. 

Despite growing up in a holistic household, adulthood found her unsure of how to best use her gifts. 

That all changed when she started a family. Her isolating experience with postpartum depression cultivated a desire to support and nurture others. She became a Postpartum Doula and Reiki Master to offer love, warmth, and support to help new moms trust their intuition and find joy throughout their postpartum journey. 

During our conversation, we talk about the courage it took Julia to rebloom. We explore:

• Overcoming perfectionism
• The importance of community in healing
• Trusting your intuition
• Returning to your true source
• Finding your life’s purpose

 Finally, Julia shares how her desire to help women bloom into their fullest selves became a business, Olive & Bloom Holistic Care and Healing.

 Learn more at:
www.oliveandbloom.net

Have you ever been in the presence of a unicorn? I have…

This week on the podcast, I got to connect with the delightful Liz Wilcox… a self-proclaimed 90s pop culture encyclopedia. 

Our conversation started with a Will Smith story and ended with a tribute to Harriet Tubman.

During our conversation, we talked about Liz’s untraditional upbringing and her unique and on-poin life philosophies. And of course, we covered redefining success, cultivating courage and BIG pivots.

Over three years, Liz founded, grew, and then sold a successful blog, The Virtual Campground. In that time she honed in on - and fell in love with - converting email subscribers into paying customers salivating at every new thing she offered. 

We covered lots of territory together...taking  the deep family dive, discussing her RV life and entrepreneurial passions. And of course, Beyonce.

Liz’s pivotal moment of courage came when she reframed the question…"What if happiness is a choice?”

We also explored:

• The self-edit
• Building a business where you belong
• Blooming where you are planed
• Being in continuous action
• And staying connected to your core values

I loved Liz’s insight into “Five Seconds of Bravery” and living in a place of possibility. This is a woman who embodies what it means to live courageously.

Liz currently resides in Florida, loves to run (no, seriously) and is a walking 90s pop culture encyclopedia. (Yes, seriously). 

Learn more about Liz at: 
https://lizwilcox.com/