Tragically Beautiful

Welcome to episode 072 of the Tragically Beautiful podcast.  Your home can either help your nervous system heal - or keep you stuck in survival mode. In this episode, interior designer Sarah Trop reveals how trauma-informed design, biophilic elements, and even the shape of a coffee table can change the way a space feels after abuse, grief, or upheaval. Sarah is the award-winning founder of Funcycled, known for transforming repurposed furniture and ordinary rooms into spaces that feel calm, dignified, and deeply welcoming. She shares how her work evolved from furniture restoration and her HGTV Flea Market Flip win into designing nonprofit spaces for survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and homelessness. This conversation explores how clutter, color, lighting, texture, and sound affect the body, and why the right design choices can make a room feel safe without ever needing to explain why.

Follow Sarah:

• Website: www.funcycled.com 

• Instagram: @funcycled

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/funcycled 

• Sarah’s Book, Created to Create

Follow Kathy:

• Website: www.trueandlastingwellness.com

• Email Kathy: [email protected]

• Instagram: @tragicallybeautifulpodcast

• Instagram: @coachkathywisniewski 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tragicallybeautifulpodcast/

• Reclaim Your Connection eBook: www.trueandlastingwellness.com/products

• Wellness God’s Way podcast 

• Instagram: @wellnessgodswaypodcast 

I’ve got a brand new podcast!  It’s called Wellness God’s Way and the heart behind it is to have real conversations and discussions on inviting God into our health and wellness journey and stewarding all of the gifts He has given us - His way.  Conversations are holistic in nature, centering on emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing always through a lens of faith.  For more information go to www.trueandlastingwellness.com/WGW and let’s have those conversations that will help us find true and lasting wellness - God’s way!

Would you or someone you know like to be a future guest on the podcast?  Apply to be a guest at www.tragicallybeautiful.me - just look for the button that says “I Am Tragically Beautiful.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Music: Good Morning Life by ArtMusic from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 071 of the Tragically Beautiful podcast.  This episode is a powerful conversation with Gwendolyn Wilder, founder of Girls Trip to Peace, about finding healing, purpose, and peace after trauma. Gwendolyn shares how early experiences with abuse shaped her faith, and how journaling, Scripture, and time with God became the foundation for her recovery. She opens up about learning to trust God through domestic violence, grief, and major life transitions, and how those seasons eventually led her into advocacy and ministry. It’s an honest, faith-centered story about redemption, resilience, and discovering that nothing is wasted when it’s placed in God’s hands.

Follow Gwendolen:

• Website: www.gwendolenwilder.com

Check out Gwendolen’s website where you will find all of her links and resources!

Follow Kathy:

• Website: www.trueandlastingwellness.com

• Email Kathy: [email protected]

• Instagram: @tragicallybeautifulpodcast

• Instagram: @coachkathywisniewski 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tragicallybeautifulpodcast/

• Reclaim Your Connection eBook: www.trueandlastingwellness.com/products

• Wellness God’s Way podcast 

• Instagram: @wellnessgodswaypodcast 

I’ve got a brand new podcast!  It’s called Wellness God’s Way and the heart behind it is to have real conversations and discussions on inviting God into our health and wellness journey and stewarding all of the gifts He has given us - His way.  Conversations are holistic in nature, centering on emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing always through a lens of faith.  For more information go to www.trueandlastingwellness.com/WGW and let’s have those conversations that will help us find true and lasting wellness - God’s way!

Would you or someone you know like to be a future guest on the podcast?  Apply to be a guest at www.tragicallybeautiful.me - just look for the button that says “I Am Tragically Beautiful.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Music: Good Morning Life by ArtMusic from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 070 of the Tragically Beautiful podcast.  In this deeply moving episode of Tragically Beautiful, Kathy sits down with Elaine Lindsay, who courageously shares her extraordinary story of surviving multiple botched surgeries, clinical death, and years of unimaginable medical trauma. Through it all, Elaine found the strength to reclaim her voice and use her experiences to advocate for others.Together, they explore what medical abuse is, why patients must learn to advocate for themselves, and how to recognize when something doesn't feel right. Elaine also shares her cautionary perspective on society's obsession with beauty and the pursuit of being "good enough," reminding us that our worth is never determined by our appearance.

This conversation is both sobering and inspiring—a reminder of the importance of speaking up, trusting your instincts, and finding hope even after life's darkest moments.

Elaine’s Work:

• YouTube: @thedarkpollyanna 

• Instagram: @thedarkpollyanna

• Suicide Zen Forgiveness Podcast

Follow Kathy:

• Website: www.trueandlastingwellness.com

• Email Kathy: [email protected]

• Instagram: @tragicallybeautifulpodcast

• Instagram: @coachkathywisniewski 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tragicallybeautifulpodcast/

• Reclaim Your Connection eBook: www.trueandlastingwellness.com/products

• Wellness God’s Way podcast 

• Instagram: @wellnessgodswaypodcast 

I’ve got a brand new podcast!  It’s called Wellness God’s Way and the heart behind it is to have real conversations and discussions on inviting God into our health and wellness journey and stewarding all of the gifts He has given us - His way.  Conversations are holistic in nature, centering on emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing always through a lens of faith.  For more information go to www.trueandlastingwellness.com/WGW and let’s have those conversations that will help us find true and lasting wellness - God’s way!

Would you or someone you know like to be a future guest on the podcast?  Apply to be a guest at www.tragicallybeautiful.me - just look for the button that says “I Am Tragically Beautiful.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Music: Good Morning Life by ArtMusic from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 069 of the Tragically Beautiful podcast.  In this powerful conversation, Kathy talks with dating and self-love coach Lilli Bewley about the healing journey that leads from heartbreak and trauma toward self-trust, confidence, and meaningful love. Lilli shares how repeated relationship patterns, codependency, and emotional disconnection inspired her to create the Feminine Dating Archetype framework—a tool designed to help women identify where they are in their love journey and what healing work they need next. From the Chill Woman to the Fortress Woman, Goddess Woman, and ultimately the Magnetic Woman, Lilli explains how these archetypes reveal the deeper patterns behind dating struggles and point the way toward lasting change.

Keep up with Lilli:

• Feminine Dating Archetype Quiz: www.datingarchetype.com

• Website: https://www.lillibewley.com/

• Instagram: @lillibewley

• TikTok: @lillibewley 

Follow Kathy:

• Website: www.trueandlastingwellness.com

• Email Kathy: [email protected]

• Instagram: @tragicallybeautifulpodcast

• Instagram: @coachkathywisniewski 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tragicallybeautifulpodcast/

• Reclaim Your Connection eBook: www.trueandlastingwellness.com/products

• Wellness God’s Way podcast 

• Instagram: @wellnessgodswaypodcast 

I’ve got a brand new podcast!  It’s called Wellness God’s Way and the heart behind it is to have real conversations and discussions on inviting God into our health and wellness journey and stewarding all of the gifts He has given us - His way.  Conversations are holistic in nature, centering on emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing always through a lens of faith.  For more information go to www.trueandlastingwellness.com/WGW and let’s have those conversations that will help us find true and lasting wellness - God’s way!

Would you or someone you know like to be a future guest on the podcast?  Apply to be a guest at www.tragicallybeautiful.me - just look for the button that says “I Am Tragically Beautiful.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Music: Good Morning Life by ArtMusic from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 068 of the Tragically Beautiful podcast.  It’s the show’s 3-year anniversary today and I could not be more humbled and excited!!  Celebrate with me in this heartfelt episode! 

What does it look like to keep moving forward after unimaginable loss? In this powerful conversation, Marcia shares her journey through grief, healing, and the challenges that reshaped her life after losing two sons. Together, we discuss the role faith played in her healing odyssey, how pain can become purpose, and the work she now does to help others navigate difficult seasons. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that while loss may change us, it doesn't have to define us—and that hope can still be found even in life's darkest moments.

Keep up with Marcia:

• Website: https://www.thesterlingrosesanctuary.us/

• Marcia’s Book: Gripping Grace in the Garden of Grief

• Instagram: @thesterlingrosesanctuary 

• Facebook: @TSRS21

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

• Book: Pilgrim’s Progress

• Book: Hind’s Feet on High Places

Follow Kathy:

• Website: www.trueandlastingwellness.com

• Email Kathy: [email protected]

• Instagram: @tragicallybeautifulpodcast

• Instagram: @coachkathywisniewski 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tragicallybeautifulpodcast/

• Wellness God’s Way podcast 

• Instagram: @wellnessgodswaypodcast 

I’ve got a brand new podcast!  It’s called Wellness God’s Way and the heart behind it is to have real conversations and discussions on inviting God into our health and wellness journey and stewarding all of the gifts He has given us - His way.  Conversations are holistic in nature, centering on emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing always through a lens of faith.  For more information go to www.trueandlastingwellness.com/WGW and let’s have those conversations that will help us find true and lasting wellness - God’s way!

Would you or someone you know like to be a future guest on the podcast?  Apply to be a guest at www.tragicallybeautiful.me - just look for the button that says “I Am Tragically Beautiful.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Music: Good Morning Life by ArtMusic from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 067 of the Tragically Beautiful podcast.  What happens when the story you've carried in silence for years finally finds its voice? In this powerful episode, Kathy sits down with author and advocate Justina Pembleton to explore the healing power of storytelling after trauma. Drawing from her own experience with sexual assault, Justina shares how writing her debut novel, Shades of Shame, helped her release decades of pain, challenge the stories she told herself, and transform shame into strength. Together, they discuss finding the courage to speak your truth, the importance of being believed, and how sharing our stories—whether publicly or privately—can become a powerful part of the healing journey.

Keep up with Justina:

• Book: Shades of Shame

• Email: [email protected] 

Follow Kathy:

• Website: www.trueandlastingwellness.com

• Email Kathy: [email protected]

• Instagram: @tragicallybeautifulpodcast

• Instagram: @coachkathywisniewski 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tragicallybeautifulpodcast/

• Wellness God’s Way podcast 

• Instagram: @wellnessgodswaypodcast 

I’ve got a brand new podcast!  It’s called Wellness God’s Way and the heart behind it is to have real conversations and discussions on inviting God into our health and wellness journey and stewarding all of the gifts He has given us - His way.  Conversations are holistic in nature, centering on emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing always through a lens of faith.  For more information go to www.trueandlastingwellness.com/WGW and let’s have those conversations that will help us find true and lasting wellness - God’s way!

Would you or someone you know like to be a future guest on the podcast?  Apply to be a guest at www.tragicallybeautiful.me - just look for the button that says “I Am Tragically Beautiful.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Music: Good Morning Life by ArtMusic from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 065 of the Tragically Beautiful podcast.  In this episode, Kathy speaks with Janelle Martin, an abuse survivor and author who shares her journey of overcoming an abusive marriage. Janelle discusses the challenges she faced, including manipulation, parental alienation, and the struggle to protect her children. Despite these hardships, she found strength in her faith and transformed her pain into purpose by writing a book about her experiences. The conversation highlights themes of resilience, healing, and the power of hope, offering inspiration to those facing similar struggles. Janelle's story is a testament to the possibility of finding beauty and joy even in the darkest times.

Keep up with Janelle:

• Website: https://www.ourbeautifulrecovery.com

• Website: https://www.tmcbrainhealthcenter.com

• Facebook: @ourbeautifulrecovery 

• Instagram: @ourbeautifulrecovery

• TikTok: @jnelmartin  

Follow Kathy:

• Website: www.trueandlastingwellness.com

• Email Kathy: [email protected]

• Instagram: @tragicallybeautifulpodcast

• Instagram: @coachkathywisniewski 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tragicallybeautifulpodcast/

• Wellness God’s Way podcast 

• Instagram: @wellnessgodswaypodcast 

I’ve got a brand new podcast!  It’s called Wellness God’s Way and the heart behind it is to have real conversations and discussions on inviting God into our health and wellness journey and stewarding all of the gifts He has given us - His way.  Conversations are holistic in nature, centering on emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing always through a lens of faith.  For more information go to www.trueandlastingwellness.com/WGW and let’s have those conversations that will help us find true and lasting wellness - God’s way!

Would you or someone you know like to be a future guest on the podcast?  Apply to be a guest at www.tragicallybeautiful.me - just look for the button that says “I Am Tragically Beautiful.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Music: Good Morning Life by ArtMusic from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 066 of the Tragically Beautiful podcast.  What happens when the story you've carried in silence for years finally finds its voice? In this powerful episode, Kathy sits down with author and advocate Justina Pembleton to explore the healing power of storytelling after trauma. Drawing from her own experience with sexual assault, Justina shares how writing her debut novel, Shades of Shame, helped her release decades of pain, challenge the stories she told herself, and transform shame into strength. Together, they discuss finding the courage to speak your truth, the importance of being believed, and how sharing our stories—whether publicly or privately—can become a powerful part of the healing journey.

Keep up with Justina:

• Book: Shades of Shame

• Email: [email protected] 

Follow Kathy:

• Website: www.trueandlastingwellness.com

• Email Kathy: [email protected]

• Instagram: @tragicallybeautifulpodcast

• Instagram: @coachkathywisniewski 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tragicallybeautifulpodcast/

• Wellness God’s Way podcast 

• Instagram: @wellnessgodswaypodcast 

I’ve got a brand new podcast!  It’s called Wellness God’s Way and the heart behind it is to have real conversations and discussions on inviting God into our health and wellness journey and stewarding all of the gifts He has given us - His way.  Conversations are holistic in nature, centering on emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing always through a lens of faith.  For more information go to www.trueandlastingwellness.com/WGW and let’s have those conversations that will help us find true and lasting wellness - God’s way!

Would you or someone you know like to be a future guest on the podcast?  Apply to be a guest at www.tragicallybeautiful.me - just look for the button that says “I Am Tragically Beautiful.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Music: Good Morning Life by ArtMusic from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 064 of the Tragically Beautiful podcast. In this episode, Dan Metcalfe shares his extraordinary journey from paralysis to peak performance. Once a Broadway star and professional athlete, a life-altering accident left him facing permanent disability. Through resilience and brain rewiring, Dan transformed his setbacks into a mission to help others unlock their healing potential. Discover practical steps to build resilience, reconnect with your inner strength, and transform fear into growth. This episode is a powerful reminder that healing begins within, and your body and mind are capable of more than you can imagine.

Keep up with Dan:

• Movement and brain to body health website: https://totalbalancecompany.com/

• Lifestyle website: BornSuperHuman.com

• Instagram: @bornsuperhuman 

• Instagram: @danmetcalfe_official 

Follow Kathy:

• Website: www.trueandlastingwellness.com

• Email Kathy: [email protected]

• Instagram: @tragicallybeautifulpodcast

• Instagram: @coachkathywisniewski 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tragicallybeautifulpodcast/

• Wellness God’s Way podcast 

• Instagram: @wellnessgodswaypodcast 

I’ve got a brand new podcast!  It’s called Wellness God’s Way and the heart behind it is to have real conversations and discussions on inviting God into our health and wellness journey and stewarding all of the gifts He has given us - His way.  Conversations are holistic in nature, centering on emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing always through a lens of faith.  For more information go to www.trueandlastingwellness.com/WGW and let’s have those conversations that will help us find true and lasting wellness - God’s way!

Would you or someone you know like to be a future guest on the podcast?  Apply to be a guest at www.tragicallybeautiful.me - just look for the button that says “I Am Tragically Beautiful.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Music: Good Morning Life by ArtMusic from Pixabay.

Welcome to episode 063 of the Tragically Beautiful podcast.  In this episode, Kathy welcomes meditation teacher and author Kimberly Brown to explore the transformative power of self-compassion and mindfulness. Together, they discuss how survivors of abuse can rebuild self-trust and embrace healing through gentle self-kindness. Kimberly shares practical insights on cultivating mindfulness and loving-kindness as everyday practices, offering listeners a path to reconnect with their inner wisdom and courage. Join us for a heartfelt conversation on becoming your own reliable support and finding beauty in the journey of healing.

Follow Kimberly:

• Website: www.meditationwithheart.com

• Email: [email protected]

• Instagram: @kimberlyjbrown

Follow Kathy:

• Website: www.trueandlastingwellness.com

• Email Kathy: [email protected]

• Instagram: @tragicallybeautifulpodcast

• Instagram: @coachkathywisniewski 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tragicallybeautifulpodcast/

• Wellness God’s Way podcast 

• Instagram: @wellnessgodswaypodcast 

I’ve got a brand new podcast!  It’s called Wellness God’s Way and the heart behind it is to have real conversations and discussions on inviting God into our health and wellness journey and stewarding all of the gifts He has given us - His way.  Conversations are holistic in nature, centering on emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing always through a lens of faith.  For more information go to www.trueandlastingwellness.com/WGW and let’s have those conversations that will help us find true and lasting wellness - God’s way!

Would you or someone you know like to be a future guest on the podcast?  Apply to be a guest at www.tragicallybeautiful.me - just look for the button that says “I Am Tragically Beautiful.”

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Music: Good Morning Life by ArtMusic from Pixabay.