Unapologetic Stories

On this edit, Anna welcomes Seryna Myers, Sacred Transformation Mentor and author of the new book, Sacred Anger, to talk all about this outcast emotion. The ladies discuss Seryna’s book, her personal history witnessing abuse and addiction in the family, navigating a powerful shift in her marriage to wife Rhea, and how anger came to be such an important part of her life’s work. This edit is like receiving a handbook for emotions, packed with tips, tricks and courageous truths to allow all of us to own exactly who we are.

On today’s edit, Anna talks to Rebecca Wilson, author of Rebecca Grows Up (At 40), about her new book, her work in attachment parenting, and her fight to know and re-parent herself after suffering a lifetime of abuse from her narcissistic mother. This conversation uncovers some profound truths about the human experience, our deeper survival needs, the ways in which we relate to one another and how to find compassion for those who have experienced tremendous trauma. Anna and Rebecca also talk about power of storytelling, of speaking out and of creating strong boundaries that allow us to grow ourselves up in the face of adversity.

Anna goes outside the box on this edit, bringing in friend and Managing Partner of Bespoke Lending Solutions, Shaun Francis, to help explain the “insanity” of the current mortgage and housing market. The two talk all about lending criteria, interest rates, the classic variable vs. Fixed debate, historical patterns and how Covid-19 has skyrocketed our ‘move now’ mindset. In this edit, you will learn everything you need to know about working with a broker and whether this market is an opportunity or a risk.

Back with a solo edit to cap off Mental Health Awareness month (and her birthday week), Anna shares her inspiration from the new Apple TV+ Docuseries, The Me You Cannot See, created by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry. She digs deep on why we have a collective responsibility to validate trauma, to listen and hear stories and to seek wisdom from those who have experienced the depths of the human experience, no matter how much we hope to avoid it. This edit proves once again that pain and trauma can be a springboard to wisdom and purpose, and not a barrier to it. Best of all, we learn the true meaning of STRENGTH.

On this edit, Anna chats with music-industry marketer and music-education maverick, Gezim Gashi, who talks about his life growing up in war-torn Kosovo, his family’s escape to Sweden, the moment (as a newborn baby) that literally saved his life, and how he took the journey from obscurity to stardom—working with industry giants like Quincy Jones and Dua Lipa. Anna and Gezim talk about the power of aligning with your purpose, doing what you love, putting yourself first, following your intuition and really just doing the darn thing. Most importantly, they talk all about Gezim’s new book, Unlocked: The Power of You, published by The Self Publishing Agency.

The Bachelor + Bachelor in Paradise alum, Annaliese Puccini, joins Anna for this week’s edit to discuss her latest project: an art and poetry journal dedicated to love, heartbreak and healing. Annaliese shares intimate details from her experience on reality TV and how being painted into a certain character lead to a difficult identity crisis after leaving the show. As well, the two women talk about fitting in, moving through a break-up, starting over, joining The Chopra Global organization, growing up with neuro-diversity and ultimately un-writing and rewriting your personal narrative.

Becky VanDrunen, author of the new cookbook, Playlist Kitchen: Upbeat Recipes and The Music That Brought Them to Life, joins Anna this week to talk all about the new release, as well as some major life events that brought her to this moment. The two friends discuss motherhood, business, music, food, pop-culture, Britney, Mariah and - of course - the importance of really owning your personal truth and releasing your authentic self.

On this Edit, Anna talks to Elke Babicki, author of “Identity: From Holocaust to Home.” Elke’s book and personal teachings follow the lives of her grandfather, Johann, and her father, Alex, who were both Nazi Concentration Camp survivors. Her father, Alex, survived the camps by hiding under a pile of dead bodies in order to escape what would have been his final train to the gas chamber at the close of WWII. This fascinating conversation explores themes of strength, integrity, resilience and ambition.

Anna is back with a solo edit this week all around unworthiness — taking and addressing Instagram questions and comments, Anna talks about the ways in which we process our separate existence and fight for belonging, validation and acceptance.

On this edit, Anna talks to publishing partner, Megan Williams, CEO of The Self Publishing Agency in Vancouver, BC about the ins and outs of the self-publishing industry, how to publish your story and how best to navigate the world of entrepreneurial authorship. The discussion is enriched with an open and honest dialogue between these two CEOs about their personal journeys with self-belief, tackling “hustle and flow” culture and pivoting/growing their storytelling businesses together.