Unraveled and Rising Podcast

Unraveled and Rising Podcast

By Michelle Kavanaugh, Terry de Aragon, and Kimberly DiazEducationSelf-Improvement
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Unraveled and Rising Podcast episodes

  • EP 47: Kathleen Hulme: How Long COVID Took Her Identity — and What Brought It Back

    She spent 30 years in healthcare taking care of everyone else — then long COVID took her down with cognitive fog, autoimmune misdiagnosis, and a body she no longer recognized. This is the story of what it took to come back.

    Kathleen Hulme spent three decades as a healthcare professional and the last 8 years as an entrepreneur helping older adults stay safe and independent at home. Her real education, though, came from surviving long COVID, cognitive recovery, an autoimmune misdiagnosis, breast implant illness, caregiving, and grief — all before turning 61.

    In this episode:

    - What long COVID actually took from her

    - Being misdiagnosed- The connection between breast implant illness and autoimmune symptoms

    - Caregiving, grief, and rebuilding identity after your body betrays you

    - Why she calls this chapter of her life "Version 3.0"

    - Her guiding question for anyone feeling stuck: "How do you want to live until you die?"

    Visit https://unraveledandrising.com/ and write a letter to your younger self.

    If this episode resonates, follow the show and leave us a rating — it genuinely helps more people find these conversations.

    41 min
  • EP 46: He Didn't Know How Much the Trauma Shaped Him — Until We Asked About His Own Kids

    When Matt was 3, his younger brother BK was hit by a truck and suffered brain damage that changed the shape of their family forever. His parents did what they could — they supported him, encouraged him, and kept moving. This is a real conversation about what it did to Matt.

    Decades later, Matt is reflecting on how it impacted him, and he admits he may be parenting his own children from patterns of PTSD and trauma. A raw talk about impact that hides in plain sight, how we manage our own trauma, and how it impacts us and our lives.

    If you had a similar experience, write a letter to your younger self and what you would say to them at: https://unraveledandrising.com/

    To connect with Matt Kollmorgen, Financial Advisor, visit: https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/matthew-kollmorgen

    41 min
  • EP 45: What Your Parents Taught You About Money Is Still Running Your Life

    What did your parents teach you about money?

    Whether you grew up believing money was scarce, something to fear, or something that caused conflict, those early experiences often shape how we earn, spend, save, invest, and even communicate in our relationships today.

    In this episode of Unraveled & Rising, we sit down with entrepreneur, author, and business coach Jen Perez to explore the emotional side of money—and why changing your financial future often starts by changing your mindset.

    We discuss:

    How childhood shapes your relationship with money

    The money beliefs we inherit from our families

    Why money is one of the leading causes of conflict in relationships

    How shame, fear, and scarcity influence financial decisions

    Practical ways to create healthier money habits

    Why financial freedom starts with self-awareness

    Jen brings a fresh, fun, and unconventional perspective to business and personal growth, helping entrepreneurs and small business owners break old patterns so they can build lives and businesses they truly enjoy.

    If you've ever argued about money, felt guilty spending it, or wondered why your finances never seem to change, this conversation will help you understand why—and what you can do about it.

    Learn more about Jen Perez and her work at The Spicy CEO:https://thespicyceo.com/

    Buy her book: 69 Ways Money is Like Sex: Spicy Insights for Streamlining Your Business Financeshttps://a.co/d/0gbVkDvC

    47 min
  • EP 44: He Was 12 When the Pain Started. By 18, He Was Addicted to Opioids.

    At 12 years old, Kyle Fajen began using substances to escape emotional pain he didn't know how to process.

    After a serious car accident at 18 led to opioid prescriptions, what started as relief quickly became addiction. Over the next several years, Kyle's life spiraled into darkness as he used drugs to avoid the trauma, pain, and emotions he couldn't face.

    Even when his body was beginning to shut down, he couldn't stop.

    In this powerful episode of Unraveled & Rising, Kyle shares the moment he realized he was powerless over addiction—and how that realization became the first step toward recovery.

    Through the Stout Street Foundation, Kyle found something he never expected: a community that helped him confront his past, heal unresolved trauma, and learn how to build a new life.

    We discuss:

    • The connection between trauma and addiction

    • Why substance abuse is often a survival strategy

    • The shame and stigma surrounding recovery

    • What it feels like to feel powerless

    • The power of community in healing

    • Why recovery is about so much more than quitting drugs

    If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, substance abuse, or emotional pain, we hope this conversation reminds you that recovery is possible and that you are not alone.

    Learn more about the Stout Street Foundation in Colorado: https://www.stoutstreet.org/

    988 Call or Chat - Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

    Languages: English, Spanish

    Hours: 24/7

    https://988lifeline.org/

    48 min
  • EP 43: Why Did That Affect Me So Much? (The Question Every Woman Asks Herself)

    Have you ever reacted to something and wondered, "Why did that affect me so much?"In this episode, Michelle and Terry explore the experiences so many women share—but often think they're carrying alone.From people-pleasing and mom guilt to self-criticism and putting everyone else's needs ahead of our own, we discuss how our childhood experiences, family dynamics, and early beliefs continue to influence how we see ourselves and respond to life today.Most importantly, we talk about giving ourselves grace.Because many of the struggles we carry aren't personal failures—they're learned responses that helped us survive at one point in our lives.When we understand where these reactions come from, we can stop judging ourselves and start healing.And when women share their stories, something powerful happens: we realize we're not alone.If you've ever been too hard on yourself, struggled to put yourself first, or wondered why you keep falling into the same emotional patterns, this conversation is for you.Don't forget to visit our website to leave a letter to your younger self. We would love to read it: https://unraveledandrising.com/

    35 min
  • EP 42: Mother’s Day Isn’t Joyful for Everyone

    Mother’s Day can bring up a lot more than flowers and brunch.In this honest and emotional conversation, Michelle and Kimberly open up about the unexpected feelings they both experienced around Mother’s Day — without even realizing the other was struggling too.Because the truth is… many mother/child relationships are complicated.We talk about:Emotional distance between parents and adult childrenWhy younger generations often feel less connected to familyThe growing rise of family estrangementGrief, disappointment, and loneliness around Mother’s DayHow social media can make these feelings even harderWays to care for yourself emotionallyIf Mother’s Day felt heavy for you this year, you are definitely not alone.This episode is a reminder that complicated family relationships are more common than people admit — and healing starts with talking honestly about them.Comment if you experienced something similar.

    28 min
  • EP 41: When Your Kids Still Need You — And Your Parents Do Too

    What happens when you’re still supporting your kids… while suddenly becoming responsible for aging parents too?

    In this honest conversation, Kimberly and Terry share their experiences with the “sandwich generation” — navigating adult children, divorce, medical issues, aging parents, burnout, overwhelm, and the pressure of holding everything together.

    We also discuss:

    “Parent dumps” happening at hospitals more often

    Financial strain and caregiver burnout

    The emotional impact of caring for parents

    Why so many people feel exhausted, anxious, and alone right now

    If you’ve been carrying the weight of everyone else’s needs, this episode will make you feel seen.

    🧡 Kimberly also recommends this free assessment tool for families navigating aging parent care: https://agingparentstoolkit.com/

    43 min
  • EP 40: Why You're Successful on the Outside and Exhausted on the Inside

    Why do so many feel exhausted, overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck… even when life looks “successful” on the outside?

    In this episode, we sit down with trauma-informed mentor and nervous system healing coach Stephanie Schoolmeester to talk about survival mode, emotional healing, burnout, people-pleasing, and reconnecting with your authentic self.

    We dive into:

    Nervous system regulation

    Childhood patterns that shape adulthood

    Why sensitive women often feel emotionally exhaustedHealing beyond mindset work

    Creating a life that feels aligned and fulfilling

    If you’ve been stuck in survival mode and craving more peace, purpose, and authenticity, this conversation will resonate deeply.

    🔗 Connect with Stephanie: https://www.stephanieschoolmeester.com/

    📱 Complimentary consults available via text: 970-724-4448

    45 min
  • EP 39: The Menopause Symptoms No One Prepared Us For

    You’re doing all the things—vitamins, treatments, workouts… and still not feeling like yourself.In this episode, we get real about beauty, aging, and menopause—from hair loss and skin changes to mood swings and emotional shifts that seem to come out of nowhere.It’s about hormones, identity, and the pressure to “keep it all together” while your body is changing.We talk about:→ Hair thinning→ The overwhelm of supplements, treatments, and “fixes”→ Why your mood feels unpredictable→ The emotional side of aging no one talks aboutThis is the honest conversation about what we are experiencing and how we support each other. We would love to hear from you. Comment ⬇ if you are going through something similar. What routines or treatments are you using?

    37 min
  • EP 38: Identity, Trauma & Confidence with Deb Gray

    You know what to do… so why are you still stuck?

    In this episode of Unraveled & Rising, we sit down with therapist Deborah Gray to uncover what’s really driving that gap between knowing and doing—and why it has nothing to do with willpower.

    This conversation goes deeper than mindset.

    If you’ve been doing the work but still not seeing the shift—this will hit differently.

    Because you’re not lazy.
    You’re patterned.

    Take the Free Assessment from Deb: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGwrif1aBu69txbe9cbWJCr0GPBOTdJ6LCb1MmGck_rv7TUw/viewformAbout Our GuestDeb Gray is a consultant and Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) practitioner who helps people uncover the hidden patterns keeping them stuck and create lasting, meaningful change.

    Learn more here: https://debgrayconsulting.net/

    1 hr 5 min

About Unraveled and Rising Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Because Sometimes You Have to Fall Apart to Come Back Whole. Hosted by three powerhouse women who’ve walked through the fire—and are still rising—Unraveled and Rising is a podcast for anyone ready to break cycles, heal deeply, and create a life with meaning.