Well, That F*cked Me Up! Surviving Life Changing Events.

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Holly Bertone is a former FBI Chief of Staff for Counterintelligence turned Certified Holistic Health Coach. Holly didnt choose this career change, it chose her when, one day, she diagnosed with breast cancer and an autoimmune disease. Holly had been burning the candle at both ends, over exerting herself, and although living an active life, was not taking care of her diet. She used this diagnosis as a cross roads to take a breath, and regain control of what was important in her  life.
She helps midlife women find the clues to improve their health, so their high-achievement lifestyle no longer clashes with unwanted weight gain, lack of energy, and restless nights. Holly is also a Keynote Speaker, #1 Amazon bestselling author, and Host of Your Midlife Comeback Story Podcast.
Site: https://pinkfortitude.com/
Free Private Podcast: Your Comeback Experience - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/podcast-landing-welcome
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly.bertone/

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Brandy Shantz is the host of the ‘Living Chronic’ podcast. She suffers from severe Crohn’s disease after serving near burn pits in Afghanistan. 4 years ago, she began having severe symptoms and ended up suffering a reaction to the Humira she was taking for Crohn’s, which took 19 months for doctors to diagnose!! Upon receiving the diagnosis of drug induced lupus and neurological issues, Brandy worked to recover but never got back to herself. It took her another 2 1/2 years going to doctors to tell them she was not ok, and being told it was just psychosomatic. Then, finally she was diagnosed with cardiac autonomic neuropathy and small fiber neuropathy as a result of the reaction to the drugs. Even today, she is still going through tests to understand how severe the damage is and if she can actualy treat the problem. Brandy talks about advocating for yourself and learning to live and continue to thrive despite having a chronic illness. What an amazing story!
livingchronic911.com
Insta: Livingchronic911
X: BrandySchantz 
TikTok: @brandyschantz

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Gretchen Schoser, also known as G-Rex, is the co-host of the podcast "Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads." On Christmas Day, 2022, she experienced a massive mental health breakdown that changed her life. Feeling utterly alone and terrified, she reached out for help by calling 988. That call saved her life and marked the beginning of her journey toward recovery.
In the aftermath, she decided to share her battle on social media. She didn't want anyone to feel as isolated as she did during her darkest moments. Her story is one of hope, demonstrating how therapy and learning to love herself and set serious boundaries transformed her life.
This journey inspired Gretchen to start her podcast with her co-host and friend, Dirty Skittles. They launched "Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads" on February 14, 2023. Since then, they have reached over 400,000 downloads and have listeners in more than 60 countries. Their mission is to normalize conversations about mental health and support others through their struggles. This is a truly impactful episode! 
Podcast Name: Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads
Official Website: https://www.goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grex_and_dirtyskittles/

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This week, Saloni Surah has a terrifying story to share with us. She is a doctor specializing in HIV and sexual health, with a PhD on HIV and drug use. Saloni had a very bad workplace bullying experience, which has left her with undiagnosed PTSD. On top of that, someone wrote anonynmous letters saying some very damaging things, and sent them to people in her close circle! The repurcussions were awful, she was scared, lost confidence, and began to isolate. Eventuallyt, she moved country when pregnant as she didn’t feel safe and to add, no one took the stalking seriously and she was gaslit at her workplace! As a result, Saloni ended up with birth trauma. She became very unwell after her eldest child was born and finally found a diagnosis and treatment for her PTSD. As with all our stories, we focus on the journey! Saloni recovered, had another child, got her birth trauma treated and published her first book. Join us for a rollercoaster ride of an episode!
Site: https://salonisurah.com/

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Marcy Langlois was born with a cleft lip and palate, her childhood was marked by an excruciating series of surgical procedures, 23 in all, before the age of 18. Because she looked and talked differently than the other kids, she was relentlessly teased and bullied. Her journey into adulthood was marked by challenging, traumatic, and downright tragic waypoints: Coming out as a queer woman, involvement in a multiple-fatality car accident, and a devastating descent into addiction and chronic illness.With all that, and although she got off to a rough start in life (her words), she has discovered one thing, that no matter what obstacles are in your path, Living Beyond Your Limits is not just a dream—it's infinitely possible. She has overcome all of these experiences and now thrives in every area of her life. She has learned how to heal her body using the power of the mind, regulating the nervous system and embodying herself. This is a truly transformational story and simply fantastic!
Website: https://marcylanglois.com/

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Gerard Grogans has a very powerful message to share, and one we should all listen to in this really fascinating episode! A passing comment from his mother when he was young, about how he 'looked tired' completely changed the course of Gerard's life! The comment had a deeper meaning to Gerard and he would spend his life saving up for eye surgery to 'fix' the dark circles around his eyes. Of course his Mother had meant nothing from the comment, but it became all Gerard could think about. Eventually, a botched surgery took Gerard to the depths of darkness and questioning everything. But in the darkness, Gerard found strength, and purpose, and began to shed his fears and embrace his belief and love for himself. It's very inspiring!!
Gerard now teaches how the Pygmalion Effect leads to the conscious and unconscious decision we make in our lives and how that imprinting affects everything we do.
Site: https://gerardgrogans.com/

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One day in her car, Alyssa Decker was scanning the radio stations for something to listen to.  She came across a woman who was telling the story of her marriage, and she was immediately captivated. The woman on the radio was describing Alyssa's  marriage, almost exactly.  For some reason, it had not occurred to her that there might be other marriages like hers.  As the woman was talking, Alyssa was driving down the road with tears streaming down her face. She felt so seen, like the woman on the radio somehow knew her situation. And then the voice on the radio said the words that would set Alyssa's world spinning on its axis, never to recover.  “I realized I was in an abusive marriage, and that I couldn’t stay.” Alyssa immediately thought 'NO. I’m not in an abusive marriage!  My marriage is just hard. One day we’ll figure it out, and it will get better’. The trouble was, she knew that truth, and it felt like a punch to the gut that stole her breath away.  Now that she knew, she couldn’t go back.  Finally, she faced reality with the help of a support group.  She started learning how to create a different conversation in her mind, which led to calmer reactions, which led to a happier life and freedom!
Site: coachingwithalyssa.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithalyssa614/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulresolve 

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Lisa Wilson is a leadership coach, HR consultant and mediator. She works with small to medium sized companies to help them get the best from their teams. In 2014 she was laid off from my job. It was a blessing, because she knew she would start her business after that job ended. That is until she discovered a large lump on her thyroid that the doctors thought was growing way faster than it should. After a lot of deliberation, She had it removed and discovered soon after that the lump was not growing at all, did not need to be removed, and was in fact a typo! Worse is that she never came back to full energy to this very day. Lisa used to do crossfit and P90X and now can only do a 20 min walk with the dog, 10 min of light exercise, otherwise she won't have enough energy for the day. It's been 10 years and her energy has not returned. Join us for an extraordinary story of what might have been!…. thank you Lisa!
SITE: https://lmwcoaching.ca/

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Alana Joy has spent over 20 years working as a nurse and psychotherapist. When she was a young girl, she had a near death experience after a tonsil removal operation that went wrong! Through her life and into adulthood, Alana always felt different, both physically and mentally, and it was a diagnosis of her son with a rare condition, that would also lead to her getting the same diagnosis! Her personal experience of chronic illness, death, and divorce catalyzed profound physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Weaving her deep understanding of the body, heart, and soul, she now realizes that she has woken up to who she really is! Join us this week for a deep dive into the ‘what ifs’ of life!
SITE: https://www.alanajoynewton.com/

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Jeff Frazier is a decorated US Army veteran with a passion for humanitarian work, that led him to Haiti, where he fought child trafficking, learned Haitian Creole, and relocated his family to Florida to serve Haiti’s most vulnerable communities.
But that’s not all. During a large food distribution mission, Jeff was kidnapped by a Haitian gang and endured 43 torturous days in captivity. Instead of breaking him, this experience only fueled his determination to help Haitians escape the grip of these ruthless gangs and improve their lives through the organization he founded, Stimpak (link below).
Join us as Jeff talks us through the moment he knew something was going very, very wrong.. and the 43 Days that ensued, culminating in his release! It's an utterly unmissable episode!
Jeff's work has driven measurable progress in reforestation, food and water security, and education in Haiti. His story of courage, resilience, and relentless dedication will captivate and inspire! 
Thank you Jeff, what an incredible human you are!
Website and Podcast info: https://stimpack.org/

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