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A few years ago, Anastasia Zadiek, left her house after an argument with her husband with the sole intention of ending her life. Decades of childhood trauma had led to suicidal thoughts, and that night, everything just boiled over. As she walked down to her regular hiking spot towards the cliffs, she started to think about her kids, and what her decision would do to them. Listen into this incredible episode to hear what happened to allow Anastasia to face her demons and finally ask for help.
Anastasia is a writer, editor, and narrative nonfiction performer. She lives in San Diego, CA, where she serves as Director of Communications for the San Diego Writers Festival, as a mentor for the literary nonprofit So Say We All, and as a board member for the International Memoir Writers Association. Her first novel, Blurred Fates, won both the 2023 Sarton Award and the 2023 National Indie Excellence Award in Contemporary Fiction. Find her online at
Site: anastasiazadeik.com
FB: facebook.com/anastasiazadeik/
X: twitter.com/anastasiazadeik
IG: instagram.com/anastasiazadeik

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Kendall Patterson joins us this week, for a simply wonderful episode. Kendall has experienced abuse (of all the kinds), poverty, traumatic events, two traumatic brain injury parents (on separate occasions!) and most of her immediate family are or were addicts. Thats just the start, in 2021, the gloves really came off, with a new baby, her immediate family would deal with covid, leukemia, alcoholism, and multiple deaths, and Kendall herself changed career, got divorced, and lost her father in a matter of weeks. This is when she made her agreement to change her life, forever!
She is a hopeful Ted talker and podcast lover, and guested on a number of amazing podcasts. Kendall uses her experiences to help others live an abundant and grateful life. Never settle for less than you deserve, this episode channels positivity and awesomeness! Thank you Kendall!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/kendallpattersonre/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kendallpatterson_re

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David was a young, successful, high-flying executive, making his way to the top! First working for a record label in LA, he then fell into the business and marketing side of the  adult film industry! By his twenties, he had 'the cars, the girls, the houses, and the expensive watches', and he felt he had the world at his feet. Then came Heroin. David's story plays out like a real life Hollywood Movie, and as heroin addiction took hold, he would lose everything. His battle against the addiction, the desperate friends and family that tried to help, and the eventual jail time, all make for a survival story like nothing you have heard before.
CONTENT / TRIGGER WARNING: Heroin use and addiction.
Helpful Links from David:
Drug Abuse Helplines https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/contact-us
Substance Abuse Helpline: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
AA: https://aa.org/

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During his 35+ year career, Professor Pete Alexander had the privilege to work in a variety of positions including Sales, Marketing, College Professor and Small Business Owner. Each role had one thing in common - high stress - to the point he was diagnosed with stress-related diabetes and ended up in the hospital with a severe case of diabetic ketoacidosis, a few hours away from falling into a coma!
It was a reality check! When you don’t have your health, not much else matters. Prof. Pete knew it was time for me to walk away even though I had a great job, secure income, and good benefits. Interestingly, his coworkers and peers were very supportive and most of them told him they admired his decision to put health first before career, because they were contemplating the same thing. He realized then that it wasn’t just him, and set out to help other hard-driving leaders avoid the same mistakes and immensely benefit from the wonderful tools and techniques he has learned and experienced first-hand. In addition to a video series, Professor Pete has launched a book on Amazon, which became an international bestseller.
He was selected as a TEDx speaker and best of all,  he is a certified Laughter Yoga teacher and improv comedy cast member! Thank You Pete for sharing your inspiring story!
LINK HERE:
Site: https://petealexander.com

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Megan Harris is the author of 'Not You' – a memoir of her life as a young mother and mixed-race woman stuck in a cycle of abuse. With her first abortion at age 18, her first child at 19, a long series of bad relationships with men who demean and abuse her, and her own struggles with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and lack of self-confidence, Megan works to break free and provide a life for herself and her children that she can be proud of. Truly real and relatable. We hope that this amazing episode will allow others to find their own confidence within themselves. Megan's story if one of hope and strength, and is all about learning to find love for yourself when it is seemingly impossible. Megan found the strength to break free from hurtful cycles and move toward a better future.
Site: www.meganharrism.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/meganhm.writes

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Many years ago, despite living what many would consider a great life, Sarah Bettman couldn’t help but feel like something was missing...like there was something more to be had. She has a distinct memory of sitting in her car on her way home from work. She was stopped at a stop sign, staring aimlessly at heavy raindrops hitting the windshield. It was a heavy rain and the wipers couldn’t keep up. But alas, they kept wiping. Wipe by wipe, She stared and thought, “is this really all there is?” Turns out, it wasn’t. And she would soon discover that she was not living authentically or being true to herself. This wasn’t intentional, she didn't even know that she had an authentic self let alone how to live authentically...and then she started to see that the world is not set up to support women to do so. She had gotten into this situation following all that she thought she was supposed to do, as many of us do, but eventually found that this quest drained me. She could no longer keep up. After looking at all the areas of her life with a critical (but loving) eye, She was able to pinpoint the things that were draining her energy, as well as things that bring her joy. She took back control of my life, and started feeling whole again. Join us for a a wonderfully honest and frank chat about how we can take back control of our lives and happiness!
Site: https://www.sarahbettman.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sea2mountains/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/CoachBettman

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This week, we welcome Leah Drew to the show, and what a wonderful episode it is! After enduring an emotionally challenging childhood, surviving a pancreatic tumor at 16 years old, suffering with severe physical pain, facing significant chronic health problems, and nearly committing suicide, Leah found herself fed-up with the traditional “treat the symptom” approach adopted by the western medical system. Years of suffering with her mental, emotional & physical health without the right support led Leah to take her well-being into her own hands. She set out on a path toward self-healing, with the goal of transforming a life once overshadowed by pain and emotional turmoil, into one filled with authentic connection, immense joy, and unconditional love. Leah knows what it’s like to feel stressed, stuck, triggered, and overwhelmed in life without the right guidance and she now runs a business that sets out to help others avoid feeling the same.  We are sure that many of you will identify with these helpless feelings, and take comfort, advise, and hope in what is discussed this week!
Site: https://www.leahdrew.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mindbodywithleah/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/leah.drew
Email: [email protected]

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TW / CONTENT WARNING: This story involves details of kidnap and sexual assault and may be triggering. Listener discretion advised.
Flashback episode, one of our Most listened to. It was just an ordinary day, Rhiannon was washing her car in broad daylight, she was 19 years old. Moments later she would be kidnapped at knife point and put though a harrowing ordeal including physical and sexual assault. 20 years later, she is telling her story, to help others realize that they too can reclaim their lives. Thank you, Rhiannon, for this brave and extraordinary chat with us. NOTE: As hard as this story is to listen to, we do focus on Rhiannon's recovery, how  she made it through her ordeal, and what the last 20 years has been like on her road to recovery.
Links from Rhiannon
24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
RAINN: https://www.rainn.org
Rhiannon's Insta: @mybeautyfromashes

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Randy Brown faced a dramatic plunge to the depths of depression, after not one, but two of his four daughter’s sudden deaths. This was followed by addiction, and then divorce, prison, and a career lost forever. His book, Rebound Forward is a transparent and honest look at his life and how adversity helped him rebound and has shaped him into the person he is today. Few are willing to publicly admit their poor choices and impending consequences, but Randy is one of those rare people who thrive on it. This ability has become the trademark of who he is and how committed he is to alerting others to the danger of allowing secrets to live and fester, only to realize the powers of destruction too late.
Randy is a transformational speaker, international author, and networking expert. His experience spans over 30 years of sharing life-changing messages to hundreds of audiences.
Links For Randy:
Site: www.coachrb.com
All social media: http://linktr.ee/rbspeaks

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TW: Contains conversations about sexual and physical abuse.
Bhavya Gaur is a survivor of abuse and domestic violence. In this extraordinary and empowering episode, she takes us through her life growing up in India, getting married, having kids, and eventually leaving her abusive husband for a new life in Canada. Bhavya first experienced sexual abuse, as a young child, by a family member. More forms of abuse would follow through her early life, both emotional and physical. After a terrifying physical encounter with her husband, she decided enough was enough and she found the strength and power to leave him, and went in search of a new life for her and her children. She migrated to Canada from India 22 years ago to her start life from scratch. Having experienced life from a place of complete disempowerment, shame, unworthiness and judgement, she has travelled the distance from no esteem, and zero confidence to living a joyous, soulfully empowered life.
Besides being an energy healer, she is a transformational Life Coach, and her goal is to bring a refreshing and uplifting perspective that revolves around resilience, personal growth, and the beauty inherent in our daily lives to everyone she comes in contact with.
Links:
Website: kindredsoulzs.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/officialbhavyagaur
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavyagaur/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhavyagaurofficial/  

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