Your Story Matters

Happy Summer!

In today's episode I recap the year, share a few updates, pause for reflection + have a few thoughts about my upcoming birthday.

Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website | Free Enneagram Consult

Diane Roberts is a worship leader, book lover, small town explorer and podcaster based in NE Ohio. She was my former co-host on Don't Worry You're Enough Podcast + we sit down + chat about all the things that have happened since we ended our show.

We talk about:

• Personal growth + new ventures

• Evolving as podcasters

• Finding your voice in music + life

• Books!

Book Mention: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Song Mention: I Speak Jesus by Charity Gayle 

Connect with Diane: Instagram

Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website | Free Enneagram Consult

Tina Djuretic is a Canadian author living in Vancouver. She was raised by strict, religious parents who isolated her from the rest of the world. What followed were three toxic relationships that nearly destroyed her.

While writing her memoir she was able to find forgiveness; for herself and her abusers. This taught her a lot about generational trauma, narcissists, and putting up healthy boundaries. It's Tina's goal to share her story with anyone finding themselves in a similar situation, and to educate people on the subject of toxic relationships, healing, spirituality, and not just surviving...but CREATING.

We talk about:

• Understanding childhood trauma

• The origins of writing her story

• Her healing journey

• Tips for those who are overwhelmed

Tina’s Book: Finding my Sovereignty: Memoirs of an Empath 

Connect with Tina: Website | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook

Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website | Free Enneagram Consult

Stacey Wallenstein is the New York based mom of three behind the parenting, lifestyle, travel, beauty and food blog and channel The Mint Chip Mama. Stacey was picked as a NY Metro Parent Influencer to watch, and nominated as the Best Blog on Long Island in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Before becoming a full-time mom in 2010, Stacey spent a decade as a high-end customer relationship management (CRM) professional managing customer loyalty programs for some of the most well-known brands including Harrah’s Entertainment, Chanel and Christian Dior.

Stacey is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and holds a Masters in Psychology from The New School.

With all of the accomplishments above she’s the happiest hiking with her family, getting a massage, snuggling on the couch with her kids or listening to 80s pop. She loves dark chocolate, tacos, and glassblowing. 

The Mint Chip Mama has been featured in The NY Post, Psychology Today, NY Metro Parents, NY Family, Parents Magazine, Newsday, News 12, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt: Kids, NerdWallet, Big Apple Kids Guide, and more!

The Mint Chip Mama was also nominated as one of the Top 20 New York Mom Blogs & Websites, and one of the Top 100 Mom Lifestyle Blogs on the web, one of the 10 Best Long Island Mom Blogs and Websites, and one of the Top 40 Funny Mom Influencers!

We talk about: 

• The journey of motherhood + blogging

• Food preferences + nostalgia

• Writing as Therapy

• Breastfeeding challenges + support

• And so much more!

Connect with Stacey: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website | Free Enneagram Consult

Jason is a married father of two kids with multiple mental and physical disabilities. He was a Stay-at-Home Dad and medical caregiver for 12 years until his son suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from issues related to his needs on 01/28/22.

Since the day Jason’s son passed and after a year of intense grieving, he knew that he needed and wanted to create something to help him grieve as well as create a legacy for his son. Plus, he knew that he needed to help others in their grief too. The idea for a grief community was then born out of the ashes of Jason’s devastation. It was a healthy way to get out all his pent-up emotion relating to the loss of his son, but he was only doing that for himself. So, one day, he decided to post a letter in a Facebook grief group and it was from this very post that the avalanche of positive remarks and connections began on his journey in the grief community. This started the proverbial ball rolling and "Letters To Zachary" was born.

We talk about:

• The birth of his son: expectations versus reality

• The reality of raising special needs children

• Losing his son unexpectedly

• Navigating grief + how writing helped Jason give back

• Creating a legacy for Zachary

Connect with Jason:Website |Instagram |Facebook |TikTok 

Connect with Michaela:Newsletter |Instagram |Website |Free Enneagram Consult

Alice Cadd has over 30 years of experience as a consultant psychiatrist specialising in general adult psychiatry, treating conditions from schizophrenia to complex PTSD. It has been a rewarding career working with individuals whose resilience in the face of mental health challenges, has inspired her.

She is now facing retirement and has turned her hand to writing psychological thrillers, driven by a passion for promoting mental wellness, challenging stigma, and advocating for the preservation of our natural environment.

We talk about:

Demystifying mental health misconceptions

The role of lifestyle in mental health

Navigating retirement + life changes

The creative process of writing

The importance of fiction in understanding mental health

Connect with Alice: Website | Death In The Red Dirt: Uncover the Truth Before the Outback Buries It

Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website | Free Enneagram Consult

Kali is a Career Coach and Therapist who loves helping people find what truly fulfills them. After spending most of her adult life in Indiana, Kali returned to her home state of Michigan where she began helping her clients find and pursue work they love. Kali believes that every part of every story shapes us, and it is the understanding of all these parts that can give you freedom to discover who it is you truly want to be. 

We talk about:

Book Mention: Atomic Habits by James Clear

Connect with Kali: Website | Instagram | BlueSky

Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website | Free Enneagram Consult

Gary Parker is an author of 20 traditionally published novels, including a Doubleday Book Club Main Selection and 6 screenplays, 1 sold and 2 others optioned. He enjoys writing, took up guitar a year ago, plays some golf, rides a bike (pedaling kind).

We talk about:

Book Mention: Lonesome Dove 

Connect with Gary: Website | The Playbook: A Novel | Facebook

Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website | Free Enneagram Consult

Alysia Lyons is a certified coach, author, Reiki master, and NLP-certified coach dedicated to helping moms release guilt and find peace in their lives. Alysia specializes in guiding women through life transitions and helping them build healthier relationships, achieve emotional balance, and embrace self-care. With a holistic approach that blends practical strategies and spiritual insights, Alysia empowers her clients to navigate the chaos of parenting while fostering personal growth and transformation.

In addition to her coaching practice, Alysia has been a surrogate multiple times, an experience that inspired her to write Creating Little Miracles. Through her surrogacy journeys, Alysia discovered the profound joy of helping others build their families, which has deepened her passion for connection, healing, and support. When she’s not coaching or writing, Alysia enjoys walking with her two dogs, spending time with her son, and living a life rooted in gratitude and purpose.

We talk about:

Creating Little Miracles: A Surrogacy Guide Coming to Amazon on March 12th!

Connect with Alysia: Website | Instagram | Facebook | @coachalysialyons on TikTok | Youtube

Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website | Free Enneagram Consult

Ariel is a fitness and wellness coach with over a decade of experience in the industry. Starting as a personal trainer and earning her IFBB pro card in the Wellness category, she built her career helping others achieve their physical goals. But when she realized true health was about more than just the body, she shifted her focus to a holistic approach, helping clients achieve Deep Health—a balance of physical, emotional, mental, environmental, social, and spiritual well-being. 

Ariel and her husband Dillon now run Deep Fit, an online coaching business, where they empower driven women to lose 15+lbs, tone up, and keep their results for good without giving up date night. Ariel’s mission is to help her clients not just look strong, but feel strong inside and out.

We talk about:

The transformative power of body-building

Overcoming stage fright + building confidence 

Understanding wellness + weeding out limiting beliefs

The birth of Deep Health

The joy of movement

Tips for starting fitness journey or continuing it

Connect with Ariel: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Connect with Michaela: Newsletter | Instagram | Website | Free Enneagram Consult