Relationships Episodes

Every year since 2019, I’ve made it a point to celebrate my birthday with a trip to the city. I soak in the fun atmosphere, catch Broadway shows, and enjoy delicious junk food with the people I love. I share the joy and excitement of planning these trips, from finding affordable hotels and flights to mapping out the best shows to see. As I look forward to this year’s trip, I encourage you to create your own traditions that bring joy and connection into your life.

This week, many feel the strain of differing beliefs and values, prompting a reevaluation of relationships, particularly within families. I share some of my own experiences, notably with my mother's side of the family after her passing and the realization that maintaining these ties often felt one-sided. It's essential to recognize that we are not obligated to hold onto relationships that don’t serve our well-being. Ultimately, I encourage you to choose the people who uplift and support you, emp...

Today, I want to share a heartfelt story about my grandmother's deep love for Josh Groban and how his music brought joy to her life. This episode highlights an extraordinary concert experience that became one of our last memorable moments together. I surprised her with front-row tickets to see Josh Groban, which led to a magical experience that filled her with happiness.

On October 19, I recorded an episode of The Life Shift podcast with Ashley Gould, CEO of Âme Atendre™ and host of "On the Table with Ashley." In this episode, she shares how her father's rare cancer diagnosis changed everything in her life and how she approached the future. This episode will be out later this year, but I wanted to share a little about her show. Here's a little promo that we did together talking about our shows. I hope it'll inspire you to check out the "On the Table with Ashley...

In this episode of "The Life Shift Podcast," Jasmin Faulk shares her extraordinary journey of growing up and finding herself within the contrasting cultures of Saudi Arabia and Italy. Jasmin shares the internal conflicts and societal challenges she faced, her use of imagination as a means of coping, and her ultimate quest for living an authentic life. This episode offers a heartfelt and inspiring narrative about resilience, creativity, and the courage to embrace one's true identity.

Dena Rueb Romero shares her experiences growing up as the child of German Jewish refugees in Hanover, New Hampshire, and the impact of her family's past on her sense of identity and belonging. The conversation delves into themes of loss, resilience, and the search for a sense of rootedness, offering listeners a deeply moving narrative that explores the interplay between personal and collective histories.

Dr. Marianne Bette is a retired family physician who has experienced an extraordinary journey of grief, healing, and transformation.

Debbie K. Weiss sheds light on love, loss, and new beginnings in her journey through significant loss to find renewed purpose. From Grief to Grace.

I wanted to share this clip from Olivia Howell's bonus episode for the Patreon members. In these recordings, I reconnect with past guests to discuss their experience on The Life Shift Podcast, share their stories, and allow them to share any updates.

Jennifer Peterkin's life story unfolds from a fairy-tale romance to enduring and surviving domestic violence.

Quinten Sheriff discusses his journey from a conservative upbringing in Zimbabwe to becoming an advocate for authenticity and connection. He shares the profound impact of embracing one's truth and the universal power of human relationships.

After a devastating breakup, Jillian turned her pain into a purpose, pioneering the dating and relationship health sector with her innovative platform, Clara for Daters.

Anita Yokota shares her unique journey from psychology to design and how she uses her understanding of interpersonal dynamics to create spaces that nurture relationships. S2E97: Anita Yokota - Home Therapy: Designing Spaces that Nurture Relationships

Michael shares his experiences growing up feeling different and his challenges in accepting his true identity and building pride in himself. He discusses the impact of bullying and internalized homophobia and the importance of creating spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals can feel accepted and supported. S2E89: Michael Kaye - Building Pride: Embracing Identity and Belonging

S2E86: From Exclusion to Inclusion: Losing and Regaining Faith | Tim Villegas

In this episode, Alyse Maslonik shares her story of surviving domestic abuse and sexual assault during her childhood. She talks about the constant state of fight or flight that she lived in and how it affected her personal development. Alyse also discusses her upcoming book, "The Anger She Keeps: A True Story of Rage and Redemption," which explores the theme of holding onto anger as a way of healing. "I get if no one wants to believe me, but I wouldn't feel right or if I would just not try one more time and then someone else becomes a victim. So that is why I told my mom. But it's interesting. There was so much turmoil in my life, even when I told my mom, it was not a turning point."

In this episode of The Life Shift Podcast, guest Olivia Dreizen Howell shares her personal story of going through a divorce as a single mother with two young children. "I really knew my kids deserved a life that didn't include walking on eggshells all the time. And they deserved a mother that could show up for them. I mean, Matt, I have letters I wrote to my sons apologizing for the things I had to do to survive at that time. You know, and I was so scared that something would happen to me, and they wouldn't know that I believed in them, or that I thought that they were okay to be themselves, or that they could be whoever they wanted to be.”

Jenny Dreizen shares her personal story of wanting to get married and start a family with her partner but struggling to get him to commit. She reflects on her own worthiness and the societal pressure to follow a certain path in life. In this episode of The Life Shift Podcast, Jenny talks about the intimacy of podcasting and how it allows for connections to be formed through deep conversations. She shares her experience of bonding with hosts and guests of A Fresh Story and how it feels like becoming part of a community. Listeners can relate to the feeling of forming connections with those they listen to and how these conversations can feel intimate and eye-opening. "I was starved of love and affection. And I felt like if I could just get him to admit, to propose to me, I would get the dopamine hit of, oh yes, he does love me." - Jenny Dreizen

This week on The Life Shift Podcast, MC McDonald shares her journey of overcoming trauma, navigating grief and family relationships, and finding success. "I think if we can think about trauma and, and that point of healing as possible, then we can, we can enter into the healing process with a lot more hope than with this understanding that if you have trauma, that means you are somehow like marred or broken or, you know." - MC McDonald.

This episode serves as a tribute to the two women who inspired the creation of The Life Shift Podcast and, hopefully, reminds us of the importance of cherishing the relationships we have with our loved ones. My story is a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, we can find deep and meaningful connections with others that can help us through difficult times. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

Matt Drinkhahn's inspiring journey is one to be admired! From overcoming bullying to his three-day golf tournament with his father, which gave him a deeper understanding of parenting, his life has been shaped by strong moments of resilience. Throughout the conversation, we continually return to a moment with his father after a tough day in school when Matt faced his first real sense of rejection. It is this moment that Matt attributes to his strength and resilience.

In this episode, Claudia Noriega-Bernstein shares her story of betrayal and how it has shaped her life. “But I have learned in all these years to take that responsibility of what could I have done different. And when I think about our marriage, I was very happy. He seemed to be very happy.”

Jackie Scully reflects on her decision to leave her teaching job in Hawaii during the recession to return to Pennsylvania, only to find the job market for teachers just as difficult. "I was kicking myself. I was like, what did I do? This is not the life I want to live.”

After years of feeling like they were playing a role society had created for them, Cristina Marcello took a stand by cutting off all their hair - and found their true identity in the process. "Once you allow yourself to be your authentic self, you stop caring about what society says you should or shouldn't do. Once you get past one thing society tells you not to do, it opens up any possibility for you to just be who you want to be."