At A Crossroads with The Naked Podcaster

Carla has a published book, Contagious Love which is all about codependency. Not only is it super helpful for codependents, but Carla's story is also inspirational and therapeutic. My friend and editor have talked about the blanket of sadness on grueling runs. I see Carla's book as a blanket of therapeutic love.  Her father was abusive and it set the tone for childhood. As a 3-year-old hiding from her dad under the bed so he would not hurt her. It paved the way for her to be in codependent relationships where she was never fully living for herself. She used outside validation for worth, and believed if she was liked and needed, she was worthy. She felt broken and that she needed to be fixed so she tried to fix others. Ultimately, this cost her her happiness, peace of mind and serenity.  The reality check came blaring at 24 years old. Sort of the way your dog looks at you when it wants to eat breakfast. She was in an abusive relationship and was tired of living a life of self-doubt, unworthiness and not being enough. She saw two paths shining brightly: continue living a lonely life of unworthiness or live fearlessly with self-love and purpose.  She embarked upon a solo trip 5,000 miles away to gain clarity, with thoughts that were like a game of tug of war. Her mind wanted her to take the familiar road even if it was dangerous, but her gut roared against it.  Sitting in the Wicklow Mountains a small voice told her that she would be ok and to leave this relationship. In that moment she said out loud, “Carla you are too valuable and you can no longer do this to yourself”. Through trusting in the universe that she was not alone in this journey, she chose the path of self-love and purpose. Today she lives the life of the confident warrior: unstoppable, unapologetic, and in full control of her own happiness.  Website: https://iamcarlaromo.com/ FB & Instagram: @iamcarlaromo IN HER WORDS: I’m a certified dating & relationship coach, author, and speaker. I help women who feel stuck and stagnant build purpose and confidence in their break-ups, dating life & relationships. Basically, I’m your love-life cheerleader, here to watch you win at love at any stage in your relationship. I’ve watched my clients get married, get over their ex/heartbreak, fall in love, get back in the dating world, and save their marriage. Nothing is off-limits – from debunking the fear of “never finding love again” to effective communication saving your relationship. Anything that has to do with your heart (AKA love-life)…I’m your girl! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Kellye and I discuss navigating parenting, divorce, and having a business. Pregnant right out of high school, Kellye remained in a dysfunctional marriage because she didn't know any different. Until she did. Her story is remarkable and she openly discusses being with a narcissist, raising powerful women and how she moved on. Kellye has a business in IT and she is fantastic! From her website: Kellye Dash is a technology solutions professional who began her IT career working for Nextel Communications in 1999. Having worked in several customer-facing technical services roles, she is an experienced professional with various positions as a Technical Service Manager, Service Delivery Manager, Relationship Manager and Technical Account Manager. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HawkBusinessGroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HawkBusinessGroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/company/HawkBusinessGroup Find, follow and like my podcast, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBusinessBlendPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheBusinessBlendPodcast To reach The Business Blend, you can email: info@thebusinessblendpodcast.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6_K-iRdZz-YEu2tSy8zHnQ www.HawkBG.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Jo tells me about her first job in Paris, France and how much she loved it, how passionate she is about fashion, having a nanny growing up in Toronto, how to get past being suicidal, and her new and amazing clothing line. When returning from Paris, Jo was disabled for 3 years with a serious back disability. (lost feeling in her leg for a while and still have a 'dead spot') In that time she was in chronic pain in bed for 3 years and had 2 surgeries and a number of treatments to help with pain management. That period was her hermetic period...a time of great contemplation and it was also the first-ever so slight spiritual experience that had me reexamining consciousness and beingness. She was very depressed but sought a way through to try and find happiness even if it meant being forever disabled and in pain, which is what she was largely told to expect from doctors. She started writing steamy romances because that was all she could read while in pain to avoid nightmares. And I was laughing so hard I eventually healed just from that...and some great physio! But laughter played a key part too. She learned a lot about herself and others in that time. Mostly about strengths and the weaknesses of others to find compassion or understanding or patience.  Eventually, that writing became creating children's books and illustrations and it is one of her businesses now. She has won international major awards of artistic excellence (Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award). Jo's work celebrates diversity. ihaveatheorypodcast.com facebook.com/ihaveatheorypodcast instagram.com/ihaveatheorypodcast twitter.com/joblakely42 cohereandthere.com (fashion) facebook.com/cohereandthere instagram.com/cohereandthere twitter.com/cohereandthere Children's Illustration littlejolit.com Art joblakely.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

I adored this interview! From married and desperate to get from Washington State to living on Long Island, NY with her son to start a new life, she started writing, vlogging, and teaching her way through grief, pain, the isolation of single motherhood, and every other bag that wants to pack itself on the trip from married to divorced. Once she was given permission to leave (that's a WHOLE drama), I made a beeline for the furthest possible point I could get to without leaving the continental USA. Now, she works (hard) helping women navigate the bullshit myths about divorce and life after that keep them playing small, being scared, being broke, and settling for a new story that is worse than the one they left behind. IN HER WORDS: Thrive Don't Just Survive (Divorce Diva) 15 minutes • Price varies Dr. Sacheen Mobley here and I know you need me if:  You are thinking about getting a divorce You are afraid of the process You need quick answers to some hard questions You are tired of waking up in a panic at 3 AM I wrote "So, You're Getting Divorced?" for the person who needs some 911 help and needs it NOW.   However, when books and your BFF's are not enough, call me and let's get you through the tough moments. I am a Divorce Diva and I want to help you thrive!  Purchase the book: http://bit.ly/SoYoureGettingDivorced Book a free 10-minute consultation: support@sacheenmobley.com Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/drsacheen/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/drsacheenmobley/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/drsacmob).   Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/therealdrsacheen/) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Maria was so great about discussing mind, body, spirit, that it takes 40 days to stop a habit, how she takes 9 minutes, 3 times a day to manifest and her trauma-induced illness. She is in the infant stages of creating non-profit rescuing victims of being sex-trafficked. After struggling with symptoms for several years, she was near death, broke but not broken and discovered she had Hashimoto's Disease. Now, she is living her most amazing, thriving life. Beautiful inside and out, I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. https://www.instagram.com/mariaaparis/ https://www.facebook.com/MariaAparisEssentialGutAwakening/ https://mariaaparis.com In her words: Who I Am As an inspirational and motivational leader and speaker, I inspire my clients to achieve their greatest potential in life by challenging the paradigms that hold them back. I realign in them with the mind, body and spirit using alternative & holistic natural practices. My Vision I have a vision that we can live in a world free of all dis-ease. I envision that when we feel better physically, we will be kinder to ourselves and kinder to one another and when we are kinder there is more peace in the world. The world needs peace. And laughter, the world needs more laughter. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

BLACK FRIDAY SALE: Order link for my listeners which gives them $10 off the first purchase is Modere.com/lisacox I had so much fun with Lisa! We discussed not feeling good enough as a child, although she tried to be more "perfect". Later in life, that feeling rose it's head again when she had the first lawsuit against her, and more so with the second lawsuit of 100 million dollars that involved 11 people on her team she cared about like family. Lisa lost friends, felt alone and pushed everyone away. Her husband got her through it, pointing out her fear and depression. In time, with help, she is stronger than ever, grateful and now recognizes the same struggle in others. Instagram: @lisacoxofficial FB: www.facebook.com/1coxskincare Website URL: thelisacox.com IN HER WORDS: Lisa Cox is the CEO of  Live Clean Lisa and is well known throughout the home-based direct sales and wellness industry for her experience, knowledge and passion for improving the lives of others.   Married for 30 years, she has raised two beautiful and successful daughters in the industry, setting the example that you can set and reach huge personal and professional goals and still a present and engaged parent and spouse.    Lisa was introduced to the direct sales industry and started selling products she loved in 1996, then made it her full time career in 2000.  She’s a multi-million dollar earner and is a student and advocate for health, fitness and clean living. She specializes in helping others build teams grow themselves, while earning an income from their homes and phones.    Lisa was featured in the book Miracle Morning for Network Marketers by Hal Elrond, she is a popular stage speaker and a success trainer.  Her top goal is to lead by example in maintaining balance in her own life, while helping others be the “entrepreneur of their whole lives”.  My heart is in helping women stop living sub-optimal lives and push beyond the fears and things that are holding them back! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Carrie and I discuss having a child with autism, being raised in a family with older kids, a mom from Denmark and the devastating diagnosis of her husband. http://yayapodcasting.com https://www.instagram.com/carriearick/ https://www.facebook.com/yayapodcasting/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-caulfield-arick/ In her words: I'm a mom to an autism kiddo (now 18) and my husband who received a devastating diagnosis in 2010 that required the removal of part of his skill, dead brain tissue and part of the cervical spine. This meant we went from being comfortable financially to dirt poor. My hubby now suffers from chronic pain and cognitive issues. I had to step up, so I began picking up gigs teaching scrapbook page design and started a memory keeping podcast that paid for itself and helped me establish my authority in the niche. Then, in 2016 my son began his struggle with strep throat. He peaked at 3 strep infections a month. At the same time, his school was absolutely awful, restraining him for any reason at all. so every day I was literally at school for something. They reclassified him as emotionally disturbed without any evaluation (totally against IDEA laws). So, I had to drop everything to advocate and fight the system for him. I ended up getting him placed in special private school for special needs kids. By then, we were eking out a living on my hubby's disability and my child support. When my son was settled and there was no more AND I finally stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop, I went back to work... and honestly, a fight with my hubby kicked me in the butt because I realized that I had no out if needed (and I left my first marriage pregnant with the clothes on my back, so I wasn't doing that ever again). I started picking up graphic design jobs on Upwork... and I tested the waters to see if I could get paid for my podcasting knowledge... turns out, I could. I started my business, Ya Ya Podcasting, officially in 2018. I produce, edit, coach and provide copywriting services for podcasters. I've grown it to include 4 team members to serve our clients in under a year and now I do speaking and training and advocacy for the podcast editors and the podcasting community. It's not easy, but I LOVE --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Jasmin is an internationally published model and upcoming actress. I am so proud she shares her story of domestic violence and loved learning about her modeling career and discuss Playboy and the stigma vs her experience. She told me "after you fold a piece of paper and flatten it out, it may still be a piece of paper but it will never be the same" and that's what it's like with abuse. She hated feeling weak or anyone else feeling that way. She had the power of 1 on 1 therapy, put effort into herself. She took TIME, no medication and was authentic and thankful. OF COURSE, I asked her about breast size, plastic surgery and feeling your best. In her words: I started my journey 4 years ago and have never looked back since. It was an interesting journey for me, starting in a small city in Australia. I am a first-generation Australian, with a Persian and German background. So I believe my ability to adapt and my international look were qualities noticed by a lot of professionals in the industry. When I started modeling, I had just come out of a domestic violence relationship that went on for several months. I wanted to try something new and do something for myself. I always wanted to be a model and actress since I was a child. And perhaps this was the perfect time to pursue it. In my second year of modeling, I entered one of the top Glamour Model competitions happening at the time and ultimately won the title of 'Australia's Top Glamour Model of 2017' This experience and achievement alone was incredible, and it truly gave me a lot of recognition. I was given an extended year to my 'crown', after the director noticed my ongoing achievements in my career I have posed for the Playboy brand 7 times. Including a Cover in October 2018 for Playboy Croatia. And was also named 'Playmate of the Month' for that issue. I have modeled for fashion, beauty and other men's magazines as well. You can view my interview and feature with Maxim USA online, which was such an honor to be a part of The USA and LA specifically have been huge positives, and influences in my life. I am honored to have connected with so many people. And call LA one of my homes. I am very passionate about modeling and acting, and the US industry has more than helped me. It has inspired me and has kept me more driven than ever to do my best. With acting, I have done music videos, a commercial, a film in Seattle called 'The Alliance' by Robert L. Butler, and an Australian Mini-Series called 'At The Phoenix'. I have strong goals when it comes to acting. And I can definitely say, developing both my acting and modeling career in the United States were the best decisions I have ever made I currently travel between LA, Sydney, and Canberra. And look forward to networking with industry professionals around the globe. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Nancy Allen, from Georgia by way of Massachusetts, is a father-daughter incest survivor. Her story moved me literally to tears in this interview. Physically and emotionally abused from early childhood, Nancy was briefly mandated into a kinship foster care placement by social services at age 14, a year after the abuse turned sexual. This removal and related court ordered “punishment” of therapy made Nancy feel that she was as equally at fault as her father. Within a few months of her return home, the incest resumed, and over the next decade, her father created an escalating abusive environment to indulge his sadistic fantasies. When she was 28, her father died, and her repressed world exploded. She checked herself into an acute psychiatric hospital and began her healing journey. Nancy spent the next two decades channeling this experience into becoming a successful, strong woman both personally and professionally. On a personal level, she firmly believes in giving back to the community and helping others help themselves. She’s been an advocate for abused children and intellectually challenged adults, has fostered and adopted children, and served on the board of two related non-profits. Professionally, she has over 30 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry across numerous disciplines, with a passion for empowering individuals in the workplace. Initially focused on her teams' development, she later extended her reach and launched a comprehensive cross culture mentoring program for female colleagues based in India. Unfortunately, at age 49, Nancy’s world was turned upside down again when her husband of 28 years committed suicide while she was away from home for work. Compounding this trauma, she was forced to address the resurfacing of her childhood demons, having lost the “safe place” of her high school sweetheart's embrace. Although devastated by his loss, Nancy stepped up as the sole parent for her traumatized sons. She soon discovered that, even decades later, there were still very limited resources beyond therapy to help incest survivors through life’s difficult moments. Nonetheless, with assistance from her employer, family, and friends, she made a fresh start, relocated to Georgia, continued her healing journey and started the next chapter of her life. Enough is enough! Nancy’s focus after decades of repurposing all of her experiences, both good and bad, is to help create a world where incest survivors have a different life experience than she did. Feeling outside of the norm and disconnected from the larger community, resources didn’t exist to prevent her from feeling different, misunderstood and alone. She wants to champion others to say “I am an incest survivor” without shame, guilt, or fear of repercussions, and to open a dialogue which removes the societal taboo of acknowledging and discussing incest. Just as we rush to put out a house fire and support the survivors with love, compassion, and help, Nancy dreams that one day we will rush without judgment to extinguish the fire of incest. A strong voice for those shamed to silence and the long-term impacts of child sexual abuse, Nancy hosts Tail of the Bell podcast available on most podcast platforms. Each episode focuses on a specific topic interpreted through a featured incest survivor’s personal story and, where needed, further explored by experts. A trained life coach, Nancy also helps incest survivors help themselves through Tail of the Bell, Inc's programs. Website: https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.tailofthebell.comandsa=Dandusd=2andusg=AOvVaw0NhVthyTHs3h3gui1ghA5l (www.tailofthebell.com) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tailofthebell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-allen-tail-of-the-bell/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tail-of-the-bell/id1458131463 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

My 21-year-old daughter, Alana and I co-host once a month, while we strip it down and bare it all discussing topics from traditions to sex, divorce to depression, abuse to drug use and everything in between. With the perspective of the parent AND the child, both perspectives can be brought to the table simultaneously. Today we discuss healthy sexual relationships, dysfunctional sex, rape, being tied up, bisexuality, replacing negative emotions, sex toys, your "gaydar" being off, respect, communication, being open in a relationship, and setting personal boundaries among other things. Jump on board and join us for mother/daughter conversations that are raw, genuine and unbarred. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Belinda opens up about growing up with a Mom who was raised strict Catholic and a Dad who was a Holocaust survivor. It was an unhappy environment focused on pain, struggle, and conflict. We discuss her parents getting divorced, her father's terminal lung cancer, college and embracing the entirety of her life: choices, thoughts, traumas, and upbringing. This embrace, not the embrace of a lover, led her back home, to herself, to love. That's how she found the unconditional passionate love relationship she had been longing to create. Through all of the conflict, change, and transition she discovered what she longed for even more than love – her purpose. www.paikeamediation.com www.facebook.com/belindazylberman www.welcometothepractice.com (for a free online version of my book) www.instagram.com/belindazylberman IN HER WORDS: I fell in love, a real, deep, challenging and satisfying love, with myself. And I started a business to help couples and families move through conflict and challenging life events armed with a greater capacity to be with the dark and welcome the light. I’ve journeyed with hundreds of families through separation, divorce, re-committing in relationships, co-creating, co-parenting, re-partnering and living in blended families, and even experimenting with the possibility of “starting from scratch” in a long-term relationship. Recently re-married and navigating my way in my great, big, blended family, my life centers around one theme: the possibility of what life could be when I embrace the pain, the conflict, and the transition. Thus the work I do within my own family and with my clients is to discover our inner knowing and experience conflict as an opportunity, hardships as lessons, and solitude as a time for reflection. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Helen and I connected and it was so amazing. Taking writing and attaching the experience to a horse is so appealing to me as a writer, I longed to go visit her, let a horse "choose" me and write book #2. With such an amazing background, she allowed her experiences with the horses to shape how she designed her business. The work she's doing is so fantastic and I love her story.  FACEBOOK: helenbbooks SONG: BOOKS: http://www.belief444.com/the-books.html WEBSITE: http://www.belief444.com/home.html EXCERPT: file:///Users/tempadmin/Downloads/2C2C-Cont-Author-Helen-Brennand-Press-Kit%20(1).pdf ABOUT THEM: The Haven is a home for animals, it is a peaceful environment centered around our herd of horses who provide healing for people to help them find balance and harmony in their lives (see Healing with The Herd). We also offer a service of holistic rehabilitation for horses and ponies recovering from illness, injury or trauma. Fostering We have a limited number of places to offer to horses and ponies that have been removed from abusive situations. We provide a safe haven and gentle holistic care. An experience is created to help them regain confidence and rebuild trust in the human-horse connection. Our main support for fostering is through community-based fundraising. ABOUT HELEN Helen is an author, instructor, equine bodyworker and animal communicator. She practices Yoga and Meditation and combines these practices with horse and human. Becoming an Equine Touch practitioner took her into another dimension of the horse's world. She communicated on a deeper level and realized the true healing power of the horse. She constantly works towards improving the domesticated horses' managed environment, finding improved solutions to create stimulation and good health. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Savanna and I discussed crippling anxiety, doing amazing things but feeling overwhelmed and not present in the moment to the point that she had debilitating psychogenic pain. She learned how to change that, turn it around and not only move through her own anxiety but to become a Life and Confidence Coach. Through it all, she remained with the love of her life - which is amazing. She learned to let go of severe anxiety over health, safety, and money as well as feelings of self-doubt. She learned to live big and be true to herself. It was an honor spending time together. Savanna Schiavo Coaching (@savanna.schiavo)  https://www.facebook.com/savanna.schiavo/?modal=admin_todo_tour IN HER WORDS: You have way more power than you could ever imagine to feel better, do more, and create what you want for yourself. Let me show you how. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Karen and I met again for an update of information.  As I know Karen personally, I get to see the impact she has made and is still making in the lives of prisoners - including having a former prisoner as a roommate in her house. Her focus is on using the prison system to rehabilitate people and send them into the world not only better than they came in but as contributing, adjusted people. She spends her time now teaching from the stage.  In her words: I'd like to talk about how to use one's creativity to help transform institutions and society. I think that there is a lot of pain in the world that the medical and the correctional world both get wrong. Both concentrate on the endpoint which is preventable, costly and tragic. I think that creativity through stories, poetry, art, music and how we can touch other people's lives in positive ways can help transform systems and societies. I'll talk about why I wrote my book, but I'd also really like to talk about the healing I saw take place in the prison thru the creative writing and poetry course that was taught by Shaun Griffin, the poet laureate for the state and the inmates he was able to touch and transform. Also, the story of Ismael Santillanes the inmate artist who did the illustrations in my book and is now has a published poetry book called Indelicate Angels. It also happens that he taught fine art to inmate Michael Clifford Helm who is the author of Mayhem- A Life (his memoir where he mentions me and what I did as a prison doctor for him). He came in the prison with not completing high school and left with a high school diploma, 2 years of college and when he left became a nuclear medicine technician. FIND KAREN HERE: DiscoverDrG.com website Karen Gedney MD LinkedIn Karen Gedney Dr. G Facebook --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message

Sonya and I talk about how she wanted to be a lawyer at 13, became one at 25, her first job as a lawyer at the video game company, SEGA! Dream job, crazy boss... and the years ensuing that would teach her what she's great at. Burn out, stress with finances, pregnancy, being a Mom, getting divorced and how to embrace who you are. In this case, it's using her undergrad in philosophy, her love of music and being a dogged advocate.  sonyasigler.com Twitter, Instagram, Facebook @sonyasigler LinkedIn Free book - www.sonyasigler.com/book IN HER WORDS: Sonya is in the confidence-building business and loves to help women break through the glass ceiling! She works with highly motivated professional women (and enlightened, progressive men) who feel stuck, uncertain, or frustrated in their careers. She empowers them to find a job they love that is balanced and aligned with their work-life vision. It took her many years to learn to do this and now she helps others design and live their balanced life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-naked-podcaster/message