Dr. Tony Dice spent years chasing the highest version of that identity, from a remote mountain town in Northern California to the Navy SEALs, from the brotherhood of elite service to the unraveling of a nine-year addiction. What looked like strength from the outside was quietly hollowing out everything beneath it. And the moment it all became undeniable wasn't some dramatic public collapse. It was a phone pushed under a bed. A call from a daycare. A son who needed him, and a room he couldn't leave.

This conversation is about what happens after that moment. Tony has been in recovery for fifteen years, earned his doctorate, returned to the very treatment center that saved his life, and built a career helping veterans, law enforcement, and high performers face the thing they've been outrunning. His story doesn't wrap up neatly, and he wouldn't want it to. It just points somewhere real.

What You'll Hear:

• The moment Tony's addiction became undeniable, and why he couldn't get out of that room
• How the identity of "the hero" became both a lifeline and a trap
• What the decision between the SEAL teams and his addiction actually felt like in the body
• The small, unlikely moment in a treatment center that redirected the rest of his life
• Why he believes addiction is far more universal than most people are willing to admit
• What it feels like to watch someone's guard finally come down, and why that's the work he was built for

Dr. Tony Dice is a Navy SEAL veteran, 15-year recovery advocate, professor of counseling at Old Dominion University, and founder of Bishop and Dice Defense, a veteran-owned business that pairs tactical training with mental health services. He is the author of After the Trident, a raw, memoir-style account of shame, addiction, and the recovery model he developed over more than a decade of working with high performers.

https://bishopdicedefense.com/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Deb Meyerson was 53, healthy, and doing meaningful work as a Stanford professor when a stroke began on a drive to Lake Tahoe. What followed wasn't a quick recovery. It was a slow reckoning with the body, the voice, the professional identity, and the quiet realization that some parts of the old life weren't coming back. Her husband Steve walked every step alongside her, navigating his own grief as a care partner while trying to hold the family together. Together, they eventually found a way to transform the loss into something that now helps thousands of stroke survivors feel less alone.

This is a conversation about the kind of grief that doesn't announce itself. The kind that shows up on your happiest days and in your proudest moments, reminding you of the distance between who you were and who you are now. It's also a conversation about what it looks like to keep creating meaning when the old map no longer works.

What You'll Hear:

• How Deb's stroke unfolded slowly over a Labor Day weekend, and what the overnight "slow fall off a cliff" felt like for both of them
• The moment three years in when Deb had to leave Stanford, and how that second loss broke something open
• What it actually means to hold multiple identities at once after trauma, and how Deb navigated the "yes and" of still being herself
• The grief cycles that don't end, including the morning after their grandson was born
• How writing a book became the most affordable therapy Deb never expected, and what led them to start Stroke Onward
• What Steve learned about being a care partner, and why that role is so rarely seen or supported

Guest Bio:

Debra Meyerson is a stroke survivor, author, and co-founder of Stroke Onward, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting stroke survivors and care partners through the emotional journey of recovery. A former tenured professor at Stanford, she wrote Identity Theft with her son and husband Steve after her own experience of rebuilding identity in the wake of a stroke and aphasia. Steve Zuckerman brings decades of experience in business, economic justice, and nonprofit leadership to his role as co-founder and care partner. Together, they work to ensure that the emotional side of stroke recovery gets the attention it deserves.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

What Wendy didn't know until she was 62 is that her instinct of not quite belonging had an answer she hadn't even thought to look for. A DNA test. A buried secret. A biological father who had come to her house while her dad was at work, and a mother who had spent a lifetime protecting everyone except the one person who most needed the truth.

This is a conversation about what it costs to grow up without language for your own grief. It's about the way a body holds on to what a family refuses to say out loud. And it's about what happens when the truth, as painful and as complicated as it is, finally lands. Wendy wrote her memoir, My Pretty Baby, as a call to action, not just a personal story. Because 64% of adults have experienced some form of adverse childhood experience, and most of them were never given permission to talk about it.

What You'll Hear:

• What it felt like to lose a parent at seven when no one gave grief a name
• The moment in an acting class in her 20s when 20 years of buried anger finally surfaced
• How growing up with an alcoholic stepfather shaped her sense of self and blame
• The DNA discovery at 62 that reframed her entire life and answered the question she didn't know she'd been asking
• What it means to feel validated by the truth, even when the truth comes too late for some conversations
• Why she wrote My Pretty Baby as a call to action and what she hopes readers carry with them

Guest Bio:

Wendy B. Correa is a writer, yogi, speaker, and advocate for honest conversations about adverse childhood experiences. Her memoir, My Pretty Baby, traces her journey through childhood loss, family dysfunction, and the identity-shifting discovery that her biological father was not who she believed him to be. She is committed to breaking the silence around ACEs and helping others find language for the things they were never allowed to say. You can find her at www.wendybcorrea.com and on Instagram at @WendyBCorrea.

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

That's where Chris Magleby found himself in 2017. A small piece of a pot brownie triggered a full psychotic episode, one that landed him zip-tied in his front yard, fighting cops he didn't recognize, hearing sounds that weren't there. It was terrifying. And it was, in a strange and quiet way, the beginning of something.

Chris spent the next two and a half years working through acute anxiety, a manic episode, and the slow, painful process of rebuilding a relationship with his own mind. What came out the other side was a man who understood the difference between controlling life and actually living it. Now he's channeling all of that into Mindless Labs, a mental health startup built for people who know what it feels like to be lost inside their own heads.

What You'll Hear:

1. How a childhood marked by his parents' divorce shaped his relationship with control and safety
2. The night a psychotic episode cracked everything open, and what those terrifying hours felt like from the inside
3. Why the two and a half years after were, in some ways, harder than the episode itself
4. How Chris found his way to mindfulness, meditation, and Eastern philosophy as tools for survival
5. The difference between pushing through and actually feeling your way through
6. What it means to turn your hardest experience into something that might help someone else find the light

Guest Bio:

Chris Magleby is the co-founder of Mindless Labs, a mental health startup with an apparel line that funds mental health resources and an app built around professional-led content for people navigating their own mental health journeys. He's been married for nearly 22 years, is a father, and brings to all of it a hard-earned understanding of what it means to fall apart and come back differently. You can find him and Mindless Labs at mindless.org or on Instagram at @mindlesslabs.

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Eugene Z. Bertrand grew up navigating a home shaped by domestic violence. For most of his childhood and into early adulthood, survival meant masking. It meant saying he was fine when he was not. It meant watching and waiting and staying alert. And then, just days after graduating college, something happened that nearly took his life. And the most unsettling part was how calmly he described it afterward.

In this conversation, Eugene talks about what it felt like to say it out loud for the first time, to sit with radical acceptance, to forgive not because the other person deserved it but because he did. He talks about EMDR therapy, about the friends who held space for him, about vulnerability as a superpower, and about the book he wrote, five to ten pages a day, just to keep moving forward.

What You'll Hear:

1. What it felt like to grow up in a home where uncertainty was the norm, and how that silence shaped who Eugene became
2. The moment he almost lost his life, and why it took a friend's reaction to help him truly understand what had happened
3. How radical acceptance and EMDR therapy helped him move through trauma without staying trapped in it
4. What it actually felt like to choose forgiveness, including the morning after when he was not sure he had made the right call
5. Why Eugene believes vulnerability is your greatest superpower, and what happens when you finally stop hiding your story
6. How writing a book became a form of healing, and what he hopes other survivors of domestic violence find when they read it

Guest Bio:

Eugene Z. Bertrand is a survivor, author, and social work student at Columbia University. He is the author of Resilience: Breaking the Chains, a fiction-based exploration of domestic violence and the long road toward healing. Eugene is a mentor, speaker, and passionate advocate for vulnerability as a form of strength and for creating spaces where survivors, especially men, feel safe enough to tell the truth.

If Eugene's story moved you, send him a message at eugenezbertrand.com or pick up his book, Resilience: Breaking the Chains, on Amazon. And if you want more conversations like this one, subscribe to this newsletter and never miss an episode.

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Dianette has lived her life reaching toward something higher. She grew up in flat Southern California, looking at snow-capped mountains from her backyard and knowing, in the way some people just know, that she was meant for something beyond what she had been handed. That instinct led her to Mount Whitney, to Kilimanjaro, to all seven summits, and eventually to ultramarathons across the world. Movement was not just her passion. It was her language, her therapy, her way of sorting through whatever life threw at her.

And then her son Johnny died. He was 23. He was a wingsuit pilot and a base jumper and the kind of person who had climbed the seven summits before he was legally allowed to do most of the things he loved. His death stripped the sparkle from the world for a long time. And Dianette had to find her way back, not to who she was before, but to someone who could hold the grief and still choose to live.

What You'll Hear

1. How a girls' trip up Mount Whitney cracked open a hunger for adventure that Dianette had never known she had
2. The quiet devastation of losing her son, Johnny, and how grief made the world feel physically different
3. Why she believes year two of loss is harder than year one, and what finally shook her out of just existing
4. Her honest take on grief without a roadmap, and why there is no right way to do any of it
5. How movement, travel, and even a plant medicine journey became her path back to herself
6. What it means to honor someone you lost without feeling obligated to perform that grief for the world

Guest Bio

Dianette Wells is an adventurer, author, and mother who has spent decades pursuing the kinds of experiences that most people only dream about. She has climbed the Seven Summits, run ultramarathons around the globe, and lived in Malibu before relocating to Park City, Utah, where altitude and single-track trails became both her home and her healing. After losing her son Johnny Strange at age 23, Dianette channeled her grief into continued movement, memory-making, and writing. Her book, Another Step Up the Mountain, is available at dnatwells.com and is now moving to a new publisher, Flint Hills Publishing. Johnny's story is documented in the film American Daredevil on Peacock and Born to Fly, Johnny Strange on Tubi.

https://dianettewells.com/

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Cristian grew up in Paraguay, surrounded by family lunches that stretched into the afternoon, stories layered on top of stories, and a kind of closeness that most of us only read about. He carried all of that with him, through Stanford, through Google, through the blank whiteboard moment of figuring out what he was actually supposed to build. And then, a few weeks before a trip home to finally sit down with his grandmother and record her story, she had a stroke. The conversation he had been saving for later became one he would never have.

What came out of that loss was not just a product. It was a reckoning. Cristian built Autograph, an AI-driven platform that interviews people about their lives, so that the stories we keep meaning to capture do not quietly disappear. This episode is about grief, yes. But it is also about what happens when you stop waiting and decide to become the author of your own life.

What You'll Hear:

1. Why the stories we never say out loud are the ones we lose forever
2. How growing up in Paraguay shaped the way Cristian thinks about family, identity, and belonging
3. The moment his grandmother's stroke became the catalyst for everything
4. What it actually feels like to become the main character of your own story
5. How grief and technology can hold hands without losing the human part
6. Why your story matters, even if you have never once believed that it does

Guest Bio: Cristian Cibils Bernardes is the founder of Autograph, a platform that uses AI to help people record, preserve, and share their life stories with the people who matter most. He grew up in Paraguay, studied symbolic systems at Stanford, and worked at Google before stepping back to figure out what he was actually building toward. The answer, it turned out, had been waiting in his own family all along. Learn more at autograph.ai.

---

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Kathleen Quinn shares a story shaped by devotion, sudden illness, and the long unfolding of grief. She speaks about caring for her husband through a devastating diagnosis, about choosing presence over denial, and about the many small decisions that come with loving someone at the end of their life. This is not a story about moving on. It is a story about staying open. About learning how grief and joy can exist side by side. About discovering that the life you are living now may still hold meaning, tenderness, and purpose.

This episode is a gentle reminder that there is no correct way to grieve. Only your way. And that honoring what was lost does not mean closing yourself off from what still remains.

What You’ll Hear

1. Loving someone through a terminal diagnosis without turning them into a patient
2. The quiet weight of anticipatory grief and how it shows up unexpectedly
3. Choosing presence in moments that feel unbearable
4. Letting go of rules about how grief is supposed to look
5. Staying open to life after loss without rushing yourself
6. How grief reshaped her relationship with worth, joy, and purpose

Guest Bio

Kathleen Quinn is a mindset coach and former philanthropy leader at Stanford. After more than three decades working closely with high-achieving and high-net-worth individuals, she now helps people explore the deeper questions of worthiness, wealth, and fulfillment. Drawing from her professional experience and personal journey through loss, Kathleen guides clients through meaningful transitions rooted in self-trust, clarity, and impact.

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show for ad-free and early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today I am talking about the small moments that end up changing everything. Not the dramatic events we can point to, but the quieter shifts. The split second where you choose something different. The small yes or no that later becomes a turning point. The thought you almost ignore until it finally lands.

In this reflection, I talk about the tiny, almost invisible choices that shape who we become. The gentle nudges. The slow clarifying moments. The things that do not look important at the time but reveal themselves later as the start of a new chapter. Change is rarely loud. Healing is rarely obvious. Most of the time it happens underneath the surface, long before we can name it.

If you are feeling stuck or wondering when your own shift will show up, I hope this episode helps you notice what is already happening inside you. Look for the little things. The small questions. The subtle pull toward something new. Those moments matter more than you think. They might be the beginning of your next life.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

In this conversation, I sit with someone who understands that grief is not something to get over. It is something to learn how to live with. Day shares what it was like to lose his father, lose a relationship, and find himself standing in a quiet in-between space where nothing felt stable. Instead of rushing through that season, he slowed down. He listened. He followed a small impulse into the woods. And in doing so, he discovered a way to turn pain into presence.

This episode is about thresholds. About endings and beginnings that overlap. About how creativity, ritual, and attention can help us stay open when life changes shape. It is an invitation to soften your grip, trust what is unfolding, and remember that even in loss, something meaningful is still possible.

What You’ll Hear

1. Why grief is not just an emotion but a skill we can learn
2. The power of slowing down when life feels unrecognizable
3. How ritual and creativity can help metabolize loss
4. Learning to hold endings without closing your heart
5. The quiet role of pleasure in times of deep heaviness
6. Finding meaning in the space between goodbye and hello

Guest Bio

Day Schildkret is an award-winning queer author, artist, ritualist, and teacher known for Morning Altars, a practice rooted in nature, art, and ritual. His work helps people navigate change, grief, and life transitions with intention and care. Day teaches internationally and creates spaces where people can slow down, remember what matters, and reconnect to themselves through creativity and presence.

Sign up for Day’s Newsletter: https://www.morningaltars.com/

Morning Altars Teacher Training: https://www.morningaltars.com/teachertraining

Purchase Hello, Goodbye: https://www.morningaltars.com/hellogoodbye

Purchase Morning Altars https://www.morningaltars.com/morningaltarsbook/1

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningaltars/

----

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today, I am talking about starting over and the quiet moments when someone realizes life cannot keep going the way it has been. These beginnings rarely look dramatic. They show up as discomfort, restlessness, or a small truth that refuses to stay quiet. They arrive long before anything changes on the outside.

In this reflection, I talk about how starting again is usually a slow noticing rather than a bold leap. It is the moment you finally pay attention to the shift happening beneath the surface. It is the small decision to move toward something more honest, even when your legs feel shaky. Beginning again asks for honesty, patience, and a willingness to let go of the version of you that no longer feels true.

If you are standing in your own starting point, I hope this episode meets you gently. You do not need to rush, leap, or reinvent your entire life. You only need to listen to what is pulling you and honor the direction that feels right. Starting over is not a failure. It is a sign that you are paying attention. And that is enough.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

If you have carried love and grief in the same breath, you will recognize yourself here.

Sharon’s story moves through absence, devotion, and the quiet reshaping that happens when life asks more of you than you feel ready to give. From early experiences of not knowing where she belonged, to the long years of loving and caring for her son Michael, she shares what it means to live inside uncertainty without closing your heart. This is not a story about fixing what cannot be fixed. It is about learning how to stay present when the future feels fragile.

This episode holds space for the kind of grief that does not follow a timeline. The kind that lives alongside laughter. The kind that changes your identity and slowly teaches you how to carry love forward. There is no rush here. Just permission to feel what you feel, and to trust that it all belongs.

What You’ll Hear

1. What it feels like when the life you expected quietly disappears
2. The difference between surviving grief and living alongside it
3. How love deepens when certainty is no longer available
4. Navigating identity after loss without forcing closure
5. Holding joy and sorrow in the same moment
6. Learning to feel seen after years of feeling unseen

Guest Bio

Dr. Sharon Spano works with high-impact leaders who appear successful on the outside but feel something is quietly missing inside. With a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems, she helps CEOs, consultants, and entrepreneurs understand what is actually holding them back, not just in their work, but in their relationships and sense of self.

Much of Sharon’s work centers on what she calls the emptiness of success. The feeling that can linger even after you have done all the right things. Through a blend of science, developmental psychology, and deep personal insight, she guides leaders to uncover hidden barriers, including generational patterns and unresolved grief, so they can lead with more clarity, integrity, and wholeness.

Sharon is the host of The Other Side of Potential, a podcast exploring leadership, growth, and what it means to live beyond pressure-driven success. She is also the author of The Pursuit of Time & Money. At the heart of her work is a simple belief. True success is not about doing more. It is about becoming more fully yourself.

1. Website: https://sharonspano.com/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/
3. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharon.spano.902
4. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsharonspano/
5. Blog: https://sharonspano.com
6. Podcast: The Other Side of Potential: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-side-of-potential/id1397898049

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show for ad-free and early release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today I am talking about the moment you finally say the thing you have been holding in. It is rarely dramatic. It is rarely loud. Most of the time it is a quiet shift in the air. A small release. A truth that has been waiting for you to stop hiding.

In this reflection, I talk about the fear that comes before speaking the truth, the relief that follows, and the slow, steady undoing of shame that happens when you let yourself be seen. Many of us carry invisible weight. We carry the stories we were told to keep quiet. We carry the parts of ourselves we were sure would make people run. But the moment you let someone see the real you, everything changes. Even if it is small. Even if it is messy. Even if your voice shakes.

If you feel yourself inching toward your own line in the sand, I hope this episode helps you feel less alone. You do not have to shout your truth. You do not have to reveal everything at once. You can take one small step. You can whisper the part of your story that wants to be heard. And when you do, you become a little more you.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

In this episode, I talk with Ellen Whitlock Baker about the quiet unraveling that led to her line-in-the-sand moment. Years of people-pleasing, pushing through, and trying to belong in systems that were never built for her finally caught up with her in the most unexpected place. Sitting in a theater, watching the musical Beetlejuice, Ellen broke down. Not because the show was sad, but because her body had reached its limit. What followed was a brave decision to walk away from a very stable job and begin rebuilding a life and career rooted in alignment instead of obligation.

This is a story about workplace burnout and listening to yourself before everything falls apart. About honoring the signals you have learned to ignore. And about trusting that even when the next step feels risky, there is another way to live and work that does not cost you yourself.

What You’ll Hear

1. What burnout feels like before you have language for it
2. How belonging, or the lack of it, quietly shapes our career choices
3. The moment Ellen’s body finally said enough
4. Why leaving a stable job can feel terrifying and deeply right at the same time
5. What rebuilding looks like when you choose alignment over approval
6. A reminder that it is not you that is broken; sometimes it is the system

Guest Bio

Ellen Whitlock Baker is the founder and CEO of EWB Coaching, where she helps professionals learn how to prioritize themselves in a world that often tells them not to. With empathy and honesty at the center of her work, Ellen supports leaders in understanding their strengths and building careers that feel sustainable, human, and aligned.

With more than 20 years of workplace experience and certification through the International Coaching Federation, Ellen works with individuals and organizations through one-on-one coaching, workshops, and courses. After navigating her own experiences with burnout and self-doubt, she is on a mission to help others never reach that breaking point. Ellen is also the host of the Hard at Work podcast, which identifies what isn't working in today’s workplaces and explores how we might change them.

Connect with Ellen

Website: https://ewbcoaching.com

Podcast: https://hardatworkpodcast.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenwhitlockbaker/

Instagram: @ellenwbcoaching

------

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show for ad-free and early release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today I am talking about the quiet ways people rebuild after loss. Not the dramatic versions we often hear about, but the slow work that happens in ordinary moments. The rebuilding that takes shape in private. The kind no one sees.

In this reflection, I talk about how grief reshapes us, how healing does not mean going back to who we were, and how rebuilding often looks like small rituals, small connections, and small choices that eventually add up to something stronger. Loss creates a landscape we have to learn how to navigate. There are days we feel lost, days we find small paths forward, and days we simply sit with the weight of it all. None of it is wrong. None of it is failure. It is all part of the rebuilding.

If you are walking through loss right now, I hope this episode gives you space to notice the gentle ways you are already putting yourself back together. Maybe it is the first laugh you did not expect. Maybe it is reaching out when you would rather withdraw. Maybe it is the moment you stop judging your grief and let it be what it is. There is no timeline here. There is only your way. And that is enough.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

For Lin Yuan-Su, that moment was a quiet breaking point. She had the job, the title, the security. But none of it felt like her. What began as a career built to please others became a life that asked her to finally listen to herself. That morning became a line in the sand moment where she realized success alone was not enough.

Her story is about what happens when you stop performing and start trusting your own truth. It’s about learning to make peace with the child who only knew how to survive, and letting her grow into the woman who can finally breathe.

What You’ll Hear:

1. The hidden pressure of living up to other people’s expectations
2. The breaking point that began in a silent parking lot
3. How cultural and familial stories shaped her sense of worth
4. The moment she chose to walk away from success that no longer fit
5. Reconnecting with her inner child after years of silence
6. Building a life that feels aligned instead of approved

Guest Bio:

Lin Yuan-Su is a transformational success coach who helps high-achieving professionals simplify their path to success so they can create lives they love without burnout or hustle that no longer serves them. With a background in nutrition and healthcare, Lin once looked accomplished on paper but felt deeply unfulfilled. She works with leaders and entrepreneurs who look successful on the outside but feel disconnected on the inside. A spontaneous moment of truth set her on a path toward purpose, ease, and flow. Today, she guides others to align with their truth, quiet the noise, and live in a way that feels like freedom.

Discover more about Lin at: www.enlightenedsuccess.com

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show for ad-free and early release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Each episode centers on one defining life shift. A moment that changes how someone sees their life and what it takes to live differently after it.

This is not a show to offer solutions or advice. These are thoughtful conversations about real experiences, shared by people navigating loss, burnout, identity, grief, and major life changes.

Hosted by Matt Gilhooly.

Listen to episodes and learn more at

https://thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Today, I am talking about identity and what happens when the life you have been holding together finally cracks open. Identity is not fixed. It shifts and bends. It breaks down and rebuilds. It grows through fear and through honesty. And most of us do not realize how much we have been holding until something inside us asks for change.

In this reflection, I talk about the messy work of letting old selves fall away, the long, slow unwinding of perfection, and the courage it takes to face the parts of you that have been hiding for years. Growing into yourself is not clean or linear. Some days you feel brave. Some days you fall back into old patterns. The important part is noticing the opening. Noticing the small truth that something old is no longer working.

If you are standing in that breaking open, I hope this episode meets you gently. You do not have to rush toward clarity. You do not need to fix everything at once. You can sit with the crack for a moment. You can let the rawness be real. Because inside that openness is the beginning of who you are becoming.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Sometimes the light we find is born in the darkest places.

In this episode of The Life Shift, Suzanne Roberts shares what it was like to grow up in a home that looked perfect on the outside but felt unsafe within. After surviving childhood sexual abuse, she dissociated into something she did not yet have language for. A quiet presence. A sense of holiness. A light that never left her.

This conversation holds grief and wonder side by side. It explores what it means to live after trauma, to slowly feel safe in your own body again, and to loosen the grip of self-hatred that never should have been there in the first place. Suzanne’s story is not about erasing the past. It is about remembering the part of you that stayed whole, even when everything else felt shattered.

What You’ll Hear

1. The early moments that shaped Suzanne’s sensitivity and sense of wonder
2. The line in the sand moment that changed everything
3. How dissociation became a doorway to something life-giving
4. Relearning how to trust her body and inner voice
5. The slow shift from self-hatred to self worth
6. Why movement, nature, and connection played a role in her healing

Guest Bio

Suzanne Roberts is the Founder of UnifyingSolutions and a transformational speaker, facilitator, and author with over four decades of experience guiding leaders and organizations toward sustainable, systemic change. She is the creator of Polarity System Design, a methodology that helps individuals and teams reclaim inner capacity, lead with clarity, and design cultures rooted in purpose, equity, and lasting impact. Suzanne creates spaces where people can thrive and contribute with clarity and purpose. Her book and documentary, It’s Deeper Than That: Pathway to a Vibrant, Purposeful Life, premiered in October 2025.

Book a free coaching session with Suzanne:

https://unifyingsolutions.com/schedule/

Listen and follow:

www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show for ad-free and early-release episodes:

www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to the newsletter:

https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today, I am talking about the way grief shows up differently for each of us. Grief is not a single feeling. It is not one path or one expression. It shifts. It breaks open. It softens. It surprises you. And sometimes it says the opposite of what you think it should.

In this reflection, I talk about the pressure many of us feel to grieve a certain way, the fear of getting it wrong, and the quiet shame that comes from comparing our grief to someone else’s. Some days you may cry. Some days you may laugh. Some days you may be numb or angry or exhausted. All of it is real. All of it is allowed. Grief has no finish line and no proper form. It simply becomes part of who we are.

If you are carrying grief in any shape, I hope this episode gives you space to be honest about what it looks like for you. You do not need to perform it. You do not need to justify it. You can name the feelings, even the unexpected ones, and let them belong. There is room for your version of grief. There always has been.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

There are moments in life when you look around and realize you have been carrying the weight of everyone else’s expectations. Maybe you know that feeling. The quiet pressure to keep it all together. The fear that if you slow down even for a second, everything you have been outrunning will finally catch up.

Katie Grimes knows that place well. She grew up trying to earn belonging, trying to stay safe in a home shaped by addiction, fear, and silence. For years, she filled her life with noise and motion and relationships that echoed her earliest wounds. But somewhere inside the chaos, something steady began to rise. A small voice that said it was time to stop pretending and start healing. That voice became her line in the sand moment.

This conversation holds all of that tenderness. The grief she carried. The patterns she had to unlearn. The deep self-awareness she fought for. And the peace she has found in finally listening to herself. I hope that as you hear Katie’s story, you feel a soft reminder that you are not alone in the places that feel messy or unfinished.

What You’ll Hear

1. The loneliness that follows a childhood shaped by addiction and fear
2. How early abandonment patterns echo in adult relationships
3. The breaking point that forced Katie to face her own truth
4. The long, slow climb into recovery and self-awareness
5. How faith, stillness, and support helped her rebuild
6. The quiet strength she carries now as she chooses a different life

Guest Bio

Katie Grimes is a business coach, podcast host, and entrepreneur who helps busy business owners build routines they can actually keep. After growing a relationship coaching business to $550,000, she shifted her focus to business coaching, guiding people as they learn to set boundaries, build confidence, and create work that supports a life they love. Through her podcast, Anything for Love, and her digital courses, Katie has helped more than 100,000 people feel their feelings, speak up for what they need, and step away from the constant pressure to do more.

https://www.katiegrimes.com/

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show for ad-free and early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today I am talking about self trust and what it means to rebuild it after years of doubt, shame, or fear. Trusting yourself is not a single moment. It grows slowly through messy progress, small choices, and the courage to keep showing up even when you feel uncertain.

In this reflection, I talk about the back-and-forth nature of healing, the quiet bravery it takes to listen to your own voice, and the way small wins can slowly rewrite the stories you once believed about yourself. Self trust is not perfect confidence. It is the willingness to face your own feelings, try something new, set a boundary, or simply stay with yourself when things feel hard.

If you are in a season where trusting yourself feels out of reach, I hope this episode gives you some gentleness. You do not have to be fully healed to begin. You do not have to silence every doubt. You can start small. You can take one step. You can remember that the younger version of you deserved care, and the current version of you does too. You have always been enough.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Some moments reshape us before we even have words for them.

In this episode of The Life Shift, we explore a pivotal life shift and the before and after moments that shaped Erin Snow’s journey toward reclaiming her voice, worth, and sense of self.

Erin Snow carried one of those moments for most of her life. What began as a buried truth became a quiet weight she learned to navigate on her own. And somewhere along the way, that silence started to turn into something else. A nudge. A voice. A call to reclaim the parts of herself that had been taken.

Her story is not only about what happened. It is about the slow return to her own strength, the tenderness of being heard at the right time, and the courage it takes to tell a truth that once felt impossible to say. Erin reminds us that healing is not tidy. It grows in seasons. It begins in small ways. And often it starts with listening.

What You’ll Hear:

1. The childhood moment that marked a clear before and after
2. How silence shaped Erin’s sense of worth
3. The long path toward reclaiming her voice
4. Why advocacy became a way to heal
5. How listening became her life’s purpose
6. The freedom of saying something you once held alone

Guest Bio:

Erin Snow is a transformative listening strategist who turns the art of hearing into a powerful tool for personal and professional empowerment. As the founder of Seacoast Listening Lounge, she has pioneered a revolutionary approach that creates a sanctuary where women can not just survive, but truly reclaim their narrative and inner strength.

With sixteen years of frontline experience as a legal advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, Erin has witnessed firsthand the life changing power of authentic, compassionate listening. She made history as the first paralegal in New Hampshire to represent clients directly in family court, breaking barriers and reshaping traditional legal norms.

Her work bridges trauma-informed advocacy with deep emotional intelligence, offering individuals, leaders, and organizations a pathway to genuine, transformative connection. Erin can be reached at seacoastlisteninglounge.com.

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show for ad-free and early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today I am talking about the belief that you have to be fully healed before you can change your life. I do not think that is true. Healing is not a finish line. It is not a requirement you have to meet before you are allowed to grow or move forward.

In this reflection, I talk about why healing and change often happen together, and why waiting to feel whole can keep you stuck for years. Change is messy. Healing is slow. Sometimes you start showing up for yourself long before you feel ready. Sometimes the shift begins in the middle of the grief or confusion or fear. You do not need to be perfect or certain to take a step toward the life you want.

If you are sitting in a season where you feel broken, overwhelmed, or unsure, I hope this episode helps you breathe a little easier. You do not have to fix everything first. You do not have to have it all sorted out. You can start right where you are, even in the mess, even in the doubt. That small beginning counts.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

In this episode of The Life Shift, we explore a pivotal life shift and the before-and-after moments that shaped John Ulsh’s journey through trauma, recovery, and the rebuilding of a life with purpose.

After surviving a horrific car accident that left him with a three percent chance of survival, John Ulsh spent years relearning how to live, move, and believe in the life ahead of him. Across 45 surgeries and 17 years of recovery, he found that healing wasn’t about getting “back” to normal. It was about building something new — one intentional day at a time.

In this conversation, we talk about:

1. How John reframed pain into purpose and found strength in progress, not perfection
2. The role of patience, humility, and self-compassion in long-term recovery
3. Why falling in love with the process can matter more than the goal itself

John’s story reminds us that survival can be just the starting line — and that even the hardest chapters can fuel something good.

John Ulsh knows what it means to rebuild. In 2007, he, his wife, and their two young children were in a catastrophic head-on collision. While his family suffered serious injuries, John took the brunt of the impact and was given less than a three percent chance of survival. After enduring over 45 surgeries and years of relentless recovery, he discovered that true resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship — it’s about learning to rise from it. Now, as the author of The Upside of Down, a speaker, and a coach, John helps others overcome adversity and turn setbacks into success. Learn more at www.johnulsh.com.

Listen to this episode and more at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com.

Get ad-free and early access on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.

Subscribe to The Life Shift newsletter for behind-the-scenes reflections: thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com.

Follow along on social: @thelifeshiftpodcast

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today I am talking about those quiet or sudden moments when everything in your life shifts. The ground moves. The story you thought you were living no longer fits. And you find yourself standing in a new version of your life without knowing how you got there.

In this reflection, I talk about the before and after moments we do not always see coming. The times when you feel stuck in fear, or pulled toward something new, or caught between the life you built and the life you want. Change rarely happens in one dramatic sweep. It shows up in small choices, in discomfort you can no longer ignore, in the quiet recognition that something has to give.

If you have felt that internal shake or noticed a line in the sand you cannot uncross, I hope this episode meets you gently. You do not have to understand the whole shift. You only have to name the moment and keep moving with curiosity. These turning points shape who we are becoming, one small step at a time.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

When licensed therapist Brianna Laricchia lost her dog Molly, the grief cracked her heart wide open. It wasn’t just about losing a pet — it was about losing a constant, unconditional presence that had shaped who she was. In this conversation, Brianna shares how that loss transformed her both personally and professionally, leading her to specialize in grief counseling for others walking the same tender path.

You’ll hear:

1. How loving and losing Molly reshaped Brianna’s understanding of empathy and connection
2. What she’s learned about the unique grief of losing a pet
3. How she built Omnia Psychotherapy Group to help others heal through compassion, presence, and shared humanity

If you’ve ever loved an animal like family, this episode will feel like a gentle hand on your shoulder.

Listen and subscribe to The Life Shift Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Get ad-free, early access episodes and behind-the-scenes reflections on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Join the newsletter for honest reflections and updates: thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com

Follow The Life Shift on social @thelifeshiftpodcast

Guest Bio

Brianna Laricchia is a licensed mental health counselor and the founder of Omnia Psychotherapy Group, a private practice based in New York. She specializes in grief counseling, focusing on pet loss and the emotional bonds we form with our animals. After losing her beloved dog, Molly, Brianna found her calling in helping others navigate the often-overlooked pain of pet loss. Through her work, she bridges professional expertise with deep empathy, creating safe spaces for healing and remembrance.

www.omniapsychotherapygroup.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today I am talking about those disorienting moments when the life you have been living suddenly feels unfamiliar. The pieces stop fitting together. The story you have been telling yourself begins to crack. And you find yourself standing in the in between, unsure of what comes next.

In this reflection, I talk about confusion as part of the process, not a sign that something is wrong. Change is rarely neat or straightforward. It often begins in the fog, in the exhaustion, in the quiet moments when you realize you cannot keep pretending everything is fine. Sometimes clarity arrives only after the breaking open. Sometimes it comes through rest, or release, or the small permission to stop holding everything together.

If you are in a season where nothing feels clear, I hope this episode gives you a softer place to stand. You do not need a full map. You do not need to rush the unfolding. It is enough to notice what is shifting inside you and trust that clarity often grows from confusion, one moment at a time.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

This special co-hosted livestream on Riverside brought me together with Angela Hollowell to reflect on podcasting, storytelling, and the quiet evolution that happens when you keep showing up. We talked about how our shows began, how different our approaches are, and how both are rooted in care and intention. We explored the learning curve of hosting, creating safety without scripting everything, and letting conversations breathe. Somewhere in the middle of it all, I said something out loud that surprised even me. That podcasting has softened me. That it has made me more forgiving of myself. And that it might be the best thing I have ever done for me.

This conversation is less about tactics and more about trust. About curiosity. About giving yourself permission to do it your own way. If you joined us live, thank you for being part of that moment. If you are listening now, I hope this reminds you that there is more than one right way to tell a story and you do not have to do it perfectly for it to matter.

What You’ll Hear

• Different podcasting styles grounded in care
• Creating safety without controlling the outcome
• The hosting learning curve and releasing perfection
• How storytelling changes the people holding the space
• Why continuing to show up can quietly change you

Co-Host Bio

Angela Hollowell is the creator of the Please Hustle Responsibly newsletter and the host of the Honey and Hustle podcast. Through both, she highlights North Carolina founders, creators, and nonprofit leaders with care, specificity, and deep respect for the full human story. Her work centers on thoughtful storytelling, community, and creating access to conversations that help people feel less alone in their work and lives.

Please Hustle Responsibly: https://www.pleasehustleresponsibly.com/

Honey and Hustle Podcast: https://www.honeyandhustle.co/

Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show for ad-free and early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Dr. Robb Kelly knows what it means to lose everything, family, home, and even the will to live, and still find a way forward. From playing music at Abbey Road to living on the streets of Manchester, Robb’s story is a raw reminder of what happens when pain becomes purpose. Through science, faith, and relentless honesty, he rebuilt his life and devoted it to helping others recover from addiction and reclaim their worth.

In this conversation, we talk about:

1. How childhood trauma quietly shapes the way we cope, connect, and self-destruct
2. What it really takes to rebuild a life after addiction and find a new identity
3. Why embracing our perfectly imperfect selves is key to healing and helping others

This episode is a powerful reflection on redemption, resilience, and the small moments that can change everything.

Listen to The Life Shift Podcast: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show for ad-free and early access episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com

Connect on socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

Guest Bio

Dr. Robb Kelly, PhD, is a sought-after recovery expert who believes in treating the causes of addiction and not the symptoms. Dr. Kelly has appeared on shows such as The Doctors, Eye Opener, Good Morning Texas, and KENS 5 Morning News. A frequent contributor to radio and print interviews, including The Jim Bohannon show, Miracles in Recovery, USA Today, and participated in McLean Hospital’s (Harvard Medical School) study on the stigma associated with mental illness. Dr. Kelly hosted the Sober Celebs show on KLIF radio in Dallas, and currently hosts the Breaking Through Addiction podcast featuring special guests discussing a variety of mental health issues.

Dr. Kelly created Let’s Get Back to 98% Recovery DVDs, used in prisons and recovery treatment centers throughout the US. He has lectured on addiction and trauma at high-profile universities, national conferences, treatment facilities, public schools, churches, business organizations, and hospitals. Dr Kelly is currently the CEO of the Robb Kelly Recovery Group, an addiction and mental illness recovery coaching company he founded based on extensive research and behavioural studies he conducted over the past 20 years. Dr. Kelly shares his personal highs and lows as he struggled and overcame crippling alcoholism in the November 2019 release of the book “Daddy, Daddy Please Stop Drinking”.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today I am talking about how hard we can be on ourselves and what it means to slowly learn gentleness. So many of us move through life with old shame, perfectionism, or fear tucked inside. We push ourselves to be better, to get everything right, or to carry more than we were ever meant to hold.

In this reflection, I talk about the critical voice we learn as kids, the pressure to be perfect, and the way self-compassion feels like a muscle we have to practice again and again. Healing is not a straight line. Some days you feel softer. Some days you slip back into old patterns. The important part is noticing the shift and remembering that you deserve the same care you give to everyone else.

If you have been carrying shame, harshness, or impossible expectations, I hope this episode helps you take one gentler breath. You do not have to earn kindness. You are allowed to give it to yourself, right here, exactly as you are.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Seth Stewart spent years performing on the world’s biggest stages — from Hamilton and In the Heights to touring with Madonna. But at the height of success, something inside him started calling for more. That quiet pull led him away from bright lights and applause, and into the wilderness where he began listening to his own spirit for the first time.

In this conversation, Seth opens up about what it takes to walk away from a dream, why stillness can be louder than any stage, and how rediscovering our connection to nature can help us find our way back to ourselves.

You’ll hear about:

1. How leaving Broadway became Seth’s most honest act of creation
2. What living off-grid taught him about trust, unity, and peace
3. Why listening to your inner voice might be the bravest thing you ever do

If you’ve ever felt called to change direction, this episode is a reminder that there’s life beyond what others expect — and that following your vision is a form of truth.

For ad-free and early access to episodes, join the community at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.

Subscribe to the newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories and reflections: thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com

Follow on social media: @thelifeshiftpodcast

Guest Bio

From the stages of Broadway to the depths of the jungle, Seth Stewart is a bridge between worlds. As a performer and creator, he’s played major roles in the Tony Award-winning productions of In the Heights and Hamilton, and performed with artists like Madonna, Jay-Z, and Jennifer Lopez.

After leaving the entertainment industry, Seth followed a deep spiritual calling that led him into the forest — a journey that reshaped his entire sense of purpose. He spent years immersed in nature, ceremony, and self-inquiry, learning from shamans and ancient wisdom keepers.

Today, Seth guides others toward clarity, embodiment, and unity through True Kings Academy, a transformative space for men’s wellness and leadership. He also mentors young performers through Performer’s Edge, combining artistry and mindfulness. His upcoming memoir, Follow Your Vision. Live Your Truth., released August 8, 2025. https://www.iamsethstewart.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today, I am talking about grief and the way it takes shape inside a life. Grief is not something you finish. It is something living and moving, something that changes as you change. Losing my mom, my grandmother, and Mikey shaped the way I understand grief long before I ever sat with a guest and heard their story.

In this reflection, I talk about how grief shifts from sharp to distant, how it can still surprise you years later, and how it never follows a straight line. Grief is not linear or predictable. It moves like waves, shadows, seasons. Sometimes it takes up the whole room. Sometimes it sits quietly in the corner. It is still a part of you either way.

If you are carrying a loss, I hope this episode gives you a softer place to land. You do not need to rush your way through it or pretend you are fine. Grief is not a problem to fix. It is part of who you are and part of being human. You are allowed to feel it, honor it, and keep moving with one small step at a time.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

In this conversation, Kristina Amelong shares what it means to finally face what she could not name as a teenager. After losing her younger brother in a sudden accident, she spent decades searching for ways to numb the ache. What began as survival slowly became a lifelong practice of returning to herself — through healing, sobriety, and the simple act of telling the truth.

This is a story about finding connection after silence. About discovering that grief can open doors as easily as it closes them. And about the power of one question to bring the past back into the light.

What You’ll Hear:

1. The day everything changed and the silence that followed
2. How addiction became both a shield and a signal for help
3. The stranger’s question that opened the path to healing
4. What it means to reconnect with people frozen in the same grief
5. The sacredness of tears and the wisdom they hold
6. Finding peace through storytelling and self-acceptance

Guest Bio

Kristina Amelong is the author of Ten Days to Optimal Health: A Guide to Nutritional Therapy and Colon Cleansing and the newly released memoir What My Brother Knew (She Writes Press, May 27). She is the founder and owner of Optimal Health Network, a holistic health business, and serves as a senior board member for the Center for World Philosophy and Religion, a nonprofit dedicated to reweaving the human story through spirituality and global healing. Kristina is passionate about photography, gardening, and pickleball, and she lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her three dogs and a brood of chickens.

1. Book / Author Website: https://www.kristinaamelong.com
2. Healing Work / Company Website: https://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com

🔗 Listen to The Life Shift Podcast: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

🌟 Support ad-free and early access on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

💌 Subscribe to the newsletter for reflections and new episode updates

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Today I am talking about burnout and the deeper exhaustion that grows slowly over time. The kind that shows up when you have spent years pushing through life, trying to be enough, and holding more than you were ever meant to carry alone.

In this reflection, I explore what burnout really feels like, why so many of us miss the early signs, and how your body eventually tells the truth, no matter how hard you try to keep going. Burnout is not a personal failure. It is a signal. A quiet invitation to look closely at your life, your pace, and the patterns you have been living inside without even noticing.

If you are overwhelmed, drained, or moving through a season where rest feels impossible, this episode offers a softer place to land. You do not need to have it all figured out. You only need to notice what is shifting inside you and take one small step toward something gentler.

That can be enough for today.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

What followed was a full transformation born from love and determination. She went back to school, relearned what she thought she knew about health, and built a life that would help not only her son but hundreds of other families, too. Along the way, she found her own healing in the process.

This conversation is about listening to that quiet voice inside you. It’s about the courage to question what you’ve been told and the hope that grows when you refuse to give up. Take your time with this one. It is gentle and full of heart.

What You’ll Hear

1. A mother’s turning point after harmful medical advice
2. How childhood trauma shaped a life built on self-reliance
3. Discovering purpose in the middle of fear and uncertainty
4. The surprising ways healing her son led to her own transformation
5. The strength found in trusting intuition over authority
6. How sharing one story can light the way for others

Guest Bio

Dr. Piper Gibson founded the Tic Disorder Institute: Regenerating Health and Elite Gene Labs, where she empowers families and healthcare professionals to address tic disorders and optimize wellness. She is a Doctor of Functional Medicine, Advanced Holistic Nutrition, and a Board-Certified Doctor of Natural Medicine. She is also the author of Tic Talk: Common Misconceptions, Natural Approaches, and Real Conversations about Tic Disorders.

Connect with Piper:

Website: https://regenerating.health/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regeneratinghealth/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RegeneratingHealth

Subscribe for new episodes, early access, and ad-free listening at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast. Join the newsletter and community at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Ava Jones knows that space well. At seventeen, she survived a devastating car accident that took her father’s life and changed everything she knew about herself. Two years later, she was diagnosed with stage four cancer. Through it all, she’s learning what it means to keep moving, to ask for help, and to find gratitude even in the hardest chapters.

This conversation isn’t about silver linings. It’s about choosing to live when the story doesn’t go the way you planned. Ava’s honesty reminds us that starting over doesn’t mean you’ve failed – it means you’re still here.

What You’ll Hear

1. The day Ava’s life changed forever
2. Learning to walk, talk, and feel again after trauma
3. Grieving her father while navigating recovery
4. Letting go of the basketball dream that once defined her
5. Facing cancer with honesty and faith in her support system
6. Rediscovering joy in small, ordinary moments

Listen to the full episode and more conversations like this at:

👉 www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

🎧 Early access and ad-free episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

📰 Join the newsletter for behind-the-scenes reflections and upcoming guests: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Guest Bio

Ava Jones is a 20-year-old former college basketball player from Kansas who survived a catastrophic car accident in 2022 that claimed her father’s life and left her and her mother critically injured. After years of recovery, including relearning to walk and speak, Ava faced a stage four Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in 2025. She recently completed 12 rounds of chemotherapy and is in remission. Today, she shares her story to give others hope and remind them that it’s okay to ask for help.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

At sixteen, she lost her brother to suicide and carried the guilt of that day for years. Her healing came slowly, through forgiveness and the power of words. Poetry became a place to lay down her pain and listen to something deeper, something that kept whispering that love was still possible.

What You’ll Hear

1. How grief can hold both love and regret at once
2. The quiet guidance of a voice that spoke when she needed it most
3. Why poetry became her way to understand pain and healing
4. What it means to forgive a younger version of yourself
5. The long, patient work of turning loss into meaning
6. How creativity can become medicine when nothing else fits

Guest Bio

Cyra Sweet Dumitru (www.cyrasweetdumitru.com) is an accomplished poet, instructor of poetry writing, and one of four certified practitioners of poetic medicine in Texas. Her poems have appeared on a wall in San Antonio's City Hall and on city buses, been spoken on national radio and in museums, published in newspapers, and featured in anthologies and literary journals. She has four collections of poetry and a memoir, Words Make a Way Through Fire: Healing After My Brother's Suicide, which is told through prose and poetry and was published by She Writes Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Cyra leads therapeutic writing circles for people from all walks of life.

Listen to this episode and more at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show on Patreon for ad-free, early releases: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Stay connected through the newsletter and social links at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Clay’s story unfolds in the quiet that followed a layoff just before the pandemic. What began as fear became clarity. In that unexpected pause, he found what a good life feels like when presence becomes the priority. This conversation is about slowing down, choosing intention, and discovering that sometimes the hardest endings lead us home to ourselves.

What You’ll Hear:

1. The moment a layoff became an unexpected gift
2. How time with family reshaped his understanding of success
3. Learning to be truly present as a husband and father
4. The power of reflection and self-awareness in daily life
5. Building a meaningful life through purpose and simplicity
6. What it means to live by choice instead of habit

Guest Bio:

Clay Garrett is the founder of Campfire Gentleman, a personal development project that helps men build meaningful lives centered on purpose, family, and personal growth. After 25 years in design and advertising, a COVID-era layoff led Clay to reevaluate his definition of success, ultimately inspiring a new path centered on presence, purpose, and simplicity. Through writing, resources, and honest conversation, he’s creating a space for husbands and fathers who want to slow down and live with intention.

Connect with Clay and his work: https://campfiregentleman.beehiiv.com/

Listen to more episodes and support the show:

1. Subscribe and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow
2. Join Patreon for ad-free and early release: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast
3. Connect on socials and newsletter: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Andrew Mitch did everything right on paper. He followed the rules, earned the degrees, and chased approval until the weight of it all became too heavy to carry. When he finally walked away from the life others expected, he found the beginning of his own.

What unfolded next was unexpected. A stranger at a restaurant table looked at him through tears and said, “Whatever you have, the world needs to hear it now.” That moment shifted everything. It was the reminder that his voice mattered, and that he no longer needed permission to use it.

This is a story about leaving certainty for something more alive. About learning to be seen, to create honestly, and to trust that your real self is enough.

Take your time with this one. It is tender and real.

What You’ll Hear

1. The quiet pressure of chasing someone else’s version of success
2. How leaving a PhD program became an act of self-trust
3. The beauty of being seen by a stranger who changed everything
4. The tension between faith, identity, and authenticity
5. Learning to stop asking for permission to create
6. What it means to live unapologetically yourself

Guest Bio

From small-town Ohio to Nashville, Andrew Mitch is making waves in country-pop with raw emotion, personal truth, and storytelling. His breakout single “all in my head” went viral, crowdfunded his debut album, and earned features from CMA, CMT, GLAAD, and more. With millions of views, 30K+ followers, and praise from artists like Carly Pearce and Ingrid Andress, Andrew has since released songs like "back home boy" (featured on Nashville's very own WSMV4) and "unapologetic." He continues to prove there’s power in being unapologetically yourself.

Connect with Andrew: https://www.andrewmitchmusic.com/

Listen at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow.

Support the show on Patreon for ad-free and early release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.

Subscribe to the newsletter and follow along on socials for more.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

This story isn’t just about surviving illness. It is about letting go of perfection, rediscovering joy, and realizing that fun is a form of healing, too. Brooks learned to trade achievement for presence and to see connection as the real measure of success.

Take your time with this one. It is tender and full of light.

What You’ll Hear

1. How ignoring small signs can change everything
2. The moment Brooks finally let herself feel
3. Why fun and play became her new measure of joy
4. What happens when identity is no longer tied to success
5. The power of turning pain into purpose through connection

Guest Bio

Brooks Bell is a cancer survivor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of World Class Clothing, a nonprofit brand raising awareness about colonoscopies and funding screenings for underinsured communities. After being diagnosed with colon cancer at 38, Brooks turned her experience into a mission to normalize conversations about prevention while also creating more space for fun, connection, and joy.

Connect with Brooks

Website: www.worldclassclothing.com

Instagram: @worldclass_clothing

Listen to The Life Shift Podcast wherever you get your podcasts: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Support the show on Patreon for ad-free, early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Stay connected through the newsletter and socials at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

But through The Life Shift Podcast, I learned how powerful reflection can be when it’s real, not forced. So I created something I’d actually use.

It’s called The Life Shift Journal.
A 12-week guided reflection with one simple prompt each day – designed to help you slow down, pay attention, and see how you’re changing along the way.

The rhythm repeats every four weeks – awareness, letting go, connection, becoming – three full cycles that help you notice how your answers evolve with you.

You can find all the versions here:
👉 thelifeshiftpodcast.com/p/journal

Available in:

• Physical edition (Amazon)
• Digital edition (iPad + computer)

If you’ve ever wanted to start journaling but never stuck with it, this one was made for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Ricardo was only ten when his mother dropped him and his brother at the bowling alley and promised she would be right back. She never came back. That moment changed the way he saw the world. Through grief, silence, and eventually cancer, he learned that joy is not something that just arrives. It is something we build through intention, practice, and the quiet decision to keep living.

This conversation holds space for grief that never fully leaves but grows lighter with care. It is about learning to carry what is heavy without losing sight of what is still beautiful.

Take your time with this one. It is tender and real.

What You’ll Hear:

1. The moment that changed everything for a ten-year-old boy
2. How two brothers carried the same loss in completely different ways
3. The lessons Ricardo learned about speaking grief instead of burying it
4. What cancer taught him about time, fear, and perspective
5. The daily practice of building joy after loss
6. How choosing presence can soften even the hardest memories

Guest Bio

Ricardo Viso is a global entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and former executive who’s turned life’s toughest moments into powerful lessons on joy and resilience—and he’s got the scars (and stories) to prove it. Born in Denver, raised in Mexico City, and now calling Austin home, he’s been through it all—losing his mother to suicide at 10, overcoming a stint of incarceration, and even battling cancer. But instead of letting life break him, he used these experiences to build something incredible.

Now, he’s on a mission to help others break free from autopilot, shift their mindset, and create real joy in their lives and daily activities—without waiting for a life-altering wake-up call. As the founder of Joyful Living Lounge, Viso created a space where people can unwind, laugh, and soak up all the good vibes. No pressure, no perfection—just real people sharing stories, tips, and moments of joy.

As developer of the RIC Method, Viso has created a game-changing approach that helps individuals and teams rediscover passion and purpose in their work and lives. Imagine a workplace where people actually love what they do—engaged, thriving, and delivering incredible results. That’s the magic Viso brings.

His journey from tragedy to joy has been featured in International Business Times, proving that long-term fulfillment isn’t just possible—it’s something you can create, starting now. For those ready to unlock more joy, Viso offers practical strategies and a fresh perspective, inviting audiences to discover the roadmap to a more fulfilling life—inside and outside of the workplace. Read more here.

Listen to more episodes of The Life Shift Podcast at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com. For ad-free early releases, visit Patreon. Sign up for the newsletter and connect with me on social media for more stories that remind us we are not alone.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Shigeko Ito grew up in a home that looked perfect from the outside but felt empty inside. Years later, after a moment of betrayal that changed everything, she began the long work of finding her way back to herself. Her story moves from isolation to understanding, from blame to compassion, and from surviving to healing.

This conversation is about what it means to stop a generational pattern of silence and choose honesty instead. It is about finding language for pain that never had words. Take your time with this one. It is tender and real.

What You’ll Hear:

1. How emotional neglect can shape a child’s sense of safety
2. A moment of awakening that changed everything
3. The long journey toward naming trauma and reclaiming self compassion
4. The quiet power of writing as a tool for healing
5. What it means to end generational silence
6. Finding freedom through vulnerability and truth

Listen, share, and subscribe at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow.

For ad-free early access, join me on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.

Sign up for the newsletter and connect with me on social media for more stories that remind us we are not alone.

Guest Bio

Shigeko Ito is an educator, mental health advocate, and debut author of the memoir The Pond Beyond the Forest: Reflections on Childhood Trauma and Motherhood (She Writes Press). She grew up in Japan and immigrated to the United States in her twenties to pursue higher education, earning a PhD in Education from Stanford University. Drawing on her cross cultural experiences and academic expertise, she explores themes of trauma, resilience, and healing, with a particular focus on childhood emotional neglect. Shigeko lives in Seattle with her husband of thirty years. Learn more at shigekoito.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

In this conversation, Maria reflects on growing up between worlds, the weight and beauty of being the one who explains life to others, and how grief continues to shape us long after the moment of loss. She also shares how parenting through grief deepened her sense of compassion and clarified her commitment to building a more inclusive world. This is a story about love, responsibility, and learning how to stay soft while carrying so much.

Take your time with this one. It is tender and real.

What you’ll hear in this episode

1. What it feels like to grow up as the bridge in your family
2. The moment Maria had to interpret her mother’s terminal diagnosis
3. How grief reshapes identity and relationships
4. Parenting while grieving
5. Why small acts of inclusion matter
6. A reminder that your story matters too

Guest Bio

Maria Gallucci is a multi-award-winning real estate agent and proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). Growing up as one of six hearing children raised by Deaf parents, she learned ASL before English and helped her parents buy a home at just 12 years old. This experience shaped her passion for inclusive communication and helping those who are often overlooked.

For over 30 years, Maria has supported homebuyers from all walks of life, with special focus on the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and LGBTQ+ communities. She’s the founder of Uptown Realty Group, Gallucci Homes, ASL @ Compass Affinity Group, and ASL Realty, a national platform connecting Deaf & Hard of Hearing clients with signing agents. She ranks in the top 1% of agents in Colorado and top 1.5% nationwide.

Maria also serves on boards for Rocky Mountain Deaf School, DOVE, and Colorado Association of the Deaf. Her motto, "just try," reflects her belief that meaningful connection starts with one small step. Her debut book, Raised in Silence, is both a love letter to the Deaf & Hard of Hearing community and a guide for bridging communication gaps.

Connect with Maria:

1. Website: aslrealty.com
2. Website: galluccihomes.com

If this conversation moved you, please share it and consider supporting the show:

1. Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow
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3. Subscribe to the newsletter and join the conversation: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

At 20 years old, Cheryl Wilder made a decision that led to a devastating accident and decades of shame, guilt, and self-questioning. For years, she carried the weight of what she now calls moral injury, unsure if she even deserved healing.

In this candid conversation, Cheryl opens up about the accident, the long and layered path toward forgiveness, and how poetry and storytelling became her lifelines.

1. How one night reshaped the way she saw herself and the world
2. Why shame felt easier to carry than forgiveness
3. The moments and practices that helped her reclaim her worth

This episode is about accountability, healing, and the courage it takes to finally believe you are worth good things.

Guest Bio

Cheryl Wilder is an author, coach, and motivational speaker. She helps clients connect their personal lives with their skills and knowledge to create a professional presence aligned with their values. A natural mediator and believer in the journey as a destination, Cheryl has an instinct to understand people, anticipate their needs, and listen to unvoiced questions. She’s passionate about helping clients see purpose and connections in everyday occurrences.

An advocate for the arts, Cheryl was the Burlington Writers Club president (2022–24) and is a co-chair of their Alamance County, NC Student Writing Contest. She’s co-leader of the For Alamance Arts & Culture Team, teaches writing workshops, and serves as a member-at-large for the North Carolina Poetry Society. As a poet, Cheryl could talk about line breaks all day. Other topics of proficiency are poetry and architecture, shame and forgiveness, the arts and community, and reinventing the self. Learn more at bornwilder.com.

Listen to more episodes of The Life Shift Podcast at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow.

For ad-free early releases, join the community at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.

Stay connected through the newsletter: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

For Marty Ross-Dolen, that moment came on September 11, 2001. She had devoted her entire life to psychiatry, but as she watched the towers fall with her children nearby, something in her said it was time to let go. That decision set her on a new course — one that led to motherhood, teaching, and eventually a memoir that uncovered the silence of multi-generational grief.

In this conversation, Marty shares what it means to step away from a lifelong identity and find a new one through writing and reflection.

1. Why listening to the voice inside matters more than the expectations you were raised to follow
2. How unspoken grief can ripple through generations and quietly shape a family’s story
3. What happens when you allow yourself to change your mind, even after decades of commitment

Marty’s journey is both personal and universal, a reminder that it’s never too late to begin again.

👉 Listen to the full conversation and support more stories like this.

Guest Bio

Marty Ross-Dolen is a graduate of Wellesley College and Albert Einstein College of Medicine and is a retired child and adolescent psychiatrist. She holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her memoir, Always There, Always Gone: A Daughter’s Search for Truth, was released with She Writes Press in May 2025. She teaches writing and lives in Columbus, Ohio. Learn more at www.martyrossdolen.com.

🎧 Listen and follow at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

✨ Support the show with ad-free early access at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

📬 Join the newsletter for more reflections and behind-the-scenes: https://thelifeshiftpodcast.beehiiv.com/

💬 Connect on socials @thelifeshiftpodcast

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

For years, Isabelle Daikeler lived in pain and fear, holding tightly to identities that no longer fit. It all came to a breaking point on the floor of a bedroom in Hawaii, when surrender became her only option. What unfolded was not instant healing, but the start of a transformation that continues to this day.

In this episode of The Life Shift Podcast, Isabelle shares:

1. How years of pain, illness, and lost identity led her to a wall she could not push past
2. The night she surrendered in prayer, her body released decades of fear and trauma
3. Why befriending the unknown has allowed her to step into deeper authenticity and self-worth

This is a story of patience, surrender, and learning that strength often shows up in ways we don’t expect.

👉 Listen now and feel less alone in your own process of change.

Guest Bio:

Isabelle Daikeler is a visionary holistic wellness expert committed to guiding you toward inner alignment and spiritual healing. In her one-on-one sessions, she creates a sacred space where clients can connect with higher wisdom and release what no longer serves them. Her work includes the Harmonic Egg, a sound-and-light modality designed to restore balance and deep calm, along with intuitive channeling and energy healing. Inspired by her own journey through pain and awakening, Isabelle empowers others to access their inner wisdom and embrace authentic living. Learn more at AuthenticityStressless.com.

1. Listen and follow: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com
2. Support ad-free + early release: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast
3. Join the newsletter + connect on socials at @thelifeshiftpodcast

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Heidi Blackie spent a decade battling chronic illness, grief, and perfectionism until one raw moment in her kitchen changed everything. She asked herself a simple but life-altering question: What am I believing about my ability to heal?

In this conversation, Heidi shares how that vow to believe in herself shifted her relationship with her body, her perfectionism, and her sense of self. Her story will resonate with anyone who has felt trapped by patterns, weighed down by loss, or unsure how to move forward.

You’ll hear about:

1. The moment Heidi realized disbelief was keeping her stuck in illness
2. How grief, trauma, and perfectionism built the conditions for collapse
3. The practices and reframes that helped her connect to her “unshakable me”

Healing isn’t quick or easy, but it starts with belief.

Guest Bio:

Heidi Blackie is a speaker, consultant, and creator of UnshakableMe®, a science-meets-soul program helping women dismantle limiting beliefs and reclaim their inner power. After chronic illness brought her to rock bottom, she made a radical choice to believe in her body’s ability to heal — a turning point that reshaped her life from the inside out.

With 25 years as an Occupational Therapist and hard-won lived experience, she now guides others to meet adversity with clarity, connection, and self-trust. Her story is an invitation to anyone facing personal challenges, offering grounded hope, actionable tools, and a powerful reminder that we are far more capable than we think.

Connect with Heidi:

1. Website: unshakableme.com
2. Instagram: @un_shakableme
3. YouTube: UnshakableMe
4. Facebook: welcome.to.unshakableme
5. LinkedIn: Heidi Blackie

Connect with The Life Shift Podcast:

1. Listen and subscribe: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow
2. Support on Patreon for ad-free and early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast
3. Newsletter: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter
4. Instagram: @thelifeshiftpodcast
5. LinkedIn: Matt Gilhooly

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

For Chris Jordan, the answer has been unfolding since he was twelve years old, standing in front of his grandfather’s headstone. Etched into the stone were six words his grandmother chose: It was never dull. What started as a simple phrase became a mantra that shaped every risk, every leap, and every choice Chris has made since.

1. How a childhood visit to a cemetery planted a lifelong guidepost
2. Why dropping out of college and leaving comfort behind felt more true than staying safe
3. The ways creativity, storytelling, and encouragement became his life’s real work

Chris shows us how even small words can carry us through fear and uncertainty, helping us choose the path that feels alive. His story is a reminder that our lives don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

Listen now and consider what phrase you’d want etched on your own life.

Guest Bio:

Chris Jordan is a personal brand strategist who helps entrepreneurs establish their authority and grow their business through intentional storytelling and content. For more than five years, he worked alongside top thought leaders including Lewis Howes, Daymond John, and Dr. Benjamin Hardy on their podcast and content strategies. Today, Chris runs his own consulting business, supporting entrepreneurs who want to share their stories, connect authentically, and build lasting impact. https://www.linkedin.com/in/imchrisjordan/

👉 Listen to all episodes at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

👉 Get ad-free, early-release episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

👉 Sign up for the newsletter and follow on socials for more: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Dan Boettcher had the degrees, the career path, and the promise of a future in diplomacy. On paper, it looked perfect. But inside, he was falling apart – and one surreal moment in an airport lounge sent his world in an entirely different direction.

In this conversation, Dan shares what it means to start over when the future you planned is no longer possible. His story is not just about survival but about transformation, and how meaning can show up in unexpected places.

1. How a mental health crisis forced him to step away from the identity he built
2. The moment he found meaning in unexpected grace and healing
3. Why jewelry, storytelling, and transformation became his new way forward

This is a conversation about breaking open, rediscovering purpose, and finding beauty in places you never thought to look.

Guest Bio

Daniel Boettcher is the founder of The Intrepid Wendell and a Graduate Gemologist (GIA) with academic degrees from Yale, Georgetown, and American Universities. He began his career in law while preparing for a future in diplomacy, but a serious mental health crisis ultimately altered that path. Unable to pursue government work due to clearance restrictions, Daniel set out on a journey to rediscover meaning and passion – leading him back to a childhood love of gems and minerals. Today, he travels the globe sourcing rare gemstones and precious metals to craft custom jewelry that reflects the personal stories of his clients. A digital nomad, seasoned world traveler, and polyglot, he has visited over 100 countries and finds inspiration in every culture he encounters.

Sure On This Shining Night

Sure on this shining night

Of star made shadows round,

Kindness must watch for me

This side the ground.

The late year lies down the north.

All is healed, all is health.

High summer holds the earth.

Hearts all whole.

Sure on this shining night

I weep for wonder wand'ring faralone

Of shadows on the stars.

The poem comes from a book by James Agee entitled "Permit Me Voyage," published in 1934 by Yale University Press

--

Listen to this episode and more at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

When Sally McQuillen lost her 21-year-old son Christopher in a tragic accident, her life split in two. In this conversation, she shares what it means to keep living with love and purpose while carrying unimaginable loss. Her story reminds us that grief and gratitude can sit side by side, and that choosing to keep your heart open is an act of profound courage.

Three things you’ll hear in this episode:

1. Why sobriety at 25 gave Sally the tools to face later grief with intention
2. How she has carried Christopher’s light forward while honoring her own healing
3. The ways grief reshaped her understanding of strength, vulnerability, and connection

Listen to this episode to hear Sally’s raw and beautiful reflections on love, loss, and the choice to keep going.

Guest Bio:

Sally McQuillen, LCSW, CADC, is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in addiction recovery, grief, and trauma healing. An avid reader with a background in writing and dance criticism, she began her career in public relations and marketing before pursuing her master’s degree in social work. Sally is the author of Reaching for Beautiful, a memoir about love, loss, and carrying her son Christopher’s spirit forward. She and her husband live on the north shore of Chicago, where they raised their three children.

https://www.sallymcquillen.com/

For ad-free early access to episodes, bonus content, and ways to support the show, join the community at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.

Subscribe, rate, and share The Life Shift Podcast wherever you listen. Stay connected at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Nina created this show after the sudden loss of her only sibling, and it has become a beautiful space for honest reflections and conversations about life after loss. She explores grief as a lifelong companion, something that shapes us, teaches us, and walks beside us, rather than something to move on from.

Grief and Light is about living in the "and," where sorrow and joy, darkness and light, loss and love all belong. If you have found comfort in the stories shared here on The Life Shift, I think you will connect deeply with Nina's approach and the community she is building.

Follow Grief and Light on your favorite podcast platform, and visit griefandlight.com or @griefandlight to learn more.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

But Dan didn’t just come back. He chose to build a life richer than the one he had before.

What we talk about in this episode:

1. Why surviving isn’t the end of the story, it’s the start of the climb
2. How mindset and micro-choices shape every step of healing
3. What it means to be better than yesterday, even on the worst days

Dan’s story isn’t sugarcoated. It’s real, raw, and full of fight. And it’s a reminder that no matter the setback, the next right step still counts.

Start with the next step. Listen now and hear how Dan redefined progress, purpose, and possibility.

Dan MacQueen is a brain hemorrhage survivor, speaker, and resilience advocate. At 28, his world stopped after an emergency surgery left him in a coma. With no roadmap for recovery, Dan rebuilt his life from the ground up by learning to walk, talk, and function again. Today, he helps others navigate change, build grit, and shift their perspective with practical life tools. He has shared his story with organizations like Hootsuite, Spendesk, and Headway West London, leaving audiences empowered to become better than yesterday.

https://www.macqueendan.com/

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Support ad-free early releases at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Join the newsletter, follow on socials, and share your own shift at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

What happens when survival meets the unexpected reality of a rare disease?

In September 2024, Taylor Coffman first shared her powerful story on The Life Shift. After giving birth to her daughter, she experienced a life-threatening emergency that revealed a rare disease called atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Her survival came against all odds, and her journey from patient to advocate continues to inspire.

To honor aHUS Awareness Day, this replay brings Taylor’s story back to the forefront:

• How a childbirth emergency uncovered a rare and life-altering diagnosis
• Why patient empowerment and self-advocacy can make all the difference
• What resilience, gratitude, and motherhood taught Taylor about living with purpose

Replay this conversation and share it to help raise awareness for aHUS and rare diseases that often go unseen.

Guest Bio

After a career in acting and media, everything in Taylor Coffman’s life stopped during the birth of her daughter. Her delivery triggered atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, leaving her near death with multiple organ failure. Defying the odds, her survival inspired her to become a patient advocate, empowering others facing rare or life-altering diagnoses. Taylor’s Huffington Post article about her medical crisis became Apple News’ top story, reaching nearly 1 million readers in 48 hours. She now writes Rare Disease Girl on Substack and is working on a book that blends advocacy, light, and humor with the hard truths of navigating chronic illness. Connect with Taylor at Rare Disease Girl on Substack or on Instagram @taylorcoffmanmade.

Topics Discussed

• Taylor’s life-threatening crisis during childbirth in 2021
• The rare disease aHUS and why awareness matters
• The importance of advocating for yourself in medical settings
• Motherhood while living with chronic illness
• Post-traumatic growth and gratitude after survival
• How storytelling can reshape healthcare and connection

🎧 Listen to this replay in honor of aHUS Awareness Day: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

✨ Support The Life Shift for ad-free and early access: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

📬 Join the newsletter for episode reflections: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Follow on socials:

• Instagram: @thelifeshiftpodcast
• Threads: @thelifeshiftpodcast
• YouTube: The Life Shift Podcast

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Alan Lazaros was chasing all the right things on paper. The degrees. The job. The money. But a head-on car accident at 26, eerily similar to the one that killed his father when Alan was just 2, brought it all to a crashing halt. In that moment, he came face to face with who he really was, not just who he wanted the world to see.

We talk about:

1. How high achievement can mask low self-worth
2. Why post-traumatic growth is just as real as post-traumatic stress
3. Rebuilding identity on purpose, not performance

This episode is a reminder that your potential isn’t about proving anything. It’s about honoring what’s already inside.

At age 2, Alan Lazaros lost his father in a car accident. At 26, after surviving a nearly fatal crash of his own, Alan questioned everything. His career. His relationships. His identity. That wake-up call led him to walk away from Corporate America and start over with intention. Now the CEO and co-host of Next Level University, a global top 100 podcast with over 2,000 episodes across 170 countries, Alan helps others transform their lives in the areas of health, wealth, love, and personal growth. His work is grounded in discipline, data, and deep belief in human potential.

🔗 Connect with Alan:

www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros

www.instagram.com/alazaros88

www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc

🎧 Listen and follow the show: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

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📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube: The Life Shift Podcast on YouTube

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Britt Michaelian had built a beautiful, full life. She was raising her daughters, creating art, and moving forward. But when her mother passed away suddenly, Britt paused everything. Then, just as life began to settle, her sister was diagnosed with cancer. That second heartbreak brought a deeper reckoning.

In this conversation, Britt shares how she found clarity and purpose through pain, and how her grief helped her return to herself through healing, intuition, and a new form of creative expression.

1. She stepped back from a thriving career and asked what really mattered
2. Her sister’s cancer journey became a spiritual turning point that awakened her intuitive gifts
3. She returned to art in a new way, creating frequency paintings rooted in energy, intention, and love

Britt’s story reminds us that healing asks us to slow down, listen deeply, and honor the quiet wisdom that lives inside us.

Britt Michaelian is a visionary artist, Reiki master, and quantum healer whose work blends creativity with profound personal transformation. With a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and master’s degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy, Britt brings over two decades of healing experience. She has worked as an expressive arts therapist in pediatric, oncology, and heart transplant units.

Now a healing arts pioneer, Britt creates mixed-media frequency paintings that transcend the canvas, offering emotional renewal and spiritual depth. Her work has been exhibited in museums like the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara and collected around the world. She also hosts Healing House, an annual art and wellness event featured in the LA Times, and shares monthly remote Reiki and free healing resources through her site and podcast, The Daily Healing.

Learn more at brittmichaelian.art and follow @BrittMichaelian on Instagram, X, and Pinterest.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Kevin Palmieri had the dream life. The job. The car. The paycheck. But beneath the highlight reel, he was unraveling. In this conversation, Kevin shares the quiet spiral that nearly ended everything and the honest decision that changed his life for good. What started as a breakdown became a wake-up call. One that led him to become the kind of person he always needed.

You’ll hear:

1. Why achieving six figures didn’t bring peace or purpose
2. The moment Kevin realized he couldn’t stay in his job one more day
3. How borrowing belief from someone else helped him build his own

Kevin’s story is a powerful reminder that worth is not earned by titles, money, or status. It’s grown through truth, trust, and the small daily steps we take to become who we’re meant to be.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Kevin Palmieri is the founder and co-host of the Next Level University podcast. Early in his life, Kevin found “success,” but after a brush with near suicide he realized he wasn’t living a life he truly wanted. He became passionate about self-improvement and made it his purpose to impact as many people as possible by becoming a role model podcaster and speaker. Today, Next Level University is a top 100 podcast with over 2,000 episodes and one million listens across more than 170 countries. Kevin has taken his life to the next level and achieved both personal and professional success.

Follow Kevin here:

Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Support The Life Shift Podcast

Love what you heard? Here’s how you can support the show and stay connected:

1. Get ad-free and early access episodes on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast
2. Sign up for the newsletter: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter
3. Follow on Instagram and Threads: @thelifeshiftpodcast

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

When Marie Alessi’s husband, Rob, died suddenly from a brain aneurysm while on a work trip, her life shattered in an instant. But instead of letting grief move in permanently, Marie made a quiet, powerful promise: to create the happiest life possible for her and their two young boys. What followed wasn’t perfect, but it was deeply human. And deeply intentional.

In this episode:

1. The moment Marie knew she had to parent through pain and still keep a promise
2. How her husband's death sparked a shift toward healing, purpose, and spiritual connection
3. Why she believes grief is a visitor, not a permanent resident

This conversation is a reminder that joy and grief can hold hands. And that love doesn’t end.

Listen now at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Ad-free and early episodes on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Marie Alessi is a bestselling author, TEDx and keynote speaker, and grief advocate who helps others bring lightness into their darkest seasons. After her husband Rob passed unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm, Marie made a quiet promise to create the happiest life possible for herself and their two young sons. She never imagined becoming a widow at 45, but that moment reshaped her purpose. Through her books, talks, and coaching work, Marie shares what it means to choose healing, redefine widowhood, and live a joyful love legacy. Learn more at www.mariealessi.com.

Connect with The Life Shift Podcast

🎙 Website & episodes: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

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💖 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

📷 Instagram: @thelifeshiftpodcast

👤 Host: Matt Gilhooly on LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

What would I tell the 8-year-old version of me – the boy who lost his mom in 1989 and had no choice but to grow up too quickly?

I share a letter I wrote to that younger self. It’s about grief, silence, perfectionism, and the long journey toward finally letting myself feel. It’s also about learning that our stories, even the messy ones, can help others heal.

This is both a remembrance and an offering – a way of honoring the little boy I once was, the mom I still miss, and the community of people who remind me that love and loss can coexist.

Subscribe to The Life Shift Podcast wherever you listen: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow
Get ad-free early releases and bonus content on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast
Join the newsletter for personal reflections: Newsletter 
Follow along on social: Instagram | YouTube

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

In this raw and powerful conversation, author Kaila Yu shares the truth about a traumatic experience in her early twenties that splintered her sense of self. Raised in a household where emotions were rarely named, Kaila spent years seeking validation outside herself. When a modeling opportunity turned into a violent betrayal, she dissociated to survive. For a long time, she told no one. But silence has a way of catching up to you. In time, Kaila found the strength to tell the truth and honor the version of herself who got through it.

Three key takeaways from Kaila’s life shift:

1. Sometimes survival looks like silence, but healing begins when we tell the truth
2. Dissociation is a form of protection, not weakness
3. Self-worth is something we can reclaim, even after it’s been stolen

This episode holds space for the complexity of trauma, cultural expectations, and the slow, brave act of integration.

Listen at http://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/s4e201

Kaila Yu is a luxury travel and culture writer and on-camera correspondent based in Los Angeles. Her work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Rolling Stone, Condé Nast Traveler, and National Geographic. In her powerful debut memoir, Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty, Kaila explores the intersections of racialized desire, consent, trauma, and identity. The book will be released on August 19, 2025, by Penguin Random House’s Crown Publishing. Through her writing and advocacy, Kaila brings voice to the often-overlooked realities of Asian American women and invites deeper conversations around healing and self-worth.

More from The Life Shift Podcast:

🎧 Listen to all episodes: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

💌 Get weekly reflections: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter

✨ Support on Patreon for ad-free early access: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

📲 Follow on socials: @thelifeshiftpodcast

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Dr. Devin DeGreif shares a story so unimaginable it feels like fiction until you realize it is her truth. After the brutal loss of her mother, Devin unraveled, disassociated, and considered ending her life. But a thunderous inner "no" marked a turning point. What followed was a slow, intentional shift toward healing, spiritual alignment, and helping others reclaim joy after pain.

1. Learn what it means to truly go all in on living after hitting emotional bottom
2. Hear how a single voice, her own, interrupted a life-ending plan and changed everything
3. Explore how Devin now helps others heal through breathwork, body-based therapy, and truth-telling

This is not just a story of survival. It is about remembering who you are underneath all the pain and building a life around that truth.

Listen now at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/s4e200

Support the show on Patreon for ad-free, early access: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to the newsletter and follow on socials: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Guest Bio:

Dr. Devin DeGreif is a physical therapist, transformational coach and intuitive healer who has journeyed from deep grief to resounding joy herself. As the author of Good Grief: The Journey from Grief to Joy, she combines personal storytelling with expert guidance to help others navigate loss and rediscover happiness. Passionate about helping others reclaim their light after any type of pain or loss, Devin’s work focuses on embodiment. Learn more and explore ways to work with Devin at www.drdevindegreif.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

When Jill Schulman walked into her ROTC unit ready to quit, she expected rejection. Instead, she was met with empathy. And that changed everything. In this powerful conversation, Jill shares the quiet, steady kind of bravery that helped her stay the course and eventually shape her life’s work.

1. Learn how asking for help can be the most courageous move of all
2. Reframe failure as information and fuel for growth
3. Discover why bravery isn’t about big gestures, but small, consistent choices

This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to do it alone. And that choosing to keep going? That’s brave.

Jill Schulman is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, corporate leader, and expert in the science of bravery. With a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, she blends research with lived experience to help people take bold action, build resilience, and live with intention. Her new book, The Bravery Effect, offers practical tools to grow courage in everyday life, one brave moment at a time.

Listen + Connect:

🎧 Full episode: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/s4e199

🎁 Support on Patreon for early access and ad-free episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

💌 Join the newsletter: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter

🔗 Follow Matt and The Life Shift: @thelifeshiftpodcast

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Ash Perrow was a schoolteacher with a plan and a future he could see clearly. Then he held his stillborn daughter in his arms. That moment shattered everything. Years of survival, anxiety, and silence followed. Then a near-death experience cracked him open in a way nothing else ever had. And in that space beyond his body, he made a choice that changed his life.

1. The ripple effect of grief, perfectionism, and a body stuck in survival
2. What somatic therapy, plant medicine, and radical self-love can unlock
3. How a near-death experience revealed a calling to live from the heart

Ash's story is a raw and beautiful reminder that healing is not linear, and it is never too late to wake up.

Guest Bio

Ash Perrow is a coach, speaker, and storyteller who helps heart-centered professionals reconnect with their deeper wisdom and live from the truth of who they are. After the stillbirth of his daughter and a near-death experience following back surgery, Ash returned to life with a clear contract: to stay for the work he does and walk the planet from his heart. That moment became a second beginning, one that unraveled everything he thought he knew about purpose, identity, and healing.

Through somatic therapy, spiritual exploration, and his own relentless curiosity, Ash rebuilt his life from the inside out. Now, he guides others through that same kind of transformation with grounded compassion and deep respect for their inner knowing. His work takes shape through coaching, workshops, group programs, and powerful storytelling that reminds us we are never alone in our becoming.

Find more at https://www.ashperrow.com or on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@ashperrow

Listen and support

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/200

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Katie Svoboda-Rini spent years waiting for things to settle before she could finally chase her dream. But life had other plans, including the loss of both parents, a lifetime of body shame, and a wildfire that didn’t burn her house down but still took almost everything. In the rubble of grief, burnout, and survival mode, Katie found something deeper than resilience. She found softness. And she gave herself permission to start anyway.

In this episode, Katie shares:

1. Why grief sometimes takes decades to process, and why that’s okay
2. How caregiving at sixteen shaped her sense of responsibility and shame
3. What it meant to finally start her baking business after losing almost everything

If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting for the “right time,” this one might meet you where you are.

🎧 Listen and subscribe: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Katie Svoboda-Rini is a classically trained pastry chef, lifelong home baker, and the creative force behind Confessions of a Wayward Baker and Sweet Skills Workshop. With more than 25 years of experience spanning home kitchens, pastry school, professional bakeries, and her own custom cookie business, Katie’s become known as the butter-covered cheerleader helping bakers ditch perfection and embrace the mess. Her work is rooted in lived experience — shaped by personal loss, grief, and the healing power of creativity — and she believes baking is more than a skill. It’s a way to connect, honor tradition, and make room for joy in the middle of life’s chaos.

Katie now shares recipes, reflections, and real-life kitchen moments on her blog and YouTube channel as The Wayward Baker.

🔗 Website: waywardbaker.com - in development

📺 YouTube: @waywardbaker

📸 Instagram: @sweet.skills.workshops

📢 Support The Life Shift ✨

Get ad-free and early episodes: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

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🌐 Explore the show: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

📲 Follow @thelifeshiftpodcast on all platforms

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

This is a special recording of Giving Grief a Voice, a live panel hosted by Reimagine.org. In this heartfelt and honest conversation, five hosts share how telling and hearing stories of loss can bring comfort, connection, and hope. Together, we explore the cultural power of naming grief out loud and the practical ways podcasts can hold space for those navigating life after loss.

You’ll hear about:

• How grief storytelling creates community and helps us feel less alone

• The ways podcasts can challenge cultural silence and expand grief literacy

• What it takes to share your own grief story with care, integrity, and purpose

Whether you’re a griever, a listener, or someone curious about starting your own grief-focused show, this episode offers compassion, practical insight, and the reminder that you are not alone.

Guest Bios
Grant Garry – Award-winning filmmaker, actor, singer, and Certified Grief Educator. Director of the documentary Meet Me Where I Am and host of the Where I Am podcast, Grant blends storytelling and performance to honor the realities of loss.
Lisa Keefauver, MSW – Social worker, widow, cancer survivor, and author of Grief is a Sneaky Bitch. She hosts a top-rated podcast of the same name, reimagining how we approach loss through curiosity and storytelling.
Nina Rodriguez – Grief guide, podcast host, and founder of Grief and Light, born from the sudden loss of her only sibling. She offers circles, coaching, and resources for a grief-informed, hopeful world.
Tara Accardo – Grief and Soul Purpose Coach, host of Life With Grief Podcast, and creator of Losses Become Gains. She guides others through loss with compassion and practical tools.
Matt Gilhooly – Host of The Life Shift Podcast, Matt explores the pivotal moments that shape us, often rooted in personal experiences with grief, resilience, and transformation.

Listen to the episode
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📬 Newsletter: Subscribe here
📱 Instagram: @thelifeshiftpodcast | @themattgilhooly

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

The Life Shift Podcast is a collection of candid conversations with people who’ve experienced the moment when everything changed – and chose to keep going.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, cracked open, or quietly transformed, there’s probably an episode for you.

Share this clip with your friends if you're a fan of The Life Shift – you never know who might need to hear the stories on this show.

🎧 Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts or at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

On Thursday, August 7, I’ll be part of a virtual panel hosted by Reimagine called “Giving Grief a Voice.” We’ll be talking about how grief-focused podcasts – including Grief is a Sneaky Bitch (Lisa Keefauver), Grief and Light (Nina Rodriguez), Life with Grief (Tara Accardo), Where I Am (Grant Garry), and The Life Shift – are helping to normalize conversations about grief and offer meaningful connection in the wake of loss.

I’ll be joining these thoughtful creators to explore how podcasting can hold space for honest, healing stories – and how simply hearing someone else’s truth can remind us we’re not alone.

This event is for you, whether you're grieving, listening, or wondering how your own story might be shared someday.

🗓 Thursday, August 7

🕒 3:00 – 4:30pm ET

🎟 Free to attend

🔗 Register here: letsreimagine.org/76768/giving-grief-a-voice

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Michael Allison’s life has been anything but easy. From childhood abuse to combat in Iraq, the grief of loss to the silence of survival, Michael carried the weight of a thousand lifetimes before reaching a breaking point. Standing on a Florida bridge, he made a decision that would change everything.

In this powerful conversation, Michael shares how he:

1. Faced the grief, guilt, and trauma he spent years avoiding
2. Reclaimed his voice after decades of silence and survival
3. Chose to stay – and turned that moment into purpose, service, and leadership

Michael’s story is a reminder that even in our darkest hour, something beautiful can still begin.

Your next chapter might be one decision away.

Michael W. Allison is a U.S. Marine Combat Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and resilience coach who has transformed adversity into impact. After surviving a devastating VBIED car bomb attack in Iraq and navigating the aftermath of PTSD, TBI, and deep personal hardship, Michael reached a breaking point – but chose to stay. That decision became the foundation for his healing.

Now, as the Founder and CEO of The Adversity Academy, Michael empowers individuals and organizations to embrace resilience, rewire their mindset, and lead with purpose. His UN-Leadership and Break The Bottle – 3-D methodologies challenge conventional leadership paradigms and inspire growth through accountability, transformation, and mental strength. Michael has been featured by Microsoft, NBC, TEDx, ESPN, and VFW Magazine and speaks globally on personal reinvention, resilience, and overcoming limiting beliefs.

Listen to Michael’s story and rediscover what it means to stay, heal, and lead with heart.

🎙 www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

✨ Early access + ad-free at www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

🗞 Subscribe to the newsletter

📱 Follow @thelifeshiftpodcast on Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

When Lisa Sugarman was ten, she was told her father died of a heart attack. But decades later, one unexpected question revealed a long-held secret that shifted everything. In this open and emotionally honest conversation, Lisa and I explore what it means to grieve someone twice, how silence can shape our stories, and the power of finally speaking the truth out loud.

You’ll hear how she:

1. Moved through deep grief and anger after learning her father died by suicide
2. Found clarity by reframing her beliefs about mental illness
3. Channeled her story into service and created a safe space for others to heal

→ If you connected with this story, please share it with someone who might need to hear it.

Lisa Sugarman is an author, a nationally syndicated columnist, a 3x survivor of suicide loss, and a mental health advocate. She serves as a storyteller with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project, and the founder of The HelpHUB, a free and inclusive online platform offering mental health resources, tools, and crisis support. Lisa is the cohost of The Survivors Podcast, a facilitator for Safe Place support groups at Samaritans Southcoast in Boston, and a contributor to the Mental Health Television Network (MHTN). Her writing has appeared in outlets such as Healthline Parenthood, Psychology Today, Thrive Global, The Washington Post, and TODAY Parents. She is also the author of How To Raise Perfectly Imperfect Kids And Be Ok With It, Untying Parent Anxiety, and LIFE: It Is What It Is.

Lisa lives and writes just north of Boston. You can connect with her at TheHelpHUB.co.

More from The Life Shift:

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Jenny always knew she wanted to be a mom. But when her first child, Sarah, was born with special needs, the parenting story she had imagined began to unravel. For years, she carried invisible bricks of guilt, believing she had to fix what wasn’t broken. Everything shifted the day she gave herself permission to just love her daughter exactly as she was.

1. Letting go of the guilt and shame that clouded early motherhood
2. Finding hope and community in the Son-Rise Program
3. Discovering that love, not perfection, was the connection her daughter needed

In this conversation, Jenny shares what happens when we stop chasing a picture-perfect life and start honoring what is. It’s about love, resilience, and learning to see the spark that’s always been there.

Jennifer Celeste Briggs is a writer, mother, and advocate for emotionally connected parenting. She has a BA in English Literature from Swarthmore College and lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two daughters. Her daughter Sarah has a genetic anomaly and autism, which led Jenny to create and lead a home-based Son-Rise Program called Sarah-Rise. After training at the Autism Treatment Center of America, she coordinated hundreds of hours of therapeutic play with the help of volunteers. Her blog, Watching Sarah Rise, has become a source of comfort and inspiration to others navigating life’s unexpected paths. Jenny’s mission is to help parents feel seen and to spread the word about the power of presence, joy, and connection.

Connect with Jenny

Website: www.watchingsarahrise.com

Facebook: facebook.com/jenniferbriggsauthor

Instagram: @jennifercelestebriggsauthor

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

After ten years in the classroom, Ryan Hennessey realized he was running on fumes. A powerful moment at a heart-led business retreat cracked something open in him and gave him the clarity he’d been chasing. He didn’t just walk away from teaching—he walked toward a life built on freedom, integrity, and impact.

1. The exact moment Ryan knew it was time to leave the classroom
2. How he navigated grief, guilt, and identity loss in choosing himself
3. What abundance looks like when you finally stop people-pleasing and start living aligned

This one’s for anyone standing at the edge of change, wondering if they’re allowed to want more.

Ryan Hennessey is a former beloved science teacher who walked away from the classroom after a decade to pursue a life aligned with purpose, freedom, and impact. After a powerful realization at a heart-led business retreat, Ryan made the courageous decision to leave a career that once defined him to create a life that truly fulfilled him. Now, he hosts adventure-based wellness retreats, coaches others through major life transitions, and helps people reconnect with what sets their soul on fire. His story is one of integrity, reinvention, and what it really means to take back your power.

Connect with Ryan:

Instagram: @IamRyanHennessey

Substack: substack.com/@iamryanhennessey

Website: www.Ryan-Hennessey.com

Links + Resources:

🎧 Listen to this episode and follow the show: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

💌 Get personal notes and episode recaps: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter

🤍 Support the show for ad-free early access: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

📱 Follow @thelifeshiftpodcast on Instagram and Threads

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

--

What do you do when your life changes in an instant?

When Donna Kendrick lost her husband to suicide, she was left standing at a painful crossroads – three young kids, a new house, and a future she could no longer picture. But by the light of a backyard bonfire, she made a vow: this would not be the end of her story.

In this honest and deeply human conversation, Donna shares how she navigated grief, rebuilt her life, and created a purpose-filled path for her family. Through heartbreak, she discovered strength she didn’t know she had – and now, she’s helping others do the same.

You’ll hear how she:

1. Told her children the truth with compassion and created space for real grief
2. Rebuilt a career that now helps widows and families through financial transition
3. Found love again and blended two families into one sarcastic, supportive household

Listen to Donna’s full story and the moment she chose to keep going – with grit, purpose, and heart.

Donna Kendrick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and founder of Sephton Financial. After losing her first husband suddenly in 2013, Donna navigated widowhood with three young children, inspiring her to support families in transition through financial planning. She is the host of the Wisdom and Wealth Podcast and author of A Guide to Widowhood and A Guide for Blended Families. Donna is also an avid long-distance runner who, through her running group, raises funds for causes such as Safe Harbor, a grief counseling program for children. She lives in Jenkintown, PA, with her husband Jim and their six children.

✨ Don’t leave your loved ones without answers. Get instant access to a complimentary personal document locator and on-demand webinar at sephtonfinancial.com/webinar

Resources

To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to The Life Shift on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/

The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

Connect with me:

Instagram: @thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: The Life Shift Podcast

YouTube: Watch on YouTube

Twitter: @thelifeshiftpod

LinkedIn: The Life Shift on LinkedIn

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

When Mikelann Valterra sat across from her husband at their favorite sushi spot, she didn’t plan to end her marriage with a handshake. But that one act, quiet and deeply human, cracked open the life she had built and forced her to rebuild it from scratch. At 40, with her son by her side, she moved into her childhood bedroom and began the long, messy, and ultimately beautiful work of becoming herself again.

For anyone who has felt like their future disappeared in a single moment, this conversation offers hope, healing, and a reminder that starting over is never the end.

Three powerful takeaways from Mikelann’s story:

1. Starting over is possible, even when everything feels lost
2. Creativity can become a lifeline in healing
3. Money stories carry power, and you can learn to rewrite yours

Listen to the episode to hear how Mikelann turned heartbreak into a whole new rhythm.

www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Mikelann Valterra, MA, AFC, is a money coach, financial recovery expert, author, and Argentine tango dancer who helps women in midlife reclaim their lives after divorce. After a painful split left her with $7,000 in debt and no financial foundation, Mikelann confronted her childhood money story and rebuilt from the ground up, moving into her high school bedroom at 40 and slowly rebuilding her life and her confidence. For over 25 years, she’s been a respected voice in financial psychology, offering practical tools to reduce money anxiety and transform earning, saving, and spending habits. Her latest book, Rise Above the Money Fog, is available now.

Connect with Mikelann:

Website: seattlemoneycoach.com

Medium: Read her story

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikelannvalterra

Instagram: @seattlemoneycoach

More from The Life Shift Podcast:

To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to The Life Shift on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to the newsletter: thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter

Featured in FeedSpot’s Top 60 Life-Changing Podcasts: podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts

Connect with me:

Instagram: @thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Twitter: @thelifeshiftpod

YouTube: bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast

Website: thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

By the age of 17, Miron Pingasov had raced at 150 mph, broken bones, lost a close friend on the track, and watched his childhood passion for racing turn into something more political than purposeful. Faced with the weight of expectation and the pull of something deeper, Miron made a decision most wouldn’t at his age – he walked away.

In this episode, Miron opens up about the grief, clarity, and courage it took to choose a new path. His story is a reminder that we’re allowed to outgrow our dreams and that starting over doesn’t mean failure. It can actually be the beginning of real freedom.

Three things you’ll take away from Miron’s story:

1. How letting go of a lifelong dream can make space for something more meaningful
2. Why early failure is actually a gift that accelerates growth
3. The power of being a sponge – and listening when others share wisdom

About Miron Pingasov

Miron Pingasov has raced open-wheel cars at 150 mph, flown solo at 10,000 feet, and co-founded businesses in real estate, clothing, and media – all before turning 18. Now a student at Syracuse University pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering, he’s also the co-founder of PT Development in Florida and works alongside his former racing sponsor on litigation funding initiatives in the UK.

Miron believes that the earlier we fail, the sooner we learn – and the sooner we learn, the sooner we succeed. Whether behind the wheel, in a boardroom, or on campus, he brings speed, structure, and a deep curiosity for growth. He’s especially passionate about helping younger individuals trust themselves, take risks, and find meaning on their own terms.

Learn more at www.ptdevelopmentfl.com or follow him (when he’s not on a social break) on Instagram @mironpingasov.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

---

Doing nothing can feel uncomfortable, especially when you care deeply about your work, your goals, or the people you're showing up for. But sometimes, pushing through becomes too much.

This short reflection is a reminder that rest isn’t laziness.

Taking a break isn’t a failure.

Pausing doesn’t mean you’ve given up – it means you’re listening to what you need.

If you’re feeling the weight of burnout, this is your permission slip to stop producing for a moment, to let things breathe, and to remember that stillness is its own kind of strength.

Subscribe to It's Okay If... https://its-okay-if.captivate.fm/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

We’re all carrying something we can’t always see. In this episode, I talk with author and storyteller Adam Erwin about what happens when we slow down and choose to lean in, to really see people instead of scanning past them. Adam shares the life-altering moment on a post-9/11 flight that changed how he moves through the world and ultimately led him to launch a multi-year project: interviewing strangers on airplanes and capturing their stories in his book Lessons from Coach.

For anyone feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure how to make a difference, Adam’s story is a reminder that presence is power. By leaning into the moment, we don’t just change someone else’s day.

We change ourselves, too.

Takeaways from Adam’s life shift:

1. He realized that judgment was robbing him of connection and chose curiosity instead.
2. His small act of leaning in sparked a five-year project filled with empathy and meaning.
3. Modeling daily kindness (especially for his kids) rewired how he sees the world and how others see themselves.

🎧 Listen now at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/189

Guest Bio:

Adam Erwin is a speaker and author of three books. His latest book, Lessons From Coach: Restoring Empathy, Curiosity, and Being Present One Flight At a Time, captures the lessons he learned from passengers that he interviewed on plane flights... in coach. Adam is a father of two daughters, a fitness and health enthusiast, and is on a mission to challenge others to see more value in the person next to you. Learn more about Adam, his books, and his work at authoradamerwin.com.

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/

The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

This short reflection offers a compassionate reminder: jealousy doesn’t make you bad or ungrateful.

It often points to a dream or desire within you that still matters.

Instead of pushing the feeling away or layering it with guilt, this episode invites you to notice it, name it, and let it move through without judgment.

You're allowed to feel jealous and still be kind to yourself.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

We don’t get instructions for that kind of moment. And we definitely don’t get told what it means to carry someone you love through the hardest, slowest, most beautiful goodbye. In this episode, I talk with Tony Stewart—writer, partner, caregiver—about what shifted the day his wife, Lynn, was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and what he learned as they walked through the next six years together.

This conversation isn’t just about loss.

It’s about presence.

And what happens when you let yourself feel every bit of it.

1. He learned to access and express emotions he’d long buried
2. He discovered the healing power of sharing his raw, unfiltered truth
3. He found beauty – even joy – amid the hardest days of his life

🎧 Listen to this episode now to hear how love and grief reshaped one man’s understanding of what it means to live.

Tony Stewart is the author of *Carrying the Tiger: Living with Cancer, Dying with Grace, Finding Joy While Grieving*, a memoir chronicling the six years he spent walking alongside his wife through her terminal illness. Originally written as journal entries to keep friends and family updated, the story became a powerful testament to love, presence, and emotional truth. Tony now shares his journey to help others feel less alone in their own grief and caregiving experiences. Learn more at tonystewartauthor.com.

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/

The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

This short reflection is a reminder that not every emotion needs a label. Not every ache needs to be solved right away. Sometimes, the kindest thing you can do is feel it – even if you don’t understand it yet.

If you’ve ever woken up heavy for no clear reason, this is your permission slip to stop searching for the perfect words and just let the feeling be.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

What if the life you want is just past the fear?

So many of us stay stuck because the obstacles are loud and obvious — the job, the money, the expectations. But the route to the life we dream about?

That path is quiet.

Subtle.

Hidden.

In this episode, I talk with artist and creative nomad Danny Suede about the bold decision he made as a teenager that changed everything, and how that one moment opened the door to a life he never imagined — one full of art, travel, and purposeful creation.

Danny’s story reminds us that we can reimagine what “normal” looks like. That there’s nothing wrong with choosing something different. And that starting before you’re ready might just be the bravest thing you ever do.

Takeaways:

1. Danny's bold decision to leave school at 13 marked the beginning of his own story.
2. Learning doesn’t have to resemble a classroom; it can unfold in line with your own curiosity.
3. The most meaningful moments often lie just behind the fears we tend to avoid.

Danny Suede is an indie/pop artist, musician, and visual creator who embodies the mantra, "Life Can Be More Of What You Dream."

Beyond his music, Danny shares his perspective through his Substack writings and explores creativity through his own art and visuals. He also creates captivating videos on YouTube to inspire a global audience.

Danny has retired from social media to fully dedicate himself to his craft. He embraces a nomadic lifestyle that allows him to create without distraction. In 2025, he’ll travel the world, drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and experiences to shape his music, storytelling, and art.

1. Substack - https://dannysuede.substack.com
2. Music - https://spoti.fi/3Xf0vKR
3. Shop - https://dannysuede.com/collections/all
4. Website - https://dannysuede.com
5. Music Youtube - YouTube.com/@UCQtCkoqH7Yw2ma8KAdhvevQ

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/

The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

If you're carrying grief, burnout, or just too much of everything, this short reflection is your reminder that falling apart doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human.

You don’t have to be the strong one all the time. You don’t have to keep it all together today. You’re allowed to set something down – even just for now – and let that be enough.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Ian Fee spent decades thinking alcohol was his key to connection – his edge in business and relationships. He built a successful career, a massive network, and a party-filled life that looked like everything was working. But beneath the surface, he was numb, disconnected, and silently unraveling.

Everything changed on the third day of rehab, when a moment of clarity hit: if he wasn't right with himself, nothing else would ever be right. That spark ignited a complete shift. Since then, Ian's found deeper purpose through daily routines, emotional healing, and a strong core of support. He's sharing his story not just to reflect, but to help others know it's never too late to change your life.

Takeaways:

1. A moment of emotional awakening in rehab changed Ian's direction for good
2. He learned to replace numbing with daily healing practices like journaling, meditation, and cold plunges
3. His transformation was possible because he built a small, trusted circle of support who saw every version of him

Topics Discussed:

1. Why he believed alcohol was the key to his professional success
2. The emotional suppression that followed decades of drinking
3. Entering rehab and hitting a breaking point
4. The role of his "core four" in keeping him grounded
5. Creating daily rituals to feel better, not just function
6. How sharing vulnerably helped him reclaim his story
7. The ripple effect of helping others through his book

Websites:

makeitgreat.me – Ian's personal site with merch and info

Amazon – The Wild Ride to Sobriety by Ian Fee

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/

The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

If you're curious about the impact of sharing your story and the shifts that can follow, this conversation is definitely for you.

The Life Shift Rewind

I’m excited to share bonus episodes from Patreon, where I revisited past guests to discuss what has changed and the value of sharing their stories. Since I currently only have the lower tiers available, I wanted to make these conversations accessible to the public feed. If you'd like to support the show directly, please consider joining the $3 or $5 tier on Patreon – www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

If your energy isn’t what it used to be, or if your to-do list feels more like pressure than purpose, that’s not failure.

It’s feedback.

This short reflection is a gentle reminder that rest counts. Presence counts. You don’t have to produce to prove your value. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is stop and breathe.

You’re allowed to be.

That’s enough.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Leyla King grew up in a vibrant family surrounded by food, faith, and love, but she did not have the language or clarity to name her Palestinian identity. In this episode, Leyla shares how a high school film screening shifted everything, leading her to reclaim her heritage, record her grandmother’s stories, and write Daughters of Palestine: A Memoir in Five Generations.

This conversation explores the power of generational storytelling, the intersection of faith and culture, and the deep responsibility of telling stories that were nearly lost.

You’ll hear about:

• Discovering her Palestinian identity as a teenager

• Recording her grandmother’s oral history in 2002

• How passing as white shaped her understanding of privilege

• The role of faith in survival, resilience, and storytelling

• Why she’s sharing her family’s truth with the world now

Guest Bio:

Leyla K. King is a Palestinian American Episcopal priest and the author of Daughters of Palestine. She’s a founding member of Palestinian Anglicans and Clergy Allies and serves as the Canon for Mission in Small Congregations for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas.

More from Leyla:

Website: thankfulpriest.com

Book info & essays: thankfulpriest.com

Groups: palestiniananglicans.org, smallchurchesbigimpact.org

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/

The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Chantal reflects on the healing power of being open about her past and how it helped her connect with those who once knew her. It's all about the significance of vulnerability and how our stories can touch others, creating community and support. This bonus episode is a reminder that sharing isn’t just about us; it’s about the connections we forge along the way.

I’m excited to share bonus episodes from Patreon, where I revisited past guests to discuss what has changed and the value of sharing their stories. Since I currently only have the lower tiers available, I wanted to make these conversations accessible to the public feed. If you'd like to support the show directly, please consider joining the $3 or $5 tier on Patreon – www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

That doesn't mean you’re broken.

It means you cared.

It means you trusted.

And it hurt.

This short reflection reminds us that healing has no perfect timeline. Even if it’s been months or years, it’s okay if the sting still shows up. It doesn’t mean you’re stuck – it means you’re still healing.

If an old wound is still lingering, this is your permission slip to feel it without shame, to honor the ache without rushing it away.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

When the unthinkable becomes your reality, how do you show up — not just for your child, but for yourself? Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree shares the moment her world split in two with her daughter’s cancer diagnosis, and the extraordinary path it put her on.

Here’s what Laura’s story reveals:

• How trusting her intuition led to a life-saving diagnosis and years of fierce advocacy

• The power of creating a new “normal” when the old one shatters overnight

• Why she turned her pain into purpose, writing the guidebook she so desperately needed

From redefining resilience to honoring the lessons that only come with time, Laura opens up about what she learned through crisis — and how she’s turning that knowledge into a lifeline for others.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The night Laura's daughter told her she hurt “everywhere” — and how that changed everything

• What it feels like when you hear “your child has cancer”

• Stepping into the role of advocate without a manual

• The mental load and emotional weight of caregiving

• Finding community with other parents — and facing survivor’s guilt

• The moment a stranger handed her a lifeline in the hospital hallway

• Choosing not to live in the trauma for three years straight

• How a simple monologue unearthed a deeper calling to write her book

• Collaborating with her daughter’s oncologist decades later

• Why she believes parents need options, not just hope

More About Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree

Website: cancerparentshandbook.com

IG/FB/LinkedIn: @cancerparentshandbook

When Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree’s 3-year-old daughter, Cecilia, was diagnosed with leukemia, she was thrown into the chaos of childhood cancer—only to realize there was no guide, no roadmap, no expert to turn to. Determined and terrified, she became a crash-course “cancer expert,” uncovering the emotional, logistical, and relational challenges parents face.

Her book, The Cancer Parent’s Handbook: What Your Oncologist Doesn’t Have Time to Tell You, is the guide she wishes she’d had—practical, no-nonsense, and packed with strategies to help parents move beyond paralyzing stress and grief. Laura teaches families how to ask for help, build support systems, and advocate fiercely for their children while holding their own lives together.

Now an author, speaker, and advocate, she equips parents to navigate the relentless world of pediatric cancer and chronic illness with strength, clarity, and a solid plan. She lives in Los Gatos, California, and travels nationwide to support families, medical teams, and advocacy groups.

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/

The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

That’s not failure. That’s growth.

This short reflection explores what it means to feel the tension between who you were and who you're becoming. It's a quiet invitation to honor your past self – the version of you that got you this far – and gently let them go.

If you’ve been feeling the itch to evolve, the tug to shift, this is your permission slip to keep growing. You don’t have to stay the same to prove your worth.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

It whispers things like, "I should have figured this out by now," or "I shouldn't feel this lost."

But feeling like a beginner isn't failure – it's growth in disguise.

This short reflection offers a gentle reminder that the discomfort of starting over is also an invitation:

If you're fumbling your way through something unfamiliar right now, you're not alone. You don't have to have it all figured out. It's okay to be new at this.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Whether it’s been a decade or just a season, grief can return in a song, a memory, a smell, or even a YouTube clip that catches you off guard. That ache isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of what mattered.

In this short reflection, we explore why grief that lingers is part of love that lasts. You’ll hear a gentle reminder that:

If you’ve ever thought, “I should be over this by now,” this is your permission slip to stop trying to fix it.

It’s okay if it still aches.

It’s okay if you’re still carrying it.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Andrew Lang had built a life around doing the most. He was a teacher, a union rep, and a quiet emotional anchor for everyone around him. But underneath it all, exhaustion was building until one night, his body gave out, and that unexpected breaking point became the beginning of something new.

Here’s what you’ll take away from Andrew’s story:

1. Letting go of the need to fix everything can create space for clarity and compassion.
2. Gentleness is not weakness; it's a powerful response to burnout and emotional overload.
3. Healing often begins with halting steps, not grand plans.

Topics Discussed

1. What burnout can actually feel like in the body before the mind registers it
2. The illusion of being “good enough” and how overperforming keeps us stuck
3. Carrying others’ emotional weight, especially in under-supported school systems
4. The pivotal bike ride that marked Andrew’s shift from burnout to beginning again
5. Why silence can be the most honest response when everything gets too heavy
6. The decision to walk away from teaching after years of pouring everything in
7. Starting again with intention, not obligation
8. Creating space for honest storytelling and the power of community
9. Redefining personal success through presence and permission
10. Learning to say no, and how that can unlock a different version of life

Andrew Lang is an educator in the Pacific Northwest and core facilitator of the Gentle Change Collective, where he leads folks in finding sustainable ways to turn their experiences of overwhelm into action that brings repair and healing in their communities.

Links:

Gentle Change Collective: https://www.andrewglang.com/gentlechange

Resource that guides you in developing sustainable actions within the context we're currently living in: https://practice.andrewglang.com/products/gentle-change-starter-kit

🎧 Listen to Andrew Lang's episode now at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/183

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/

The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

It’s Okay If… is a short-form podcast I created as part of my own healing journey — a space for bite-sized permission slips to feel what you feel and be exactly where you are.

Each episode is under 3 minutes, and a new one drops every Wednesday at noon.

In this short intro, I’ll share why I made this show, what you can expect, and how you can listen.

🎧 First 3 episodes release on Wednesday, May 21

Follow It’s Okay If… on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

💻 https://feeds.captivate.fm/its-okay-if/

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

This conversation is a powerful reminder of how sharing our stories can lead to unexpected insights and connections, making it easier to embrace the journey we’re on.

I’m excited to share bonus episodes from Patreon, where I revisited past guests to discuss what has changed and the value of sharing their stories. Since I currently only have the lower tiers available, I wanted to make these conversations accessible to the public feed. If you'd like to support the show directly, please consider joining the $3 or $5 tier on Patreon – www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.

Links referenced in this episode:

• patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast
• www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Vanessa Abraham, a thriving speech pathologist and mother, was plunged into a life-threatening health crisis that left her trapped in her own body. With no clear diagnosis and a long road ahead, she found herself on the other side of the hospital bed, experiencing everything she once treated.

In this episode, Vanessa shares how she reclaimed her voice, fought for her life, and redefined her identity in the aftermath. You’ll hear:

1. What it's like to live with post-intensive care syndrome (PICS)
2. How motherhood fueled her survival
3. Why community and mental health advocacy are at the heart of her healing

About Vanessa Abraham

Vanessa Abraham, M.S. CCC-SLP, is a certified speech pathologist, author, and advocate for ICU survivors. With over 15 years of experience, she has worked extensively with children using communication devices, a skill she unexpectedly relied on during her own medical journey. Vanessa is now a passionate advocate for trauma-informed care and post-intensive care syndrome awareness, using her personal story to educate and inspire others. Her memoir, Speechless, captures her journey from provider to patient and back, offering hope and insight to those navigating similar challenges.

Connect with Vanessa:

1. Book: Speechless on Amazon
2. Instagram: @speechless_slp
3. Facebook: Speechless SLP

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/

The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

Connect with me:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast

YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast

Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Topics Discussed

1. The rare Guillain-Barre variant that left Vanessa paralyzed overnight
2. Transitioning from a speech pathologist to an ICU patient
3. The fear and confusion of not having a diagnosis for four months
4. Using communication boards and eye gaze to connect with her care team
5. Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and its emotional toll
6. How her daughter became her reason to live
7. Reclaiming her identity after losing her independence
8. Returning to work with a trauma-informed perspective
9. The mental health gap in ICU aftercare
10. Her book Speechless and its mission to educate clinicians and families

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

I share how losing my mom at eight changed everything, how my grandmother stepped in and became my safe place, and how my father quietly carried the weight of it all while helping me find my way forward.

This episode is a tribute to them—and to you, the listener, who may also feel the complex emotions that days like this bring.

If this episode resonates, please consider following the show and leaving a review to help others find these stories.

Resources & Links:

🔗 Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

💌 Stay connected: Follow on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

We discuss the nuances of dealing with grief, the importance of talking about it openly, and how sharing experiences can lead to unexpected connections with others. Marty shares how he initially felt unsure about sharing his story but found that it sparked important conversations with friends and family. We also touch on how revisiting these stories can help us understand not just the shifts themselves, but the ongoing effects they have on our lives.

I’m excited to share bonus episodes from Patreon, where I revisited past guests to discuss what has changed and the value of sharing their stories. Since I currently only have the lower tiers available, I wanted to make these conversations accessible to the public feed. If you'd like to support the show directly, please consider joining the $3 or $5 tier on Patreon – www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.

Allison takes us through her early years, where anxiety and worry dominated her life. She recounts the pivotal moment when a simple Daoist story about a farmer and his horse opened her eyes to a new way of thinking that would change her life forever.

From Certainty Addiction to Embracing the Unknown

1. How Allison's need for certainty affected her daily life and relationships
2. The power of the word "maybe" in shifting perspective and reducing stress
3. Learning to find hope and possibility in life's uncertainties

Navigating Life's Unexpected Turns

1. Allison's experience of using her own teachings to cope with a sudden divorce
2. The importance of accepting what is while maintaining hope for the future
3. How embracing uncertainty can lead to personal growth and new opportunities

Cultivating a "Maybe" Mindset

1. Practical ways to incorporate "maybe" thinking into your daily life
2. The difference between using "maybe" as a tool and adopting it as a life perspective
3. How this mindset can help in making decisions and facing challenges

As you listen to this episode, consider:

1. In what areas of your life might you be clinging to certainty?
2. How could adopting a "maybe" mindset change your approach to stress and worry?
3. What possibilities might open up if you embraced uncertainty more fully?

This conversation reminds us that life's uncertainties can be a source of hope and potential rather than fear. Allison's journey offers practical insights for anyone looking to reduce anxiety and find more peace in the face of life's unknowns.

About Allison Carmen

Allison Carmen is an author, TEDx speaker, podcaster, business consultant, and CFO/General Counsel at the Motherhood Center of New York. She holds a B.A. in accounting, a J.D. in law, and a Master of Law in taxation. Allison’s books include The Gift of Maybe: Offering Hope and Possibility in Uncertain Times and A Year Without Men: A Twelve Point Guide to Inspire and Empower Women. She also hosts the podcast 10 Minutes to Less Suffering, where she shares tools to help alleviate daily stress. Allison is a regular contributor to Psychology Today, The Daily Beast, and AARP and is a sought-after speaker and media guest.

Connect with Allison Carmen

1. Website: allisoncarmen.com
2. Podcast: 10 Minutes to Less Suffering on Allison's website
3. Books: Available on Allison's website
4. Social Media: Find Allison on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn via her website.

Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.