Ep. 67: The Power of Naming the Uncomfortable with Maria Brewer
Release Date: 11/24/2025
Ep. 67: The Power of Naming the Uncomfortable with Maria Brewer
Make Discomfort Your B*tch
What happens when you’re the only one in the room — the only woman, the only Latina, the youngest voice at the table? In this episode, I sit down with Maria Brewer, former U.S. Ambassador and longtime State Department leader, for a deeply human conversation about what it means to navigate spaces where you don’t always see yourself reflected. We talk about the power of naming the uncomfortable, how to reality-check your experiences when things feel unclear or isolating, and the importance of bringing what’s subconscious into awareness so you can coach yourself through challenging...
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Ep. 66: Listening for Your Own Wisdom in Grief with Sundari Malcolm
Make Discomfort Your B*tch
A TIME SENSITIVE NOTE FROM SUNDARI: A Healing Doula Academy Winter Scholarship In honor of Anandi Malcolm, A Healing Doula Academy is offering one Full and one Partial Scholarship for its Winter Cohort. Founded by her daughter, Grief & Death Doula and Author Sundari Malcolm, this spiritually rooted training prepares Grief and Death Doulas to hold space through ancient ritual, modern grief care, and soul-centered guidance. Recipients will receive lifetime access to the Academy’s online, and self-paced, certification program and a personal mentorship session with...
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Ep. 65: Ruin, Rise and Return with Sarah Carter & Corinne Shark
Make Discomfort Your B*tch
NOTE: IF YOU'RE IN THE PHOENIX AREA, SARAH AND CORINNE WILL BE SIGNING COPIES OF THEIR BOOK AT CHANGING HANDS (PHX LOCATION) BOOKSTORE ON NOVEMBER 21ST! What if the moments that break us open are the same ones that reveal our deepest creative power? In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Carter and Corinne Shark, authors of The Skies Are Full of Us and hosts of the Spiritual Pyros podcast, for a luminous conversation about the arc of life we all travel — ruin, rise, and return. We talk about the courage it takes to tell our stories honestly, how their own creative process became a...
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Ep. 64: Stay Uncomfortable With EJ Jamele: The Real Edge of Growth
Make Discomfort Your B*tch
In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant and dynamic EJ Jamele — CEO of crowdMGMT, producer, brand architect, and talent manager to some of the most sought-after artists in the beauty and entertainment industries. Our conversation goes far beyond brand strategy and success stories. EJ and I explore how discomfort can be one of our greatest teachers — especially when it comes to learning how to learn, growing our social awareness, and navigating a diverse world in values-based ways. EJ’s insight into leadership, collaboration, and creative excellence is both inspiring and grounding....
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Ep. 63: Welcome to Season Four! Big Changes Ahead...
Make Discomfort Your B*tch
A solo episode to introduce the next season of the podcast! ABOUT ME: I'm a mental health therapist, speaker, author and educator who helps organizations bridge the gap between knowing and doing the things that foster well-being, resilience and success. With expertise in school counseling, trauma-informed practices, and social-emotional intelligence (SEI), I help teams address the root causes of issues such as burnout, communication breakdowns, and resistance to change—rather than just treating surface-level symptoms. My engaging, evidence-based approach equips audiences with the...
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Ep. 62: When Grief Becomes a Guide: Finding Wisdom, Resilience, and Resolution with Ursula Taylor
Make Discomfort Your B*tch
What if grief isn’t just something to overcome, but a guide toward deeper wisdom and wholeness? In this episode, I sit down with Ursula Taylor - former litigation attorney turned holistic conflict resolution expert - to explore how grief, when approached with awareness, can transform both healing and leadership. Together, we discuss the power of emotional intelligence, embodied awareness, and the ways unresolved pain shows up in our personal and professional lives. Ursula shares how listening to the body’s signals - rather than relying solely on strategy - can foster resilience, unlock...
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Ep. 61: Turning a Diagnosis Into Direction with Brandon Marshall
Make Discomfort Your B*tch
In this episode of Make Discomfort Your Btch*, I talk with Brandon Marshall about the moment everything shifted - when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as an adult. Brandon shares how that unexpected and life-altering diagnosis became a catalyst for radical self-responsibility, deeper self-awareness, and a renewed sense of purpose in both life and business. We explore how learning to live with a chronic illness forced him to stop outsourcing his well-being and start taking ownership of his mindset, habits, and choices. From this deeply personal journey came the values that now shape his...
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Ep. 60: Relearning Hope with Sahar Modares
Make Discomfort Your B*tch
In this powerful conversation, Sahar Modares and I unpack a truth that many of us are just beginning to understand: growth doesn’t have to come through suffering. We talk about how hope is a skill—one many of us need to relearn—and how reclaiming it can shift everything from how we lead to how we live. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the belief that struggle is the only path forward, this episode will breathe fresh air into your mindset and offer a new lens on healing, growth, and resilience. MORE ABOUT SAHAR: Sahar Modares is a catalyst for light, sparking transformation in those she...
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Ep. 59: Becoming Your Own Authority with Tanya Ruckstuhl
Make Discomfort Your B*tch
What does it really mean to become your own authority? In this episode, I sit down with the brilliantly quirky Tanya Ruckstuhl - psychotherapist, writer and author of How to Be a Human and Not An A$$hole - to talk about self-trust, personal growth and why social skills matter now more than ever. We explore how to stop outsourcing your power, navigate relationships with more clarity and embrace the messy, magical work of being fully human. Tune in for wisdom, humor and a few unexpected truth bombs that inevitably drop when two therapists get together. MORE ABOUT TANYA: Tanya...
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Ep. 58: Staying With The Discomfort With Hope Rose
Make Discomfort Your B*tch
What does it look like to move through discomfort without rushing to escape it? In this honest and powerful episode, I sit down with Hope Rose - former ultra-endurance athlete, self-published author and master of navigating the middle - to talk about what it means to stay with hard things while they’re still happening. We dig into: 🔥 The power of not bypassing discomfort 🧭 Daily practices that support staying present through struggle 🌱 How living intentionally—even in pain—creates lasting transformation 💡 Why discomfort isn’t the enemy, but a teacher Hope doesn’t just...
info_outlineWhat happens when you’re the only one in the room — the only woman, the only Latina, the youngest voice at the table?
In this episode, I sit down with Maria Brewer, former U.S. Ambassador and longtime State Department leader, for a deeply human conversation about what it means to navigate spaces where you don’t always see yourself reflected.
We talk about the power of naming the uncomfortable, how to reality-check your experiences when things feel unclear or isolating, and the importance of bringing what’s subconscious into awareness so you can coach yourself through challenging moments instead of getting stuck in them.
Maria shares candid reflections from her diplomatic career — the courage it took to stay grounded in her values, to lead with integrity, and to find belonging even when she was breaking new ground.
If you’ve ever found yourself in spaces where you felt like the “only,” or if you’re learning to move through discomfort with self-awareness and strength, this conversation is a masterclass in resilience, authenticity, and emotional intelligence.
MORE ABOUT MARIA:
Accomplished global leader and twice-confirmed U.S. Ambassador with 29 years of distinguished Foreign Service experience. Now leveraging expertise in leadership and executive coaching to help individuals “Bloom Where Planted” by navigating challenges, seizing opportunities, and achieving lasting impact.
MORE ABOUT ME:
I'm a mental health therapist, speaker, author and educator who helps organizations bridge the gap between knowing and doing the things that foster well-being, resilience and success. With expertise in school counseling, trauma-informed practices, and social-emotional intelligence (SEI), I help teams address the root causes of issues such as burnout, communication breakdowns, and resistance to change—rather than just treating surface-level symptoms. My engaging, evidence-based approach equips audiences with the skills to navigate discomfort, build trust and create healthier, more adaptive workplaces.
I'm also a "Resolutionist" with Empowered Workplace Dispute Resolution, where I leverage my trauma-informed expertise to guide difficult conversations with compassion and clarity. I create safe spaces for resolving conflicts, turning challenges into growth opportunities. Whether working with frontline workers, organizational teams or educational leaders, I help people feel seen, heard and valued—transforming disputes into deeper understanding.
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