Reclaiming Joy & Resilience at Work with Nicole Van Valen
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
Release Date: 05/12/2025
Caring for a Loved One with Dementia | Dr. Beverly Thorn’s Guide to Resilience & Healing
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
In this deeply moving episode, we welcome Dr. Beverly Thorn — psychologist, author, dementia caregiver, and certified end-of-life doula. Dr. Thorn spent decades as a clinical psychology professor at Ohio State and the University of Alabama, publishing hundreds of articles and books on chronic illness. But when her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, her professional expertise collided with personal reality. She became a full-time caregiver and, later, an end-of-life doula, documenting her journey in her powerful book: Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver...
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From Prison to Purpose: The Ranae Van Roekel Story | Broken Beautiful Me Podcast
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
Welcome to another episode of Broken Beautiful Me with host Kelly Buckley. Today’s guest, Ranae Van Roekel, shares her extraordinary story of trauma, incarceration, and transformation. After childhood abuse and decades of silence, Ranae found herself serving a 51-month federal prison sentence. But instead of letting prison define her, she chose healing — and now she helps others through her platform Connecting to Cope. ✨ In this episode, you’ll hear: • The trauma Ranae carried for decades and how silence shaped her choices • Why prison became the start of her healing • The...
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From Chaos to Clarity: Overcoming Addiction and Finding Purpose with John Beyer
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, host Kelly Buckley sits down with John Beyer, author of Live a Little Better: One Man’s Journey of Survival, Sobriety and Success. 🌟 John’s story is one of resilience, hope, and transformation: • Born to addicted parents and raised in chaos & poverty • Hit rock bottom before finding sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous 🍃 • Sober since March 31, 1986 • Built Men on the Move, one of Long Island’s largest independent moving companies • Faced his son Gregory’s autism...
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Messages From Beyond: Suzanne Giesemann on Life After Death | Broken Beautiful Me Podcast
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
What happens when a Navy Commander becomes one of the world’s most trusted spiritual mediums? In this deeply moving conversation, host Kelly Buckley welcomes Suzanne Giesemann — spiritual teacher, medium, and author named on Watkins’ list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People. Together they discuss grief, signs from spirit, practical tools to connect with loved ones, and Suzanne’s journey from military leadership to becoming a guide for millions seeking comfort and healing. ✨ Topics in this episode: • Signs from loved ones after death • How “The Sip of the...
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How Writing Can Heal Grief | John DeDakis on Loss, Resilience & Hope
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
How do you survive unimaginable loss — and even find healing through it? In this emotional and inspiring episode of the Broken Beautiful Me Podcast, host Kelly Buckley talks with John DeDakis — award-winning novelist, writing coach, and former CNN journalist — about turning pain into purpose. John opens up about losing his sister and his son, and how writing became his lifeline. Together, Kelly and John dive deep into: ✨ Writing as a path to healing and self-discovery ✨ How men and women grieve differently in relationships ✨ Why gratitude and resilience matter in grief ✨ The...
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From Foster Care to Freedom: Malisa Hepner on Shame, Survival & Self-Love
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
In this powerful episode of Broken Beautiful Me, host Kelly Buckley sits down with Malisa Hepner — a social worker, author, and host of the Emotionally Unavailable podcast — to explore her raw, unfiltered story of surviving extreme childhood trauma, battling shame, and reclaiming her life through radical self-love and authenticity. Malisa’s journey began in the chaos of neglect, foster care, and the devastating loss of both parents. She shares how years of perfectionism and emotional unavailability led her to a breaking point — and the turning point that inspired her to choose life,...
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Healing Grief, Trauma & Relationships with a Holistic Approach - Alyssa Scarano
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
In this heart-opening episode of Broken Beautiful Me, host Kelly Buckley sits down with Alyssa Scarano, licensed counselor and founder of Collective Therapy and Wellness, for a deeply compassionate conversation about grief, trauma, childhood wounds, parenting after loss, and the transformative power of therapy. Alyssa shares her holistic approach to therapy—one that integrates mental, physical, and spiritual healing. She emphasizes the importance of moving away from clinical diagnoses as identity markers and toward whole-person healing that fosters self-compassion, emotional safety,...
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Barry Adkins: The Father Who Carried His Son’s Ashes 1,400 Miles to Turn Grief Into Purpose
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
In this unforgettable episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Barry Adkins, a father who turned unimaginable loss into a mission to save lives. After losing his 18-year-old son Kevin to alcohol poisoning on the day he moved out on his own, Barry faced a defining choice: become a victim or use his pain to help others. He chose the latter. What followed was an epic 1,400-mile journey on foot, carrying Kevin’s ashes from Arizona to Montana. Along the way, Barry stopped at schools, churches, and treatment centers to share his son’s story, raise awareness about the dangers of binge...
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Choose You First: From Trauma to Triumph with Michelle Bishop
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
In this deeply moving episode of Broken Beautiful Me, host Kelly Buckley welcomes Michelle Bishop—Master Certified Life Coach and author of Choose You First—for a heartfelt conversation about healing, resilience, and self-love. Michelle shares her powerful journey from a childhood of abuse and trauma to reclaiming her voice and building a life rooted in purpose and peace. She opens up about the tragic loss of her husband, her near-death experience with COVID-19, and the profound spiritual awakening that led to her signature Silent Warrior Technique. This episode is a raw and real...
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Healing Childhood Trauma with Cathy Studer
Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience
In this deeply moving episode of Broken Beautiful Me: Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience, host Kelly sits down with Cathy Studer, a survivor of long-term childhood abuse turned passionate mental health and child abuse prevention advocate. Cathy shares how her painful past became a powerful catalyst for change—not only in her own life but in the lives of others. In this episode, we explore: • Cathy’s transformation from silence to storytelling • The six healing attributes that changed her life and now help children build emotional strength • The inspiration behind her memoir...
info_outlineIn this empowering episode, Kelly sits down with Nicole Van Valen—author of The Joyful Leader, mental health strategist, and founder of Keen Insights—to talk about the urgent need for joy, authenticity, and emotional intelligence in leadership and work culture.
With over 25 years of experience in healthcare, behavioral health, and corporate leadership, Nicole shares her journey from toxic workplaces to creating a business that helps organizations build inclusive, mentally healthy cultures through training, strategy, and mindset coaching.
They dive deep into:
• How to build resilience when you’re burning out
• What joyful leadership looks like in action
• Tools for stress management and daily mental well-being
• Nicole’s weekly Joyful Meditation (Mondays at 7:30am ET)
• The difference between managing stress and actually thriving at work
• Why grief education and psychological safety belong in the workplace
• The role of gratitude and small sensory rituals (like breathing, tea, and flowers) in emotional reset
• How leaders can support employees without overstepping boundaries
Nicole also shares insights from her book, The Joyful Leader—praised as “a textbook that reads like a novel.” It’s a blueprint for creating workplace cultures that don’t just prevent burnout, but actively promote joy and purpose.
Guest Links:
• 🌐 Website: https://keaneinsights.com
• 📘 Book Info: https://keaneinsights.com/book
• 📧 Contact Nicole: [email protected]
• 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: @NicoleVanValen
Free Resource: Want to start your week with clarity? Join Nicole’s Joyful Meditation every Monday at 7:30am ET. Sign up via Keen Insights.
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If you’re looking for a fresh and heart-centered take on leadership, mental health, and burnout recovery, this episode is for you.
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