Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience

"Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience" is a podcast dedicated to empowering individuals and healthcare professionals facing grief and adversity. Hosted by Kelly Buckley, this podcast offers compassionate guidance and practical strategies to help you heal and transform your life through gratitude-focused recovery. Kelly was the Chief Operating Officer for an integrated network of 11 hospitals. She had professional success, a stellar career in healthcare, and a leadership role. But in 2009, her world was shattered by the unexpected and devastating loss of her son, Stephen. This profound event transformed her life completely, leading her on a path of resilience and purpose, where she now dedicates her life to helping others navigate their grief and find fulfillment through gratitude. Despite her success, Kelly realizes now that she was only scratching the surface of gratitude before her life-changing loss. Through her personal journey, she has developed a deep and transformative relationship with gratitude, one that goes beyond the surface level and becomes a guiding force in her life and work. Kelly's unique perspective as both a healthcare leader and a grief survivor sets her apart from other voices in the space. She blends her professional expertise with raw personal experience, creating a space for profound healing and transformation that speaks directly to those in healthcare and individuals experiencing personal loss. This duality—of professional leadership and personal vulnerability—makes her podcast uniquely impactful. Today, Kelly is a serial entrepreneur, acclaimed keynote speaker, and the author of several impactful books, including "Just One Little Thing," "The Path," and "Gratitude in Grief." Her inspiring work has been featured in major media outlets globally, and she has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the field of grief recovery. Inspired by the Japanese practice of kintsugi, which involves repairing broken pottery with gold to make it more resilient and valuable, Kelly embraces the idea that our broken pieces can be transformed into something beautiful and strong. Each episode features heartfelt conversations and powerful stories that highlight the resilience and strength found in the face of adversity. Join us on this transformative journey as Kelly shares her insights, experiences, and expertise to bring hope and renewed purpose to those facing life's greatest challenges. Through stories of hope, resilience, and gratitude, you'll discover the healing power of embracing your brokenness and learn how to live a life filled with purpose and joy. Tune in to "Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience" and start your journey toward healing and transformation today. Visit Kelly's Website: https://www.KellyBuckley.com

When the Pieces Speak: Jennifer Chase on Truth, Trauma & Transformation 04/06/2026

When the Pieces Speak: Jennifer Chase on Truth, Trauma & Transformation In this raw, honest, and deeply courageous episode, we explore addiction, generational trauma, shame, recovery, and what it truly means to reclaim your life without abandoning the complexity of your story. In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Jennifer Chase — life coach, addict in recovery, childhood sexual abuse survivor, daughter of an alcoholic, and mother of a recovering addict. Jennifer's work is rooted in lived experience and a profound understanding of how unprocessed pain moves through family systems across generations. She helps individuals, families, and loved ones impacted by addiction move out of survival mode and into grounded self-leadership. Jennifer's story begins before she ever took a substance. Raised in a home where addiction ran four generations deep on both sides of her family, she watched her parents and grandparents struggle and swore it would never be her. Then, at 29, she was diagnosed with a hemorrhaging brain tumor and given twelve hours to live. The surgery left her with chronic pain — and a prescription for opiates that would change the course of everything. What followed was fifteen years of addiction, a marriage held together by enabling and silence, and the devastating discovery that she had inadvertently become her own son's drug dealer. It took losing almost everything — and finally speaking her truth out loud in a treatment facility — for Jennifer to understand that substance was never the problem. It was the solution to the problem. Today, eight and a half years sober, she is one of the most important voices in this conversation. In this episode, Jennifer shares: 🧬 How addiction ran four generations deep on both sides of her family — and why she thought she'd be the one to break it 💊 The brain tumor diagnosis at 29 that introduced her to opiates and began a fifteen year journey into addiction 😶 Why she carried her childhood sexual abuse in silence for decades — and the moment she finally said it out loud 👦 The heartbreaking discovery that she had inadvertently become her son's drug dealer — and what that night felt like 💃 The waltz and the tango — her powerful metaphor for how families unknowingly contribute to the addiction dynamic 🔗 Why substance is never the problem — it is the solution to the problem 🧱 What boundaries actually are — and why you must only set ones you can hold 100% of the time 👨‍👩‍👧 What families and loved ones of addicts need to hear about enabling, shame, and finding their people 🧶 The real work of recovery — untangling the generational knots that made substance feel necessary in the first place ✨ Why shame thrives in silence — and what happens the moment you speak your truth out loud Jennifer also reflects on the narratives she had to let go of, the long road of rebuilding trust with her family, and why connection — not willpower — is the true cure. Her message is clear: addiction is not a life sentence. It is a detour that, with intentional redirection, can lead you to your truest self. A fierce, compassionate, and unflinching conversation about addiction, family systems, generational trauma, and the daily courage it takes to choose recovery. Follow Jennifer Chase 🌐 Website: www.riseaddictionllc.com 📱 Instagram & Facebook: Rise Addiction Life Coaching About Your Host Kelly Buckley is a trauma life coach, speaker, and the heart behind Broken Beautiful Me — a podcast dedicated to stories of hope, gratitude, and resilience. 🌐 https://www.kellybuckley.com /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/40718460

Seeing Beyond Limits: Laura Bratton on Resilience and Radical Hope 03/30/2026

Seeing Beyond Limits: Laura Bratton on Resilience and Radical Hope In this deeply moving episode, we explore grief, radical acceptance, the courage to rebuild identity, and what it truly means to find purpose on the path you never planned. In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Laura Bratton — author, speaker, coach, and founder of UB Global. Diagnosed with a progressive eye disease at just nine years old, Laura spent her teenage years navigating the devastating emotional reality of losing her sight entirely — going from legally blind to completely blind between ninth and twelfth grade, with no timeline, no formal diagnosis, and no roadmap. What looked like the end of the life she had imagined became, over time, the foundation for an extraordinary one. Laura went on to graduate from Arizona State University with a BA in Psychology, and became the first blind student to receive a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is the author of Harnessing Courage and dedicates her life to coaching and speaking for people navigating grief, loss, and radical life change. Her message is not about overcoming blindness. It is about the universal human experience of rebuilding yourself from pieces — and discovering that those pieces hold more strength than you ever knew. In this episode, Laura shares: 🪟 What it was like to lose her sight gradually as a teenager with no timeline and no answers 💔 Why the hardest part wasn't learning new skills — it was believing she was still worthy 🧠 The three steps she used to rebuild confidence and that she now teaches others 🤝 Why receiving support isn't weakness — and why she specifically uses the word trust 😡 The difference between validating sadness and validating anger — and why anger is the harder one 📖 How writing Harnessing Courage was simultaneously healing and deeply painful 🙏 Why gratitude is her anchor — and what real, grounded gratitude actually looks like 🐕 The profound grief of losing her guide dogs — and how they were literally her eyes ✨ The moment she chose courage — sitting alone on a bed in San Francisco, 18 years old, 3,000 miles from home 🌱 Why purpose is rarely found on the path you planned — but on the one you're forced to walk Kelly also shares beautifully personal reflections on her own grief journey — including the day she was grateful simply for making it to the mailbox without breaking down. Her message is clear: you are worthy even in all the pieces. A tender, honest, and quietly powerful conversation about loss, identity, courage, and the daily choice to keep going. 🎁 Free Resource from Laura — Harnessing Courage Available at: https://laurabratton.com Follow Laura Bratton 🌐 Website: https://laurabratton.com 📚 Book: Harnessing Courage — available at laurabratton.com 🎤 Speaking & Coaching: https://laurabratton.com About Your Host Kelly Buckley is a trauma life coach, speaker, and the heart behind Broken Beautiful Me — a podcast dedicated to stories of hope, gratitude, and resilience. 🌐 https://www.kellybuckley.com /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/40644905

When the Body Remembers: Elizabeth Stanley on Trauma, Resilience, and Reclaiming Our Inner Safety 03/23/2026

When the Body Remembers: Elizabeth Stanley on Trauma, Resilience, and Reclaiming Our Inner Safety In this profound and eye-opening episode, we explore the neuroscience of stress and trauma, what it really means to heal, and why your nervous system holds the key to everything. In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Stanley Georgetown University professor, US Army veteran, international bestselling author, and creator of the groundbreaking resilience training program Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training (MMFT). Her book Widen the Window: Training Your Brain and Body to Thrive During Stress and Recovery from Trauma has become an essential guide for anyone navigating the lasting effects of stress, trauma, and burnout. Liz's path to this work was deeply personal. After serving as a US Army Intelligence officer through multiple deployments including a harrowing experience in Bosnia where she stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. She found herself in her late twenties battling PTSD, depression, chronic health conditions, and eventually losing her eyesight. What looked like a breakdown was, in truth, a body that had finally run out of road. Out of that experience came decades of research, a science-backed resilience training program tested with thousands of soldiers and Marines, and a mission to help everyday people understand what is actually happening in their minds and bodies and what to do about it. In this episode, Liz shares: 🧠 Why trauma is never in the event — it's in how your mind and body meet it 🪟 What the "window of tolerance" is and why widening it changes everything 😮‍💨 The hidden danger of breathwork for trauma survivors and what to do instead 📓 How to use journaling the right way to support nervous system discharge ⏱️ Why a wave of emotion is neurobiologically never longer than 90 seconds 💀 The real cost of "suck it up and drive on" in high performance environments 🫀 How grief and PTSD overlap and why the bereaved community deserves this science 🔁 Why the survival brain not the thinking brain is the key to healing 🌍 How systemic trauma, racism and inequality are narrowing our collective window 💡 What gives Liz hope about where humanity is headed Kelly also shares her own deeply personal experience of loss and what it felt like to hit a moment where she had no plan B — a moment of raw honesty that anchors this entire conversation in the human experience. A conversation that is equal parts science and soul and one that could genuinely change the way you understand yourself. 🎁 Free Gift from Liz: 5-Minute Survival Brain Exercise Join her mailing list at: https://elizabeth-stanley.com Follow Elizabeth Stanley 🌐 Website: https://elizabeth-stanley.com 📚 Book: Widen the Window — available everywhere books are sold 🎓 MMFT Online Course (8 weeks, lifetime access): https://elizabeth-stanley.com 🆓 Free access for teachers, medical workers, first responders & military: https://elizabeth-stanley.com About Your Host Kelly Buckley is a trauma life coach, speaker, and the heart behind Broken Beautiful Me — a podcast dedicated to stories of hope, gratitude, and resilience. 🌐 https://www.kellybuckley.com /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/40580050

Unbecoming to Become: Reclaiming Wholeness and the Sacred Mess with Monica Rogers 03/16/2026

Unbecoming to Become: Reclaiming Wholeness and the Sacred Mess with Monica Rogers In this expansive and soul-stirring episode, we explore feminine awakening, generational healing, the trance of unworthiness, and what it truly means to come home to yourself. In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Monica Rodgers, widely known as the Revelation Woman, a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Sacred Feminine Rites of Passage Practitioner, Medicine Woman, Truth-Teller, Soul-Diver, Light-worker, Alchemist, and the visionary founder of The Revelation Project. Monica's work centers on feminine embodiment, personal awakening, and the radical unlearning of societal conditioning that has kept women small, silent, and disconnected from their deepest truth. Monica's story begins in an uber-Catholic household, her mother a former nun, where the unspoken rules of the "pretty, pleasing, polite, and performative" feminine were absorbed long before she had words for them. She followed the prescribed path, becoming a serial entrepreneur, landing in the New York Times Magazine, appearing on the Today Show, climbing every rung of the ladder she'd been told to climb. And then she reached the top and realized she was standing on a garbage heap. What followed was a complete unraveling, a divorce, the loss of her business, a health crisis, and nine months in bed. What looked like breakdown was, in fact, the beginning of something profound: her own revelation project, her descent into the heroine's journey, and the slow, sacred reclamation of her true self. In this episode, Monica shares: 🔥 How a rigidly religious upbringing planted the seeds of her "trance of unworthiness" 💥 The moment she realized she'd climbed to the top of the wrong ladder 🌑 What a dark night of the soul really looks like — and why it can be the greatest gift of your life 🧭 The difference between the hero's journey and the heroine's journey 🪞 The "four P's" — pretty, pleasing, polite, and performative — and how they keep women trapped 🌿 The journey of Unbecoming: shedding who you were told to be to remember who you truly are 🩸 The wounded maiden archetype and how generational patterns live in our bodies 👯 The sisterhood wound and what genuine women's circles can heal 😡 Why rage isn't a problem to manage but a righteous fire that leads to radiance 🧬 Breaking generational agreements — for seven generations forward and back 🕊️ The Sophia Century and the Bahá'í prophecy of the bird of humanity 🧠 Why women are literally wired to be oracles Her message is clear: becoming is the journey home to yourself. It's about shedding the roles and stories that never belonged to you, so you can remember who you truly are. This episode is a powerful reminder that your awakening isn't a moment. It's a movement. And it begins within. A soul-expanding conversation about feminine awakening, ancestral healing, sisterhood, and the radical courage it takes to live your own revelation. 🎁 Free Gift from Monica — The Women's Bill of Rights Download it at: https://jointherevelation.com Follow Monica Rodgers 🌐 Website: https://jointherevelation.com/about 🎙️ The Revelation Project Podcast: 180+ episodes at jointherevelation.com 📞 Book a Free Chemistry Call: https://jointherevelation.com About Your Host Kelly Buckley is a trauma life coach, speaker, and the heart behind Broken Beautiful Me — a podcast dedicated to stories of hope, gratitude, and resilience. 🌐 https://www.kellybuckley.com /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/40457575

Unmasking the Truth: Andrea Leeb on Courage, Healing and Living with Authenticity 03/09/2026

Unmasking the Truth: Andrea Leeb on Courage, Healing and Living with Authenticity In this deeply moving episode, we explore trauma, healing, resilience, and the courage it takes to reclaim your voice after years of silence. In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Andrea Leeb, a writer and advocate living in Venice Beach, California, and author of Such a Pretty Picture: A Memoir. Andrea’s work has appeared in literary journals including Litro Magazine, Potomac Review, Text Power Telling, and HerStry, and she serves on the Advisory Board for the UCLA Rape Treatment Center and Stuart House, supporting survivors of sexual assault. Andrea’s story begins with a painful truth. As a young child, she endured years of sexual abuse perpetrated by her father. Like many survivors, she carried the weight of secrecy and confusion for decades, trying to move forward while burying the past. On the outside, Andrea built a successful life — working as both a registered nurse and an attorney and earning degrees from Georgetown University, Cardozo School of Law, and the Bennington Writing Seminars. But trauma has a way of resurfacing when it remains unspoken. Years later, during the Me Too movement, Andrea realized something powerful: when survivors share their stories, it gives others permission to speak. That realization inspired her to write Such a Pretty Picture, a memoir that explores the complexity of trauma, the long journey toward healing, and the courage it takes to break the silence. In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Andrea shares how confronting the past can be painful — but also freeing. In this episode, Andrea shares: • 💔 The impact of childhood sexual abuse and the silence that often surrounds it • ✨ How the Me Too movement helped inspire her to share her story • 🧠 The long-term emotional effects of trauma • 🤝 Why asking for help can be one of the strongest acts of resilience • 🌱 The reality that healing is rarely linear • 💬 The importance of believing survivors and creating space for truth • 📖 How writing a memoir became part of her healing process • 🤍 Turning personal pain into advocacy and support for others Andrea also reflects on the emotional complexity of family relationships, the difficulty of confronting painful truths, and the power of storytelling to help others feel less alone. Her message is clear: healing begins when silence ends. This episode is a powerful reminder that speaking your truth can transform pain into connection, understanding, and purpose. A courageous and compassionate conversation about trauma, healing, advocacy, and reclaiming your voice. Follow Andrea Leeb Website: https://andrealeebauthor.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrealeeb Book – Such a Pretty Picture: A Memoir https://www.amazon.com/Such-Pretty-Picture-Memoir-Andrea-Leeb/dp/1647425840 /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/40347455

The Courage to Be Loud: Asha Mevlana on Reinvention, Resilience, and the Music We Carry Inside 03/04/2026

The Courage to Be Loud: Asha Mevlana on Reinvention, Resilience, and the Music We Carry Inside In this powerful and inspiring episode, we explore fear, resilience, motherhood, illness, and the radical courage it takes to start saying yes to life even when uncertainty feels overwhelming. In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Asha Mevlana, a two-time breast cancer survivor, professional violinist with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, motivational speaker, and author of To Hell With No: Adventures in Finally Saying Yes. Asha’s life changed dramatically when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 24 years old. Faced with the fragility of life far earlier than expected, she made a decision that would reshape everything: she created a “fear list” — a list of the things that scared her most — and began saying yes to them one by one. Skydiving. Silent meditation retreats. Touring the world as a professional musician. Building a life filled with experiences instead of limitations. But life had another challenge waiting. Twenty-five years later, while raising her young son, Asha faced breast cancer again. This time the stakes felt different. The question was no longer simply how to live bravely — but how to redefine strength while being a mother, navigating fear, and learning how to stay present for the life unfolding right in front of her. In this deeply moving conversation, Asha shares how resilience is not about pretending to be fearless, but about allowing courage and vulnerability to coexist. In this episode, Asha shares: • 🎻 How a breast cancer diagnosis at 24 became the catalyst for a life of bold choices • ✨ The “fear list” practice that pushed her to say yes to the unknown • 🧠 Why fear often disguises the very experiences that lead to growth • 💔 Facing cancer again decades later — this time as a mother • 🤍 How motherhood changed her relationship with courage and vulnerability • 🌍 Life as a touring violinist with Trans-Siberian Orchestra • 🌱 Why resilience isn’t about toughness, but about presence • 🔥 How saying yes to life can transform even the darkest chapters into purpose Asha also reflects on how surviving cancer twice reshaped her priorities and her perspective on success, reminding us that the most meaningful moments in life are rarely the ones we plan. Her story is not just about survival. It is about choosing possibility, even when fear whispers louder. This episode is a powerful reminder that courage does not mean the absence of fear — it means refusing to let fear decide the limits of your life. A heartfelt and inspiring conversation about illness, resilience, motherhood, creativity, and the extraordinary power of saying yes to life. ⸻ Follow Asha Mevlana Website: https://www.ashamevlana.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashamevlana Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashamevlana LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashamevlana Book – To Hell With No: Adventures in Finally Saying Yes https://www.amazon.com/Hell-With-No-Adventures-Finally/dp/1647424984 /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/40317545

The Sibling You Lose, the Strength You Find: Zander Sprague’s Story of Becoming Whole 02/23/2026

The Sibling You Lose, the Strength You Find: Zander Sprague’s Story of Becoming Whole In this deeply courageous and honest episode, we explore sibling loss, unspoken grief, epic choices, and the life-altering decision to move from chaos to intention. In this powerful conversation, Kelly sits down with Zander Sprague, bestselling author, licensed professional clinical counselor, TV host, and acclaimed motivational speaker. Zander’s life changed forever on December 9th, 1996 — the day his 30-year-old sister, Lucy, died unexpectedly. At just 28 years old, Zander found himself navigating a kind of grief that often goes unseen. While parents are supported in the loss of a child, sibling grief is frequently overlooked, minimized, or misunderstood. Not one person asked him how he was doing. And in that silence, he began to question whether his loss even mattered. It did. Through years of personal healing and professional work, Zander transformed his pain into purpose. Today, he helps others understand that broken moments are not the end of the story — they are the foundation upon which strength, clarity, and intentional living are built. In this deeply moving episode, Zander shares: • 🤍 Why sibling grief is real, significant, and often invisible • 💔 What it feels like when no one asks how you are doing • 🧠 Why siblings often do not grieve openly in front of parents • 📖 The inspiration behind his books Making Lemonade and Why Don’t They Cry? • 🔄 How grief reshapes identity at a young age • 🎯 What it means to make “epic choices” that create an epic life • 🌊 Why pain can either harden you or transform you — and how to choose • 🕊️ The courage it takes to reclaim your narrative after devastating loss Zander also speaks about the broader nature of grief — not just the loss of a loved one, but the grief of life changes, transitions, and chapters ending before we are ready. He reminds us that grief is not weakness. It is love with nowhere to go. This conversation is honest, vulnerable, and filled with practical wisdom for anyone who has experienced loss and wondered how to move forward without leaving part of themselves behind. A compassionate and powerful episode about sibling loss, resilience, intentional living, and the epic courage it takes to choose your life again. Follow Zander Sprague Website: https://zandersprague.com Books: Making Lemonade: Choosing a Positive Pathway After Losing Your Sibling Why Don’t They Cry? Understanding Your Living Child’s Grief Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/40186455

Exploring Grief, Healing, and Hope with Clinical Depth and Lived Wisdom 02/16/2026

Exploring Grief, Healing, and Hope with Clinical Depth and Lived Wisdom In this deeply reflective and powerful episode, Kelly sits down with psychologist, grief expert, and author Dr. Mekel Harris for a conversation about loss, leadership, faith, parenting, and the quiet courage it takes to keep your heart open after it has been shattered. Dr. Harris never expected grief to become her life’s work. But after losing her mother to stage four pancreatic cancer in just 30 days, and later losing her father during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she found herself face to face with the raw reality of loss — personally and professionally. What she discovered was not just heartbreak, but transformation. Today, Dr. Harris is a licensed psychologist and CEO of Harris Psychological Services, LLC. She is also co-founder of Bloomwell Partners, a consulting firm equipping organizations to lead with grief-informed care. Through private practice, global speaking engagements, and corporate training, she helps individuals and leaders navigate grief not as a weakness — but as part of our shared humanity. In this intimate conversation, Dr. Harris shares: • 🤍 Why grief is not a problem to solve but a companion to learn • 🌊 What it means to truly “companion” someone in their pain • 🧠 How children experience grief differently at each developmental stage • 🏢 Why workplaces must move beyond three days of compassionate leave • 🌍 The hidden grief of divorce, layoffs, identity shifts, and life transitions • 🕊️ The profound impact of losing both parents — including during COVID isolation • 🙏 How faith transformed her grief from knowing about God to knowing God • 🌿 Why gratitude and grief can coexist — even when it feels impossible • 💛 The power of self-compassion in a culture obsessed with productivity • 🐢 Why leaders must learn to move from “lion mode” to “turtle mode” — reflection before reaction One of the most moving moments in this episode comes when Dr. Harris describes lying on a hotel floor after her mother’s death — reaching for her phone to call someone, anyone — and realizing no one answered. In that silence, she experienced something she can only describe as an overwhelming presence. That moment changed everything. This episode is about more than grief. It is about courage. It is about staying open. It is about allowing pain to become a teacher instead of something to outrun. A profound and compassionate conversation about grief, faith, leadership, parenting, resilience, and the wisdom that comes from keeping your heart open. ⸻ About Dr. Mekel Harris Mekel Harris, Ph.D., NCSP, PMH-C, CAGCS received a B.A. in Psychology from Baylor University, M.A. in Psychology from Houston Baptist University, and a Ph.D. in Clinical/School Psychology from University of Houston. She completed her pre-doctoral internship and two-year post-doctoral fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Harris has served in higher education, community-based and hospital-based mental health programs. She currently works in private practice as a licensed psychologist and CEO of Harris Psychological Services, LLC, offering mental health support across the lifespan. She is also co-founder of Bloomwell Partners, LLC, a consulting firm that equips organizations to provide grief-informed leadership and care in the workplace. Dr. Harris has presented at over 30 domestic and international conferences and has been interviewed globally on topics including grief, trauma, leadership, and community mental health. ⸻ Follow Dr. Mekel Harris Website: https://www.harrispsychologicalservices.com/ Bloomwell Partners: https://www.growwithbloomwell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmekel/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrMekel/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekel-harris-phd-ncsp-pmh-c-cagcs-629138104/ Book – Relaxing Into the Pain: My Journey Into Grief and Beyond (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2QXGZ8V /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/40105345

Unfolding Grace: Antoinette Lee on Hope, Gratitude, and Resilience 02/09/2026

Unfolding Grace: Antoinette Lee on Hope, Gratitude, and Resilience In this deeply honest and empowering episode, we explore identity, trauma, finding belonging in the wild, and the courage it takes to redefine what a “full life” looks like after the world tells you it’s not possible. In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Antoinette Lee Toscano, an outdoor industry influencer, writer, speaker, and founder of the American Adventure Sports Club nonprofit. Antoinette is a former IT executive turned adventure sports advocate, whose journey from traumatic injury and anxiety to radical freedom in the outdoors shows us that healing doesn’t always look like rest — sometimes it looks like waking up in the middle of a river, choosing life again and again. After a devastating rappelling accident left her with a traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, PTSD, and nearly immobile, Antoinette didn’t just survive — she reimagined what life could mean. Instead of waiting for a “normal” she decided to create a New Normal Big Life — a life filled with rivers, snow, wilderness, and a community for people who felt priced out, rejected, or unseen in outdoor spaces. In this heartfelt and expansive conversation, Antoinette and Kelly explore how the outdoors became more than adventure — it became a path to freedom, identity, community, and deep human belonging. In this episode, Antoinette shares: • 🌲 How a life-threatening injury became the catalyst for intentional living • 🌀 Why creating a “new normal” wasn’t about escape, but reclamation • 🧗‍♀️ The power of the outdoors to heal nervous systems and transform self-belief • 💪 How she built community, accessible adventure, and broke barriers in outdoor recreation • 📖 Why storytelling and writing helped her reclaim agency over her own narrative • 🛶 The importance of inclusivity — for people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and people who’ve been priced out of outdoor spaces • 🌊 What water, rivers, and moving wilderness taught her about resilience and joy • 🤍 How freedom becomes your compass when suffering is no longer the central story Antoinette also reflects on how helping others create their own Big Life through her nonprofit, her writing, and her outdoor media has become the heart of her purpose — not because she fixed her pain, but because she leaned into it and let it expand her empathy, courage, and leadership. This is a grounded, courageous, and deeply human episode about redefining normal, living with intention, and building a life that feels truly alive. ⸻ Follow Antoinette Lee Toscano Website & Blog – New Normal Big Life - https://nnbl.blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/antoinetteleetoscano/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/antoinettelee.toscano WhitewaterTV / AdventureTV - https://xotv.me/channels/359-whitewatertv Paddling Magazine Contributor Page - https://paddlingmag.com/author/antoinette-lee-toscano/ Diversify Whitewater (Co-Founded Project) - https://diversifywhitewater.org/ American Adventure Sports Club (Nonprofit) - https://nnbl.blog/american-adventure-sports-club/ Book Feature – Women and Water (Antoinette’s story contributor) Available wherever books are sold (search “Women and Water She Explores”) /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/40014145

Writing Your Way Free: The Nautilus Way—Grief, Grace, and Rising Again with Marie Crews 02/02/2026

Writing Your Way Free: The Nautilus Way—Grief, Grace, and Rising Again with Marie Crews In this deeply intimate and soul-opening episode, we explore grief, self-trust, journaling, and the quiet courage it takes to return to yourself after unimaginable loss. In this profoundly moving conversation, Kelly sits down with Marie Cruz, a coach, speaker, and retreat facilitator whose life has been shaped by resilience, reinvention, and radical self-honesty. Marie’s story is not one of bypassing pain, but of learning how to sit with it, listen to it, and allow it to transform her from the inside out. Raised in poverty in rural Louisiana, Marie became a young single mother and later built a successful corporate career. But her life shifted forever after the sudden loss of her mother, followed by the devastating loss of her son just two years later. What followed was not a search for answers outside herself, but a return inward. Through years of journaling, spiritual inquiry, and deep emotional work, Marie developed what would become her signature process, The Nautilus Way, a guided journaling and self-inquiry method that helps women uncover truth, heal trauma, and reconnect with their essence. In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Marie and Kelly speak openly about grief that rearranges everything, the loneliness of loss, and the power of creating spaces where women no longer have to protect others from their pain. In this episode, Marie shares: • 🌿 How grief reshapes identity and simplifies what truly matters • 💔 Why losing a child changes the nervous system, the soul, and the way we see the world • 📖 How journaling became a sacred portal for healing and self-connection • 🌀 The four stages of her journaling process: reveal, review, rewrite, and rewire • 🤍 Why women struggle to love themselves and how self-abandonment is learned early • ✨ How intuition and inner guidance emerge when we stop silencing ourselves • 🕊️ Why healing is layered and why we never “arrive” at the end • 🌊 The power of women-only spaces, especially for bereaved mothers, to exhale fully Marie also speaks candidly about her women’s retreats, her work with grieving mothers, and why holding space without fixing is often the most powerful form of healing. She reflects on the courage it takes to trust inner wisdom, to stop editing ourselves, and to choose self-love even when it feels unfamiliar. This is not a conversation about getting over grief. It is about learning how to live alongside it with grace, truth, and presence. A compassionate, grounding, and deeply human episode about loss, journaling, intuition, and the beauty that can emerge when we honor the cracks instead of hiding them. Follow Marie Cruz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marieeurecrews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariecrewsempowers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@empowermentandgriefguide Book – Even When She Rose (Amazon): https://a.co/d/dayGabK /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/39942240

What We Hide, What We Heal: Alan Lazaros on Finding Meaning in the Mess 01/26/2026

What We Hide, What We Heal: Alan Lazaros on Finding Meaning in the Mess In this powerful and reflective episode, we explore loss, achievement, identity, and the courage it takes to stop measuring life from the outside in. In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Alan Lazaros, CEO and co-founder of Next Level University, a globally ranked Top 100 podcast with over 2,300 episodes listened to in more than 180 countries. Alan’s story begins with profound loss. His father died when Alan was just two years old. Years later, his stepfather left, taking with him an entire extended family and financial stability. What followed was a childhood shaped by abandonment, pressure, and an unspoken belief that achievement could replace safety. Driven to prove his worth, Alan became a high achiever. He excelled academically, rose quickly in corporate America, and achieved financial success at a young age. From the outside, his life looked like the definition of success. Inside, something was missing. A near-fatal car accident at age 26 became a turning point. It forced Alan to confront a question many avoid: If this were the end, would I be proud of the life I lived? That moment cracked open a deeper journey, one focused not on external validation, but on meaning, alignment, and internal fulfillment. In this deeply honest conversation, Alan shares how achievement without purpose can become another form of avoidance, and how personal growth, self-awareness, and meaning must come before lasting success. In this episode, Alan shares: • 🌱 How early loss shaped his drive, ambition, and fear of abandonment • 💔 Why achievement can become a survival strategy rather than a source of fulfillment • 🧠 The difference between external success and internal alignment • 🔄 The Four Buckets of Life and why most people get stuck in the wrong one • ⚖️ How to balance health, wealth, love, and purpose without burning out • 🧩 Why inaccurate self-perception keeps people stuck, even when they work hard • 🎯 The “glass and rubber balls” metaphor for focus, boundaries, and leadership • ✨ Why meaning, not status, is the true driver of long-term fulfillment Alan also speaks candidly about coaching, humility, and the uncomfortable truth that growth requires seeing ourselves clearly. He challenges listeners to rethink what they chase, why they chase it, and whether their success actually reflects who they are. This episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t always look like slowing down. Sometimes it looks like realigning. Letting go of who you thought you had to be. And choosing a life built from meaning, not expectation. A grounded, insightful, and deeply human conversation about loss, ambition, self-awareness, and the courage it takes to build a life that feels true. ⸻ Follow Alan Lazaros Website: https://www.nextleveluniverse.com Podcast – Next Level University: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-university/id1227858278 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanlazarosllc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/39800765

Brokenness, Beauty, and the Breath of Redemption 01/19/2026

Brokenness, Beauty, and the Breath of Redemption Welcome to Season Four of Broken Beautiful Me. In this deeply grounding and compassionate episode, we explore healing not through willpower or escape, but through presence, surrender, and learning to feel safe inside your own body. In this intimate conversation, Kelly sits down with Hans Andreas Weygoldt, a transformational coach and breathwork facilitator whose journey from addiction to emotional freedom reshaped not only his life, but his understanding of what true healing requires. After spending eight years caught in opioid addiction, Hans learned that what he was really trying to numb were unexpressed emotions, unresolved trauma, and a nervous system stuck in survival mode. His healing began not with force or discipline, but with surrender, curiosity, and breath. Through his work today, Hans helps high-performing leaders and individuals uncover the hidden emotional patterns beneath stress, success, and self-sabotage. His approach blends neuroscience, breathwork, and consciousness-based coaching to support emotional regulation, presence, and authentic leadership. In this thoughtful and heart-centered episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Hans and Kelly explore how healing unfolds when we stop running from discomfort and learn how to stay. In this episode, Hans shares: • 🌿 How suppressed emotions live in the nervous system, not the mind • 🧠 Why success and achievement can become a form of emotional avoidance • 💔 How generational trauma quietly shapes our relationship with anger, grief, and vulnerability • 🌬️ Why breathwork creates safety for emotional release without substances • 🤍 How shame begins to dissolve when it is witnessed without judgment • 🔁 Why healing is not about fixing yourself, but learning to trust your inner experience • ✨ How gratitude can transform guilt, regret, and pain into purpose • 🕊️ Simple breath practices that can be used anytime to return to calm and presence Hans also reflects on the importance of community, sharing, and connection in the healing process. He explains why healing is not meant to be done alone and how safe spaces allow the nervous system to finally let go of what it has been holding for years. This is a gentle, powerful conversation about addiction, emotional liberation, breath, and the courage it takes to feel deeply in a world that often teaches us to shut down. A compassionate, grounding, and deeply human episode about healing the nervous system, breaking generational cycles, and discovering peace through presence. ⸻ Follow Hans Andreas Weygoldt LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hans-andreas-weygoldt-151777356/ Website https://pneumorphosis.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hans.andreas.weygoldt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hansandreasweygoldt /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/39791885

The Voice Within: Linda Feig Knipe on Grief, Grace, and Becoming Whole 01/12/2026

The Voice Within: Linda Feig Knipe on Grief, Grace, and Becoming Whole What if the bravest thing you ever do isn’t surviving what happened to you… but choosing to stop hiding it? Welcome to Season Four of Broken Beautiful Me. We begin this new season with a deeply honest and compassionate conversation about grief, trauma, therapy, and the courage it takes to live openly after years of silence. In this profoundly moving episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Linda Feig Knipe, a retired high school counselor and first-time author who spent decades helping others through trauma while quietly carrying her own. After the death of her husband, Linda found herself at a crossroads that would change the way she lived, healed, and told the truth about her life. Linda’s story is one of resilience shaped over a lifetime. In her twenties, she survived sexual assault and lived for years with unprocessed trauma, shame, and PTSD. Later, while training to become a counselor, she was unexpectedly triggered and forced to confront what she had spent years burying. Therapy became not only a place of healing, but a turning point that transformed how she understood herself, her work, and her relationships. Writing her book Braving Therapy later in life required Linda to face a new fear — the fear of being fully seen. For the first time, she chose honesty over protection, openness over silence, and courage over comfort. In this intimate and thoughtful conversation, Linda shares: • 🌿 How grief became a gateway to personal transformation • 💔 The long-term impact of trauma and why silence can become toxic • 🧠 What therapy really feels like from the inside — and why it’s so hard to begin • 🕊️ How shame shapes our inner lives and keeps us disconnected • 💬 Why healing doesn’t mean going back to who you were, but becoming someone new • 🤍 The power of sharing our stories and learning we are not meant to do life alone • 🔍 Why human connection matters more than ever in an increasingly digital world Linda also discusses her book Braving Therapy, written as a companion for anyone who has ever wondered whether therapy might help but felt afraid to take the first step. Her message is clear: healing takes courage, honesty, and support — and no one has to do it alone. A compassionate, grounding, and deeply human conversation about grief, trauma, therapy, and the freedom that comes from finally telling the truth. ⸻ Follow Linda Feig Knipe Website: https://lfeigknipe.com/ Book – Braving Therapy (Amazon): https://a.co/d/4f8FwWF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l._feig_knipe FB: https://www.facebook.com/p/L-Feig-Knipe-100086436326648/ /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/39702640

The Rocket Shaman: Healing, Awakening, and What Comes After Death with Simon Lüthi 12/01/2025

The Rocket Shaman: Healing, Awakening, and What Comes After Death with Simon Lüthi What if the moment that changes your entire life isn’t a single event… but a series of wake-up calls your soul keeps sending until you finally pay attention? In this profoundly moving episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Simon Lüthi, a former high-performing corporate executive who nearly died multiple times before discovering the spiritual path that would transform his entire existence. Today he is known as The Rocket Shaman — a healer, energy medicine practitioner, and end-of-life doula whose work blends ancient wisdom with modern suffering. Simon’s story begins long before adulthood: three near-death experiences as a child and teen, followed by years of pushing himself through perfectionism, pressure, and the relentless grind of corporate life. But everything began to unravel when he developed a mysterious autoimmune illness so severe he could barely get out of bed. Doctors couldn’t explain it. Treatments failed. And then came cancer. These crises didn’t break him — they opened him. Through shamanic training, energy medicine, ancestral healing, and an intense spiritual awakening, Simon discovered a deeper truth about illness, trauma, consciousness, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. His experiences guiding people through the final hours of life — and witnessing what happens in the moments just after — reshaped his understanding of love, death, and the continuation of the soul. In this intimate conversation, Simon shares: • ✨ The near-death experiences that marked him long before he understood them • 🔥 How chronic illness and cancer became the catalysts for his spiritual awakening • 🌿 The moment energy medicine finally shifted what modern medicine couldn’t • 💫 Why he believes with absolute certainty that life continues after death • 🕊️ The signs and messages he’s witnessed from loved ones who have crossed over • 🌀 How trauma can live in the body across generations — and even past lives • 🌙 What it means to guide someone through their final transition with peace and dignity • 💛 Why self-talk, intention, and inner authority are essential to true healing Simon also discusses his book, Becoming the Rocket Shaman, and how we can all begin reclaiming our power, our intuition, and the healing potential that lives inside us. A powerful, healing, deeply spiritual exploration of illness, awakening, and the invisible threads connecting us to something much bigger than ourselves. Follow Simon Lüthi Website: https://www.therocketshaman.com Book – Becoming the Rocket Shaman (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FFPBNKSM Book – Becoming the Rocket Shaman (Barnes & Noble): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/becoming-the-rocket-shaman-simon-luthi/1148299305 /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/39201895

How Astrology Helps Us Heal with Carmen Turner Schott 11/24/2025

How Astrology Helps Us Heal with Carmen Turner Schott What if the moment that changes your entire life arrives as a glowing ball of light in your bedroom doorway when you are only sixteen years old? In this deeply reflective episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Carmen Turner-Schott, MSW, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker, Christian astrologer, teacher, and bestselling author who has spent nearly three decades helping trauma survivors find meaning, resilience, and healing. Carmen’s story begins in the Ozarks of Missouri, where she grew up feeling different from everyone around her. As a child she sensed things she couldn’t explain, dreamt vividly, and carried emotions that didn’t belong only to her. But everything shifted the summer before her senior year when she witnessed a glowing yellow orb of light in her bedroom doorway. Frozen in fear, unable to speak, she watched it move through her home as her mother tried to rationalize what neither of them could truly name. That moment became the spiritual turning point of Carmen’s life. In the years that followed, Carmen experienced profound loss and intuitive awakenings that led her toward psychology, trauma work, and eventually the study of astrology as a tool for self-understanding. She began reading charts by hand, long before computers, discovering that each chart reflects a person’s emotional makeup, strengths, wounds, and the energy they carry through the world. Today, Carmen is a professor of social work and a sought-after astrologer whose work bridges spirituality, psychology, and healing. In this conversation, she shares: • 🌟 How growing up empathic shaped her sense of identity and belonging • 🕯️ The night she encountered the glowing orb that opened her spiritual path • 🔮 Why astrology is less about prediction and more about understanding your inner landscape • 💫 The difference between your sun, moon, and rising signs, and why the moon sign reveals your emotional truth • 🧡 How each astrological sign heals differently, and what that means for self-care • 🌙 Why trauma shows up in specific parts of the birth chart, and how that knowledge helps survivors rebuild • 🌏 How ancient symbolism, psychology, and spirituality all converge through astrology Carmen also talks about her newest book, Your Astrological Energy, and how understanding your chart can help you cultivate compassion for yourself, deepen your relationships, and navigate your life with clarity and confidence. A warm, illuminating exploration of intuition, identity, healing, and the mysterious ways we are guided toward who we are meant to become. Follow Carmen Turner-Schott Website: https://www.carmenturnerschott.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmenturnershottauthor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deepsouldiversastrologywithcarmen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carmenturnershott 🎧 Listen to more episodes of Broken Beautiful Me for stories of hope, resilience, and healing. /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/39103785

She Discovered the Truth 35 Years Later: Lisa Sugarman on Grief, Healing, and Hope 11/17/2025

She Discovered the Truth 35 Years Later: Lisa Sugarman on Grief, Healing, and Hope What if the truth you discover decades later changes everything you thought you knew about your life, your loss, and your identity? In this moving episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Lisa Sugarman, an author, crisis counselor, and three-time survivor of suicide loss who has transformed profound grief into purpose, community, and healing. Lisa’s story begins in childhood with the loss of her cousin at nine years old and the sudden death of her father just a year later. For 35 years she believed he died of a heart attack. In her mid forties, she learned the truth that he died by suicide, forcing her to grieve him all over again and reshaping her understanding of her past, her pain, and herself. Today, Lisa is a passionate mental health advocate, a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project, a storyteller with NAMI, and the founder of The HelpHUB, one of the most comprehensive free mental health resource platforms available. She also facilitates Safe Place, a virtual support group for suicide loss survivors, and cohosts The Survivors Podcast. In this conversation, Lisa shares: • 💔 What it is like to lose a parent twice, and how hidden truths create both wound and wisdom • 🌙 The three years she quietly cried herself to sleep while holding her life together on the outside • 🧭 How a single podcast appearance became the catalyst that changed the direction of her life • 🤝 The power of sharing our stories to break stigma, build connection, and create community • 🪢 Why grief never ends, and how it becomes the tether that keeps us connected to those we love • 🧩 How The HelpHUB is helping people find crisis support, tools, and treatment when they need it most A tender and courageous exploration of grief, truth, connection, and the healing that begins when we finally speak the stories we’ve held inside. 📘 Lisa is the author of Surviving: Finding Hope After Suicide Loss (2026), How to Raise Perfectly Imperfect Kids and Be OK With It, Untying Parent Anxiety, and LIFE: It Is What It Is. Follow Lisa Sugarman: Website: https://www.thehelphub.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisa_sugarman The Survivors Podcast: https://www.thehelphub.co/podcast The HelpHUB: https://www.thehelphub.co 🎧 Listen to more episodes of Broken Beautiful Me for stories of hope, resilience, and healing. /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/39038800

Addiction, Resilience and the Human Spirit | Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor 11/10/2025

How Sick Children Healed a Doctor’s Soul With Dr. Robert Macauley 11/03/2025

How Sick Children Healed a Doctor’s Soul With Dr. Robert Macauley In this profound episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Dr. Robert Macauley — one of only a few hundred physicians in the United States to specialize in pediatric palliative care. Robert’s memoir, Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul, is the first book to share the stories of children receiving palliative care — showing that this field is far more about how you live than how you die. Through the courage of these children and their parents, Robert found healing for deep wounds from his own past — and a new understanding of love, faith, and grace in the face of suffering. As both a physician and an Episcopal priest, Robert explores how a loving God could allow children to suffer — and what these young lives teach us about compassion, connection, and what truly matters. Together, Kelly and Robert talk about: • 🩵 The powerful lessons sick children taught him about living fully • 💭 The spiritual questions that shaped his journey as both doctor and priest • 🕊 How grief, faith, and storytelling intertwine to heal the soul • ❤️ Why remembering is one of the most sacred acts of love • 📖 The message behind his memoir: that meaning can be found even in loss If you’ve ever wrestled with grief, faith, or finding hope in hardship, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. ⸻ 📘 Order Dr. Robert Macauley’s Book: ➡️ Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul (Also available through local bookstores, Amazon, and Powell’s) 🌐 Connect with Dr. Robert Macauley: Website: https://becauseiknewyou.com Instagram: @DrBobMacauley Facebook: DrBobMacauley ⸻ ✨ Subscribe to Broken Beautiful Me for more soul-deep conversations about resilience, faith, and the beauty found in our most broken moments. /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/38894700

Escaping the Iron Curtain: Christine Sadry’s Journey to Freedom & Inner Peace 10/27/2025

How a Midlife Promise Sparked a New Chapter | Margie Zable Fisher (The Cabernet Club) 10/20/2025

How a Midlife Promise Sparked a New Chapter | Margie Zable Fisher (The Cabernet Club) What happens when a woman in her late forties makes a promise to her dying mother… and ends up changing the entire trajectory of her life? This week on Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Margie Zable Fisher — co-author (along with her late mother) of The Cabernet Club, published on January 31, 2025. Margie’s story is one of reinvention, resilience, and love. Before becoming a full-time writer after 50, she ran a successful P.R. agency for 20 years, with her work appearing in The New York Times, AARP, Fortune, Next Avenue, and more. She’s a wife, mother, Cabernet lover, spelling-bee enthusiast, and first-time triathlete after 50 — proving it’s never too late to rewrite your story. In this deeply moving conversation, Margie opens up about: 🌿 Turning fear into fuel — how she transformed the prospect of turning 50 into a year-long “Margie Project” of trying new things, from motorcycle riding to zip-lining. 🏃 How one 5K race led to triathlons and a completely new relationship with herself. 💔 Fulfilling a promise — finishing and publishing the manuscript her mother spent 20 years writing, just as she had vowed before her mom passed away. ✍️ Teaching herself fiction writing from scratch, while navigating raw grief. 🧠 How grief became a gift, shaping a legacy and unlocking unexpected creativity. 📚 The journey of bringing The Cabernet Club to publication and what came next. Margie’s story is proof that midlife is not the end of the book — it’s the start of a whole new chapter. 🎧 Listen now to hear a story about love, loss, courage, and the powerful ripple effects of keeping a promise. 🔗 Connect with Margie 👉 Website & Bonus Chapter: 👉 The Cabernet Club — available now wherever books are sold. 🎥 Watch the video version here: /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/38608735

From Denial to Awakening | Greg Vorst & Michael Nolan on Rethinking Recovery 10/13/2025

From Denial to Awakening | Greg Vorst & Michael Nolan on Rethinking Recovery What if addiction isn’t something to fix… but a portal to awakening? This week on Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly Buckley sits down with Greg Vorst and Michael Nolan — co-founders of Embodied Recovery, a pioneering treatment centre in Silicon Valley helping people transform addiction and mental health struggles into soul growth and empowered living. Greg and Michael are doing recovery differently. Their Empowered Living Teachings weave together psychology, ancient wisdom, and embodied practices. Drawing from therapy, 12-Step recovery, and Sundo — Korean Taoist breathwork, they guide clients back to their inner wisdom, creating spaces where spiritual transformation and nervous system regulation go hand in hand. Their personal stories are raw, honest, and deeply human. Both men walked their own recovery paths — spanning spiritual communities, 12-Step rooms, and years of personal work — before creating a treatment model rooted in integrity, embodiment, and community. In this powerful conversation, they open up about: • 🌿 Reframing addiction from a “problem to fix” to a spiritual doorway to awakening • 💨 How bottom-up healing and daily breathwork unlock transformation where talk therapy alone can’t • 🧱 Working with denial and resistance through love, trust, and gentle truth-telling • 🎶 Rediscovering the “Melody of Love” — and how to return to it when life pulls you away • 🤝 Why every team member at Embodied Recovery works their own recovery program — and why it matters for clients • 🌀 How their new nonprofit Melos will offer graduates a community of spiritual practice, sober dance, and breathwork long after treatment ends This is an episode about coming home to yourself, breaking through the noise, and remembering that the gold has always been inside you. ✨ ⸻ 📌 Links & Resources • 🌐 Kelly’s Website: https://www.kellybuckley.com • 📚 Kelly’s Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com (search “Kelly Buckley”) • 🧠 Embodied Recovery: https://www.embodiedrecovery.org • 🎶 Melos Nonprofit: https://www.melosrecovery.org (opening planned for 2026) ⸻ 🎧 If Greg and Michael’s story resonates with you, share this episode with someone who’s ready to stop fixing… and start awakening. /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/38550260

Finding the Courage to Be Seen | Angie Hawkins 10/06/2025

Healing Childhood Trauma with Psychedelics & Courage | Katie Baker 09/29/2025

Healing Childhood Trauma with Psychedelics & Courage | Katie Baker Hey Friends, welcome back to Broken Beautiful Me 💜 This week’s conversation is raw, brave, and soul-shifting. I sit down with Katie Baker—writer, advocate, and childhood abuse survivor—who has transformed her pain into profound purpose. 👉 From years of battling addiction, shame, and silence… 👉 To sitting in sacred ayahuasca ceremonies around the world… 👉 To writing her memoir When the Universe Holds Your Hair Back… Katie shares how she reclaimed her voice, her body, and her spirit. Her story is not just about surviving trauma—it’s about reclaiming agency, finding community, and daring to live fully. ⸻ 🔖 Episode Chapters 00:00 – Katie’s son says “Mom, it’s your turn to heal” 02:00 – Facing childhood trauma & breaking silence 09:00 – First experiences with psychedelics & ayahuasca 16:00 – Inside a sacred ceremony: intention, process & release 25:00 – Turning pain into advocacy and writing her memoir 32:00 – Healing family relationships across generations 46:00 – What society misunderstands about survivors 54:00 – Learning self-care and finding balance 01:01:00 – Katie’s legacy of hope for future survivors ⸻ In this episode, we talk about: • 🌱 The turning point when her son said: “Mom, it’s your turn to heal.” • 🍃 How therapeutic psychedelics opened a path to transformation. • 💔 What society still misunderstands about abuse and survivors. • 💡 Why telling our stories breaks cycles of shame and secrecy. • 🌍 How Katie is now helping others heal through writing, advocacy, and spiritual practice. Katie’s honesty reminds us: every scar tells a story—and every story has the power to heal. 📖 Connect with Katie Baker Website: peaceandfirehealing.com Book: When the Universe Holds Your Hair Back (available on Amazon, Audible, Spotify) 💜 If this episode moved you, please subscribe, review, and share with someone who needs to hear that healing is possible. Together, we shine brighter. /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/38371515

Caring for a Loved One with Dementia | Dr. Beverly Thorn’s Guide to Resilience & Healing 09/22/2025

Caring for a Loved One with Dementia | Dr. Beverly Thorn’s Guide to Resilience & Healing 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 This episode dives into: • The hidden emotional toll of dementia caregiving and why so many feel alone. • Why caregivers must care for themselves — not just for their loved ones, but because they matter too. • Practical tools like journaling, meditation, and support groups to reduce stress. • Why it’s vital to plan for end-of-life care and set clear boundaries as a caregiver. • The surprising role of music, movement, and memory in dementia care. ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Dementia caregiving: the hidden struggle 02:30 – Dr. Beverly Thorn’s journey from psychologist to caregiver 05:00 – Writing Before I Lose My Own Mind 10:00 – Loneliness, stigma & the emotional cost of dementia 20:00 – Why caregivers neglect their own health 28:00 – Planning for end-of-life & honoring wishes 37:00 – Journaling, meditation & coping with grief 43:00 – Support systems, respite care & “the club” 50:00 – Research, resilience & final advice for caregivers 55:00 – How to connect with Dr. Thorn ⸻ 🔗 Links & Resources • 🌐 Dr. Beverly Thorn’s website: www.drbeverlythorn.com • 📖 Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver – Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Ask your local bookstore • 🎧 Free relaxation & meditation audio guides: www.drbeverlythorn.com • 📚 Alzheimer’s Association statistics & caregiver resources: www.alz.org • 🌐 Host’s website: www.kellybuckley.com ⸻ 📌 Key Topics • Dementia caregiving myths & truths • Why caregivers often neglect their own health • Coping with grief before, during & after loss • Building a reliable care team • Finding resilience in brokenness /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/38287360

From Prison to Purpose: The Ranae Van Roekel Story | Broken Beautiful Me Podcast 09/15/2025

From Chaos to Clarity: Overcoming Addiction and Finding Purpose with John Beyer 09/08/2025

From Chaos to Clarity: Overcoming Addiction and Finding Purpose with John Beyer 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 diagnosis head-on and became a passionate advocate • Helped found & support autism organisations: David Center, Autism Speaks (Long Island Chapter), Spectrum Designs, The Nicholas Center • Writes and records music — leaving a legacy for his children & grandchildren This powerful conversation will inspire you to see that even through brokenness, healing is possible. 👉 If you’ve faced addiction, family struggles, or unexpected challenges, John’s story will remind you: you can live a little better. ⸻ Resources & Links Mentioned (Verified): 📘 Live a Little Better (memoir by John Beyer) → Simon & Schuster | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 🚚 Men on the Move → menonthemove.com 👕 Spectrum Designs (employing adults with autism) → spectrumdesigns.org 🤝 The Nicholas Center → tncnewyork.org 🎵 John Beyer Music → johnbyermusic.com ⸻ Connect with Kelly Buckley: 🌐 kellybuckley.com 🎙️ Podcast: Broken Beautiful Me (available everywhere) ⸻ Timestamps: 00:00 – Kelly’s welcome & introduction 00:28 – John Beyer’s early life & memoir background 07:36 – First AA meeting & beginning of sobriety 10:56 – Daughter’s push to write his book 17:42 – Gregory’s autism diagnosis & resilience 27:02 – Advocacy, Men on the Move & Spectrum Designs 35:15 – Music, family legacy & songwriting 45:11 – Closing & where to find John’s work /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/38067525

Messages From Beyond: Suzanne Giesemann on Life After Death | Broken Beautiful Me Podcast 09/01/2025

How Writing Can Heal Grief | John DeDakis on Loss, Resilience & Hope 08/25/2025

From Foster Care to Freedom: Malisa Hepner on Shame, Survival & Self-Love 08/18/2025

Healing Grief, Trauma & Relationships with a Holistic Approach - Alyssa Scarano 06/23/2025

Healing Grief, Trauma & Relationships with a Holistic Approach - Alyssa Scarano 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, and authentic connection. From supporting bereaved parents and guiding clients through anxiety attacks, to trauma-informed parenting and the value of presence, Alyssa provides insights and strategies that resonate with anyone navigating loss or emotional pain. In This Episode, We Cover: • The vision behind Collective Therapy and Wellness • How holistic therapy integrates mind, body, and spirit • Breaking generational patterns through self-awareness • Creating emotional safety in virtual therapy spaces • Supporting bereaved parents and children through trauma • How grief manifests emotionally and physically • The role of anxiety, control, and vulnerability in trauma recovery • Practical grounding tools for anxiety and grief attacks • Why gratitude can be a lifeline in grief • Navigating parenthood when you’re grieving • The power of saying “I don’t have it all figured out” as a parent • The future of therapy and the importance of relational healing • Why “You Matter”—a message everyone needs to hear 🌟 Powerful Quotes “Our emotions work like hunger—they are cues. And when we treat them with judgment, we invalidate their message.” – Alyssa Scarano “Gratitude doesn’t erase grief. But it can anchor us to the present moment.” – Kelly Buckley “You matter. Your feelings are valid. You don’t have to have it all figured out.” – Alyssa Scarano 🔗 Connect with Alyssa Scarano & Collective Therapy 🌐 Website: www.collective-therapy.com 📸 Instagram: @livecollectivewellness 🗺️ Serving clients in: Florida, New Jersey, New York, Missouri, and Texas 📅 Offers: Therapy, coaching, group sessions, workshops & affordable community options 🙏 About Broken Beautiful Me Broken Beautiful Me shares powerful stories of hope, resilience, and healing. Hosted by Kelly Buckley, each episode explores how people rise through life’s hardest moments and find meaning in their brokenness. Subscribe for more conversations that matter. 💛 /episode/index/show/28df3ed0-f3d9-4668-9ac9-c3025161e8a4/id/37084735

Broken Beautiful Me - Stories of Hope, Gratitude & Resilience

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