Ep. 84: Chasing Tigers in the Dark - from buried nightmares to fierce survival with author Ally Shaw

In this episode, I sit down with Ally Shaw, author of Chasing Tigers in the Dark: Life Lessons of a Fierce Survivor, to talk about how she transformed profound trauma, loss, and illness into fierce empowerment and purpose. From abuse and cancer to reinvention and healing, Ally shares the tools, mindsets, and moments that helped her step out of survival mode and into a life guided by joy, faith, and authenticity.Buy Ally's book Visit her websiteFollow Ally on InstagramWe explore how adversity can become a catalyst for growth, why connecting with joy and adventure is essential even in your darkest seasons, and how the Japanese Kintsugi philosophy reshaped her view of being “broken.” Ally also offers practical strategies for healing - from EMDR and her TIGER acronym to learning to trust intuition, invest in yourself, and follow the clues of procrastination and flow states to uncover your true passions.This conversation is for anyone navigating grief, trauma, or major life detours, and looking for a hopeful, honest roadmap to reinvention and self‑acceptance.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction to the episode and Ally Shaw’s background02:16 – Connecting with joy and adventure during adversity04:35 – How obstacles can catalyze professional and personal happiness06:29 – Childhood messages about emotional suppression and how they linger08:22 – When life doesn’t follow “the plan” after tragedy10:05 – Reframing “being broken” through the Kintsugi philosophy12:24 – Surviving cancer and life’s “triple curveballs”14:00 – How adversity can reveal purpose and fuel growth16:45 – The TIGER acronym for healing and the final chapters of her memoir18:34 – Navigating sexual assault, shame, and healing through EMDR21:26 – Rewriting negative beliefs and finding trusted practitioners23:30 – Trust, investing in yourself, and character growth in healing26:01 – The kindness initiative and reducing gossip through authenticity26:54 – Reinvention, trusting the process, and embracing life’s surprises30:36 – Reinventing yourself after personal and professional upheavals35:05 – Saying “yes” to divine opportunities and trusting the process37:12 – Discovering passion through flow states and early signs of interest40:22 – Procrastination as an indicator of buried passion44:45 – Creating for fulfillment and loving the process, not the outcome47:09 – Facing fears, authenticity, and the power of vulnerable storytelling50:23 – Supporting loved ones and the strength of community support52:59 – Letting go of others’ opinions, embracing authenticity, and living freely55:19 – Practical advice for beginning to write and share your story58:12 – The symbolic strength behind the title Chasing Tigers in the Dark59:02 – Final words on hope, community, and continuous movement forward*This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea.* Visit LiveDivini and use discount code *Breanne10* at checkout for a discount!Follow Adventures in Adversity on Instagram & Facebook#AllyShaw #Survivor #Healing