PODCAST · education
Unwritten with Steph
by Stephanie Shanks
Life doesn’t always go as planned — but it’s never too late to begin again. Unwritten with Steph is a podcast about reinvention, resilience, and the beauty of starting over. Each week, host Stephanie Shanks sits down for honest, heart-centered conversations with people who have faced life’s unexpected turns — and found their way back to themselves. Through stories of transformation, courage, and self-discovery, Unwritten reminds us that our past doesn’t define us — it refines us. Whether you’re navigating midlife changes, rediscovering your purpose, or healing from the past, these raw and inspiring conversations will help you reconnect with your truth and remember: it’s never too late to rewrite your story. Keywords: personal growth, transformation, reinvention, authenticity, self-discovery, healing, midlife awakening, empowerment, resilience, self-worth, courage, starting over
Episodes
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The Tower I Built (And Why I'm Leaving It)
Send us Fan Mail After four years of living alone — building a life, a business, and a version of herself that finally felt safe — Steph is signing away her lease and moving in with her boyfriend. In this episode, she gets honest about what dating after 40 actually feels like: the judgment single...
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The Glass Ceiling We Build Ourselves with Shannon Hill
Send us Fan Mail Why isn't being good at what you do enough? In this episode of Unwritten, Stephanie sits down with returning guest Shannon Hill to unpack the glass ceiling — both the one the world puts over women in business and the one we quietly build for ourselves. The conversation starts…
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My Future Isn't Built on How Much I Give
Send us Fan Mail Recorded on the other side of a burnout, this episode is about what happens when overgiving finally runs you out of fuel. Stephanie traces the pattern back — the women she watched give until they were empty, the belief that exhaustion means you did a good day's work, the men who...
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Worthiness: Two Artists on Healing, Sobriety & Love
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Unwritten, Stephanie sits down with artist — and her partner — Oliver Kalkofen for an honest conversation about what it really takes to make a life out of art. They talk about growing up being told creativity would never pay, the trap of tying your self-worth…
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Trust the Process (And the Yellow Dress)
Send us Fan Mail Steph sits down with marketing pro and longtime friend Shannon Hill for a conversation that starts with a five-years-overdue headshot session and spirals into everything that actually makes a portrait work: light, timing, color, and the willingness to trust the person behind the...
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Sales, Self Worth, and Raising Your Rates with Anna Hockett
Send us Fan Mail What if sales was never about selling — and always about knowing yourself first? Anna Hockett went from a broadcast journalism degree to turning down an anchor job, to closing million-dollar software deals, to Director of Sales & Account Services at Nei-Turner Media Group — home…
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What If It All Works Out? Breaking the Fear Cycle & Choosing Love
Send us Fan Mail What if instead of bracing for everything to fall apart, you got obsessed with it all working out? Recorded fresh off a camping trip in the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior, this Soulful Sunday is about the fear loop so many of us live in by the time we hit our forties — and the...
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Am I Worth It? The Story Behind Becoming A Photographer
Send us Fan Mail How I became a photographer — and the question that started it all: am I worth it? In this episode of Unwritten, I share my honest origin story: buying my first camera while pregnant, building a photography business through divorce and single motherhood, learning marketing and…
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In the Arena with Lacey Steffes
Send us Fan Mail "It wasn't a failure. It was an experience." This week on Unwritten I'm sitting down with Lacey Steffes — a self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur who's built Spa Serenity, Pause Facial Bar, Gateway Powersports, and a dirt drag series that grew from 800 people to 8,000 in about two...
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Believe It Before You See It
Send us Fan Mail Some of the hardest seasons of our lives are the ones that force us to root the fastest. This week on Soulful Sunday, Steph talks about the plant that grows out of solid rock — and why your toughest circumstances might be building your resilience, not breaking you. She unpacks…
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Don't Forget To Fill Your Cup
Send us Fan Mail Happy July 3rd. This morning I sat with the birds and my journal and remembered something I'd forgotten: the importance of filling my own cup first. This episode is a real one. I get into the reality we see versus the reality we feel, and why so many of us are running a program…
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The Business Stuff Nobody Warns You About With Shannon Hill
Send us Fan Mail The minute you register that LLC, the wolves come for the fresh meat. In this episode, Steph sits down with her bestie Shannon Hill — calling in from her morning commute — to talk about all the stuff nobody warns you about when you start a business. They get into which tools are...
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Worthy of More
Send us Fan Mail I'm sharing the real, unscripted stories behind my own healing journey — leaving a marriage, a life, and a version of myself that no longer fit, one honest conversation at a time. No script, no perfect answers, just what it actually looks like to decide I deserve more. Here is…
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Be Selfish: Old Programming and the Permission to Receive
Send us Fan Mail A Sunday morning soul session — just me this time. No guest, no agenda. It starts with a $13 dog toy and a money spiral, and opens into something deeper: what happens when I let my higher self take the wheel. Through two meditations, I trace a money block back to the 16-year-old...
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My Transformation Story
Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://www.stephshanks.com https://www.instagram.com/unwrittenwithsteph https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephshanks/ https://www.youtube.com/@stephshanks https://www.tiktok.com/@stephshanks?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc...
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Finding Your Best Self with Dr. Harmony Ryan
Send us Fan Mail Dr. Harmony Ryan is a board-certified family medicine and obesity medicine physician, and owner of Harmony Medical Aesthetics in Verona, WI. After over a decade in corporate healthcare, she made the leap to build something on her own terms — a welcoming, non-intimidating space...
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Raise Your Frequency with Dennim Daniels
Send us Fan Mail Raise Your Frequency with Dennim Daniels What if the anxiety you can't shake, the tension you carry in your shoulders, or the physical symptoms your doctor can't explain are actually stored emotions living in your body? In this episode, I sit down with Dennim Daniels, founder of...
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Own Your Wellness with Dr. Tes Jordens
Send us Fan Mail Dr. Tes Jordens didn't leave traditional medicine to do less — she left to finally do it right. In this conversation with Stephanie, she breaks down everything midlife women deserve to know about their bodies, their hormones, and their power to choose. Warm, real, and zero...
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Your Body Isn't The Enemy with Dr. Angela Hanley
Send us Fan Mail Dr. Angela Hanley has been a chiropractor in Baraboo for 26 years, and she's seen the same pattern over and over: women walking into her office convinced their bodies have betrayed them. In this conversation, we talk about why your nervous system is running the show, what happens...
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"What if Nobody Books?" with Laura Hulleman
Send us Fan Mail When was the last time you sent out a price and felt sick to your stomach? In this episode, I sit down with business coach Laura Hulleman to talk about the one thing that stops most of us from building sustainable businesses: charging what we're actually worth. Laura helped me…
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Getting Curious About Your Inner World with Tina Hallis
Send us Fan Mail What if instead of fighting your anxiety, perfectionism, or that voice that says you're not good enough, you could actually befriend them? Tina Hallis introduces us to Internal Family Systems—a framework that says all those "difficult" parts of you are actually just trying to…
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What’s Really Happening with Dr. Tesa Jordens
Send us Fan Mail What's Really Happening with Dr. Tesa Jordens You've been told you're fine. Your labs came back normal. But you're not sleeping. Your anxiety is through the roof. Your body doesn't feel like yours anymore. And no one is listening. Dr. Tesa Jordens knows why: menopause wasn't…
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Building a Brand That Women Trust with Dena Frisch
Send us Fan Mail Dena Frisch has watched countless businesses rise and fall over her 20-year career in media. The ones that survive? They build trust, stay consistent, and show up for their audience — even when the platforms keep changing. In this episode, Dena shares what separates brands that...
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Beyond the Bedroom: Honest Conversations About Sex and Partnership with Christie Bemis
Send us Fan Mail In this deeply honest conversation, Steph sits down with Christie Bemis—psychotherapist, somatic sex educator, and relationship coach—to explore one of the most taboo topics in the Midwest: sex and eroticism. Christie shares her personal journey from feeling "broken" during...
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From Colonoscopies to Christmas Cards with Betsy Bowers Hansen
Send us Fan Mail Betsy returns for her second episode to talk about what really happens when you turn 45—starting with that surprise box in the mail and her eye-opening colonoscopy experience (spoiler: "virtual" doesn't mean what you think it means). But this conversation goes so much deeper. We...
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Dineo Dowd on Women's Empowerment, Hiking, and Living Authentically
Send us Fan Mail What happens when women stop waiting for permission and just get outside? In this episode, I sit down with Dineo Dowd—hiker, author, and women's empowerment guide—to talk about finding freedom on the trail, building sisterhood in nature, and why showing up for yourself doesn't…
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Makeup, Manifestation, and Owning Your Confidence at Any Age
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Francesca, a New York-trained makeup artist with 35+ years of experience and a gift for helping women feel beautiful in the skin they’re in. Together they explore the truth about beauty as an inside-out energy, why confidence shifts as we...
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Taking Life by the Horns with Courtney Feigl of Green Pastures Cattle Co
Send us Fan Mail Courtney Feigl lives between Plain and Sauk City, raises Texas Longhorns, and has built Green Pastures Cattle Co. into a 76K-follower community—all while battling the voice in her head that says she's not good enough. In this raw conversation, Stephanie and Courtney talk about...
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Finding Your Holiday Happy With Lacey Steffes
Send us Fan Mail What if the holidays didn't have to be something you just survive? In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Lacey Steffes, owner of Spa Serenity in downtown Baraboo, to talk about creating a holiday season that actually brings you joy. They dive into the real struggles of the...
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The Things We Don't Talk About with Jessica Summers
Send us Fan Mail In this deeply honest episode of Unwritten, I sit down with my friend Jessica Summers — an author, speaker, and coach who has turned her own pain into purpose. We talk about the things most people avoid: shame, silence, trauma, and the stories we were told to hide. Jessica opens…
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How to Bloom After Corporate: Branding, Identity & Choosing Yourself with Shauna Thayer
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by marketing & branding expert Shauna Thayer, founder of Bloom Creative, for a conversation about what it really means to rebuild your life from the inside out. Shauna spent years in corporate marketing—successful on paper, but craving more time, more...
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The Journey of Angels of Dirt: Storytelling, Spirit & the Power of Film
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Unwritten with Steph, I sit down with filmmaker Wendy Schneider to explore the nearly two-decade journey of creating the documentary Angels of Dirt. The film tells the story of Charlotte Cain and the powerful world of female motorcycle racing — a story of...
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A Life Of Creative Expression with Marjorie Cutting
Send us Fan Mail From sewing costumes during the London Blitz to painting watercolors in Baraboo, Marjorie Cutting’s life is a living tapestry of creativity, courage, and reinvention. Born in England in 1933, Marjorie began her journey in the arts during WWII. She went on to design costumes for...
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Holding the Frequency of Love with Marielle School
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another episode of Unwritten with Steph Shanks Today's Guest is Marielle School, you can find out more about her here: https://www.marielleschoolyoga.com/ After a divine encounter in a hospital room, Mariela’s life took a dramatic turn. But awakening wasn’t instant—it...
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Permission to pivot: Krystle Frey’s Journey of Pivots, Podcasting & Purpose
Send us Fan Mail Krystle Frey didn’t just start a podcast—she built a business. In this episode, we talk about valuing your work, knowing your worth, and how one “yes” can change everything. Whether you're launching a podcast or navigating a new season of life, you’ll walk away inspired and...
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Peaceful Choices, Powerful Outcomes: A Conversation on Divorce, Legacy, and Self-Worth with Shaunis Mercer
Send us Fan Mail What if the scariest transitions in life—divorce, death, or starting over—could be handled with peace, clarity, and even empowerment? In this episode of Unwritten, I sit down with family law and estate planning attorney Shaunis Mercer, co-founder of Peaceful Law, to explore how...
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Lessons in Partnership & Pleasure with Christie Bemis
Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Lessons in Partnership & Pleasure with Christie Bemis What does it mean to be truly seen and met in love—especially after 40? In this candid conversation, psychotherapist and women’s empowerment leader Christie Bemis shares her journey through divorce, dating in midlife, and...
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Digging into Baraboo: Archaeology, Community & Nature with Seth Taft
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Seth Taft—professional archaeologist and director of Downtown Baraboo—for a deep dive into local history, mental health, the power of small towns, and living life with purpose. From sacred effigy mounds to the magic of Main Street, Seth shares his...
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Building A Purpose Driven Business with Andrea Andree
Send us Fan Mail Andrea Andrea went from an overwhelmed corporate achiever to an intuitive leadership coach — and in this conversation, we unpack how. Tune in for real talk about entrepreneurship after 30, healing through breathwork, embodying your inner guidance, and finally charging your worth...
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You Are Here: Practicing Gratitude, Growth, and Finding Your Place with Nancy Kalsow
Send us Fan Mail “You are here” isn’t just a map marker—it’s a mindset. Nancy shares how journaling, retreat hosting, and learning to speak up helped her go from invisible in the workplace to designing a legacy rooted in alignment. We talk fear, leadership, writing books, and why it’s never too...
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Permission to Sing: Shawndell’s Story
Send us Fan Mail From gigging musician to psychology grad and beloved teacher, Shawndell Marks shows us what it looks like to honor your creative calling—no matter where you are in life. This conversation is all about giving yourself permission to be heard. www.shawndellmarksmusic.com takeaways...
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You Are Loved, You Matter, You Belong
Send us Fan Mail Kelly Kendall joins me for a heartfelt conversation about identity, healing, and the magic of capturing someone’s soul through photography. We go deep into worthiness, self-acceptance, and what it means to truly be present in your life—on and off camera. You can follow Kelly and...
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Beyond the Ballot with Brett Topham
Send us Fan Mail Brett Topham believes local government can be where big problems get solved. We dive into his unconventional path—from hospitality to finance to politics—and explore his ideas for smart fiscal planning, public-private partnerships, and why a hundred-year-old pool might just hold...
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Trusting the Whisper: Amber Swenor’s Journey from Strategy to Soul
Send us Fan Mail Amber Swenor trusted the quiet inner whisper—and it changed everything. In this episode, we talk about making bold moves, releasing external expectations, and building a life that feels as good as it looks. Tune in for a heart-centered convo on business, bravery, and what it…
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From Skating to Painting with Kyle Martin
Send us Fan Mail Kyle Martin started out in the skateboarding world, running a skate shop and park in Reedsburg, WI. But when a devastating flood washed it all away, he picked up a paintbrush—and never looked back. Nearly two decades later, Kyle has become a staple artist in Wisconsin, capturing...
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From Teaching to Travel: Shelley Mordini’s Journey to a Life of Purpose
Send us Fan Mail What happens when you step away from the career you’ve built for decades? Shelley Mordini shares her incredible transformation—from high school teacher to intuitive medium, travel expert, and guide for those seeking deeper meaning in their lives. https://www.barabootours.com/...
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Ditching the Rulebook: How Susie Moon Made Authenticity Her Super Power
Send us Fan Mail Susie Moon never saw herself as a leader—until she became one. In this conversation, we unpack how she turned a love of connection into a thriving business, the lessons she learned from corporate life, and why being true to yourself is the best marketing strategy. Plus, she…
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The Art of Savoring Life: A Conversation with Andrea Auten
Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to truly savor life, even in the face of uncertainty and grief? My guest, Andrea Auten, is a writer, teacher, and widow who has learned to navigate life’s biggest transitions with grace and courage. We discuss everything from honoring the past to stepping into…
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The Rhythm of Healing: Dance, Love, and Finding Joy After Loss
Send us Fan Mail What if the way we move through life is just like a dance? In this episode, Amy Torseth-Teelan reflects on her journey of teaching dance, nurturing relationships, and finding meaning after loss. We dive deep into the give and take of relationships, the beauty of resilience, and…
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Business, Bravery & Breaking the mold with Laura Hulleman
Send us Fan Mail Bravery, Business & Breaking the Mold with Laura Hulleman What if your business was designed to love you back? 💡 In this episode, I sit down with Laura Hulleman, creator of the Endotype Formula and host of the Raving Coaches podcast. After spending four transformative months...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Life doesn’t always go as planned — but it’s never too late to begin again.
Unwritten with Steph is a podcast about reinvention, resilience, and the beauty of starting over. Each week, host Stephanie Shanks sits down for honest, heart-centered conversations with people who have faced life’s unexpected turns — and found their way back to themselves.
Through stories of transformation, courage, and self-discovery, Unwritten reminds us that our past doesn’t define us — it refines us. Whether you’re navigating midlife changes, rediscovering your purpose, or healing from the past, these raw and inspiring conversations will help you reconnect with your truth and remember: it’s never too late to rewrite your story.
Keywords: personal growth, transformation, reinvention, authenticity, self-discovery, healing, midlife awakening, empowerment, resilience, self-worth, courage, starting over
HOSTED BY
Stephanie Shanks
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Unwritten with Steph have?
Unwritten with Steph currently has 80 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Unwritten with Steph about?
Life doesn’t always go as planned — but it’s never too late to begin again. Unwritten with Steph is a podcast about reinvention, resilience, and the beauty of starting over. Each week, host Stephanie Shanks sits down for honest, heart-centered conversations with people who have faced life’s...
How often does Unwritten with Steph release new episodes?
Unwritten with Steph has 80 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Unwritten with Steph?
You can listen to Unwritten with Steph on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Unwritten with Steph?
Unwritten with Steph is created and hosted by Stephanie Shanks.
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