Women Like Me Stories & Business

Send us Fan MailYour calendar can look “full” and still be empty of you.In this powerful conversation, Julie Fairhurst sits down with author and speaker Paula Mathias to unpack the quiet way women disappear inside lives that look fine from the outside. Together, they explore how women can come back to themselves through practical, repeatable choices — one pause, one boundary, one honest no at a time.Paula draws on her years as a technical recruiter in the tech industry, where she saw the same pattern again and again: women get hired, then struggle to stay when they do not feel heard, are interrupted, and carry extra emotional and invisible labor just to belong.Julie and Paula talk candidly about imposter syndrome, being the only woman in the room, workplace confidence, invisible labor, burnout, overgiving, and the lifelong conditioning that teaches girls to be quiet, helpful, agreeable, and easy to like — even when those habits quietly cost them their careers, their wellbeing, and their voice.Paula also shares her powerful Yes Test Method:Is it yours? Is it essential? Is it sustainable?From the “office mom” snack story to the pressure of being the default person at home, this episode gets real about how boundaries are actually built in everyday life. You’ll hear how to pause before the automatic yes, try a “no for now,” negotiate instead of overfunctioning, and remember that someone else’s emergency does not always have to become your priority.This conversation is for the woman who is tired, stuck, resentful, overbooked, overneeded, and quietly wondering where she went.It’s time to stop disappearing inside everyone else’s needs.Subscribe, share this with a woman who needs a stronger no, and leave a comment with the boundary you are practicing next.Paula Mathias, Author and Speakerhttps://paulamathias.com/Books: The YES Test: https://a.co/d/08mQsqJuSpeak Up: https://a.co/d/06iE4lWSIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailHave you ever wanted to write your life story but stopped because you thought, “What if I’m not interesting enough?” or “What if people judge me?” or “What if writing it brings all the pain back?”In this episode, Julie Fairhurst shares a steady, compassionate way for women to begin writing their personal stories without forcing themselves to relive every wound.You’ll learn why women’s stories matter, why visibility can feel so uncomfortable, and how to begin with one honest moment instead of trying to write your whole life at once. Julie also talks about the difference between writing from the wound and writing from the wisdom — because your story is not just about what happened to you. It is about what you learned, survived, carried, healed, and now have the courage to say.This episode is for the woman who knows there is something inside her worth writing, but she needs permission, structure, and a safe place to begin.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why so many women dismiss their own stories• How fear of judgment keeps women silent• Why your life does not have to be dramatic to be meaningful• How to start writing with one honest moment• How to turn memory into meaning• Why writing your story can become an act of courage, healing, and legacyYour story counts. Your voice matters. And somewhere, there may be a woman waiting for the words only you can write.What is one moment from your life you are ready to write first? Share it in the comments.Subscribe for more videos on writing, publishing, women’s stories, visibility, book marketing, and turning your lived experience into words that matter.Julie Fairhurst is a writing coach, publisher, business strategist, podcast host, and founder of Women Like Me. With 34 years in sales and marketing, Julie helps women authors and women in business write their stories, publish their books, clarify their message, and use their voices with courage, confidence, and heart. Through Women Like Me, Julie has supported women in sharing true-life stories, building visibility, and turning lived experience into legacy, healing, and meaningful impact.If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailLoneliness can be one of the strangest parts of motherhood. You can be doing school drop-offs, standing at the park, surrounded by people, and still feel like a real connection is missing.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Aaronna Martin, an HR professional, mom, blogger, truth teller, and founder of HR Next Door, for an honest conversation about motherhood, loneliness, burnout, identity, friendship, and what happens when women finally say the quiet things out loud.Aaronna shares the pressure many mothers feel to be the “perfect mom,” how burnout can show up at home after giving everything away all day, and why social media can make real life feel like it is falling short. She opens up about being “one and done,” how an emergency C-section and early motherhood shifted her sense of identity, and why she began writing at 3 a.m. just to get the feelings out.What began as private journaling became blogging — and when Aaronna shared her truth, other women reached back with the words so many of us are waiting to hear: “me too.”We also talk about motherhood and entrepreneurship, including Aaronna’s journey building her consulting firm, HR Next Door. She shares why starting a business can feel exciting and lonely at the same time, the humbling reality of building from scratch, and why finding your people through mom groups, coworking communities, networking circles, and women’s friendships matters more than we admit.If you are looking for honest motherhood conversations, postpartum loneliness support, women in business stories, mom burnout recovery, or a more human version of work-life balance, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for more real conversations with women who are telling the truth, building meaningful lives, and reminding others they are not alone.Here are a few ways to reach out to Aaroona:https://www.instagram.com/hr_next_door/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailStarting over at 40 is rarely a clean reset. Most of the time, it is a messy rebuild while life keeps moving.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with entrepreneur, author, and speaker Kira Hartley Klinger for a brutally honest conversation about rebuilding your life, your income, and your confidence without a perfect resume, a college degree, or a pile of startup money.Kira shares how she went from single-mom scramble mode to generating real income through auctions, eBay reselling, Etsy, vintage fabric, and relentless reinvesting. What began as survival turned into business, and what began as trial and error became proof that women can start again with grit, instinct, and one brave next step.We talk about impostor syndrome, confidence, debt-free living, reselling online, building an Etsy shop, free marketing, self-publishing, book marketing, and why Amazon will not sell your book unless you show up and do the work.Kira also shares what it was like to publish her first book at 55 after writing for decades, and why it is never too late to become the woman you were quietly becoming all along.This conversation is for women who are thinking about midlife entrepreneurship, starting a side hustle, selling on eBay, opening an Etsy shop, self-publishing a book, getting out of debt, or finally trusting themselves again.If you have ever felt stuck, underestimated, unqualified, or too late, this episode is your reminder: you are not too late. You are in the rebuild.Subscribe for more honest conversations with women entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, and everyday women turning their stories into strength.Where you can find Kira:https://a.co/d/0aVjfuVQhttps://www.instagram.com/dododdity?igsh=ejN5aG1lenk5YWtk&utm_source=qrhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kira-hartley-klinger-319a68a5?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_apphttps://www.facebook.com/share/1H9akapnTT/?mibextid=wwXIfrIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailYou can be the person who commands the boardroom and still feel like you are disappearing at home.In this powerful episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Christine Dillard, author of The Truth She Showed Me, for an honest conversation about surviving coercive control, gaslighting, emotional abuse, and the long journey back to yourself after a 17-year marriage that slowly stripped away her confidence, peace, and sense of reality.Christine shares what nonphysical abuse can look like behind closed doors: the angry outbursts that train you to overcompensate, the sudden “crises” that happen when you try to leave the house, the loss of alone time, and the quiet isolation that can leave a woman exhausted, confused, and questioning herself.We talk about the moment Christine realized what she was living through was not normal, and why leaving an abusive relationship is rarely as simple as walking away. Children, finances, health insurance, custody fears, housing, and safety can all make leaving a careful, complicated process. Christine also speaks to the shame many high-performing women carry in silence — looking strong, capable, and successful in public while privately falling apart.This conversation also explores the way the body often tells the truth before the mind is ready to say it out loud. Insomnia, tight shoulders, racing heart, high blood pressure, chronic stress, and emotional exhaustion can all become signals that something is deeply wrong.Christine offers compassion for women who are still asking, “Is it really that bad?” Her answer is steady and clear: if you are asking the question, there is a reason.This episode is for the woman who looks fine on the outside but knows something inside her is begging to be heard. It is also for the friend, sister, daughter, coworker, or loved one who may need help recognizing the signs.If this conversation brings someone to mind, please share it with them. And if it speaks to you, subscribe, leave a review, and pass Christine’s book along to the person who needs the words.Grab the book:  https://a.co/d/09hZgN94Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14iCRuWPw52/?mibextid=wwXIfrInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetruthsheshowedme?igsh=NHNkM3FvdHFudHl5&utm_source=qrTikTok:  http://www.tiktok.com/@thetruthsheshowedmeYouTube:  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfegJXZIx0hrrKg8dwu92A4GEE3beNqCD&si=3r4ifSfbRbD9JDobSpotify:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vIkMeX4ZO1SI34qsacluE?si=nINeGlg5Qg60uixjInRVRg&pi=jL2qLRERSvmmhIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailYou can have the MBA, the title, the polished life on paper, and still feel a hollow ache you cannot explain.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Shakti Sharma, founder of the Feminine Wealth Movement, to discuss feminine wealth, intuition, money mindset, and what happens when women entrepreneurs stop building success through pressure and start listening to their inner wisdom.Shakti shares the powerful moment that changed everything for her: a late-pregnancy breaking point that became a clear call to stop living by other people’s expectations and start trusting her intuition.We talk about what feminine wealth really means for mission-driven women, coaches, creatives, healers, authors, and entrepreneurs who are tired of hustle culture and ready to build success with more alignment, ease, and truth.Shakti also shares a memorable magnet-and-insulator analogy that will help you see sales in a completely different way. Not as rejection. Not as pressure. Not as proving your worth. But as truth, alignment, and energetic clarity.If you are a woman entrepreneur who feels tired of pushing, forcing, over-giving, or trying to succeed in ways that no longer fit your body, your values, or your soul, this conversation is your sacred pause.Listen in and be reminded: wealth is not just what you earn. It is how you live, lead, sell, receive, and trust yourself.If this episode speaks to you, please subscribe, share it with another woman who needs to hear it, and leave a review so more women can find these conversations.The Feminine Wealth Movementhttps://femininewealthmovement.comInvitation to your complimentary session🌟 Put together your expanded income plan by closing any opportunity gaps in your marketing and sales efforts.🌟 Clarify your energetic plan for tapping into wealth flow and manifesting your next level goals.https://femininewealthmovement.com/wealth-breakthroughIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailSeven marriages can sound like a headline, but Jo Ann Fawcett’s story is really about something quieter and harder: how easy it is to confuse loyalty with losing yourself.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Jo Ann Fawcett to talk about narcissistic abuse, codependency, toxic relationship patterns, and what it takes to reclaim yourself after years of self-abandonment.Jo Ann shares how the belief of “not enough” can begin early, how codependent patterns are often learned in families, and why repeating the same relationship dynamic can feel inevitable until you finally get the language to understand what is happening.She also shares the powerful moment in early 2020 when things began to shift, from a psychic development exercise about cutting energetic cords to noticing a therapist’s sign that read “narcissistic abuse.” That moment opened the door to a deeper understanding of the red flags she had missed or normalized for years.Julie and Jo Ann talk honestly about blame-shifting, gaslighting, financial drain, never being allowed to offer criticism, and the slow erosion of confidence that can happen inside toxic marriages. They also explore Jo Ann's memoir, The Prince Was Wrong, and the question at the heart of so many painful relationships: when does endurance become self-abandonment?This conversation is also about healing. Jo Ann explains how writing, journaling, and therapy helped her process the past, break generational patterns, and begin building a life that feels free. She also shares the spiritual side of her journey, including the unseen world, energetic healing, and the practices that help her feel grounded and connected again.If you have ever felt trapped, ashamed, confused, or afraid to name what was happening in a relationship, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone, you are not broken, and it is never too late to come back to yourself.Subscribe for more conversations about women’s stories, healing, writing, courage, reinvention, relationships, and reclaiming your voice.website: joannfawcett.comIG: jo.ann.fawcett.authorlinktr.ee/joannfawcettFB: https://www.facebook.com/jo.a.richards.5FB author page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550718740785LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-ann-fawcett-a7bIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailGetting fired can wreck your confidence, or it can clarify your priorities fast.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Jen Kornoely to discuss entrepreneurship, money mindset, pricing confidence, and the hard lessons many women learn when they become their own bosses.After losing a corporate job for reasons unrelated to performance, Jen made a powerful decision: she would never again let anyone else control her income, stability, or options. What began as a photography hobby became a real estate photography business, but the dream of being her own boss quickly met the reality of taxes, cash flow, pricing, and understanding that revenue is not the same as take-home pay.Julie and Jen dig into personal finance for women and why money conversations are essential for entrepreneurship. They explore why so many women underprice their work, how scarcity thinking shows up in business decisions, and what changes when women start having honest conversations about value, numbers, negotiation, and financial confidence.Jen also shares how personal development books and business books helped her advocate for herself, grow her confidence, and think differently about business. She talks about accessible learning tools like Libby and Hoopla, and why you do not need to pay MBA-level prices to start building your business and financial knowledge.The conversation also explores Jen’s women-only community, She Reads, She Leads Book Club, where women vote on business, finance, and mindset books each month and meet on Zoom to turn ideas into action. This is not just about reading more books. It is about implementation over inspiration, learning what to keep, what to leave behind, and why community can become a genuine business strategy.If you are a woman entrepreneur, author, coach, creative, photographer, service provider, or home-based business owner who has felt isolated, unsure about pricing, or ready to get smarter with money and business, this episode will give you practical next steps and a serious boost of momentum.Subscribe for more conversations about women in business, money mindset, confidence, visibility, entrepreneurship, storytelling, and reinvention.She Reads She Leads Book Clubhttps://www.shereadssheleads.com/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailFear can sound like wisdom when it is really just an old alarm system trying to keep us small.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Canadian life strategist, speaker, and author Bernice McDonald for an honest and deeply encouraging conversation about fear, confidence, identity, and what it means for midlife women to become brave enough without pretending to be fearless.Bernice shares the heart of her Tiny Brave Steps methodology and explains why big goals can feel overwhelming when they look like a canyon away. Instead of forcing women to leap, Bernice teaches them how to build a bridge, one small, doable step at a time.Together, Julie and Bernice talk about why the brain responds better to small actions, how momentum comes back once you start moving, and how each tiny brave step becomes evidence that you can trust yourself again. Bernice also introduces her memorable way of working with fear, including “Fred,” the little dragon who wants to protect you but does not get to drive.This conversation also explores why many women feel like they disappear in midlife, how identity shapes behavior, and why choosing who you want to become matters more than waiting for confidence to magically arrive.If you have been avoiding visibility, delaying a dream, telling yourself it is too late, or waiting until you feel ready, this episode will give you practical mindset tools, clear next steps, and a powerful reminder that your gifts still matter.Subscribe for more conversations about women’s stories, healing, confidence, reinvention, visibility, writing, business, and brave new beginnings.REACH OUT TO BERNICE:www.tinybravesteps.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bernicemcdonald/https://www.facebook.com/bmcdonaldcoachingIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan Mail“Watch me” hits different when it is no longer a slogan, but the moment you stop asking for permission.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst is joined by Renee Carbone Fleming, founder of Bad Ass Queen, for a powerful conversation about reinvention, visibility, confidence, and choosing yourself when the people around you do not yet understand your vision.Renee shares how she rebuilt her life after divorce and bankruptcy, and how those experiences shaped the mindset behind her Watch Me Method. Together, Julie and Renee talk about why so many talented women entrepreneurs are hiding in plain sight, the fear that keeps them quiet, and the “approval tax” women often pay when they wait for permission, validation, or consensus before taking action.This episode explores Renee’s Watch Me Method, including how to withdraw from explanation, act without approval, take up space publicly, commit without consensus, and hold the vision even when no one else can see it yet.You will also hear practical tools for building confidence, including a daily voice-memo routine, a healthier way to approach sales and persuasion, and how personal branding helps women stand out without pretending to be someone they are not. Renee also shares why AI matters for business growth right now and how entrepreneurs can use it with more intention.If you are a woman entrepreneur, coach, author, speaker, creator, or business owner who is ready to stop shrinking, start showing up, and lead with your full voice, this conversation is for you.Subscribe for more conversations about women’s stories, business, healing, reinvention, visibility, authorship, and courageous leadership.WAYS TO CONNECT WITH RENEE:https://badassqueen.cohttps://www.instagram.com/reneecarbonefleminghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/reneecarbonefleminghttps://www.facebook.com/thereneecarboneflemingIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailSaying “no” should not feel like you are committing a crime, but for many professional women, boundaries bring up guilt, fear, shame, and second-guessing.In this powerful conversation, Julie Fairhurst sits down with boundaries coach, speaker, and podcaster Barb Nangle to discuss codependency, people-pleasing, family dysfunction, and the deep inner work required to stop overgiving at the expense of your own peace.Barb shares the raw story of what she calls her “codependent bottom” and how 12-step recovery helped her completely rewire the way she relates to others and to herself. We explore what codependency looks like in everyday life: rescuing, managing other people’s emotions, staying constantly available, and using approval to feel safe.This episode also dives into Al-Anon, CODA, ACA, Overeaters Anonymous, shame, guilt, nervous system safety, and why boundary setting is not just about saying the right words. It is about learning to stay with yourself when discomfort shows up.Barb offers powerful language for women who are tired of being the dependable one while quietly losing themselves. Her reminder that “discomfort does not mean danger” may be the mindset shift that helps you stop backpedaling and start choosing yourself.In this episode, we talk about:• What codependency really looks like in daily life• Why professional women struggle to say no• The difference between guilt and shame• How family dysfunction shapes people-pleasing patterns• Why boundaries are nervous system work• The role of 12-step recovery in healing codependency• How overgiving turns into resentment• Barb’s two powerful questions: “What’s my motive?” and “Does this align with my highest good?”• How to create internal safety and stop abandoning yourselfIf you have ever felt guilty about having needs, afraid of disappointing people, or exhausted from being the one everyone counts on, this conversation will meet you right where you are.Subscribe for more honest conversations with women who are healing, leading, writing, growing, and telling the truth.Reach out to Barb:Free 30-minute "Say No without Guilt" call: http://barbchat.net/podcast: https://higherpowercc.com/podcasthttps://higherpowercc.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/barb-nangle https://www.youtube.com/@higherpowercoachingInternal Safety Course: "Boundaries That Hold: How to Stop Overriding Yourself In Real Time." https://higherpowercc.com/boundariesthathold/Hosted by Julie FairhurstWomen Like Me Stories & BusinessIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailYour body is talking all day long, but most of us only listen when it starts shouting. I’m joined by Fran Bailey, a Cincinnati-based healer, author, trainer, and speaker, to unpack how women can reconnect to themselves through grounded energy work, honest self-inquiry, and a practical approach to chakra meditation that doesn’t require a “quiet mind” to begin.Fran shares the story of what shaped her work, from growing up in a metaphysical home and expressing herself through dance to a near-death experience at age 12 that shifted her sense of purpose. We talk about how the Shiva Method blends spirituality, body work, connection, and personal development so you can stop living on autopilot and start noticing where your energy is leaking. Along the way, we dig into why comparison and quick self-judgment keep so many women stuck, and why the simplest question can be the most radical: what do I need for me today?We also go deeper into the mind-body connection and holistic healing. Fran explains how stress and emotional survival mode can show up as physical symptoms, why shame can intensify a health crisis, and how consistent guided meditation can help you clear what you’re carrying. If you’re a highly sensitive person or empath who absorbs everyone else’s moods, you’ll hear clear language for boundaries, energy protection, and what it means to pull your energy back before you spiral into overgiving.If this conversation helps you breathe a little easier, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share it with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review so more women can find these stories. What’s one place you know you need to come back to yourself?Get Started TODAY with The SHEVA Method! Download your FREE "Your Self Inquiry Workbook and Video"  at https://franbaileyhealer.comIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailA great book can open doors, but the wrong publishing deal can quietly take away your control, your revenue, and your rights.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Michele De Filippo, owner of 1106 Design LLC, to talk about what independent publishing should really look like when the author stays in control.Michele breaks down the confusing world of hybrid publishers, self-publishing companies, free ISBNs, royalty arrangements, distribution control, and publishing red flags that every author needs to understand before signing anything.We talk about why a “free ISBN” may mean someone else becomes the publisher of record, why “we pay you royalties” can be a warning sign, and why promises like “guaranteed bestseller” or “bookstores worldwide” are often more smoke and mirrors than real opportunity.This conversation is especially important for first-time authors, women writing their stories, and anyone who has felt overwhelmed, pressured, or confused by the publishing process.Website: https://1106design.comEmail: [email protected]: https://facebook.com/1106design LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2771108/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1106designIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan Mail“I’m fine” might be one of the most expensive phrases high-achieving women say.When life looks good on paper but something still feels missing, it does not mean you are ungrateful. It may be a signal that your soul is asking for more truth, more joy, more alignment, and more purpose.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Connie Cotter, a faith-forward, joy-driven transformation coach and certified high-performance coach, to talk about what it really means to move from a life that looks fine into one that feels deeply fulfilled.Connie shares how her years in IT training and leadership taught her to optimize systems, and how she now applies that same wisdom to helping women optimize their lives from the inside out. Together, we explore why “good enough” can quietly become a cage, why women often feel guilty for wanting more, and how joy can become a daily choice rather than a fleeting feeling.We also talk about Connie’s work around Beyond the Good Life, and how “more” does not always mean more money, more status, or more achievement. Sometimes more means better relationships, deeper faith, greater impact, more freedom, and the ability to give generously from a full heart.If you are facing a life transition, feeling burned out, wondering who you are beyond your roles, or quietly asking, “Is this all there is?” — this conversation will meet you right where you are.In this episode, we talk about:Why “I’m fine” can hide burnout, disconnection, and quiet longingThe difference between happiness and lasting joyWhy high-achieving women often feel guilty for wanting moreHow to know when you are busy but not alignedWhat it means to move beyond the good life into a fulfilled lifeHow faith, joy, and purpose can guide your next chapterConnie’s three-question reset for clarityWhy the second half of life can become your most powerful seasonThe simple daily habit Connie recommends for restoring calm and wonderSometimes the life that looks good is still asking to feel honest. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that wanting more does not make you selfish. It may be the doorway to the life you were meant to live next.If this episode speaks to you, please subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with a friend who keeps saying, “I’m fine,” when you know there is more waiting for her.If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailSome of the most “together” people you know are not really living. They are surviving — and the mask can be very convincing.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Lisa Lacey, author and speaker, to talk about what often goes unnamed: high-functioning survival, hidden trauma, addiction, mental health, and the exhausting cost of being praised for carrying everything.Lisa shares the story behind her upcoming memoir, Notes of a Certified Madwoman, and opens up about the moment she could no longer keep pushing through near-death medical scares, shame, addiction, and a full mental health psychosis. From the outside, life can look successful, polished, and powerful. But inside, a woman may be quietly collapsing.This conversation names the roles so many women slip into without even realizing it: the good girl, the people pleaser, the hyper-independent one, the workaholic, the leader who cannot ask for help, and the “strong one” who feels guilty for needing rest.Julie and Lisa also talk about why addiction is not a moral failure, why trauma is not something to compete over, and why healing requires honesty, support systems, healthier relationships, and the courage to tell the truth.Connect with Lacy:  https://www.lisalacy.com/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailA throwaway workplace comment — “the boss’s shiny new toy” — cracks open a much bigger truth: many of us are not chasing excellence, we are chasing safety.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Jessica King, a licensed social worker, speaker, and founder of Elder Care Collaborative, for a powerful conversation about trauma, identity, burnout, workplace patterns, and the hidden cost of always being capable.Jessica shares how trauma adaptations often get rewarded at work: hypervigilance that looks like leadership, people pleasing that passes as teamwork, emotional suppression disguised as professionalism, and overworking that earns applause until your nervous system finally taps out.We talk about Jessica’s own turning point after a job loss during COVID triggered an identity crisis and panic attack, and we name the kind of exhaustion that sleep cannot fix. This conversation also explores blame as part of grief, “pathological hope” for an apology that may never come, and how forgiveness can bring peace without excusing harm or tolerating unprofessional behavior.Jessica also shares the powerful “rock” metaphor for generational trauma and offers practical tools for boundaries, overhelping, and overexplaining. Then we shift to her work with Elder Care Collaborative, where she supports families with elder care navigation, Medicare education, advocacy, and care coordination, especially women in the sandwich generation who are balancing careers, children, and aging parents.If you have ever been praised for being strong, dependable, productive, or endlessly helpful while quietly falling apart inside, this episode will speak directly to you.Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for more conversations about healing, resilience, business, caregiving, leadership, and the stories that help women rise.Connect with Jessica:www.eldercarecollaborativepa.carehttps://www.facebook.com/eldercarecollaborative/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-king-msw-lsw-4ba724187/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailYour teen can be busy, successful, and smiling while still feeling crushed inside, and that gap is where so many families start to lose each other.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Dr. Carla Caturia, an educator with more than 20 years in schools and the coach behind House of Rise, to talk about what teens are really carrying, why parents often miss the warning signs, and what families can do before pressure turns into burnout.We talk honestly about teen anxiety, comparison, perfectionism, high-achieving teens, and the painful “I’m not good enough” loop that can quietly shape a young person’s identity. Dr. Carla explains why teens often shut down even when parents are trying to help, and how our instinct to fix everything can inadvertently undermine their confidence, voice, and autonomy.She shares a simple communication shift that can build trust quickly: ask your teen whether they want you to listen, help problem-solve, or celebrate. From there, we explore emotional intelligence, resilience, self-confidence, identity, and why emotional regulation is one of the first skills that gives teens their power back.We also talk about parenting guilt, grace, nervous system regulation, social media pressure, realistic boundaries, and small ways parents can reconnect with their teens without turning family life into one more performance.If you are looking for parenting teens support, teen mental health tools, better parent-child communication, or practical language to help your teen feel seen, this conversation will give you something you can use today.Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for more conversations about healing, family, leadership, emotional wellness, and the stories that help us rise.Find Dr. Carla here:Website:  https://thehouseofrise.com/Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/carlacaturiaLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-carla-caturia/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailShe didn’t set out to become “the woman who rode across America.” She just needed proof that her life still belonged to her.In this powerful episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with author, podcaster, and speaker Teri M Brown for an honest conversation about rebuilding after an emotionally abusive marriage, finding courage after years of self-doubt, and choosing one brave, unreasonable goal anyway.Teri shares what life looked like before and after leaving her marriage in 2017, including the healing, fear, freedom, and rebuilding that followed. We talk about what it means to reclaim your voice, especially after years spent without a safe space to be creative, take risks, or fully trust yourself.Then came the tandem bicycle — and a 3,102-mile ride across the United States during COVID. Terri opens up about the physical struggle, emotional breakdowns, mental spirals, and surprising strength she discovered along the way. Her story is a reminder that being emotional does not mean being weak. Sometimes tears are just the soul sweating.We also talk about reinvention after 50, writing messy first drafts, becoming a published author, finding honest and kind feedback, and taking one practical step when life feels too big.If you are craving a second act, a creative comeback, or a way out of “I’m not enough,” this conversation will give you language, courage, and a path forward.Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for more conversations with women who are turning lived experience into wisdom, healing, leadership, and impact.Want to connect to Teri?Website:  www.terimbrown.comIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailYour past does not get to vote on your future, unless you let it.In this powerful episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with executive leader, author, and professional speaker Victoria Pelletier for an honest conversation about what it really means to be unstoppable.Victoria shares the mindset, resilience, sacrifice, and daily choices behind high achievement. We talk about why strong women often confuse resilience with never needing rest, why life integration matters more than chasing perfect balance, and how leaders can create workplaces where people are seen as whole human beings.This conversation also goes deep into executive presence, workplace power dynamics, personal branding for women, and what to do when you walk into a room feeling outnumbered, overlooked, or underestimated.You’ll hear practical wisdom on owning your seat, finding allies, building confidence, growing credibility, and learning how to stop apologizing for your ambition.If you are a woman in leadership, business, transition, or reinvention, this episode will remind you that you are not here to shrink. You are here to rise.Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for more conversations with women who are turning lived experience into wisdom, purpose, leadership, and impact.Ways to connect with Victoria:Website:  https://victoria-pelletier.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Pelletier.Unstoppable/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoria_pelletier_unstoppable/?hl=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VictoriaPelletierUnstoppableIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailThe overdose crisis is often talked about like a statistic, but behind every loss is a family, a story, a mother, a child, a friend, and a grief that does not end.In this powerful conversation, Julie Fairhurst sits down with her dear friend Brenda-Lee Hunter on the eve of her book launch, Echoes of Love, Voices of Loss, a deeply moving collection built from the real stories of families impacted by the drug crisis in British Columbia and beyond.Brenda-Lee shares why overdose grief is so often misunderstood, how stigma changes the way families are treated after a loss, and why silence keeps people trapped in shame instead of receiving compassion and support.We talk about the prescription opioid era, mental health gaps, pain care, today’s unregulated drug supply, safe injection sites, shelters, outreach, treatment access, longer rehab timelines, brain injury from repeated overdoses, and the children who are growing up in the shadow of addiction and trauma.This is not just a conversation about addiction. It is a conversation about love, loss, families, policy, community, and the urgent need to stop treating grieving people like they have something to hide.If this episode touches your heart, please share it with someone who needs language for what they are carrying. Subscribe, leave a review, and help us spread stories that can move hearts and push leaders to act.Join the group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/4101376083451665Buy the book:United Stateshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZ2SW3D9Canada https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GZ2SW3D9Website:  https://thelegacymission.com/meet-brenda-lee-hunterIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan Mail“Is it me?” can sound like healthy self-reflection, but in a toxic relationship it can become the trap that keeps you questioning yourself for years.In this episode, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Carine Van Hee, a visual artist living in Norway, survivor of domestic abuse, and author of Is It Me? The Hidden System Behind Toxic Relationships, to put clear language around the confusing reality of emotional abuse, manipulation, coercive control, and gaslighting.Carine shares how the death of her mother exposed a painful family truth and pushed her to research the repeatable patterns behind toxic relationships. Together, we talk about why emotional abuse can be so hard to recognize when it is mostly invisible: the early love bombing that feels like a soulmate connection, the gradual isolation, the blame shifting, the walking on eggshells, and the slow erosion of confidence that happens one small moment at a time.We also explore healing after abuse. Carine explains why leaving is only the first step, how it can take time to “detox” from the abuser’s voice, and what helped her rebuild self-trust through therapy, meditation, movement, and nervous system support.This conversation goes beyond romantic relationships, because toxic patterns can also show up in families, friendships, workplaces, and communities. When we learn the pattern, we are better able to protect ourselves and support the people we love.If this episode gives you words for something you could not explain, please share it with someone who may need it, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review so more women can find the support and language they deserve.Find out more about Carine, her mission, and her book here:https://www.carinevanhee.com/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailSome memories don’t feel like “the past.” They feel like rooms we have locked, avoided, and quietly built our lives around without realizing it.In this powerful episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with April Day Garcia, author of The Room to Be Brave, to talk about what happens when you finally walk back into the moments that shaped your identity — and decide you do not have to carry the same story out with you.April shares how sobriety and a near-simultaneous ADHD diagnosis forced a new kind of honesty. From the outside, life may look successful, but inside, old wounds can still be quietly running the show.Together, Julie and April explore the patterns that often reveal unhealed pain: waiting for abandonment, accepting behavior you do not deserve, shrinking your voice, believing you are “not enough,” and feeling like you do not belong in rooms you have every right to stand in.April explains why healing can feel safer the second time around — because now you enter with choice, awareness, and the power to leave. She also shares why compassion matters more than judgment when revisiting shame, trauma, and old self-talk.This conversation also offers practical tools for emotional recovery. Therapy can be powerful, but April believes healing often requires a multi-tool approach, including journaling, meditation, yoga, Reiki, acts of service, and intentionally making space for joy.By the end of this episode, you will have simple prompts to help you name the identity you were told to be — and choose the one you are brave enough to live as.If you have been feeling stuck in old self-talk, shame, trauma patterns, or the belief that you are not enough, this conversation will meet you with truth, compassion, and hope.Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more women can find these stories and start doing the work too.Reach out to April:  https://www.aprildaygarcia.com/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailA brand-new book goes live, and a brand-new voice steps forward.In this powerful episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst is joined by Zainab Akintelu, author of Unsilenced: A Journey From Silence To Voice, written under the author name Queen Zee.Calling in from Nigeria, Zainab shares the heart behind her memoir and the three words that keep showing up for women who are ready to change their lives: healing, becoming, and rising.Get her book on Amazon:  UNSILENCED : A journey from silence to voiceFollow Zainab on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/zainab.akinteluIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailShe thought it was the flu. Then she woke up with a gut-level warning that would not let go: get to the hospital now.Holly Porter’s oxygen was at 63, her organs were shutting down, and what followed was a 70-day fight through COVID, ICU care, intubations, a tracheotomy, sepsis, and the kind of medical uncertainty that changes a person forever.In this powerful episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Holly walks us through the disorienting reality of losing her senses, the emotional whiplash of coming back after a near-death experience, and why intuition became more than a buzzword in her life.We also talk about the hard, unglamorous middle — long COVID recovery, rebuilding strength, the mindset shift behind her daily mantra “better is better,” and what it takes to keep moving forward without living in victim mode.From there, we connect the spiritual to the practical. Holly shares how her SHIFT framework — surrender, hope, intuition, faith, and transformation — shapes her leadership, why community accelerates healing, and why she believes retreats can become powerful catalysts for real change.Holly also shares what she would say to any woman who has survived something life-altering but still feels afraid to tell her story.If you are navigating illness, burnout, reinvention, grief, recovery, or a new calling you can’t ignore, this conversation will meet you where you are and challenge you to take one brave next step.Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.https://linktr.ee/hollyporterIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailA beautiful website is not enough if your brand does not feel safe to be seen. In this powerful episode, Julie Fairhurst sits down with author and personal brand strategist Chanoa Inez to talk about inside-out personal branding, self-trust, visibility, grief, reinvention, and building a brand that feels deeply aligned.Chanoa shares why the most magnetic personal brands are not built from copying trends, chasing validation, or trying to look perfect online. Instead, they begin with inner work, clarity, purpose, values, boundaries, and the courage to show up as yourself. Together, Julie and Chanoa explore the mindset traps that hold women entrepreneurs back, including fear of judgment, comparison, and the pressure to follow what everyone else is doing.Chanoa also opens up about the devastating loss of her boyfriend shortly after moving to Europe and how grief shaped her identity, her body, her healing, and her path to reinvention. She shares insights from her book, Dream On: How to Create the New Life After Upheaval or Loss, offering hope to women learning to dream again after life changes everything.This episode is for women entrepreneurs, coaches, authors, speakers, and business owners who want to build a personal brand that feels honest, sustainable, and true.Reach out to learn more and grab her book:  https://www.chanoainez.com/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailA grandmother shows up in a vivid 2 a.m. dream with one urgent message: write our real family history before it disappears.That dream becomes the spark that sends Brigid Kennedy, a professional violinist, violin teacher, and longtime “behind the scenes” supporter of her husband’s academic career, into a completely new identity as a published author and storyteller.In this episode of the Women Like Me Stories & Business Podcast, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Brigid Kennedy to talk about family history, ancestral stories, spiritual guidance, writing, courage, and the calling to preserve the stories that could vanish if no one writes them down.Brigid shares how she began with the practical steps of genealogy research — names, dates, places, and the familiar chaos of unlabeled family photos — before her family narrative hit a hard stop. Her research led to the extraordinary story of her great-grandfather’s journey from Ireland to Peru, a monastery wedding in 1910, and his later disappearance into the Amazon rainforest.With the historical record incomplete, Brigid made a brave, creative decision: she wrote into the gap.By weaving Irish myths and Incan legends into the missing pieces of her family story, Brigid created something more than fiction. Her book became a reclamation of roots, a way to restore connection, and a form of healing for a family that had carried unanswered questions for generations.Julie and Brigid also talk about the real work behind writing a book when you do not have a writing degree, an agent, or a roadmap. They explore handling critique, fighting imposter syndrome, carving out time while juggling motherhood and work, and navigating the visibility of becoming an author in the age of TikTok and Instagram.This conversation is for anyone who has been searching for motivation to preserve family history, start a memoir, write a novel, or finally begin the story that keeps tugging at their heart.Sometimes the story chooses you before you feel ready to choose it.If this episode speaks to you, subscribe, share it with a friend who has “one day” plans, and leave a review so more listeners can find Women Like Me Stories & Business.What family story do you want to save before it is gone?Learn more about Brigid Kennedy:Website:  https://www.brigidkennedybooks.com/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@BrigidKennedyBooksFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BrigidKennedyBooks/TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@brigidkennedybooksIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailAre you a first-time writer who wants to write your personal story but doesn’t know where to begin? In this short video, Julie Fairhurst shares three simple writing tips to help beginners start their true-life story with more clarity and confidence.You’ll learn how to create a timeline of important life events, look at your story as an observer instead of reliving every painful moment, and let go of perfectionism so you can finally get your words onto the page.Your first draft does not need to be perfect. It simply needs to begin.Visit juliefairhurst.com for writing resources, personal story support, and tools to help you start sharing the story that is calling you.If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailChange can flatten you even when you are “good at change.”One day, you are steady in your routines, and the next, you are facing a layoff, burnout, loss, a career pivot, or a life transition you did not ask for. Then the question hits hard: now what?In this episode of the Women Like Me Stories & Business Podcast, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Janine Lequay, Change Strategist, Coach, and Author, to talk about why so many people feel scattered, overwhelmed, and disconnected during major transitions — and why that feeling is often a missing process, not a personal flaw.Janine brings 15 years of organizational change management experience into real life, where the stakes are personal, and the tools are rarely taught. Julie and Janine explore why our brains cling to comfort, why discomfort is a normal biological response to change, and how isolation can make transition feel even heavier.Janine also shares her powerful GPS metaphor for personal change: you cannot get where you are going if you do not first name where you are starting from. From there, the conversation moves into overwhelm versus failure, burnout signs such as autopilot and avoidance, and the relief that comes from internal alignment instead of chasing everyone else’s expectations.You will also hear Janine explain her DO IT Change Method in simple, practical language: Discover, Own, Implement, Transform. This framework helps people navigate career pivots, identity shifts, burnout recovery, personal reinvention, and life transitions by taking small steps that build momentum.This conversation is a reminder that change is not always linear, and feeling overwhelmed does not mean you are failing. Sometimes you simply need a clearer map, a steadier process, and the courage to take the next honest step.Julie and Janine also discuss community support, why your career is not your identity, and Janine’s vision for teaching kids how to navigate change with intention.If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend in transition, and leave a review so more people can find tools for change management, burnout recovery, reinvention, and personal growth.What change are you standing on the edge of right now?Learn more about Janine Lequay:Soleil Edge: https://soleiledge.com/www.doitchangemethod.com www.mychangearchetype.comIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailMidlife can feel like the moment the old rules stop working. The commute feels harder, confidence gets shakier, technology has moved on, and you may be carrying more than anyone can see.In this powerful episode of the Women Like Me Stories & Business Podcast, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Joy Foster, founder of Tech Pixies, to talk about midlife reinvention, confidence, neurocoaching, business, technology, and the courage to begin again.Joy works with women who want to reinvent themselves online and in business. She explains what is really happening beneath the surface when women freeze, procrastinate, overthink, or talk themselves out of the very thing they want. Julie and Joy explore imposter syndrome, perfectionism, automatic negative thoughts, and the inner resistance that often appears right before a woman posts, pitches, leads, sells, or steps into visibility.This conversation also reframes time in a powerful way. Joy shares the 25-year plan mindset, why thinking in quarters can reduce overwhelm, and how focusing on the “big three” priorities helps women move forward with more clarity. They also discuss the importance of creating a power hour that truly belongs to you — not laundry, errands, or everyone else’s needs dressed up as productivity.Julie and Joy talk about women’s strengths in business, including empathy, emotional intelligence, organization, communication, and relationship-building, and why these qualities become powerful business advantages when women stop undervaluing them.The conversation also gets practical. Joy shares insight into funding, grants, sales, and why selling is serving when it is aligned with your values. They discuss why sales skills keep a business alive, why belief in what you offer matters, and how women can build confidence around asking for the sale.Julie and Joy also explore AI for business, AEO, and the bias that can show up inside technology tools. Joy shares why women need to choose technology with their eyes open and use it as support, not as something that steals their voice.If you are a woman in midlife ready to rebuild confidence, learn new skills, plan smarter, use technology with courage, and create a next chapter that fits who you are now, this episode is for you.Subscribe, share this episode with a woman who needs a reset, and leave a review with the one idea you are taking into your week.Learn more about Joy Foster and Tech Pixies:Website:  https://techpixies.comJoy Foster LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/techpixiejoy/ TechPixies Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/techpixies/ TechPixies Facebook - https://facebook.com/techpixiesTechPixies YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/techpixies TechPixies TikTok - http://tiktok.com/@techpixies TechPixies LinkedIn page - https://www.linkedin.com/school/techIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan Mail “Ethical beauty begins with consent, care, and the courage to see the whole person.” — Rachel Leoni In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Rachel Leoni, founder of Vita Felice Medispa in New Westminster, British Columbia, for a powerful conversation about ethical esthetics, trauma-informed skincare, scar work, client safety, and building a beauty business rooted in healing instead of trends.Rachel shares the heart behind Vita Nova, her program offering complimentary specialized treatments for survivors of third-degree burns, violence, and human trafficking. Together, Julie and Rachel explore how scar work may help improve mobility, support confidence, and help people feel safer in their own bodies again.This conversation goes deeper than beauty. Rachel explains why trauma-informed care must begin with consultation, consent, emotional readiness, and respect for each person’s story. She also speaks honestly about the limits of what one provider can do alone and her hope to expand Vita Nova with like-minded professionals, including mental health support.Julie and Rachel also discuss ethics in the beauty industry, including Rachel’s fight to prevent the term “vagacial” from being trademarked and controlled by a single company. They talk about client safety, TikTok beauty trends, microneedling, chemical peels, sugaring, and why stronger treatments are not always better.Rachel also breaks down why sugaring can leave such a noticeable glow and how proper technique can make the difference between short-term maintenance and longer-lasting results.If you care about ethical beauty, trauma-informed esthetics, skincare, scar healing, or building a profitable beauty business that truly helps people, this episode is for you.Subscribe, share this conversation with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find it.Reach out to Rachel: Vita Felice Medi Spa https://vitafelice.ca www.instagram.com/vitafelicemedispa/ www.facebook.com/vitafelicemedispa/ If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan Mail “Money is not just a math problem. It is often a safety, identity, and self-worth pattern.” — Alma Tarelli Your money habits might look like budgeting problems on the surface, but what if they are really identity and safety problems underneath?In this episode, Julie Fairhurst speaks with Alma Tarelli, a highly effective results mentor, accountant, and financial behavior strategist, about why so many smart, capable, hardworking women still under-earn, overgive, undercharge, and burn out.Alma explains the difference between external money drivers, like income, bills, debt, pricing, and investments, and internal money drivers, such as childhood patterns, nervous system responses, subconscious beliefs, scarcity, shame, guilt, and fear.Julie and Alma talk about the survival-mode loops that keep women entrepreneurs stuck: worthiness wounds that fuel perfectionism, fear of visibility, avoidance, scarcity thinking, control, and the belief that doing everything alone is safer than asking for help.They also explore what it means to be “high income but broke,” why financial strategy alone does not work when your nervous system cannot hold the change, and how small money behaviors can reveal deeper beliefs about wealth, safety, and self-worth.Then the conversation turns practical. Alma shares ways to slow down your inner noise, release shame and judgment, use journaling, and ask the “why behind the why” to uncover what is really driving your money choices.This episode is for women who are ready to stop treating money as only a math problem and start building a healthier, steadier relationship with abundance, receiving, charging, investing, and leading.REACH OUT TO ALMA:   Website: www.almatarelli.comInstagram: Instagram – @abundance_with_alma LinkedIn: LinkedIn – Alma Tarelli Activate Abundance Book a 15-minute Complimentary Call with Alma If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailA single childhood moment can echo for decades, especially when it is tied to belonging.In this episode, Julie Fairhurst speaks with marketing strategist and Elevate Creative founder Elle Jimeno about adoption, bullying, shame, self-trust, boundaries, and the courage it takes to become visible in business.Elle shares the story of learning she was adopted through playground taunts, and how her mother’s calm response, “Okay, so what?” helped remove the shame from a label others tried to use against her. From there, Julie and Elle talk about family doubt, the wounds that teach women to stay quiet, and the deep inner work required to build confidence.They also explore the body side of entrepreneurship: freezing at networking events, feeling small again, learning to trust your gut, and discovering the power of supportive women’s communities.The conversation then turns to practical marketing and branding. Elle shares why authenticity is the only sustainable way to stand out online, why your website should be the foundation of your marketing, and how to “date your brand” again when your business has evolved but your online presence has not caught up.This episode is for the woman rebuilding her confidence, refining her message, and learning to show up online with more clarity, truth, and courage.REACH OUT TO ELLE:  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ellevatemybizWebsite:  https://ellevatemybiz.com/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailScroll down to get your free gift!She was pregnant at 14, pushed out of school, and raised three kids as a single mom for 28 years. Julie Fairhurst’s life could have stayed locked inside that story, especially after years surrounded by abuse, addiction, and chaos, where survival mattered more than possibility. Instead, she made a decision that changes everything: the past can be true without being in charge.We talk through the moment she left a government job at 29 because she wanted more, then walked straight into the hard reality of starting over. Julie shares what those early months in real estate actually looked like: tears, fear, embarrassment, standing in food bank lines, relying on a toy bank at Christmas, and eventually filing bankruptcy. The heart of her message is not hustle or hype. It’s a grounded mindset shift about stopping the wait for someone to rescue you, refusing to let fear make your decisions, and staying focused even when you have no proof it will work yet.That persistence builds into a 36-year real estate career, selling 80 to 110 homes a year and leading a team, but she’s clear about what “success” really means: becoming the woman who no longer believes her past has the final say. Now retired from real estate, Julie pours her energy into Women Like Me, coaching women, publishing true-life stories, and helping others heal through their stories so they can move forward with courage and clarity.If you’ve felt stuck, ashamed, behind, or “too broken,” press play and take one brave step with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with the label you’re ready to drop. FREE GIFT:  https://womenlikeme.aflip.in/40fb14472d.htmlStart Your Story Workbook is a gentle, beginner-friendly guide created to help women take the first brave step in writing their personal story. Through simple prompts, thoughtful reflection, and encouraging guidance, this workbook helps you move past fear, find your starting point, and begin putting your truth on the page with confidence.Your story does not need to be perfect. It only needs to begin.Ladies, join Women Like Me:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/879482909307802Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/juliefairhurstinfluence/?hl=enFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/juliefairhurstcoachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliefairhurstvoicestoryinfluence/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailYou can remember what happened without letting it run your life.In this short but powerful reflection, Julie Fairhurst shares a healing message about identity, emotional freedom, and what it really means to say: " You are not your story. If your mind keeps replaying old memories like a verdict, this message will help you pause, breathe, and begin to question the painful beliefs that have been holding you for too long.https://juliefairhurst.com/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailShe opened her doors, got her license, and then lockdown hit. One month later, the salon dream was gone — and so was the home it lived in.That kind of loss can shrink your world fast, but Calli Jensen chose a different path. Instead of giving up, she used that painful season as the spark to rethink how beauty, wellness, and service-based businesses grow when ads stop working, customers disappear, and real connection becomes everything.In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Calli shares the real timeline of rebuilding — from a simple “refer three friends” stamp card to creating Our Beauty Referral Network, a referral marketing platform built on trust, tracked referrals, collaboration, and community.We talk about why relying on a single location or income stream can be risky, especially for small business owners, and how a pay-it-forward referral model can help customers earn toward their self-care while helping businesses keep their calendars full.Calli also opens up about her spinal injury, her healing journey, and what it truly means to stop “pushing through” and become your own health advocate. Her story is a powerful reminder that resilience is not always about going harder — sometimes it is about slowing down, listening, healing, and building differently.We also explore what makes Our Beauty Referral Network more than a directory, including live events, online speed-networking, video testimonials, referral tracking, tools to fill open appointment slots, and content automation designed to increase visibility and bookings.If you are a beauty, wellness, or service-based business owner who feels invisible online — or a customer looking for trusted providers without the guesswork — this conversation will give you a clearer, more human way to grow.Subscribe, share this episode with a friend or business owner who needs momentum, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re taking from Calli’s story.REACH OUT TO CALLI!  Our Beauty & Wellness Referral Network & Community. www.beautyreferralnetwork.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/beautyreferralIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan Mail Women need women because there is a kind of understanding that happens before the full sentence is even spoken. We need women who can sit beside us in the messy middle, celebrate us without jealousy, tell us the truth without cruelty, and remind us who we are when life makes us forget. Sisterhood gives us strength, softness, laughter, wisdom, and a safe place to land. When one woman says, “Me too,” another woman feels less alone. When one woman rises, she shows another woman it is possible. Women need women because we were never meant to carry everything on our own. If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailYour website is either working as your storefront or it is sitting online like a locked door. We sit down with Lisa Blankert, founder of Lab Online Agency in Coquitlam, British Columbia, to get brutally clear on what actually makes a small business website perform: user experience, fast load times, conversion-focused design, and calls to action that make it easy for the right people to contact you. If you have ever thought, “I have a site, so why am I still invisible,” this conversation gives you practical answers. We also unpack SEO in plain English and why “set it and forget it” does not work. A website that cannot be optimized, tracked, or improved over time becomes an expensive redo waiting to happen. Lisa explains why platform choices like WordPress vs Shopify matter, how brand authority builds trust, and why relying only on referrals can cap your growth when you need consistent lead generation. Then we zoom out to what is changing right now: AI tools and AI search. More people are looking for services through ChatGPT and other platforms, which means discoverability is no longer only about Google rankings. We talk about how to use AI as a tool without losing authenticity, plus quick wins you can do this week like updating your Google Business Profile, asking for honest reviews, and getting a no-cost website audit to spot technical fixes. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a business owner who needs more visibility, and leave a review so more women can find the show.Reach out to Leesa:https://labonlineagency.com/[email protected] covered in this episode:Small business website strategy, SEO for business, AI search, website visibility, lead generation, Google Business Profile, website audits, WordPress, Shopify, calls to action, brand authority, and online marketing for women entrepreneurs.If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailA breast lump is easy to dismiss when life is already full — and that is exactly why this conversation matters.In this powerful episode, Julie Fairhurst speaks with Rangoli Gupta, founder of Inner Beauty Mastectomy Wear, about the moment she discovered a breast lump, told herself it was “probably nothing,” and later received a breast cancer diagnosis that changed everything.Rangoli shares her personal breast cancer journey, including choosing a mastectomy, going through chemotherapy, and facing the emotional reality of looking in the mirror after surgery. She also opens up about the importance of early detection, self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammogram screening.This conversation goes beyond diagnosis and treatment. Rangoli explains the emotional and practical side of post-mastectomy recovery, including the importance of properly fitted breast prostheses, wigs, mastectomy bras, compression garments, drain-holding shirts, recovery pillows, and swimwear designed for breast forms.She also shares her journey of moving to Canada, realizing her medical degree and clinical experience did not transfer easily, and rebuilding her life from the ground up. From working entry-level jobs to learning computers, building her own website content, and becoming an immigrant entrepreneur, Rangoli turned her personal experience into a mission to support women after breast cancer surgery.This episode is for breast cancer survivors, women facing treatment decisions, caregivers, health advocates, immigrant entrepreneurs, and anyone who believes in the power of resilience, reinvention, and women supporting women.Please share this conversation with someone who may need hope, guidance, or the reminder that they are not alone.For more information, reach out to Rangoli Gupta. She's here to help!Website:  https://www.innerbeautywear.com/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/innerbeauty_breastcare/Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575768007520If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful interview, author Zee shares the deeply personal story behind her contribution to the Women Like Me book The Space Between Before and After. This is an honest conversation about childhood survival, family secrecy, generational trauma, grief, displacement, identity, and the long road to healing through writing.After the loss of both her parents, one core memory rose to the surface and pushed Zee to finally write the story she had carried for years. She reflects on growing up during apartheid-era South Africa, where political unrest, fear, secrecy, and survival shaped everyday life. Zee explains how her grandparents protected her, how silence affected her body and emotions, and what it means to grow up with both love and abandonment living in the same story.We also talk about the meaning of samosas as a symbol of culture, sacrifice, scarcity, memory, and healing. What once held fear became part of a grounding, meditative ritual she now shares with her son. This episode explores how writing can uncover hidden truths, create closure, and help us make sense of the past.If you have lived through family separation, displacement, silence, grief, identity struggles, or generational trauma, this conversation may give language to what you have felt.In this episode, we discuss: childhood trauma and survival  apartheid South Africa  family secrecy and political activism  grief after losing parents  displacement and belonging  generational trauma and healing  writing as closure and emotional release  memory, food, culture, and identity  the story behind The Space Between Before and After Women Like Me authors and true-life stories Connect with Zee:  holisticsoletosoul.comhttps://www.holisticsoletosoul.com/Facebook ; Holistic Sole to Soul:https://www.facebook.com/p/Holistic-Sole-to-Soul-61562724601752/Istagram: https://www.instagram.com/holisticwellnesswithzee/reels/?__d=11Book Mentioned: The Space Between Before and After https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GQ1X2WJ1Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories and Business for more powerful interviews on healing, truth, storytelling, women’s voices, resilience, and real-life transformation.If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailTracy Emanuele loved woodworking as a child, but, like so many girls, she was told that working with tools and building with her hands was not meant for her. In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Tracy shares how she found her way back to the trades, discovered where she truly belonged, and built a life that finally felt right.We talk about the jobs that looked fine on the outside but slowly drained her on the inside, the moment she stepped into a workshop and knew she was home, and what it is really like to be a woman working in male-dominated spaces. Tracy opens up about the difference between being treated like a problem and being welcomed like family, and why meaningful work can bring peace amid the noise.She also shares the story of a serious table saw injury, the emotional weight of recovery, and how she kept moving forward through fear, frustration, and healing. One small but unforgettable turning point was a $20 ukulele from a yard sale that helped her rebuild confidence, purpose, and joy.This episode is for anyone interested in women in trades, woodworking, recovery after injury, overcoming gender stereotypes, resilience, career change, and finding work that feels like home.Subscribe for more powerful conversations on Women Like Me Stories In Business. Share this episode with someone who needs permission to take their unconventional dream seriously. Leave a review and tell us what dream you are finally ready to claim.Find Tracy Here:  https://linktr.ee/tracye368If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when control is disguised as care, concern, or good manners? In this episode, Christina Ditchkofsky joins Julie Fairhurst for a powerful conversation about emotional abuse, coercive control, love bombing, childhood trauma, shame, and the slow erosion of self-trust.Christina is a nurse, author, and trauma-informed writing guide. She shares both lived experience and professional insight as we explore the warning signs of coercive control, including isolation, loss of financial freedom, pulling away from work, neglecting yourself, and constantly second-guessing your instincts.We also talk about Christina’s book Burnt Letters and how writing can help survivors process trauma, reclaim their voice, and begin healing — even if they never publish a single word.This episode is for survivors, for women questioning what they lived through, and for anyone who loves someone trying to find their way back to themselves.Subscribe for more Women Like Me Stories and Business conversations that bring truth, healing, and real-life transformation to light.Grab Christina's book:    https://amzn.to/41hrvu9Christina's Website:  https://christinaditchkofsky.com/Free Gift:  https://tinyurl.com/y82m77tn If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailA doctor tells you that you have one year left to become a mother… and you hear it while your marriage is ending.That’s the reality Kelly-Erin Ketchen faced at just 27. In this deeply personal conversation, we explore what it means to stand in the space between heartbreak and becoming, and the courage it takes to choose yourself when everything is falling apart.Kelly-Erin shares how endometriosis and infertility didn’t just challenge her ability to have children—they challenged her identity, her belief in “the plan,” and her sense of safety after divorce and losing her home.She opens up about the moment she stopped waiting and chose to pursue motherhood on her own. From facing judgment in the 1990s to walking into a fertility clinic as a single woman, to the surreal experience of choosing a sperm donor from a few lines on paper, this is a story of quiet strength and bold decisions.But getting pregnant wasn’t the end of the journey.Kelly-Erin shares the reality of hyperemesis gravidarum, how it nearly shut down her kidneys, and what it feels like when medical professionals dismiss your pain. We also talk about miscarriage, self-advocacy, and raising a child with honesty about donor conception, including DNA searches and donor sibling connections later in life.If you’ve ever faced infertility, questioned your path, or felt like time was running out—this conversation will stay with you.Connect with Kelly-Erin:Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kellyerinketchen_excellence/?hl=en👉 Subscribe for more real stories from women who have lived it 👉 Share this with someone who needs to hear it 👉 Leave a review to help more women find these conversationsWhat part of Kelly-Erin’s journey stayed with you most?If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailA lot of people think the hardest part of domestic violence is leaving. What if leaving is only the first step… and the next step is a cliff?In this powerful conversation, Kay Bohemier returns to share the reality behind the “90-day cliff” in emergency shelters and what happens when survivors of domestic violence leave abuse but still have nowhere safe to go.Kay opens up about what homelessness after abuse really looks like: living in a car, then a tent, finding places to wash, and taking risks just to afford food. She also sheds light on the hidden barriers survivors face, including financial abuse, PTSD, stalking, and how missing documentation or citizenship status can prevent access to housing, support programs, and safety.When people say “just leave,” they often don’t understand what comes next. Kay explains why so many survivors are forced back into dangerous situations—and what needs to change.We also talk about solutions. Kay shares her vision for Courage House Incorporated, a nonprofit focused on long-term transitional housing for survivors of domestic violence. Her model includes a two-year housing program with onsite mental health support, financial education, and 24-hour childcare so survivors can rebuild their lives with stability and dignity.If you care about domestic violence awareness, survivor safety, homelessness after abuse, and real systemic change, this is a conversation you won’t forget.👉 Subscribe for more real stories from women who have lived it 👉 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 👉 Leave a review to help more women find support and resourcesConnect with Kay:  Website:  https://kaywood95.wixsite.com/courage-houseFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/KaybohemierIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailA single moment can shape a lifetime… but it doesn’t have to define it.In this deeply human conversation, I sit down with Jenny Siddall, mom, creative, and performer from Nova Scotia, whose story moves from childhood trauma to a grounded, hard-won peace through art, music, writing, and play.Her philosophy is simple: keep running. Not to escape, but as proof that you made it, and you still get to choose what comes next.In this episode, we explore: • Healing trauma through creativity (art, music, writing, play) • Why creative expression works when words fall short • Inner child healing and reparenting yourself • Letting go of “being too much” and embracing emotional truth • How trauma can live in the body (tension, stress, feeling stuck) • Simple, real-life routines for hard days • Building confidence through small creative acts • Why releasing others’ opinions is a powerful form of self-respectIf you’ve ever felt like your emotions were something to manage instead of something to understand… this conversation will shift that.Your feelings aren’t the problem.  They’re the message.  And maybe, just maybe, they’re pointing you home.Connect with Jenny:Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/852791401722063 Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.robicheau.5           TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jennaysiddall🎧 Subscribe for more real conversations. 💬 Share this with someone who needs a gentle nudge forward. ⭐ Leave a review if this episode speaks to you.After you listen… what’s one small creative thing you’ll try this week?If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailYour body isn’t broken. It’s speaking. The question is, are you listening?Fifteen years of daily pain changes a person, but what if the turning point isn’t another treatment… It's a new relationship with your body?In this powerful episode, I sit down with counselor and energy practitioner Amanda Meggait, who shares her journey through autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and the emotional weight that comes with it all.After years of specialist visits, medications, and feeling disconnected from her own body, everything shifted when she stopped seeing her body as the enemy, and started listening to it as a guide.We talk about: • Living with chronic pain and autoimmune illness • The emotional roots of physical symptoms • Why women disconnect from themselves early in life • The truth about people-pleasing and burnout • How anger can signal a broken boundary • Practical “micro moments” to reconnect with yourself • Creating safety within your body and emotionsThis conversation is for any woman who feels exhausted, out of alignment, or like her body is trying to tell her something she hasn’t been taught how to hear.🎧 If this resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more women can find this kind of support.Connect with Amanda:http://www.horizonenergetics.com/https://quintessencecounselling.ca/1242-2/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailPeace can feel uncomfortable… even unsafe… when your life has been built in survival mode.In this powerful episode, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Colinda Laviolette, who shares her journey of healing as an Indigenous woman reconnecting with her roots, traditions, and community after trauma, addiction, and abuse.Colinda shares her journey into sobriety, the impact of motherhood, and raising her two sons, with Down syndrome, while navigating her own healing. She opens up about CPTSD, survival conditioning, and how alcohol once became “liquid courage.”We talk about: ✔️ Why peace can feel unfamiliar after trauma ✔️ Breaking generational patterns for your children ✔️ Sobriety, shame, and emotional healing ✔️ Indigenous healing, ceremony, and identity ✔️ Setting boundaries without guilt ✔️ Rebuilding self-worth after abuseThis conversation is for anyone walking through trauma recovery, domestic violence healing, or learning how to live without chaos.If you’ve ever felt like calm doesn’t feel normal… this will hit home.Follow Colinda here:  https://www.facebook.com/colinda.laviolette👉 Subscribe for more real conversations that heal and empower 👉 Share this with someone who needs it 👉 Comment your biggest takeawayIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailEver feel like you’re doing everything “right”… but something still feels off?In this powerful conversation, educator, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker Darlena Swan shares what happens when you stop chasing success and start asking a better question: what actually matters to me?We dive into burnout, anxiety, and the pressure women feel to be everything to everyone. You’ll hear how stress shows up in the body, why your mind won’t shut off at night, and what real wellness looks like when you include your mind, body, and soul.This episode also explores: The truth behind the “superwoman” myth  How to set boundaries without guilt  Why self-kindness is a strength, not a weakness  Turning hard seasons into growth instead of self-blame  Starting over, even when you feel behind Darlena shares her journey from customer service to education and purpose-driven work, proving that every step—even the messy ones—builds the life you’re meant to live.If you’re feeling stuck, exhausted, or questioning your direction, this conversation will help you reconnect with yourself and move forward with clarity.REACH OUT TO DARLENA HERE:  https://bossladyenterprise.org/👉 Subscribe for more real conversations 👉 Share this with a woman who needs a reset 👉 Comment: What question will you start asking yourself today?If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan Mail What if getting laid off… was the exact moment your next level began? And what if AI isn’t as complicated as you’ve been told? A layoff can feel like the floor disappears. For Michelle Hamilton, it became a door opening, and that choice changed everything.After 30 years as an executive, Michelle stepped into artificial intelligence early, testing real-world use cases and learning how to translate AI into human language that actually makes sense. In this conversation, we break down AI, leadership, reinvention, and how to move forward when everything shifts.We talk about: ✨ Why most AI initiatives fail inside companies (and it’s NOT the tech) ✨ The real problem: change management, fear, and lack of training ✨ How leaders can implement AI in a way that actually works ✨ Why fear-based policies create “shadow AI” in organizations ✨ How to train executives vs. frontline teams differently ✨ What a people-first AI strategy looks like tied to real KPIsThen we make it practical and fun: ✔️ Using AI to plan trips from conversations ✔️ Voice mode as your hands-free assistant ✔️ Preparing for interviews and drafting documents ✔️ Comparing health insurance by uploading files ✔️ Using multiple AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) for better resultsWe also cover what you need to watch for: ⚠️ AI hallucinations ⚠️ Verifying sources ⚠️ How to safely use AI in your daily life and businessIf you’ve felt behind on AI, or unsure where to start, this episode will give you language, confidence, and real tools you can use immediately.👉 Subscribe for real conversations on reinvention, leadership, and personal growth 👉 Share this with someone ready for their next chapterFIND MICHELLE HERE:  https://sparkaistrategy.com/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailWhat if the patterns you can’t break… aren’t about willpower at all?What if your body is protecting you in ways you don’t even realize?Some conversations don’t just inform you… They slow you down long enough to feel what you’ve been carrying.In this episode, I sit down with Anya Lewis, founder of Angel Wears Prana, to explore trauma healing, nervous system regulation, intuition, and the deeper patterns that quietly shape our lives.With over 25 years in beauty, massage therapy, and corporate wellness, Anya shares how working with the body reveals what people don’t say out loud—fear, shame, grief, and the emotional patterns that keep repeating.We talk about:✨ What prana (life force energy) really means✨ Why so many people live disconnected from their bodies✨ The hidden forms of trauma that still impact your nervous system✨ Why numbing behaviors like drinking continue—even when we want to stop✨ What actually helps you break patterns and create lasting change✨ Simple ways to start healing (meditation, body awareness, and nervous system support)If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles you can’t explain, this conversation will meet you where you are.Find Anya:  👉 Subscribe for real conversations that help you heal, grow, and tell the truth about your life👉 Share this with someone who needs a softer way into healinghttps://theangelwearsprana.com/the-healer/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website

Send us Fan MailMigraine disease is not “just a headache.” It can take your vision, your balance, your words, and leave you trying to explain something invisible while the world minimizes what you’re going through.In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, we sit down with Arleen Davis, who joins us from China, as she shares her chapter, “Migraine Disease, My Journey of Discovery.” What begins as unexplained symptoms—dizziness, sensory overload, nausea, and cognitive confusion—quickly turns into a frightening reality that mimics serious neurological events.Arleen opens up about:Sudden vision loss and terrifying migraine attacksHemiplegic migraine symptoms that can feel like a strokeBrain fog so intense that words disappear mid-sentenceThe long road to diagnosis and being dismissed along the wayWhy women’s health concerns are often minimizedWe also dive into real-life migraine triggers and management, including weather changes, barometric pressure, light sensitivity, crowds, and motion sickness, and how proper diagnosis, preventive medication, and support can change everything.If you’ve ever been told “it’s just a headache” but felt something deeper was wrong… this conversation might give you the language, validation, and direction you’ve been searching for.✨ Your story matters. And sometimes, hearing someone else’s is what finally helps you understand your own.👉 Subscribe for more real, raw conversations 👉 Share this with someone who needs to feel seen 👉 Comment if this resonates with your experienceReach out to Arleen here:  Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/open_up_to_light?igsh=dmRzZ2h1OXIydDZuFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/arleen.t.davis?If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website