Empowered Conversations

If you have ever felt confused, ashamed, tired, and isolated in a relationship – wondering if it's you – Carine Van Hee speaks directly to that.Carine is a visual artist, survivor of mental abuse, and author of Is It Me? The Hidden System Behind Toxic Relationships. She understands that toxic relationships don't happen by accident. They follow a predictable, hidden system that shapes how people behave, respond, and remain trapped.In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:- How toxic relationships start – and what to look out for- The difference between conflict and abuse- How enablers cause you to stay longer or lose friends and family- Why leaving can feel freeing – but might lead to the toughest times- How a toxic relationship affects your body and mind- Two strategies to avoid taking the "toxic bait"- Why self-care is crucial after unhealthy relationships- How to be a supportive friend or family member- One small thing you can do today to start taking back your powerIf you feel stuck, confused, or like something is wrong but you can't name it–this conversation is for you.You are not alone. It is not you. And you can heal.Connect with Carine Van HeeBook: Is It Me? The Hidden System Behind Toxic Relationships ( Available on Amazon)Website: carinevanhee.comFollow and rate the show.

The month Melissa Crook turned 50, she ended up in the ER twice. Racing heartbeat. Sky-high blood pressure. And after all the tests came back normal, she had to ask a harder question: what was happening inside her that no scan could seeThe answer was years of unprocessed emotions, codependency, performing for approval, and no peace or contentment in her life. That wake-up call began a healing journey that changed everything.Now Melissa hosts The FEEL Podcast – FEEL standing for Finding Empowerment, Embracing Layers. She is on a mission to help women normalize conversations about self-care, emotional health, boundaries, and embracing all of their beautiful and complex layers.In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:- The wake-up call that started Melissa's healing journey- The connection between emotional and physical health- Are there such things as bad emotions?- What setting healthy boundaries actually looks like- Life with boundaries versus life without them- What it means to embrace all your layers- Current self-care practices that actually work- One small thing you can do today to start feeling your feelingsIf you have been putting yourself last, stuffing your feelings, and wondering why you feel empty – this conversation is for you.Your body will not stay quiet forever. You don't have to wait for an emergency room visit to start paying attention.Connect with Melissa Crook Website: embracinglayers.comInstagram: @melissa.crookFollow and rate the show.

Mike Wysocki spent 30 years in tech sales. It gave him money. It gave him no joy. So he decided to find out if anyone actually found satisfaction in their work.He built a website, asked workers over 20 questions about their careers, and turned what he learned into an award-winning, Amazon best-selling book: Careers By the People: Candid Career Advice from 101 Experienced Professionals.Since then, Mike has spoken to thousands of high school and college students from Massachusetts to Maui, produced over 120 YouTube videos on career readiness, and is now publishing his second book on the topic.In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:- Why Mike wrote Careers By the People and what he learned- How students react when they hear real talk about careers- Where most young people get their career information (and why it's often wrong)- Are schools preparing students – or is the workforce training them?- Advice for first-generation, low-income students navigating career choices- Why Mike made over 120 YouTube videos on career readiness- One thing you can do today if you feel completely stumped about your career path- What to do if you're afraid you've already chosen the wrong pathIf you are stumped about your career – or know someone who is, this conversation is for you.A career doesn't have to be something you tolerate. It can be something that gives you meaning. But finding that path starts with honest conversations.Connect with Mike WysockiWebsite: careersbythepeople.comBook: Careers By the People: Candid Career Advice from 101 Experienced Professionals (Available on Amazon)YouTube: Careers by the People Second book coming early 2026Follow and rate the show.

If you have ever reacted to your child and then thought, "Why did I just say that?" – you don't have an anger problem. You have a pattern problem.Latiffe "Lati" Ghanem is a certified trauma-informed life and conscious parenting coach trained by Dr. Shefali Tsabary. She helps overwhelmed moms navigate escalating power struggles through calm, confident leadership – so parenting stops feeling like a daily battle.Lati helps moms understand that parenting doesn't create our reactions – it exposes them. The same patterns that show up in boardrooms show up even more intensely at home.In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:- Why so many good moms feel like they're failing- Is gentle parenting making moms feel more overwhelmed?- Why high-achieving women struggle the most at home- Why we repeat patterns we swore we would never pass down- The "good girl" myth and why you can't say no- Why parenting triggers us more than partners or bosses- How to handle the invisible mental load- One thing you can do in the moment to interrupt a reactionIf you have ever yelled at your kids and then cried about it later, this conversation is for you.You are not a bad mom. You are just stuck. And stuck can be undone.Connect with Latiffe GhanemWebsite: livinginprogress.comInstagram: @livingin_progressFree Pattern Parenting Quiz – pinpoint your triggers and get a mindset shift today Follow and rate the show.

Arky Jones has always been fascinated by one question: why do people think, react, and live so differently from one another?That curiosity became the foundation for PersonalityPeek – a platform designed to help people better understand themselves through personality insights, self-awareness, and personal growth. Arky combines personality concepts, Stoic wisdom, and practical self-help to help listeners gain clarity, improve their mindset, and build a stronger relationship with themselves.His core belief is simple: the better you understand yourself, the better you can lead yourself.In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:- What first got Arky interested in personality and self-awareness- What PersonalityPeek is – and the problem it solves- Why understanding your personality is essential for growth- What most people misunderstand about personality tests- How to use personality insights without putting yourself in a box- How Stoicism connects with personality and self-improvement- One practical way to become more self-aware today- How personality insights can improve relationships and communication- The first step to understanding yourself better and growing intentionallyIf you have ever wondered why you repeat certain patterns, struggle in certain relationships, or feel stuck – this conversation is for you.Know yourself. Master yourself. Grow intentionally.Connect with Arky JonesWebsite: personalitypeek.com

Saw Myint is a mother, a CPA, a finance broker, a property developer, and the founder of a charity. But her deepest mission is helping people heal.For the past decade, Saw has been practicing science-backed Buddhist self-healing for mental well-being. She now shares insights from self mental healthcare and stress relief practices the Buddha Way, backed by evidence. Her approach helps people navigate stress, depression, addiction, workaholism, relationship challenges, and other life pressures.The essence of her teaching is simple: our feelings happiness or unhappiness are fleeting, often shaped by memory, reflection, or imagination rather than the present moment. By recognizing this, we can reduce suffering and cultivate calm, clarity, and resilience all while living our everyday lives.In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:- What science-backed Buddhist self-healing actually looks like- Why feelings are fleeting and how to stop being controlled by them- Practical stress relief practices you can do today- How mindfulness helps with addiction, workaholism, and relationships- Bringing mindfulness into business and financial decisions- The shift from "victim" to "helper" – and why service healsIf you are open-minded and willing to face life's realities, this conversation is for you.Your feelings are fleeting. You are not your emotions. You are the one who observes them.Connect with Saw Myint Facebook: facebook.com/likesawkmyintCharity: Wake Up Ltd.

Thomas Wurm spent 14 years on the wildland fireline pushing his mind and body to the edge then his captain and best friend died suddenly. The grief cracked him open completely.‎What followed was a spontaneous out-of-body experience, a debilitating healing crisis, and a desperate search for something that actually worked. He found it: NLP, Mental and Emotional Release®, Huna, and Qigong – practiced together in a specific sequence – cleared what years of conventional approaches had not.‎Today, Thomas works with wildland firefighters, veterans, therapists, and anyone who has tried everything and is still stuck at the root. His Breakthrough Session – an 8-hour intensive – consistently produces results that clients describe as one of the most important experiences of their lives.‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:‎- What wildland fire culture does to the mind and nervous system‎- The spontaneous out-of-body experience during his healing crisis‎- Why talk therapy builds insight but rarely reaches the root‎- The root belief beneath every presenting problem: "I am not worthy of love"‎- What actually happens in an 8-hour Breakthrough Session‎- Why physical symptoms like chronic pain and migraines can resolve after trauma release‎- One small thing you can do today to start seeing your root belief‎‎If you have tried everything and still feel stuck, if you suspect that somewhere beneath the surface, you don't believe you are worthy of love this conversation is for you.‎The belief that you are not worthy of love is not the truth about you. It is a pattern that was installed. And patterns can be removed. You deserve to breathe.‎ Connect with Thomas Wurm Website: mountainmindtricks.com‎Free 20-min Discovery Call: mountainmindmastery.com‎ Master Practitioner: NLP, Hypnosis & MER® · Hawaiian Energy Healing Arts · Qigong Instructor

Hanna Curman had the perfect career on paper. Travel. Influence. Impact. But something was missing not work, but belonging.‎To avoid feeling that, she kept herself busy. She even filled Friday afternoons with meetings, convincing herself she was "in charge" of not being part of the team's fika. In truth, she was trying to outrun a basic human need: connection. Her body eventually called time, and she ended up on sick leave for six months.‎That became the turning point that reshaped how she sees leadership: we don't just lead with strategy, we lead with our nervous systems.‎‎Now Hanna is the founder of BrainShift – a new transformation logic – and she helps executives lead from the nervous system up.‎‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:‎- The moment she realized "I'm functioning, but I'm not well"‎- The difference between being "needed" and truly belonging‎- Why transformation programs fail (it's not the strategy; it's the nervous system)‎- How AI accelerates work but shrinks leadership and what to do about it‎- One small thing you can do today to lead from regulation instead of reactivity‎‎If you are a high performer who has wondered "I have it all, but something is missing" – this conversation is for you.You cannot lead anyone else until you can lead your own nervous system. Start there. Everything else follows.‎Connect with Hanna Curman Website: hannacurman.se‎ Author on leadership and mental health

You've felt it. That quiet, nagging sense that something isn't quite right with your baby. You can't explain it. You don't have a medical degree. But your gut is screaming at you.‎So you ask a question. Maybe at the pediatrician's office. Maybe with a lactation consultant. And then you do something most parents do, you apologize.‎"I'm sorry, I know this is probably nothing."‎"I'm probably overthinking this."‎"I don't want to be a bother."‎Why do we do that? Why do parents apologize for loving their children enough to pay attention?‎‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, host Precious Dee sits down with Dr James Thomas, a dentist who built two successful traditional practices, only to realize that something critical was being missed. He started asking questions that everyone else was ignoring. He followed the dots from struggling babies to older kids with breathing problems, behavior challenges, and sleep issues. And he wrote a book with a bold title: Why Babies Suck.‎This is not a clinical conversation filled with jargon. This is a raw, honest, and deeply validating talk about parental intuition and why we lose it, why we apologize for it, and how to get it back.‎Dr James shares what those early red flags actually look like (the clicking, the leaking, the painful feeding that everyone calls "normal"). He explains what happens when parents stay quiet not because they don't care, but because they've been dismissed too many times. And he gives parents actual scripts to use in a doctor's office when they're afraid of being shut down.‎You'll hear:‎- Why parents apologize for asking questions and what that apology is really costing them‎- The difference between anxiety and accurate observation (and why we've pathologized the wrong one)‎- What happens when a parent pushes down their gut feeling and stays quiet — from colic and reflux to ADHD labels and sleep apnea‎- The turning point that made James question everything he was taught‎- Simple, practical steps to reclaim your intuition starting tonight no appointment needed‎- Actual words to say to a dismissive doctor (scripts included)‎If you have ever been told "it's normal" when you knew something was off… if you've ever left a doctor's appointment feeling smaller than when you walked in… if you've ever apologized for asking a question about your own child this episode is for you.‎Dr James's final message to parents is one you need to hear: You are not crazy. Your gut is a gift. And the fact that you're still asking means you're already a great parent.‎Listen now. Stop apologizing. Start trusting yourself.‎Connect with Dr. James Thomas ‎Website:https://www.healthlatch.com/why-babies-suckBook: Why Babies Suck (Available on Amazon)‎

‎Cancer. Lyme disease. Stroke. Diabetes. Heart attack. Hypoxia.‎‎Magic Barclay survived all of them. And then she decided to understand why.‎‎She threw herself into study – learning how the body's systems work together, how trauma affects every cell, and how to treat root cause instead of managing symptoms. Now she helps others do the same. ‎‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:‎‎- How to understand a diagnosis beyond the label‎- Why the lymphatic system is the most overlooked part of your health‎- How mould affects the body – and why it's so dangerous‎- How to love yourself after divorce and trauma‎- One tangible thing you can do today to start treating root cause‎‎If you are tired of managing symptoms and ready to heal – this conversation is for you.Your past does not define your future. Your health is not luck. It is a skill you can learn.‎‎Connect with Magic Barclay‎‎Website: wholisticnaturalhealth.com.au‎‎Podcast: A Magical Life – Health, Wealth and Weight Loss‎‎

What happens when the healthiest person you know dies without warning?‎On November 9, 2024, Julia Lindenthal's father – seemingly healthy, in great shape – died suddenly. The autopsy revealed the cause: aortic dissection due to arterial plaque calcification.‎‎In an instant, her world changed forever.‎‎But Julia didn't stay frozen in grief. She turned her pain into purpose – launching a fundraiser through The Heart Foundation, preparing for her first TEDx Talk, and dedicating her voice to heart health awareness.‎‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:‎‎- What the first days of sudden loss actually feel like‎- What aortic dissection is – and why arterial plaque calcification is a silent killer‎- The one thing about arterial plaque most people don't know but absolutely should‎- How sudden, traumatic grief can change you – for better and for worse‎- What to say to someone afraid of losing a parent (or stuck in grief after losing one)‎- How to start a hard conversation with your parents about heart health‎‎This is not a polished, distant conversation about grief. This is raw, real, and hopeful – from someone who is living it right now .If you have ever lost someone suddenly – or live in fear of it – this episode is for you.‎Julia has started a fundraiser through The Heart Foundation to support research on arterial plaque, especially calcified plaque – a leading cause of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and aortic dissection.‎‎Connect and donate to Julia's fundraiser:Donate link:https://donate.theheartfoundation.org/inmemoryofjohnglindenthal‎

‎What does healing after betrayal actually look like – not in theory, but in practice?‎‎Gilza Fort-Martinez is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 30 years of experience. She's known as The Tough Love Healer. And she has developed a clinical framework that helps people move through betrayal – not around it.‎‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we focus on The 4 R's Framework:‎‎- Rest – Allowing the mind and body and soul to take a break‎- Reflect – Gaining insight without getting stuck in rumination‎- Reset – Using your new wisdom, accepting the new normal ‎- Reengage – Choosing how you want to reenter the world ‎‎We also discuss:‎- What betrayal actually does to a person beyond emotional pain‎- Why awareness alone won't change your patterns‎- The difference between resetting and reengaging ‎- How to know when you're ready to reengage ‎‎If you're ready to stop being stuck and start healing – clinically, intentionally, honestly – this conversation is for you.Connect with Gilza Fort-Martinez‎Book: The Loud Whispers (available on Amazon)‎Podcast: Letters to My Therapists (bilingual)‎Website: gilzafort.com‎

Low sexual desire is one of the most common yet least understood issues in intimate relationships. Many people suffer in silence, believing something is broken.‎‎Dr. Lori Davis is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and AASECT Certified Sex Counselor. She addresses both the medical and emotional sides of sexual health.‎‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we uncover the medical and emotional truth about low desire:‎‎- Why mismatched desire creates a painful cycle of pursuit and withdrawal‎- What happens in the body when sex becomes a source of tension‎- Common misconceptions about low desire‎- How menopause actually affects a woman's sex life‎- How to talk to a partner without it turning into a fight‎‎If you have ever felt broken because of your desire – or lack of it – this conversation is for you.‎Your body isn't broken. Understanding is the first step.‎‎ Connect with Dr. Lori Davis‎Coaching: dr-loridavis.com/coaching ‎Featured in: The New York Times, Oprah Daily, Women's Health.‎Teaches: Sexuality Counseling at the University of Michigan

‎What happens when a nurse, hospice specialist, and teacher decides to become a writer? You get stories shaped by a lifetime of listening, observing, and caring for others.‎Nancy Jasin Ensley writes across multiple genres – memoir, literature, science fiction, mystery, thriller, action and adventure, and children's literature. Each story is rooted in family, faith, service, and lived experience.‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:‎- How a career in healthcare and hospice shaped Nancy's approach to storytelling‎- The life lessons that find their way into every genre she writes‎- How real-life experiences become fiction and memoir‎- Advice for aspiring multi-genre writers‎- Writing for children vs. adults – and staying true to your voice‎- What Nancy hopes readers take away from her work‎If you have ever wanted to write but didn't know where to start – or if you're a writer wondering how to find your voice across genres – this conversation is for you.‎Write because it is how you listen. Write because it is how you remember.‎Connect with Nancy Jasin Ensley‎Website: nancyjasinensley.comGenres: Memoir, Literature, Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Action & Adventure, Children's Literature.‎

The world told Win Charles what she couldn't do. She spent her whole life proving them wrong.‎Born with Cerebral Palsy, Win became an author, a competitor in the Kona IronMan Triathlon, and a motivational speaker touring the country to raise awareness about living a full life no matter what holds you back.Her memoir is called I, Win. And that title says everything.‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:‎- How to achieve your dreams with a disability‎- Defying low expectations and refusing to accept no‎- Doing great things with Cerebral Palsy‎- Speaking openly about sexual and physical abuse in the disabled community‎- Advocating for veterans and building community through podcasting‎- One tangible thing you can do today to start living a full life‎If you have ever been told you can't – or if you love someone who has – this conversation is for you.‎You are not your diagnosis. You deserve a full life. Go win.Connect with Win Charles‎Memoir:I, Win‎Podcast: A Different Shaped Heart: Conversations About Disability Awareness‎Website: ceodisability.buzzsprout.com‎Chapters:‎00:00 Hook: Achieving your dreams with disability‎00:15 Introduction: Win Charles & Defying the odds‎01:15 Diagnosed with cerebral palsy and TBI, the downside ‎03:08 Dealing with cerebral palsy ‎04:40 Being told to be grateful for people being nice to you ‎06:09 People with disability being unable to defend themselves, prone to abuse‎08:38 Finding courage to share your story09:34 The system failing the disabled ‎‎12:15 Parents understanding the disabled ‎‎13:18 Word for the disabled, seek help‎14:56 Faith and  disability ‎16:06 What to do when you feel down‎17:49 Steps to take as a person with disability

Here's a myth we've all believed: Leaders are born. You either have "it" or you don't. Charisma. Confidence. The natural ability to command a room.‎Jim Carlough has spent over 30 years leading teams and developing leaders. And he's here to tell you something different: Leaders aren't born. They're developed.‎‎Jim is the author of The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success. His philosophy is simple but powerful – leadership isn't about authority or titles. It's about showing up with integrity, consistency, and care for others.‎‎In this episode of Empowered Conversations, we talk about:‎- Why the "born leader" myth is holding you back‎- How integrity shapes a leader's legacy‎- The role of tragedy in shaping successful leaders‎- The surprising power of humor in building trust‎- Why kindness is not weakness – it's strategy‎- The one pillar to focus on if you're just starting out‎- How mentorship accelerates everything‎- How to measure leadership success beyond financial outcomes‎- One thing you can do today to start leading‎‎And Jim answers the question my audience always asks: What is one tangible thing an aspiring leader can do today?‎‎If you've ever felt like you're not "leadership material" because you don't have natural charisma or a corner office, this conversation is for you.‎Leaders aren't born. They're developed. And your development starts today.‎‎Connect with Jim Carlough:‎‎*website: http://www.jimcarlough.com‎‎*Book: The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success (Available on Amazon)‎

I brought my sister on the podcast. No script. No filter.We grew up in the same house but had totally different childhoods. So I finally asked her: What drove you crazy? What did I miss? When did we stop just being siblings and start really seeing each other?We talked about the fights, the traditions, the falling out that changed everything. Some of its funny. Some of it's not. All of it's real.If you have a sibling, this one might make you want to text them. If you're an only child, this is what it sounds like when two people compare notes on the same life.No experts. No answers. Just us.

In this episode, Jonathan joins me. He’s not married, not a dad, just someone raised by both parents who paid close attention. No stats, no debates. Just one honest conversation from his side of the kitchen table.We get into what he thought was normal until he got older. What his dad got right, and what was missing. Where the split was 90/10, and who actually showed up. And the harder question, what’s he choosing to keep, and what stops with him?For moms wondering if their kids notice, young men figuring out what kind of partner to be, or anyone who grew up watching their parents’ marriage and thought, I want to do some things differently, this one’s for you.Not about blame. Just about what we saw and who we become after.

Welcome to Empowered Conversations, a podcast where we dive into real, unfiltered conversations about life, health, and everything in between with a focus on women (and men), but open to anyone who wants to listen and learn. We're talking honest chats, inspiring stories, and sometimes, a little bit of messiness. Join us as we explore what it means to be empowered, and how we can support each other, one conversation at a time.