The Stone in My Shoe

There’s a version of success many women quietly try to live up to. Being present at home. Building something meaningful. Holding everything together without anything slipping.In this conversation with Disha Solanki, that expectation is gently unravelled. She shares what it really looked like to pursue ambition while raising a family — not as a polished story, but through the moments that stayed with her.Missing something that mattered. Carrying guilt for longer than she expected.Realising the pressure she was holding wasn’t sustainable.The turning point wasn’t one big decision.It was the slow recognition that the standard she was trying to meet — being everything to everyone — didn’t actually exist.And that continuing to push through it was costing her more than she realised.This conversation opens up the reality behind ambition, motherhood, and identity — and what happens when you begin to question how much you’re holding.This episode is for you if:• You feel the pressure to do everything well — and still feel like it’s not enough• You’re trying to balance ambition with being present at home• You’ve started to question the expectations you’ve been carryingIn this episode, you’ll learn:• Why the idea of “doing it all” is often unrealistic• How internal pressure builds without being noticed• What happens when you push beyond your capacity for too long• Why there is no perfect time — and what that really meansIf something in this conversation feels familiar, it’s might be because it reflects a pressure many women carry quietly.And sometimes, simply recognising that is where things begin to shift.👤 GUEST LINKS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetrailblazehersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedishasolankiWebsite: https://www.thetrailblazehers.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dishasolanki/🌿 REWIRED & RADIANT:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewiredandradiantFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579968982281

Have you ever had a moment where you should feel something… but you don’t?Not joy. Not gratitude. Not even frustration. Just… nothing.This episode explores what happens when you suppress emotions for so long that youlose access to all of them,  not just the difficult ones, but the ones that make life feel meaningful too.Because you don’t get to choose which emotions you turn down.The same patterns that help you avoid discomfort eventually disconnect you from joy, appreciation, and connection.  And it doesn’t happen all at once. It builds quietly, through adapting, people-pleasingand trying to hold everything together.Until one day, you realise you are  numb , you feel nothing. This episode is for women who:• feel emotionally numb or flat• have learned to suppress difficult feelings• have spent years holding everything together• are starting to question why they can’t feel joy or gratitudeIn this conversation, you’ll understand:• why suppressing emotions leads to numbness• why you can’t turn down one emotion without losing others• the hidden cost of coping patterns that “work”• how emotional disconnection builds over time• why this moment can be the beginning of something deeper Guest LinksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/growrecoverdiscoverWebsite: https://www.growrecoverdiscover.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanna-atherton-441239389/ Debbie Thompson and Rewired & Radiant LinkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewiredandradiantFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579968982281

This conversation explores what happens when the way you’ve always coped with life quietly stops working.Dr Alla Demutska shares her experience of growing up in an environment shaped by instability, fear, and uncertainty -where control, achievement, and constant effort became a way to feel safe. From the outside, it led to success, resilience, and capability. But underneath, there was something else driving it.Over time, that pattern of pushing, solving, and holding everything together began to take its toll. Not in a dramatic or obvious way, but through a growing sense that something wasn’t quite right — even when life looked fine.The turning point didn’t come from a single moment. It came from reaching a place where pushing harder no longer worked. Where the instinct to override, fix, and control couldn’t carry things forward anymore.What followed wasn’t about changing everything overnight. It was about something more subtle, and often harder — learning to stop overriding what she felt. Letting go of the need to force outcomes. Allowing life to unfold in a different way.This conversation is for you if:• You’re used to holding everything together• You find it hard to slow down or stop pushing• Your life looks “fine” but doesn’t feel fully aligned• You’ve started questioning the way you make decisions• You’re beginning to notice what you’ve been overridingIn this episode, you’ll hear:• How early experiences shape patterns ofcontrol and over-functioning• Why pushing and achieving can become a way to avoid deeper feelings• What it looks like when those strategies stop working• The difference between forcing life and allowing it• How to begin listening to what you’ve been overridingThere’s a quiet honesty in recognising thatsomething isn’t wrong — but something isn’t fully true either. And sometimes,the shift doesn’t come from doing more, but from noticing what you’ve beendoing all along.Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.compassionate.psychologist/Guest Website: https://demo-ten-liard-29.vercel.app/index.htmlRewired & Radiant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewiredandradiantRewired & Radiant Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579968982281

How do you know when something isn’t right… but you keep going anyway. In this episode, Lisa Walker shares what it looked like to build a life that appeared successful on the outside, while quietly ignoring what didn’t feel right underneath. Working in marketing and holding everything together, she foundherself repeating patterns in relationships that reflected something deeper she hadn’t yet faced. The turning point came when everything stopped. She found herself leaving her life behind and going on the run with her children, forced to confront what she had been avoiding for years. What followed wasn’t immediate clarity, but a recognition that she had been living in a way that required her to constantly prove her worth, minimise herself, and override her own intuition. This conversation explores how early beliefs about love, worth, and safety shape the choices we make in adulthood. It’s about the quiet patterns that go unnoticed until they can no longer be ignored — and what happens when awareness begins toshift everything.If you are a woman who:·     questions your instincts in relationships·     feels like you have to prove your worth to be loved·     finds yourself staying in situations that don’t feel right·      is navigating a midlife identity shift·      feels something is off but can’t fully name it·      is starting to recognise patterns in your lifeYou’ll learn:·      how early conditioning shapes relationship patterns·      why we ignore what we know doesn’t feel right·     the connection between achievement and emotional avoidance·     what a real turning point can look like·     how awareness begins the process of changeSometimes the moment that changes everything isn’t something new — it’s finally seeing what has been there all along. 👤 Guest:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deitycircleWebsite: https://www.deitycircle.com/🌿 Rewired & Radiant:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewiredandradiantFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579968982281

Have you ever looked at your life and thought… everything is fine, but something doesn’t feel right?In this episode, Debbie speaks with Alena Uzhnyeva, a successful entrepreneur who built an international business and achieved what many would define as success—financial freedom, travel, and recognition.But beneath the surface, something wasn’t aligned.After years of pushing forward in a high-performing corporate world, Alena reached a point where success no longer felt fulfilling. Despite everything she had achieved, she felt empty, disconnected, and exhausted.A powerful retreat experience became the moment everything shifted—forcing her to confront deeper emotional patterns and the true reason behind her drive for success.This conversation explores what happens when we build a life based on expectations, conditioning, or something we’re trying to prove—rather than what is truly ours.It’s about the quiet realisation that something is missing… and the courage to listen to it. This is for you if you are a woman who:• feels like your life looks good, but doesn’t feel right• is questioning your direction or purpose• is navigating a midlife identity shift• feels disconnected from yourself despite external success• senses there is something more, but can’t yet name it• finds yourself constantly doing, but rarely just beingWhat you will learn: Why success doesn’t always equal fulfilment• How unconscious patterns can shape your life choices• The moment that signals it’s time to change direction• What it means to reconnect with yourself• The role of intuition in making life decisions• How to move from proving… to livingThis episode is a reminder that nothing has to be “wrong” for something to no longer feel right. And often, the most important shift begins not with action—but with honesty.🎧 PODCAST EPISODE LINKS:YouTube:https://youtu.be/6vQOlqZXJdY?si=JsBsiFvChWhrSRri👤 GUEST LINKS:Website: https://iamcreationretreat.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamcreationretreatInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcreationretreatYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgMf7iRDGaRFn7xKeYogSvQ🌿 REWIRED & RADIANT:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewiredandradiantFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579968982281

In this episode of The Stone in My Shoe, Giancarla shares a deeply reflective and layered journey of self-discovery, intuition, and identity.From an early awareness that she experienced the world differently, to navigating the tension between science and spirituality, Giancarla explores what it means to truly embrace all parts of yourself — even the ones that don’t fit neatly into what’s expected.A significant turning point came through a long-term relationship that, in hindsight, revealed patterns she couldn’t fully see while she was inside it. Like many women, she found that clarity only came after stepping away — when she could finally recognise the dynamics that had been present all along.This conversation gently explores how awareness unfolds over time, how we learn to trust ourselves again, and what it means to begin honouring who we are — even when it requires change.It’s not about dramatic transformation.It’s about the quiet, internal shift that changes everything.Why it’s often hard to see patterns when you’re inside themThe role of intuition and internal awarenessNavigating identity shifts in midlifeThe experience of rediscovering yourself after a relationshipWhat it means to truly honour yourselfHow different parts of ourselves can coexist (logic and intuition)This is a thoughtful and expansive conversation for any woman who feels a quiet sense that something is changing — even if she can’t yet fully name it.In this episode, we explore:

Outwardly, Marali had built the perfect life. A successful corporate career across Europe. Financial independence. Achievement. Discipline.But Inwardly there was Shame. Disconnection. An eating disorder. Burnout so severe her body refused to get out of bed.In this deeply honest episode of The Stone in My Shoe, I sit down with Marali — certified Tantra teacher, breath worker, and leadership mentor — to explore what happens when high achievement masks deep inner tension.From growing up as a twin in Lithuania, to carrying guilt after her parents’ divorce, to developing bulimia in her teens and chasing success in London, Marali shares the invisible drivers behind her ambition — and the moment her body finally said no.This conversation is not about sex.It’s about integration.About weaving together the masculine drive to achieve and the feminine capacity to feel.About understanding that burnout is not weakness — it’s intelligence.If you are a woman who:• Achieves easily but feels disconnected from her body• Has built success but feels something is missing• Struggles with shame, perfectionism, or “not good enough”• Is tired of living neck-up and wants to feel fully alive• Is curious about Tantra but unsure what it really meansThis episode will resonate deeply.In this conversation, you will learn:• How childhood guilt and “good girl” conditioning fuel overachievement• Why eating disorders and coping mechanisms can be survival strategies• What burnout is really communicating• How suppressing parts of yourself strengthens them• What Tantra actually means (and why it’s not just about sex)• How to reconnect mind and body after years of disconnection• Why true intimacy begins withinMarali explains Tantra as “weaving together” - the integration of masculine and feminine energies within us. Not rejecting ambition. Not rejecting softness. But allowing both to coexist.Because success without embodiment is exhausting.And healing begins the moment we stop fighting ourselves.If this episode speaks to you, subscribe and share it with a woman who needs to hear that burnout is not failure  it’s a doorway.This conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply liberating.🔗 Connect with MaraliWebsite: https://tantrawithmarali.comInstagram: @tantrawithmarali🎙 Follow The Stone in My ShoeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stoneinmyshoepodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZplV0leGMT3TAfrbrvWz0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-stone-in-my-shoe/id1869259267

Why is it that you can show up for everyone else… build a career, raise a family, carry responsibility… but when it comes to yourself, something unravels? In this episode of The Stone in My Shoe, I sit down with Terry Tateossian , founder of THOR and host of How Good Can It Get, to explore the hidden patterns behind self-sabotage, emotional eating, and high-functioning burnout in midlife.  From defecting Eastern Europe as a child to building a successful life in America, Terry learned resilience early. She became disciplined, determined, capable.  But there was a cost. Despite outward success, she found herself disconnected from her body, emotionally overwhelmed, and eventually gaining over 80 pounds. What she uncovered wasn’t laziness or lack of willpower. It was survival wiring. Unprocessed grief.Inner “voices” formed in childhood that were still running the show.  If you are a woman who:• Can achieve for others but struggle to stay consistent for yourself• Feels embarrassed that you “should know better” by now• Reaches for coping mechanisms when grief or stress hits • Suspects there is something deeper beneath your habits • Is tired of quick fixes and wants lasting changeThis conversation will resonate. You will learn:• Why high-achieving women often self-sabotage when it comes to their own health• How trauma responses can look like ambition and drive• The real link between grief and emotional coping• Why suppressing inner patterns makes them stronger• What true long-term transformation actually requires• How midlife can become a reclamation rather than a decline This is not a weight loss story. It is a story about awareness, nervous system healing, identity, and becoming the conscious leader of your inner world. If this conversation speaks to you, subscribe and share it with a woman who needs to hear it. Connect with Terry:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/how.good.can.it.get/Website: https://www.thehouseofrose.com/Follow Rewired & Radiant:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewiredandradiant/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579968982281 

This episode is for the woman who has built a full, successful life and enjoys learning, refining, and growing, not because something is wrong, but because curiosity keeps pulling her forward.Jane Slack-Smith’s career has moved across many worlds: from explosives engineering, to mortgage broking and property education, to mentoring tens of thousands of people and developing practical tools to help others make better decisions. Along the way, she was recognised with major ndustry awards, including Mortgage Broker of the Year.But this conversation isn’t about chasing achievement.Jane shares how some of her most important turning points didn’t come from struggle or dissatisfaction, but from curiosity,  moments when she noticed there was anotherlayer to explore. She reflects on leaving certainty to start something new, driven not by fear or pressure, but by a pull she couldn’t ignore.A key moment in the episode comes when Jane describes mentoring a client who had every practical box ticked, yet simply said, “It doesn’t feel right.” That moment sparked a deeper enquiry into intuition,  not as something mystical, but as a learnable, practical skill that can be built through small decisions over time.Jane also shares how she began to practise intuition deliberately, through everyday choices, intentional walks, and creative expression, and how trusting this inner knowing has influenced both her personal life and the way she supportsothers today.This is a grounded, thoughtful conversation about learning to trust yourself, honouring integrity, and allowing life to evolve — one small decision at a time. This episode is for you ifYou enjoy learning and personal growth, even when life is already working.You’re curious about intuition, but want it explained in a practical, grounded wayYou value integrity and thoughtful decision-makingYou’re interested in how confidence and self-trust are built, not forced.How to contact Janehttps://yoursuccessclub.com.au/linkedin.com/in/janeslacksmith

In today’s episode, you’re going to hear a deeply grounding and expansive conversation about intuition, courage, and what it means to trust yourself when the old path no longer fits.My guest is Doro Fisher, a senior communications strategist, international coach, and community builder who has spent more than two decades working with global organisations including the United Nations and the European Union. Fluent in four languages and living in Spain, Doro has built a career that, from the outside, looked stable, successful, and purposeful.But beneath that surface, two powerful “stone in the shoe” moments began to emerge.The first came during early motherhood, when the rigid structure of a 9–5 role no longer aligned with thelife she wanted for herself or her children. The second arrived years later, amid global uncertainty and geopolitical shifts, when long-standing projects were paused and Doro found herself questioning not just what she was doing,  but why.What followed was not a dramatic leap, but a deeply intentional recalibration. Through listening to her intuition, preparing carefully, and trusting that the universe would meet her halfway, Doro created space to step into her own voice -  launching purpose-led projects, building communities of inspiring women around the world, and redefining success on her own terms.This episode is rich with wisdom about navigating uncertainty, balancing intuition with practical planning, andallowing midlife to become a time of expansion rather than contraction.If you’ve ever felt the quiet nudge that something needs to change,  or wondered how to honour your inner knowing without burning everything down,  this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.By the end, you’ll feel reassured that you don’t need to have every step mapped out,  you just need the courage to take the next aligned one.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear a powerful and deeply relatable conversation about burnout, over-responsibility, and what happens when being “the strong one” starts to take a toll.Erika Navarro is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist,  from Colombia and used to work in Los Angeles. She’s also a mother, wife, and the founder of Healing Souls by Erika, where she offers courses and support that blend nervous system healing, emotional wellness, and somatic practices for both women and men.For years, Erika lived in survival mode - high-functioning on the outside but disconnected within. It wasn’t until anxiety, burnout and exhaustion brought her to a breaking point that she began to listen to the whisper in her body… and chose a different way.In this honest and grounded conversation, Erika shares how she let go of over-performing, embraced softness and rest, and redefined what true strength means. We talk about healing cultural patterns, honouring your nervous system, and the freedom that comes when you stop trying to hold it all together alone.If you’ve ever felt like you should be coping just fine, but deep down, something doesn’t feel right, this episode will speak directly to your heart.By the end, you’ll feel seen, soothed, and reminded that you don’t have to wait for a crisis to choose something better.

In today’s episode, you’re going to hear a powerful conversation about loss, resilience, and the healing potential of deep psychological repair.Dr. Jayn is a neuro-physiological psychologist whose work spans continents, cultures, and decades. With a doctorate and two master’s degrees in psychology, she brings extraordinary depth to the field of nervous system healing and trauma recovery.In this conversation, she shares the two pivotal “stone in the shoe” moments that transformed the course of her life. First, leaving behind a global career in mergers and acquisitions to follow a deeper calling into psychology, and then, decades later, facing a profound personal and financial loss that led her to start over at 52.What followed was a journey of radical inner recalibration - through science, spirituality, and soul work - and the creation of Villa 19, a residential sanctum in Malaysia designed for nervous system regulation and full-body healing.This episode is filled with lived wisdom, from trauma-informed insight to lessons in listening to your inner voice, especially when the outside world expects something else.Whether you’re in transition, starting over, or simply feeling the quiet nudge of something more, Dr. Jayn’s story is a powerful reminder that healing, clarity, and purpose are always possible.Enjoy.By the end, you’ll feel inspired to meet your own turning points with more self-compassion, courage, and curiosity