In this deeply personal episode Kara explores the transformative power of vulnerability and how sharing our most difficult life experiences can lead to profound healing. Through her journey of healing from childhood trauma and a near-death experience, Kara reflects on how being vulnerable in sharing her story not only helped her process pain but strengthened her connection with others. Kara talks about the ongoing work of integrating her inner child and how it’s deepened her sense of purpose and empowerment. She also highlights the importance of sharing your story with loved ones and how this kind of reflection can foster deeper healing and connection. She reflects on the power of creative expression—whether through writing, art, or simply speaking your truth—as a means of processing trauma and healing.

In this episode, Kara is stepping in with ICU nurse, Shelby Colette as she takes us with her to reflect on her adventures aboard the “Mercy Ship.” She has served as a volunteer twice on the ship, giving surgical care to people who would not otherwise receive it. Shelby shares that her journey with Mercy ships started even as a child. Her parents' travel taught her that the world was much bigger than her backyard. The dream took form in college when she saw a flier hanging in her nursing school hall that sparked a deep desire in her to one day be on that ship. Despite the dream, after nursing school she got a job, and was in a very serious relationship. Her life was settling down and she could see it written out for the next 30 years. But she felt a little part of her dying, knowing she was made for more. When Mercy ships reappeared, she knew it was her time to go. Even though it felt like she was exploding her own life and stopping everything she had been working for up to that point, she made the brave decision to break off her relationship and let go of everything she knew. Shelby shares her perspectives on how sometimes other people’s stories have a great impact on our own. She doesn’t claim to tell her patient’s stories, but rather honors them as she offers the great treasures she stored up from watching them hope against devastating circumstances, find joy amidst deep pain and have peace when there was no answer. Listen in to gain a valuable lens into a part of the world and a topic that we aren’t generally tuned into.

In this episode, Kara is joined by Colby Coash, a childhood friend and author of the newly released book, Running Naked: Surviving the legacy of family in rural Nebraska. After reading his book, set primarily in their childhood hometown of Bassett, in three sittings, Kara was thrilled to get the opportunity to go a little deeper into Colby's story. The two talk about their reflections on growing up in a small rural Nebraska town, which they both hold dear. They share heartfelt conversations about hometown roots, themes of hard work, family expectations and growing up in true community. Kara and Colby also go into difficult conversation about the confusion he had as a boy of only 13 when his mom abandoned their family to create a new life for herself in a faraway state and eventually another country. Colby shares how the lonely process of writing his midlife memoir helped him make sense of and find purpose in his life thus far. He invites his readers to reflect with him through his childhood memories while offering his adult reflective perspective as he takes us on a journey through the stories he shares. The book and conversation will have you laughing and crying, reflecting and thinking about how your own stories shape your life and if you have children, your parenting.

In this episode, Kara is stepping into the important topic of postpartum depression with Holly Fisher. The two have an honest conversation about how moms aren't really given the space to acknowledge or grieve that a part of them is changing after the birth of their child. Holly shares feelings of guilt and repressed emotions around the thoughts she was having. It felt shameful to share them, so she suffered in silence to uphold society’s expectation of how she “should” be doing as a new mom. Holly emphasizes that her identity isn’t in being a mom or in her work or in her experience of postpartum depression and gives us all useful strategies to really check in on the moms we love. Postpartum depression isn’t a failure, it is a medical imbalance in a mom’s body after giving birth.

In the episode, Kara is stepping in with a woman who basically raised herself as well as often functioning as the caretaker to her alcoholic mom. Jennifer Royal grew up as an only child with a single mom who struggled with alcoholism and ultimately took her own life. Jen shares stories of resilience and survival as a young girl who had to figure out how to get what she needed to survive. Her mom did get sober for a time and Jennifer experienced much positive benefit from attending AA meeting with her but unfortunately her mom never did the full work to heal addictive tendencies. There were good times and high points but there was always a thread of manipulation running through, she was never really standing in her power to take care of herself. Kara and Jen talk about the grief and sadness related to not having a childhood which came up as she had her own children as well as Jen’s journey to neurofeedback and igniting her “healer energy” inspired by her mom’s untapped potential. This unthinkable story of trauma and resilience will take your breath away.

In this episode Kara steps in with Sue Peters who found herself on a profound journey creating a new life and identity after the heartbreaking loss of her husband and best friend, John.  Sue shares inspiring perspectives and stories of certainty that convinced her she was never alone in this journey. The two explore how she moved from survival to wanting to be alive again. They share thoughts on difficult anniversary days, duality of emotions and finding ways to stay connected with someone you have lost. They highlight the depth of love that comes from processing grief of a loved one. If you have lost someone you love, you will find validation and hope in this episode.

In this episode, Kara is stepping in with Renee Browning who recounts a long journey of grief and loss as she navigated 4 miscarriages amidst the births of her 2 sons and eventual adoption of their 3rd daughter. Renee shares that after pushing through, stuffing the pain and distracting herself, she eventually hit a wall and realized she needed help processing the deep grief she was feeling. The two talk about how miscarriage is a very lonely and isolating road. Renee shares that doing something to tangibly bring you peace, help you process and remember the lives of miscarried babies is an important part of healing. Her journey and perspectives will touch you deeply.

In this episode, Kara is stepping in with author and coach, Dr. Gemma Sampson. Australian by birth, Gemma grew up in a very rural town in Zambia, Africa in a missionary family. Returning to Australia her senior year, she quickly stopped telling the stories that were normal for her in order to assimilate into the teen experience of her peers, thus beginning the lifelong quest to find belonging. Throughout her life, Gemma has moved over 50 times living about 18 months in each place. Listen in to hear how Gemma found home within by learning to listen to the still small voice of her own intuition and not respond to other’s desires for her life.

In this episode, Kara is stepping in with True Joy Expert, Linda Shively. After healing from an abusive marriage and navigating the diagnosis and eventual death of her severely handicapped 3 year old daughter, Linda found her way to bounce back and reclaim joy in her life. Linda shares gripping moments from her daughter’s diagnosis to her last breath as well as recounting the years of despair and numbness to her new found purpose, triumph and joy in life. Her daughter’s joy and the joy that was between them keeps her going even to this day. Linda’s story of loss is tragic but the peace and presence she has cultivated are healing and inspiring.

In this episode, Kara is stepping in with Maggie Kang, a board certified radiologist whose nine year old daughter had a very sudden diagnosis of an incurable and rare autoimmune disease. That moment in time and the weeks following completely changed Maggie's life, her daughter's life, and their whole family's way of being in the world. The two talk about the importance of processing pain and grieving in order to truly find acceptance and live in the reality of now after life-altering events. Maggie shares her journey with exploring new ways of thinking about the changes in order to let go of resistance, move through her pain, and find a way to move forward. This episode will leave you full of hope.

In this episode, I am sharing a conversation with my myofascial release (MFR) therapist and dearest friend, Laurie Wheeler. I have often said, if there is no other silver lining to this event in my life, Laurie is it and that is enough. Next to my son, Laurie has been the most physically present in my journey of the last 6 years of healing and learning to live a very different life. She is a force of love like no other. Her presence has changed me, healed me. She is a gifted healer and has become one of the dearest friends I have ever known. In our conversation, we talk about everything recovery and healing, with much emphasis on the physical journey of my body through the hands on bodywork that she does (John Barnes MFR). Because she has also been such a presence in my life, we also talk about many other aspects of my life and healing in the past 6 years.

In this episode, I am sharing a conversation with my big sister and best friend, Jen Bussinger. Despite many states between us, she was at my side in the ICU within 12 hours of my accident. Her support physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually has been the greatest gift of my life. I could never put into words what she means to me nor the depth of healing this conversation stirred in me. She helped me remember things from the beginning and the unfolding of time but we also talked about things each of us has experienced as a result of this event that we had never shared with each other previously. She is stepping in with me, I am with her. You see the layers of my story and the way her story of my experience is part of our conversation. We have worked very intentionally to live in the depth of love and relationship that we share and I am honored to share with you a small window into her love. She is so very special to me.