In this episode, I am sharing a conversation with Dr. Tyler Hurst. I met Tyler, who is a functional neurologist, about 8 weeks into my recovery and healing. Functional neurology was an unfamiliar modality to me and I quickly learned it was one of the greatest pathways to help my brain heal. Not only that, but Tyler is a phenomenal human and became like family as he walked with me, guiding me to higher ground in my brain healing. We talk a lot about the brain and how my brain was affected by my accident both physiologically and functionally. By listening, you get a glimpse into what it looks like to live with brain injury. You also get an insight into the emotional journey it is to lose function of the organ that allows you to be who you are in the human experience. This one is filled with such deep insight into the invisible road to healing a person with brain injury walks. It is also such a testament to how important it is for patients to feel safe expressing what is happening for them on the journey BEYOND the physical. Being witnessed and validated in the wholeness of the experience is an important element for physical healing to occur. Tyler is a pro and I know that you are going to love him as much as I do!

In this episode, I am sharing a conversation with my son, Coleman. He is the only person who has been part of the day to day in the last 6 years. His adolescence into young adulthood has been marked by this journey and he is the reason I have been able to keep going through some of the darkest and most confusing stretches. He is my MVP, my little buddy and my lifelong friend. His perspective is so valuable to me and I know you will be amazed at his endurance as the only child of a single woman who faced death and has had to rebuild from the ground up. That is a lot to carry when you are 12. Though it pains me to know some of the things he took on under our circumstances (don’t we all want the easy road for our kids!?) I am also beyond proud of the way he has risen to be the brilliant and beautiful young man that he is in these times of turbulence and uncertainty. I hope you enjoy this candid conversation between a boy and his momma… reflecting on our journey as it relates to my accident, subsequent brain injury and how it affected him and our family as a unit.

In this episode, Kara steps in with Lynette Molina, a woman whose gratitude and joy for life have literally saved her life. The two are talking about the very unexpected, recent loss of Lynette’s little sister. She shares her journey of grief and her gratitude for having loved another so deeply. Because of her childhood trauma which has wiped away many memories, losing her sister was like losing part of her memory. She was the one person who knew Lynette’s entire life journey, as they walked it together. From homeless in LA to PTA member in her daughter’s private school in Scottsdale, AZ Lynette has a great appreciation for every blessing in her life. To this day, every time Lynette leaves the grocery store, she sits in her car and cries because she is so grateful that she can buy anything she wants. Listen in for jewels of wisdom from a woman who has cultivated healing through gratitude in her defining moments, especially when life is hard.

In this episode, Kara steps in with Courage Coach and riveting story teller, Britt Ivy to talk about her very tender experience of having an abortion. Their conversation is not about whether it is right or wrong. It is not a political conversation. It is the story of an 18-year-old Britt who made the choice to have an abortion and later in life unpacked the many ways in which it showed up as self-sabotaging behavior, eating disorder, patterns of choosing abusing partners, numbing her feelings, and addiction until she found help, hope and healing years later. It is her life’s work to help other women heal.

In this episode, Kara steps in with sought after motivational speaker and international teacher, Nyke Latrice. Kara and Nyke talk about her single mom life, providing for her 3 kids (2 of her own and an added nephew who was also under her parental care) through numerous hustles while volunteering her heart to serve and volunteer in various ways in the community. Giving back, Nyke emphasizes empowerment by creating programs that give single moms a “hand up” instead of a “hand out”. The two also talk about the devastating murder of the nephew she raised and what it has been for her family to find healing. Listen in to this episode to be encouraged as a mom and inspired by Nyke’s advocacy for women and children trying to figure life out.

In this episode, Kara steps in with genius mentor and beautiful soul, Tania Blanco. Tania shares the painful journey of losing her true self through her involvement in a religious organization and through her marriage. Kara and Tania talk about how she was not allowed to have a voice, but rather as a woman had to comply. You will hear how this emotional suffering showed up as physical problems in her body. Tania shares what it took to reclaim her power, create boundaries and dance her way back into loving her life.

In this episode, Kara is stepping in with her client who recently reclaimed life through her second triumphant round with cancer. They explore strength, mental health and Maren’s transition from operating as a tightly wound twine to relaxing, letting go and allowing life to happen. It became obvious in her journey that she needed space to heal all aspects of her being. Once she created the space, she could see that parts of her life were no longer serving her and she knew she had to make changes that aligned to her highest self.

Listen in for multiple extremely relatable conversations that took Maren from living in autopilot to conscious choosing in her life.

In this episode, Kara steps in with Backlight Productions* choreographer and CYT Nashville Program Director, Elise Horecka. Elise shares with Kara her experience growing up as the younger sister to her oldest sibling, Kari who has Cri du chat, a rare chromosomal syndrome.

The two share laughs as Elise recollects fun and funny, unique childhood stories and encourages us all to approach people who are different than us with curiosity and acceptance, even when it is unfamiliar or uncomfortable. Her stories are delightful and her insights are so valuable. Prepare for laughter and a level of heartwarming that is rare.

*Backlight Productions is a Nashville, TN based theater company for adults with special needs.

In this episode, Kara steps in with Amy Wiebe-Ewolt, a beautiful momma who has suffered unfathomable loss. Amy shares how in 2013, she lost her youngest son, Kyle while on an adventure from Australia to New Zealand aboard a famous 1920’s sailboat. Kyle bought a one-way ticket to New Zealand, met the captain of the Nina’ and begged him to join the voyage. He was eager to learn and easy to like… so without any sailing experience, the captain still agreed to let him join the crew. Amy holds onto the fact that “Kyle would’ve gone if there was a hole in the boat.” In this gentle sharing of both her and Kyle’s story, Amy offers us wisdom from a very vulnerable and deep place. Listen in to hear funny and inspiring stories of adventure and a zest for life that will live on in Kyle’s family and friends forever, while holding the unfathomable loss of a child and the life that continues on without him physically here.

In this episode, Kara steps in with Rosa Cao Liu. Rosa is a remarkable young woman, who as an Asian Latin American immigrant from Venezuela moved to Canada by herself when she was only 17 years old. Kara and Rosa talk about what a frightening experience it was to know no one and speak a different language in a new culture.

Rosa encourages us to seek opportunities to bring growth into our lives by facing challenges with a winning mindset while brilliantly guiding us to our bodies when making any decision. She offers valuable insights to new language learners and tips for encouragement if you find yourself bridging the gap of communication with someone who speaks a different language than you. She is such an inspiration and her story of valor and bravery will motivate you and just plain make you feel good!

In this episode, Kara is stepping in with Clarity Coach and Pause Box founder and CEO, Meredith Vaish. They are talking about the journey she went through after years of making it all happen as a powerhouse female hustling in Silicon Valley during the tech boom of the early 2000s, followed by a 16-year career as Marketing Communication Strategist at Stanford University all while operating as an amazing family woman, married to the love of her life and raising their 2 daughters. Kara and Meredith talk about her forced stop when her body suddenly hit a wall and said with symptoms, “Hey, I can’t do all the hustle anymore.” Meredith shares how she had to really pay attention and change some of the ways she was doing all things.

In this episode, Kara steps in with author, speaker and brother, Keeper Catran-Whitney. Keeper is the author of an amazing book, Helplessness: The Mental Health Challenges Brothers Experience After Learning our Sisters Have Been Sexually Abused by our Parents. Kara and Keeper dive deeply into the moment that changed everything in his family. One minute they were set to escape extreme poverty, signing on with Motown records to be the “new” Jackson 5 and the next, everything broke as the brothers learned their step father had been molesting their sisters for years and their mother knew about it the whole time. Keeper shares candidly about the way he experienced this trauma in his family and the way silence ate at him for 45 years until he finally found the way forward through conversations with his siblings. Join Kara and Keeper as they unpack a very dark and heavy topic while bringing light and the redemption of healing to the forefront. This is a beautiful and important conversation that offers healing and insight into unthinkable trauma.