In Her Words

Gratitude

A Thanksgiving message of love and gratitude from Jess.  This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, [https://www.jessbuchanan.com] a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press [https://www.soulspeakpress.com/] is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something. Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six [https://a.co/d/8CmYex8] Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies [https://www.desertstomountaintops.com/anthologies]. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deserts-to-mountaintops-podcast/id1674221130].

What Does It Mean to Bear Witness?

In this episode of In Her Words, Jess explores the deep, sometimes misunderstood concept of bearing witness—what it means, why it matters, and how it sits at the very heart of memoir. She explains that witnessing is more than simply remembering; it’s the act of honoring your own experience, holding space for your truth, and affirming that what you lived through matters and is worth telling. Jess breaks down five reasons bearing witness is essential for memoir writers: 1. It reveals what your story is really about—how you felt and what it meant. 2. It restores your dignity and integrity by reminding you that you are more than what happened to you. 3. It helps you navigate emotional landmines with clarity and care. 4. It creates the intimacy readers crave and connects them to your emotional world. 5. It transforms your story into a gift rather than a confession—turning pain into meaningful purpose. Jess also shares practical prompts to help writers cultivate witnessing in their writing process, offering gentle guidance on how to honor your story without becoming overwhelmed by it. Ultimately, this episode reminds us that memoir is not just writing—it’s connection, courage, and healing, for both author and reader. This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, [https://www.jessbuchanan.com] a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press [https://www.soulspeakpress.com/] is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something. Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six [https://a.co/d/8CmYex8] Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies [https://www.desertstomountaintops.com/anthologies]. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deserts-to-mountaintops-podcast/id1674221130].

Am I Ready to Share My Story?

This week Jess dives into one of the most personal questions for any writer: Am I ready to share my story? Tune in and explore how to know when you’re truly ready to share your experience and the lessons you've learned. Jess unpacks the difference between speaking from an unhealed wound and sharing from a scar—and why the most powerful stories come when you’re writing to serve, not to seek. This episode includes writing prompts and exercises to help you determine if you're ready to share your story or still healing from it. Referenced in the episode: In the Rough with Angie [https://podcasts.apple.com/pt/podcast/kidnapped-by-pirates-for-93-days-and-now-figuring-out/id1785888557?i=1000735730846&l=en-GB] This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, [https://www.jessbuchanan.com] a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press [https://www.soulspeakpress.com/] is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something. Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six [https://a.co/d/8CmYex8] Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies [https://www.desertstomountaintops.com/anthologies]. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deserts-to-mountaintops-podcast/id1674221130].

Author Spotlight: A Conversation with Jackie Pflug

Jess sits down with Jackie Pflug, author of Wake Up! It's Time to Say Yes to a Life Worth Loving. Join us for an inspiring conversation about breaking free from autopilot and consciously choosing joy. Jackie shares how to recognize when parts of your life aren’t working—and what it takes to release what’s holding you back so you can fully say yes to life. The episode also explores the benefits of working with Soul Speak Press, from maintaining creative control and ownership of your book rights to having an authentic voice in every step of the publishing process. Jackie Pflug is a best-selling author, motivational speaker, and survivor of the 1985 EgyptAir hijacking—an event that left her shot at point-blank range and left for dead. While that moment changed everything, her greatest transformation came years later as she reckoned with what it means to create a life built on authentic joy. Today, Jackie brings her story to intimate stages across the country—from women’s circles and bookstores to podcasts—inviting people into honest conversations about growth, healing, and reclaiming joy. With a rare blend of humor, heart, and hard-won wisdom, she shares insights on navigating change, listening to your inner voice, and finding your way home to yourself. Jackie has been featured in People, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Times of Malta, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Larry King Live. Her story is unforgettable—and her message is universal. This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, [https://www.jessbuchanan.com] a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press [https://www.soulspeakpress.com/] is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something. Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six [https://a.co/d/8CmYex8] Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies [https://www.desertstomountaintops.com/anthologies]. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deserts-to-mountaintops-podcast/id1674221130].

How to Survive Survival

Today is launch day! In this emotional episode, Jess shares lessons in surviving survival, turning pain into purpose, and using trauma as an invitation to think about how we want to live. How to Survive Survival:A Guide to Turning Life's Hardest Moments into Meaningful Contribution for the World [https://www.amazon.com/How-Survive-Survival-Meaningful-Contribution/dp/1958472352/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2G552DLXMTRJV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g-iwnSGplmdP4P7KxUdd6g.m1TkZr3MSEo6lUg418zLl9lUfe5eMIEjPPGAUoEJUY0&dib_tag=se&keywords=how+to+survive+survival+jessica+buchanan&qid=1761579877&sprefix=how+to+survive+surviva%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1]is available now. For one day only the ebook can be purchased for $0.99 and we only ask that you please leave a review. About How to Survive Survival In How to Survive Survival, kidnapping survivor and New York Times bestselling author Jessica Buchanan asks the deeper question that comes after trauma, loss, and heartbreak: Now what? Through raw honesty, soulful reflection, and powerful storytelling, Jessica shares her own journey of rebuilding a life after surviving the unthinkable-and introduces readers to others who have turned their deepest wounds into a force for good. From survivors of violence, grief, addiction, and betrayal to warriors of chronic illness, military loss, and injustice, How to Survive Survival highlights the resilient, everyday people who have chosen purpose over paralysis and contribution over collapse. Guided by Jessica's RISE Framework (Reckon with the Pain, Identify the Impact, Seek the Meaning, Embody the Purpose) this book isn't about moving on. It's about moving through-and emerging with something meaningful to offer the world. Whether you're in the aftermath of something life-altering or standing beside someone who is, How to Survive Survival will meet you in the messy middle and walk with you toward hope, purpose, and a life rebuilt on truth. This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, [https://www.jessbuchanan.com] a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press [https://www.soulspeakpress.com/] is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something. Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six [https://a.co/d/8CmYex8] Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies [https://www.desertstomountaintops.com/anthologies]. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deserts-to-mountaintops-podcast/id1674221130].