Amplifying Our Voices

Episode 8 Leslie Vines: Inside the Heart of an ESL Teacher - Showing Up with Compassion and Humility

In this moving conversation, I sit down with Leslie Vines — a lifelong educator, daughter of a fiercely resilient single mother, and a woman whose life has been shaped by service, language, and love. Leslie opens up about growing up in East Tennessee, losing her father at a young age, and being raised by a mother whose strength, independence, and determination became the blueprint for her own life. She shares how her early love for people and connection led her from pharmaceutical sales to discovering her true calling as an ESL teacher — a role that allowed her to witness the beauty, courage, and complexity of immigrant families navigating unimaginable challenges. Through stories of her students, their families, and the emotional weight educators quietly carry, Leslie reminds us what it means to show up with compassion, cultural humility, and unwavering presence. Leslie reflects on joy, aging, identity, and the wisdom she wishes younger women knew — from rejecting beauty standards to embracing strength, purpose, and the power of community. This episode is a testament to the impact one person can have when they choose to serve with heart, curiosity, and conviction.

Episode 7: Faith, Family, and the Fight of Her Life – Eileen Lopez Tome’s Breast Cancer Journey

In this episode, Eileen López Tomé shares the powerful story behind her life as a first‑generation Cuban American, eldest daughter, mother, and breast cancer survivor. She opens up about her parents’ immigrant beginnings, the pressure to overachieve, the mental load of motherhood, and the moment everything stopped when she heard the words “you have breast cancer.” Eileen reflects on identity, faith, healing, and how her diagnosis led her to her true calling: coaching and supporting other survivors. This conversation is for anyone carrying too much on their shoulders. Work with Eileen:Book your free consultation call to find out more about Eileen’s EcoSystem of Healing Coaching Package here! https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/pa... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUZ4VTl3djVPUUdCa1R4TUxnOGhhRnM5a2RwUXxBQ3Jtc0tsMl9tUHEyRldMM19Za1BOcVVqOGlEMjMwQXBlLWh0VmpkTmxHUGVxTDA2VDZDRWZYbUZhcWRTRzM2UDB6cl9xLXRadHdxUWwwRUJoeDdnUGw1OS1QQkEwQ2tva2x5bUp6M3VvaG1iX0o3UlBBcHNBZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.paperbell.com%2Fcheckout%2Fpackages%2F204037&v=_moYtwvYbD0] Follow Eileen on: Instagram: @eileen_lopez_tome_coach: https://www.instagram.com/eileen_lopez_tome_coach?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== LinkedIn: Eileen Lopez Tome: linkedin.com/in/eileen-l-7a0849387 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileen-l-7a0849387/] Sana Sana Podcast on YouTube! @EileenLopezTome: https://youtube.com/@eileenlopeztome?si=oItItBiPyuEYJAD6

Episode 6: Guest Marie Kelly - Predicted to Fail, Determined to Rise

In this powerful episode, Marie Kelly opens up about the defining moments that shaped her—from early encounters with bias to the pivotal experiences that pushed her to rewrite her narrative. Marie shares how a racist doctor’s early prediction became fuel for her determination to rise, succeed, and defy every limitation placed on her. She talks about her journey in leading authentically, navigating workplace bias without compromising integrity, and finding strength in community, prayer, and self-love. We explore: * How to lead with authenticity while protecting your values * The realities of bias in professional spaces—and how to rise above it * How to recognize burnout before it derails your health * The importance of boundaries, rest, and listening to your body Marie’s wisdom is especially powerful for anyone who has ever felt underestimated or overlooked. Her story is a reminder that external narratives don’t define you, you do. And no matter where you are in your journey, it’s never too late to reclaim your story and step into your full potential. This episode offers a blueprint for resilience rooted in authenticity, faith, and unwavering self-worth.

Episode 5: How Sobriety Helped Miguel Montañez Find the Man He Always Was

In this episode, I sit down with Miguel Montañez to explore a story rooted in culture, identity, loss, and rebirth. Miguel shares how his Puerto Rican upbringing shaped him and talks about what he had to unlearn as a Latino man. He opens up about his journey with alcohol — how it began, when it shifted into something heavier, and the moment he realized he needed to choose recovery. Miguel talks honestly about therapy, the support systems that held him, and the surprising joy and energy he’s found in sobriety. Most beautifully, he reflects on what it means to return to the truest version of himself — the version that had been quiet for years but never left.

Episode 4: Walking Away from Stability to Find Real Joy with guest David Golchin

What if the life that looks perfect on paper is the one quietly breaking you? In this week’s episode, I sit down with David Golchin a leader who walked away from the job, the house, the “success,” and the identity he spent years building. Burnout, a failing relationship, and a moment of clarity on the other side of the world pushed him to choose something radically different: joy, presence, community, and a life defined on his own terms. We talk about mental health, identity, travel, starting over, and what it really means to build a life that feels good on the inside. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a life that no longer fits, this conversation is for you.