I Spent 2.5 Years Grieving the Wrong Thing | Family Estrangement, Heartbreak & Finding Home Again

I Spent 2.5 Years Grieving the Wrong Thing | Family Estrangement, Heartbreak & Finding Home Again

🌈 Pride Month Episode I spent two and a half years trying to get over a woman. Then I realized she wasn't what I was grieving. For years, I believed my heartbreak was about losing a relationship. What I eventually discovered was that I was mourning something much deeper: belonging, family, connection, identity, and the feeling of home. In this deeply personal episode of Storytime with Lori, I share my journey through: ❤️ Heartbreak 🏡 Family Estrangement 🌈 Pride & Belonging 🧠 Emotional Intelligence 🤝 Psychological Safety 💪 Resilience ✨ Self-Worth 🌺 Healing in Hawaii 🫂 Learning to Trust Myself Again If you've ever: • Lost someone you loved • Experienced family estrangement • Felt disconnected from your identity • Struggled with heartbreak • Been searching for where you belong • Had to rebuild your life after loss This episode is for you. Because sometimes the thing we're grieving isn't actually the thing we lost. And sometimes healing is simply learning to come home to yourself. 🎙️ Subscribe for more episodes of Storytime with Lori. Real life. Real conversations. Real growth. Until next time… keep becoming. #StorytimeWithLori #PrideMonth #HealingJourney #FamilyEstrangement #HeartbreakRecovery #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #PsychologicalSafety #Belonging #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfWorth #TraumaHealing #LGBTQStories #Resilience #Authenticity

Leadership, Allyship, Reinvention & Refusing to Stay Small

🚀 What if the biggest career breakthrough isn't another certification, promotion, or title... What if it's learning how to advocate for yourself? In my latest episode of STORYTIME with Lori [https://www.linkedin.com/company/storytime-with-lori/], I sat down with Dr Elisha Foust 🦸🏻‍♀️ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elishafoust/]former sales operations leader, transformation expert, founder, LGBTQ+ 🌈 advocate, cancer survivor, and one of the smartest women I've had the privilege to work alongside. We talked about: ✨ Personal branding that actually matters ✨ How sponsors change careers ✨ Why allyship is active, not passive ✨ Navigating corporate politics without losing yourself ✨ Reinventing your life after adversity ✨ Building a career rooted in authenticity, not approval One of my favorite takeaways: 👉 "Stop leading with everything you've done. Start leading with the problems you can solve." That mindset shift alone can change the trajectory of your career. Whether you're early in your career, leading teams, navigating change, or simply trying to figure out what's next, this conversation is packed with real-world wisdom. Because behind every title is a human being trying to figure it out one day at a time. 🎙️ Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. This is STORYTIME with Lori [https://www.linkedin.com/company/storytime-with-lori/]. Real life. Real conversations. Real growth. Until next time... keep becoming. 💛 #Leadership [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23leadership&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #PersonalBranding [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23personalbranding&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #CareerGrowth [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23careergrowth&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #WomenInLeadership [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23womeninleadership&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #SalesLeadership [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23salesleadership&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #SalesOperations [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23salesoperations&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #ExecutiveLeadership [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23executiveleadership&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #AuthenticLeadership [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23authenticleadership&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #CareerDevelopment [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23careerdevelopment&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #Mentorship [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23mentorship&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #Sponsorship [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23sponsorship&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #Allyship [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23allyship&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #LGBTQLeadership [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23lgbtqleadership&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #DiversityAndInclusion [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23diversityandinclusion&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #ProfessionalDevelopment [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23professionaldevelopment&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #WomenInTech [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23womenintech&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #LeadershipDevelopment [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23leadershipdevelopment&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #StorytimeWithLori [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23storytimewithlori&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23podcast&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #CareerSuccess [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23careersuccess&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]

The Future of Leadership Isn’t Louder. It’s More Human.

Some leaders build companies.Michelle Ragusa-McBain builds PEOPLE.In this deeply powerful episode of Storytime with Lori, Michelle opens up about the journey behind becoming one of the most respected and trusted leaders in cybersecurity and channel partnerships today.But this conversation is not about titles.It’s about:✨ Self-worth✨ Reinvention✨ Emotional intelligence✨ Leadership with heart✨ Human connection in the age of AI✨ Championing women and people of color✨ Building trust that lasts longer than transactionsFor years, Michelle has been a quiet force behind the success of countless people in this industry — mentoring, advocating, connecting, elevating, and helping others rise.What makes Michelle different is this:People don’t just remember what she accomplished.They remember how she made them FEEL.Now, Lori and Michelle officially join forces together at Corero Network Security — a company building the future of AI-powered cybersecurity, DDoS protection, strategic partnerships, and people-first innovation.This episode is about the HUMAN behind the leadership.The resilience behind the confidence.The empathy behind the executive.The becoming behind the success.If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome…If you’ve ever questioned your worth…If you’ve ever needed proof that authenticity still wins…This conversation is for you.🎙️ Storytime with Lori featuring Michelle Ragusa-McBain — now streaming.#MichelleRagusaMcBain #StorytimeWithLori #WomenInTech #Cybersecurity #LeadershipPodcast #Authenticity #WomenInLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #ChannelPartners #Corero #PersonalGrowth #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship

The Future of Leadership Isn't Louder, it's More Human

Some leaders build companies. Michelle Ragusa-McBain builds PEOPLE. In this deeply powerful episode of Storytime with Lori, Michelle opens up about the journey behind becoming one of the most respected and trusted leaders in cybersecurity and channel partnerships today. But this conversation is not about titles. It’s about: ✨ Self-worth ✨ Reinvention ✨ Emotional intelligence ✨ Leadership with heart ✨ Human connection in the age of AI ✨ Championing women and people of color ✨ Building trust that lasts longer than transactions For years, Michelle has been a quiet force behind the success of countless people in this industry — mentoring, advocating, connecting, elevating, and helping others rise. What makes Michelle different is this: People don’t just remember what she accomplished. They remember how she made them FEEL. Now, Lori and Michelle officially join forces together at Corero Network Security — a company building the future of AI-powered cybersecurity, DDoS protection, strategic partnerships, and people-first innovation. This episode is about the HUMAN behind the leadership. The resilience behind the confidence. The empathy behind the executive. The becoming behind the success. If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome… If you’ve ever questioned your worth… If you’ve ever needed proof that authenticity still wins… This conversation is for you. 🎙️ Storytime with Lori featuring Michelle Ragusa-McBain — now streaming. #MichelleRagusaMcBain #StorytimeWithLori #WomenInTech #Cybersecurity #LeadershipPodcast #Authenticity #WomenInLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #ChannelPartners #Corero #PersonalGrowth #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship

Surviving Abuse While Building a Career | Healing, Mental Health & Reclaiming Your Power

What does it look like to survive abuse… while still showing up every day expected to perform?In this deeply emotional episode of Story Time with Lori, Lori sits down with Sharon Hildebrand to talk about:✨ domestic violence✨ healing after trauma✨ rebuilding self-worth✨ spirituality & energy✨ leadership while struggling privately✨ creating Fearless Sisters Nation to empower young womenThis isn’t just a conversation about survival.It’s about:👉 becoming👉 healing in real time👉 reclaiming your identity after painIf you’ve ever struggled with:* toxic relationships* anxiety or depression* emotional abuse* confidence after trauma* healing while growing your careerthis episode is for you.🎙️ Story Time with Lori — real life, real laughs, real lessons.#MentalHealth #DomesticViolenceAwareness #HealingJourney #WomenInLeadership #TraumaHealing #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfWorth #Podcast #StoryTimeWithLori