Closets Are for Clothes: A Coming Out Story

Closets Are for Clothes: A Coming Out Story

In honor of Pride Month, John Berndt shares his powerful coming-out story and journey toward self-acceptance. Through faith, therapy, community, and courage, John discovered the freedom that comes from living authentically. John talks about believing he could pray away his sexuality, the impact that belief had on his mental health, and how finding the right therapist and a supportive group therapy community helped him begin to accept himself. We also discuss what it means to create safe spaces for others, what to say when someone shares their story with you, and why love, acceptance, and community matter so much. This is a conversation about courage, belonging, and the freedom that comes from living authentically. As John says, "Closets are for clothes." And in the end, love wins. Always. About John Berndt John Berndt is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 20 years of experience helping individuals and couples navigate life's challenges. He maintains a private therapy practice, serves as a Wellness Clinician with USC Keck School of Medicine's Graduate Medical Education Wellness Program, is an adjunct professor at Antioch University Los Angeles, and teaches in the counseling psychology program at the University of San Francisco. John's work focuses on self-acceptance, relationships, communication, and helping people live more authentic and connected lives. Connect with John: www.couplestherapywithjohn.com [http://www.couplestherapywithjohn.com]

S2E2 Losing a Spouse to Stage 4 Colon Cancer | Caregiving, Grief, and Resilience with Tierra Wilson

In this powerful episode of Let's Fly, Tierra Wilson shares her personal story of losing her husband, Anderson Wilson, to Colon Cancer at just 42 years old. She opens up about caregiving during terminal illness, navigating hospice, advocating through difficult medical decisions, and living through grief as a young widow, mother, and entrepreneur. This conversation explores caregiver resilience, widowhood, anticipatory grief, hospice care, and how life changes after the loss of a spouse. It is also a moving tribute to love, partnership, and finding strength after profound loss. About Tierra Wilson (Tee): My guest, Tierra Wilson (Tee), is Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Lovely Impact and a web designer for coaches. She handles all the internal branding, marketing, and sales for Lovely Impact. She is also a certified marketing coach and a recognized digital business consultant, content expert, and advisory board member for Google Small Business and GoDaddy. Her personal mission at Lovely Impact is to help their audience and customers grow their businesses and implement proven industry strategies. Once your website is live, she’ll be the one to help you take your brand to the next level. Resources & Mentions * Schedule a Personal Coaching Session with Susie: ⁠https://susieschumacher.com/coaching⁠ [https://susieschumacher.com/coaching] * Connect with me: Web ⁠https://www.susieschumacher.com/⁠ [https://www.susieschumacher.com/] Instagram: ⁠@coachwithsusie⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/coachwithsusie/] ⁠https://www.instagram.com/coachwithsusie/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/coachwithsusie/] Produced by Focus & Bloom Studios [https://www.focusandbloomstudios.com/]

S2E1 When Life Doesn’t Fit Anymore

What if the feeling of “this doesn’t fit anymore” isn’t a problem to solve—but a signal to listen to? In this episode of Let’s Fly, Karen Dendy Smith joins me to unpack what really happens when your work, relationships, or identity start to feel misaligned—and why you’re not wrong for outgrowing what once worked. Drawing on her journey from co-founding a successful marketing and branding firm to becoming a full-time animal communicator and soul-level intuitive coach, Karen shares the messy middle of change: the inner beliefs that keep us small, the fear of being seen as “the bad person,” and the moment life starts to repel what no longer matches who you’re becoming. And we talk about the turning point that changed everything—the loss of her beloved cat, Hockey Puck, an “awakening animal” whose impact didn’t just break her open…it redirected her path. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why “not fitting” can be a form of inner guidance—not failure * How childhood patterns (not feeling seen, supported, or steady) can show up in adulthood as acting out, shutting down, or people-pleasing * What to do when your environment starts pushing back as you grow * A grounded way to work with ego—without letting it drive the bus * How to come back to your heart and body when your mind is racing * Why you don’t need a perfect plan—you just need the next honest step If you’ve been doing everything “right” but still feel off…this conversation will help you name what’s real, trust what’s changing, and choose what’s next—without abandoning yourself in the process. About Karen Dendy Smith Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the University of VT certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective® (ACC). And she co-hosts a weekly podcast called The Animal Communication Podcast. With her background in medical qigong and energetic systems Karen helps animals share how they are feeling regarding their health on a physical and emotional level. This information may be shared with medical professionals to help with their healing process. Karen finds immense joy helping people build deeper connections and relationships with their animal families, alive or in spirit, including past lives. She delivers the messages animals feel are most important to help us heal and grow. Karen believes that when we allow ourselves to see our animals as true partners, we begin to communicate as peers at the soul level. This is where the magic happens. Find Karen here: WEBSITE: https://www.karendendysmith.com/ [https://www.karendendysmith.com/]The Animal Communication PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-animal-communication-podcast/id1726260907 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-animal-communication-podcast/id1726260907] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karendendysmith_intuitive/ [https://www.instagram.com/karendendysmith_intuitive/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenDendySmithIntuitive [https://www.facebook.com/KarenDendySmithIntuitive] Resources & Mentions Schedule a Personal Coaching Session with Susie: https://susieschumacher.com/coaching [https://susieschumacher.com/coaching] Connect with me: Web https://www.susieschumacher.com/ [https://www.susieschumacher.com/] Instagram: @coachwithsusie [https://www.instagram.com/coachwithsusie/] https://www.instagram.com/coachwithsusie/ [https://www.instagram.com/coachwithsusie/] Produced by Focus & Bloom Studios [https://www.focusandbloomstudios.com/]

7 Dating After Loss & Inner Healing

In this conversation, Erin Prewitt shares what happens after the unthinkable. An impaired driver killed Erin’s husband—and in this episode, she shares why she chose to start dating again sooner than people around her thought was “acceptable,” and what it meant to claim, “I’m doing this for me.” We talk about the judgment she faced from others (and herself), the pressure to “grieve the right way,” and the messy, very human reality of dating after loss. Erin opens up about letting go of the idea of a “traditional” family, and how she ultimately found the love story she wanted—even though it didn’t look like what others might have chosen for her. She also shares what happened when she finally stepped into the emotional pain she had been holding and allowed herself to feel angry, devastated, and honest—not just “purposeful” about her loss. We close with the simple inner practice Erin uses to create a more satisfied, contented, peaceful life—and how you can begin to try it, too. This episode is part 2 of a two-episode series on Grief. Listen to episode 6 for part 1 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3tCmo0uYy4Iiet2FeHluug?si=BV7UQGTgTR26C9NPXZ4Rlw&nd=1&dlsi=fc27e78a0d6643d9] Resources & Mentions * Want to know more about Erin? Go to ⁠erinprewitt.com⁠ [http://erinprewitt.com] or @therealerinprewitt * Schedule a Personal Coaching Session with Susie: https://www.susieschumacher.com/offerings * Connect with me: Web https://www.susieschumacher.com/ [https://www.susieschumacher.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachwithsusie/ * Produced by Focus & Bloom Studios [https://www.focusandbloomstudios.com/]

Welcome to Let's Fly Podcast with Susie Schumacher Trailer

Welcome to Let's Fly Podcast's channel.Let’s Fly with Susie is about being human. The moments that test you, shape you, and ultimately help you grow.Each episode dives into the real stories behind life’s hardest experiences: caregiving, loss, transitions, and the quiet work of finding yourself again. You’ll hear from people who’ve faced the unimaginable and still found a way forward. Not by pretending everything’s fine, but by learning to meet life as it is.If you’re tired of perfect success stories and want to hear real people navigating real life with honesty and heart, this podcast is for you.🔹 Book a Personal Coaching Session:https://www.susieschumacher.com/offerings🔹 Stay Connected:Instagram: @SusieSoulCoachWebsite: www.susieschumacher.com