ENCORE: Life is a Love Story: A Mother's Final Days with Her 11 Year Old Cancer Warrior, Parker

Career Change Confidence: Starting Fresh at Any Age with Kathi Holzer

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/fan_mail/new] What happens when you step into an entirely new chapter of your life — and find your greatest joy waiting for you there? In this heartfelt episode of Glow Wild, host Nicole Gaitan sits down with Kathi Holzer, a former physical education teacher who discovered a deep love for painting later in life. After retiring from a long and fulfilling teaching career, Kathi felt an unexpected pull toward art — a passion so strong her husband built her a backyard studio to bring her creative vision to life. But Kathi’s story runs deeper than paint and canvas. Diagnosed with **Type 1 diabetes at 40 — and later walking alongside her granddaughter through the same diagnosis — Kathi has transformed her pain into purpose. Her artwork has become a space for healing, joy, and legacy. In this conversation, we explore: * 🌿 Finding new purpose and passion later in life * 🩺 Navigating a major health diagnosis with resilience * 🎨 How painting became a powerful form of therapy * 💫 The joy of creating a legacy that lives beyond you Kathi’s journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself, embrace creativity, and live in vibrant color. > “Painting and drawing became my new passion. It’s a new world for me, and I can’t imagine missing a day in that world’s endless possibilities.” — Kathi Holzer 🎧 Listen now to Glow Wild for an inspiring story about reinvention, joy, and the healing power of art. Connect with Kathi at her website: https://kathiholzerart.com/ [https://kathiholzerart.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/support]

ENCORE: Life is a Love Story: A Mother's Final Days with Her 11 Year Old Cancer Warrior, Parker

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/fan_mail/new] 🌿 Revisiting this incredibly moving episode this week. In this powerful and heart-wrenching episode, Nicole sits down with Heather Manson—a devoted mother, trauma survivor, yoga teacher, and fierce advocate for pediatric cancer research. Heather shares her journey through the unimaginable: losing her 11-year-old daughter Parker to a rare form of soft tissue sarcoma after a two-year battle filled with surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. But Heather's story is not just about grief—it's about resilience, transformation, and choosing purpose in the face of devastation. Just months after Parker’s diagnosis, Heather herself was involved in a traumatic accident that left her with a broken back, pelvis, and foot. She was bedridden, in recovery, while spending countless nights beside her daughter’s hospital bed. Together, Nicole and Heather reflect on: * What it means to mother through trauma and loss * The moments of light that broke through the darkest days * How grief changes us—not just emotionally, but physically and spiritually * The power of honoring our children’s legacies through action and advocacy * The creation of the Little p Project, a nonprofit born from heartbreak and hope This episode is a sacred invitation to witness what it looks like to keep loving, living, and showing up—even when the unimaginable happens. 💛 About Heather Manson: * Mom of three: Maisey, Gates, and Parker (who would be 14) * Founder of Little p Project [https://www.littlepproject.org/] — supporting pediatric sarcoma research and families in treatment * Former pharmacist of 17 years * Yoga teacher and advocate for mindful healing * Currently living in Park City, Utah with her family 🕊️ In Honor of Parker: Parker was a bright, brave 11-year-old who loved deeply, fought fiercely, and inspired everyone she met. Her legacy lives on through the Little p Project and the countless lives her story continues to touch. 🧡 Support & Resources: * Donate to the Little p Project: www.littlepproject.org [https://www.littlepproject.org/] * Learn more about pediatric sarcoma: Sarcoma Foundation of America [https://www.curesarcoma.org/] * Grief support resources: The Dougy Center [https://www.dougy.org/] | Compassionate Friends [https://www.compassionatefriends.org/] * Follow Heather's journey on Instagram: @littlepproject [https://www.instagram.com/littlepproject] 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if this episode moved you. Sharing stories like Heather’s helps build a community of healing—and keeps Parker’s light shining. Half Serious [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tess5487] Real hardships, raw situations, gallows humor, and no matter what, how to keep going. Listen on: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1837519966]   Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/605D4KFdAZTZWlLtuEb6qp] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/support] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/support]

Surviving the Palisades Fire: Sarah Silver on Losing Her Home, Rebuilding Life & Finding Strength

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/fan_mail/new] ✨ Podcast Show Notes Episode Title: Surviving the Palisades Fire: Sarah Silver on Losing Her Home, Rebuilding Life & Finding Strength Podcast: Glow Wild In this powerful and intimate conversation, host Nicole sits down with Sarah Silver — a woman whose life was forever changed when the Palisades Fire tore through her neighborhood, destroying her home and so many others. Nicole and Sarah first met in the most unexpected place — the customs line in Paris this past August. What began as a casual conversation quickly revealed a story of extraordinary strength and quiet resilience. Sarah opens up about the night she lost everything, the arrest of a suspect connected to the fire, and the complicated emotions that come with seeking justice. She shares what it’s really like to navigate grief in the aftermath of disaster — from the silence after the headlines fade to the slow, sacred work of rebuilding a life. Together, they talk about: * 🕯️ What it feels like to lose everything in an instant * ⚖️ Her emotional response to the recent arrest tied to the fire * 🌿 The deep lessons she’s learned about resilience, community, and hope * 🏡 How her idea of “home” has evolved through both fire and recent flooding * ✨ What she wants others facing loss to know about healing Today, Sarah continues to move forward with courage and purpose — not just as a survivor, but as a woman determined to build beauty from ashes. She also runs a thriving travel business, Seamless Destinations, helping others create unforgettable journeys around the world. 🧭 Connect with Sarah 🌐 www.seamlessdestinations.com [http://www.seamlessdestinations.com/] 📸 Instagram: @seamlessdestinations [https://www.instagram.com/seamlessdestinations] 💛 Join the Glow Wild Community If Sarah’s story moved you, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. ✨ Follow the podcast @glowwildpodcast and for more heartfelt, empowering conversations rate, review and follow our show wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧 Leave us a review — your words help amplify stories like Sarah’s. NOKA Organics [https://www.nokaorganics.com/GLOWWILD] On-the-go smoothie pouches - real, organic fruits, veggies, plant protein, and superfoods. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/support]

Encore: She survived cancer, addiction and suicide. Now, she’s unstoppable.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/fan_mail/new] From July 2025- Guest: Katrina Clauson (Kat) — 3x Cancer Survivor, Sobriety Warrior, Suicide Survivor & Advocate, Deputy Coroner 🔥 Episode Summary: What does it take to face death, addiction, abuse, and public tragedy—and still rise up more grounded, more generous, and more you than ever? In today’s gripping and informative episode of Glow Wild, we sit down with an extraordinary guest: a three-time cancer survivor, a woman who faced the dark trenches of addiction, and someone who served as a deputy coroner on the nationally-covered Gabby Petito case. After surviving a suicide attempt, she has turned her pain into purpose, becoming a fierce advocate for suicide prevention and women’s safety. Through grief, trauma, anger, and radical self-inquiry, she found her way not just back—but forward. She’s here to share the unfiltered truth about what it means to show up as your authentic self—especially when life has tried to knock you down again and again. We explore: 🎗️ How surviving cancer three times changed her relationship with fear, control, and grace 🧨 Why anger is often just a “blanket emotion”—and how to peel it back to what’s really underneath 💔 What she learned from working the Gabby Petito case, and how it shifted her view on humanity and healing 🥃 Her raw and real journey to sobriety, and the tools she still uses every single day 🧠 Her experience surviving a suicide attempt—and how she now advocates for mental health and suicide prevention 🚨 Her message to anyone in an abusive relationship: You are not alone. There are resources out there and it's NOT ok to stay. 🧰 Her go-to mental health and spiritual toolkit for navigating trauma, addiction, and identity 💡 The moment she realized: “I’m not just surviving anymore—I’m meant to serve” This is not just an episode about resilience. It’s about transformation. It’s about becoming the kind of person you were born to be—not in spite of your pain, but because of it. ✨ Whether you’re walking through fire or finally coming up for air, this episode is your permission slip to show up, speak out, and Glow Wild. 🛟 If You’re Struggling or Need Help: You are not alone. Please save or share these resources: 🧠 SUICIDE & MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT (U.S.): 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 https://988lifeline.org Crisis Text Line – Text HELLO to 741741 https://www.crisistextline.org 💔 SUPPORT FOR ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS (U.S.): National Domestic Violence Hotline – Call 800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788 https://www.thehotline.org Women’s Law: Resources by State – https://www.womenslaw.org If you're outside the U.S., please consult your country’s local crisis services. 🔗 Resources & Mentions: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma Bessel van der Kolk M.D. 💌 Support the Show: If this conversation moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Rate & review on Apple or Spotify to help others find us. Want to keep these stories going? Visit the Support Link at the bottom of this page to help support our mission. 🧡 Connect with Nicole & Glow Wild: Instagram: @glowwildpodcast Support the show Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/support]

Images of Impact: One Woman’s Journey to Change Medicine with Dr. Kristina Gedgaudas-McClees

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/fan_mail/new] In this powerful episode of Glow Wild, we sit down with Dr. Rita Kristina Gedgaudas-McClees, a pioneering radiologist whose career has spanned over four decades of innovation, mentorship, and patient-centered care. From being one of the few women in medicine during her training at UCSF, to leading major academic departments at Duke and Emory, Dr. Kristina has spent her life proving naysayers wrong, breaking barriers, and inspiring the next generation of physicians. We talk about what it takes to lead with courage in a male-dominated field, how she balanced research, teaching, and service, and the deeply human side of radiology that goes far beyond reading scans. Whether you’re in healthcare or simply navigating your own uphill battles, this conversation will leave you inspired to turn obstacles into opportunities and to lead with both strength and heart. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * How Dr. Kristina carved out a path for women in medicine during a transformative era * The importance of mentorship and advocacy in creating systemic change * How to maintain passion for your work over a decades-long career * What radiology has taught her about seeing beyond the surface—both in medicine and in life * Her advice for anyone facing doubt, bias, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2504092/support]