Healing, Trauma & Self-Awareness with Jason VanRuler

How to Reinvent Your Life Without Burning It Down with Gloria Grace Rand

What if the next chapter of your life doesn't require a dramatic leap, but a series of small, intentional decisions? Sometimes the most audacious thing you can do is trust yourself enough to make a change. Key Quote "Do what makes you happy and design your life your way." Why This Quote Matters At the heart of this conversation is the realization that many people spend years living according to expectations that no longer fit who they've become. Gloria's message is a reminder that personal reinvention isn't selfish. It's often necessary. Episode Description In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, I sit down with Gloria Grace Rand, speaker, coach, author, and host of the Design Your Life Podcast, for a conversation about quiet audacity, self-trust, and what it really means to create a life that reflects who you are today. After experiencing profound loss and major life transitions, Gloria found herself asking questions many of us eventually face: Am I happy? Is this still the life I want? What happens when the version of success you've built no longer feels aligned with who you're becoming? We explore why people stay stuck longer than they need to, how fear often disguises itself as comfort, and why some of the most meaningful transformations begin with something surprisingly simple: giving yourself permission. This conversation is thoughtful, honest, occasionally funny, and filled with reminders that it's never too late to redesign your life. In This Episode You'll Hear About: • Why quiet audacity can be more powerful than dramatic change • The difference between changing your life and redesigning it • How loss can become a catalyst for growth and reinvention • Why self-trust is essential when navigating major life transitions • The importance of creating space for yourself, especially as a caregiver or parent • How small daily decisions often create the biggest long-term transformations Guest Bio Gloria Grace Rand is a speaker, author, coach, and host of the Design Your Life Podcast. She helps women in midlife reconnect with their purpose, overcome self-doubt, and intentionally create lives that align with who they truly are. Through coaching, speaking, and transformational work, Gloria empowers people to stop waiting for permission and start living more authentically. Guest Links Website: https://gloriarand.com Podcast: https://designyourlifepodcast.com Book: Live. Love. Engage. Listen on Major Platforms 🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ 🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345 📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt Call To Action Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this. ⭐ Leave a review: 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

Why "Don't Be Normal. Be Yourself." Can Change the Way You Live with Colleen Souza

What if the words you hear most often are quietly shaping the person you're becoming? Sometimes the smallest phrases carry the biggest influence. Signature Quote "Don't be normal. Be yourself." Why This Quote Matters In a world that constantly encourages comparison, this simple mantra serves as a powerful reminder that confidence isn't found in fitting in. It's found in embracing who you already are. Episode Description In this conversation, Colleen Souza joins me to explore the surprising power of mantras, self-talk, and intentional living. What begins as a discussion about simple phrases quickly turns into something much deeper: a conversation about identity, confidence, family influence, and the stories we tell ourselves every day. Colleen shares how meaningful mantras can become anchors during life's challenges, helping us navigate setbacks, build resilience, and stay connected to what matters most. Along the way, we explore why some of the most transformative lessons are often hidden inside ordinary moments. If you've ever caught yourself repeating limiting beliefs, questioning your direction, or simply wanting to live with more intention, this conversation offers a thoughtful reminder that sometimes a small shift in perspective can create lasting change. In This Episode, You'll Hear About: • Why the words we repeat eventually become the beliefs we live by • How family mantras can shape confidence and character • The difference between fitting in and being yourself • Why "you either win or you learn" changes your relationship with failure • Practical ways to become more intentional with your mindset • How small daily shifts can create meaningful long-term transformation Guest Bio Colleen Souza is an author, speaker, educator, leadership coach, and real estate professional who helps people live with greater intention and purpose. Through her book Living by the Mantras, she shares practical wisdom and meaningful life lessons designed to help individuals, families, and organizations create positive change from the inside out. Guest Links 🌐 Website: [INSERT WEBSITE] 📖 Living by the Mantras: [INSERT BOOK LINK] Listen on Major Platforms 🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ 🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345 📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt Call To Action Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this. ⭐ Leave a review: 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

What If You're Not Stuck? You May Have Outgrown the Box with Kathleen Conner

Sometimes the hardest thing to recognize isn't that life has changed. It's that we've changed, and we're still trying to fit into a version of ourselves we've already outgrown. "You can't fix what you don't know." Why This Quote Matters At the heart of this conversation is the idea that awareness comes before change. Before we can grow, heal, or move forward, we have to be willing to honestly look at where we are. Episode Description What if the thing holding you back isn't a lack of talent, opportunity, or motivation? What if you've simply been living inside a box that no longer fits? In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, I sit down with Kathleen Conner, creator of the Box Breaking Method, for a thoughtful conversation about self-awareness, self-trust, and the subtle ways we limit ourselves without even realizing it. Kathleen shares the personal experience that forced her to take a hard look at her own life and the framework she now uses to help others identify the boxes that keep them stuck. This is a conversation about recognizing where you are, questioning what no longer serves you, and having the courage to create something more aligned with who you're becoming. In This Episode, You'll Hear About: • Why self-awareness is the foundation of meaningful change • The hidden boxes we create through labels, expectations, and old identities • How small steps can lead to significant transformation • The difference between self-forgiveness and self-trust • Why perfectionism often keeps people from moving forward • A simple communication tool that can help de-escalate difficult conversations Guest Bio Kathleen Conner is a speaker, coach, and founder of Chasing Purpose. She is the creator of the Box Breaking Method, a practical framework designed to help individuals build self-awareness, challenge limiting beliefs, and create meaningful personal transformation. Through her coaching and speaking, Kathleen helps people reconnect with who they are and who they want to become. Guest Links Website: https://chasingpurpose.com Explore: • Box Breaking Method • Emotional Baseline Assessment • Coaching Resources Listen on Major Platforms 🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ 🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345 📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt Call To Action Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this. ⭐ Leave a review: 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

Healing After Loss: Finding Resilience, Hope, and Purpose Through Grief with Marcia Earhart

What if the most painful chapter of your life wasn't the end of your story, but the beginning of a new one? "You're not broken. You're broken open." After experiencing the unimaginable loss of both of her sons in separate tragedies, Marcia Earhart made a decision that would shape the rest of her life. Rather than allowing grief to have the final word, she chose to help others navigate trauma, loss, healing, and hope. In this heartfelt conversation, Marcia shares how grief transformed her perspective on life, purpose, and resilience. We explore the importance of giving yourself permission to grieve, why healing isn't about forgetting what happened, and how growth can emerge from life's most difficult moments. Along the way, we discuss practical tools for navigating loss, the impact trauma can have on the brain and body, and the role gratitude, connection, and intentional action can play in the healing process. Whether you're facing your own challenges or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers perspective, encouragement, and hope. In This Episode, You'll Hear About: • Why giving yourself permission to grieve is essential to healing • The practice of scheduled grieving and how it helps process loss • How trauma affects the brain, body, and emotional well-being • Why gratitude and grief can coexist • The importance of movement, connection, and community during difficult seasons • How adversity can become a catalyst for growth and transformation About Marcia Earhart Marcia Earhart is the co-founder of Sterling Rose Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals heal from trauma, grief, and emotional pain. She is a grief, trauma, brain, and mental health coach, author, speaker, and advocate who helps people rediscover hope, purpose, and resilience after life's most difficult experiences. Guest Links Sterling Rose Sanctuary https://www.thesterlingrosesanctuary.us Book: Gripped by Grace in the Garden of Grief Listen on Major Platforms 🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ 🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345 📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this. ⭐ Leave a review: 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

Divorce, Conflict & Moving Forward with Joe Dillon

Episode Description What if the goal isn’t to win the argument... but to move forward? In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, I sit down with Joe Dillon, founder of Equitable Mediation Services, for a conversation that starts with divorce mediation but quickly becomes something much bigger. We explore communication, conflict, healing, personal responsibility, and what it really takes to move forward when life doesn't unfold the way you planned. Joe has spent nearly three decades helping couples navigate divorce through mediation rather than courtroom battles. Along the way, he's learned something fascinating: many people aren't actually fighting over different goals. They're often in what Joe calls "violent agreement" — wanting the same thing but struggling to hear each other. What makes this conversation especially powerful is Joe's personal connection to the work. Having experienced the emotional impact of his own parents' difficult divorce as a child, he shares how those experiences shaped both his career and his mission to help families avoid unnecessary pain and conflict. There are plenty of practical insights here, but what stood out most to me was the reminder that healing isn't about pretending something didn't hurt. It's about deciding what happens next. Whether you're navigating a difficult relationship, working through conflict, or simply trying to move forward from a challenging chapter in your life, Joe offers a thoughtful perspective on what that journey can look like. And yes, there are a few laughs along the way too. Because even conversations about difficult subjects deserve room for a little humanity. If you've ever felt stuck in resentment, struggled to communicate with someone you care about, or found yourself replaying the same argument over and over again, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll hear about: • Why mediation can create healthier outcomes than litigation • The surprising concept of "violent agreement" • How communication breakdowns fuel conflict • What Joe learned from experiencing his parents' divorce as a child • Why healing requires focusing on the future instead of blame • Practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations Guest Bio Joe Dillon is the founder of Equitable Mediation Services and has worked as a divorce mediator for nearly 30 years. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, Joe helps couples resolve conflict, improve communication, and navigate divorce through collaborative mediation rather than costly litigation. His mission is simple: help families move forward with less conflict and more clarity. Guest Links Website: https://equitablemediation.com Listen on Major Platforms 🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ 🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345 📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt Call to Action Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this. ⭐ Leave a review: 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious