The Teaching Journeys Podcast

From Narcissistic Abuse Survivor to Holistic Healer: Deanna Scaldaferri's Story

Host Dave Roberts welcomes Deanna Scaldaferri to the Teaching Journeys podcast to discuss her work as a licensed massage and bodywork therapist, Reiki master, intuitive life coach, speaker, and facilitator of a narcissistic abuse recovery support group in Charlotte, North Carolina. Deanna shares how her Italian-American, Catholic upbringing, living overseas (especially in Germany), and major traumas—including being a 9/11 survivor, losing her parents, and leaving a dangerous 20-year narcissistic relationship—shaped her path. She describes recovery tools including faith, psychotherapy, somatic work, neuroplasticity/rewiring, massage, Reiki, and energy protection for empaths. Deanna explains similarities and differences between massage and Reiki, emphasizing nervous system regulation, trauma release, and clarity/intuition. Deanna's Bio and Contact Information Deanna Scaldaferri is a Licensed Massage & Bodywork Therapist, Usui Holy Fire III Reiki Master, Intuitive Life Coach and Public Speaker. Her passion is helping people grow on their life’s journey and spiritual path to find healing, balance, health, love and happiness. She approaches every person with a total MIND, BODY, SPIRIT mindset and treats each client individually. She offers a safe and trusting place, and the ability to hold space with compassion & empathy, without judgment. Massage therapy and Reiki energy healing are her main tools in helping others release stress & heaviness to feel better in their bodies physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually. She has overcome heavy trauma and many obstacles in her personal life, and feels inspired to help others do the same. Deanna is grateful to be of service to others in attaining a healthier and happier life. Deanna has been facilitating a Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Support Group in Charlotte for the last 4+ years. She herself is a survivor of this emotional, verbal & psychological abuse, and knows first-hand how damaging it is to the mind, body and spirit. The intention of the group and its monthly meetings is to educate, learn, grow and heal, all in community with like-minded people who are seeking recovery and healing in their lives from these toxic and abusive relationships. Deanna creates a safe space where survivors can feel heard and truly seen, and recognize that they are not alone. Many members of this group book private sessions with Deanna for massage, coaching or Reiki energy healing to help find clarity and purpose in their lives, as well as to help release trauma from the body. Deanna offers holistic healing tools to get to the root cause of people's blockages in their lives, that keep them from moving forward. She helps them reconnect with themselves, build a sense of empowerment and heal from the inside out. www.healinghandsbydeanna.com [http://www.healinghandsbydeanna.com] https://www.meetup.com/charlotte-narcissistic-abuse-recovery-meetup-group [https://www.meetup.com/charlotte-narcissistic-abuse-recovery-meetup-group] https://www.youtube.com/@HealingHandsbyDeanna [https://www.youtube.com/@HealingHandsbyDeanna] https://www.deannadecamillo.com/ [https://www.deannadecamillo.com/] Deanna would like to offer a promotional item of a 10% discount to any of The Teaching Journeys Podcast listeners for booking a private session with me. Anyone can book me virtually for Reiki Energy Healing or Intuitive Coaching. The coupon code to use is: DAVE10%OFF To vonnect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com [http://davidrobertsmsw.com]

The Diamond Within: Michelle Kuei's Journey from Machu Picchu, to a Top 15 coach

Host Dave Roberts welcomes Michelle Kuei, a business and visibility marketing coach for coaches and founder of Elevate Life Coaching, who helps certified coaches get clients through her signature client enrollment method. Kuei shares her journey overcoming deep negative self-talk rooted in an 11-year-old car accident that left her physically disabled, immigrant identity, feeling she didn’t belong, and using a “diamond” metaphor for personal transformation. She explains how choosing a new path led her to get fit and eventually hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu on crutches, shaping her views on empowerment and taking bold action. Kuei defines true visibility as being seen by providing non-harmful value and fostering belonging, describes her mission and evolution to training other coaches, and argues motivation isn’t enough without determination, dedication, and discipline. She discusses barriers like limiting beliefs and past trauma and her memoir Perfectly Normal. Michelle’s Bio and Contact Information Michelle Kuei (pronounced Ku-way) is a Business and Visibility Marketing Coach, ICF-accredited coach, and founder of Elevate LifeCoaching — a company built on one simple belief: your coaching certification gave you the skills to change lives. It just didn't teach you how to find the people whose lives you're meant to change. She works with certified female coaches who are talented, trained, and completely stuck on how to get clients consistently. Using her signature Client Enrollment Method — a 7-step framework built around visibility, messaging, and client attraction — she helps coaches stop second-guessing themselves and start building businesses they're genuinely proud of. Michelle brings a rare combination of credentials to her work: ICF accreditation through iPEC, certified copywriter, email and content marketing strategist, and a background in conversion copywriting and social media marketing. She doesn't just teach coaches how to show up online — she teaches them how to show up in a way that actually converts. Her thought leadership has been featured in Life Coach Magazine, Influence Digest (Top 15 Coaches in Los Angeles), the Los Angeles Tribune, and on FOX. She's also the author of Perfectly Normal: An Immigrant's Story of Making It in America — a memoir about resilience, identity, and having the courage to build a life that doesn't fit the mold. And if you really want to understand how Michelle operates: she's physically disabled and hiked 26 miles of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. That same stubborn, keep-going energy is exactly what she brings to every client, every program, and every stage she steps on. Her mission hasn't changed: help purpose-driven women turn their coaching skills into a profitable, fulfilling business — without losing themselves in the process. Website: http://elevatelifecoaching.org [http://elevatelifecoaching.org] IG: http://instagram.com/elevatelifecoach [http://instagram.com/elevatelifecoach] FB: http://facebook.com/lifecoachingbyelevate [http://facebook.com/lifecoachingbyelevate] LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/michellekuei [http://linkedin.com/in/michellekuei] Email: Michelle@ElevateLifeCoaching.org [Michelle@ElevateLifeCoaching.org] To connect with Dave , go to davidrobertsmsw.com [http://davidrobertsmsw.com]

Remember Who You Are: A Conversation With Anca Uni

Host Dave Roberts welcomes Anca Uni, an award-winning trauma expert, healing innovator, former IT and cybersecurity leader, and author of “Soulful Alignment: Daily Reflections for Enlightened Connections.” Anca shares how moving from Romania to Canada, corporate leadership, and personal experiences (immigration, divorce, single parenting, quitting smoking) shaped her mission to bring “soul back into tech” and help people heal at the root rather than cope. She describes client challenges such as anxiety, insomnia, and addictions, and her approaches including hypnotherapy, reiki, energy work, sound healing (crystal bowls, tuning forks, mantras, breathwork), and nervous system regulation, including distance healing. Anca’s Bio ( In Her Own Words) Anca Uni, born and raised in Europe, has three deep passions: 5D healing, a master’s degree in computer science, and dancing. Having spent a significant part of my life as an IT and cybersecurity professional, I know that world inside out. Now, my mission is to bring soul back into tech—helping IT professionals and corporations not just survive but truly thrive. At one point in my life, I struggled with my own trauma and weight challenges, which led me on a journey to find sustainable healing modalities. By combining these methods, I’ve created Signature Programs and Healing Interventions to help my clients achieve their goals. Witnessing transformations in myself and those I’ve helped fuels my passion and determination to create a lasting social impact. I’m a Hypnotherapist & 5D Healer, NLP Master Coach, Reiki Master, and Trauma-Aware Coach, with a track record of transforming over 200 lives and earning five-star reviews. Over the past decade, I’ve pioneered healing modalities that seamlessly blend Neuroscience, Quantum Energy, Subconscious Communication, and Spirituality to create profound 5D Healing experiences. Recognized as an innovator in the healing space, my work has been honored with multiple prestigious awards, including Best Service, Best Choice, and Canada’s Choice for Hypnotherapy. I am passionate about making a societal impact and helping people break free from trauma, emotional pain, and internal turmoil, guiding them toward elevated consciousness for profound 5D Healing, self-love, inner peace, abundance, and lasting empowerment. My mission is to assist those ready to change and heal, especially those who have been let down by traditional modalities. I’m also a published author of “Soulful Alignment: Daily Reflections for Enlightened Connections.” My hope is that this guided journal will find its way into as many homes as possible and become a trusted companion. I bring a deep passion for fostering meaningful connections and an extensive background in psychology, relationship counseling, and personal development. My mission is to empower as many people and couples as I can to navigate the intricate terrain of love and intimacy, providing thoughtfully crafted prompts, exercises, and insights to help you strengthen your bonds, communicate effectively, and nurture lasting, fulfilling relationships. Drawing from my years of experience, I aim to guide you on a transformative journey toward deeper connection, self-discovery, and enduring love. Website: www.ancauni.com [http://www.ancauni.com] To connect with Dave go to www.davidrobertsmsw.com [http://www.davidrobertsmsw.com]

Rapid Transformational Therapy Explained: Overcoming Anxiety & Finding Purpose with Nino Fincher

Host Dave Roberts welcomes Nino Fincher, a rapid therapy expert on anxiety and purpose clarity coach, to discuss experiences shaping her path, including her grandfather’s death at 15 and her shift from an atheist upbringing to following Christ after studying philosophy, comparative religion, and evidence for Jesus’ claims. They explore faith, non-ordinary phenomena, and the idea of transcendent reality. Nino explains Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT), developed by Marisa Peer, combining CBT, hypnotherapy, and neurolinguistics to reach root causes quickly, often serving high performers, CEOs, athletes, veterans, and first responders. She outlines her MOVE framework (Movement, Overcome, Value, Expectation) for escaping stagnation, previews her September book on getting out of a rut, and describes her 2023 children’s book “Kooba Says Hi,” inspired by life in the Middle East. Nino’s Bio and Contact Information Nino Fincher is a rapid therapy expert on anxiety and a purpose clarity coach. Her clients span multiple countries and cultures . Nino speaks on mind's operating system , purpose and mind engagement. She has a new book on moving out of stagnant state , coming this fall. Connect with Nino Fincher: 🌐 Website: ninofit.com [http://ninofit.com] 💼 LinkedIn: Nino Fincher To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com [http://davidrobertsmsw.com]

From Singer / Songwriter to Behavioral Scientist: Dr. Tasha Golden on Creativity and Well Being

What if your biggest career crisis was actually your greatest creative breakthrough? In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Dr. Tasha Golden — touring singer-songwriter turned behavioral scientist — for a fascinating conversation about creativity, mental health, and the power of the arts to heal. Dr. Golden was the first Director of Research for the International Arts and Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and her journey from performing on stage with her band Ellery (featured on ABC, Showtime, Fox, and Netflix) to earning a PhD in public health is anything but conventional. In this episode, you'll discover: • How music creates "safe spaces" that allow people to share what they've never told a doctor or therapist • Dr. Golden's 3-pillar Creative Mindset Framework (Deconstruction, Imagination, Action) and how to apply it in your work and life • Why "growth is on the other side of the questions we are not asking" — and how to start asking them • The science of talkability — why art makes difficult topics speakable • How Arts on Prescription is revolutionizing healthcare by prescribing cultural experiences to treat loneliness, depression, and anxiety • Inside Project Uncaged — a trauma-informed creative writing program for incarcerated girls driving real policy change • Why organizations get stuck solving the wrong problems — and how a creative mindset fixes that • Whether you're a leader, educator, healthcare professional, or creative, this conversation will challenge you to see the world — and your challenges — in an entirely new way. Tasha’s Bio and Contact Information Tasha Golden, PhD, is a touring artist turned behavioral scientist who speaks and consults globally on creativity, wellbeing, and change. Dr. Golden was the first Director of Research for the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is adjunct faculty in the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine, and lead author of "Arts on Prescription: A Field Guide for US Communities". Named one of Fierce Pharma's "Fierce 50" for her work integrating arts and healthcare, she has published extensively on intersections of arts, behavior, and wellbeing. Golden's work emerged from her career in the arts. As singer-songwriter for the critically acclaimed band Ellery, she toured internationally, with songs in TV/film (ABC, SHOWTIME, FOX, NETFLIX). Her experiences on the road, and subsequently with burnout and depression, shaped her current work in arts and health. She is founder of Project Uncaged, a trauma-informed writing program for incarcerated girls, and developer of "How We Human”—a mental health training for creative professionals. Dr. Golden helps clients and audiences combine creativity and science to advance wellbeing, innovation, and impact. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Tasha Golden: http://www.tashagolden.com/ [http://www.tashagolden.com/] Visit tashagolden.com/teachingjourneys [http://tashagolden.com/teachingjourneys] for free resources and information for Dave’s podcast audience. Subscribe to the Teaching Journeys Podcast for weekly conversations with extraordinary guests dedicated to passing knowledge across generations. To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com [http://davidrobertsmsw.com]