Affirm That Sh!t

EP 55: From Fear to Freedom: Saying Yes to Yourself

On this episode of Affirm That Sh!t, I’m diving into the raw, unfiltered truth about what it really takes to transform your life — not later, not “when things calm down,” but right now. Connie, Portia, and I open up about the retreats that changed us, broke us open, rebuilt us, and handed us back to ourselves. We talk about the power of stepping into a room full of women who look like you, feel like you, and carry the same silent weight you’ve been pretending doesn’t exist. Connie shares the story of how she trusted a retreat host before even meeting her — how she scraped pennies together, made sacrifices, and bet on herself because growth demanded it. I bring the fire when I talk about hosting retreats and watching women transform right in front of my eyes. And Portia and I crack open the idea of “investment,” flipping the script from money to energy, commitment, readiness, and self-worth. This episode is for the woman who feels the pull. The woman who knows she’s meant for more. The woman who’s tired of waiting for the “right time.” We talk vision boards. We talk affirmations. We talk fear — the good kind — the kind that tells you you’re standing at the doorway to your next era. And we end with the hardest question of all: Are you ready to stop being the version of you that’s exhausted, overwhelmed, and hiding… and finally become who you were always meant to be? If you’ve been craving sisterhood, healing, breakthroughs, or your “I’m done shrinking” moment — this episode will hit you right in the gut in the best possible way. Reserve your spot today: https://www.sacredyutoricollective.com/

EP 54: Why Scars Make You Stronger, Not Broken

This episode of Affirm That Sh!t — Somehow I Thrived is not just a message — it’s a mirror, a megaphone, and a war cry. I’m diving into the truth about scars — the visible ones that stretch across our skin and the invisible ones that sit quietly under our smiles. We spend so much time hiding them, minimizing them, apologizing for them, when in reality, our scars are the most honest proof that we are fighters, rebuilders, and soul-level survivors. I ask one question that could flip your world inside out: If your scars could speak, what would they say? Mine would scream: I didn’t break. I became stronger. Yours might whisper: I survived the version of me who didn’t know how powerful I was going to become. We talk about letting go of old identities, releasing outdated emotional armor, grieving the versions of ourselves that didn’t make it to today, and honoring the woman or man who rose from the ashes. Scars do not make you damaged. They make you certified, initiated, reborn, and dangerously wise. This episode is your reminder: You are not what hurt you. You are what healed. And your story deserves oxygen. Ready to release shame around your scars? Book a session with me: https://ukiyowellness.com/

EP 53: Surviving Assault and Finding Strength Through Science

This week on Affirm That Sh!t, I sat down with David Schneer, a man whose story redefines what it means to have a backbone—literally and figuratively. On Christmas Eve 2015, David was attacked by a relative in an alcohol-fueled rage, leaving him with a cracked spine and five surgeries ahead of him. For the next eight years, his life became a battleground between pain and perseverance. But instead of letting it destroy him, David found purpose. Through faith, forgiveness, and an iron will, he turned his recovery into a roadmap for resilience. Drawing on his background in theology and over 40 years in qualitative research, David wrote Backbone—a book that fuses human emotion, behavioral science, and the courage to rebuild after chaos. His groundbreaking work combines AI and nonverbal intelligence to study how people communicate through emotion, microexpressions, and truth beneath the surface. In this conversation, David and I dive deep into the art of healing—body, mind, and spirit. We talk about karma, grace, and why forgiveness isn’t weakness—it’s freedom. David shares how every scar became a signal to move forward and how he found strength not in revenge, but in surrender. If you’ve ever felt broken, overlooked, or underestimated, this episode will remind you—your pain doesn’t define you. Your comeback does. Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schneer1merrillresearch/

EP 52: Healing the Invisible Wounds: A Journey to Visibility

This week on Affirm That Sh!t, I’m sitting across from a woman whose story hits like a storm and heals like sunlight. Gayle Petrillo’s life began with fire—literally. As a toddler, a coffee burn accident left her with 40% of her body burned and a lifetime of scars, both visible and unseen. For decades, she hid in plain sight—working in healthcare, caring for others, and convincing herself that staying invisible was safer than being seen. But the truth? Hiding was the real wound. At 69, Gayle finally stepped out of the shadows. After meeting Jean, the founder of Beads of Courage, she wrote her first book, Becoming Visible, during the pandemic. In it, she unravels years of shame, fear, and silence—transforming them into strength, grace, and purpose. In this episode, we talk about what it really means to reclaim your story. We dig into affirmations about resilience, self-worth, and showing up for yourself—no matter how long it takes. Gayle shares her daily reflection practice, her journey to self-acceptance, and the power of vulnerability as a tool for healing. She’s living proof that you’re never too old, too scarred, or too scared to begin again. Connect with Gayle: https://www.firstimpressions1.com/

EP 51: What I’ve Learned from 50 Guests Who Changed My Life

This week on Affirm That Sh!t, I’m celebrating something powerful—50 episodes. Fifty stories of grit, truth, and transformation that have cracked hearts open and changed lives, including mine. When I started this podcast, it wasn’t about the numbers. It was about connection. It all began inside my women’s group, Parea Maraki, where I started writing affirmations for women who were trying to find their voice again. Before long, people from all walks of life—including men—started asking me for affirmations that fit their stories. Then came the reels. The views climbed. The messages poured in. And I asked myself—how many more people can I reach? How many more can I help remember their worth? For years, I’ve used the word “SHIT” as an acronym—because no matter what we’ve walked through, we still rise from it. We still find our way through the darkness. And that’s what every episode of this show stands for: your story matters, your healing matters, and your truth matters. So here’s my invitation to you: if you’ve got a story burning inside you, ask yourself—are you ready to share it?