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Healing Happens in Layers: How to Rebuild After Trauma | Lee-Ann O’Brien

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2083529/fan_mail/new] Healing after trauma does not happen all at once. It happens in layers, often resurfacing as life, motherhood, relationships, and identity change. In this powerful conversation, Julie Fairhurst speaks with Lee-Ann O’Brien, an author, speaker, certified resilience coach, survivor, and police officer with more than two decades of experience. Lee-Ann shares her journey from surviving childhood abuse and gun violence to building a life rooted in courage, service, purpose, and what she calls “headfire.” What is headfire? It is the fierce inner strength that keeps moving through changing conditions—just like the powerful center of a wildfire. It is more than resilience. It is the force within us that helps turn pain into purpose and a spark into strength. Lee-Ann opens up about recognizing that her past was still affecting her, returning to therapy, testifying in court, and discovering that healing is not a single destination. A difficult memory or emotional trigger does not mean you have failed or undone your progress. Sometimes it means you have finally created enough space for another part of yourself to be acknowledged and healed. Julie and Lee-Ann also explore the difference between surviving, coping, and truly living; why strong women often struggle to ask for help; and how boundaries can protect your peace without erasing love or compassion. In this episode, you’ll discover: * Why trauma healing often happens in layers * The difference between surviving, coping, and healing * How survival mode affects the mind and body * Why being “the strong one” can delay asking for help * Simple grounding practices that help regulate the nervous system * How humming, breathing, movement, and self-talk can reduce stress * Why resilience is built rather than something you are simply born with * How writing can help survivors reclaim their stories * Why forgiveness does not require giving someone access to your life * How to support a trauma survivor without pushing them to disclose * Why boundaries, self-awareness, sleep, and daily routines matter * How Lee-Ann is helping bring resilience training into policing * What can become possible when you stop seeing yourself as broken Lee-Ann is the author of Breaking Trail and Raising Fire. Through her books, speaking, and resilience coaching, she helps people recognize the strength already living within them and move from merely surviving to truly living. Her books are available through Amazon, Indigo, and other major booksellers. Connect with Lee-Ann O’Brien:   https://linktr.ee/LeeAnnFOBrien Website:  https://www.leeannobrien.ca/ If this conversation reminds you of someone who has been carrying too much alone, please share it with her. One story can become the match that helps another woman rediscover her fire. If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins. Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place. I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power. Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast Julie's Website [https://juliefairhurst.com/]

How to Handle Rejection and Get More Yeses | Andrea Waltz, Go for No!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2083529/fan_mail/new] Are you allowing the fear of rejection to stop you from asking, selling, following up, or pursuing what you truly want? In this powerful episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Andrea Waltz, speaker, entrepreneur, rejection expert, and co-author of the bestselling book Go for No! Yes Is the Destination, No Is How You Get There. Andrea explains why rejection feels so personal—especially for women—and how learning to hear “no” can build confidence, create more opportunities, and ultimately lead to more yeses. You’ll discover: *  Why the fear of rejection is built into us  *  How to stop connecting your self-worth to someone else’s response  *  Why setting a “no goal” can increase sales and opportunities  *  How to ask for referrals, reviews, clients, and support with confidence  *  What to say when someone tells you, “Not right now”  *  How to follow up without sounding desperate or pushy  *  Why silence and rejection are valuable information  *  How writers can handle low book sales and declined submissions  *  Why women must stop saying no to themselves  *  How taking action builds courage and confidence  Andrea also shares an important reminder: “It’s not about you, even when it’s about you.” If you are an author, coach, entrepreneur, salesperson, or woman with a dream you have been afraid to pursue, this conversation will help you stop waiting for permission and start making the ask. What opportunity could be waiting on the other side of the “no” you are currently avoiding? 👉 Learn more about Andrea Waltz, read Go for No!, and take the rejection quiz: https://www.goforno.com/ [https://www.goforno.com/] Website:  https://www.goforno.com/ 👍 Like this episode if it encouraged you.  💬 Tell us in the comments: What will you finally ask for?  🔔 Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for conversations about women’s stories, business, confidence, visibility, and success. If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins. Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place. I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power. Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast Julie's Website [https://juliefairhurst.com/]

Financial Freedom for Women: Money, Debt & Disability Benefits | Tracy Pequin

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2083529/fan_mail/new] “We have to create a new story in our subconscious mind.” — Tracy Pequin Financial freedom for women begins with understanding how money, debt, taxes, disability benefits, and long-term savings actually work. Julie Fairhurst sits down with Tracy Pequin, a Canadian money coach and disability-resource advocate, for an important conversation about financial literacy, women and money, the Disability Tax Credit, Registered Disability Savings Plans, retirement planning, and building intergenerational wealth. In 2006, Tracy became a single mother while her husband struggled with alcoholism and addiction. She was suddenly responsible for her family’s expenses with half the household income and no child support. Like many capable women, she responded by working harder—taking on three jobs for three years. But exhaustion did not create financial freedom. After facing $60,000 in debt, bankruptcy, and money owed to the CRA, Tracy realized that she needed more than another job. She needed to understand how money worked and change the beliefs about money she had carried since childhood. In this episode, we discuss: How childhood poverty and shame shape our relationship with money Why working harder doesn’t always create financial security Recovering financially after divorce, debt, or bankruptcy The difference between cutting expenses and increasing income Why women must understand their family finances Tracy also explains her PAID system for organizing important financial information: P — Protection: wills and insurance policies A — Assets: everything you own I — Income: where your money comes from D — Debt: everything you owe This can help families locate essential information if a partner becomes ill, dies, or is no longer able to manage the household finances. One of the most powerful messages from this conversation is simple: Your history does not determine your future. You do. If you feel embarrassed by what you don’t know about money, this episode is not here to shame you. It is here to remind you that financial knowledge can be learned—and the sooner you begin, the more choices you may be able to create for yourself and your family. Learn More About Canadian Disability Resources Eligibility is based on each person’s circumstances. For current information, visit the official Government of Canada pages for the Disability Tax Credit and the Registered Disability Savings Plan. Important: This interview is for general educational purposes and does not constitute individual financial, tax, legal, medical, or investment advice. Programs and eligibility requirements can change. Speak with the appropriate qualified professional or government agency about your circumstances. About Tracy Pequin Tracy Pequin is a money coach, licensed financial professional, caregiver, and advocate who helps individuals and families understand money, locate disability-related resources, and build greater long-term financial security. Drawing from her own experiences with poverty, single motherhood, bankruptcy, chronic pain, and financial rebuilding, Tracy is passionate about giving people hope—and helping them discover possibilities they may not know exist. Connect with Tracy: Primerica Financial Services  https://www.primerica.com/pequin&origin=customStandard https://therealhowmoneyworks.ca/ca/TracyPequin  Short videos on how money works https://wallofwealth.ca/ca/TracyPequin The greatest wealth transfer and how to get paid for it https://therealhowmoneyworks.ca/ca/TracyPequin How to get access to a free how money works brochure https://livemore.net/o/TracyPequin How to make more money remotely and get paid from your own investments. If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins. Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place. I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power. Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast Julie's Website [https://juliefairhurst.com/]

How to Build Unshakable Confidence & Find Your Voice | Meeka Caissie

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2083529/fan_mail/new] How do you build confidence, find your voice, and stop giving away your power? Julie Fairhurst sits down with Meeka Caissie, speaker, entrepreneur, and senior leader with Tony Robbins, for a powerful conversation about women’s confidence, courageous leadership, self-worth, mindset, and the language that quietly shapes our lives. Meeka shares how leaving school early and refusing to conform led her into a lifelong study of human potential, personal identity, and human behavior. Together, Julie and Meeka explore why true confidence has very little to do with appearance—and everything to do with self-respect, personal agency, and the decisions you are willing to make. You’ll discover what Meeka calls your “emotional home”: the familiar emotional state you may automatically return to, even when it keeps you trapped in fear, guilt, shame, or overwhelm. She explains how changing what you focus on can begin changing how you feel, respond, and lead. In this episode, you’ll learn: *  How to build confidence and trust yourself  *  Why being seen begins with self-respect  *  What your “emotional home” reveals about your habits  *  How language influences confidence and personal power  *  Why saying “I can’t” quietly gives away your agency  *  How replacing “I have to” with “I get to” changes your perspective  *  Why decision-making is a muscle you can strengthen  *  The relationship between courage, truth, and conformity  *  How women can support one another without competition  *  Why preserving women’s stories matters to future generations  Meeka also shares the vision behind Ladies in Power, a community dedicated to women supporting women, and Her Story in Stone, her mission to preserve women’s stories through video so future generations inherit more than photographs—they inherit the voices, wisdom, and meaning behind them. Your life already contains proof of what you have survived, learned, built, and become. The question is: will you keep dismissing that proof, or will you finally allow it to strengthen you? If you are working to overcome self-doubt, develop a stronger mindset, become a more confident leader, or find the courage to use your voice, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for conversations about women’s stories, business growth, leadership, confidence, healing, visibility, and legacy: https://www.youtube.com/@juliefairhurstWLM Share this episode with a woman who needs to remember that her voice still belongs to her. About Meeka Caissie Meeka Caissie is a speaker, entrepreneur, and senior leader with Tony Robbins. Her work focuses on human potential, confidence, identity, behavior, courageous leadership, and helping women reclaim their voices and personal power. She is also the visionary behind Ladies in Power and Her Story in Stone, initiatives created to strengthen women today while preserving their wisdom for generations to come. Get connected here:  https://www.meekacaissie.com/home https://www.facebook.com/meekacaissie https://www.instagram.com/meekacaissie/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/meekacaissie/ If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins. Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place. I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power. Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast Julie's Website [https://juliefairhurst.com/]

How Historical Fiction Brings Forgotten Women to Life | Cinda Gault

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2083529/fan_mail/new] How can historical fiction bring forgotten women back to life—and what can their courage teach women today? In this fascinating episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Canadian author and speaker Cinda Gault to explore historical fiction, courageous female characters, women’s history, creative writing, and the power of telling stories that official records left behind. Cinda shares her remarkable journey from helping establish a rape crisis center and domestic violence shelter to working as a prison guard, earning a PhD in English, teaching Canadian literature, and becoming a published author. Her historical novels celebrate adventurous women who refuse to accept the lives prescribed for them. Through stories inspired by women such as Isobel Gunn and Marie-Anne Gaboury, Cinda reveals how research and imagination can restore depth, humanity, and possibility to women who were barely acknowledged in historical records. In this conversation, Julie and Cinda discuss: * Why brave and unconventional women make compelling characters * How historical fiction can recover women’s forgotten stories * Isobel Gunn’s decision to disguise herself as a man in 1806 * Marie-Anne Gaboury’s journey into Canada’s fur-trade country * Why women’s experiences were often recorded through men’s eyes * Annie Oakley, Gabriel Dumont, the Jesse James Gang, and the Louis Riel Rebellion * The difference between wanting to write and becoming a writer * Why real life cannot simply be placed on a page and called a story * How structure, editing, and professional guidance strengthen a book * What rejection taught Cinda about becoming a published author * Why women sometimes limit themselves through other people’s expectations * The responsibility that comes with personal freedom * Artificial intelligence, critical thinking, and the future of storytelling * What Cinda hopes her granddaughters inherit from earlier generations of women Cinda also shares candid advice for women who want to write their life stories but feel inexperienced, intimidated, or afraid to begin. She explains why there is an important difference between journaling for personal healing, writing one meaningful book, and developing the long-term craft required to become a professional writer. Her message is honest: your story matters, but turning life into a book requires choices, structure, skill, and a willingness to leave some things out. Cinda is the author of: This Godforsaken Place A Small Compass Everything I Hope For Past Convictions Her work blends Canadian history, courageous women, adventure, romance, resistance, and the timeless struggle to build a meaningful life. Her official website lists these novels and describes her work as historical fiction centred on women’s adventures, courage, autonomy, and possibility. If you enjoy conversations about women’s history, historical fiction, writing books, strong female characters, Canadian history, personal freedom, and women finding their voices, this episode is for you. Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for inspiring life stories, practical business tools, writing guidance, and honest conversations with experts and courageous women from around the world. Come for the conversation. Leave with a story, lesson, or idea that helps you move forward. Learn more about Cinda Gault: website: https://www.cindagault.com FB: CindaGault Instagram: @Cinda Gault X: Cinda Gault Story Coaching. Sales Confidence. Podcast Visibility. Linkedin: Cinda Gault Subscribe to Julie Fairhurst and Women Like Me: @juliefairhurstWLM If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins. Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place. I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power. Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast Julie's Website [https://juliefairhurst.com/]