Christine Dillard: Surviving Coercive Control, Gaslighting & Emotional Abuse

One Hour a Week: How Storytelling Helped a Mother and Son Rebuild Their Bond | Kate Markland

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2083529/fan_mail/new] One hour a week with your child is a heartbreaking reality — especially when it is court-ordered. For Kate Markland, that painful limitation became the beginning of something unexpectedly beautiful: a mother and son rebuilding their bond through stories. In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Kate Markland to talk about parenting connection, children’s creativity, storytelling, writing confidence, and the power of giving children permission to become the hero of their own story. Kate shares how she began reading aloud to her son over FaceTime, and how that simple act of connection grew into published children’s books and a classroom-tested method she calls StoryQuest. We talk about the heart and structure behind her approach, including: * The storyteller and the scribe *  Why open-ended questions matter *  How messy bullet points can unlock creativity *  Why perfect paragraphs are not the starting point *  How illustrations can help reluctant writers *  How AI art tools can support imagination *  Why spelling and grammar should not be the gatekeepers of creativity This conversation goes far beyond children’s writing. Kate explains why the blank page is not only a writing problem — it can also be a self-leadership problem. We discuss what happens when children are constantly corrected, how rules and bias can shrink young voices, and why girls especially may grow into women who silence parts of themselves long before they ever realize it. Kate also shares practical tools for hard seasons, including choosing one thing to win the day and naming three wins at night to build confidence, momentum, and resilience. This episode is for parents, teachers, writers, creatives, and anyone who cares about children’s voices, imagination, emotional connection, and reclaiming the parts of ourselves that were corrected, quieted, or left behind. Because sometimes a story is not just a story. Sometimes it is a bridge back to love. Subscribe for more conversations about women’s stories, writing, healing, parenting, creativity, business, and the courage to be heard. StoryQuest https://www.storyquestglobal.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kate-markland 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 30-Year Fixed Mortgages Help Build Wealth During Inflation | Adiel Gorel

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2083529/fan_mail/new] Inflation is hitting hard — at the grocery store, at the gas pump, and even at the movies. But what if one of your highest monthly costs could stay fixed while almost everything else keeps rising? In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Adiel Gorel, CEO of International Capital Group, to talk about how everyday people can use US real estate investing to build long-term wealth, passive income, and retirement security. Adiel shares his journey from electrical engineering and Silicon Valley research to buying rental properties and helping others invest in real estate. He explains why he moved from local investing to remote rental homes when the numbers stopped making sense, and how professional property management can make investing easier for people who do not want to become full-time landlords. We talk about why brand new homes may reduce unexpected repair costs, how a “start with one” approach can lower fear for first-time investors, and what happened when Adiel led a group of engineers who collectively bought hundreds of rental homes. A major part of this conversation is the power of the US 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Adiel explains how fixed mortgage payments can become easier to manage over time as inflation rises, why the real weight of debt may shrink, and why early cash flow is not the only number investors should consider. We also discuss the difference between the US mortgage system and Canada’s mortgage renewal risk, the rent-versus-buy question in expensive cities, and the market traits Adiel looks for across the Sunbelt when choosing investment locations. This conversation is for anyone curious about: Real estate investing  Rental property investing  Passive income  Retirement planning  Inflation and debt  US 30-year fixed mortgages  Cross-border real estate investing  Investing from Canada into the US  Long-term wealth building  Starting with one rental property This episode is educational and not financial advice. Always speak with qualified professionals before making investment decisions. If you have ever wondered whether you missed the real estate market, this episode may help you see a different path. Sometimes wealth does not begin with a giant leap. Sometimes it starts with one smart door. Subscribe for more conversations about business, money, visibility, reinvention, and building a life with more courage and choice. Check out Adiel's website; it's full of fantastic information that can help you: https://icgre.com/event/ https://icgre.com/pressroom/ 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/]

Too Stressed to Laugh? Laughter Yoga for Burnout, Stress & Healing | Cathy Nesbitt

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2083529/fan_mail/new] Laughing on purpose sounds ridiculous — until you feel what it does to your body. In this uplifting conversation, Julie Fairhurst is joined by Cathy Nesbitt, a certified Laughter Yoga Teacher and Laughter Ambassador, to discuss laughter as a practical wellness tool for women who feel stressed, exhausted, overwhelmed, or emotionally maxed out. Cathy shares how she went from running a worm composting business to teaching intentional laughter, and why this work matters even more in a world where stress has become the default setting. Julie and Cathy explore what Laughter Yoga actually is — no flexibility required — and what a session can look like in long-term care, community groups, and everyday life. Cathy explains why group laughter is so contagious and how intentional laughter can help the body shift from stress and tension toward more joy, connection, and release. In simple, grounded language, Cathy breaks down the wellness benefits of laughter, including deep diaphragmatic breathing, increased oxygen, nervous system support, and what she calls your daily D.O.S.E. of feel-good chemicals: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. They also talk about mirror neurons, why laughter sometimes shows up at “inappropriate” moments, and how those unexpected reactions may be your nervous system looking for safety and release. If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t feel like laughing,” this episode is for you. Cathy offers a compassionate way in, reminding us that simulated laughter can still support the body and that laughter can work alongside therapy, medication, healing, and other wellness tools. This conversation also touches on supportive practices like tapping, Brain Gym cross-crawls, qigong-style movement, grounding outdoors, choosing music over doomscrolling, and building small habits that bring more lightness into your day. If you are tired, stressed, heavy-hearted, or simply ready for a lighter way to move through life, this episode is a gentle reset. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a lighter day, and leave a comment with one thing that helps you come back to joy. Cathy's Chuckle Club https://www.cathysclub.com/ https://www.cathyscomposters.com/ https://www.cathysclub.com/ https://www.cathyssprouters.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathynesbitt/ https://www.youtube.com/@CathyLaughter  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559438955975 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/]

Stop Saying Yes: The Boundary Test Every Woman Needs | Paula Mathias

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2083529/fan_mail/new] Your calendar can look “full” and still be empty of you. In this powerful conversation, Julie Fairhurst sits down with author and speaker Paula Mathias to unpack the quiet way women disappear inside lives that look fine from the outside. Together, they explore how women can come back to themselves through practical, repeatable choices — one pause, one boundary, one honest no at a time. Paula draws on her years as a technical recruiter in the tech industry, where she saw the same pattern again and again: women get hired, then struggle to stay when they do not feel heard, are interrupted, and carry extra emotional and invisible labor just to belong. Julie and Paula talk candidly about imposter syndrome, being the only woman in the room, workplace confidence, invisible labor, burnout, overgiving, and the lifelong conditioning that teaches girls to be quiet, helpful, agreeable, and easy to like — even when those habits quietly cost them their careers, their wellbeing, and their voice. Paula also shares her powerful Yes Test Method: Is it yours? Is it essential? Is it sustainable? From the “office mom” snack story to the pressure of being the default person at home, this episode gets real about how boundaries are actually built in everyday life. You’ll hear how to pause before the automatic yes, try a “no for now,” negotiate instead of overfunctioning, and remember that someone else’s emergency does not always have to become your priority. This conversation is for the woman who is tired, stuck, resentful, overbooked, overneeded, and quietly wondering where she went. It’s time to stop disappearing inside everyone else’s needs. Subscribe, share this with a woman who needs a stronger no, and leave a comment with the boundary you are practicing next. Paula Mathias, Author and Speaker https://paulamathias.com/ Books:  The YES Test: https://a.co/d/08mQsqJu Speak Up: https://a.co/d/06iE4lWS 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 Write Your Life Story Without Reliving the Pain | Memoir Writing for Women

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2083529/fan_mail/new] Have you ever wanted to write your life story but stopped because you thought, “What if I’m not interesting enough?” or “What if people judge me?” or “What if writing it brings all the pain back?” In this episode, Julie Fairhurst shares a steady, compassionate way for women to begin writing their personal stories without forcing themselves to relive every wound. You’ll learn why women’s stories matter, why visibility can feel so uncomfortable, and how to begin with one honest moment instead of trying to write your whole life at once. Julie also talks about the difference between writing from the wound and writing from the wisdom — because your story is not just about what happened to you. It is about what you learned, survived, carried, healed, and now have the courage to say. This episode is for the woman who knows there is something inside her worth writing, but she needs permission, structure, and a safe place to begin. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why so many women dismiss their own stories • How fear of judgment keeps women silent • Why your life does not have to be dramatic to be meaningful • How to start writing with one honest moment • How to turn memory into meaning • Why writing your story can become an act of courage, healing, and legacy Your story counts. Your voice matters. And somewhere, there may be a woman waiting for the words only you can write. What is one moment from your life you are ready to write first? Share it in the comments. Subscribe for more videos on writing, publishing, women’s stories, visibility, book marketing, and turning your lived experience into words that matter. Julie Fairhurst is a writing coach, publisher, business strategist, podcast host, and founder of Women Like Me. With 34 years in sales and marketing, Julie helps women authors and women in business write their stories, publish their books, clarify their message, and use their voices with courage, confidence, and heart. Through Women Like Me, Julie has supported women in sharing true-life stories, building visibility, and turning lived experience into legacy, healing, and meaningful impact. 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/]