How To Tell Your Story Without Worrying What Your Family Thinks

What are we really trying to numb when we turn to addiction? Why can something that’s hurting us feel so much like love? And how do you rebuild your life when you’ve survived the very things that once made you believe you might never make it out? Today’s guest is Azadeh—a woman whose story is truly one of survival, healing, and redemption. Azadeh has been sober from meth and alcohol for 24 years and is a survivor of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse. Today, she’s been married for 17 years, is a couples counselor, a four-time bestselling author, and the founder of Power Within Publishing. For the past 20 years, she’s dedicated her life to helping women heal from abuse and trauma, and she recently earned her doctorate from Bethel University. At the center of it all is her faith and a deep love for Jesus. Today, we’re going behind the accomplishments and into the story that created the woman she is today—the addiction, the abuse, the healing, learning what healthy love actually looks like, and how God can take some of the most painful chapters of our lives and use them to create purpose. This is Azadehs story @Breakfree_riseandrebuild

What if the thing that broke you at an early age became the very reason you spend your life protecting others? what if your pain wasn't the end of your story, but the assignment? My guest is a Registered Nurse licensed in New York, California, and Florida, with years in emergency medicine and the neonatal intensive care unit. She's a Jiu-Jitsu black belt and academy co-founder, a wife, and a mom of two. Today she's the President of the Inspirit Foundation, leading programs in mental health, injury prevention, and nutrition to protect young athletes on and off the mat. But long before any of that there was a four-year-old girl who learned what it meant to lose someone she loved. And it's shaped every choice she's made since. This is Michele's story. @michelefreitas_us

Have you ever wanted to not be seen? To hide — maybe your actual body, or just by not taking up too much space? Have you ever felt like you weren't qualified, so you never even tried? Have you struggled with that feeling in your stomach that you're just not good enough? If any of this hits home, this episode is for you. I'm diving into what it really takes to overcome insecurity and step into your most confident self — including the one mindset shift that completely changed everything for me. I'm also breaking down my Pool Theory and how it works hand-in-hand with that shift to help you build lasting, unshakeable confidence. If you've been stuck in self-doubt or waiting for permission to take up space, this episode is your sign to stop.

Not every story is ready for a microphone, and that's okay. In this episode of Shift Happens, we're talking about how to know when it's time. We break down whether you're sharing from a wound or a scar, and whether your "why" is revenge or service. We also cover the difference between trauma dumping and linking arms with someone to help them carry the load. Your story is powerful. Let's make sure you're standing on solid ground when you share it.

At some point in your life, you’ve probably reflected on how the men and women who raised you shaped the way you love. What happens when one parent is more absent? Or when one of the people you feel safest with passes away? How do those experiences follow you into adulthood—into the kind of woman or man you become, the romantic partners you choose, and the way you handle trust, conflict, and ultimately, love? Today’s guest is Bobby Jacobs. On paper, Bobby has built an impressive life. He was a professional volleyball player and is now the owner of Fit 3 Six Five Meals, a meal-prep company here in Orange County. But today, I’m much more interested in the man behind all of that. Bobby was raised by a single mom while his father spent much of his life in prison. He grew up watching firsthand what it looked like for a woman to carry the weight of a family. And while he did have a father figure in his stepdad and a deep bond with his grandma, he experienced deep loss when both were taken from him. When you’ve experienced abandonment and loss early in life, does part of you always prepare for the people you love to eventually leave? And what does that do to the man you become—and the way you show up in love? Today, we’re talking about the experiences that shaped Bobby’s view of masculinity, the relationships that taught him what it meant to be a man, and what he believes men and women may fundamentally misunderstand about each other. We’re also getting into the stuff we don't always say out loud when it comes to modern dating: standards, non-negotiables, traditional roles, heartbreak and what happens when the person you love isn't the one you end up with. I wonder ... maybe the bigger question isn’t what kind of love do you want? It’s when so much of what you learned about love came through absence and loss, how do you learn to believe that love can actually stay? This is Bobby's story. @bobbyjacobs