From a young age, Lauren knew two things.  She knew she loved everything about acting, and she knew she was attracted to women.  Her Southern Baptist parents weren't onboard with either of these passions, and when they discovered Lauren's truths all Hell broke loose.  After a few years of being a "good girl," she left her town, her controlling husband, and her parents behind  and ran off with $70 to her name to create a new life.  "Dawn," a film she wrote, directed, and starred in loosely based on her story recently won the audience choice award at a major film festival, and she's joining me to tell her whole story. Buckle up!

Btw, Lauren was kind enough to be my very first podcast interview, and I hadn't figured this all out yet so it was a mess and took a ton of editing, and that's why it's coming out 4th even though we mention it being first!

Kimra Luna grew up in a household of trauma and poverty.  Then she boldy built an empire with only her iphone.  But holding onto those millions was another challenge due to her emotional foundation and family history.  So she did (and continues to do) the work.  Because she, this fierce single mother of 3 little boys, is a cycle-breaker.

Dianne and I became friends when she was a stay-at-home mom,  the youngest of her 4 children was only 3 years old and her 5 year old was enduring once-weekly chemotherapy treatments for the foreseeable future.  I had no idea of the other horrors she was enduring at home.  Within the next year, she left her abuser of 20 years (with 4 children in tow) and started over completely.  I've never been in such awe of a person's strength and fortitude.  So I invited her on the show to ask her, "How did you get so brave? Are you an anomaly or could someone else learn to be that brave too?"