In this episode, I’m joined by Xander Dukowski, one of my former students and now a pre-med college junior. We discuss Xander's journey from a 0.29 high school GPA to university, overcoming personal challenges, including addiction and loss. Xander also shares insights about resilience, the impact of alternative education, and the importance of controlling what can be controlled.

• Turning Adversity into Strength: Xander's story reflects how personal challenges, including academic struggles and mental health issues, can be transformed into powerful motivators leading to success.
• The Power of Support Systems: Supportive individuals, such as teachers and significant others, can play a pivotal role in overcoming personal struggles and achieving greatness.
• Empowerment through Self-Belief: Xander's journey showcases the value of believing in oneself, even when the odds seem insurmountable, and using personal experiences as a springboard to inspire others.
• Focus on Controllables: Emphasizing the importance of controlling what you can in life, Xander's advice to focus on manageable aspects encourages listeners to persevere through tough times and maintain their agency.

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.

In this episode, I’m joined by Kris Sauter to talk about religion, specifically trauma from organized religion! Kris shares his journey from being a pastor in a toxic church environment to healing and resilience. Together, we explore spirituality, recovery, and Kris’ innovative project, "Shit My Pastor Said," which creates a safe space for survivors of spiritual abuse to share their stories.

• Power Dynamics: The inherent power dynamics in churches that can lead to manipulation and exploitation.
• Responsibility and Healing: Kris admits complicity within the toxic system and stresses the importance of accountability and healing.
• Abuse and Trauma: Kris speaks candidly about his experience with spiritual abuse and the journey to acknowledge it as trauma. This realization came through therapy and understanding toxic church environments.
• Healing Spaces: Kris emphasizes the importance of creating safe, authentic, and inclusive spiritual communities where individuals can explore their spirituality without fear or pressure.

Connect with Kris!

Shit My Pastor Said: https://www.shitmypastorsaid.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kris.sauter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kris_sauter45/

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.

In this episode, we discuss the significance of the dates we mark on our calendars. While many of us record positive events like anniversaries and birthdays, we get into the importance of acknowledging and honoring difficult and painful dates. I share some of my experiences of how my body remembers and reacts to these tough dates and how I create space and honor these memories. I hope that this helps you strengthen your resilience to overcome the hard times in the past, present, and future.

• Calendar Memories: Emphasis on positive memories being marked on calendars such as anniversaries, birthdays, and important events.
• Honoring Difficult Dates: Methods to honor difficult dates include acknowledging them, seeking support, creating visual spaces, and allowing oneself to process emotions.
• Body and Memory: The human body and mind remember significant dates, often resulting in physical or emotional reactions even if they're not consciously acknowledged.
• Positive Transformation: By making space for challenging memories, one can eventually replace them with more positive and celebratory ones.

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.