What happens when a family secret rewrites everything you thought you knew? In this heartfelt and powerful conversation, author and mental health advocate Lisa Sugarman joins Persistence U with Lizbeth to share her story of losing her father—twice.

Told as a child that her father died of a heart attack, Lisa didn’t discover the truth about his suicide until 35 years later. That revelation not only reshaped her personal narrative but became the catalyst for a career shift toward suicide prevention and mental wellness. Lisa shares how grief changed her, the importance of breaking the silence around suicide, and how she’s now helping others through her work with The Trevor Project, NAMI, Samaritans, and her own platform, The Help Hub.

You Will Learn:

• How delayed grief and truth-telling can reframe our stories
• The impact of high-functioning individuals who suffer in silence
• Practical tools and resources for suicide prevention and survivor support

Resources Mentioned:

• National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial or text 988
• Lisa Sugarman’s resource platform: The Help Hub
• The Trevor Project: thetrevorproject.org
• Samaritans SafePlace Support Groups
• NAMI’s Storytelling Program

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com

How do you keep going after unimaginable loss? In this heartfelt episode of Persistence U, grief educator, podcaster, and writer Lisa Ellison Cooper shares how the devastating death of her younger brother launched her into a journey of deep grief, self-exploration, and ultimately, healing.

Lisa discusses how writing became a lifeline—first as a way to process pain, and then as a tool to connect with others. Today, she uses her experience to support fellow writers navigating difficult personal narratives, offering workshops and coaching rooted in empathy and resilience.

Whether you're grieving, supporting someone who is, or learning to write through your pain, this conversation offers both comfort and clarity.

You Will Learn:

• Why grief often disrupts the writing process—and how to work with it, not against it
• How community and mentorship play critical roles in healing and creative growth
• Practical tips for writing your personal story with emotional safety and power

More About Lisa Ellison Cooper:

Connect with Lisa at lisaellison.com.

Lisa is a grief educator, essayist, and speaker whose work has appeared in Hippocampus, Kenyon Review, and The New York Times. She teaches writing classes on grief, healing, and resilience and believes storytelling can bridge the deepest divides.

Join Lisa's upcoming class, Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation, which will begin on September 18, 2025: https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com

After retiring from a 27-year teaching career and realizing her pension wasn’t enough, Queen Michelle took a leap of faith. She moved to Mexico, began an inward journey of healing through meditation and creativity, and eventually traced her roots to Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, through a DNA test with African Ancestry.

What began as a personal mission to avoid economic hardship became a transformative spiritual journey. In this conversation, Queen Michelle shares how she connected with her ancestral tribe, the Fulani, and was embraced in her ancestral village on her 60th birthday. The experience led her to found the Fula History and Genealogy Society of America.

Now back in the U.S. temporarily, she’s created a conscious curriculum for Generation Alpha, raised awareness of generational trauma, and is preparing to return to Mexico. Queen Michelle proves that healing and purpose don’t have a deadline — and legacy isn’t something you leave, it’s something you live.

You Will Learn:

• How solo travel became a gateway to Queen Michelle’s emotional and ancestral healing
• The importance of reconnecting with cultural identity and reclaiming intergenerational legacy
• What Generation Alpha needs and why Queen Michelle is on a mission to prepare them with emotional and social tools

Find Queen on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/fulaamerican/

Thank you to PodMatch for another great connection!

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com

In this episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth dives into a deeply relatable and rarely explored topic: the estrangement of female friendships. Our guest, Susan Shapiro Barash, is a leading voice in women’s studies and author of over a dozen nonfiction books, including her latest: Estranged: Leaving Toxic Friendships and Creating Healthier Ones.

#persistenceu #susanshapirobarash #toxicfriendships#alienation #estrangement

In this conversation, Susan shares research gathered from more than 150 interviews with women ages 20 to 80, uncovering the emotional truths, betrayals, and boundary-crossings that cause female friendships to unravel. Together, we unpack what happens when once-beloved friends become sources of stress, resentment, or grief—and how to navigate the ending of a friendship with clarity and compassion.

Why do we feel shame for wanting to walk away? How do we know when a friendship has run its course? And is it possible to honor the good times while also letting go of what no longer serves us? Susan offers thought-provoking answers, real-life examples, and powerful insight into a topic we all experience but rarely discuss openly.

You Will Learn:
The 7 types of toxic friendship patterns and how to spot them

How to know when it’s time to step back—or step away—from a friendship

Why letting go of a longtime friend can be a powerful, self-loving decision

Featured Book
Estranged: Leaving Toxic Friendships and Creating Healthier Ones by Susan Shapiro Barash
Buy the book on Amazon
🔗 Learn more: www.susanshapirobarash.com

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com

Three months after a car crash, Kelly Tuttle fell asleep at the wheel again—this time from brain fatigue.
She was trying to return to “normal,” but her concussion had other plans.

This week on Persistence U, Kelly shares how she turned her traumatic brain injury into a second act—retraining in neurology, writing a guide to help others return to life after injury (After the Crash), and launching resources for people with invisible challenges.

You Will Learn:

How a life-changing car accident and hidden brain injury led Kelly Tuttle to redefine her career and purpose.

The essential tools, therapies, and emotional supports that can help in recovering from traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Why Kelly chose to write After the Crash—and how she's helping others return to work, school, and life after TBI.

Her story is filled with honesty, resilience, and the courage to rebuild with purpose.

Learn more about Kelly’s work at kellytuttle.org. Kelly's book, After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and Live Life After a Brain Injury can be ordered where books are sold.

#BrainInjuryRecovery #TBIAwareness #KellyTuttle #InvisibleInjury #ResilienceStories #PersistenceU #HealthAdvocacy #WomenHelpingWomen #BrainHealthMatters #PodcastInterview

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com

One moment changed everything.

A motorcycle accident left Air Force veteran Kijuan “Kiwi” Jones blind, battered, and full of questions. But not for long.

He didn’t just survive—he thrived.

In this episode of Persistence U with Lizbeth, Kiwi shares how he built a new life through faith, therapy, and fierce determination—and even wrote a book: Don't Focus on Why Me. https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Focus-Why-Me-Motorcycle/dp/1737036614

Connect with Kiwi at https://ameymotivation.com/

#ThrivingNotJustSurviving #BlindMotivator #KiwanJones #resilienceandcourage #airforce #blind

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com

What if 10 minutes a day could help you process tough emotions, release perfectionism, and rediscover joy?

Today’s Persistence U guest, Susan Hensley, shares her surprising journey from news anchor to corporate executive to resilience coach—and how a brown, messy painting at a friend's house opened the door to a powerful new life practice: art journaling.

Susan takes us through:

• How a simple, playful activity helped her heal from burnout and perfectionism.
• Why tapping into childlike creativity builds emotional resilience—especially during chaos.
• How art journaling can help you hold space for tough feelings and spark real joy.
• Why resilience isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about learning how to turn the page.

Plus, Susan offers encouragement for busy women, perfectionists, and anyone craving a simple way to reset their mindset in stressful times.

🎨 Her book, Art for Your Sanity: How to Manage Chaos and Unleash Joy, offers science-backed practices anyone can try—no fancy tools or artistic experience needed.

Tune in to learn how resilience, creativity, and self-compassion are much closer than you think.

Today's interview is compliments of PodMatch

Learn more about Susan Hensley and get your free Art Journaling Starter Guide at susanhensley.com.

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com

What happens when your life is blown apart by betrayal? If you're Tzara Attwater, you build a van from scratch, drive it solo across Australia, and reassemble your sense of self along the way.

In this gripping and often hilarious episode, Lizbeth sits down with Tzara to talk about her epic 2.5-year solo road trip around the Australian continent after a devastating breakup. From falling into snake-infested waters and breaking her tibia and fibula to rebuilding confidence through travel, vanlife, and connection, this episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if it’s too late to change course—or to start over.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How betrayal led Tzara to rediscover her strength
• The healing power of solo travel, even after 40
• The wildest thing that happened on her journey (spoiler: it involves snakes)
• Her surprising van-build journey using YouTube tutorials
• What she learned about resilience, courage, and human kindness

Tzara also shares practical takeaways, including a free confidence bundle and a quiz to discover your attachment style.

Resources & Links:

• Tzara’s website: https://myconfidencecoach.com.au
• Get your free confidence bundle:https://myconfidencecoach.com.au/confidence-bundle/
• Take the attachment style quiz on Tzara's website!
• Submit your travel story for Lizbeth’s upcoming anthology: https://lameredith.com/mostlysolo-travel-adventures-with-lizbeth

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com