In this special Veterans Day edition of Coached Soul, Kenya Evelyn steps in as host to lead a powerful and heartfelt conversation with Georgia Arts, a retired E7 and Gulf War veteran, and Jerry Ryan, a former U.S. Army medical specialist. Joining them is Dr. Steve Hudgins, a licensed professional counselor and proud Army veteran whose family has served across multiple branches of the military.

Together, they open up about the realities of service - from the decision to enlist, to life during deployment, and the challenges of returning to civilian life. Through stories of resilience, teamwork, and sacrifice, they share personal insights into what it means to serve, to lead, and to carry the lessons of military life long after leaving uniform behind.

You’ll hear about:

• The motivation behind choosing a life of service
• The leadership lessons and teamwork that shape character
• Stories from Walter Reed and the frontlines of military medicine
• Experiences of women in uniform, from Saudi Arabia to Desert Storm
• How military life builds mental toughness, empathy, and purpose

Whether you’re a veteran, a military family member, or someone seeking insight into service and sacrifice, this episode will inspire you to honor your own journey of growth, resilience, and contribution.

🎧 Listen now to celebrate those who serve and discover the timeless leadership lessons forged in the heart of the military.

Key Moments:

01:25 "Honoring Servant Heart Winners"

06:39 Military Family Legacy

07:36 Military Frustrations and Career Shift

13:43 Origins of 5G in Warfare

14:46 Military Service and Health Risks

18:23 "American in Saudi Culture Adaptation"

22:44 "Reflections on Choices and Survival"

About Coached Soul™:

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this transformative episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins and Kenya Evelyn explore what it really means to stop proving and start being.

Through heartfelt stories and deep reflection, they reveal how the relentless pursuit of approval and achievement keeps us disconnected from our true selves. Together, Dr. Steve and Kenya discuss how healing begins when we release the pressure of performance, honor our stories, and choose presence over perfection.

You’ll discover:

• How self-doubt and perfectionism block emotional healing
• Why your worth is not defined by achievements or validation
• How to recognize unconscious programming that fuels over-performance
• The power of awareness, acceptance, and spiritual wholeness
• Why healing sometimes feels like push-ups for the soul and how to keep going

This episode invites you to pause, breathe, and embrace who you already are. Whether you’re struggling with self-image, chasing validation, or seeking peace after burnout, you’ll find clarity, compassion, and courage in this conversation.

🎧 Listen now to rediscover your identity, heal from self-doubt, and live from a place of wholeness - not performance.

Key Moments:

00:00 Coach Soul: Transformative Growth Podcast

03:31 Awareness and Modern Self-Reflection

06:41 "Proving I'm Enough"

10:14 Faith, Resilience, and Calling

13:38 Generational Love and Understanding

19:44 "Guarding Boundaries from Within"

20:34 "Breaking Habits, Reclaiming Power"

25:37 "Push-Ups and Resilience"

About Coached Soul™:

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this heartfelt episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins, licensed professional counselor, sits down with Norwegian therapist Therese Tonning to explore the complex emotional terrain of blended or “mosaic” families.

Together, they unpack what really happens when past wounds meet present relationships: the challenges of communication, unhealed trauma, and the hidden dynamics that shape second or third marriages. With honesty, compassion, and professional wisdom, they reveal how self-awareness, boundaries, and community support become the foundation for healing and healthy connection after divorce.

You’ll discover:

• How attachment styles influence relationships in blended families
• The emotional impact of divorce and remarriage on adults and children
• The real reasons behind communication breakdowns in second marriages
• Why self-awareness and therapy are essential before starting over
• How to create healing environments for yourself and your loved ones

Whether you’re navigating a second marriage, co-parenting, or simply learning to heal from the past, this episode will help you see your family and yourself with new clarity.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to build balance, emotional safety, and lasting love - one honest conversation at a time.

Key Moments:

04:07 Women's Health and Divorce Trends

09:44 Therapists' Approach to Trauma Treatment

12:21 Faith, Divorce, and Attachment Struggles

13:53 "Narcissistic Spouse's Social Media Tactics"

17:38 Attachment Styles and Muscle Memory

20:05 "Healing Before New Connections"

About the guest :

Therese Tonning embarked on her journey into therapy by joining the inaugural group of students at the EQ Institute in 2010. Founded by Haredes Palstadter and her daughter, Dura, in 2006, the EQ Therapy and subsequently the EQ Institute quickly garnered attention for their innovative approach. Therese completed her education at the institute in 2012, marking the beginning of her professional career in a rapidly growing field. Since its inception, the EQ Institute has expanded to three cities and now graduates about 300 students each year, underscoring its significant impact on modern therapy practices.

Website : https://eqi.no/

About Coached Soul™:

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this deeply moving episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins sits down with therapist Therese Tonning to unpack how unresolved childhood trauma continues to shape our marriages, families, and the way we love.

From communication struggles and emotional shutdowns to patterns that repeat across generations, this conversation reveals how unhealed wounds from the past silently influence the present, especially within blended or “mosaic” families navigating divorce, co-parenting, and new beginnings.

Together, Steve and Therese explore:

• How childhood trauma affects attachment and adult relationships
• Why men struggle with vulnerability and emotional openness
• Common communication breakdowns in blended families
• Why therapy and self-awareness are essential before major life transitions
• How to move from pain to purpose through healing and ownership

This episode bridges American and European therapeutic insights to show that while cultures differ, human healing is universal. Whether you’re navigating a blended family, healing after divorce, or breaking free from old emotional patterns, this conversation will help you see that your past doesn’t define you - it’s where your healing begins.

🎧 Listen now to learn how awareness, compassion, and emotional honesty can reshape your relationships - and your story.

Key Moments:

03:29 "Men's Reluctance to Open Up"

07:31 "Removing Emotional Splinters"

12:44 "Mosaic Families: Piecing Together"

15:34 "Relationship Recovery Through Sabbatical"

18:28 Trauma, Growth, and Self-Discovery

About the guest :

Therese Tonning embarked on her journey into therapy by joining the inaugural group of students at the EQ Institute in 2010. Founded by Haredes Palstadter and her daughter, Dura, in 2006, the EQ Therapy and subsequently the EQ Institute quickly garnered attention for their innovative approach. Therese completed her education at the institute in 2012, marking the beginning of her professional career in a rapidly growing field. Since its inception, the EQ Institute has expanded to three cities and now graduates about 300 students each year, underscoring its significant impact on modern therapy practices.

Website : https://eqi.no/

About Coached Soul™:

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this heartfelt episode of Coached Soul, host Dr. Steve Hudgins, a licensed professional counselor and author, redefines what it means to build a marriage that truly lasts. Marriage, he explains, isn’t a contract you sign - it’s a covenant you live, built on grace, forgiveness, and intentional love.

Drawing from both personal experience and professional insight, Dr. Hudgins introduces the Six Anchors every couple needs to weather life’s storms - trust, communication, boundaries, vulnerability, shared purpose, and spiritual connection. This episode becomes a moving conversation about how even the broken pieces of our relationships can form a beautiful mosaic of hope.

You’ll discover:

• The difference between contracts and covenants in marriage
• Six practical anchors to strengthen your relationship
• How to rebuild trust and emotional safety after hurt
• How boundaries and forgiveness work together for healing
• Why brokenness can become beauty when couples grow through it

If you’ve ever struggled to reconnect, repair trust, or reignite love, this conversation will help you see that healing is possible, and that true covenant love is built one intentional choice at a time.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to build a marriage that not only survives, but thrives.

Key Moments:

04:11 "Marriage as a Mosaic"

09:28 Marital Gratitude and Resilience

11:56 Marriage: Boundaries and Healing

16:52 "Choosing Healing Over Harm"

About Coached Soul™:

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this transformative episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins joins co-host Kenya Evelyn for an honest conversation about healing generational wounds, blended families, and the power of vulnerability.

Drawing from his new book and decades of clinical and personal experience, Dr. Hudgins shares the “Mosaic Family” concept - how the broken pieces of our stories can be reassembled into something beautiful, whole, and significant. Together, Steve and Kenya unpack topics like:

• 🧩 Attachment styles and how they shape our relationships
• 💔 Generational trauma and steps toward emotional healing
• 🧠 Parental alienation and redefining family roles
• 💬 Vulnerability as a tool for transformation and connection
• 🌱 The power of mentorship and community in rewriting our stories

If you’ve ever felt defined by your past, labeled by others, or burdened by family dynamics, you’ll find hope, perspective, and healing here.

✨ Learn how to embrace your own mosaic and move forward, piece by piece, with strength and grace.

🎧 Listen now to reclaim your story, rebuild connection, and redefine what family truly means. Key Moments:

05:17 Healing Journey and Personal Insights

08:07 Journey to Therapy and Vulnerability

10:20 "Rising Above Labels and Past"

13:20 "Change: Be the Coffee Bean"

17:39 "Balancing Vulnerability in Therapy"

21:32 "Challenging Parental Alienation Syndrome"

25:03 Raising Courageous Voices

About Coached Soul™:

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

Today, Dr. Steve Hudgins and co-host Kenya Evelyn invite you to sit with some of the most fundamental questions of human connection: How do we really listen to one another? Can we move beyond the urge to be "right" and instead build bridges of understanding - even when we disagree?

Through heartfelt stories, personal reflections, and practical wisdom, Dr. Steve and Kenya dive into the dangers of division - whether rooted in language, family dynamics, culture, or even within our own beliefs. They explore how our words, frequencies, and underlying emotions can either fuel separation or foster real community.

This episode is more than a conversation about conflict - it's an exploration of what it means to honor every voice, embrace empathy, and reclaim a sense of belonging in a noisy, often divided world. Along the way, you'll hear actionable steps for better communication, active listening, and cultivating respect - even in moments of tension.

Whether you're navigating family challenges, seeking deeper relationships, or simply craving more connection in your community, this episode offers both the inspiration and practical strategies to help you show up with more compassion - for yourself and for others. So grab a pen, an open heart, and let's embark on this journey toward greater unity and healing.

Key Moments:

04:54 "Navigating Communication in Therapy"

08:14 Discovering My True Voice

12:26 "Rebuilding Community Bridges"

18:20 Building Bridges Through Understanding

20:32 "United in the American Dream"

23:43 Healing Childhood "Splinters"

27:41 "Embrace Vulnerability and Authenticity"

About Coached Soul™:

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this episode, Dr. Steve Hudgins and co-host Kenya Evelyn dive deep into the transformative power of identity, exploring how labels and life’s challenges can fragment our sense of self - but also how healing, self-awareness, and faith help us reclaim our worth and authentic wholeness.

With the release of Dr. Hudgins’ new book, the Mosaic family concept takes center stage, shifting the conversation from “blended families” to something much more hopeful and beautiful.

Together, Dr. Steve and Kenya reflect on the personal journeys, wisdom, and grace that come from embracing our stories, “mistakes” and all and turning them into sources of strength and connection. Whether you’re a therapist, part of a Mosaic family, or simply seeking to rediscover your truest self, this episode offers heartfelt guidance and reassurance that our identities are forged in unity, love, and the unique light we each bring to the world.

Key Moments:

00:00 "Steve's Visionary Impact Celebrated"

06:21 "Identity: Warrior or Peacemaker?"

08:46 "Embracing Humanity in Leadership"

12:55 Understanding Blended Family Dynamics

15:59 Identity and Gratitude Journey

19:02 Prayers for Value and Gratitude

About Coached Soul™:

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/