Episodes

  • Ep245 – What It Really Takes to Write a Book: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly with April Adams Pertuis

    Ep245 – What It Really Takes to Write a Book: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly with April Adams Pertuis
    Oct 23 2025
    We all love the idea of writing a book, don’t we? That dream of holding your words in your hands, of sharing your story with the world, of finally saying “I did it.” But the truth is — writing a book is not all coffee shop moments and creative bursts. It’s a journey filled with resistance, discipline, emotion, and deep personal reflection. And sometimes, the hardest part isn’t putting words on the page… it’s what you have to let go of to get there. In this solo episode, I’m getting real about my own writing journey — the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly. I’ve been working on my first solo book for over a year and a half, and today, I’m pulling back the curtain on what this process has really looked like. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book (or finishing any big project), this conversation is for you. Tune in as I share with you: Why writing a book will test your patience — and your priorities The surprising truth about what’s really holding you back (hint: it’s not time) The fear of “laying things down” and how it keeps us stuck How having a writing buddy changed everything for me My public promise to finally finish and publish my book in 2026 🎯 Whether you’re dreaming of writing your own book or simply tackling a project that’s been sitting on the back burner, this episode is your invitation to make a new decision — to release what no longer serves you and create the space your dream deserves. If this conversation resonates with you, share it with a friend who might need a little nudge to start their own project. And if you love tuning into The Inside Story Podcast, take a moment to rate and review the show at ratethispodcast.com/story — your feedback helps more people find these stories and get inspired to tell their own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Ep244 – Creating Epiphanies Out of Life with Anna Girgan

    Ep244 – Creating Epiphanies Out of Life with Anna Girgan
    Oct 8 2025
    There comes a moment when life as we know it starts to fall apart — not to destroy us, but to guide us back to who we’re meant to be. Burnout, loss, and uncertainty can become the very things that wake us up to a deeper sense of purpose and peace. This episode is about what happens when we stop running from the unraveling and start trusting the transformation waiting on the other side. In this heartfelt conversation, April sits down with Anna Girgan, transformational mindset and leadership coach and founder of Epiphanies Coaching. Anna opens up about leaving a high-powered corporate career, navigating deep personal loss, and finding her way back to faith and freedom through radical surrender. Her story is a beautiful reminder that healing and purpose often begin where certainty ends. Listen in as Anna shares with us: How burnout became the turning point that led Anna to rediscover herself The powerful moment she heard God’s voice — and what it took to follow that calling Lessons from her solo cross-country road trip that turned into a journey of healing and faith How loss, grief, and surrender shaped her resilience and renewed her spirit The divine inspiration behind Epiphanies Coaching and her Epiphanies Journal on money mindset Why owning her story and sharing it publicly became a pathway to freedom How she now helps other women heal, align, and live abundantly through her transformational retreats Anna’s story reminds us that sometimes life has to break us open before it can build us anew. When we surrender our plans and choose trust over fear, we create space for grace to do its work. 👉 Connect with Anna Girgan on Instagram at @epiphanieswithanna and explore her retreats and journal through the links in the show notes. If this episode touched your heart, please share it with someone who needs encouragement today — and leave a quick review to help more listeners find The Inside Story Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Ep243 – 10 Posts a Day Challenge - Results and Aha's

    Ep243 – 10 Posts a Day Challenge - Results and Aha's
    Sep 24 2025
    Have you ever wondered what might happen if you really pushed the limits of your visibility online? Most people struggle to post once a day—so the idea of posting ten times a day sounds a little wild. But I decided to put that theory to the test, and what unfolded was both surprising and game-changing. In this episode of The Inside Story Podcast, I’m sharing all about my 10 Posts a Day Challenge—what inspired me to do it, how I pulled it off, and the unexpected results that came from it. You’ll hear the lessons I learned, the stories I told, and why this experiment shifted the way I think about content creation and visibility. Join me today as I share with you: 🚀 The surprising results I saw after posting 10 times a day for 10 days ✂️ How a spontaneous haircut became some of my most engaging content 💡 The secret to never running out of ideas (hint: your everyday life is full of them!) 🔄 How I repurpose old content and made it work like brand new 🤯 The biggest mindset shift I had about showing up boldly online If you’ve been second-guessing yourself or holding back online, I want this episode to show you what’s possible when you stop overthinking and just show up. After you listen, I’d love to hear: how will you challenge yourself to be more visible this week? Join the LIGHTbeamers Community on Facebook, share your story with us, and get started on your visibility journey today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • Ep242 — Transplant Teenz Founder Micah Clayborne and His Mom Brittany on Turning Pain Into Purpose

    Ep242 — Transplant Teenz Founder Micah Clayborne and His Mom Brittany on Turning Pain Into Purpose
    Sep 10 2025
    One of the things I’ve learned in all my years of sharing stories is that our greatest challenges often carry the seeds of our greatest impact. When life hands us trials we never asked for, we can choose to let them break us—or we can use them as fuel to shine a light for others. This episode is about resilience, hope, and how two remarkable people turned their hardest seasons into purpose. I’m honored to bring you this conversation with Brittany and Micah Clayborne, a mother-and-son duo whose journeys will leave you inspired. Both Brittany and Micah have endured heart transplants, life-threatening diagnoses, and setbacks most of us can hardly imagine—yet they’ve chosen to step forward as advocates, leaders, and encouragers for others walking the same path. Listen in as the three of us talk about: Brittany’s journey through heart failure, transplant, stage 4 cancer How she built a career helping others heal through grief psychology How Micah, at just 13, went from being a healthy athlete to facing a heart transplant The powerful moment that sparked the creation of Transplant Teenz — and how it’s changing lives Why creating spaces of belonging and community is vital for healing, especially for teenagers How both Brittany and Micah lean on faith, resilience, and mindset to navigate unimaginable challenges The impact of storytelling and advocacy in transforming personal struggle into collective hope How you can help support the mission of Transplant Teenz This conversation with Brittany and Micah reminds me why I believe so deeply in the power of story—it connects, it heals, and it inspires action. Their story is proof that light can be found even in the darkest places. After you listen, I’d love for you to share this episode with someone who needs encouragement today—and if you feel called, check out Transplant Teenz to see how you can be part of the movement to support young transplant patients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Ep241 – LIGHTbeamers: 10 Years of Light

    Ep241 – LIGHTbeamers: 10 Years of Light
    Aug 27 2025
    Ten years ago, I followed a little nudge on my heart to start sharing my stories. I didn’t know exactly what LIGHTbeamers was or what it would become — but I knew I wanted to help women find their voices and shine their light. What began as me posting on Facebook turned into a private group, which then grew into this global community, a platform for storytelling, and a movement that has touched so many lives. In this very special anniversary episode, I’m celebrating 10 years of LIGHTbeamers with YOU — the community that has made this possible. You’ll hear from some of the coaches, mentors, and friends who’ve shaped me along the way, and from fellow LIGHTbeamers who’ve stepped into their own stories and transformations. ✨ Join me as I celebrate: The backstory of how LIGHTbeamers began and why August 24th is our official anniversary The wisdom I’ve received from my mentors: Jen Lehner on starting small and taking action, George Bryant on clarity and vulnerability, and Ron Reich on focus and scaling with simplicity How our collaborative book projects gave dozens of women their start as published authors The unforgettable “red dress” moment in Paris that became a symbol of bold visibility for me Inspiring stories from women like Becky and Beth who have used their voices to transform their lives — and the lives of others This milestone is so much more than a date on the calendar — it’s a reminder of what happens when you say yes to your calling and surround yourself with a supportive community. I hope this episode inspires you to pause, reflect, and celebrate your own journey too. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here. Whether you’ve been with me since the beginning or you’re just discovering LIGHTbeamers, you are part of this story — and I can’t wait to see where the next 10 years take us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Ep240 – Using Storytelling to “Create Your Blank” with Allison Field

    Ep240 – Using Storytelling to “Create Your Blank” with Allison Field
    Aug 13 2025
    What would your life look like if you could intentionally design it from the ground up? Many of us drift through seasons without pausing to define what we truly want—only to find ourselves feeling unfulfilled or misaligned. Creating your ideal life begins with clarity around your values, an honest look at your past experiences, and a willingness to imagine new possibilities. This conversation explores how to uncover those truths and take action toward a life that feels right for you. In this episode of The Inside Story Podcast, I talk with certified coach, author, and former nonprofit founder Allison Field about her new book, Create Your Blank. A recent graduate of our Speak Easy program, Allison shares her process for helping people define their own “blank” and offers insights from her deeply personal journey of transformation, resilience, and purpose. Join me and Allison as we discuss: Why identifying and honoring your core values is the foundation for creating a fulfilling life. How life’s challenges—no matter how difficult—plant seeds that can shape your future path. The importance of story excavation to connect the dots between past experiences and present goals. Allison’s journey from a difficult adolescence to founding a nonprofit, and how that became her first “blank.” How Create Your Blank evolved from a coaching program, to retreats, to a fully realized book. Why you’ll create multiple blanks throughout your life, and how to re-evaluate your values along the way. The role of storytelling in building connection and inspiring others to take action. Your story holds powerful clues to what you truly want in life—are you ready to uncover them? Take a moment today to reflect on the values you hold dear and the pivotal experiences that have shaped you, then imagine what your next “blank” could be. We’d love to hear your story—share it with us and inspire someone else to start their journey. And don’t forget to connect with Allison at allisonfield.com to get your copy of Create Your Blank and explore her coaching work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • Ep239 – Girl, Unemployed: Turning Job Loss into a Journey Back to You with Desiree Groft

    Ep239 – Girl, Unemployed: Turning Job Loss into a Journey Back to You with Desiree Groft
    Jul 30 2025
    Losing a job isn’t just about missing a paycheck — it can unravel your sense of identity, safety, and purpose. For many women, especially those navigating life on their own, job loss brings a cascade of emotional and practical challenges. But within that uncertainty also lies an opportunity for reinvention, reflection, and storytelling. This episode explores what it means to experience—and rise from—such a pivotal life shift. In this episode, I sit down with writer and educator Desiree Groft, author of the debut novel Girl Unemployed. While fictional in format, Desiree’s book is deeply inspired by her real-life experience of unemployment during the Great Recession — and the resilience it took to rebuild from the ground up. Listen in as Desiree and I talk about: Why she chose to write her story through the lens of fiction instead of memoir How living in a historical NYC women’s hotel became a character in the book The emotional and mental toll of unemployment, especially as a single woman The concept of “holding both grief and hope” during difficult transitions How the book’s cover design became a metaphor for rewriting life’s rough drafts The importance of finding community — not just for children, but for adults too Why traditional publishing didn’t define her journey as an author Desiree’s story is one of grit, reinvention, and honoring the messy in-between seasons of life. If you've ever faced a detour in your career, identity, or purpose — this conversation will resonate deeply. Be sure to listen to the full episode, then grab your copy of Girl Unemployed and follow Desiree’s work. You’ll find the links in the show notes — and don’t forget to share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it. And if this conversation sparks something in you, consider sharing your own story — because your experiences have the power to connect, heal, and inspire others too. Interview links: Grab a copy of Desiree’s book, Girl, Unemployed https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Unemployed-Desiree-Prieto-Groft/dp/B0DY8NB5XN Connect with Desiree https://www.desireegroft.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • Ep238 – Thriving in Your 3rd Act with Cathryn Baker

    Ep238 – Thriving in Your 3rd Act with Cathryn Baker
    Jul 16 2025
    There’s a powerful shift happening for women stepping into the later seasons of life. The “Third Act” is no longer about winding down—it’s about reigniting purpose, rediscovering identity, and rewriting what it means to thrive in your 60s, 70s, and beyond. It’s a time to reflect on everything you’ve lived, learned, and led—and to ask, “What’s still waiting for me?” This stage can be the most impactful chapter yet, when you give yourself permission to live fully, boldly, and on your own terms. In this episode of The Inside Story Podcast, I chat with certified coach and former business executive Cathryn Baker, who shares how she launched an entirely new career at age 67. From building multimillion-dollar companies to moving to a remote Texas ranch, her story is a testament to courage, reinvention, and honoring the call to something more. I invite you to listen in as Cathryn and I talk about: Why the term “Third Act” is so empowering—and how Cathryn defines hers How Cathryn went from feeling undervalued to reigniting her confidence and purpose The bold decision to leave a successful corporate life and move to an 1,100-acre ranch The moment a friend told her “your unlived life is waiting”—and how it changed everything Lessons from building two businesses, exiting partnerships, and starting over with coaching Why age is just a number—and how Cathryn ignored societal expectations to follow her gut How storytelling (and listening to your own) becomes your greatest tool for reinvention Cathryn’s journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to listen to your intuition, trust your experience, and step into what’s next. Whether you’re in your third act or simply craving a change, your story holds the roadmap. Want to get clarity on what your next chapter looks like? Start by writing down the defining moments of your life—and ask yourself which ones still feel unfinished. Then, tune into this episode and let Cathryn’s story inspire your next bold move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 mins