The Holistic Warrior: Amy's Guide to Self-Belief and Worth

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Uncaged Pod, Jess interviews Amy, director of live events and assistant coach at Next Level University. Amy shares her inspiring journey from battling a chronic illness, endometriosis, to becoming a certified personal development coach. Her story is one of transformation through holistic healing, focusing on the interconnectedness of body, mind, and soul.

Amy discusses her path to self-awareness and self-worth, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and holistic success. She shares her experiences with public speaking, coaching, and her work at Next Level University, helping others achieve their next level of personal and professional growth. The conversation also explores challenges such as imposter syndrome, the importance of setting boundaries, and the power of understanding and honoring one’s core values.

Related Links

• Next Level University Website
• Brené Brown’s Core Values List
• Samantha Skelly’s Website

Calls to Action

• Join the Next Level Nation Facebook community for a supportive environment focused on personal growth.
• Consider participating in the group coaching programs offered by Next Level University, especially if you’re a podcaster or business owner looking to grow.
• Follow Amy on Instagram and Facebook at @AmyLenius for insights and updates on her work.

Powerful Quotes

• Timestamp: 01:18
• "I deeply love and believe in what you're doing, so thank you so much for having me and just allowing me to be in your space. I'm so grateful."
• Timestamp: 08:42
• "Genuinely, you know your body best and you need to fight for what you're feeling, please."
• Timestamp: 11:24
• "Self-belief is an external game. It's what you believe about yourself and what you're capable and competent of."
• Timestamp: 15:43
• "Building self-worth in tandem with self-belief is a really beautiful journey."
• Timestamp: 29:27
• "When you can learn about yourself, your cycle, your cyclical nature, you can just become this empowered being."

Gutsy Moves: Embracing Vulnerability with Laura Aura

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Uncaged podcast, the host interviews Laura Aura, a high-impact speaker, coach, and host of The Gutsy Podcast. Laura shares her journey from working as a graphic designer at the Yellow Pages to becoming a successful entrepreneur and coach. She recalls the pivotal moment when she chose to leave her job while pregnant to launch her own branding agency. Over time, her passion shifted from branding to coaching and speaking, leading her to sell her agency and devote her energy to empowering women to make “gutsy moves.”

Laura emphasizes the power of trusting yourself, using your authentic voice, and embracing vulnerability as strengths. She introduces the Gutsy Collective, a community she founded to support women in pursuing their deepest desires. The conversation explores the challenges women face in self-trust, the societal pressures that hold them back, and the importance of listening to both body and mind in decision-making.

The episode wraps up with Laura’s advice to her younger self and her call for women everywhere to step into courage, community, and uncaged living.

Related Links

• Laura Aura’s Website
• The Gutsy Podcast
• The Gutsy Collective
• Laura Aura on Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

Calls to Action

• Listen to The Gutsy Podcast for more stories and insights.
• Join the Gutsy Collective to connect with like-minded women and receive support in making gutsy moves.
• Follow Laura Aura on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for daily inspiration.
• Book a free call with Laura to see if the Gutsy Collective is right for you.

Powerful Quotes

• Timestamp: 01:11
• "Laura helps women leaders and entrepreneurs stop overthinking, trust themselves again, and make gutsy moves that actually stick."
• Timestamp: 04:30
• "Making Gutsy Moves is all about hearing and listening to yourself, being brave enough to sit still long enough to admit what you want, trusting what you're thinking and feeling, and then making the move."
• Timestamp: 11:41
• "Don't share from an open wound, share from the scar."
• Timestamp: 15:25
• "Trusting yourself is looking back at your track record, friend. You have done some shit. You have done hard things."
• Timestamp: 43:06
• "I would rather live with that didn’t go so well, but now I have more knowledge and information than wondering for the rest of my life what might’ve happened if I would’ve just taken the fucking lid off."

Soulful Liberation: Karen Leigh's Empowerment Story

Episode Summary

In this episode, the host welcomes Karen Leigh, a women's empowerment coach and founder of Soul Sanctuary Glasgow. Karen shares her transformative journey from struggling with an eating disorder and childhood trauma to becoming a practitioner of NLP, hypnotherapy, and timeline therapy. She discusses her path from a business management degree to personal development, driven by a desire to create a better life for her children. Karen explains how her experiences with a life coach opened her eyes to the power of mindset tools and soulful practices. The conversation delves into the specifics of timeline therapy, its role in addressing deep-seated emotions, and how it can help individuals overcome limiting beliefs. Karen also shares her personal experiences with fear, judgment, and the importance of self-worth. The episode highlights her work in creating women's circles and the Soul Sanctuary Glasgow, providing a space for connection and healing. Karen also discusses her upcoming book, which aims to guide readers on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

Related Links

• Soul Sanctuary Glasgow: Website
• Karen Leigh on Instagram: @iamkarenleigh

Calls to Action

• Listeners are encouraged to connect with Karen Leigh on Instagram and share their thoughts or key takeaways from the episode.
• Karen invites listeners to join her online women's circles for a transformative experience.
• Stay tuned for the release of Karen's upcoming book, which will explore themes of self-worth and personal growth.

Powerful Quotes:

• Timestamp: 00:01
• "Her motto, dance with the fear and live by your own damn rules." – Karen Leigh
• Timestamp: 09:19
• "I really believe that. I feel it found me." – Karen Leigh on discovering NLP
• Timestamp: 21:31
• "You really deserve more. And there's more, I would say the first step there is to get curious about your self-talk." – Karen Leigh
• Timestamp: 40:33
• "It means listening to what's in here and following this pool." – Karen Leigh on living Uncaged
• Timestamp: 41:34
• "There's a reason why your dreams are in your heart. There's a reason why you have these nudges or these little sparks of intuition." – Karen Leigh

🎙️ Episode Title: From Shadows to Light: Susan Wall's Story of Healing and Honesty

Episode Summary

In this episode, Susan Wall—storyteller, author, and truth-seeker—shares her courageous journey of transformation. From battling obesity and addiction to surviving a pulmonary embolism and a 10-day coma, Susan’s story is one of resilience, honesty, and radical self-acceptance.

She opens up about her struggles with mental health, her experiences with therapy, and her ongoing path to sobriety—including her life-changing experience with ketamine-assisted therapy. Susan also reflects on her spiritual journey, her evolving relationship with family, and the freedom she’s found in cutting ties with toxic relationships.

Now working on her book, Why I'm Finally Saying It All Out Loud, Susan is committed to speaking her truth unapologetically and encouraging others to do the same. Her story is a testament to the healing power of honesty and the light that comes from embracing who you really are.

Key Takeaways

• Therapy, in all its forms, can be life-changing and essential for healing.
• Alcohol use is often socially accepted, but sobriety opens the door to real clarity.
• Strength comes from leaning into your truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.
• Living unapologetically means cutting toxic relationships and embracing authenticity.
• Speaking out and owning your story can be a powerful act of healing.

Related Links

• Instagram & TikTok: @SusanWallSpeaks
• Facebook: Susan Johnson
• Email: SusanWallSpeaks@gmail.com
• Influencers Mentioned: Mel Robbins, Brené Brown
• Therapy Mentioned: Ketamine-assisted therapy

Calls to Action

• Follow Susan Wall on social media for updates on her upcoming book and speaking engagements.
• Reach out to Susan via email or DM for support or inquiries.
• Watch for her upcoming book, Why I'm Finally Saying It All Out Loud, expected in fall or by the end of the year.

Promotional Quotes

✨ “A lot of therapy. I'm still in therapy. I'm actually currently doing ketamine-assisted therapy, which is life-changing. I wish I'd known about it sooner.” (01:44)

✨ “It's glorified. It's socially accepted. It is kind of almost pushed on you. I was a real estate agent for several years, and literally at the end of every day, you went out drinking, you networked happy hours. It's very much, I consider it the only drug that's really socially acceptable.” (09:27)

✨ “It's going to be okay. You're stronger than you realize. You were meant to burn bright and speak out and speak up. And no matter what life throws at you, ultimately it's going to be okay.” (18:11)

✨ “I live absolutely and completely unapologetically. I don't use the word, sorry. Well, I try not to use the word sorry. Sometimes it comes out of my mouth before I even realize it.” (44:29)

✨ “I'm a lot. I'm a big personality. I cuss like a sailor. I am blunt. It all comes from a place of love. But I am very much out, very loud, and I was forced to squelch that for so long that I'm not doing it anymore.” (45:45)

🎙️ Episode Title: From Silence to Expression: Jacquese Armstrong's Story of Liberation

Episode Summary

In this episode, Jacquese Armstrong—award-winning poet, mental health advocate, and expressive arts facilitator—shares her powerful journey of healing and liberation through creativity. From the challenges of navigating mental health issues during her college years to the decades-long stigma she faced, Jacquese speaks candidly about what it means to struggle, persevere, and ultimately thrive.

Through her poetry, she gives voice to experiences often left in silence. Jacquese reads several of her moving poems, offering listeners a glimpse into her story of resilience, advocacy, and transformation. She discusses the healing power of creative expression, particularly in marginalized communities, and the ways storytelling builds connection and understanding.

Jacquese also opens up about her courageous decision to transition off medication after 40 years, describing its impact on her life and recovery. The conversation concludes with a reflection on gratitude as an anchor in her healing journey, alongside a reading of her gratitude-themed poem.

Key Takeaways

• Creativity and storytelling can be powerful tools for healing.
• Stigma often silences people living with mental health challenges—expression breaks that silence.
• Poetry and art are vital for advocacy, especially in marginalized communities.
• Recovery can take many forms, including bold decisions about treatment and self-care.
• Gratitude can be a grounding force in both healing and daily life.

Related Links

• Jacquese Armstrong’s work featured in MAD in America
• TMI Project
• NAMI New Jersey
• Women’s eNews
• LOLWE (publication featuring Jacquese’s memoir piece)

Calls to Action

• Explore Jacquese Armstrong’s poetry and essays for insight into lived mental health experiences.
• Engage in creative arts or workshops as a form of healing and self-expression.
• Consider gratitude as part of your own healing or wellness journey.
• Support mental health advocacy organizations, especially those serving marginalized communities.

Promotional Quotes

✨ “Wow, that is powerful. Your words are so powerful. It's a little bit emotional.” (08:42)

✨ “That really was. And that is a reason why I think I never healed very well because I always kept running. I kept running. I was running into brick walls and I get up and I kept running and I get up and I kept running.” (12:43)

✨ “Sharing it, Jacquese, that can stop somebody else from going through that for 40 years like you did.” (35:38)

✨ “People always say writers should always write and they should always have a discipline practice. And I write when it strikes me, get an idea because it's the idea with me.” (37:19)

✨ “I love that so much. And it's so true, and I am thankful for you for joining me today, Jacquese, for sharing your story and for breaking the mold and for being an advocate for so many.” (50:16)

🎙️ Episode Title: Unveiling the Caregiving Crisis: Insights from Katie Kristofic

Episode Summary

In this episode, Katie Kristofic—founder of Careful List—shares her powerful journey from marketing professional to caregiver advocate after her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Through her personal story, Katie sheds light on the invisible weight carried by caregivers and the systemic challenges they face, from navigating a fragmented healthcare system to enduring the emotional toll of anticipatory grief.

Katie opens up about the loss of her mother and how that pain fueled the creation of Careful List, a trusted hub of vetted caregiving resources and support. She highlights the role of storytelling in connecting caregivers, building awareness, and sparking change around the caregiving crisis.

This conversation is both deeply personal and urgently important—reminding us that caregiving impacts millions, yet remains overlooked. Katie’s insights call for better resources, more honest conversations, and a collective recognition of the caregivers among us.

Key Takeaways

• Caregiving is both emotionally taxing and systemically unsupported.
• Anticipatory grief is a profound yet under-discussed part of caregiving.
• Storytelling is a powerful tool for building community and driving advocacy.
• Careful List offers vetted resources to help caregivers feel less alone.
• Over 53 million Americans are unpaid caregivers—awareness and support are critical.

Related Links

• Careful List Website
• Careful List on Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram (@thecarefullist)
• The Careful List Podcast — available on major platforms

Calls to Action

• Visit the Careful List website for resources and caregiver support.
• Follow Careful List on social media to join the conversation.
• Listen to the Careful List podcast for real caregiver stories and insights.
• Download the Five Wishes document to outline end-of-life care preferences.
• Add your medications and health information to your phone for quick access.

Promotional Quotes

✨ “Today's guest is a storyteller at heart, a fierce caregiver advocate, and the founder of the Careful List, a growing resource hub and support system for caregivers navigating the challenges of caring for aging loved ones.” (00:01)

✨ “I had been percolating on this idea for what I do now for a long time. And I kept thinking somebody else is going to do it. I'm not a tech bro. I didn't go to Harvard. I don't come from a family with millions that I can just play with and start a company.” (20:24)

✨ “Grief is love with nowhere to go. And when you have the ability to create something, when you've had all of these feelings kind of building up and nowhere for them to be, it's very cathartic and people connect to that.” (36:26)

✨ “The caregiving conversation, splitting wide open and people seeing and understanding what is involved and that it's not a media phrase to say that we have a caregiving crisis.” (57:23)

✨ “I wish they knew they had caregivers on their team. They don't know. And the fact of the matter is there are 53 million unpaid caregivers in the United States.” (56:40)

🎙️ Episode Title: Firestarter: Igniting Women's Inner Power with Marissa Ciesluk

Episode Summary

In this episode, Marissa Ciesluk—leadership coach, keynote speaker, and founder of MWC Leadership—shares her journey of breaking free from expectations and learning to live authentically. She opens up about her shift from a career in higher education to leadership coaching, inspired by her own self-discovery and a pivotal life event involving her daughter.

Marissa recounts her transformative climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, where she discovered that success isn’t about reaching the summit but about becoming the person you’re meant to be along the way. She dives into the power of reconnecting with your inner truth, cultivating self-trust, and embracing a philosophy she calls “more without compromise.”

This conversation is a spark for any woman ready to reclaim her voice, lead unapologetically, and live in alignment with her true self. With honesty and inspiration, Marissa reminds us that nature heals, authenticity empowers, and our inner fire is waiting to be ignited.

Key Takeaways

• Success isn’t the summit—it’s who you become on the journey.
• Reconnecting with your inner voice is key to authentic leadership.
• Living with self-trust and self-love creates freedom and power.
• “More without compromise” means you don’t have to trade joy for success.
• Embody your inner mentor—live, dress, and lead as the woman you want to be.

Related Links

• MWC Leadership – Marissa’s Website
• Marissa’s LinkedIn
• Tara Mohr’s Playing Big

Calls to Action

• Follow Marissa on LinkedIn for insights and updates.
• Visit her website to explore coaching, workshops, and retreats.
• Check out Tara Mohr’s Playing Big for more on women’s leadership.
• Start embodying your own inner mentor today.

Promotional Quotes

✨ “In this season of my life, uncaged means living authentically and intentionally and in alignment with who I am designed to be.” (01:00)

✨ “Nature heals. I had spent some time trying to get out and do some walking and being calm and being still and listening to that inner voice that I had spent so long ignoring.” (05:52)

✨ “Success is not the summit. It's not about reaching the summit of whatever metaphorical mountain you're reaching. On that mountain, I became a part of who I am today.” (10:33)

✨ “Start dressing like your inner mentor. I'm in my flow era, all about my flowy pants, my flowy shirts, my big flowy dresses. Start embodying that inner mentor.” (29:13)