💬 Episode Summary:

In this powerful episode of Walk With Me, Stephanie sits down with Lori Maher — a trauma survivor, holistic healer, and the heart behind Compassionate Empowerment — to explore her remarkable path from childhood abuse and chronic illness to healing, self-discovery, and purpose.

Lori shares how early emotional neglect and trauma led to decades of anxiety and physical exhaustion, culminating in a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome at the age of 30. With mainstream medical options failing her, Laurie turned inward and began a transformational journey through somatic healing, yoga, energy work, and trauma education. Today, she's a wellness center owner, coach, and retreat host helping others reconnect with themselves and reclaim their inner power.

This episode is a heartfelt invitation to rethink how we view trauma, healing, and the importance of feeling safe in our own bodies. Lori's story is both deeply personal and universally relevant to anyone on a path of recovery and self-love.

🧠 Key Topics Covered:

• Childhood trauma and its lifelong effects on the body and mind
• The limitations of traditional talk therapy for trauma healing
• Discovering somatic and energetic healing modalities (yoga, acupressure, Reiki)
• The role of the nervous system and adrenal fatigue in chronic illness
• How to rewire your inner critic and reclaim self-worth
• Finding safety, alignment, and empowerment after trauma
• The ripple effect of healing and conscious connection

❤️ Memorable Quotes:

"You're not going to heal unless you feel safe."
"We are not our thoughts. We are our heart and our gut."
"Healing is not linear — it's a practice, a daily return to self-love."

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Lori's work and connect with her directly.
• Recommended reading: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

📣 Call to Action:

If Lori's story resonated with you, or if you're ready to explore your own healing journey, we invite you to dive deeper at WalkWithMeConversations.com.
Explore past episode and find tools to support your own path toward wholeness.

In this episode of Walk With Me, Stephanie sits down with Clinton Bartok—former Colorado adventurer and licensed acupuncturist—whose life reshaped overnight after a devastating bike accident in 2017 left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. Clinton shares the surreal calm of the moment he crashed, the terrifying reality of not being able to breathe or call for help, and the inner voice that told him he would recover.

What follows is a powerful story of neuroplasticity, relentless rehab, and a mindset anchored in possibility. Clinton walks us through his long road back: from ICU and rehab at Craig Hospital, to relearning movement inch by inch, to picking up his guitar again and even climbing a rock wall seven and a half years later.

He also speaks candidly about chronic nerve pain, the emotional cost of losing independence, and how moments of despair pushed him to search for anything that could help him stay alive and moving forward.

Ultimately, Clinton's story is a reminder to focus on what's still here—what you can do—and to keep building your life around that truth.

What We Talk About

• Clinton's upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio, and the emotional independence he learned early in life
• A restless, adventurous adulthood that took him traveling, into music, and finally to Colorado outdoor life
• The 2017 bike crash: helmeted impact, instant paralysis, and the eerie peace of the scene
• Why his injury allowed recovery: contusions, stenosis, and neuroplastic re-routing
• Intensive rehab, visualization, and self-designed exercises to regain hand and body function
• Returning to guitar through adaptive techniques and persistence
• Chronic neuropathic pain and the mental toll of being abruptly cut off from prescribed pain meds
• How kratom became a bridge for pain survival when other options disappeared
• Adaptive sports and reclaiming joy: three-wheeled mountain biking, support organizations, and getting back outside
• Clinton's guiding philosophy: "What can I do?" and learning gratitude for the small things

Memorable Moments

· The split-second shift from terror to certainty that he would be okay after the crash

• "Belief and vision" as a core part of recovery, alongside medical reality
• Rebuilding a life through tiny wins: a thumb, a hand, standing, walking, and playing music again
• Gratitude as a daily practice rooted in regained independence

Resources Mentioned

Clinton shares places to learn about spinal cord injuries, support research, or find adaptive-sport help:

• Spinopedia
• Christopher Reeve Foundation
• Unite 2 Fight Paralysis (U2FP)
• High Fives Foundation
• Kelly Brush Foundation

About the Guest

Clinton Bartok is a former extreme-outdoor athlete, licensed acupuncturist, musician, and spinal cord injury survivor. After being diagnosed as a quadriplegic with central cord syndrome, he rebuilt his life through rehab, adaptive sports, and a deep commitment to accessibility advocacy.

If this conversation moved you, please take a moment to share the episode with someone who might need it. And for more stories of resilience, healing, and the human spirit—plus past episodes and resources—visit WalkWithMeConversations.com.

🎙️ Episode Summary:

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Walk With Me, we sit down with Susie St. Angelo, a former banking executive turned health coach, podcast host, and advocate for mental wellness. Susie shares her incredible journey through personal trauma, chronic stress, toxic relationships, and major life transitions—all of which ultimately led her to a life of purpose, passion, and authenticity.

From surviving the emotional fallout of a fiancé's family suicide just weeks before her wedding, to enduring two marriages plagued by alcoholism and emotional disconnect, Susie's story is a powerful testament to the strength it takes to walk away, heal, and start over. She opens up about adrenal fatigue, the toll of perfectionism, the healing power of dogs, breath work, and the surprising pivot that led her to launch her own health-focused podcast—built around the simple but profound idea of sharing an "SOS tip" to help others take small steps toward wellness.

Her transformation from "Susan the professional" to "Susie the authentic" is both inspiring and relatable—especially for midlife women facing their own crossroads.

🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Panic attacks and early signs of emotional misalignment
• How functional medicine helped Susie identify stress as a root cause
• The impact of suicide and unspoken grief
• Leaving a successful career and two marriages to reclaim her life
• Why holistic health coaching goes beyond food and fitness
• Finding meaning through breath work, gratitude, and storytelling
• The importance of community, connection, and asking for help
• Redefining health, happiness, and identity at midlife

💡 Favorite Quote:

"You can't heal in the environment that made you sick."

🎯 Call to Action:

If this conversation moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And for more inspiring episodes like this, visit WalkWithMeConversations.com — where stories of healing, resilience, and transformation are always just a click away.

In this episode of The Walk With Me Podcast, host Stephanie Bloom sits down with Danielle Bernock — author, trauma survivor, and emotional healing coach — to explore her powerful story of transformation.

From a childhood shaped by generational trauma and emotional neglect to a young adulthood marked by loss, rebellion, and self-destruction, Danielle's early years were filled with pain and confusion. But a spontaneous road trip to California in 1978 became a turning point — a journey filled with divine protection, unexpected encounters, and the first spark of hope that would lead her back to herself.

Today, Danielle helps others break the chains of trauma through her SELF Process: See, Expose, Love, and Free. Her work reminds us that love — unconditional love — is the greatest healing force we have, and that redemption runs deeper than our wounds.

Together, Stephanie and Danielle discuss:

• The impact of generational trauma and emotional neglect
• How faith and grace brought healing to deep emotional pain
• Danielle's journey from rebellion to restoration
• The meaning of unconditional love and forgiveness
• The courage it takes to dare to love yourself again

This episode is a beautiful reminder that no matter how broken your past may feel, there is always hope for healing — and a way home to love.

Guest Bio:

Danielle Bernock is an author, speaker, and trauma-informed coach who helps people reclaim their self-worth and connect to the love that heals. She is the creator of the SELF Process and the voice behind the movement That Lady on the Internet Who Loves You.

Learn more about her work at DanielleBernock.com.

Connect & Reflect

Visit WalkWithMeConversations.com for more inspiring stories of redemption, resilience, and healing.
There you'll find full show notes, resources mentioned in the episode, and ways to join our growing community of listeners walking toward wholeness — one story at a time.

In this episode of Walk With Me, host Stephanie Bloom sits down with Anat Peri, an inner child expert and mentor to coaches and healers, to explore what real healing looks like beyond "just thinking positive."

Anat shares her personal journey from childhood in Israel to becoming a mentor for those seeking emotional resilience and self-trust. She opens up about the impact of growing up in a home where love existed, but emotional expression did not — and how that early conditioning shaped her ability to connect, self-soothe, and feel safe within herself.

Through candid stories and practical wisdom, Anat reveals why positive thinking alone can't heal emotional wounds, how reparenting the self can create lasting transformation, and what it means to build true safety in the body. Together, we unpack the difference between coping and healing — and why learning to feel is the key to freedom.

What We Talk About

• The limits of "thinking positive" and the cost of emotional bypassing
• Growing up in an environment where discomfort was avoided
• How friendship and reflection sparked Anat's journey toward self-discovery
• Reparenting the inner child and learning to hold space for difficult emotions
• Practical tools to regulate the nervous system and create safety within
• Why emotional resilience is essential for breaking generational cycles

Key Quotes

"My mom believed all you had to do was think positive — but she didn't know how to make room for us to feel."

"Healing isn't about fixing yourself; it's about remembering how to feel safe being you."

"Your nervous system is always listening — it's sensing either safety or threat. The goal is to stay present while you feel."

"When we learn to hold our emotions, we stop outsourcing our peace."

Connect with Anat Peri

• 🌐 trainingcampforthesoul.com

Connect with Stephanie Bloom

Explore more conversations on healing, growth, and human resilience at
👉 WalkWithMeConversations.com

Subscribe, rate, and share this episode with someone who's ready to start feeling — not just thinking — their way toward healing.

🎧 Episode Title: From Chaos to Inner Peace with Anne Hintz

Episode Summary

In this deeply moving conversation, host Stephanie Bloom sits down with Anne Hintz, a woman who transformed a lifetime of trauma into a journey toward profound self-awareness and peace. From an early life marked by instability, loss, and fear to her discovery of the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Anne shares how she learned to quiet her mind, release long-held emotional pain, and reconnect with her true self.

Through her story, Anne reveals how unresolved trauma lives within the body — and how learning to feel our feelings fully can unlock lasting freedom. Her healing journey moves from emotional release to physical transformation, even down to changes in her posture and sense of embodiment.

Together, Stephanie and Anne explore:

• The impact of childhood trauma and generational conditioning
• How EFT (tapping) helps release emotions stored in the body
• The connection between physical tension and emotional healing
• Why true peace begins with radical self-acceptance
• How awareness, compassion, and presence can transform not just your mind — but your entire being

About Anne Hintz

Anne is the author of A Pathway to Insight and a passionate advocate for emotional and energetic healing. Through her writing, YouTube channel, and workshops, she helps others experience the same inner peace she discovered through self-awareness and somatic release. Learn more about Anne and her work at AnneHintz.com.

Key Takeaway

Healing is not about escaping pain — it's about feeling it, understanding it, and allowing it to move through you. As Anne reminds us, "The only way out is through."

Listen Now

Tune in to hear how Anne turned chaos into calm — and how you can begin your own journey toward inner peace.

👉 For more inspiring conversations and resources on healing, self-discovery, and transformation, visit WalkWithMeConversations.com.

🌿 Episode Summary

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Walk With Me, host Stephanie Bloom sits down with Tyler Kania — former athlete, cybersecurity professional, and author of The Maniac With No Knees.

Tyler shares his remarkable story of resilience: from growing up in privilege to facing addiction, mania, and multiple suicide attempts — and ultimately finding purpose through writing, coaching, and connection.

This is a conversation about what it means to lose everything, find yourself again, and use your story to help others heal.

💡 Key Themes & Takeaways

• Empathy born from contrast: Growing up in a small farm town and attending a struggling inner-city school shaped Tyler's early understanding of privilege and perspective.
• When success and struggle collide: Behind career wins and athletic fame, Tyler battled undiagnosed bipolar disorder and crippling self-doubt.
• The moment that saved his life: A near-suicide interrupted by a glimpse of sunlight — and a friend's wedding — changed everything.
• Rediscovering purpose through coaching: Returning to rugby as a coach gave Tyler a new mission — to build people up, not just teams.
• Writing as a mirror and medicine: Through storytelling, Tyler turned pain into purpose and built a legacy of openness and hope.
• Choosing authenticity over shame: Tyler reminds us that being open with the world is easier than hiding in the shadows.

🗣️ Notable Quotes

"I attempted suicide… and the clouds parted, giving way to the afternoon sun. That small moment saved my life."

"Writing became my therapy — a mirror for my thoughts. It gives me joy, purpose, and challenge."

"The truly strong are the ones suffering in silence. It doesn't have to be that hard. Being open with the world is a lot easier than being closed."

🔗 Connect with Tyler

Follow Tyler on Instagram: @tyler_kania
Check out his short stories and upcoming book projects — all born from the belief that sharing our stories can save lives.

🙌 Listen, Share, and Walk With Us

Tyler's story is one of courage, redemption, and the power of authenticity.
If you or someone you love is struggling with mental illness, know this: you are not alone.

🎧 Listen now and explore more inspiring conversations at WalkWithMeConversations.com

Guest: Lisa Franz — Nutrition Coach, Digital Nomad, and Host of the Nutrition Coaching and Life Podcast
Host: Stephanie Bloom
Podcast: Walk With Me

🌍 Episode Overview

In this episode of Walk With Me, Stephanie sits down with Lisa Franz, a world traveler and nutrition coach who's helping people around the globe break free from restrictive diets and find joy in mindful, balanced living.

From growing up across continents to finding her calling after a personal battle with food restriction, Lisa shares her journey of transformation — one that began with tears in a Thai food court and blossomed into a life of freedom, balance, and compassion.

💬 In This Conversation, You'll Hear About:

• Lisa's international upbringing — from Germany to West Africa to the American Midwest
• How her global experiences shaped her view of humanity and connection
• The breaking point that led her from food fear to food freedom
• Why moderation and consistency are the real keys to health
• The shift from being a police officer to becoming a full-time nutrition coach
• What she's learned from 53 countries about how culture and food connect us
• How slowing down and eating mindfully can change your life
• The importance of self-compassion, curiosity, and living with intention

✨ Memorable Quotes

"We're all a lot more alike than we are different."

"I started crying in Thailand because everything felt off-limits — that's when I knew I wasn't meant to live in fear of food."

"Moderation and consistency sound boring, but they're magic."

"Food should enrich your life — not take away from it."

🔗 Connect with Lisa Franz

• Website: Nutrition Coaching and Life
• Podcast: Nutrition Coaching and Life
• Instagram & YouTube: @nutritioncoachingandlife
• LinkedIn: Lisa Franz

💡 About This Episode

Lisa's story is a reminder that wellness isn't about perfection — it's about awareness, balance, and freedom. Whether you're on your own health journey, exploring new cultures, or learning to trust yourself again, this episode will inspire you to take the next step with courage and compassion.

🎧 Listen & Learn More

Listen to this episode and explore more inspiring conversations at WalkWithMeConversations.com — where stories of healing, resilience, and self-discovery come to life.