Today I interview Linda Joy Myers, who had a difficult childhood marked by abandonment and an unstable home life. Her mother left when Linda was just four, leaving her to be raised by a grandmother who, while providing a stable home, also struggled with mental health issues that led to critical behavior. Linda had to focus on survival with little permission to have her own voice. One bright spot was music. Linda's grandmother had her take piano and cello lessons from a young age. Playing music became a way for Linda to express herself, feel something positive, and be transported to another wo ..read more

Today I interview Alison Love David who grew up in South East London in a poor but musical family. Her mother made sacrifices to send Alison to private school, where she excelled academically but felt she had to be a people pleaser to fit in. This led to Alison not knowing her true self for many years. Alison's journey to find her authentic voice has been a long one. At age 17, she had a pivotal realization that she never said "no" and didn't know how to express negative feelings. This caused her to distrust herself for decades. Through her challenges, Alison has learned to tune into her body ..read more

Today, I interview Louise Gallagher, who faced significant trauma in her early years, including abuse and a lack of support from her family. Growing up, her home life was turbulent, marked by frequent conflicts between her parents. Louise often took on the role of caretaker, trying to shield her younger sibling from the chaos.  The pivotal moment in Louise’s journey came when she became a mother herself. As her own children reached the age she had been during her trauma, she felt compelled to confront her past and address her relationship with her family. During a visit, Louise had an in ..read more

Today I interview Pascale Cook-Fernandes, who struggled with feeling stifled and not having a voice in her generation, where children were expected to "be seen and not heard". In high school, Pascale faced teasing and bullying like many others, but found her voice and confidence when she auditioned to be the drum major in marching band, despite usually trying to "shrink down" and hide. This experience taught her the rewards of taking risks and putting herself out there. Pascale's sensitivity, once criticized, is now a superpower she embraces, allowing her to speak up for the greater good. Sh ..read more

Today, I interview Kadin McElwain, who had significant challenges posed by autism. Diagnosed at the age of two, Kadin's early life was marked by frequent moves due to his father's job and the need for better educational opportunities.  Despite these disruptions, Kadin faced severe bullying during middle and high school and the removal of his IEP services, which his parents had to fight to restore. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought further challenges, but Kadin found a silver lining in online schooling, which allowed him to concentrate better without the social distractions and bu ..read more

Today, I interview Angilie Kapoor, who struggled with being bullied as a child. She was an extremely shy and introverted girl who preferred to be alone, afraid of being made fun of for looking different. As the daughter of a military father, Angilie's family moved frequently, forcing her to constantly start over in new places. This made it difficult for her to form lasting friendships. However, it also helped her develop resilience, adaptability, and acceptance that people come in and out of one's life for a reason. In high school, Angilie began branching out, joining activities like cheerle ..read more

Today, I interview Jennifer Arthurton, whose childhood was a quest for acceptance and attention within her family. Born in England and raised in the Caribbean, Jennifer's early years were serene until her parents' divorce. Feeling overshadowed by her younger brother, she continually sought approval through conformity and achievement. As Jennifer matured, she excelled academically and pursued a successful corporate career, fulfilling societal expectations. However, nearing her 50s, a midlife crisis struck, prompting her to question the significance of her accomplishments. Despite outward succe ..read more

Today, I interview Susan RoAne who faced challenges early in childhood marked by her brother's battle with polio, which demanded much of her family's attention and resources. This experience, while difficult, taught her the importance of communication and advocacy, as she often found herself speaking up on her brother's behalf.  Susan also shared how she was thrust into social situations from a young age, which laid the groundwork for her future expertise in mingling and networking. Her journey to becoming the Mingling Maven was not without its struggles as she had to navigate the comple ..read more

Today, I interview Elona Lopari, who was misunderstood and restricted by societal norms early in her childhood. Growing up in Albania, she grappled with being labeled as mischievous and stubborn for her independent thinking and curiosity. Despite these hurdles, Elona found solace in her innate drive for achievement and a determination to break through limitations imposed by others. Upon immigrating to the United States, Elona continued to face challenges but found support and encouragement from her father, who instilled in her the belief that she could achieve anything she set her mind to, ev ..read more

Today, I interview Matt Mueller, who talks about how he went from being a very creative child to facing the tough rules of grown-up life that often stop us from being imaginative. He shares important times when the fear of what others would think made him quiet his own new ideas.  This story of change is not only about Matt; it's something many of us can relate to when we think about how often we've had to hold back our creativity because of the pressure to fit in. Matt delves into the challenges he faced in his professional life, struggling against the urge to conform and reclaim his v ..read more