Personal Growth, Mindfulness, Motivation and Inspiration: Bump In The Road

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How do our secrets define us? 

Everyone has a story or two they just don't tell. But Sandra Schnakenburg grew up in a family of secrets. And perhaps the greatest secret was that of her beloved housekeeper, Lee.

On Lee's deathbed, she asked Sandra to write her story. Her story? Sandra had no idea what this really meant. But it prompted an investi...

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This is a story about radical transformation.

Gerard Wouters brings us into the fascinating world of Taoist therapy. With his revolutionary approach, he focuses on using the present to change our attitudes about the past. Instead of focusing on what cannot be changed (i.e., the past), he encourages people to...

Subscribers can enjoy exclusive, extended conversations from this podcast. To subscribe, go to BumpInTheRoad.Substack.com

While I often say that all families are dysfunctional, Michael Swerdloff's family had some pretty serious issues including violence and infidelity which deeply impacted the entire family and for Michael, set the stage for a tumultuous childhood that would shape his understanding of love, relationships, and sel...

Subscribers can enjoy exclusive, extended conversations from this podcast. To subscribe, go to BumpInTheRoad.Substack.com

Artist, educator, nonprofit leader, and author Irma Velasquez is dedicated to living from a place of presence and connection—especially in the face of adversity. Her life’s work is rooted in the ongoing journey of bridging inner...

Subscribers can enjoy exclusive, extended conversations from this podcast. To subscribe, go to BumpInTheRoad.Substack.com

Josh McConkey was the first in his family to attend college, breaking a long-standing lineage of railroaders. His passion for medicine led him to a successful career in emergency medicine. As a part-owner of a freestanding emergency department in Georgetown, Texas, Josh initially found success and fulfillment ...

Losing one's parent at 10 years old definitely qualifies as a bump in the road.

But Marilyn Robinson has navigated this and other bumps with seeming ease. Her perspective on life is optimistic and take charge. She moves through many life phases as if it were a neighborhood walk. Something is always evolving, changing and blooming. You just have to look for it.

From home schooling to a successful career, Marilyn's story is a reminde...

Where do spirituality and psychology meet? Are they polar opposites or can they complement each other?

This conversation touches on the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, the importance of presence, and the use of meditation for body, mind and soul connection. Ellen talks abut meditation as a vehicle to develop conscious thought which allows one to become an observer of the mind, rather than a prisoner of ruminating, often negative tho...

The fear of rejection can hinder our personal and professional growth. Can we learn to see transformative growth in "No"?

Andrea Waltz is the author of "Go for No," a concept that encourages us to embrace rejection as a stepping stone to success. The crux of the "Go for No" philosophy is simple yet profound: to achieve more 'yeses' in life, we must intentionally increase our failure rate. Andrea explains how this mindset shift can ...

Menopause takes many women by surprise. Society is focused on the illusion of perpetual youth. But when menopause hits, hormones change, our bodies change and possibly the way society sees us changes as well.

Lisa Triggs candidly discusses her downward spiral into depression and weight gain during her menopause years, exacerbated by life events that caused extreme stress. She realized that she needed to change the narrative.

Self-l...

Marijuana is legal. It's safe. Or is it?

Rayond Wiggins questions the safety of this widely used drug, both from his professional and personal experience. On the personal side, Raymond has witnessed the devastating effects of substance abuse within his family. Professionally he has administered nearly 30,000 general anesthetics, which point to the increased drug tolerance and mental health issues he has observed in marijuana users.

Aaron, Lapedis knows what a second chance looks like.

Just over 16 years ago, Aaron was thriving as an art gallery owner in Denver, Colorado. However, the recession hit hard, and his business faced unprecedented challenges. As he struggled with financial burdens, his personal life was also in turmoil, with his wife experiencing a difficult pregnancy and his father’s health declining.

In December of 2008, everything came to a head. ...

Kristina Heagh-Avritt is a former public school teacher who now supports families in finding the best educational paths for their children. Kristina focuses on the pressing issues within the current educational framework—more rules, regulations, and a lack of connection with families and students. She emphasizes how the school system is broken and suggests that the solution lies in empowering parents to take control of their childr...

As a psychic medium and life coach, Mark Charters has navigated a difficult path. His journey began in a family where psychic abilities were both a gift and a burden. Growing up in a household where his mother and grandmother were psychic, he struggled with his identity and the societal stigma attached to his gifts.

Mark's path was not an easy one. Along the way, he faced addiction, homelessness and the loss of his daughter. Holdin...

Michelle DeKeyser found herself wondering if this is all there was. That simple question was the beginning of a midlife quest that would transform her world. In response, Michelle created Connecting Mamas, a community that connects entrepreneurially minded mothers through authenticity and support.

The conversation touches on the vital role of community in fostering creativity and collaboration among women. Michelle believes that wh...

Marbeth Dunn's story is one of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment. Growing up in a traditional environment in New Jersey, she took a leap of faith and ran away to Haiti with her husband, where they lived in the mountains without electricity or running water for seven years. Along the way, Marbeth found herself coping with potentially life threatening asthma which sent her on a quest to heal.

In seeking to heal herself, Marbet...

Are talented children more difficult to raise? Sally Raymond's first son was a remarkably intelligent child, began reading signs and engaging in debates at an astonishingly young age.

But beneath the facade of the perfect of the perfect child, life wasn't so perfect. Her son was emotionally vulnerable, as all children are. For him, a series of critical life events eventually led to his suicide. Sally bravely hares her story of navi...

What is happiness? And where do you find it?

Teresa Greco had a fulfilling career, a loving family and material comforts. But none of this filled the void she felt within. This "lack" sent her on a quest. For over a decade, she embarked on a journey of healing, meditation, and spiritual exploration seeking to for whatever it was that might fill that void.

This story is about one woman's personal transformation, but it's also a call...

Midlife can be a transformative phase, filled with both challenges and opportunities. With a growing awareness of limited time, many of us reassess where we are and where we want to go.

Jean Alfieri's story is about a midlife journey of self-discovery and reinvention.  One of the key themes Jean discusses is the concept of invisibility that often accompanies midlife, particularly for women. She reframes this as a potential superpow...