Above 14th: Freedom From the Lines

This week Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Susan Gold. The two talk about the journey that brought her to her purpose in talking about toxic family lineage, and how she helps people to find freedom and break the cycle of hurt and damaged children raising hurt and damaged children.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How her journey began, and the many transitions along the way

• How her side gig made her the personal trainer to Barbara Walters

• What brought her from NY to LA to where she is today

• What it takes to shift a family lineage pattern, and how she helps people find freedom from childhood trauma and abuse

• Why Ivy says Susan was so brave to write her book

• What surprises she has come across in her journey

• What tips Susan has for us all

With rural roots in central Pennsylvania, Susan Gold was raised in a challenging and chaotic family system, the middle child of five. Her dream was to exit for New York City or the sunny skies of LA, which both did manifest. To fully thrive, she bravely chose to meet the demons of her upbringing that were continuing to repeat. Toxic Family: Transforming Childhood Trauma into Adult Freedom is that journey.

Leaving her little town behind the morning after High School graduation, Susan rarely ever looked back. While in college as a junior at Ohio University, she created an internship in arts management navigating her way to her dream, NYC. Her experience with performing artists like Bill T. Jones, and Paul Zaloom led her into the world of mainstream entertainment after college, first at the global talent agency, ICM and later FOX. Within the entertainment industry, Susan became known for attaching celebrity talent to projects which led her into producing for television and film and a move to Los Angeles.

Susan convinced modern art legend Andy Warhol to do an on-camera commercial for Pontiac; locked a talent deal for American TV personality Donnie Deutsch, which he still claims as one of his best; helped launch FOX News Channel at the request of Chair, Roger Ailes; and on behalf of Disney Channel, persuaded A-list celebrities including Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Taylor Swift, David Beckham and more to be interviewed by the cartoon characters, Phineas & Ferb.

In addition to Susan's business background, she is a decorated endurance athlete having competed in three marathons, dozens of triathlons, and has the distinction of finishing third in her age group at the treacherous Escape from Alcatraz event. Hanging up the grueling demands of her swim, bike, run focus she turned to competing as a Master’s swimmer and within four years achieved multiple top ten national rankings including third in the country in the 400 IM.

Susan is a big supporter of helping homeless animals, especially dogs and cats, and helping other business owners move up their career ladder are her joys. Her biggest pride is her son, a political science major at the University of the Pacific.

After living with force on both coasts of the United States, Susan heeded an intuitive call for a quieter life connected with nature. She now resides in flow, nurtured by exquisite mountains in the northwest corner of the mystical state of Montana with her beloved partner and their pets. Keen on leaving a legacy to help others heal from similar traumas she’s successfully met, Toxic Family: Transforming Childhood Trauma into Adult Freedom, her new book is part of that quest. With the same magic Susan created in her career in entertainment, she is now leading retreats, webinars, workshops and private sessions to help others drop outdated storylines and programming in exchange for living from the heart and in authentic freedom as adults.

Website: https://www.susangold.us/