Step into the Pivot
Welcome to Step into the Pivot where your hosts Ivana and Theresa talk to people just like you. We will have honest conversations with our guests about issues they have faced, how they had to pivot to address them and lessons learned that you can apply to your life.
Episodes
What happens when life throws multiple pivots at you simultaneously? Jessica Porter found herself facing this exact scenario when she moved from Texas to Portland, transitioned from the automotive industry to financial services, and became a stepmother to an eight-year-old. All at the same time.
Jessica's journey begins with the challenges of relocating to rainy Portland in January, knowing virtually no one except her partner w...
A new child, a global pandemic, and an unexpected two-year isolation—Yolanda Reyes White's journey into motherhood was nothing like she planned. Just weeks after welcoming her daughter in February 2020, the world shut down, transforming what was supposed to be a brief parental leave before returning to daycare and office life into an extended period of family bonding that changed everything.
"I had to go back to ...
Have you ever experienced a moment when everything you thought you knew suddenly changed? When Stephanie Neault was 15 years old, her parents sat her down and revealed they were actually her grandparents. This single conversation set off a cascade of questions about identity, belonging, and trust that would shape her life for decades to come.
After years of "white-knuckling" through life, experiencing dramatic wo...
Purpose-driven nonprofit leader Alison Nakamura takes us on her journey of transformation, sharing the pivotal moment at age 30 when she abandoned her successful Manhattan PR career to pursue social work—a decision that seemed financially risky but spiritually essential. With remarkable candor, she reveals how growing up between two parental influences, her nurse mother's service-oriented values and her father's tradition...
When Anne Tankersley decided to make 2023 her "self-care year," she had no idea how profoundly that decision would change her life. A mammogram revealed triple-negative breast cancer, launching her into an intense journey of treatments, career transitions, and personal transformation.
With remarkable candor, she describes attempting to maintain her professional momentum through 20 weeks of chemotherapy, only gradually lea...
Despite having regular mammograms and being previously told she had benign fibrocystic breast tissue, Kim received news that would change everything. The confusion of conflicting test results and constantly changing treatment plans taught her what would become her mantra: "Prepare for the plan to change." This wisdom carried her through surgery, chemotherapy, and the difficult decisions that followed. Kim's transform...
This episode covers extremely sensitive topics, including violence. Listener discretion is advised. Please prioritize your well-being while listening.
How do you move forward when the foundation of your life story crumbles beneath you? Claudia St John returns to share the aftermath of her father's shocking confession to murdering her grandmother 26 years earlier.
The moment Claudia learned the truth, she knew she would...
This episode covers extremely sensitive topics, including violence. Listener discretion is advised. Please prioritize your well-being while listening.
What would you do if someone you loved confessed to an unthinkable crime? Claudia St. John faced this impossible question when her father casually admitted to murdering her grandmother – 26 years after the fact.
With raw honesty, Claudia shares the month-long moral ...
A chance meeting in a Bronx apartment building sparked a 13-year mentorship journey that transformed both lives and careers. When Sarah Simoneaux rushed to New York after her daughter Nicole hadn't been heard from in weeks, she discovered not only her daughter in crisis but also an unexpected connection that would reshape her understanding of purpose and success.
During her extended stays supporting Nicole's reco...
From functioning alcoholic to emotional freedom expert, Helen McConnell's life transformation began with a terrifying realization: "I'm going to lose it all." Though outwardly successful with the elegant BMW, beautiful condo, and executive career, Helen's inner world was crumbling under addiction. Her powerful pivot started with sobriety through AA, but something still felt missing.
The true revela...
Welcome to the finale of our two-part conversation with Jeff Acheson.
A parable about saving starfish opens this profound conversation with Jeff, who shares his journey of transforming devastating personal loss into purposeful action. After losing his daughter Amber two years ago, Jeff founded Amber's Aces to partner with ROX (Ruling Our Experiences), an organization dedicated to building confidence and self-esteem i...
The moment Jeff Acheson's daughter Amber passed away two years ago, his world changed forever. What followed wasn't just grief, but a powerful transformation that's touching countless young lives today.
Through vulnerability and courage, Jeff illuminates the critical distinction between diagnosed mental illness and the broader spectrum of mental health challenges: self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth iss...
In this episode of Step Into The Pivot, Theresa and Dr. Ivi (Ivana) share deeply personal reflections on July 4th, and how the meaning of this holiday has shifted for each of them over time.
Theresa recalls the joy and innocence of childhood fireworks. For Dr. Ivi, the explosions once triggered traumatic memories from her war-torn childhood in Croatia. But instead of avoiding the pain, she chose a bold pivot: transforming the holida...
What happens when you realize the person you've been presenting to the world for decades isn't your true self? Jay Washington's powerful conversation takes us on a journey through authenticity, emotional growth, and unexpected life pivots.
The conversation takes a deeply moving turn as Jay shares his transition from being the fun uncle ("funkle") to becoming a father figure ("dunkle") for...
When we first met Lia Bliss at a business conference, she captivated the room with her LinkedIn expertise, delivering insights so valuable that attendees could barely keep up with their note-taking. Behind this polished presentation style lies a story of persistence and transformation that began with 20-hour shifts split between retail and bartending while supporting herself as a single mother.
The turning point came when ...
In this thought-provoking conversation with psychiatrist Dr. Xiaojue Hu, we explore how integrating spirituality with conventional psychiatry creates powerful new possibilities for healing.
Dr. Hu shares the remarkable story of her own unexpected spiritual awakening that occurred during her fourth year of psychiatry residency at NYU. Raised by atheist parents from communist China, she experienced a profound shift in consci...
Bill Harmon, seasoned retirement industry executive, broke through the polished corporate veneer to share a deeply personal story.
Bill takes us through the life-changing moment when his son William was born with Down syndrome, and the emotional rollercoaster that followed. After initially struggling with clinical, limitation-focused medical resources, Bill discovered a beautiful metaphor that changed his perspective forev...
What would happen if you woke up tomorrow fundamentally believing in your worthiness, regardless of your accomplishments? This question lies at the heart of our conversation with transformational leadership coach Toya Gavin, whose journey from burnt-out prosecutor to authentic coach reveals profound lessons about reclaiming our true selves.
Toya shares the vulnerable moment when she publicly admitted her burnout and depres...
Step into the remarkable journey of Melissa Terito, a dynamic guest who transitioned from a fulfilling teaching career to become a partner at a top CPA firm. In this episode, we explore how she navigated her career pivot, embracing the internal nudges that drove her towards a new path in accounting. With a deep appreciation for the skills acquired through her teaching background, Melissa discusses the unique ability to translate co...
This episode covers sensitive topics. Listener discretion is advised. Please prioritize your well-being while listening.
What would you do if you had more courage? This question sits at the heart of our illuminating conversation with Dr. Margie Warrell, global thought leader on brave leadership and author of "The Courage Gap."
The courage gap affects us all, but particularly women. We explore how impost...
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