The Life Shift: Real Stories of Life-Altering Moments

From walking out of school to creating art worldwide, Danny Suede chose his own way forward.

What if the life you want is just past the fear?

So many of us stay stuck because the obstacles are loud and obvious — the job, the money, the expectations. But the route to the life we dream about?

That path is quiet.

Subtle.

Hidden.

In this episode, I talk with artist and creative nomad Danny Suede about the bold decision he made as a teena...

There are days when holding it all together just isn’t possible. And despite what we’ve been taught – to push through, to stay strong, to keep showing up – sometimes the bravest thing we can do is let ourselves break.

If you're carrying grief, burnout, or just too much of everything, this short reflection is your reminder that falling apart doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human.

You don’t have to be the strong one all the time. Y...

What if your superpower was secretly destroying your life?

Ian Fee spent decades thinking alcohol was his key to connection – his edge in business and relationships. He built a successful career, a massive network, and a party-filled life that looked like everything was working. But beneath the surface, he was numb, disconnected, and silently unraveling.

Everything changed on the third day of rehab, when a moment of clarity hit: if h...

This bonus episode brings back Elizabeth Rosenberg, a past guest on The Life Shift, to reflect on her journey since we last chatted. She shares how her perspective has evolved over the months, particularly regarding vulnerability and sharing personal stories. Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of leaning into our truths and how doing so can lead to unexpected growth and healing. It’s fascinating to hear how her experiences have sh...

We live in a world that celebrates hustle – where being busy is often mistaken for being worthy. But what happens when your body, your mind, or your spirit asks you to slow down?

If your energy isn’t what it used to be, or if your to-do list feels more like pressure than purpose, that’s not failure.

It’s feedback.

This short reflection is a gentle reminder that rest counts. Presence counts. You don’t have to produce to prove your val...

What if the moment you learned who you really are changed everything?

Leyla King grew up in a vibrant family surrounded by food, faith, and love, but she did not have the language or clarity to name her Palestinian identity. In this episode, Leyla shares how a high school film screening shifted everything, leading her to reclaim her heritage, record her grandmother’s stories, and write Daughters of Palestine: A Memoir in Five Genera...

Chantal Watts joins me again to dive into what’s changed since her first appearance on The Life Shift podcast. We get real about the impact of sharing her story, especially how it resonated with her former teacher and classmates.

Chantal reflects on the healing power of being open about her past and how it helped her connect with those who once knew her. It's all about the significance of vulnerability and how our stories can touch...

Healing isn’t linear. Just when you think you’ve moved on – from heartbreak, betrayal, or someone who broke your trust – something small can bring it all back. A song, a post, a memory. And suddenly you're asking yourself, “Why does this still hurt?”

That doesn't mean you’re broken.

It means you cared.

It means you trusted.

And it hurt.

This short reflection reminds us that healing has no perfect timeline. Even if it’s been months or...

What happens when your child whispers, “It hurts everywhere, Mama”?

When the unthinkable becomes your reality, how do you show up — not just for your child, but for yourself? Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree shares the moment her world split in two with her daughter’s cancer diagnosis, and the extraordinary path it put her on.

Here’s what Laura’s story reveals:

• How trusting her intuition led to a life-saving diagnosis and years of fierce adv...

Sometimes, the life you built no longer fits who you are becoming. The old habits, the roles you played, the way you showed up in the world – it might feel familiar, but also a little tight, a little scratchy, like a favorite sweatshirt that doesn't quite belong to you anymore.

That’s not failure. That’s growth.

This short reflection explores what it means to feel the tension between who you were and who you're becoming. It's a quiet...

Starting over is never easy. Whether you're in a new job, a new city, a new relationship, or simply facing a new season of life, there's a part of us that resists feeling new.

It whispers things like, "I should have figured this out by now," or "I shouldn't feel this lost."

But feeling like a beginner isn't failure – it's growth in disguise.

This short reflection offers a gentle reminder that the discomfort of starting over is also a...

Grief doesn’t follow neat timelines – and it doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you if it still shows up years later.

Whether it’s been a decade or just a season, grief can return in a song, a memory, a smell, or even a YouTube clip that catches you off guard. That ache isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of what mattered.

In this short reflection, we explore why grief that lingers is part of love that lasts. You’ll hear a gentle ...

What happens when your body tells you the truth before your mind is ready to hear it?

Andrew Lang had built a life around doing the most. He was a teacher, a union rep, and a quiet emotional anchor for everyone around him. But underneath it all, exhaustion was building until one night, his body gave out, and that unexpected breaking point became the beginning of something new.

Here’s what you’ll take away from Andrew’s story:

• Lett...

I’m excited to share something new.

It’s Okay If… is a short-form podcast I created as part of my own healing journey — a space for bite-sized permission slips to feel what you feel and be exactly where you are.

Each episode is under 3 minutes, and a new one drops every Wednesday at noon.

In this short intro, I’ll share why I made this show, what you can expect, and how you can listen.

🎧 First 3 episodes release on Wednesday, May 21

Fo...

Alex Knight joins me again to share how his life has shifted since we last chatted on The Life Shift. We kick things off by revisiting the pivotal moments that shaped his relationship with music and how those experiences continue to influence his life decisions. Alex shares that music has been a constant anchor, helping him navigate expectations and societal pressures. Since our last episode, he’s become more aware of how music pla...

What if you woke up one day unable to speak, move, or even swallow?

Vanessa Abraham, a thriving speech pathologist and mother, was plunged into a life-threatening health crisis that left her trapped in her own body. With no clear diagnosis and a long road ahead, she found herself on the other side of the hospital bed, experiencing everything she once treated.

In this episode, Vanessa shares how she reclaimed her voice, fought for her...

In this special solo episode of The Life Shift Podcast, I step away from interviews to reflect on the three people who shaped me most—my mother, my grandmother, and my father. Mother’s Day has always felt complicated, layered with grief, gratitude, and unexpected resilience.

I share how losing my mom at eight changed everything, how my grandmother stepped in and became my safe place, and how my father quietly carried the weight of i...

Marty Klein returns for a bonus episode where we dive into his journey since his original appearance on The Life Shift Podcast. The main takeaway from our chat is how sharing his story about losing his mom at a young age has impacted him and helped him reflect on the deeper shifts it created in his life.

We discuss the nuances of dealing with grief, the importance of talking about it openly, and how sharing experiences can lead to ...

Have you ever felt trapped by the need for certainty in your life? Allison Carmen, a spiritual teacher, author, and podcaster, shares her journey from being addicted to certainty to embracing the power of "maybe."

Allison takes us through her early years, where anxiety and worry dominated her life. She recounts the pivotal moment when a simple Daoist story about a farmer and his horse opened her eyes to a new way of thinking that w...