Fail with me

Join us in this episode of 'Stories and Stanza' as we welcome Shirley, a family therapist with a unique perspective on failure and grief.
Shirly has a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northcentral University and is certified in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling. She is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and a PhD candidate in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University.
Shirley’s approach to therapy is both compassionate and empowering. She views every client as a superhero and herself as a sidekick, helping to uncover and amplify their strengths. She works with individuals, couples, and families in Georgia, addressing grief from both death-related and non-death-related losses, offering services virtually and in person.
Shirley unpacks the social constructs of failure and emphasizes learning from all experiences. The discussion delves into societal expectations, personal stories, and the journey towards achievements. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, Shirley shares her therapeutic approach to envisioning the best versions of ourselves amidst challenges. Discover the differences between genuine hope and toxic positivity, and learn how small steps and community support can guide us towards healing and wholeness.
 

In this inspiring episode of Stories in Stanza, we dive deep into the life story of Jessica Renfelt, founder of Resilience Coaching by Jessica Ann. Jessica shares her remarkable journey of overcoming numerous health challenges, including battling cardiac AL amyloidosis, cancer, a stroke, and a heart transplant. She talks about the role of gratitude and joy in building resilience and how these experiences led her to leave her corporate job to help others find their path to healing. Through her personal story, she emphasizes the importance of joy, small wins, and flexibility in overcoming life's struggles. Tune in to learn about her upcoming book 'Dancing in the Shower' and her passion for connecting with others through resilience coaching.
Jessica Anne Renfeldt is a resilience coach, founder of Resilience Coaching by Jessica Anne, author, and speaker who helps women discover their inner strength by weaving gratitude, joy, and radical resilience into everyday life. Drawing on her own life’s journey—surviving a terminal illness, stoke, a heart transplant, and profound loss—Jessica brings an authentic, deeply compassionate perspective to her work. She guides others to cultivate resilience not as a shield but as a soft, flexible strength rooted in gratitude and the quiet moments that can transform us all.
Raised on a farm and still a farm girl at heart, Jessica has a profound connection to nature, drawing inspiration from its rhythms in her personal life and her coaching. Whether she’s fishing for healing in a mountain stream or whipping up a new recipe, she finds wisdom in slowing down and tuning into life’s simple joys. As the mother of three remarkable daughters, she understands the delicate balance of juggling careers, families, and self-care, and she passionately believes that everyone can live the life they truly love—if they’re willing to uncover the resilience that’s been within them all along.
Her upcoming book, Dancing in the Shower: Uncovering Radical Resilience to Live a Life You Love, is set for release in early 2025. It’s a heartfelt exploration of her personal stories, from childhood lessons of strength and loss to surviving life-threatening challenges, offering readers a roadmap to find hope, gratitude, and resilience in their own lives.

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! Join Abhra and Neha (from Creative Space 😊) as they discuss the journey of creating meaningful content on YouTube amidst challenges.
Neha shares insights on launching her channel 'Creative Space,' which aims to connect industry experts with the public. She explores the balance of motherhood, content creation, and learning from failure.
This episode delves into the importance of sustainable content, the satisfaction of helping others, and the personal fulfilment found through creative endeavours. Watch this episode of 'Stories and Stanzas' for tips on starting and succeeding as a YouTuber.

Love, Loss and Lessons - Healing Relationships through Compassion and Forgiveness: A Conversation with Relationship Coach Jeanell Greene
Welcome, Jeanell Greene! In this inspiring episode of the 'Stories and Stanza' podcast, host Abhra converses with Janelle, a relationship coach from Vancouver, Canada. They explore themes of personal growth, healing from past traumas, and the true meaning of happiness and love. Janelle shares her journey from a traumatic childhood and a corporate career to becoming a relationship coach. They discuss the importance of vulnerability, compassion, communication, and self-awareness in building healthy relationships. Janelle emphasizes the need for self-healing and taking ownership of one's life experiences to pave the way for future generations. Join this heartfelt discussion to understand how failure can be a profound teacher and how to cultivate love and connection in a fear-filled world.
Jeanell is a Relationship Coach and Marriage Expert well-known for saving countless marriages from loneliness and divorce while addressing generational trauma. Her passion lies in rekindling the 'best friend' dynamic for couples, allowing them to rediscover profound love, peace, and fun again. Jeanell firmly believes that self-love and forgiveness are necessary for a happy and healthy relationship and that couples can attain the marriage they've always desired by embracing healing, growth, and change. She's here to guide you on a beautiful, transformative journey full of compassion, love, and wisdom, empowering you to be not only the best partners for each other but also inspiring role models for your family.

Join us for a deeply moving conversation with David, a man who has battled depression for over 50 years. In this episode. Davis is a 2-time TEDx speaker and credentialed international mental health presenter. 
He shares his raw and honest journey, including a harrowing attempt to end his life and the transformative power of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
He opens up about the misconceptions surrounding depression, the importance of finding support, and the incredible strength it takes to break the cycle of despair.This episode is a powerful testament to the human spirit and the importance of seeking help when facing mental health challenges.
How David redefined his understanding of depression, recognizing it as something distinct from sadness.
The crucial role of hope in suicide prevention and how David found hope amidst his darkest moments.
The transformative power of sharing stories and the importance of finding support systems.
David's personal experience with ECT and its impact on his recovery.
This episode is for anyone who has ever struggled with depression, felt alone in their pain, or wants to understand the journey of healing. It's a reminder that hope is possible and recovery is achievable.
This episode is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of seeking help when facing mental health challenges. David's insights offer a nuanced and personal perspective on depression, highlighting its complex nature and the importance of understanding and supporting those who struggle with it.
Listen now and be inspired by David's story!

Hello everyone, welcome to Stories and Stanza. Please join me in welcoming today's guest speaker, Michael Preston.
In this episode, Mike shares a deeply personal story about his experience with a heart attack and the journey to recovery.
Mike talks about his background in athletics, his health leading up to the heart attack, and the warning signs he experienced before the life-changing event.
Tune in to hear the captivating and inspiring journey of resilience and overcoming obstacles in the face of health challenges.
Thank you. 

Hello everyone, welcome to Stories and Stanza. Please join me in welcoming today's guest speaker, Melissa Entzminger.
She is an acclaimed public speaker and dedicated the last 15 years to guiding professionals in crafting and delivering powerful, unforgettable presentations. With a Master's in Communication and 5 years as a college professor, she infuses her workshops and coaching sessions with a mix of proven strategies and engaging, interactive learning. Many of her clients initially feel daunted by assembling their speeches, terrified of freezing up and being judged or rejected in those moments of silence. Her offers are designed to fast-track your success, equipping you with the confidence to conquer your fear of public speaking, mesmerize your audience, and significantly boost your influence as a communicator. She works with an incredible roster of clients, ranging from executives to Senators and State Representatives. Her celebrated e-book is “7 Easy Steps to Kick Your Public Speaking Nerves to the Curb”, sharing the actionable strategies she used to overcome her speaking anxiety and now helps thousands of others. After all, mastery in public speaking offers a competitive edge in any scenario.
Sharing her details if you wish to reach out to her. 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaentzminger/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075493194228
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takingyourstage/
Link to E-book: https://beautiful-art-42260.myflodesk.com/uxmri1sq3d
Link to book a free 20-minute assessment on speech: https://tidycal.com/takingyourstagee

Stories and Stanza is a montage of inspiring real-life stories.
I started this series, 'Fail With Me,' on my podcast to talk about failure in life and building resilience. So far in this series, I have spoken with therapists, behaviourists, writers, and educators and have felt enriched by their lives, knowledge, and attitudes. However, I must say that speaking with today's guest had such a strong impact on me. As someone who has experienced the loss of her son, faced homelessness for a period of time, underwent the angst of separation and then lost sense and control of the dominant side of her body because of a stroke, her story told me that life didn't fail her but her undeniable spirit defeated failure.
Before we start today's episode, I want to say a few words about our guest. Her journey is a testament to how strong a person can truly be. I started this series, 'Fail With Me', to talk about failure in life and building resilience. So far in this series, I have spoken with therapists, behaviourists, writers and educators - to be enriched by their life, knowledge and attitude towards life. However, I must say that speaking with Alma had such a strong impact on me. As someone who has experienced the loss of her son, faced homelessness for a period of time, underwent the angst of separation and then lost sense and control of the dominant side of her body because of a stroke, her story told me that life didn't fail her but her undeniable spirit defeated failure. Please join me in welcoming Alma Thomas for today's episode.