This week, Amanda speaks with Lisa Tahir, licensed social worker, healer, author, and podcaster. Lisa's new book, The Chiron Effect: Healing Our Core Wounds through Astrology, Empathy and Self-Forgiveness, approaches healing through the unique lens of Chiron, a complex and little understood astrological symbol. Her book is the first-ever written by a therapist to empower individuals and practitioners to identify twelve main areas of core wounding, which directly relate to the placement of Chiron in their birth chart.  Lisa talks about the significance of Chiron in one's healing journey, and how it can help us increase our awareness of repeating painful and unconscious behaviors. Through her methodology, we can understand our core wounds from a new perspective and break free from those painful cycles.  Lisa also brings up the importance of being kind to yourself, and calming that critical voice that tries to squander any attempt to heal core wounds. Self-compassion and forgiveness play a key role in her approach to healing, and can make all the difference in how we treat ourselves and how we treat others.  To purchase Lisa's book, schedule a session with her, or learn more about how Chiron relates to your life, visit nolatherapy.com. She's worked with people all over the world through video chat for over ten years, so she knows how to make the absolute most out of virtual therapy. And, for a generous discount on your first session, be sure to mention that you heard about her work on this podcast!  A few more fun things to know about Lisa:  Lisa hosts the popular weekly podcast, “All Things Therapy” found on LA Talk Radio, iTunes, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, Stitcher, YouTube, and other places where podcasts are found. She is a member of the United States Press Agency with credential #US8-DEP36535. Lisa was voted “Top Woman in Business” by New Orleans City Business. She has been published as “Top Person to Watch” by New Orleans Magazine. Lisa was also published in New Orleans City Business “Paths To Excellence” for the US Patent she holds for her invention of “The CHAIR-iot,” a modified workbench for people with disabilities to blow and cast glass safely from their wheelchairs at glass studios worldwide. Lisa is a member of Toastmasters International in Los Angeles, and has received numerous “Best Speaker” awards. Interested in connecting or finding out more about coaching or workshops? Let's work together and get you to the next level! @AmandaGHennessey BostonPublicSpeaking.com SanDiegoPublicSpeaking.com   Looking for a handy guide to help you with your confidence and communication? Here you go! Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence: Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience (by your host, Amanda Hennessey)

This week, Amanda interviews Malika Williams, Founder and CEO of The Center for Women's Voice. Malika helps professional women communicate without apologizing or overanalyzing, and helps them speak with authority and be heard in male-dominated industries through practical tools and emotional support.    When she began her career as a professional actress, Malika had no idea she would start her own company one day. During her years working in the entertainment industry, she held day jobs at companies that advocated for women. One of her jobs was with a theater company that sent her to naval bases all over the world (including Guantanamo Bay), to present to soldiers and marines about systemic sexual violence in the military. When her boss at the company told her to rely on her male co-facilitator if she had trouble communicating to her predominantly male audience, Malika knew something wasn't right. She understood that her boss had good intentions, but she felt driven and inspired to create a culture in which women felt they could truly be heard in male-dominated rooms. She now uses her acting skills and experience to help women see what's possible, and effectively communicate to any audience.    Malika talks about how her father taught her to go after what she wants and not be afraid of healthy competition. She also discusses what confidence is, her views on conflict, how she works as a coach and also about her rewarding experience of being an entrepreneur.   To learn more about Malika's work, or book a session with her, you can find her on Facebook and LinkedIn, visit CenterforWomensVoice.com and follow her at @CenterforWomensVoice on Instagram. And, be sure to download The Breathe Method, her free 8-step guide on dealing with and processing difficult conversations.         Interested in connecting or finding out more about coaching or workshops? Let's work together and get you to the next level! @AmandaGHennessey BostonPublicSpeaking.com SanDiegoPublicSpeaking.com   Looking for a handy guide to help you with your confidence and communication? Here you go! Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence: Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience (by your host, Amanda Hennessey)

This week, Amanda interviews writer, coach, and entrepreneur, Lauren Marie Fleming. Lauren grew up on a farm, where she learned valuable lessons about living life with seasons of hard work and seasons of rest. When she decided she wanted to become a professional writer, she did the obvious thing and went...to law school. During that period, she started getting paid to write a sex blog about her sex life for a well-known publication. Before she knew it, she was a daring professional writer with a vast knowledge of the law. (Side note: her pen name was Queerie Bradshaw - love it!) Now, years into her writing career, and after many adventures on her path to deeply loving her body and self with no shame, she has opened her heart to aspiring writers. Lauren has created programs called Write Your Friggin Book Already and Path to Published, designed to help people take their ideas and turn them into a publishable book. She helps them feel empowered to write, understand the publishing process, and have access to a supportive community along the way.  Lauren digs deep into her inspiring life, tragedies in her family she has endured, and how she came out of a dark period thriving and more creative than ever. She leads by example, showing people that often finding yourself means choosing the unknown and embracing what comes.  To learn more about Lauren, visit LaurenMarieFleming.com. And, for information on her programs, Path to Published and Write Your Friggin Book Already, visit BusinessSchoolForWriters.com and WriteYourFrigginBookAlready.com.    Interested in connecting or finding out more about coaching or workshops? Let's work together and get you to the next level! @AmandaGHennessey BostonPublicSpeaking.com SanDiegoPublicSpeaking.com   Looking for a handy guide to help you with your confidence and communication? Here you go! Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence: Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience (by your host, Amanda Hennessey)

Amanda speaks to speaker, coach, author, and podcaster Susan Burrell about recognizing that we always have a choice. Susan shares about letting go of resentment, what becoming consciously aware looks like, and the highs and lows of being an empath.  Susan works closely with her clients to support them as they look inward, reminding them that all of the wisdom and confidence they are working towards already exists within them. Susan opens up about the intense challenges she faced during and after her divorce, and how she learned to build her own confidence back up. She shares how she came to dig deep into her strength and power, learned to trust herself and others, and has created a new rewarding life dedicated to helping others.  Susan also elaborates on masculine vs feminine energy, and notes that the world is experiencing a Divine Feminine Energy, which forces each of us to take stock of our lives, and reevaluate our priorities, values, and goals.  Susan's book, Live an Empowered Life! A 30 Day Journey, is an interactive guide, which includes a journal, videos, and guided meditations. To learn more about Susan's work or schedule a consultation, visit SusanBurrell.com.    Interested in connecting or finding out more about coaching or workshops? Let's work together and get you to the next level! @AmandaGHennessey BostonPublicSpeaking.com SanDiegoPublicSpeaking.com   Looking for a handy guide to help you with your confidence and communication? Here you go! Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence: Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience (by your host, Amanda Hennessey)

Amanda speaks with Master Encourager, Executive Director, Coach, Author, Speaker, and Facilitator, Michael Arterberry. Michael opens up about his childhood - living with an abusive alcoholic father, channeling his drive into his athleticism and learning to rely on his coaches and teammates for support and encouragement.  He talks about the commitment he made to self-reflection, improving his own circumstances, and creating loving and supportive environments wherever he goes. Inspired by his own experience of healing and transformation, coupled with his degree in social work, he started a nonprofit organization. His Youth Voices Center improves the lives of young people through Positive Youth Development. His programs, such as Power of Peace, empower young people to reflect, challenge assumptions and rely on themselves for confidence. There is a virtual offering of his program available. Michael is highly celebrated for his work as an Encourager. He won the USA Network's Characters Unite Award in 2010, the 100 Men of Color award in 2014, and Y-COP's Educator of the Year award in 2016. He has worked with thousands of teens in a range of settings for over two decades, and his most recent book, Be Encouraged, can be purchased on Amazon, or you can get a free copy at shakethedirtexperience.com.  To schedule a virtual workshop at your school or learn more about Michael's work, visit youthvoicescenter.org. Be sure to check out the video to see him in action! For other information on Michael, visit MichaelArterberry.com and follow @MichaelArterberry on social media.      Interested in connecting or finding out more about coaching or workshops? Let's work together and get you to the next level! @AmandaGHennessey BostonPublicSpeaking.com SanDiegoPublicSpeaking.com   Looking for a handy guide to help you with your confidence and communication? Here you go! Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence: Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience (by your host, Amanda Hennessey)

Amanda talks to Tracie Arlington, the Founder and Lead Instructor of Play It Safe Defense, Inc. For over twenty years, Tracie has taught self-defense to kids and adults of all ages and backgrounds. She and her team of trained experts use powerful and unique approaches to teach little kids all the way up to adults how to effectively use defense skills and techniques, should they even need them. Tracie knows how nervous the topic of self-defense can make people, and she uses a lot of humor, games, and creativity to make the tools and techniques accessible, doable, and memorable.   Tracie and Amanda talk about the value of empowering yourself with knowledge and skills just in case they are ever needed (which hopefully they are not!) Tracie also talks about the value of confidence in self-defense, and how self-confidence and awareness can play a major role in warding off potential threats or attackers. She also talks about her training for kids on how to deal with bullies and friendship drama. Amanda gets to role play as a jerky frenemy.   **Trigger Warning: If you are sensitive to topics of sexual assault, violence and manipulation, please be aware that these topics are discussed in this episode. Please do what is best for you and your mental health.   Tracie has been featured on Dr. Phil, The Doctors, NBC, ABC, Fox News, and CBS. She is a mother of two, is a black belt in Taekwondo, and is a certified national instructor for the Women’s Self Defense Institute. In 2006 USA Freestyle Martial Arts voted her Instructor of the Year. She now has a podcast called Play It Safe, sharing true crime self-defense success stories and more, told by herself and her sidekicks, Joel Wasserman and CC the Chihuahua.    For more on her work and self-defense classes, visit playitsafedefense.com. Watch Tracie teach her famous "Chihuahua crazy" technique on Dr. Phil, and subscribe to her podcast!   If you'd like to check out the books she mentioned in the episode, you can find Little Girls Can Be Mean, as well as Masterminds and Wingmen on Amazon.        Interested in connecting or finding out more about coaching or workshops? Let's work together and get you to the next level! @AmandaGHennessey BostonPublicSpeaking.com SanDiegoPublicSpeaking.com   Looking for a handy guide to help you with your confidence and communication? Here you go! Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence: Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience (by your host, Amanda Hennessey)

Amanda interviews Dimitrous Chattman, an Executive Consultant, Organizer, and Change Agent, who is earning his doctoral degree at the UC Davis School of Education. Dimitrous talks about his childhood in beautiful San Diego and how a football coach saw and encouraged his potential, which led him to be the first in his family to go to college. He also shares his outlook on the importance of having imagination and a strong relationship with oneself in order to persevere and thrive personally and professionally.  Dimitrous talks about the power of ideas and discusses the Silent Victory statue at his alma mater, San Jose State. The statue captures the powerful moment when US Olympic Medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during the medal ceremony of the 1968 Olympics. These San Jose State alums made history and sacrificed a great deal for that iconic moment. The inspiring statue was unveiled while Dimitrous was attending school there. For over 10-years, Dimitrous directed fundraising for legendary football icon, John Madden, with over five-million raised for philanthropy. His consulting work and ambassadorship continues with organizations like Cal Poly, via helping underrepresented students navigate college pathways. He's also transforming our leaders of tomorrow through a "passion project" called Social Assistor. Dimitrous talks about his doctoral program, and how the tools he and his cohort are learning will directly impact communities and future generations through educational leadership, mentorship, and ambassadorship. His work with organizations such as the Western Service Workers Association, which provides food and other resources to people in need, reflects his love of community involvement, and his passion for making the world a better place through service.  To learn more about Dimitrous and his work, find Social Assistor on Facebook, or connect with him directly through LinkedIn or Pinterest. ARTICLE ABOUT OLYMPIANS TOMMIE SMITH & JOHN CARLOS ARTICLE ABOUT THE VICTORY SALUTE STATUE AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY DOCUMENTARY FILM: FISTS OF FREEDOM: THE STORY OF THE '68 SUMMER GAMES EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP at UC DAVIS     Interested in connecting or finding out more about coaching or workshops? Let's work together and get you to the next level! @AmandaGHennessey BostonPublicSpeaking.com SanDiegoPublicSpeaking.com   Looking for a handy guide to help you with your confidence and communication? Here you go! Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence: Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience (by your host, Amanda Hennessey)

In this episode, Amanda talks with Jennifer Adams, an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#110390), specializing in trauma healing. Amanda and Jennifer dive deep into the topics of trauma healing, how trauma is stored in the body, creating boundaries, and self-love. No matter what kind of trauma we are healing, it is imperative to recognize how we are doing and seek out the right kind of support.  In addition to her work as a therapist, Jennifer is a Marketing Agency Director, helping her clients strengthen their social media game. She is also earning her Ph.D. in Trauma and Disaster Relief. Jennifer talks about how grateful she is to be studying a topic so relevant to world events given that we are experiencing a collective trauma during this pandemic.   She also stresses the importance of self-care, whether you have a mental diagnosis, or care for someone who does. Creating strict boundaries so that you don't feel triggered, surrounding yourself with people who understand and support you, and making self-love a priority, are all ways to heal and boost confidence.  Jennifer also shares about how she brings more mental health awareness to the fashion and beauty world via her @RunwayRedLA social media platform. She plans on writing a book on her own journey with Mental Health and opening a Trauma Healing Center in the San Fernando Valley area in less than 5 years!    To learn more about Jennifer's work as a therapist and on social media, visit MovingLivesForward.org or follow her on Instagram at @RunwayRedLA.  To look for a therapist in your network or find articles on trauma or other mental health issues, visit psychologytoday.com.  For more info on mental health and support – National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) You can purchase The Body Keeps the Score here and read more about how trauma can affect us physically.     Interested in connecting or finding out more about coaching or workshops? Let's work together and get you to the next level! @AmandaGHennessey BostonPublicSpeaking.com SanDiegoPublicSpeaking.com   Looking for a handy guide to help you with your confidence and communication? Here you go! Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence: Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience (by your host, Amanda Hennessey)

Amanda speaks to Sherry Shine, a fiber artist, who specializes in hand-cut, stitched, fused, and hand-painted quilts. Sherry's use of vibrant color caught Amanda's eye immediately, which led to a powerful conversation about color, artistic process, social justice, and storytelling through art, and Sherry's amazing drive and passion. Sherry talks about the deep love of art she developed as a small child, which she held onto throughout her first career as an HR representative. Eventually, she was so motivated to create, she spent 15 hours a day on the weekends learning her craft and developing her unique style. By the time she finished her first quilt, a friend at work was so taken with it, she told Sherry she wanted to buy it. Sherry opens up about what inspires her and how she infuses meaning into her work. After the tragic murder of Trayvon Martin, Sherry created a piece called, "Will Justice Be Blind For Trayvon Martin?" which helped express some of the pain she experienced at the time. She also infuses history and meaning into other works, such as her series of quilts, "People in the Field" which depict symbols relating to the Underground Railroad. Since leaving HR and working as an artist full-time, Sherry's work has gone on to be exhibited around the country in galleries, colleges, and museums including Bank Street College, (New York, NY), Michigan State University Museum, The Bedford Brooklyn Public Library (Brooklyn, NY), Manhattan Community College (New York, NY) and The National Constitutional Center (Philadelphia, PA). Sherry’s work is also in several private collections including a few senators. Her creations can be purchased at the E&S Gallery in Louisville, KY. Sherry’s art quilts have also appeared in a number of books including Journey of Hope: Quilts inspired by President Barack Obama. Her quilt of Rosa Parks and President Obama on a bus graces the cover! She's even been invited to the Kentucky Derby a couple of times as a featured artist! She continues to pour herself and her passion into each piece she creates, and her story is an inspiration for anyone with a passion and a dream. To purchase one of Sherry's art-quilts, visit the E&S Gallery website. You can follow her on Facebook at Sherry Shine - Fine Art and on Instagram at @Sherry_ShineFibertArt.     Interested in connecting or finding out more about coaching or workshops? Let's work together and get you to the next level! @AmandaGHennessey BostonPublicSpeaking.com SanDiegoPublicSpeaking.com   Looking for a handy guide to help you with your confidence and communication? Here you go! Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence: Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience (by your host, Amanda Hennessey)

Amanda interviews speaker, professional coach, and best-selling author of Soulbbatical, Shelley Paxton. Shelley spent twenty-six years as a sought-after marketing and advertising executive for major companies like Harley-Davidson, Visa, McDonald's, and AOL. In 2016, she left it all behind and started on a new journey to nurture her soul and find her purpose. She called the journey her Soulbbatical, and she has been helping people forge their own soulbbatical paths ever since.    Shelley talks about a recurring nightmare she had, and the meditation practiced that helped her uncover its meaning and completely change her life. It was through deep focus on her inner needs that she was able to recognize the changes she had to make in her own life. She has gone on to inspire others through her speaking, coaching, and writings, including the "I-Am-Affesto" statement she wrote during a powerful training with renowned researcher Brené Brown.   Shelley has been seen on Forbes, MarketWatch, CBS, and PBS, and her book, Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life, can be purchased online today. You can also explore her coaching services and packages on her website, Soulbbatical.com.      Interested in connecting or finding out more about coaching or workshops? Let's work together and get you to the next level! @AmandaGHennessey BostonPublicSpeaking.com SanDiegoPublicSpeaking.com   Looking for a handy guide to help you with your confidence and communication? Here you go! Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence: Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience (by your host, Amanda Hennessey)