<p>Melissa Ruiz MSW, is a Speaker, Public Speaking Coach and is no stranger to the stage. From community theatre and competitive dance to first runner-up at Miss New Jersey and the TEDx stage, Melissa knows the value of connecting with an audience. She holds her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University and worked in higher education for almost ten years before transitioning to public speaking. Today she helps leaders in their field overcome their fear of public speaking to create a bigger impact through her signature online course, Show and Tell with Mel. She lives in New York City and loves pizza and her 95-pound dog, Gus.</p><p>Learn more about Melissa at <a href="themelissaruiz.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">themelissaruiz.com</a></p>

Episode 9: The Birth of Awakened Souls with Lyndsey Harper

Lineage is beyond words. Most of its understanding is actually in the unspoken. The rituals, traditions, beliefs, systems, emotions, and language we have accepted for centuries without question. These agreements have permeated our lives without knowing.
But the women whose stories follow these episodes began to ask some questions: Is there another way? Is there more than meets the eye? Do I have to hold the same shame those who have come before me have felt or can I release that?