The Brave Table with Dr. Neeta Bhushan

Have you always dreamed about writing a book but have no clue where to start? I know you have a message that you’re ready to share with the world — perhaps all you need is a little push to be brave enough to put it out there. When done right, publishing a book can be one of the most viable ways for entrepreneurs and coaches to reach success, but it does require putting in the work before you launch. As many of you know, my first book with a publishing house, That Sucked. Now What? is coming out in January 2023, and many of you have been asking me for tips on how to become an author. So, I’ve brought Meghan Stevenson to The Brave Table. Meghan has been by my side throughout this publishing journey. In this episode, she shares her in-depth knowledge on how to get published and write a book people will be excited to read! Meghan has spent her entire career in traditional book publishing, starting as an editorial intern in 2004 at Simon & Schuster and ascending to associate editor at Penguin before launching her own business in 2012. She has worked on multiple New York Times bestsellers, including developing the idea for The Bro Code, which has sold over 400,000 copies. Since launching Meghan Stevenson Books, she has helped over 100 authors write book proposals, sell their ideas and publish books. With a focus on prescriptive nonfiction, Meghan and her team help entrepreneurs and experts write book proposals that sell to major publishers. To date, she’s helped clients earn more than $2,000,000 in advances from major publishers. Recent deals include It’s Not About the Money by Tasha Cochran (Avery), How to Lose Weight for the Last Time by Dr. Katrina Ubell (GCP Balance) and We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers (Harper Leadership). Here’s what we get into in this episode…  - What is an author platform, and how to build one - The number one mistake junior authors make - A behind-the-scenes look at the publishing industry - The difference between a traditional book deal and self-publishing - How to start growing your audience - And so much more If you loved this episode, make sure you check out…  - Meghan’s website at https://www.meghanstevenson.com/ and find her on Instagram @megstevenson -  Episode 40: Being Brave in Putting Yourself out There, Even When Facing Rejection where I talk about pitching my book - Episode 42 with superstar marketing expert, Emily Hirsh - Exploring your creativity in episode 38 with Amber Rae P.S. Love, don’t forget that you can get your FREE That Sucked. Now What? Guidebook AND your 5-day Fly Forward Healing Practice when you order your copy of my new book!

Imagine this: one day, your partner of 12 years calls you up and tells you they want to leave you for another person. Until this point, you felt you two were making it work; it wasn’t perfect, but your communication was open, and you were tackling your challenges as a team. You feel floored, confused, and lost. What do you do? Do you fall victim to your circumstance? Or, can you channel those gut-wrenching experiences into lightbulb moments that supercharge your healing and course-correct you onto the right path? Oh gosh, loves, I have a super juicy episode for you. You’ll want to tune in to hear this story from my dear soul brother, Jason Goldberg, and all the drops of wisdom and strength he has to share, plus tips and advice on overcoming hard times that you can apply to your life today.  Jason (aka “JG”) Goldberg is a Mindset Mentor and Self-Leadership Coach for Celebrities, Change Makers, and CEOs. He is also the host of The Jason Goldberg is Ruining Podcasting Podcast, author of the #1 International Best-Seller on Self-Leadership entitled “Prison Break” and creator of the Playful Prosperity AND Competition-Proof Business Immersion programs.   JG has been a featured expert on media outlets including ABC, CBS, and FOX as well as teaching on the MindValley and SoulPancake platforms, and has founded multiple start-ups including one in partnership with NASA and the space shuttle program. He now focuses on blending his signature mix of simple and transformational wisdom, captivating storytelling, practical business mentorship, and belly-busting humor to make personal growth less “personal growth-y” and to leave everyone he meets with at least 5% more joy than when he found them! Here’s a bit of what we get into… - How to be brave enough to ask others for help during tough moments - Owning your stories and taking responsibility for your healing journey  - How to manage your expectations of other people  - Reflecting on your childhood to understand your core essence - Having humility over arrogance - An exercise for learning to love yourself unconditionally - And so much more. If you loved this episode, make sure you also check out…  - Get a FREE copy of Jason’s book, Prison Break:  http://GetPrisonBreak.com/bravetable  - Find Jason on Instagram @thejasongoldberg - Episode 81: Taking Ownership of Your Life, Your Sh*t, and Your Stories with Danielle Gertner - Episode 72: How to Build Resilience and Master Personal Growth Through Your Relationships  - Episode 66: How to Build Your Audacious Resilience When Things Don't Go As Planned P.S. Thanks for being here, love. Don’t forget you can get your FREE That Sucked. Now What? Guidebook AND your 5-day Fly Forward Healing Practice when you order your copy of my new book here!

“You’re so strong.” “Hold it together.” “Put on a brave face.” Do any of these statements sound familiar to you? A lot of us grew up striving for perfection — whether it was in our achievements, in our relationships, or with our emotions. But what if we could start to see the beauty in our breakdowns? Instead of trying to keep it all in, we let it out and find release. Think of it like a kettle of hot water: it needs to blow some steam, or it will boil over. Well loves, the same thing happens when we neglect to regulate our emotions. In this episode, I walk you through healthy coping mechanisms for moving through challenging moments, normalizing the suck, and how to do this work, particularly in your relationships. Here’s a sneak peek of what we go into in this episode…  - Exercises for exploring the deeper layers of your feelings (using the That Sucked. Now What? Workbook, which you get for FREE when you pre-order my book at thatsuckednowwhat.com).  - Why relationships are an incredible tool for personal growth and how to use them to identify your triggers - How to drop your ego in relationships and start making magic - How to rewrite your stories - And so much more juicy goodness.  If you loved this episode, make sure you check out…  - All the goodies you get when you pre-order your copy of my book at thatsuckednowwhat.com (including the workbook we go through in this episode) OR grab a few copies for friends and family (don’t forget the holidays are coming) and get even MORE incredible bonuses.  - Episode 80: What is Emotional Perfectionism and Making Peace With Toxic Positivity - Episode 38: Exploring Creativity & The Answers are Within with Amber Rae - Episode 74: How To Heal Past Wounds, Integrate, and Build Radical Self-Awareness Until next time, Brave Table Squad! Thanks for being here, and if you’re loving The Brave Table, please consider leaving a 5* review to help more brave peeps like you find the show. 

Alright loves, I know you are SO busy. I get it, same here. Especially if you’re a mama, a business owner, or a career gal, you're pretty much doing ALL the things. So, how the heck are you supposed to incorporate fitness into your daily schedule? And, are you someone who only looks at fitness and health as a means to stay in shape? If so, I know you're not alone. But my guest today (and fellow mama), Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, is here to shift your thinking and share why consistent exercise (in particular, resistance training) is so much more than a way to stay fit — it’s crucial for your longevity. If you know you want to lead a full, healthy, and happy life, then you need to tune in to hear what she has to say.  Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is a Washington University fellowship-trained physician in Nutritional Science and Geriatrics and is board certified in Family Medicine. She is the founder of the Institute for Muscle Centric-Medicine™ and has a private practice that services the leaders, innovators, mavericks, and executives in their prospective fields. In addition, Dr. Lyon also works closely with Special Operations Military. Her goal is to change the paradigm of medicine from obesity-focused to muscle-centric and change the way we think about health and medicine with high scientific integrity. What we talk about in this episode…  - The root cause of poor health - How Dr. Gabrielle incorporates fitness into her day (even with young kids!) and hacks you can use  - How to plan for your health in the years to come  - What is muscle-centric-medicine - The importance of resistance training for your overall health If you loved this episode, make sure you check out…  - Visit her website https://drgabriellelyon.com where you can download The Lyon Protocol 2.0 for a FREE guide on food choices and high-quality protein  - Follow her on Instagram @drgabriellelyon, listen to her podcast, The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show, and check out her YouTube channel  - Episode 44. The Power of Plant Medicine, Healing from Painful Loss, and Transitions with another fitness superstar Joa Rivas  - Episode 33. A Journey Back to Loving Yourself, Women's Wellness, Hormones, and Fertility with Dr. Mariza Snyder - Episode 31. Reclaiming Wellness to Live Your Best Life with Jovanka Ciares P.S. Get your FREE That Sucked. Now What? Guidebook AND your 5-day Fly Forward Healing Practice when you order your copy of my new book here!

I’ve been talking a lot lately about how you need a support posse in your life - that crew that just *gets* you. They see you, they are there for you no matter what, and they are by your side throughout your ups and downs, your seasons of contraction and your expansion phases. And ladies, it is especially important to have gal pals in that posse! We are each other's strongest advocates and when we lift each other up, we are unstoppable! My guest today is all about empowering women to be strong from the inside out through all transitions of life (AND fun side note, she was my prenatal yoga instructor when I was pregnant with Arie!) — the beautiful and magnetic, Desi Bartlett.   Desi has been teaching health and wellness for over 25 years. Her innovative approach to teaching is to tap into one’s inner joy and let movement be an outer expression of that state. Desi’s inspiring and unique classes have been featured on networks such as ABC, NBC, FOX, Univision, Hallmark, and Lifetime. She has a diverse background in many areas of Fitness & Yoga and has worked as a product director for Gaiam, the group fitness manager for Equinox Santa Monica, and most recently working in a dual role as an executive and global ambassador for Manduka yoga. In her new book, Total Body Beautiful: Secrets to Looking and Feeling Your Best After Age 35, she focuses on helping women through every chapter of life, including pregnancy, new motherhood, premenopause, and menopause.  Here’s what we go into in this episode…  - The importance of uplifting the women around you - The shame that women experience around the changes as we mature during different stages of womanhood, from periods to postpartum in pregnancy to menopause - How we can support other women and uplift each other in our lives - How to be more honest in your conversations  - Actionable advice on how to start practicing boundaries If you loved this episode, be sure you check out… - Find Desi on Instagram @mothersintolivingfit and on YouTube  - Grab a copy of her new book, Total Body Beautiful: Secrets to Looking and Feeling Your Best After Age 35 - Episode 33, A Journey Back to Loving Yourself, Women's Wellness, Hormones, and Fertility with Dr. Mariza Snyder - Episode 44, The Power of Plant Medicine, Healing from Painful Loss, and Transitions with Joa Rivas - Episode 31, Reclaiming Wellness to Live Your Best Life with Jovanka Ciares PS loves, my book is available for pre-order! Get your FREE That Sucked. Now What? Guidebook AND your 5-day Fly Forward Healing Practice when you order your copy of my new book here! 

Stepping into motherhood is not something we always consciously think about and act on. If you're embarking on the journey, you've obviously given it some thought, but are you taking the necessary actions to embody the best version of yourself so that you can be the best parent possible? This episode of The Brave Table is for anyone trying to conceive, contemplating motherhood but not sure if it's the right time, or looking for a different perspective on their parenting game. With my guest, the magical Melissa Ambrosini, we discuss preparing your mind, body, and soul for one of life’s most challenging yet beautiful journeys.  Melissa Ambrosini is the bestselling author of Mastering Your Mean Girl, Open Wide, PurposeFULL, and Comparisonitis, the host of the top-rated podcast The Melissa Ambrosini Show, a keynote speaker, and entrepreneur. Named a 'self-help guru' by Elle Magazine, her mission is to inspire others to unlock their full potential and live their dream life.  With a deep commitment to empowering others to become the best version of themselves, Melissa believes that transformation is possible for everyone. She strives to inspire others to reclaim their power, step into their truth, live with intention, and move in the direction of their dreams. What we get into in this episode…  - Learn about Melissa’s NEW Wholy Mama™ program - What is conscious conception? - How to show up for other moms  - Why conception is a spiritual journey  - How to find your community during pregnancy and find support - Modeling self-love and healthy habits for your children Make sure you also check out…  - Enroll in Wholy Mama ™ at  www.neetabhushan.com/mama and get your FREE 12-month Self-Care Calendar   - Grab Melissa’s freebie for The Brave Table audience https://melissaambrosini.com/blissful-postpartum-audio - This is the book Melissa mentions, The Postnatal Depletion Cure - Episode 75: Redefining the Modern Family and Transitions Before Motherhood with Taylor Lou Nations - Episode 27: Trusting Your Power as a Mother, and Being Brave in Wild Free Birthing at Home with Davana May - Episode 33. A Journey Back to Loving Yourself, Women's Wellness, Hormones, and Fertility with Dr. Mariza Snyder PS loves, my book is available for pre-order! Get your FREE That Sucked. Now What? Guidebook AND your 5-day Fly Forward Healing Practice when you order your copy of my new book here! 

You all know that reinvention is my jam. I did it with my career, my relationship — basically, my entire life! It’s not always easy, but shifting your identity and revealing the true essence of what makes you unique is possible at any time. Sometimes, you won’t even have a choice. Maybe you’re going from boss babe mode to motherhood and navigating that change, or you’ve hit a plateau in your career, forcing you to take things to the next level. Well, loves, do I have the episode for you! This is basically a mini-masterclass in pivoting with grace and how to discover your personal brand with my Pinay sister, fellow mama, and brand marketing queen, Jennifer (Jen) Kem.   Jennifer is a branding and marketing expert who gets entrepreneurs seen, heard, and paid – for being themselves. She’s the creator of the Master Brand Method: a framework to develop powerful brand archetypes that win customers’ hearts. She uses the Master Brand method in digital strategy coaching for emerging entrepreneurs, celebrity brands like Oprah Winfrey Network and Steve Harvey, and major corporations including Verizon, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Bank of Hawaii. What she is most passionate about in her work today is her legacy project: Femmefluence, a platform that supports women leaders to fully rise into their influence and affluence, so they can make an even greater impact in the world. Jennifer serves up straight talk wrapped in love because she understands entrepreneurs’ challenges: She built a retail business and became a millionaire at 32, only to lose it all in the recession two years later. She is now the successful owner of three million-dollar brand-building businesses and the mother of three children. Here’s what we get into in this episode…  - How to be resourceful and make yourself stand out - What it means to be values-driven and how to make values-driven decisions - Are you using imposter syndrome as a crutch? - The one (small) step you need to take to pivot and make a change - Embracing your full multi-hyphenate self - And SO much more.  Be sure to also check out…  - Find Jen on Instagram @jennifer.kem - Grab Jen’s FREE GIFT for the Brave Table audience: find out your Archetype Influence Mix Assessment — www.JenniferKem.com/bravetable - Check out Jen's YouTube Channel — www.JenniferKem.com/YouTube - More from an entrepreneur mama in episode 42 with Emily Hirsh  - Episode 48: Shifting Your Career, Transitions, and Finding Your Super Power with Ashley Stahl - Episode 55: How To Be More Bold & Colorful in All Areas of Your Life with Paola Mathé Get your FREE That Sucked. Now What? Guidebook AND your 5-day Fly Forward Healing Practice when you order your copy of my new book here!

Even though you’re not always responsible for what happens to you in your life, you ARE responsible for how you react to what happens and how you own it. Taking radical responsibility for your circumstances — no matter how sucky and unfair they may seem — is not always easy. But my guest in this episode of The Brave Table, Danielle Gertner, shows us how ownership leads to ultimate self-mastery and taking charge of your life, and why it’s always worth it.  Danielle Gertner is an Ownership Coach, expert community builder, and podcast host who is on a mission to unlock the world’s radical confidence with her signature Own Your Shit™️ method. She uses a unique blend of neurolinguistic programming, hypnosis, trauma-informed somatics work, story work, and primal play to help her clients make soul-shifting transformations that last a lifetime. With nearly 10 years of experience as a self-mastery mentor, habit and mindset expert, movement coach, and professional hype woman, Danielle has guided hundreds of clients to achieve breakthroughs and unimagined levels of confidence in short periods.  Danielle is also an emcee, workshop facilitator, host, and speaker for TEDx events, HYROX - a worldwide fitness competition, and several high school and collegiate leadership conferences. Danielle is also the co-founder of Warrior Women ATX - the largest workout community for women in Austin.Here’s a taste of what we get into in this episode… - Why ownership is the key to changing your entire life - How to channel your pain into purpose  - How grief can be a compass to guide your life - How to use language to rewrite stories and shift limiting beliefs - How to stop people-pleasing and start self-pleasing If you loved this episode, make sure you check out…  - Grab Danielle's freebie for Brave Table listeners here: https://www.daniellegertner.com/radical-confidence-challenge - Find Danielle on Instagram @daniellegertner - Check out her Own Your Shit Self Mastery program - The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer - More on Cultivating Acceptance, Letting Go of Your Desires, and (Re)Creating Yourself in episode 61 with Dorota Stańczyk - More on Plant Medicine, Healing from Painful Loss, and Transitions in episode 44 with Joa Rivas - And check out episode 71, How To Find The Power to Eliminate Your Limiting Beliefs with Shelly Lefkoe Get your FREE That Sucked Now What Guidebook AND your 5-day healing practice to jumpstart healing your relationships when you order your copy of my new book here!

How often do we answer “How are you?” with “I’m fine” - even when things are definitely not fine?  Ok, you don’t need to dish all your troubles to a perfect stranger, but why are we always pretending everything is great, even when we might be going through a really sh*tty time? I recently went on TV to talk about the idea of toxic positivity and what we can learn from being more vulnerable and authentic with our emotions.  So many of us growing up heard things like "suck it up" or "don't cry" when we were upset. What if instead, we could say: "Damn, that SUCKED. And I need to acknowledge that and process the suck, rather than sweep it under a rug”? Let’s get into it and unpack emotional perfection and how to rethink your coping mechanisms in this episode.  What I get into in this episode…  - What is toxic positivity?  - Why toxic positivity used to be my coping mechanism, and what’s changed - Why I’m so passionate about embracing “that sucked, now what?” - How vulnerability is the way through victim and victor states  - What kids can teach us about experiencing our emotions - And so much more Things I reference in this episode and more episodes like it…  - This article on emotional perfectionism from the Washington Post  - Episode 9: On being enough with Marisa Peer - Episode 38 Exploring Creativity & The Answers are Within with Amber Rae - Episode 77 How To Be Loving, Find Forgiveness, and Cultivate Self-Compassion with Danielle Laporte - Episode 70: How To Be Brave in Creating Deep Friendships and Meaningful Support Circles If you loved this episode, then you will definitely want to pre-order your copy of my book, That Sucked. Now What?. When you do, you’ll get access to exclusive freebies, including a 40-page accompanying guidebook and a free ticket to my virtual launch party!

You’d be hard-pressed to come by someone who hasn’t struggled with their mental health at some point in their life. But for so long, topics like depression were taboo. Especially coming from an immigrant family, we were NOT allowed to discuss our issues publicly. Therapy? Out of the question. The good news is — things are changing, and we all need to lean on each other for comfort and support. It’s time to normalize the conversation on mental health, and my guest in this episode, Karena Dawn, is committed to speaking up against “The Big Silence”.  Karena Dawn is a mental health advocate and co-founder of Tone It Up, the leading women’s fitness community. She is also a New York Times best-selling author, NAMI board advisor, and founder of the mental health nonprofit foundation, The Big Silence. For more than a decade, Karena Dawn has empowered millions of women around the world to live their healthiest and happiest lives. Her lifelong passion for fitness, mindfulness, and spiritual empowerment has made her a leader in the wellness space. She has been featured in Forbes for creating a “fitness empire” and on the Create & Cultivate 100 List honoring women who are masters in their field. She has also headlined the POPSUGAR Play/Ground Festival and has been a keynote speaker at the PoWer Up Women’s Conference. She is a mindful meditation coach for Chopra Global, and a regularly featured speaker and instructor for TED Women, and other national platforms. What we get into in this episode… - Normalizing conversations around mental health - Loving people for who they are - Advice for moms on navigating mental health with their kids - How to hold space for others and what that really means - Leveraging your hardest times to create a better way forward  - How to reach out to others when you need support  - How to be of support to those who need it Be sure to also check out… - Grab a copy of Karena Dawn’s new book, The Big Silence - Find her on Instagram @karenadawn @the.big.silence - If you or a loved one is struggling, text HERO to 741741 for 24/7 crisis support - You may also like episode 67, Bravely Talking About Your Mental Health Challenges with Mike Johnson - Or episode 65, Transforming Loss, Cancer, & Big Trauma Into Fuel for Kindness with Mike Kim - And don’t miss episode 37, a solocast I did on Embracing the Duality of Your Emotions and Normalizing Emotional Health Before you go - to celebrate @thebravetable reaching 10K followers, I've extended our giveaway to win an Apple iPad or a $150 gift certificate to a spa of your choice! It's SO simple to enter - all you need to do is write a 5-star review for The Brave Table on iTunes. Once you write your review, don’t forget to press “send”. Then, take a screenshot of your review and upload it to thebravetable.com/giveaway. Good luck and see you next time!