Never Ever Give Up Hope

Lindsay Gibson is a writer, speaker and Joy Coach. Although she experienced intense trauma in her life, she has learned how to choose joy after grief. You will be drawn into her story as she shares how her life dramatically changed when she was raped at 16 years old.  She was in complete denial of the event and covered her hopelessness with bad habits and unhealthy comfort zones. It was not until she gave birth to her stillborn son that she was able to start living again.  His birth and death created a new life in Lindsay.   Her story is one of courage, hope and finding a Higher Love through the darkness of grief and sorrow.  Hope led her to Love and Love Never Fails. Lindsay has learned to forgive her attacker who tried to kill her.  This happened when she opened her heart to healing after the loss of her precious son.  With it came an understanding of unconditional love. Now as a Joy Coach she has much to offer people in choosing joy after grief and helps walk you through the steps to restoration.  Her self-study course entitled Journal Back to Joy that you will thoroughly appreciate.   Lindsay, who uses prose and analogies to express herself said, "The sky doesn't go away but the clouds pass through."  You will want to share her interview with many people who need this message of JOY:  

Belinda Bennetts is a passionate author and inspirational coach who helps others overcome their self-constructed limitations. Belinda was born in Zimbabwe. In 2001 she moved to New Zealand because of the political unrest in her home country and in 2014 to Ireland where she now resides with her little daughter. Belinda’s life changed when she discovered that the only person holding her back from realizing her dreams was herself.  She realized she was, in fact, NOT broken and broke free from depression and suicidal thoughts. Through life-changing meetings, empowering books and a desire to remove the blockages of the past Belinda emerged as a strong woman who is now helping people on their journey from fear to love. She is passionate about helping people suffering from stress, depression and anxiety disorders. ‘Fear to Love — An Inner Journey Home,’ is a warm, truthful and emotional account of one woman’s voyage back to life and living.

Mary Lunnan is a life coach and an author of four books . She lives on the coast of North Cornwall, in the far south west of the U.K. In 1994, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.  When she asked her doctor if she could talk with someone else who had been through this, the doctor said she was not able to help her. This started Mary on a journey of writing her no-holds-barred stories of her journey through cancer. Sharing her experiences has become her passion in helping other people cope with their own situations.   You will enjoy the interview with Mary as she shares her remarkable story of her cancer journey and gives great tips she uses as a life coach

Ingrid Schoenfelder is a singer and songwriter whose latest album release "Kiss the Dirt" is about the struggles we can go through in life. Ingrid shares how she rose above serious physical struggles and emotional ones that taught her never to give up. She uses those rough times as inspiration for her music. Her physical struggles included cancer, grand mal seizures and a heart attack -- none of which kept her down. She has written all of her own music and lyrics on her recently released CD in hopes of encouraging anyone who is in the middle of struggles or heart break.

Julio Caba is an author, Ph.D. student and business owner.   Julio was raised in one of the worst neighborhoods in New York, Washington Heights. Drugs and crime were an everyday part of life. His teachers told him that he would either be dead or in jail by the time he reached the age of 18. Believing in that narrative, he became that person. He dropped out of high school at 16 and had his first child. Drug dealing seemed to be the only career choice. By the time he was 18, he was the father of three.  The mother of his children left him, and they were HOMELESS. Three children, no job, no opportunity, no education.  He chose to end it all. What happened next was nothing short of a miracle as his two-year-old stopped him seconds before plunging off a balcony to his death. At that moment, he chose to change his life and you do not want to miss this exciting, incredible story of hope. Click the arrow to hear his story:    

Poppy Smith is an international speaker, multi-published author, teacher, mentor and spiritual coach.  Her goal is to encourage women to thrive in their relationships and in life.  Her practical approach in dealing with relationships is a great help to anyone wanting tips on how to improve their marriage.   “What do you and your spouse have in common?”    “We got married on the same day.”   Many women can identify with that sentiment. They want their marriages to be happy, but they wonder how when their mate baffles and even irritates them. Some may even wonder if they made a terrible mistake.   In her interview, Poppy answered many questions many of us have about relationships that aren't working.  It is evident that she is motivated to help anyone who needs some practical tools.  I know you will enjoy this interview:

CeeCee James has written a series of memoirs that you will never be able to forget.  Absolutely. Guaranteed. During her interview, I was at a loss for words. I have heard many stories of abuse but I never heard one as intense as CeeCee's.  She is an incredibly gentle, warm woman who survived horrendous pain, neglect and hatred by her mother. Listening to her story, you will be drawn to tears and anger as you hear CeeCee share how the only touch she had ever known as a child was one of pain. At TWO WEEKS old, her father burned CeeCee's face and body with an iron. Her mother refused to feed or change CeeCee's diaper because she did not want to be manipulated by a baby's cries.  She wanted to teach her NOT to cry.  This was only the beginning of a lifetime of trauma. CeeCee never remembers a time as a child when she was not hungry....or cold.....or alone.....or hated. Yet, all CeeCee ever wanted was love. Even as a toddler she worked hard to please her mother, hoping for one gentle touch or one kind word.  She never got one!  EVER! CeeCee holds no animosity.  No bitterness. No unforgiveness.   No blame.  Instead, she understands the true necessity to forgive and move forward.  She is not looking for sympathy and her humility is unique, feeling that many others may have suffered more.   She wants people to understand how to let go of their past and hang onto hope -- the only thread to survival. This is a must 'hear to believe' podcast.  You will never be the same when you hear her story and realize the strength of the human spirit to survive.  

Jeremy Vermeulen is a motivational speaker and coach who suffered from severe depression.   In his interview, he shares how to take control of your thoughts and not allow them to control you. Jeremy shares how we can be genuinely happy and overcome the triggers that might send us into a mode of discouragement and low self-esteem.   I am sure you will relate to many of the things Jeremy shares about his own depression.  Also, how we can help ourselves and our children to be happy and content.    5 Keys to Happiness   Be You - the best you can be   Have good people around you   Have an attitude of gratitude - no matter what   Live in the moment   Make a decision!

Courtney Lund is a professor and writer who is currently working on a memoir about her relationship with her disabled brother, Gavin who suffers with AGS Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome. Courtney received the news about her four-month-old baby brother when she was 19 and in college. She dropped out of college to be with him and her family -- and to learn to love him, despite his death sentence. There was nowhere for Courtney to turn for help as there was no resource to help people who had to cope with losing a sibling, to a disease or death. Feeling like she was up against the impossible, while also feeling alone are probably some of the worst feelings in the world. She had left life in a sorority house to the home of my dying brother.    In Courtney's words: Love is one of the most complex emotions, and the only way we can love authentically is to go through those emotions. Fear, anger, sadness -- they are all tied up with love. And the longer we run from those emotions, the harder it is to love fully, and wholly.   Faith, Hope, and Love have often been lumped into a cliche.  Each component draws off the other. I wondered what it would look like if I drew it.  I saw the image of an old tree.  It starts with the roots - the foundation.  This is our faith. The trunk grows sturdy, from the support of the roots.  This is our hope. From the trunk, love grows.  Love flourishes, like branches, our of hope.  The three are fluid and part of a larger whole.   Listening to her story you will be inspired on a level you did not think possible.    

Robyn Dykstra is a captivating national speaker and author of The Widow Wore Pink.   Melissa was on top of the world and 'had it all.'  She traveled the world and had an incredible income as a Playboy bunny. But her life of drugs, alcohol and promiscuity was not enough.  Her marriage ended in divorce which threw her into a life-changing moment.  She married Hot and Hunky, had two children and life was perfect... until the unthinkable happened.  Not once -- but TWICE!  She became an accidental expert on finding joy during difficult times when she buried TWO husbands in FOUR short years. You will love Robyn's story sprinkled with laughter and joy but more importantly with tips on how to deal with the pain that comes with trauma.