Strong Single and Human

EP145 - Monty Ritchings- From Darkness to Light - Author, Healer, and Guide on the Path to Personal Truth and Fulfillment

Monty C. Ritchings, an accomplished author, has triumphed over life's challenges, navigating through feelings of inadequacy and enduring the heartbreaking loss of his wife to alcoholism. His early years were marked by the haunting specter of fear from his father, compelling him to become invisible in his quest for humanity. However, a transformative awakening prompted Monty to seek a better path in life.
With a dedication spanning over three decades, Monty immersed himself in the study of mystical arts, energetic healing, and emotional and core belief work. The insights drawn from his personal journey, often lived on the fringes of life, now resonate in the pages of his books. Monty's motivation to share these profound observations lies in his earnest desire to guide individuals toward discovering and embracing their innate strength and truth. He firmly believes in the inherent potential within every person, urging them to accept and embody it.
In the current context of our world, Monty passionately emphasizes the critical importance for individuals to uncover and walk in their truth, viewing it as the essential key to a truly fulfilling and authentic life.
Find Monty at
www.montyritchings.com
www.facebook.com/montyc.ritchings

EP144 - Kirryn Lee - Igniting Motherhood Transformations - Embrace Your Journey, Embrace Your True Self

Kirryn is an Energy Coach and Matrescence Mentor, devoted to guiding mothers through the intricate journey of matrescence – the often-overlooked transition into motherhood. Co-parenting two daughters, she draws from her own experiences, having grappled with self-doubt, grief, and loneliness during this transformative phase.
On a mission to liberate mothers from people-pleasing and empower them to embrace their true selves, Kirryn believes that matrescence is a spiritual awakening. Through her work, she supports mothers in becoming their own healers, navigating the complexities of this profound transition.
Kirryn's journey started in the birth space, witnessing the meticulous planning surrounding childbirth and questioning the lack of attention given to the postpartum and subsequent years. Discovering the term 'matrescence' became a pivotal moment, leading her to educate and support women in this often-neglected aspect of motherhood.
Today, Kirryn invites mothers to explore their heart's calling, creating a space that embraces authenticity and encourages transformative self-discovery. Her joy and privilege lie in witnessing the powerful transformations that unfold when women embrace and navigate the entirety of their motherhood journey.
Fine Kirryn at 
www.kirrynlee.com/meetkirryn
www.instagram.com/kirryn_lee
 

EP143 -Jenny Toh - Unleashing Potential, Transforming Lives Through Coaching

Jenny Toh is a seasoned professional coach with a background in law spanning nearly three decades. Despite a successful legal career and a fulfilling personal life with a supportive husband and three children, Jenny felt an inner yearning for something more and a desire to live life to its fullest potential.
Her coaching journey began when she experienced the powerful impact of coaching in an organization she worked for. Eventually, she decided to take the leap and pursue her passion for coaching. 
Jenny underwent professional coach training at the International Coach Academy, becoming a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Achieving the PCC credential involved coaching for more than 900 hours and demonstrating excellence and professional competence through rigorous assessment. 
Driven by her commitment to continuous improvement, Jenny also pursued mentor coach certification under the guidance of Jamee Tenzer and Sheri Boone. 
Jenny believes when people align with their values, they can positively influence those around them. She is dedicated to helping them unearth and rediscover their dreams and passions, and empowering them to live on their terms.
Find Jenny at
www.riverlifecoaching.com
www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-toh-b74ba128
 

EP142-Jennifer Sontag - Fostering Women's Success: A Beacon in Entrepreneurial Paths

Jennifer Sontag: Her journey into entrepreneurship ignited during her late teens when the lack of university opportunities led her to view entrepreneurship as a path to support her son. Growing up around her grandmother's small home bakery, she imbibed the values of independence, self-made success, and the joy of connecting with customers. Witnessing her father's health decline due to work-related stress, especially as a single parent, she decided on entrepreneurship to balance creativity with a fulfilling family life, raising her son and daughter alongside her ventures.
 
The inception of Italian Citizenship Concierge was driven by her grandmother's passion for Italy, despite never setting foot there. In 2015, she faced a life-altering moment, realizing the importance of living in the present. Starting the process of gaining Italian citizenship before the COVID pandemic, she turned challenges into opportunities and discovered a newfound passion for assisting others on their citizenship journeys.
 
Reflecting on her achievements, overcoming the odds stands out as her greatest triumph. A 19-year-old parent who owned a maternity store, she defied expectations, breaking generational patterns of abuse. The success of her business became a cornerstone for providing a stable foundation for her children, enabling them to pursue education, travel, and lead fulfilling lives. Her business wasn't merely a source of financial support; it served as a backdrop for crucial family moments, even allowing her to run it from a hospital bed during health complications. This unique blend of work and family life instilled in her children the values of hard work, sacrifice, and the importance of cherishing moments with loved ones. Her entrepreneurial journey has not only shaped her life but has been a catalyst for breaking barriers and creating a legacy of resilience and success.
 
Find Jennifer at
www.lovehappensmag.com/blog/2022/10/27/inspired-by-jennifer-sontag-italian-citizenship-concierge

EP141- Avi Wolfson- Discover The Champion Within

Avi's journey is one of personal transformation and resilience. Despite facing challenges and struggling with feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy in his early life, Avi has emerged as a licensed realtor, professional salesperson, best-selling author, and three-time ax-throwing champion. His background includes a love for sports such as football, ultimate frisbee, and ping-pong, as well as an interest in video games, documentaries, and solving the Rubik's cube.
Growing up in an environment that was not conducive to his well-being, Avi faced academic struggles and was later diagnosed with Bipolar Type I and Major Depressive Disorder as a young adult. Despite joining the US National Guard to escape feelings of shame and contribute to his country, Avi found himself still grappling with personal challenges, including issues related to substance abuse and a sense of being at rock bottom.
However, his journey took a turn when he embraced his role as a self-starter, independent learner, and resilient survivor. Avi used his experiences and rejection as fuel for personal growth, eventually channeling his energy into writing. What started as documenting his childhood experiences transformed into thirty titles, showcasing his evolution into life coaching. Today, Avi is a public speaker who aims to inspire others, particularly those struggling with business, life, and mental health. His mission is to help individuals discover the champion within themselves, emphasizing that true success is not about winning for personal gain but about empowering others to achieve their potential.
 
Find Avi at
www.aviwolfson.com
www.linkedin.com/in/aviwolfson
 

EP140 - Danika Sanchez - Helping New Single Parents with Baby Steps Concierge Nursing

Danika Sanchez is the passionate owner of Baby Steps Concierge Nursing Inc. Throughout her life, Danika has been on a quest to discover her true calling, driven by her entrepreneurial spirit and a deep desire to help others, particularly babies. Her journey has taken her through various roles, from chairing large non-profit events to exploring marketing, and financial planning, and even running her own bakery while pursuing nursing school. While some may have viewed her as a "jack of all trades, master of none," Danika now realizes that each experience has played a vital role in shaping her path.
Today, she has found her true passion, which lies in assisting parents to confidently care for their newborns, especially those who lack a robust support system nearby. As a seasoned nurse and dedicated educator, she gets immense joy from teaching and supporting others, with a special love for nurturing and caring for babies. With Baby Steps Concierge Nursing Inc., Danika is fulfilling her purpose and making a significant impact on the lives of new parents and their little ones.
When Danika isn't lending her expertise to new parents, you might find her exploring new ways to contribute to her community or spending quality time with her own loved ones. Her journey of self-discovery and unwavering determination have led her to the perfect place where her passion for teaching, assisting others, and loving babies converge harmoniously. With Danika Sanchez at the helm, Baby Steps Concierge Nursing Inc. thrives as a beacon of support and comfort for countless families on their journey through parenthood.
Find Danika at
www.babystepsnursing.com
www.linkedin.com/in/baby-steps

EP139 - AJ Coleman - Keep Those Feet Moving — A Widower’s 8-Step Guide to Coping with Grief and Thriving Against All Odds.

AJ Coleman is the author of Keep Those Feet Moving — A Widower’s 8-Step Guide to Coping with Grief and Thriving Against All Odds.
Throughout AJ’s life, he has had to overcome tremendous challenges.
As a child, AJ was frequently bullied for his hearing impairment but instead of letting social challenges define him, AJ strived to overcome them.
In 2009, AJ faced the most painful challenge of all—losing his wife Cory to brain cancer—when their daughter was just one-year-old.
AJ started the Keep Those Feet Moving blog in 2013 to share his advice, experiences, and philosophical wisdom with the world. He was inspired to write by the encouragement of close friends and family members, who were all astonished by how AJ was able to stay strong after losing Cory.
Today, AJ lives in a suburb of Chicago. He is remarried with a blended family and focuses his time on raising his family and helping others overcome challenges. AJ is an avid Florida Gator fan who enjoys traveling, learning languages, and playing soccer. When he isn't writing, he always looks for opportunities to self-educate.
AJ’s story is truly an inspiration for all of us to Keep Those Feet Moving, no matter how difficult it may seem at the time.
Where to find AJ
https://keepthosefeetmoving.com/our-story

EP138 - Avi Wolfson - Parenting with Bipolar and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

This week's guest is deeply passionate about parenting, mental health, and wellness, 
They grew up with the impression they were losers, feeling worthless and helpless.
The environment they rose from wasn’t healthy and they struggled academically, and while resilient, they felt inadequate for a long time.
Avi Wolfson was as a young adult, diagnosed with Bipolar Type I (previously known as Manic Depression) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
Anxiety was evident and present within his family but seldom talked about, nor did he have permission to feel sad or express any feeling besides happiness. In addition, he felt pressured to take on heavily religious activities but had no interest in them; this all took a heavy toll, leading him to drink, take drugs, and music as vices.
Avi joined the US National Guard in high school to absolve himself of this shame. he was proud to serve a country that he loved and protect the society in which we live so freely, but being in the military didn’t prevent any of those problems, nor did it make them go away. and he was back at square one and rock bottom.
Avi has struggled with MDD, Bipolar I, and has gone through very dark times in a traumatic childhood as a young, separated father to a girl, they believe their experience and unique perspective on single parenting would be valuable as he has become a stronger and more resilient person by finding light within my darkness.
Find Avi here
www.aviwolfson.com
www.linkedin.com/in/aviwolfson

E137 - Paul Sambataro PhD- The Emotional Budgeting Program

Dr. Paul Sambataro, a neurocognitive scientist with the American Academy of Primary Care Psychologists, has created a program called "The Emotional Budgeting Program" to support the mind's ability to process information and emotions. This program has been clinically tested and has shown successful results in reducing anxiety and stress in children, adolescents, and adults within 6-8 weeks of daily exercise. The program is based on brain functioning theories and principles for productive functioning and helps organize overwhelming emotions and subsequently improves daily function.
As a Neurocognitive Scientist, he has assessed countless young students devastated by overwhelming anxiety and emotional turmoil disrupting their ability to problem-solve issues in their daily lives. impacting processing speed and memory.
He has also noted similar issues in adults in private practice which has led to an understanding that the inability to process and organize information input into the brain creates a sense of anxiety, stress, and the state of being overwhelmed which limits function.
Many adults experience overwhelming anxiety and stress resulting in emotional pain. Relief for emotional pain is often sought through ineffective self-medication or self-harming behaviors. This program is designed as a supplement to a strong therapeutic partnership with a therapist.
Where to find Paul
www.houstonbehavioralhealth.org/
www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sambataro-ph-d-bb987ba2/
www.twitter.com/PaulSambataro
www.facebook.com/paul.sambataro

E136 - Kasey Edward - Bringing Up Boys Who Like Themselves

After wife and husband research and writing team Kasey Edwards and Dr Christopher Scanlon published their bestselling book Raising Girls Who Like Themselves in 2021, they started getting the same question over and over again: what about boys?
Parents are worried about their sons - that they have low self-esteem, lack confidence, and are angry and sad. They’re scared that boys will lose their sweetness and joy as they get older.
The problem they discovered is that while “girls can do anything” there is still only one “right” way to be a boy.
There are still dangerous assumptions about boys being tough and being able to handle shaming, harsh punishments, and pressure to perform. This is suffocating our boys, limiting their potential, and in some cases, killing them.
But Kasey and Christopher have the antidote in the newly published book - Bringing Up Boys Who Like Themselves.
Using a friendly, guilt-free approach, they show parents why and how to help their boys discover for themselves - who they are rather than forcing them into the masculine straitjacket.
With the right approach and strategies, parents can build a strong foundation within their sons so that they can withstand whatever life throws at them and soar to reach their potential.
Find Kasey at 
www.boyswholikethemselves.com/strong