Serene Singh is a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford pursuing a Doctoral degree in Criminology. Singh completed her postgraduate studies in Public Policy as the youngest student in Oxford’s global cohort of 100+ individuals. A Truman Scholar, Fulbright recipient, and an alumnus of the University of Colorado, Singh graduated with summa cum laude honors in Political Science and Journalism degrees and attained a minor in Leadership Studies.

Her work towards women’s empowerment also led her to create The Serenity Project 501c3 nonprofit to give confidence and self-love tools to women survivors, write a best-selling children’s book named The Queen Machine for young girls to develop confidence, win Victoria Secret’s GRL PWR campaign (women’s empowerment award), become a Diana Award recipient (UK’s highest humanitarian award) perform a keynote at university’s like Yale and California State Channel Islands, and serve as a Dalai Lama Fellow, US Selected Swiss Embassy Global Changemaker, and most recently, become a 2024-2025 John Lewis Fellow.

Her other hobbies include teaching students public speaking professionally with 3P Speech, painting, snowboarding, and videography. Singh plans to advance her passion for public service to one day serve on the United States Supreme Court.

Shamayne Olivia is an author, a motivational speaker and a difference maker Shamayne's authentic message guides women on a path towards personal and professional growth by fostering a renewed sense of passion, purpose, and confidence. Her workshop empowers women with the essential tools to get unstuck and move beyond the behaviors and patterns preventing them from realizing their full potential.

Some of our fierce topics today:

[00: 6;24;] I just one thing about that situation is after he and I did the divorce and we went on our separate paths and we found our, we found what was best for us. He was killed in an accident four years after that.

[00:12:35] And I had a dream, Toby, it came to me in a dream. And, dreams are special to me, but I only have them occasionally where they speak to me. And this one spoke to me on a level that I had never had before. So I was dreaming that I was going for a walk with a coworker. I worked in corporate America, and we used to walk on our breaks and things like that.

[00:14:02] And I was sitting there and I when I looked into the mirror, I felt a warmth wash over me and it said, I heard these words in my head, and it said you were going to teach women to find shoes for their journey. And I was I immediately knew that was going to be my mission, my calling.

[00:25:17] And it was important for me to understand who my support group is and who are the people that I needed boundaries with. Because I had let a lot of people into my life that were not helping me. They were bringing me down or not encouraging. And, it was not good for my life.

[00:32:43] Well, this is going to be something I when when I first thought about this question, because this was one that you had mentioned that you might ask me, I did some thinking on it and I was trying to think of all those words that inspire people. And the one that came to me just this morning because, that's how a lot of things come to me is right when I need them. My word is women.

[guest bio] Shamayne’s transformational journey started with a simple question, “Who am I?” He decades-long quest to reclaim her identity led to profound insights and realizations that are the foundation of her business, Shoes that Fit Her Soul, LLC. Links mentioned in this episode:

[guest]

https://www.instagram.com/shamayneolivia/

____________________________________

Toby Dorr:

Books and Audiobook

Website

Patreon

YouTube

Instagram

Facebook

Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby.

Credits:

Created by Toby Dorr.

Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing.

Theme song:

Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist

Caroline Parody: Piano

Tony Ventura: Bass

For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

Kristin Caruso is a writer, editor, and researcher. She has a background in public relations and print journalism. Before Kristin joined Gaming Historian (hosted by her husband, Norman Caruso), she was an award-winning columnist and reporter. Kristin has a bachelor's degree in communications from Simmons College. Previously, she co-hosted the “Let's Go to Court” podcast. Currently, Kristin and Norm are co-hosts of An Ole Timey Podcast.

Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews!

Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/

Some of our fierce topics today:

[00:07:11] Writers often struggle with giving up control of their work to others.

[00:09:47] An email was sent asking to join the novel critique group with a memoir, and it was agreed that it was fine. The chapter shared was so gripping that it was hard to believe it was nonfiction.

[00:23:40] learned the most about writing and interviewing from Kristin’s high school journalism teacher, Susan Massey.

[00:25:21] People not from the Midwest often assume that everyone there knows each other, but it’s actually a big place.

[00:25:35] Kansas City has a small-town feel where it seems like everyone knows everyone.

About Kristin Caruso:

Kristin Caruso co-hosts An Old Timey Podcast. The show allows Kristin to justify her late-night deep dives into art heists, royal drama and old timey mysteries. She is a writer, a mutt enthusiast, and is only occasionally inappropriate.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Kristin Caruso:

An Ole Timey Podcast:

https://linktr.ee/OldTimeyPodcast

https://www.youtube.com/@GamingHistorian

https://www.instagram.com/kristinpittscaruso/

____________________________________

Toby Dorr:

Books and Audiobook

Website

Patreon

YouTube

Instagram

Facebook

Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby.

Credits:

Created by Toby Dorr.

Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing.

Theme song:

Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist

Caroline Parody: Piano

Tony Ventura: Bass

For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

Welcome to Fierce Conversations with Toby—where stories of struggle, strength, and transformation take center stage. I’m Toby Dorr, and I believe that every conversation has the power to change lives. Here, we dive deep into the raw, unfiltered moments that shape us, challenge us, and ultimately, set us free. From personal reflections to compelling interviews, join me on a journey of fierce honesty, courageous healing, and bold transformations. Let’s turn pain into power and conversations into catalysts for change.

Watch the video here!

Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/

Some of our fierce topics today:

[00:42] - choose the second definition (of fierce) showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity.

[1:25] - The average person can make a difference and be part of righting a wrong.

[2:05] - I am not a small talk kind of woman.

[2:35] - My life's mission is to empower women, leading them to embrace the hard things in their lives and break free from whatever prison confines them.

About Your Host, Toby Dorr:

Toby Dorr is a transformational speaker, best-selling author, and the courageous voice behind Fierce Conversations with Toby. Known for her powerful journey from incarceration to inspiration, Toby’s story is one of radical redemption and fierce determination. Through her memoir, Living with Conviction, her poetry collection, and her transformative workbooks in The Unleashed Series, Toby guides others on a path of deep introspection and personal change. She brings her lived experience and fierce grace to every episode, creating a space for honest, impactful conversations that challenge, heal, and inspire. Toby’s mission is to help women break free from their past and reclaim their lives, one fierce conversation at a time.

Learn more about Toby:

Books and Audiobook

Website

Patreon

YouTube

Instagram

Facebook

Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby.

Credits:

Created by Toby Dorr.

Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing.

Theme song:

Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist

Caroline Parody: Piano

Tony Ventura: Bass

For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

Bex Gunn considers herself a nomad. She’s lived in 8 different states and seems to be able to find herself at home in just about any social circle. Music, tattooing, and poetry are the hobbies she’s most passionate about. But her biggest purpose is helping people through the human experience, with love and kindness.

Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews!

Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/

Some of our fierce topics today:

[02:45] The hardest decision that I ever had to make was leaving my kids behind because I was in active addiction and I had to leave the state because I couldn't stop using.

[14:45] Therapy is what helped me. And the reason I think that is because everybody that I know who has a form of addiction has an underlying mental illness that's not being treated. And I think that's, where we're failing as a society is because we're looking at mental illness and addiction as two separate things.

[20:38] People who are incarcerated need some sort of advocate for their basic human rights - to be treated like human beings.

[00:25:52] They're breeding recidivism just to make money. And, I don't think they're doing it just inside the correctional system. I think it's inside the judicial system too, because every time you take an inmate from El Paso County jail, (yeah, I'm calling them out) - every time they take an inmate from El Paso County Jail over to the courthouse, they get $100.

[00:29:50] I mean, honestly, it's like our country has gotten so big and full of itself that we've decided who gets to be human beings and who doesn't. And that's really disappointing.

[00:35:30] Accountability is super important, and it took a long time for me to get to that point where I was like, oh, I did this. I'm responsible for that because the only thing I can control, the only emotions and behaviors I can control is me. And so, I need to make sure that I control that because, like you said, if I'm putting out like anger and negative energy and vibrations, that actually attracts those kind of vibrations towards you.

[00:40:45] And you're really only living half of a life. You're not unlocked because you're still holding stuff in for yourself and you gotta get rid of that. You gotta shed that part of your life so you can build a new one. I've lived like eight lives in this lifetime.

About Bex Gunn

Bex Gunn is a unique individual, rich with wisdom from life’s lessons. A conversation with her will open your eyes. Here’s one of my favorite Bex quotes, “music is what feelings sound like.”

Links mentioned in this episode:

Bex Gunn:

https://www.facebook.com/florasunshine

____________________________________

Toby Dorr:

Books and Audiobook

Website

Patreon

YouTube

Instagram

Facebook

Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby.

Credits:

Created by Toby Dorr.

Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing.

Theme song:

Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist

Caroline Parody: Piano

Tony Ventura: Bass

For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/