Hey Friend,

This week's episode I'm sharing a podcast update. We’re going to be on a short hiatus after today for a little while. It’s my birthday in a few days and normally around this time I do a lot of life reflection and reevaluate many areas of my life. And when I did that, I knew that I couldn’t keep going with the show as it is right now. It has become unsustainable in its current format. And if you know me, that’s a huge filter for my life. Is this sustainable? If not, how can I make it sustainable? What’s possible? How can this be better? So in order to make the show more sustainable for the long term we’re hitting pause. This isn’t the end. Just a short hiatus. We’ll be back. I promise.

Listen in as I share about:

• Why I’m taking this hiatus right now mid-season

• What’s happening behind the scenes.

• What’s the plan for the show moving forward to make it more sustainable.

• Inviting you all to maybe hit pause on something in your life to retool it and make things better. More sustainable for you.
  
  

Do you love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep growing! https://www.patreon.com/IJustBlankNowWhat

I’d love to connect with you:

• Come follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.loves.life/

• Signup for my newsletter at: https://jessicastephens.ca/

• Or read more about all the things I love on my Blog: https://jessicastephens.ca/blogs/jess-loves-life

Hey Friend,

In this week's episode, I sit down with Natalie Guzman, who shares her extraordinary journey of being voluntarily placed into foster care by her mother and how she overcame the trauma and abandonment to build a successful life. Natalie recounts her life's ups and downs, including her adjustment to a drastic change in living conditions following her parents' divorce, her mother's decision to place her in foster care, and her efforts to maintain normalcy during her tumultuous teenage years.

Despite the challenges, Natalie becomes emancipated at 17, works hard to make ends meet, and eventually builds multiple successful businesses. She also navigates rebuilding her relationship with her mother and finding love and a sense of family with her husband and children in Florida. Throughout her story, Natalie highlights the importance of setting boundaries, asking for help, and the resilience in facing life's adversities. This episode provides a powerful testimony on healing, growth, and the strength found in adversity.

Natalie Guzman became a virtual assistant in 2015 after her job told her she had two days to give birth, and then she would have to return to work. She immediately started her virtual assistant business to make money from home, on her terms. When she decided to turn her side hustle into an agency.

Now Natalie owns multiple businesses including a marketing agency and business consulting firm as well as an all in one software for business to build websites, emails, automations and more while raising her family in southwest Florida.

Listen in as we talk about:

• Her life when her mom turned her over to child services

• What was going through her head when her mom dropped foster care on you out of nowhere

• Her foster family and emancipation

• Does she attribute her "what's possible" mindset to your upbringing

• Life after emancipation

• Advice for someone whose situation could even remotely resemble this one

• My tie in to Rising Strong

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• Do you love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep growing! https://www.patreon.com/IJustBlankNowWhat

I’d love to connect with you:

• Come follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.loves.life/

• Signup for my newsletter at: https://jessicastephens.ca/

• Or read more about all the things I love on my Blog: https://jessicastephens.ca/blogs/jess-loves-life

Connect with Natalie:

• https://www.instagram.com/itsnatalieguzman/

• https://www.tiktok.com/@itsnatalieguzman

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieguzmanva/

• https://itsnatalieguzman.com/

• Freebies: https://www.ngmarketinggroup.com/

Hey Friend,

In this week's episode, Melody Murray joins me, who redefined her life through what she calls radical self-care. Melody discusses her shift from a life filled with depression, anxiety, and the struggles of managing her sister's addiction, to making bold decisions that included ending her marriage, shutting down her initial private practice, and adopting a lifestyle as a nomad.

The episode explores the importance of setting boundaries with oneself and others, redefining personal values, and allowing oneself the flexibility to make mistakes. Melody shares insights from her book, 'Mourning the Living: When the Loved Ones You've Lost is Still Here,' aimed at navigating toxic relationships and finding peace in one's decisions.

Melody is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Child Mental Health Specialist, known for her expertise in assessing and managing patients with critical mental health conditions, especially within hospital ER settings. Her experience extends over four years, where she has made significant contributions to evaluating homicidal and suicidal ideations, demonstrating a profound ability to navigate high-pressure environments with empathy and professionalism.

In addition to her clinical prowess, Melody has been an influential voice in mental health advocacy, featured in interviews by major outlets such as the New York Times and Business Insider, and on shows like "The Doctors" and "Peace of Mind with Taraji." Her previous career in the entertainment industry, directing reality TV shows such as MTV’s "The Real World" and "Bad Girls Club," adds a unique dimension to her understanding of human behavior, enhancing her approach to therapy and mental health communication.

Listen in as we talk about:

• What’s important to know about her

• What was happening before she blew up her life

• Shadow work

• Her retreat in Bali

• The first promise she ever made to herself

• Deciding motherhood wasn't for her

• Approaching being mindful of who is impacted by our actions without having that hold you back
  
  

Episode Sponsors

• Join Arbonne 30 Days to Healthy Living (https://www.arbonne.com/ca/en/arb/jessicastephenstoronto/healthy-living/30-days) Or start a subscription and save with 20% off every order and free shipping! (https://www.arbonne.com/ca/en/arb/JessicaStephensToronto/cart?shareId=8835579432487)
  
  

• Do you love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep growing! https://www.patreon.com/IJustBlankNowWhat

I’d love to connect with you:

• Come follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.loves.life/

• Signup for my newsletter at: https://jessicastephens.ca/

• Or read more about all the things I love on my Blog: https://jessicastephens.ca/blogs/jess-loves-life

Connect with Melody:

• www.instagram.com/MelodyLMFT

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-murray-0a247419b/

• www.MelodyLMFT.com