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

Episode Sponsors

• Arbonne Greens Gut Glow Bundle. Use promo code ARBONNE10 at checkout to get 10% off. (https://www.arbonne.com/ca/en/shop-all/nutrition/green-gut-glow-convenience-pack/p/1055%20CA) Or start a subscription and save 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 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

Hey Friend,

In this week's episode, Farah Flisher joins me to talk about something many of us can relate to: the loss of her mother.

Farah opens up about experiencing multiple personal losses, including the untimely death of her mother from a gunshot wound. Farah discusses how writing, baking, yoga, and counseling helped her navigate her grief, eventually leading her to write and publish her memoir 'Mahar and Me'. She also shares her philosophy of looking for hope and strength in times of adversity.

Farah, who is of Parsi origin, was born in London and raised in North India. She is a British national with an Indian heart, and embraces the different facets of her identity with ease. After the untimely loss of her mother, struggling to reconcile the mysteries of life and death, Farah embarked on a journey inward to find a conduit to channel her loss and pain. Farah has built a career in the banking industry, across continents, over the span of thirty-plus years and is now based in Dubai.

Listen in as we talk about:

• What’s important to know about her

• How she moved through tragedy in her life

• The story of her mom's death

• How she started finding her way back from the tragedy

• Using her journal for therapy, starting her writing and working on her book

• Did the process of writing the book and publishing it help in her journey of grief

• Telling her children about her mother's death

• The one takeaway she hopes readers get from her book

• Advice to help move through grief
  
  

Episode Sponsors

• Arbonne Greens Gut Glow Bundle. Use promo code ARBONNE10 at checkout to get 10% off. (https://www.arbonne.com/ca/en/shop-all/nutrition/green-gut-glow-convenience-pack/p/1055%20CA) Or start a subscription and save 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 Farah:

• www.instagram.com/Farah.Press

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

• https://www.farahpress.com

Hey Friend,

In this week's episode, I delve into the stressful, unfocused and distracted season I'm experiencing and highlight the challenges I've faced recently. Mostly feeling unfocused, conflicting priorities and uncertainty.

We also discuss the importance of establishing a morning routine for mental health, turning off digital distractions, maintaining physical cleanliness for mental clarity, and expressing emotions to trustworthy individuals to prevent mental clutter.

I emphasize the necessity of recognizing my mental capacities and taking the necessary steps to alleviate stress. Lastly, we talk about my messy phase and share strategies to regain focus, while reassuring that it's okay to be in seasons like this.

Listen in as we talk about:

• The season of life I’m currently in

• Feeling extremely distracted

• Not having the capacity to do all the things

• What I have been doing to try and help with the distraction

• Acknowledging the mess in my life adding to distraction

• Being overstimulated

• Tapping into what's important

• Talking about capacity

• The importance of talking things out
  
  

Episode Sponsors

• Discover ChillBooks, a financial education course offering bookkeeping and QuickBooks training designed for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and home-based business owners. Created by CPA and entrepreneur Jamie Monte, ChillBooks aims to automate your financial processes, save time on bookkeeping, and empower you with the knowledge to lower your tax bill and make informed financial decisions. Enroll now at www.jamiemonte.com/chillbooks and use the promo code "NOWWHAT" to get $50 off.
  
  

• 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’m joined by Phebe Trotman, a Vancouver-based entrepreneur and accomplished soccer player. She has achieved many accolades as an athlete, including being inducted into several sports halls of fame, winning championship titles, and being recognized as an exceptional athlete. Phebe has also excelled in her career as a network marketer, earning top awards and recognition within her company. She is passionate about personal growth and empowering others to reach their full potential.

We talk about Phebe’s life story, starting from her experience in sports to building her reputation in network marketing and eventually authoring her book, 'Never Quit on a Bad Day'.

We discuss various moments where Phebe almost quit. However, we acknowledge the importance of pushing through difficult moments and how growth happens through discomfort. Phebe also shares her approach to daily challenges and strategies for nurturing resilience. Jessica highlights the aspect of integrity and importance of aligning actions with core values. Finally, they discuss Phebe’s book and how it aims to inspire others through shared experiences of resilience.

Listen in as we talk about:

• What’s important to know about Phebe

• Rewind tape to younger phebe who she was and these moments that she wanted to quit

• The importance of who you surround yourself with

• Pushing through that first hurdle, or deciding when to quit

• Throughout your career how many other times did you want to quit or almost quit

• When was a time you did quit and regret it

• Advice for people who tend to quit on themselves for the little things

• Advice for when you do need to quit something to service something else

• Stepping into your ideas

Episode Sponsors

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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 Phebe:

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

• www.NeverQuitOnABadDay.com

Hey Friend,

In this week’s episode, Liz Deacle joins me to share the candid story of her family's journey traveling through 22 countries, sharing how they planned the adventure, managed it on a budget, and the impact it had on their lives.

Liz shares how her family used house sitting and couch surfing to afford the year-long adventure, and how the experience inspired her children's respective paths. She also discusses how they adapted upon their return to their native New Zealand, and looking for alternative ways of earning an income, eventually leading to the creation of an online business and their own successful travel blog and book.

Liz is a best selling author, a podcaster, YouTuber and a storyteller. A natural-born optimist, lover of wine, and non-lover of hormones, Liz is British, she is married to Brian, and together they have two kids. In 2009, when their children were 8 and 5, Liz and her husband left England and took their family to start a new life in New Zealand. Once there, Liz embarked on something she had dreamed of doing her whole life (but had never been brave/financially comfortable/crazy enough to do). Homeschooling. In the ten years that followed the family built their own home under a dormant volcano on the North Island of New Zealand and enjoyed years of freedom and adventure together. In 2018, Liz and her husband put into place another life long dream. They rented out their house, used the meager savings they had and backpacked around the world for a year with their teenagers (16 and 13). Three years after returning from the world trip, Liz wrote a book.

Listen in as we talk about:

• What’s important to know about Liz 

• Life before they left on their journey across the globe

• Handling money on their trip

• Planning their itineraries

• Finding their house sitting gigs

• The biggest challenges they encountered

• How they wrapped up the trip

• Now what

• How the world tour affected their kids

Episode Sponsors

Discover ChillBooks, a financial education course offering bookkeeping and QuickBooks training designed for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and home-based business owners. Created by CPA and entrepreneur Jamie Monte, ChillBooks aims to automate your financial processes, save time on bookkeeping, and empower you with the knowledge to lower your tax bill and make informed financial decisions. Enroll now at www.jamiemonte.com/chillbooks and use the promo code "NOWWHAT" to get $50 off.

• 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 Liz:

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

• https://itsadrama.com/ 

• Sign up for a FREE How to travel more for less ebook: https://itsadrama.com/freebook 

Hey Friend,

In this week’s episode, award-winning health expert and national best seller, Nicole Kerr joins me on the podcast to talk about surviving a near-death experience and immense trauma. She is the author of You Are Deathless: A Near-Death Experience Taught Me How to Fully Live and Not Fear Death. She is also the co-author of Eating the Rainbow: Lifelong Nutritional Wellness—Without Lies, Hype, or Calculus.

When she was a 19-year-old cadet at the United States Air Force Academy, Nicole was forced to learn how to live and love differently following a terrifying and transformative Near Death Experience. Her memory of the crash came back 20 years later, and it has taken her almost another two decades to align her soul, spirit, mind, and body – proving healing is certainly a non-linear process.

Her story unveils layers of life struggles, victories, personal growth, and spiritual transformation, and gives a reframe and redirect to those who are so immersed in fear-based living that they overlook their soul's purpose. Nicole emphasizes the importance of addressing soul wounds, just like physical and mental ones, and reprogramming fear-based mental patterns to reach a state of gratitude and conscious living.

Listen in as we talk about:

• What’s important to know about Nicole 

• How she got into the Air Force

• The car crash that changed everything

• The second near death experience that took her out of her body

• The third near death experience that she went through

• Binge eating disorder and PTSD

• How she started living this new version of her life

• When did the memory of the crash come back

• The concept of soul loss

• About her book and what’s next 

Episode Sponsors

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 Nicole:

• https://www.instagram.com/nicole.angelique.kerr/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-kerr-8920438/

• https://www.nicolekerr.com