The Trusted Friend

Unapologetically Me with Michelle Johnston

Michele Johnston, the powerhouse behind Fiercely Authentic Coaching! Raised with a strict religious ideology of what a woman “should be”, she married young and became a devoted mother of four. For years, she masked her struggles to fit society's perfect mold. As her kids got older, she prioritized self-care. Pushing a truck full of kettlebells was her "aha" moment, revealing her incredible strength—physically and mentally. Michele dove into fitness and embarked on a journey of self-discovery, self-love, adventure, and grace. Now, as a motivational speaker and empowerment coach, she inspires fierce women to rediscover their authentic selves, fall in love with their quirks, and live life unapologetically!
More of Michelle

Life Interrupted with Aubrey Johnston

In honor of National Primary Immunodeficiency Month,we follow Aubrey, a resilient young woman living with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID), as she navigates the complexities of her condition.
Aubrey’s life took and unexpected turn at the age of 19, all excited to go off to college and live her long awaited college life dreams, to be hit with a diagnosis that changed the course of her life.  Aubrey is such a delightful, energetic, spirited young woman, any mom would be proud to have her as their daughter because even though it has been and still is a life full of obstacles, she is tackling them with love, humor and the desire to help others
Aubrey shares her experiences, offering insights into the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies living with a chronic illness a rare invisible one at that.  She brings with her so many fabulous insights that we can all learn from no matter what life throws at us.  She’s seriously a charming young woman with a insight, compassion and understanding beyond her years. 
 Aubrey with Grace
 
- Instagram: @aubreywithgrace
- TikTok: @aubreyjohnston99
- Youtube: @aubreywithgrace
- Facebook: Aubrey With Grace 
-  Aubrey's Amazon Storefront
 
Please see links below if you wish to donate the much needed plasma.
 
Canada Plasma Donation Info
Red Cross Plasma Donation Info

Purpose in the Pain with Debbie Gail Zane

In this heartfelt episode, we follow Debbie's journey from unimaginable loss to profound purpose. After tragically losing her beloved son to mental illness and addiction, Debbie undergoes a transformation, discovering her true calling in helping parents navigate similar struggles. Through her own grief and pain, she finds solace in aiding others, becoming a beacon of hope and support in the community. Armed with her own experiences and professional training as a life and relationship coach, Debbie embarks on a mission to empower parents facing similar challenges. As she shares her story of love, loss, and resilience, viewers witness the power of turning tragedy into meaningful service, and the healing that comes from helping others find their own path to peace and recovery.
More about Debra
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Help, US and Canada:
Canada:
Crisis Services Canada: Provides a national helpline, available 24/7, for individuals in crisis or distress.
Website: https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/
Helpline: 1-833-456-4566
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): CMHA offers a range of mental health resources, support, and information, including resources specifically for depression.
Website: https://cmha.ca/
Kids Help Phone: A 24/7 helpline for young people in Canada to reach out for support and information.
Website: https://kidshelpphone.ca/
Helpline: 1-800-668-6868
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): CAMH provides resources, treatment options, and education on mental health and addiction.
Website: https://www.camh.ca/
United States:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources.
Website: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Helpline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Text Line: A free, 24/7 text messaging service providing support to people in crisis.
Website: https://www.crisistextline.org/
Text line: Text "HELLO" to 741741
Mental Health America (MHA): MHA offers resources, information, and online screening tools to assess mental health concerns.
Website: https://www.mhanational.org/
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): NIMH provides information on mental health conditions, including depression, and conducts research to advance the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses.
Website: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
Substance Addiction Help: 
Find a treatment centre: https://findtreatment.gov/
https://www.help.org/drug-abuse-hotline/
Family Support: https://al-anon.org/
 
 

The Butterfly Effect with Atousa Raissyan

In this episode we'll listen to Atousa's story and her metamorphasis from living in fear to living in Love.  She has also written the book Change yourself, change the world available on Amazon.  It's a concept we all nod along to, but let's be real, putting it into practice is no walk in the park. Atousa's got this serene, loving vibe about her that's infectious, and like all our guests, she's here to drop some wisdom gathered from her journey.  
Let’s go out and find the magic in our lives and and live from a place of love versus fear.  Remember to be kind your don’t know what others are going through.
Everything about Atousa..
Websites:
www.atousaraissyan.com
Soulysticartshop.com
 
Book On Amazon: Change Yourself Change The World: Transform your life from fear-based living to choosing love and seeing magic the US link is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CF7HPW7N
 
Instagram: @atousar and @soulystic and @belove_seelove
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Youtube
LinkedIn

Everything is Made Up with Anna Przy

Today We've got a tik tok superstar in our midst, none other than the fabulous Anna Przy, making her grand return to the Trusted friend podcast!
Get ready to dive headfirst into a whirlwind of chatter—from dissecting the latest binge-worthy TV shows like Love is Blind and Bachelor, to uncovering the secrets behind Anna's sensational book, "Keep It Up Cutie," and her uproarious comedy show tour. Oh, did I mention her TikTok fame? With almost 700,000 followers and viral videos galore, she’s not your typical social media maven, she brings the reality to the reels she creates.
Anna's authenticity is rare and She's on a mission to spread hope, lighten burdens, and sprinkle joy  Our chat is a reflection of her life, from navigating ADHD to the birth of her book and her comedy show tour.
Anna's comedy show, "Keep It Up Cutie," is hitting the road faster than you can say "road trip." 
They say laughter is the best medicine, and Anna is your prescription for a daily dose of hilarity. She takes the pressures we all feel and hilariously flips them on their head, leaving you wondering why you ever took life so seriously in the first place!
See Trusted Friend Website for all things Anna
Anna's Website
Anna's Book "Keep It Up Cutie"
Anna's Tour Dates/Tickets

Heartache to Healing with Tara Prater

Tara shares her powerful story in the form a testimony, appreciating and recognizing God in her journey of healing.  Through childhood sexual abuse leading to eating disorder to later on in life dealing with infidelity of her husband and later her personal journey with infidelity and working through even more family traumas.  Through all her peaks and valley's she came to understand the power of using God has her companion and help mate.  She's inspiring, funny and a truth teller in hopes of helping other women who travel her similar road.
Tara Prater is the creator of FUELED BY GOD coaching services as well as the FUELED BY GOD coach certification. As a faith based integrative health practitioner, Tara’s mission is to spread God’s truth and power to overcome emotional eating and hormone imbalances.  While spreading God’s truth, Tara guides women to holistic health, purpose and security.
With a Christ-centered focus, Fueled By God not only leads women to physical health but also spiritual, emotional and financial.
Personally through my faith based approach I have overcome emotional eating, adult onset bulimia, hormone imbalances specifically pre diabetes and insulin resustance, and continue to heal from childhood sexual abuse. 
FUELED BY GOD:  Preparing women’s earthly bodies for their heavenly bodies RAISED IN POWER.
Website
Instagram
Facebook

Double Exposure with Stephanie Shanks

In this episode, join Stephanie, a seasoned portrait photographer, as she opens up about the extraordinary journey that shaped her into the resilient woman she is today. Stephanie candidly shares the challenges of discovering her pregnancy with twins during high school, navigating the complexities of raising two children  —one of whom lives with the challenges of Cerebral Palsy.
As she weaves her narrative, Stephanie shares the chapters of her life, recounting the decision to marry, the eventual need for divorce, and the heartbreaking process of leaving behind the children she had come to love as her own. Through the highs and lows, Stephanie emerged from these trials stronger and more determined than ever.
Now a thriving professional photographer, Stephanie has found her sweet spot in life. Tune in to this inspiring episode as she reflects on resilience, personal growth, and the transformative power of pursuing one's passion against all odds. Stephanie's story is a testament to the strength that can be found within, even in the face of life's most challenging twists and turns, and the extreme importance of loving oneself.
This episode is such an example of we all need love, support and understanding and the people around us that believe in us and push us to succeed and love unconditionally.
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Beyond the Blueprints with Holly McNeill

Step into the architectural world of Holly McNeil, where at 26, she found herself at the helm of the largest historic preservation project in the state, navigating construction sites with a confidence larger than life. With projects from the cancer hospital in Stanford to the Holy Mosque hospital project in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where they literally moved a mountain to create a breathtaking view of the mosque from the hospital. Beyond the blueprints, Holly's life seemed picture-perfect—a beautiful home, loving husband, adorable children, and a circle of great friends. But behind the scenes, she was building a facade to conceal a profound void.At 34, the meticulously constructed world came crashing down, exposing the raw truth Holly had been hiding. As an architect, she had followed in her father's footsteps, unknowingly echoing the absence she felt since she was seven. Join us as Holly unravels the layers of her life, exploring the fallout of her parents' divorce and the attempt to fill the void with an alienated stepfather.The journey from a seven-year-old hearing the heartbreaking words "your father doesn't love us anymore" to seeking love from her stepfather who horribly crossed those boundaries, taking advantage of her vulnerability and desire to be loved.  Holly bares her soul, sharing the struggles of navigating familial alienation and the impact it had on her perception of love.Listen as Holly transforms her narrative from a shattered world to becoming the mindfulness architect she is today.
Follow her journey on Instagram (@perlovewhollymcneill), Facebook (@PERLOVEwhollymcneill), and YouTube (@PERLOVEwhollymcneill).

Unstoppable with Danielle Cobo

Join us for an extraordinary episode as we listen to the life’s experiences of Danielle Cobo, the former Fortune 500 Senior Sales Manager known for instilling grit, resilience, and courage in others. Beyond her professional success, Danielle opens up about the profound impact of her tumultuous childhood, including being kidnapped by her mother, which severed her connection with her father, shaping her unique perspective on love.
As we fast-forward through Danielle's journey, witness the highs and lows that shaped her indomitable spirit. From the joyous and dramatic birth of her twin boys to the challenges of postpartum struggles, Danielle faced an unimaginable series of events, including her mother's tragic suicide and her husband's deployment as a Blackhawk pilot in Iraq.
The intensity of these life-altering experiences reached a peak when a Category 4 hurricane struck, leaving Danielle without power in the sweltering heat. Amidst this chaos, her infant son required a heart monitor, adding to the already overwhelming challenges she faced. Discover how Danielle's resilience and determination shone through as she navigated this perfect storm of adversity.
In the midst of these trials, Danielle made a bold choice to prioritize her own happiness and embarked on an unstoppable journey of self-discovery. Fueled by her own experiences, she now dedicates herself to helping others reach their goals and discover their "why." Tune in to learn how Danielle's unwavering spirit transformed adversity into a catalyst for positive change, and how she emerged stronger, more determined, and committed to empowering others to overcome their own challenges.
Join us for this riveting episode of "Unstoppable" where Danielle Cobo shares her remarkable journey of resilience, her desire to share her experiences and knowledge in her new book Unstoppable Grit coming out Wednesday, February 21st.  See links below.
 
Danielle Cobo
Unstoppable Grit Book Buy HERE

Tackling Life's Challenges with Eileen Noyes

 
In this episode, we tackle the story of Eileen Noyes, a woman who has experienced the highs and lows of life in the spotlight as the wife of an NFL football player. From the glitz and glamour to the struggles of identity and purpose, Eileen opens up about her marriage and divorce, raising eight children, and blending her family with seven stepchildren.
As the author of "Sidelined No More," Eileen sheds light on the often-overlooked challenges faced by wives of high-profile athletes, navigating fame, fortune, and the relentless pressure of the spotlight. Through her own journey of self-discovery and faith, Eileen offers hope and guidance to those who feel lost in the shadows of their spouses' success.
Discover how Eileen found her true identity beyond the role of a football wife, and learn how she helps others do the same through her mentoring, coaching, and the creation of Lady Bellator. From the ashes of a broken marriage to the redemption and renewal of faith, Eileen's story is one of faith, strength, and the power of living in alignment with God's purpose. Join us as we uncover the inspiring tale of a woman who refused to be sidelined by life's challenges and found her voice in the midst of adversity.
Eileen Instagram
Eileen Facebook
Go to Lady Bellator to connect and for updates on events, podcasts, book releases.
 
Upcoming: 
 
Book Release: Rise Up, Lady Bellator— Calling women out of the shadows and into their place of purpose coming in spring of 2024! 
 
Live Event: Rise up and live in the fullness of all you are created for! February 23rd in Green Bay, WI.
 
101 Studios/ Sports Illustrated/ iHeart studios podcast production: 8 episode series of my side of the story — NFL living, cult involvement, escape and overcoming. Launching spring of 2024.