What if healing doesn’t come from fighting your way through grief but from accepting what is, one honest step at a time?

In this powerful episode of Finding Your Fierce, host Carolyn Colleen sits down with John DeDakis: award-winning novelist, writing coach, and former Senior Copy Editor for CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer to explore the quiet, courageous work of healing through loss.

John shares the pivotal moments that shaped his life: facing an existential crisis as a young man during the Vietnam War draft, choosing acceptance over resistance, and discovering only in hindsight that grief had been woven through his writing for decades. What began as storytelling became an unintentional path to healing, clarity, and purpose.

Together, Carolyn and John reflect on why healing is often gradual, why it’s only visible in the looking back, and how creative expression, whether through writing, art, or reflection, can help us process grief without forcing outcomes. This conversation reframes fierceness not as pushing harder, but as the strength to surrender, listen, and trust what’s unfolding.

If you’re navigating grief, transition, or a season of deep uncertainty, this episode offers a compassionate reminder: acceptance can be one of the fiercest acts of healing there is.

Links and Resources:

1. Dr. Carolyn Colleen Website
2. Join RESET: a free daily reset for clarity, calm, and intentional living.
3. John on LinkedIn
4. Upcoming Retreat with John DeDakis: Writing Through the Pain of Loss

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Finding Your Fierce? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

What if chronic pain isn’t just physical? In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Brianna Greenspan—inspirational author, speaker, and CEO of Brianna Greenspan International (BGI)—shares her powerful journey of overcoming debilitating symptoms and unimaginable suffering to reclaim her life. As a global leader in educational training, tools, and support, Brianna reveals the unexpected truths about fostering a growth mindset and the catalyst moments that change everything. From navigating a lifetime of medical complications to discovering the transformative power of self-resourcing, she shares how she moved from a state of being "complete" to finding her fierce. If you've ever felt stuck in a cycle of pain and limiting beliefs, this episode will challenge what you think you know about healing and empower you to take control of your future.

Chapters:

1. 00:00:00 - Meet Brianna
2. 00:01:45 - Living in the Fire: Leading While Managing Complex Illness
3. 00:03:30 - Radical Authenticity: Choosing Visibility Over Hiding
4. 00:04:40 - Polished vs. Real: Letting Go of Perfection
5. 00:06:15 - A Critical Neurosurgery Appointment
6. 00:07:00 - Childhood in Crisis: Early Medical Trauma
7. 00:08:15 - Hitting the Breaking Point: Losing Basic Functions
8. 00:10:45 - A Call That Changed Everything: Losing Her Best Friend
9. 00:11:45 - From Despair to Curiosity: Asking What Else Is Possible
10. 00:12:45 - New Paths to Healing: Shortening Symptoms from Months to Minutes
11. 00:14:40 - Turning Pain into Purpose: A Global Impact

Links and Resources:

1. Dr. Carolyn Colleen Website
2. Join RESET — Private Community (Limited Spots)
3. Brianna Website
4. Brianna on Linkedin

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Finding Your Fierce? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

What if chronic pain isn’t just physical? In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Patricia Nesler, a chronic pain specialist, shares her powerful journey of overcoming fear, trauma, and physical suffering to reclaim her life. From navigating a traumatic birth experience to discovering the mind-body connection in healing, Trish reveals the unexpected truths about pain, resilience, and the power of self-awareness. If you've ever felt stuck in a cycle of stress and symptoms, this episode will challenge what you think you know about healing and empower you to take control of your body and your future.

Chapters:

1. 00:00:00 - Pain Isn’t Your Enemy—It’s a Messenger
2. 00:00:45 - Welcome to Finding Your Fierce: Meet Trish Nesler
3. 00:02:22 - Trish’s Story: From Struggle to Strength
4. 00:03:36 - Healing Through Vulnerability: The Power of Alchemy
5. 00:04:10 - Breaking Free: How Trish Helps People Overcome Chronic Pain
6. 00:05:17 - Parenting, Trauma, and the Stress We Carry
7. 00:05:55 - A Birth Experience That Changed Everything
8. 00:07:13 - When the Body Breaks Down: Searching for Answers
9. 00:14:07 - Unlocking the Mind-Body Connection
10. 00:15:22 - How Repressed Emotions and Anger Manifest in Pain
11. 00:16:58 - The Hidden Impact of the Fawning Response
12. 00:18:46 - How to Recognize and Overcome Fawning
13. 00:19:54 - Why People-Pleasing Might Be Holding You Back
14. 00:21:04 - The Science of Pain: Amygdala, Fear, and Social Exclusion
15. 00:22:29 - How Your Brain Shapes Your Pain Experience
16. 00:26:07 - Somatic Healing: Moving Beyond the Pain Cycle
17. 00:35:20 - The BFF Framework: Breathe, Focus, Take Fierce Action
18. 00:40:55 - Healing, Connection, and Reclaiming Your Power

Links and Resources:

1. Join RESET — Private Community (Limited Spots)
2. Peaceful Warrior Website
3. Greenhouse Holistic Co-op Center
4. Trish on

Carolyn sits down with Pam Dunwald, a veteran nurse turned fierce advocate for aging adults. With over 40 years in healthcare, Pam has seen it all—families lost in medical jargon, patients overlooked, and a system that often forgets its most vulnerable. She shares moments from challenges she faced standing up in a broken system, and how she found her voice as a nurse advocate. From confronting ageism to fighting for better patient care, Pam’s mission is clear: no one should navigate healthcare alone.

Chapters:

1. 00:00:00 – Empathy: The Superpower We Don’t Talk About Enough
2. 00:00:39 – Kicking Off with Fierce Energy
3. 00:01:33 – From Weak Stomach to Fierce Advocate
4. 00:03:49 – A Bingo Hall, A Life-Changing Moment, and a Nursing Career Born
5. 00:06:04 – The Secret to Staying Resilient (Even When It’s Hard)
6. 00:07:42 – Why Aging Adults Deserve More—and How to Fight for It
7. 00:09:17 – The Nursing Stories That Changed Everything
8. 00:11:04 – Spit On, Cursed At, Ignored—The Truth About Being a Nurse
9. 00:14:16 – Want to Be an Advocate? Here’s What You Need to Know
10. 00:20:08 – How to Find Your Fierce in 5 Minutes at a Time
11. 00:24:43 – The Self-Assessment Trick That Changes Everything
12. 00:27:14 – The Final Word: One Fierce Mission, One Powerful Legacy

Links and Resources:

1. Join RESET — Private Community (Limited Spots)
2. Pam on LinkedIn
3. Your Nurse Advocate Consulting, LLC

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Finding Your Fierce? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Carolyn sits down with Jan Dégallier, a strategic business coach and consultant who transitioned from a long corporate finance career to entrepreneurship. Jan shares how she stepped away from a secure, traditional path to build a business centered on helping entrepreneurs and small business owners understand their numbers and make evidence-based decisions. She explains the power of tools like scorecards and weekly metrics in driving clarity and growth. Carolyn and Jan discuss resilience, faith, and the importance of staying uncomfortable to keep growing. Jan’s story is a testament to taking bold action, embracing curiosity, and building a business rooted in purpose and clarity.

Chapters

1. 00:00:00 – When Safe Isn’t Secure: The Moment Jan Stepped Off the Traditional Path
2. 00:01:02 – Behind the Numbers: Meet Jan Dégallier
3. 00:01:36 – Audit to Awakening: A 30-Year Career in Retrospect
4. 00:02:47 – Faith vs. Fear: The Decision That Changed Everything
5. 00:03:26 – Know Your Numbers, Know Your Future: Jan’s Mission for Entrepreneurs
6. 00:09:02 – The Scorecard Revolution: Measuring What Truly Matters
7. 00:15:11 – Accountability Partners Aren’t Just Buzzwords – They’re Lifelines
8. 00:16:41 – Resilience, Faith, and the Relentless Pursuit of Growth
9. 00:19:09 – The Pause Before the Leap: Wrapping Up with Jan Dégallier

Links and Resources

1. Join RESET — Private Community (Limited Spots)
2. Jan on LinkedIn
3. Catipult
4. Dégallier Leadership Solutions

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Finding Your Fierce? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Holly Hibbard is an expert in emotional intelligence, relationships, mindfulness, and leadership, and she has a coaching and consulting practice. She is sharing her story about moving from survival mode to a forward-looking visionary mindset. Carolyn and Holly discuss how asking the right questions—not just of others but of yourself—can lead to profound breakthroughs. Holly shares her knowledge from her leadership training and life lessons, pointing out the importance of making sure you know what you’re running toward and how to trust yourself along the way. This conversation will teach you how to find strength, clarity, and connection in life’s tough moments.

Chapters

1. 00:00:00 - The Quest for Authentic Connection Begins
2. 00:00:59 - Cracking Open Fierce Conversations
3. 00:01:53 - Who is Holly Hibbard? A Catalyst for Change
4. 00:04:32 - Unlocking Life’s Hidden Answers
5. 00:07:41 - From Hardship to Hero: Discovering Fierce
6. 00:10:33 - The Pessimist’s Leap to Visionary Thinking
7. 00:14:12 - Breaking the Pessimist’s Cycle
8. 00:18:45 - Fierce Action: Moving One Yard at a Time
9. 00:23:19 - The Hidden Power of Small Wins
10. 00:27:07 - Defining Success: What Do You Want?
11. 00:30:51 - Reclaiming Self-Trust in a Doubtful World
12. 00:37:15 - The Final Word: Fueling Connection and Growth

Links and Resources

1. Join RESET — Private Community (Limited Spots)
2. Holly on LinkedIn
3. Holly on Instagram
4. 30 Done-for-You Social Media Content Ideas
5. The Holly Hibbard Show
6. YouTube
7. LinkTree

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Finding Your Fierce? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on

Jeff Lindley shares his remarkable journey from a 25-year career in construction to founding his own bookkeeping and CFO services business for tradespeople. Jeff opens up about the years he spent paralyzed by fear of failure, the pivotal moments that sparked his leap into entrepreneurship, and the unrelenting drive that keeps him moving forward. He delves into the power of clear processes, digital tools, and vision boards to empower small business owners. Jeff’s story is an inspiring reminder that regret often outweighs the risk of failure—and that freedom comes from taking charge of your own future.

Chapters

1. 00:00:00 - Fear’s Grip and Breaking Free
2. 00:00:23 - Welcome to Finding Your Fierce
3. 00:00:48 - A Blue Collar Visionary
4. 00:01:52 - Balancing Family and Bold Decisions
5. 00:02:31 - The Spark Behind Jeff’s Bookkeeping Business
6. 00:03:37 - Facing Challenges and Claiming Wins
7. 00:06:39 - How Processes Can Save Your Business
8. 00:10:32 - Staying Inspired in the Face of Doubt
9. 00:17:49 - Vision Boards: Mapping Dreams into Reality
10. 00:22:34 - Parting Wisdom: Living Without Regret

Links and Resources

1. Join RESET — Private Community (Limited Spots)
2. Jeff on LinkedIn
3. JL Bookkeeping Design

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Finding Your Fierce? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Cathy Christen is an author, speaker, coach, and entrepreneur here to share her journey where she overcame challenges early on and began to thrive in business and life. She talks about the power of mentorship, community, and intentional living. She also explains how embracing collaboration shifted her approach to success. Cathy lets us in on the tools and strategies she’s used to get through difficult transitions, balance work and personal life, and empower others to find their own path.

Chapters

1. 00:00:00 - A Spark of Growth: What Begins the Journey
2. 00:00:30 - Stepping Into Fear: The Start of Something Bold
3. 00:01:00 - Meet Cathy: A Story of Strength and Resilience
4. 00:02:33 - The Road Less Traveled: Early Struggles That Define Us
5. 00:04:16 - The Unseen Force: Mentorship and Connection
6. 00:08:11 - Crossing the Bridge: Tools for Life’s Transitions
7. 00:14:47 - The Juggling Act: Balancing Work, Passion, and Life
8. 00:18:43 - Breaking Barriers: Women Leading the Way
9. 00:25:58 - Find Your Tribe: The Power of Community
10. 00:31:55 - Looking Ahead: Kathy’s Vision for Tomorrow
11. 00:35:02 - Final Words: A Reflection on Courage

Links and Resources

1. Join RESET — Private Community (Limited Spots)
2. Cathy Christen
3. Cathy on LinkedIn
4. Cathy on Instagram
5. Goals + Greatness Unleashed Podcast
6. Goals + Greatness on YouTube
7. GoBundance Women

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Finding Your Fierce? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!