What happens when the woman who appears to “have it all” pulls back the curtain and shares her failures, talks openly about mental health, and dispels the myth that women can have it all?   Meet Roxana Eli: accomplished litigation attorney, devoted mother of two, and the first female elected president in Sephardic Temple's 100-year history. In this raw conversation, Roxana pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to break barriers while staying true to yourself.   In this episode: Failing the bar exam Why "balance" is a myth for working mothers Making history at Sephardic Temple The panic attack that changed everything Being open about therapy and medication Missing her daughter's school event and breaking down Why asking for help is a superpower Mom guilt and how to handle it The power of saying no Why hiring help isn't shameful Being the only woman in the boardroom Mental health in our community This conversation is about more than success. It's about the messy, beautiful journey of becoming who you're meant to be. ✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast   Follow @journeywithritaorg on Instagram to keep building resilience through proven guiding principles, practical tools, and weekly inspiration.   The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice.     References: Follow Roxana Eli on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rox_eli/?hl=en Follow Sephardic Temple on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/sephardictemple/ Connect with Rita @journeywithritaorg and @ritanaffasdesign Visit www.journeywithrita.org for more episodes and resources

When successful litigation attorney Melody Godfred started hallucinating spiders crawling on her walls every night, she knew her body was sending an urgent message: this perfect job with the ocean-view office wasn't her path. In this transformative conversation, Melody shares how she left law to become a poet, author of five books, including "Moon Garden: Poetry for Manifestation," and a voice for women reclaiming their authentic selves. Her journey back to the 9-year-old poet she'd buried under decades of achievement offers profound lessons about listening to our bodies, trusting our intuition, and believing we deserve the life we're meant to live. In this episode: Why did she hallucinate spiders every night as a litigation attorney Following happiness vs. following expectations The art of not filling every moment with distraction Teaching kids to fail without shame Why "superwoman" is a lie we need to abandon Manifestation through moon cycles and nature Lucky girls find parking (and why belief matters) Fighting for thyroid health after years of medical gaslighting How a stranger's DM saved her thyroid Asking for help without shame Vision boarding for intuitive clarity Why vulnerability is a superpower Melody reminds us that resilience isn't just about pushing through—it's about allowing ourselves to evolve, trusting the process of transformation, and believing in what's waiting on the other side.   ✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast   Follow @journeywithritaorg on Instagram to keep building resilience through proven guiding principles, practical tools, and weekly inspiration.   The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice.     References: Follow Melody Godfred on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodygodfred/?hl=en Visit Melody’s website: https://www.melodygodfred.com/ Get "Moon Garden: Poetry for Manifestation" at your favorite bookstore: https://www.melodygodfred.com/moon-garden-poetry Subscribe to Melody's newsletter for weekly inspiration Connect with Rita @journeywithritaorg and @ritanaffasdesign Visit www.journeywithrita.org for more episodes and resources

What happens when a spiritual leader's own faith is shattered by unimaginable loss? And how does community become the thread that holds us together when everything falls apart?   Meet Rabbi Nicole Guzik: Co-Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, the first woman to hold that role in the congregation's 100+ year history, licensed therapist, mother of three, and my dear friend. In this deeply personal conversation, Rabbi Guzik opens up about the role of faith in building resilience and shares the story of losing her close friend in her twenties—a loss that tested everything she believed about God.   In this episode: Why faith becomes the anchor for some and a struggle for others The difference between transactional faith and unconditional love How to find your way back to faith after feeling abandoned by God The story of Abraham and the stars—your pain is real, but there is more to your story than you can imagine Rabbi Guzik's journey from small-town synagogue kid to co-senior Rabbi and therapist Losing her friend, Hannah, to a drunk driver during Rabbinical school Coming together as a community to heal How shared pain creates bonds that hold us like family Why loneliness has become a plague in our post-COVID world The role of community in healing and rebuilding faith Coffee addiction, baking as meditation, and 90210 binges Why being open and vulnerable is essential to finding strength This conversation is about more than faith. It's about the messy, beautiful journey of finding your way back to hope when life breaks your heart. ✨Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated with you! Use hashtag #JourneyWithRitaPodcast   Follow @journeywithritaorg on Instagram to keep building resilience through proven guiding principles, practical tools, and weekly inspiration.   The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice.     References: Follow Rabbi Guzik on Instagram @rabbiguzik https://www.instagram.com/rabbiguzik/ Follow Sinai Temple on Instagram @sinaitemple: https://www.instagram.com/sinaitemplela/ Learn more about Sinai Temple Mental Health Center at https://www.sinaitemple.org/ Connect with Rita @journeywithritaorg and @ritanaffasdesign Visit www.journeywithrita.org for more episodes and resources

Welcome to Journey with Rita: Building Resilience Together! This is me, Rita Naffas, sharing the deeply personal story behind why I created this podcast and what it means to me to build resilience together with you.