If life is starting to feel a little too predictable, Melissa Rodway is your reminder that you can choose a new challenge on purpose. In this episode, Melissa shares why she signed up for a stand-up comedy class just for fun (and how much work it really takes to earn a laugh), plus what it was like to self-publish her travel memoir built from the weekly emails she wrote during a four-month trip through Southeast Asia. She also talks about why the best part of doing hard things is the people you meet along the way, and what she’s going after in 2026.
You don’t hear this side of military life very often: it’s the everyday whiplash of going from a world where everything is decided for you (even your socks) to a civilian life where every tiny choice suddenly feels huge.
Tanya Lakins shares how growing up in a small town as a preacher’s daughter led her to join the Marine Corps, serve for 11 years, and then hit a wall when civilian life felt strangely harder than military life. She opens up about decision fatigue, losing built-in purpose and community, why so many veterans feel “lost” after separation, and how getting support through the VA helped start her recovery. You’ll also hear how she went from struggling to hold a job to building a wellness business that serves others (including veterans), and why she’s stepping into Missouri politics next to push for better veteran support where it’s needed most.
Most people believe success belongs to the smartest, most talented, or most confident people in the room, but this conversation challenges that idea completely. In this episode, Troy Butterfield shares that his life has been shaped not by natural ability, but by resilience, integrity, and the willingness to keep going when quitting would have been easier. He opens up about feeling average in school and sports, taking terrifying financial risks with a young family, navigating commission-only income, unexpected debt, and later facing one of the most devastating challenges an entrepreneur can experience: employee embezzlement that wiped out savings and retirement. Rather than walking away, Troy and his wife chose to rebuild with honesty and faith, eventually creating businesses strong enough to sell. At its core, this conversation is about redefining excellence, learning to value peace, joy, freedom, and contentment over titles or recognition, and recognizing that ordinary people can create extraordinary lives through consistent, intentional choices.
Book: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Troy-Butterfield/dp/1965401805
Website: https://excelexponentially.com/
Losing a job can feel like losing yourself, especially when your title has defined you for decades. In this episode of Notable Peeps, Karen Maria Alston shares the most difficult year of her life and how a series of professional losses forced her to confront a question many people avoid: who am I without my job title? After stepping away from a long executive career, watching major events and opportunities dissolve, and sitting in uncertainty longer than she ever expected, Karen explains how faith, self-reflection, and letting go of societal expectations opened the door to reinvention. What began as a season of disappointment became the catalyst for curiosity, learning, and an entirely new path she never imagined for herself. Karen talks candidly about identity, resilience, trusting divine timing, and why being human, not productive or impressive, is where real worth comes from. This conversation is a reminder that hard seasons don’t mean you’re failing, they may be clearing the way for something bigger than you planned.
Website: https://www.karenalston.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenmariaalston
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenmariaalston
After being hit by a car in June 2024, Eleanor Shell’s life changed overnight as a traumatic brain injury reshaped everything about how she thought, moved, worked, and lived. In this episode, she opens up about the depression and anxiety that come with a TBI, the grief of losing the identity and competence she once relied on, and the humbling reality of relearning basic tasks like driving, cooking, reading, and even remembering to brush her teeth. She shares how overwhelming multi-step tasks became, how her nervous system stayed stuck in fight-or-flight, and what it’s like living with an invisible injury most people can’t see. Eleanor also reflects on the drastic shift from her once full, purpose-driven life working multiple jobs she loved, caring for her kids without outside help, and being deeply embedded in her community to now spending much of her time at home recovering. Yet through it all, she has found new purpose in writing, sharing her story, and using her experience to bring awareness to women with brain injuries. Connect with Eleanor: https://www.instagram.com/reclaimingmybrain/#
What if the biggest turning points in your life aren’t actually big at all but small, subtle habits shaping everything beneath the surface? In this episode, James McCambridge, movement coach and founder of Rewire NPT, shares how one two-hour flight changed a lifelong struggle he believed was impossible to overcome.
James opens up about decades spent biting his nails down to painful levels, the bullying that shaped his early years, and how circus arts, acrobatics, and Rubik’s Cubes eventually led him into the world of brain-based movement and habit change. What he discovered about anxiety, coping mechanisms, and the nervous system will completely shift how you view your own daily patterns.
Connect with James : https://www.instagram.com/circustrainer
From the outside, Josh Case looked successful, he built a renewable energy company, sold it to a Fortune 500, and held a major executive role. But behind the scenes, he was a functioning alcoholic, drinking at work, drinking to cope, and drinking to numb trauma he’d never dealt with. In this episode, Josh talks about going to rehab, why sobriety never lasted, and how everything changed when he finally confronted the childhood abuse and codependency patterns driving his addiction. Now sober, rebuilding his life, and running SoberBuzz, Josh shares why, for the first time ever, he no longer has a desire to drink.Connect with Josh
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcase/
Instagram (SoberBuzz):
https://www.instagram.com/soberbuzztoken/
YouTube – SoberBuzz Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@SoberBuzzPodcast
What if the moment you think your life is over becomes the moment you finally rebuild it?
At just 20 years old, Danielle Young walked away from an abusive relationship with nothing but her newborn daughter, a diaper bag, and the clothes on her back. In this episode, she shares how she rebuilt everything from scratch working full-time, finishing her degree at night, healing years of trauma stored deep in her body, and eventually discovering a love that finally felt safe.
Connect with Danielle: inspiredactionwellness.com
What if the moment you feel stuck, plateaued, or completely out of momentum… is actually the moment you’re closest to leveling up?
That’s exactly where , Kam Knight, found himself and he opens up about it in a way that every creator, entrepreneur, and human will feel in their bones.
In this episode, Kam shares the honest truth about plateaus, internal resistance, and what really happens when the brain tries to keep us from growing. From being a left-brained accountant who never imagined becoming an author… to writing 12 books, building a transformational course, and traveling to 100 countries, Kam’s story is a reminder that your next breakthrough often hides inside the slow seasons.
Kam’s work, courses, and books can be found here: http://www.kamknight.com
In this episode of Notable Peeps, Steph talks with Carolina Sotomayor about moving through grief and finding a new way forward. Carolina shares the cascade of losses that followed her father’s death and how that season led to a spiritual awakening, infertility struggles, and an unexpected path to healing through Reiki. She opens up about the realities of complicated pregnancy and birth, processing trauma, and learning to set boundaries around grief. Together they explore the shift from people-pleasing to living in alignment, why upgrades to our lives (and homes) don’t replace inner work, and practical ways to create space for feeling, recovering, and belonging. It’s an honest conversation about resilience, rebuilding identity, and believing in the impossible—one grounded step at a time.Contact Carolina: https://carolinasotomayor.com/
Imagine growing up unable to read then growing into someone whose life revolves around words. That’s William May’s story. Once a child who couldn’t make sense of the page, he is now a published poet.
William talks openly about growing up severely dyslexic, the frustration of trying to read, and the moment a special education teacher, Shirley Cohn, helped unlock that ability for him. As he put it, “I went from not being able to read at all to suddenly being off and running.”
He shares what it felt like to be told as a kid that he “wasn’t intelligent,” how his mother recognized his struggles early, and why handwriting is still physically painful due to dysgraphia. Yet those early challenges didn’t limit him—they shaped him. They gave him a deep love for language, a sense of magic around reading, and ultimately the desire to become a writer.
Some stories carry both heartbreak and healing. In this heartfelt episode of Notable Peeps, Angie Castor shares how a season of unimaginable loss facing cancer, divorce, the death of her oldest son, and the loss of her home and job completely changed the course of her life. For years, she stayed strong and pushed forward, rebuilding from the outside but never truly healing within. It wasn’t until much later, through an unexpected moment on an airplane reading a book about signs from loved ones, that she began to open her heart to spirituality and healing. That moment led her to explore breathwork, dream interpretation, and foot zoning each step helping her reconnect to her body, her intuition, and her purpose. Today, through Blissed Out Heart, Angie helps others heal and rediscover themselves through holistic practices that blend breathwork, energy work, and spiritual connection.
Learn more about Angie’s work at: www.blissedoutheart.com
Instagram: @angie.castor
Website: http://www.blissedoutheart.com
Have you ever dreamed of selling everything you own and traveling the world? That’s exactly what Lauren Gabrielle Foster did. After losing nearly everythingher job, her home, and her sense of purposeshe rebuilt her life from a 250-square-foot apartment to a cabin in the Tennessee mountains. There, she spent ten years in solitude learning how to live with less and love herself more. Then one day, she sold it all again this time by choice and set out to explore the world with only a backpack and a half.
In this episode of Notable Peeps, Lauren shares what it’s really like to live as a modern nomad how she’s traveled to 10 countries, slept in 56 beds, and funded her journey through pet sitting. She opens up about the lessons she’s learned on self-worth, fear, and freedom and how learning to be at peace alone changes every relationship in your life.
Learn More About Lauren: https://myeverydaymagic.substack.com/
When life doesn’t go as planned, how do you keep believing in the impossible? In this powerful episode of Notable Peeps, guest Evelyn LeVasseur shares how she rebuilt her sense of self after heartbreak, loss, and reinvention. From battling infertility to breaking free from the grip of diet culture, Evelyn opens up about how curiosity, compassion, and small daily choices helped her rediscover who she truly is and how she now helps other women do the same.
This conversation is a reminder that identity isn’t fixed it evolves. Whether you’re rebuilding after loss, redefining success, or learning to be kinder to yourself, this episode will meet you right where you are.
Learn more about Evelyn LeVasseur: https://www.evelynlevasseur.com/about
What does it really take to believe in the impossible? In this episode of Notable Peeps, Steph sits down with Jen VanEngelenhoven, a marriage and family therapist who spent 15 years helping individuals and couples strengthen their relationships. Jen opens up about her unlikely path from growing up in rural Missouri where college wasn’t even a thought to earning advanced degrees and building a career that impacted countless families.
She shares the powerful “house analogy” that reshapes how we think about friendships and dating, why conflict is actually a sign of a healthy relationship, and how her faith has helped her push through trials with patience and purpose. And now, after years of guiding others, Jen is pivoting into a new season of her own life exploring a passion for data analytics and research, proving that reinvention is always possible.
Ever wondered how a simple change can transform your life? Join Steph on the Notable Peeps podcast as she chats with Suzanne about her journey to health and consistency. Discover how Suzanne turned her sporadic exercise habits into a steadfast routine with the help of Peloton, and how this change has positively impacted her mental and physical well-being, career, and family life. This episode delves into the power of small, consistent actions and the importance of investing time in oneself.
Connect with Suzanne: ttps://www.instagram.com/suzanne_realtor/?hl=en
Episode on Pod Savvy Guide: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hw9zaavHoqBf6V9OIMMXk?si=0WXe7LZ2S7SmOp-Oxax6Ew
Step into a world of empowerment with Daryl Dudley, the visionary behind "She's My Daughter." Discover how one man's mission to combat violence against women is transforming communities and inspiring men to become heroes in their own homes. From heartfelt stories of fatherhood to the revolutionary Freedom Anthem project, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about making a difference. Tune in and be inspired to take action!
More Information: http://www.shesmydaughter.com/
In this heartfelt episode of the Notable Peeps podcast, host Steph sits down with Melissa Hunt to explore the transformative power of personal development and elder care. Melissa shares her journey from feeling isolated to creating a nurturing environment for seniors, emphasizing the importance of love, care, and community. Discover how Melissa's innovative approach to elder care is reshaping lives and offering a dignified, joyful experience for the elderly. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about making a difference and believing in the impossible.
Learn More: https://eldercaresolutionsgroup.com/melissa-bio-old/
In this episode of Notable Peeps, Richard D. Waldman shares the life lessons that shaped his approach to inner peace and resilience. From a high school gymnastics coach who asked him two simple but life-changing questions, to decades of work in education, coaching, and personal growth, Richard has developed what he calls the Order to Life a clear, visual framework designed to help us move past judgment and into awareness, presence, and conscious choice.
Richard explains how the constant “chatter” in our heads often drags us into past regrets or future fears, keeping us from living fully in the present. He shows why judgment is the root of negativity, how ego needs keep us stuck, and why awareness is the first step toward change.
What happens when you pray, “Thy will be done” and everything in your life turns upside down? In this conversation, Sarah Clark opens up about her journey from living the “dream life” in Washington D.C. working in politics, traveling constantly, and climbing the career ladder to realizing that success on paper left her lonely, unhealthy, and unfulfilled.
She shares how a single prayer asking God to redirect her path changed everything: losing her job, breaking her lease, moving back to Utah, and rediscovering what truly matters. From rebuilding her life in her mom’s basement, starting over in her career, and launching a bold TikTok presence, Sarah’s story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the courage to trust God when life unravels.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by your job, or unsure whether you’re on the right path, Sarah’s journey will remind you that sometimes losing everything is the start of gaining what matters most.
Connect with Sarah: