#270: When the Commute Disappears, So Does Your Health

What if your story, the one you've been too afraid to tell, is exactly the credential someone else needs to see to believe their own transformation is possible? Five years ago, Cathy Derksen walked away from a corporate career that was quietly destroying her health and walked straight into her purpose. Today, as the founder of Inspired Tenacity, she helps midlife women step into new possibilities by doing something remarkably powerful: sharing their stories in print and becoming published, international bestselling authors. In this conversation with Dr. Terri Levine, Cathy pulls back the curtain on her collaborative multi-author book model, a community-driven, globally-reaching platform where 20 women from around the world each contribute a chapter, hit #1 international bestseller, and donate all proceeds to non-profit. The result? Doors open that women didn't even know existed. You'll hear why becoming a published author can transform your authority and income faster than almost any other visibility strategy, what holds midlife women back from sharing their stories (and how to move through it), and how to stop living by default and start designing the next chapter of your life at any age. If you've ever thought "my story isn't important enough" — this episode will change your mind.  

Marc Mawhinney has been in the trenches of the coaching world since 2014. He's the founder of Natural Born Coaches, host of nearly 1,000 podcast episodes, and the man behind the Coaching Jungle, a powerhouse Facebook community now 30,000+ strong. In this episode, Marc and Dr. Terri Levine pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a coaching business that survives the hard seasons. They break down why coaches burn out or disappear, the dangerous myth of instant riches, how to grow and monetize a community the right way, and why being squeamish about money might be the #1 thing holding you back. Plus Marc shares the three questions every coach must answer to guarantee success.

What does it take to build a thriving writing community from scratch starting with just 35 names on an AOL mailing list? In this episode, Dr. Terri Levine sits down with B. Lynn Goodwin, award-winning author, editor, and founder of Writer Advice (writeradvice.com), a global e-zine she's been running since 1997. Lynn shares how a simple ask, "Can I have your mailing list?", and launched a 25+ year journey of supporting writers at every stage. From running 4 writing contests a year with personal feedback for every single entrant, to interviewing over 100 authors, Lynn has built something rare: a community that genuinely serves writers over fame or profit. You'll hear Lynn's take on the three types of publishing, why your story matters, and her no-nonsense advice for writers who are sitting on work they're too afraid to share. Plus, her own books, including her National Indie Excellence Award-winning memoir Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62… proof she walks the talk. If you're a writer, an aspiring author, or someone with a story to tell, this episode is for you. Connect with Lynn: www.writeradvice.com  

Remote work took away the commute, the lunch break, and the line between work and life. It also took away the structure that quietly kept you healthy. Nadine Brown, founder of Wellnessmarksol, managed teams for almost 30 years before she hit her own wall. In this episode she tells Dr. Terri Levine what breaks first for remote leaders, why isolation never shows up on a spreadsheet, and why self-care has to come before strategy. Terri shares her own wake up moment, including the day a board member demanded she cut a bathroom break short, and the calendar rule she has used ever since. You will hear the simple daily habits that change how a manager feels within a month, why older remote workers are the group corporate wellness keeps overlooking, and how a manager builds boundaries that actually hold. Listen if you are running on empty and calling it normal.  

The people pleaser. The overachiever. The good one. The quiet one. Sarah Dawkins says none of that is your personality. Those are adaptations you made as a child and never put down, and they are costing you your sleep, your energy, and your body. Sarah spent her career as a registered nurse until one colleague challenged one belief and sent her looking for everything her training never covered. She went on to write Heal Yourself, which tells her story alongside 74 people who share how they found their way back, and she now coaches midlife professional women who are burned out, in pain, and not sleeping. In this conversation, she explains why successful women chase separate fixes for insomnia, exhaustion, and pain when all three trace back to one root cause. She names the sick role almost nobody wants to admit they are comfortable in. She reveals what she asks a client to move her from symptom chasing to the real story underneath. And she poses the question that stops high achievers cold: what would happen if you set a boundary, said no, and chose yourself first? Free Resource from Sarah Dawkins Have you ever wondered what being "good" has cost you? Discover how intelligent adaptations may have shaped who you've become and gain a deeper understanding of yourself. Explore Sarah's free resource here: https://sarahdawkinshealth.eo.page/what-did-being-good-cost-you Find Sarah at https://www.sarahdawkins.com Dr. Terri opens up about her own wheelchair years with reflex sympathetic dystrophy and the morning she woke up and declared the pity party over.    

Tom Le Noble has lived more than most people could dream of, from leading HR at Walmart.com and setting up Facebook's first customer operations as one of its first 75 employees, to surviving metastatic cancer three times after being told he had 6 months to live. Today, Tom is a confidential advisor to founders and executives, CEO of the 24-year-old Academy for Coaching Excellence, and author of the upcoming book Morning Ground. In this rich and honest conversation, Tom and Dr. Terri Levine explore what it means to live fully in the present moment, the power of a daily grounding practice, what's broken in the coaching industry, and Tom's powerful three-phase framework: Living Fully While Dying. If you've been racing through life without stopping to breathe, this episode will stop you in your tracks.

After 25 years in corporate, Julie DeLucca-Collins didn't just survive an unexpected layoff that she used it as the catalyst to build a bold, aligned business. In this episode, Julie shares how she went from fear-based waiting to intentional action, why women get stuck in the "white noise of life," and the two practical tools she uses to run her business without sacrificing what matters most. If you've been waiting for the "right time" to bet on yourself, this episode is your sign.

What if the secret to elite leadership was already inside you — you just haven't found it yet? In this episode, leadership speaker and coach Michael Esposito joins Dr. Terri Levine to unpack how aligning your passion with your talent isn't just life advice — it's a business strategy. Michael shares his journey from corporate roles to launching his groundbreaking Elite Playmakers Academy, where executives learn leadership frameworks on the basketball court. If you've ever felt like work shouldn't feel this good — this episode will change your mind.  

In this episode, Elysia Skye shares how spiritually-minded entrepreneurs and creatives can stop second-guessing themselves and start building a life and business that feels aligned, easeful, and true. We explore the power of intuition, clearing internal blocks, and activating your zone of genius so visibility, confidence, and impact become natural. If you know you're meant for more but have been holding back, this conversation will show you how to step fully into your brilliance and take bold, aligned action.

In this conversation, Kim Carson-Richards breaks down what actually moves a purpose driven business from scattered effort to consistent revenue. We explore how entrepreneurs can stop chasing tactics, clarify their message, and build simple systems that convert without burnout. If you want your marketing to reflect your values while still producing real income and impact, this episode will challenge how you think about growth and show you what to do instead.