Comfort To Courage

Hosted by Jen Josey

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Oct 2026

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Comfort to Courage Because courage is contagious. Hosted by Jen Josey, the Bestower of Badassery™, Comfort to Courage is a weekly podcast featuring inspiring conversations with people whose bold decisions changed the course of their lives. Every episode proves one simple truth: when one person chooses courage over comfort, it gives someone else permission to do the same. Maybe you're standing at the edge of a decision you've been avoiding: a career change, a business launch, a difficult conversation, a health challenge, or simply the next chapter of your life. Whatever your crossroads, this isn't another motivational podcast built on hustle culture or empty inspiration. It's a collection of honest stories that remind you that stepping into the unknown is not only survivable, it can also be life-changing. Each episode begins with Jen's Badassery Bestowment, a practical mindset lesson designed to help you grow your courage muscle before diving into an authentic conversation with someone who made the leap. Together, you'll uncover the turning point that changed everything, the obstacles they faced, and what they discovered on the other side. Every episode ends with a Courage Challenge: one small, actionable step you can take to move from comfort to courage in your own life. Whether you're navigating entrepreneurship, career transitions, personal growth, recovery, relationships, reinvention, resilience, or simply trying to become the person you know you're capable of being, you'll leave every episode with practical wisdom, renewed confidence, and the motivation to take your next bold step. New episodes every week. Because courage is contagious... and your story could be the one that inspires someone else. Subscribe to Comfort to Courage and start building the life waiting for you on the other side of your comfort zone.

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October 26, 2026Episode 32549 min

325 - Vietnam War Children Reunited: He Found Their American Fathers After 30 Years with Brian Hjort

What would you do if you walked into a park in Saigon and found hundreds of young people your own age living under the trees, rejected by the only country they had ever known, all because of who their fathers were? In 1992, Brian Hjort, a young blacksmith from a small town in Denmark, faced exactly that moment. He met the Amerasians, children born to Vietnamese and Filipino mothers and American servicemen during the Vietnam War, and he made a choice that would shape the rest of his life: he refused to look away. In this powerful episode of Comfort to Courage, Brian takes us from Saigon's Amerasian Park to a violent, overcrowded refugee camp in Bataan, Philippines, where he tracked down a friend with nothing but a photo and a refugee number. With no funding, no internet, and no plan, he typed letters on his parents' typewriter to the US Military Records Center, waited months for answers, and found his first father in Oklahoma. That one reunion grew into Father Founded, a nonprofit that sends DNA tests around the world, reconnects fathers, children, and siblings, and has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and on the BBC. Brian shares the heartbreak of fathers who refuse contact, the joy of a 2018 airport reunion in Houston, and the stubborn "give up doesn't exist" mindset that has carried him for more than three decades. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt a pull toward something bigger than themselves but wondered if they were qualified, funded, or ready enough to start. Brian is proof that you do not need a title, a budget, or a perfect plan to change lives. You just need to say yes to the person standing in front of you. Plus, Jen opens the show with a Badassery Bestowment on managing your time like the asset it is. Hit play, and get ready to rethink what one ordinary person can do. 5 Powerful Takeaways How a 20-something blacksmith with no funding or training found his first American father using only a typewriter, a military records request, and relentless follow-up Why DNA testing through services like 23andMe and Ancestry has become the key to reuniting Amerasians with fathers when names, ages, and addresses were often fake The raw truth about the fathers who block contact, and why Brian says you can find a father but you cannot promise love The unforgettable Houston airport reunion that turned years of dead ends into a true American dream story for three generations Brian's Courage Challenge: seek out people who do not look, think, or live like you, start a conversation, and leave judgment at the door 00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:33 Badass Time Management 04:50 Meet Brian Hjort 06:50 Father Founded Today 09:05 Mission And Who They Help 13:01 Growing Up In Denmark 14:22 First Trip To Saigon 16:59 Amerasian Park Discovery 19:57 Refugee Camp In Philippines 22:24 Finding The First Father 24:18 Early Days No Money 24:52 Shoestring Father Searches 25:54 Media Spotlight Momentum 26:54 When Fathers Refuse 28:47 A Reunion That Changed Lives 32:30 How To Find And Support 34:34 Courage Challenge Comfort Zone 36:04 Badass Book And Advice 38:57 Doubt Aspiration And Strength 45:24 Defining Success And Farewell About the Guest Brian Hjort is the founder of Father Founded, a nonprofit dedicated to helping Amerasians, the children of Vietnamese and Filipino mothers and American servicemen, find the fathers they never knew. Raised in Slagelse, Denmark, and trained as a blacksmith, Brian first encountered Amerasians on the streets of Saigon in 1992 and has spent more than three decades reuniting families across Vietnam, the Philippines, the United States, and Europe. His work has been covered by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the BBC, and media outlets around the world, and he has contributed to documentary films screened at international film festivals. Today he leads a team of staff and volunteers across four countries who send free DNA tests worldwide and help fathers, children, and siblings reconnect. Brian is also building a new YouTube channel sharing human stories from his journey to inspire others to make a difference in their own communities. Resources & Websites Mentioned Father Founded: https://www.fatherfounded.org Brian Hjort on Facebook (search Brian Hjort) Brian's YouTube channel, From Slagelse to Saigon Book: Vietnamerica by Thomas A. Bass Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

October 19, 2026Episode 3241 hr 15 min

324 - She Went From Successful Doctor to Federal Prison - How Dr. Linda Varisco Rose Again

What do you do when the picture-perfect life you spent decades building falls apart, publicly, one piece at a time? Dr. Linda Varisco had it all: a thriving chiropractic practice, a fairy tale marriage, two beautiful kids, and vacations four times a year. Then came the hidden addiction, the betrayal, a car accident that nearly took her son, the death of her husband, a building that bled her dry in the 2009 crash, and a federal sentence of a year and a day after trusting the wrong business partners. In this raw, unfiltered, and surprisingly funny conversation, Dr. Linda takes us through every twist. You'll hear how she wrote her entire trilogy with pen and paper inside a federal prison camp, how her hands earned her the nickname "Doc," and how a Pilates and yoga class she started with two women grew to 27. At 57, a convicted felon who had only ever known chiropractic, she reinvented herself by marketing a plumbing company and doubled its business in a year. Her hard-won lessons hit home: trust your gut, get out of your head and into your body, and remember that your imperfections make you perfect. If you're starting over after divorce, betrayal, grief, financial loss, or a public fall from grace, this episode is for you. Dr. Linda is living proof that a setback is a chapter, not a verdict, and that reinvention after 50 is not only possible, it can lead you to the best version of yourself yet. Press play, and let her show you how to rise from the ashes. 5 Powerful Takeaways Trust your gut, every single time. Dr. Linda felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up in her first meeting with the people who later led to her federal charges. She explains why desperate people make desperate decisions and how to listen to that warning before it costs you everything. Get out of your head and into your body. When the same painful recording plays on repeat every night, she shares the simple shift that breaks the loop, whether that means a walk with music, time in the garden, or anything that moves you out of your thoughts. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. Hear why she forgave her dying husband for everything, and how holding onto that anger would have only made her sick while she was the one left to raise two kids. Your worst season can become your most productive. In ten months of prison, she read 52 books, wrote a trilogy, learned to crochet, and built a fitness community from scratch. Discover how to make the best of a situation you never would have chosen. Starting over at any age is possible when you stop hiding. After her story hit the newspapers, Dr. Linda chose radical transparency. Learn how owning her story, instead of running from it, opened doors and built a support network that helped her rebuild. 00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:23 Gratitude Bestowment 05:06 Meet Dr Linda Varisco 06:58 Books Camp Fed Lessons 08:41 Mr Peaches Goes Viral 11:20 Picture Perfect Life 16:13 Business Betrayal Fallout 18:00 Crack House Discovery 21:42 Caught In The Act 28:54 Car Crash Line In Sand 31:29 Cancer Forgiveness Goodbye 36:22 Financial Crash Aftermath 37:00 Medicare Collapse and City Audit 38:33 Mindset Reset and Body Wisdom 39:54 Risky Clinic Deal and Gut Warning 43:21 FBI Raid and Federal Charges 46:40 Cooperating and Uncovering the Scheme 49:33 Sentencing Shock and Self Surrender 51:41 Prison Survival and Finding Purpose 56:25 Rebuilding After Release 59:28 Phoenix Transformation and Hard Truths 01:03:13 Courage Challenge and Badass QandA 01:11:26 Redefining Success and Closing Out About the Guest Dr. Linda Varisco is a bestselling author, speaker, and former chiropractor who practiced for nearly 30 years in South Florida. Her trilogy, The Girl with the Million Dollar Smile, chronicles the destruction of her personal and professional life and the lessons she gathered in federal prison camp, where she wrote all three books by hand. She now inspires women across the country to rise through adversity, using the phoenix as her guiding symbol of transformation. Known to millions as the woman behind The Life of Mr. Peaches, she has rescued 17 squirrels and has been featured twice by The Dodo after a video of her playing with Mr. Peaches reached 2.2 million views. After her release, she doubled the business of a plumbing company in a single year through marketing and networking. Today she is working toward a TEDx stage, narrating her books on Audible in her own voice, and developing her story for film. Resources & Websites Mentioned Dr. Linda Varisco's website: https://www.lindavarisco.com Instagram and TikTok: The Life of Mr. Peaches The Girl with the Million Dollar Smile trilogy (available on Audible, narrated by Dr. Linda) Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

October 12, 2026Episode 32353 min

323 - A Car Wreck, a Lost Election, and 90 Countries Later with the Dynamic Duo, Dr. Evelyn Kelly and Natalie Kelly

What do you do when one year knocks you down twice? In 1992, Dr. Evelyn Kelly survived a severe car wreck and then lost her race for superintendent of schools by just a handful of votes. Instead of sitting home with the disappointment, she and her daughter Natalie took her husband's advice, left the dogs in his care, and boarded a plane to Europe. That one trip lit a fire that has now carried this mother-daughter team, known as the Dynamic Duo, to 90 countries, all 50 states, and seven continents. In this episode, Evelyn and Natalie share how travel became their lifeline for mental wellness and their favorite way to bust through the comfort zone. You will hear about their whirlwind first trip through 13 countries in three weeks, the seaplane ladder at the Dry Tortugas that Evelyn swore she could not climb, a near belly landing in Israel, and why Antarctica stole the heart of a native Floridian. Natalie, who oversees Florida's behavioral health safety net system, breaks down how to travel on a budget, why organized tours save you time, money, and trouble, and how travel can help delay aging. They also tackle the biggest excuses that keep people home, from "who will take care of the dogs?" to "I'm too old." If you have been telling yourself you don't have the time, the money, or the energy to explore, this conversation is for you. Caregivers, busy professionals, retirees, and anyone stuck in the same daily routine will walk away with practical travel tips and a simple challenge you can act on this week. At 91, Evelyn is chasing 100 countries by her 100th birthday. What is your excuse? 5 Powerful Takeaways Discover how one hard year, a car wreck and a lost election, turned into the first step of a 30+ year travel adventure across 90 countries and seven continents. Learn budget travel strategies you can start today, from cutting the $8 coffees and unused streaming services to using a points credit card you pay off every month to fly first class. Find out why organized tours help you skip the lines, stay safe, avoid costly mistakes abroad, and see more places with less stress. Get the "90-mile radius" strategy that helps you break your daily routine, reduce stress, and support your mental wellness without ever boarding a plane. Hear why age is not a limit, straight from a 91-year-old who plans to visit 100 countries by the time she turns 100. 00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:35 Silence Negative Self Talk 04:12 Meet The Dynamic Duo 06:48 Careers And Credentials 11:26 Travelers At Heart Mission 17:36 1992 Turning Point 22:44 First Europe Tour Lessons 26:19 How They Travel Every Year 28:40 Comfort Zone Breakthrough 30:16 Travel for Wellness 32:39 Budget Travel Strategies 35:24 Why Guided Tours Win 37:59 Favorite Destinations 40:10 Places Not Revisited 41:27 Courage Challenge Action 43:01 Badass Books and Habits 45:05 Advice and Doubt 48:00 Goals Strength Success 51:42 Connect and Wrap Up About the Guests Dr. Evelyn Kelly and Natalie Kelly are the mother-daughter travel team known as the Dynamic Duo and the voices behind Travelers at Heart. Dr. Evelyn Kelly holds a PhD from the University of Florida, a master's degree in religion, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee. She taught educational leadership at four universities, wrote for science publications such as Genetic Engineering News, and has authored 22 books on topics ranging from genetics and stem cells to travel and personal growth. Natalie Kelly holds a master's of science in communications and a bachelor of science in visual arts and communications from Florida State University, and has spent more than 35 years in government affairs, communications, public policy, and executive leadership, including roles in state government and Washington, DC. Today she works with the Florida Association of Managing Entities, overseeing Florida's behavioral health safety net system. Together they have traveled to 90 countries, all 50 states, and seven continents, and they are on a mission to show people that travel is a powerful tool for mental wellness, healthy aging, and a braver life. Resources & Websites Mentioned Travelers at Heart: https://www.travelersatheart.com Have a Love Affair with Travel by Dr. Evelyn Kelly and Natalie Kelly (available on Amazon) Have a Love Affair with the USA by Dr. Evelyn Kelly and Natalie Kelly (available on Amazon) 101 Unusual Diseases by Dr. Evelyn Kelly The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey Atomic Habits by James Clear Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

October 5, 2026Episode 32254 min

322 - From Corporate Finance to Craft Beer: Kristie Nystedt on Betting on Yourself

What if the safest move in your career is the riskiest one? Kristie Nystedt spent more than two decades climbing the corporate finance ladder with zero plans to leave. Then a fourth company merger and her husband's airline filing for bankruptcy hit within two months of each other, and suddenly staying put looked like the bigger gamble. So she walked away from corporate America in 2012 and built Raleigh Brewing Company and ABS Commercial from the ground up, in an industry she had never worked in before. In this conversation, Kristie shares how a basement homebrew hobby and a business plan written for a friend turned into an award-winning North Carolina craft beer brand and a brewing equipment company serving breweries across the United States and overseas. She opens up about building both businesses without investors or borrowed money, learning international trade from scratch, becoming the first female brewer in North Carolina, and helping push the self-distribution bill that was signed right on her bar. She also gets real about the hard seasons: COVID, supply chain disruptions, closing a business, and the tariff hit that forced her to cut her ABS Commercial staff down to about 20 percent. That painful pivot into used and refurbished equipment is now the reason the business is thriving today. And yes, you'll hear the story behind Hell Yes Ma'am, the Belgian Golden born from one non-negotiable request. If you're a woman thinking about starting a business, feeling stuck in a corporate job that no longer feels secure, or worried you've waited too long to start your next chapter, this episode is your permission slip. Kristie proves there's no single timeline for becoming an entrepreneur, and that sometimes the most exciting chapter of your career is the one you decide to create for yourself. 5 Powerful Takeaways Staying isn't always the safe choice. Learn how Kristie weighed the risk of a fourth corporate merger against the risk of building her own businesses, and why she decided to bet on herself. Build the plan before you jump. Kristie developed Raleigh Brewing and ABS Commercial on the side for about two years, running the numbers until she knew she could leave without going bankrupt. Owning your business means owning your numbers. Discover why Kristie refused outside investors, borrowed no money, and believes cash flow, payroll, and branding matter just as much as the product. A painful pivot can save your business. Hear how cutting staff to about 20 percent during the tariff crisis led ABS Commercial into refurbished equipment and a thriving 2026. Confidence and competence are not the same thing. Kristie explains why "fake it till you make it" works, why she doesn't believe in dipping your toes in, and why going all in beats having a plan B. 00:00 Podcast Cold Open 01:23 Badassery Bestowment Consistency 04:15 Meet Kristie Nystedt 07:49 What She's Building Now 09:38 Community Events Taproom Culture 12:11 Study Space Work From Home 14:19 ABS Commercial Global Equipment 16:13 Corporate Finance Life At Allscripts 19:43 Turning Point Toward Brewing 24:44 Launching ABS Commercial Imports 27:41 When Quitting Became Real 28:09 Betting On Ourselves 29:43 Leaving Corporate Behind 30:28 Sabbatical To Startup Mode 31:13 Building Brewery Infrastructure 34:03 Hell Yes Ma'am Origin Story 36:42 Beer Variations And Community 37:34 First Female Brewer And Law 39:42 Surviving COVID And Chaos 42:03 Tariffs Pivot And Layoffs 45:48 Entrepreneur Mindset Advice 47:11 Badass Rapid Fire 51:27 Defining Success And Farewell About the Guest Kristie Nystedt is the founder of Raleigh Brewing Company and the owner and president of ABS Commercial, a brewery and beverage equipment company serving breweries across the United States and internationally. She spent more than two decades in corporate finance, including her final 10 years at healthcare IT company Allscripts, before leaving in 2012 to become a full-time entrepreneur. A year later she opened Raleigh Brewing Company, which has grown into an award-winning North Carolina craft beer brand with taprooms in Raleigh and Johnston County and wholesale distribution. As the first female brewer in North Carolina, Kristie helped pave the way for the self-distribution legislation that lets brewers own their brands longer. Her community leadership has earned her a Lifetime Achievement Award and Businesswoman of the Year honors, and she proves every day that a small-town girl from Marshall, Michigan can build a nationally recognized business. Resources & Websites Mentioned Raleigh Brewing Company (taprooms in Raleigh near NC State and Meredith College, and in Johnston County) ABS Commercial The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown House of Swank, custom shirts by John Pugh Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

September 28, 2026Episode 32138 min

321 - Shame, Not Age, Is Killing Your Sex Life with Dr. Stacy Friedman

What if everything you were told about midlife intimacy was wrong? Most of us were taught that once we hit our 40s and 50s, our sex life quietly fades and that's just the way it goes. Clinical sexologist Dr. Stacy Friedman says the real culprit isn't age at all. It's shame, and it has been running the show in far too many bedrooms for far too long. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Stacy, my very first expert guest on Comfort to Courage, to unpack where that shame comes from and how to break free of it. She explains why shame triggers a physical threat response that shuts arousal down, the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, and why painful sex and erectile changes are among the most fixable issues she sees. You'll hear the story of a woman whose husband asked "where have you been these 30 years?" after she took one small, brave step, plus the simple opening line that gets the intimacy conversation started without pressure or blame. If you're in midlife, in a long-term relationship, or quietly wondering whether the spark is gone for good, this conversation is for you. Dr. Stacy brings clinical expertise, humor, and heart to a topic most people are too embarrassed to raise with their own doctor. You'll walk away with practical strategies to rebuild connection, reignite desire, and have better intimacy now than you did at 25. 5 Powerful Takeaways Shame is a physical threat response. Your cortisol rises and arousal shuts down because your body can't tell the difference between real danger and fear of being judged by the person you love. Low drive doesn't mean no desire. Understanding responsive desire lets you give arousal space to build instead of waiting to feel the way you did at 20. Break out of the "lips, nips, below the hips" routine. Exploring the whole body, touch, and a daily juicy kiss brings back the connection that intercourse alone never will. Open the conversation with connection, not complaints. "I miss feeling close to you" builds intimacy, while "why don't we have sex anymore?" shuts your partner down immediately. Painful sex and erectile changes are not a life sentence. They can point to hormone, heart, or thyroid issues, and they are some of the most fixable concerns when you stop staying silent and get support. 00:00 Courage Is Contagious Intro 01:30 Imposter Syndrome Reset 04:04 Meet Dr Stacey Friedman 07:21 Origins Of Purple Passion 10:04 Midlife Sex Myths 11:57 How Shame Shuts Desire 15:34 Hormones Pain And ED 18:13 Bedroom Strategies That Work 20:17 What Changes On The Other Side 23:33 How To Start The Talk 27:09 Courage Challenge 28:19 Badass Rapid Fire 34:48 Where To Find Dr Stacey 37:13 Final Takeaway And Outro About the Guest Dr. Stacy Friedman is a clinical sexologist, private intimacy advisor, and sex and intimacy coach with more than 26 years in the medical field and over 20 years focused specifically on sexuality. She helps men and women navigate the intimacy challenges that show up in midlife, including hormonal shifts, erectile changes, mismatched sex drives, painful sex, alternative lifestyles, and the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Nicknamed "Dr. Ruth" by her friends in high school, she has built a career on saying what most people are too embarrassed to say out loud. Dr. Stacy is the host of The Purple Passion Project podcast and the author of Confessions and Lessons of a Sexpert . She works with clients around the world online and sees clients in person in Boca Raton, blending medical knowledge with humor and heart to prove that midlife can be the most confident, connected chapter yet. Resources & Websites Mentioned Website: drstacyfriedman.com Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok: @DrStacyFriedman The Purple Passion Project podcast (Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms) Book: Confessions and Lessons of a Sexpert , available on Amazon Free Sex Tips download (16 free guides) at drstacyfriedman.com Vibe Tribe midlife intimacy community at drstacyfriedman.com Free 30-minute discovery call, bookable at drstacyfriedman.com Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

September 21, 2026Episode 32045 min

320 - He Nearly Lost His Legs on a Zoom Call: Scott Hanis on Rebuilding After Rock Bottom

320 - He Nearly Lost His Legs on a Zoom Call: Scott Hanis on Rebuilding After Rock Bottom What do you do when the body you've been ignoring finally forces the conversation? For Scott Hanis, it happened mid-Zoom call: his legs turned black and blue, swelled up like tree trunks, and within hours he was in the ICU fighting blood clots that ran from his toes all the way to his inferior vena cava. Doctors told him he was fortunate to keep his legs, let alone his life. That single afternoon became the line between the version of Scott who was quietly carrying years of abuse, depression, and a drinking habit behind a successful HR career, and the version who decided to finally do something about it. In this episode, Scott, co-founder of Fortitude HR Solutions, opens up about the long road that followed: the year it took before he actually started walking, the 105 pounds he lost, the relapse that came when his mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and the exact date, May 11th, 2024, he put alcohol down for good. He also gets honest about the courage it took to walk away from a secure corporate paycheck and large stock payout to build Fortitude with his wife Laura, and how a single conversation with mentor Tim Bratz changed the direction of his career. This isn't a polished success story. It's a real look at what rebuilding actually costs, and what it gives back. This episode is for anyone who has built a life that looks fine from the outside while something underneath keeps getting ignored: the health scare you're overdue for, the habit you keep promising to quit, the job that's safe but not yours. If you've ever needed proof that you can fall off the wagon and still get back on it for good, Scott's story is that proof. Press play before you find another reason to put yourself last. 00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:18 Badassery Bestowment Boundaries 03:53 Meet Scott Hanis 06:53 Fortitude HR Solutions Explained 12:11 Mergers And Change Management 14:40 Life Before The Wake Up Call 21:30 Near Death Medical Crisis 24:00 Recovery Starts With Steps 25:22 Tracking And Discipline 25:54 Relapse And Mom's Cancer 26:40 Quitting Alcohol Reset 28:21 Turning Point With Wife 30:14 Leaving Corporate Impact 32:00 Wake Up Call Advice 33:19 Courage Challenge Action 35:29 Badass Framework Q And A 41:54 Success Legacy And Outro 5 Powerful Takeaways Why a near-death experience doesn't automatically change your habits, and what it actually took Scott a full year later to start walking to the mailbox and back The exact turning point that broke a cycle of relapse: one honest conversation with his wife that did more than the ICU stay ever did How to protect your mental health by auditing the five people you spend the most time with, and when to walk away without guilt The leadership advice from two different mentors that Scott still uses today to make faster, clearer decisions under pressure Why "helping one person a day" became Scott's daily practice for rebuilding purpose after losing his sense of why he was still here About the Guest Scott Hanis is co-founder of Fortitude HR Solutions, where he and his wife Laura have spent seven years helping small and mid-sized businesses build the people, culture, and leadership systems behind sustainable growth, including guiding one client from $4 million to $50 million in annual revenue. Before starting Fortitude, Scott spent his career in private equity, overseeing HR for more than 1,200 employees across multiple countries and leading complex mergers and acquisitions. He now leads weekly HR and leadership calls for the Legacy Family Mastermind and has volunteered in youth ministry for 21 years. In June 2021, a sudden medical crisis involving blood clots and double COVID pneumonia nearly cost him his legs and his life, setting off a multi-year health and sobriety journey that included a 105-pound weight loss, a public relapse, and sobriety since May 11th, 2024. Grounded in faith and shaped by his own history with abuse and depression, Scott now brings that same fortitude to the leaders and companies he coaches. Resources & Websites Mentioned Website: fortitudehrsolutions.com Facebook: Scott Hanis Instagram: @scottrHanis LinkedIn: Scott Hanis Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

September 14, 2026Episode 31943 min

319 - From 20 Years in Corporate to 90,000 Followers: Nicole Fiorella on AI, Automation, and Betting on Yourself

What happens when the identity you built for two decades stops fitting the life you actually want? Nicole Fiorella spent over 20 years climbing the corporate ladder in pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical talent acquisition, building the kind of career most people would call secure. Then a divorce, a career change, and a location change hit her all at once, not once, but twice in her life, and she chose to rebuild from scratch instead of staying comfortable. In this episode, Nicole breaks down exactly how she turned two decades of corporate systems thinking into a business that now reaches more than 90,000 entrepreneurs and professionals across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. She shares the skill-stacking strategy that gave her an edge as an early adopter of every major platform since 2004, the real financial and emotional cost of walking away from a stable paycheck, and a practical framework for using AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini to find your business's immediate constraint instead of drowning in a to-do list. She also gets candid about the $1,200 lesson that taught her to never post content she doesn't own, and the mindset shift that lets her stay grounded through repeated life upheaval. This episode is for the service-based entrepreneur who feels chained to social media, the corporate professional wondering if there's more, and anyone rebuilding an identity after a major life change. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by AI, unsure how to grow an audience without burning out, or afraid to bet on a new version of yourself, Nicole's story and strategy are exactly what you need to hear right now. 5 Powerful Takeaways Skill stacking, not starting over, is what turns a corporate background into a unique competitive edge in a new industry. Naming your business's single immediate constraint (not trying to fix everything at once) is the fastest path to real progress. Using AI "projects" or custom knowledge bases, instead of one long ongoing chat, keeps your results sharper and your usage costs down. Growing a real audience isn't about chasing virality. It's about consistently solving one specific problem at a time. Protecting your reputation legally and financially before you need to is cheaper than learning the hard way. 00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:22 Badassery Bestowment 04:30 Meet Nicole Fiorella 06:35 Breaking Social Media Chains 08:57 AI Tools And Invisible List 14:01 Leaving Corporate Comfort 19:38 Costs Of Going Solo 21:35 Growing A Following 27:55 AI Automation Workflow 33:49 Courage Challenge 35:05 Badass Rapid Fire 41:31 Where To Find Nicole 42:25 Final Sendoff About the Guest Nicole Fiorella is a business strategist and AI-driven marketing expert who helps service-based entrepreneurs simplify, scale, and reclaim their time through proven ad frameworks and automation systems. Before launching her own business, she spent more than 20 years in corporate strategy, operations, and talent acquisition within the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical industries. Today she mentors service providers, from med spas to creative agencies, on using AI and marketing to generate consistent, high-quality leads without relying on social media around the clock. Her community has grown to more than 90,000 entrepreneurs and professionals across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, with her content regularly reaching tens of thousands of viewers each month. Resources & Websites Mentioned Website: nicolefiorella.com Instagram: @thenicolefiorella YouTube: @nicolefiorella Book: The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher App mentioned: Granola (AI note-taking app) Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday at 6am EST. See you next time.

September 7, 2026Episode 31850 min

318 - From Corporate SVP to Spiritual Practitioner: Dr. Brandon Croud's Courage to Answer a Deeper Calling

318 - From Corporate SVP to Spiritual Practitioner: Dr. Brandon Croud's Courage to Answer a Deeper Calling What happens when you spend 20 years climbing the corporate ladder, checking every box the world told you to check, and then one night a TikTok rabbit hole cracks your entire identity open? Dr. Brandon Croud knows exactly what that feels like. After building a two-decade career in mortgage underwriting and rising to Senior Vice President, while simultaneously becoming a nationally recognized podcast host interviewing NASCAR legends, Brandon walked away from all of it. Not because he failed. Because something deeper finally refused to be ignored. In this episode of Comfort to Courage, Dr. Brandon Croud breaks down what a spiritual awakening actually looks like from the inside, including the moment his young son's fascination with the moon cracked open abilities Brandon had suppressed since childhood. He shares what it really means to reset your nervous system, why inner child healing is the real work beneath every surface-level habit change, and how releasing guilt and regret is the first step toward true abundance. Brandon also unpacks why the five people closest to you are already shaping your ambition, your standards, and your ceiling, whether you've noticed it or not, and what it took to trade a guaranteed paycheck for a life built entirely on purpose. If you're sitting in a job that pays the bills but costs you your soul, this episode is for you. Whether you've been too afraid to follow a calling that doesn't fit neatly on a resume, or you're already deep in a life pivot and need proof that it's possible, Dr. Brandon Croud's story is both permission and evidence. He went from SVP to spiritual practitioner, from corporate certainty to real freedom, and he's here to tell you exactly how he made the leap and what was waiting on the other side. 00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:25 Support System Audit 04:45 Meet Dr Brandon Croud 06:52 Awakened Croud Origins 09:12 Tarot Coaching Offerings 12:32 Alden And The Moon 15:51 Corporate Success Inside 18:41 TikTok To Awakening 21:38 Layoff And Reinvention 24:33 Nervous System Healing 25:34 Resetting Your Nervous System 27:00 Peeling Back Reactions 28:22 Awakening and Inner Child 30:12 Lion's Gate Portal 34:16 Forgiveness and Abundance 36:17 Trust Your True Self 39:24 Courage Challenge Journaling 42:02 Badass Book and Formula 44:05 Advice Doubt and Goals 46:14 Strength Success and Wrap 5 Powerful Takeaways The five people you spend the most time with are already normalizing your standards, your fears, and your comfort zone. Auditing your circle might matter more than auditing your habits. Resetting your nervous system isn't about willpower. It starts with paying attention to how your body reacts to everyday triggers and tracing those reactions back to their origin. Inner child healing is the layer underneath every pattern you can't seem to break. Telling your younger self they're safe is some of the most powerful and underrated work you'll ever do. Releasing guilt and regret isn't about excusing the past. It's the prerequisite to attracting abundance, because the energy you project outward is exactly what gets reflected back to you. Journaling, or speaking out loud if writing isn't your thing, is the fastest way to start hearing your true self clearly instead of all the external noise that's been making your decisions for you. About the Guest Dr. Brandon Croud is an author, speaker, podcast host, business consultant, and metaphysical practitioner who helps people bridge the gap between practical success and authentic living. He spent over two decades leading corporate underwriting teams, rising to Senior Vice President of Credit Underwriting, and simultaneously built a nationally recognized podcast interviewing NASCAR legends and championship crew chiefs. After a profound spiritual awakening, Brandon earned his PhD in Metaphysics and founded The Awakened Croud, a practice offering spiritual coaching, tarot readings, chakra alignment, inner child healing, and immersive local experiences like his signature card charcuterie and champagne nights. He is also the author of the children's book Alden and the Light That Blinked Back, a tool for parents who want to nurture curiosity, wonder, and spiritual awareness in young children. Based in Metro Detroit, Brandon brings a rare combination of corporate credibility, metaphysical depth, and genuine warmth to every conversation. Resources & Websites Mentioned The Awakened Croud: https://www.theawakenedcroud.com Alden and the Light That Blinked Back by Dr. Brandon Croud: available on Amazon The Formula by Bashar/Darryl Anka (book recommendation from the BADASS segment) Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time!

August 31, 2026Episode 31758 min

317 - Robin Reed-Hicks Didn't Wait for Cancer. She Chose a Double Mastectomy and Became a Previvor.

After 25 years of biopsies, scans, and being told to just "keep monitoring it," Robin Reed-Hicks finally asked the question most women are too afraid to ask their doctors: why am I waiting for cancer to show up before I'm allowed to do something about it? In this episode, Robin shares the decision that turned her into a previvor: someone who takes proactive action before a diagnosis ever arrives, not after. Robin walks through the entire arc of her 25 year medical journey, from her first surgical breast biopsy in her early twenties to the moment a doctor told her that a benign diagnosis still carried a 43 percent chance of developing into breast cancer within a decade. She unpacks what it actually took to push past a system that kept telling her to wait and watch, how she advocated for the surgery she wanted instead of the one she was offered, and what nobody tells you about drains, tissue expanders, and rebuilding your body from the inside out. Her story is a masterclass in self-advocacy inside a medical system that isn't always built to move as fast as your instincts. This episode is for anyone who has ever been told to "just keep an eye on it," anyone managing a health scare that keeps circling back, and anyone who has ever doubted their own read on their own body. If you have ever felt dismissed by a doctor or unsure whether your concern was "enough" to push for answers, Robin's story is proof that trusting yourself is not overreacting. It's survival. 5 Powerful Takeaways Why "benign" doesn't always mean safe, and how a specific diagnosis can still carry a double-digit cancer risk How to push back when a provider offers you a smaller solution than the one your situation actually calls for What a preventative double mastectomy really involves, from tissue expanders to nerve-sparing reconstruction How to turn 25 years of medical anxiety into an advocacy platform instead of letting it stay private Why becoming a "previvor" is its own category of courage, separate from a cancer diagnosis or survivorship 00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:25 Badassery Bestowment 02:21 Five Confidence Moves 05:20 Meet Robin Reed Hicks 07:39 Friends And Flashbacks 09:58 Robin Life And Career 13:23 Gluten Free And Hashimotos 15:31 Lets Talk Boobies 16:53 25 Years Of Surveillance 22:01 The Turning Point Biopsy 26:15 Oncologist And Previvor 28:36 Fighting For Approval 30:03 Surgeon Options Decision 30:48 Mastectomy Types Explained 32:08 Nipple Sparing Risks 34:00 MRI Changes Surgery Plan 35:00 Stage One Lumpectomy Lift 36:51 Double Mastectomy Expanders 37:31 Drains Sensation Recovery 39:32 Exchange Surgery Complications 40:42 Relief Life After Surgery 41:38 Portraits Of Hope Advocacy 45:13 Advice Self Advocacy 47:42 Badass Rapid Fire 55:07 Success Contentment Closing About the Guest Robin Reed-Hicks is a communicator, executive and life coach, real estate professional, voice actor, actress, spokesperson, MC, and content creator who has spent more than 25 years helping people move forward with confidence, clarity, and purpose. She is an ICF associate certified coach who works with executives and individuals through her coaching practice, and she is coming up on 25 years as a working real estate professional. She also hosts the YouTube channel Cook With Me Gluten Free, built around accessible, joyful gluten-free living. After more than two decades of breast biopsies, surgeries, and scans, Robin chose a preventative double mastectomy and reconstruction, becoming a previvor, and was selected as one of only 12 Portraits of Hope ambassadors through the American Cancer Society. Resources & Websites Mentioned https://bookcoachrobin.com YouTube channel: Cook With Me Gluten Free https://knowyourlemons.com Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

August 24, 2026Episode 31641 min

316 - From Burnout to Betting on Herself: Kim Kelly on Leading Under Pressure

From Burnout to Betting on Herself: Kim Kelly on Leading Under Pressure What happens when the version of you that looks the most successful on paper is actually the most unwell you've ever been? Kim Kelly spent two decades advising Fortune 500 companies, leading global teams, and making decisions with hundreds of millions of dollars riding on the outcome. From the outside, it looked like she had it all figured out. On the inside, she wasn't sleeping, wasn't eating, and was waking up at 2am in a full-blown panic, until her body forced her to stop. In this episode, Kim opens up about the medical leave that became the turning point of her life and the four-pillar Lead Under Pressure Framework she built out of it: seeing clearly, owning your state, aligning to what matters, and executing with discipline. She shares what it actually looked like to rebuild trust with herself, why she believes endurance is built alone but resilience is built with others, and the exact moment she decided to leave a stable, high-paying career to launch her own consulting practice, AVENNI, named after her two children. Jen also delivers a bonus Badassery Bestowment on making faster decisions, a skill Kim herself puts directly into practice. This episode is for the high-achiever who is quietly running on fumes and calling it dedication, the leader who has confused pushing through with actually being okay, and anyone standing at the edge of a career pivot they haven't given themselves permission to make yet. If you've ever needed someone to tell you that slowing down is not the same as falling behind, this conversation is your permission slip. 5 Powerful Takeaways Why "endurance built alone" and "resilience built with others" are two completely different things, and which one is actually sustainable long-term The four-pillar Lead Under Pressure Framework Kim uses to help leaders make clear-headed decisions without burning out How Kim went from a private medical leave to launching her own company in a single week, and what finally made the leap feel possible A simple gratitude-based practice for the exact moment you wake up at 2am spiraling about everything you have to do Why treating every decision like it's permanent is quietly draining your confidence, and how to tell which ones you can actually reverse 00:00 Courage Is Contagious Intro 01:27 Badassery Bestowment Decisions 02:32 Five Ways to Decide Faster 05:30 Meet Kim Kelly 07:54 AVENNI Mission And Name 09:41 Corporate Success Burnout 13:22 Medical Leave Turning Point 15:43 Building Resilience With Others 20:26 Leaving Corporate, Starting AVENNI 23:43 Lead Under Pressure Pillars 29:38 Advice For Running On Fumes 32:15 Badass Segment Rapid Fire 37:39 Success Definition And Wrap 40:24 Final Sendoff Courage Challenge About the Guest Kim Kelly is a leadership consultant, keynote speaker, and founder of AVENNI, a consulting practice built around her Lead Under Pressure Framework. She spent two decades building and leading global teams inside the workforce solutions industry, advising Fortune 500 organizations on decisions carrying hundreds of millions of dollars in outcomes. After a medical leave forced her to confront how unsustainable her pace had become, Kim combined her background in theater performance with two decades of boardroom experience to build a system for staying clear-headed under pressure. She now works with organizations and leaders, with a particular focus on women and up-and-coming leaders, who are ready to stop white-knuckling their way through stress and start leading through it on purpose. Resources & Websites Mentioned Website: avenniconsulting.com Email: kim@avenniconsulting.com LinkedIn: Kim Kelly AVENNI Instagram: @AVENNI_KimKelly Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday at 6am EST. See you next time!

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