Women Like Me Stories & Business

Hosted by Julie Fairhurst

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293

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Oct 2026

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🎧 Introducing "Women Like Me Stories & Business" - The Inspiring Business and Story Podcast by Julie Fairhurst! 🎙️ Julie Fairhurst is a speaker, movement leader, and the force behind Women Like Me. She doesn’t just host conversations, she pulls truth out of the places most people hide it. As the founder of Women Like Me, she has helped hundreds of women tell the stories they thought they’d take to their grave, and turn them into something powerful. This isn’t about writing. It’s about being seen.

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October 22, 2026Episode 29539 min

Feeling Stuck in Midlife? Try the 7 Minute Pivot | Dr. Cynthia Benson Mercer

Send us Fan Mail “So time is moving on, and you are moving in a direction. It's just, are you choosing the direction you're moving in?” ~ Dr. Cynthia Benson Mercer Feeling stuck in midlife can be especially confusing when you are working hard, and everyone thinks you have it together. Are you building a life you actually want, or staying busy while your own future keeps getting pushed aside? In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Cynthia Benson Mercer to explore what she calls the law of drift and why even successful women can lose direction. With 30 years in an executive career, including 13 years in the C-suite, Cynthia brings both professional experience and honest reflection to the question of what comes next. At 55, her position as chief administrative officer of a large health system ended after a CEO change. She describes how deeply her identity was tied to her career and how that disruption revealed the friendships and sense of purpose she had not been tending. We talk about why putting your head down, working hard, and waiting to be noticed can leave your ambitions unspoken. Cynthia shares how writing Now Near Next and pursuing her coaching certification before losing her position gave her another path to consider when her plans changed. You will also hear her 7 Minute Pivot, a simple reflection practice using a timer, paper, and pen. She walks us through noticing signals in our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, identifying recurring patterns, and choosing one small action to take that day. The practice considers health, purpose, people, potential, and prosperity. This conversation matters because a full calendar can leave little room to ask whether your choices still fit. We also explore boundaries and accepting support as a gift, rather than treating it as evidence that you have failed. You don't need your entire next chapter mapped out to start asking what deserves your attention now. Connect with Dr.Cynthia: https://linktr.ee/drcynthiabentzenmercer Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business, and share this video with a friend who needs to hear it. ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media . After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom , your credibility , and the work you are here to do . Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters . Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

October 20, 2026Episode 29843 min

Finding Purpose After 40: What Do You Want Now? with Trish Kimble

Send us Fan Mail “I want to understand it. I want to live forward with intention. I want to know that the choices I make are the choices that I want.” ~ Trish Kimble You can spend years knowing what everyone else needs and still struggle to answer one question: What do I want? I loved welcoming Trish Kimble back to Women Like Me Stories & Business to talk about finding purpose after 40, building confidence, and choosing how we want our next chapter to feel. Trish started her business at 62. Now, at 68, she is growing Ageless Thriving, her workshops and community for women over 40. Listening to her explain how an idea became something she is actively creating reminded me that we can keep discovering new possibilities for ourselves. This conversation felt personal to me. I shared how, in my 50s, I began wondering what I would do beyond the career I had known for more than 30 years. I was burning out, and finding a new direction didn't come easily. I also talked about putting work I loved on the shelf while I focused on earning a living as a single mother, knowing I wanted to return to it someday. Trish and I explored what happens when we spend so long responding to other people that our own wants slip to the bottom of the list. She shared the four pillars behind Ageless Thriving: clarity, confidence, choice, and connection, and why small steps can help us move forward without changing everything overnight. We also talked honestly about loneliness, making friends as adults, and walking into a room where you do not know anyone. Trish gave me a simple conversation starter I immediately wanted to borrow. If you are approaching retirement, adjusting to an empty nest, or wondering where you fit in your own life, I invite you to listen. Let this conversation give you a little room to consider what you want next. Connect with Trish and explore Ageless Thriving at https://trishkimble.com. Website: TrishKimble.com Ageless Thriving workshops: Pillar 2: https://trishkimble.com/living-forward-workshop-pillar-2/ Pillar 3: https://trishkimble.com/living-forward-pillar-3/ Pillar 4: https://trishkimble.com/living-forward-workshop-pillar-4/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itstrishkimble/ Ageless Thriving Connections FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ageless.thriving.connections LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blankslate-trishkimble/ ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media . After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom , your credibility , and the work you are here to do . Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters . Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

October 18, 2026Episode 29747 min

Black Market Adoption: Patricia Knight Meyer’s Search for Truth and Belonging

Send us Fan Mail Imagine growing up without knowing whether the birthday you celebrate is even your real birthday. When I sat down with author and adoption reform advocate Patricia Knight Meyer, that detail stopped me. Patricia shared how she was sold as an infant through a black market adoption in Texas and raised without a legal adoption ever being completed. At 12, she learned her parents did not have her birth certificate. After becoming a mother at 19, she began asking questions that revealed even more uncertainty about her own beginnings. As she spoke, I kept thinking about how much we take for granted when we know where we come from. We talked about adoption trauma, identity, belonging, and the pressure to be grateful while carrying pain that others may not understand. What particularly struck me was Patricia’s honesty about trying to save the people who raised her, and how her fear of abandonment shaped her boundaries and her own parenting. She also shared what it meant to obtain an accurate birth certificate at 47. There was relief, but also grief and complexity. I appreciated her willingness to make room for all of it. Her memoir, Wonderland: Memoir of a Black Market Adoption, gives her space to tell the story in her own words. During our conversation, she made it clear that her purpose is to help other adoptees find their truth and bring attention to the changes she believes are needed. If you have ever felt responsible for protecting everyone else’s feelings while keeping your own tucked away, this conversation is for you. Connect with Patricia and explore her memoir and adoption resources at https://myadoptedlife.com and https://wonderlandthememoir.com. https://amzn.to/4xcQ4Wx. Pre-order my book: Wonderland Book Launch Event Virtual & In-Person Down the Rabbit Hole: The Fight for Texas Adoptee Rights Then and Now Celebrating the release of WONDERLAND Watch free from anywhere FREE LIVESTREAM on Friday, November 6, 2026, 6:00 to 7:45 PM Central Register for free: https://bit.ly/3So4W6f Livestream link and countdown: wonderlandthememoir.com The recording will be posted on the NAAP YouTube channel about a week later: https://www.youtube.com/@naapunited ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media . After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom , your credibility , and the work you are here to do . Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters . Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

October 16, 2026Episode 29634 min

Money Shame: When Your Business Looks Successful but Cash Is Tight | Nancy Benet

Send us Fan Mail “Because if it's in the dark, you can't address it.” ~ Nancy Benet Money shame can keep you avoiding the very numbers you need to understand. If your business looks successful but you still feel anxious about paying the bills, this conversation is for you. I’m joined by Nancy Benet, a licensed CPA, entrepreneur, and coauthor of Tame Your Money Monster, for an honest conversation about money mindset, business cash flow, and the fear that can make financial reports feel impossible to face. Nancy shares how she was bringing money into her business while struggling to keep enough to meet payroll. Growing up hearing that money was scarce, dirty, and the root of all evil shaped her relationship with earning and keeping it. A friend’s direct conversation prompted her to establish what she calls a “new zero,” a cash reserve she wanted to stop living without. She also speaks openly about being 45 with four children, no income, and $650,000 in debt. Even as a financial professional, she felt ashamed to tell anyone. When she finally asked a trusted friend for help, that compassionate response gave her confidence to begin addressing what she had been hiding. We explore why strong sales do not necessarily mean a financially sustainable business, how understanding your numbers informs hiring decisions, and why asking for qualified support matters. Nancy also shares how her daughter’s financial overwhelm helped inspire their book. I understand the fear of a ringing phone when you are worried it might be a bill collector. I share my own experience as a single mother trying to find a way forward, because these conversations deserve honesty and compassion. If you have been carrying financial stress quietly, come listen. Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business, and share this video with a friend who needs to hear it. She deserves a conversation where money can be discussed without shame. Learn more from Nancy: https://www.fixitaccounting.com/ https://www.successyourway.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/in/nancy-benet-cpa-18145014 www.Instagram.com/success.your.way www.facebook.com/SuccessYourWayCommunity ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media . After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom , your credibility , and the work you are here to do . Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters . Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

October 14, 2026Episode 29433 min

Quitting Alcohol After 40: When Wine Becomes Your Identity - Toni Will

Send us Fan Mail ✨Did this conversation spark something in you? Keep that inspiration going at the Women Like Me Media store. Explore books, audiobooks, and workbooks to share your story, build confidence, and take your next step. We’re adding content daily! Come explore: https://www.womenlikememedia.com ✨ “Okay, I can do hard things, and I don't have to have alcohol.” ~ Toni Will Quitting alcohol after 40 can bring up a question that reaches far beyond what is in your glass: who am I without it? If wine has become part of how you socialize, cope, or celebrate, this conversation makes room for the feelings you may struggle to explain. I sit down with Toni Will, a professional hockey executive and author of Rebellious Success, to talk about questioning your relationship with alcohol while redefining success on your own terms. Toni stopped drinking at 42. Six years later, she shares what it meant to step away from the identity her friends knew as “Toni Party Time.” What stayed with me was her honesty about shame. She did not like her relationship with alcohol, regardless of whether someone else thought she had a problem. After 80 days without drinking, she shared her decision on social media to create accountability and reduce the need to explain herself at every gathering. Toni describes how Annie Grace’s This Naked Mind introduced an approach rooted in curiosity and learning. She began with a 30-day break and kept adding time. She also explains why saying she is not drinking today feels more manageable to her than making a promise about forever. We explore the small wins that helped build her confidence, navigating grief without drinking, and the pressure on working mothers to have it all. Her experiences leading in a male-dominated industry bring another question into focus: how much of yourself are you changing to fit in? For the woman exploring alcohol free living, this is an honest personal story about identity, belonging, and intentional choices. You can appreciate your life and still question a habit that no longer feels right. Find Toni: Website - toniwill.com LinkedIn - Toni Lentini Will FB - Toni Lentini Will IG - imtoniwill Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business, and share this video with a friend who needs to hear it. ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media . After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom , your credibility , and the work you are here to do . Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters . Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

October 12, 2026Episode 29349 min

Afraid to Change Careers? Your Experience Still Counts | Dr. Lauren Fine

Send us Fan Mail “We are building upon what we already have, just in a totally different way.” ~ Dr. Lauren Fine Afraid to change careers because you’ve spent years building the one you have? If you’re feeling stuck between a life you know and a direction you want to explore, this conversation with Dr. Lauren Fine offers a thoughtful place to begin. You’ve worked hard. You’ve earned experience, respect, and responsibilities. But somewhere underneath everything you’re managing is a question you keep returning to: “What if I want something different?” Then come the doubts. Am I qualified? Have I left it too late? Who would I be without this role? Would changing direction mean wasting everything I’ve already done? Join Julie Fairhurst on Women Like Me Stories & Business as she speaks with Dr. Lauren Fine, physician, medical educator, life coach, and founder of Permission to Change, about career change, limiting beliefs, perfectionism, and giving yourself permission to explore what comes next. Lauren introduces her camera test for separating observable facts from the assumptions we attach to them. She explains how communication, leadership, and other transferable skills can support a new career direction, even when you still need to learn specific skills. They discuss the emotional weight of leaving a professional identity, the expectations women inherit about caring for everyone, and why waiting for certainty can keep us standing still. Lauren also shares how taking one class or exploring an interest can help you test a possibility before making a major commitment. Julie brings her own experience of career burnout and rediscovering meaningful work she had once put aside. If you’ve been quietly talking yourself out of your next chapter, hear this: changing direction does not erase your experience. You bring it with you. Learn more and connect with Dr.Lauren Fine: https://laurenfine.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-fine-md?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios https://open.substack.com/pub/permissiontochange Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations about confidence, personal growth, women’s lives, and business. Share this video with a friend who needs to hear that her experience still counts and her next chapter is worth exploring. #womenlikeme #juliefairhurst #fearofchange #careergrowth #career ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media . After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom , your credibility , and the work you are here to do . Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters . Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

October 10, 2026Episode 29257 min

How Color Helped Her Rebuild After Divorce and Bankruptcy | Sheila Raadschelders

Send us Fan Mail “The colours are within us, and we can change them, use them, adapt them, whatever we need to do to actually create the life that we want.” - Sheila Raadschelders A foreclosure notice arrived when Sheila Raadschelders’ baby was six months old. Divorce, bankruptcy, and years of raising her daughter as a single mother followed. By her own admission, Sheila became angry and isolated until she decided she wanted something different for her life. In this conversation with Julie Fairhurst, Sheila shares how exploring colour gave her a new way to reflect on herself and change how she related to others. Now the founder of RAD Crystals, she explains her approach to aura readings, chakras, and colour, and how she uses it in her work. This is an honest, lively conversation about hardship, self-awareness, relationships, and the possibility of changing direction without pretending the past never happened. Explore your colour with Sheila: https://www.facebook.com/sheila.raadschelders www.raadcrystals.ca ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media . After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom , your credibility , and the work you are here to do . Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters . Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

October 8, 2026Episode 19249 min

How to Change Your Life Without Starting Over | Laura Nespoli on Story, Identity & Purpose

Send us Fan Mail ✨Did this conversation spark something in you? Keep that inspiration going at the Women Like Me Media store. Explore books, audiobooks, and workbooks to share your story, build confidence, and take your next step. We’re adding content daily! Come explore: https://www.womenlikememedia.com ✨ “You don't have to tear your life apart to get the life you want. You don't have to lose everything.” - Laura Nespoli What if the life you want doesn’t require you to tear apart the life you have? Laura Nespoli spent years following the expected path and being who others needed her to be. In this conversation with Julie Fairhurst, she shares how she began questioning those expectations, finding her own voice, and reweaving her life with more intention. Laura is a brand strategist, storyteller, and author of Threads of Me and You. Together, we explore the stories women inherit, the courage it takes to live more honestly, and how storytelling can help us understand ourselves and connect with others. We also talk about business storytelling: why women sometimes hold back from sharing the value of their work, and how to speak to the people they want to serve. If you’ve been wondering whether it’s too late to make a change, Laura’s message is one you’ll want to hear: you can begin with the life you have. What part of your life are you ready to reweave? Share it in the comments, and subscribe to Women Like Me Media for more conversations with women who are finding their voices and creating change. Learn more about Laura and her work: https://www.meshinmovement.com/book https://www.instagram.com/laura_nespoli_storyteller https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-nespoli-storyteller/ ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media . After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom , your credibility , and the work you are here to do . Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters . Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

October 5, 2026Episode 29033 min

She Wanted to Be an Author in Third Grade. Now She Is. | Steph Katzovi

Send us Fan Mail “Don’t say, ‘I can’t do it, I don’t know how.’ Put yourself in a position where you’ll learn.” — Steph Katzovi In third grade, Steph Katzovi wrote an essay saying she wanted to become an author. Her mother saved it. Years later, after law school, corporate work, and raising two sons, Steph returned to the dream she had put on paper as a child. In this episode of Women Like Me: Stories and Business, Julie Fairhurst talks with Steph about becoming a children’s book author, writing middle grade fiction, and creating stories that help young readers face friendship, belonging, communication, and courage. They also explore a question many adults will recognize: What happens to the dreams we set aside while life is happening? Steph shares why she uses humor in her books, what publishing taught her about courage, and her advice for anyone who wants to write a book or pursue a creative idea but doesn’t yet know how. IN THIS CONVERSATION: • The third-grade essay Steph’s mother saved • Returning to a childhood dream later in life • Why children and adults wrestle with many of the same struggles • Writing funny, fast-moving stories for middle grade readers • Friendship, honest communication, and belonging • Taking small steps toward a creative goal Explore Steph’s books and blog: https://www.stephkatzovi.com www.stephkatzovi.com IG: Stephkatzovi FB: StephKatzoviLit ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media . After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom , your credibility , and the work you are here to do . Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters . Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

October 3, 2026Episode 28944 min

She Woke From a Coma and Had to Relearn Her Life | Shannon Michelle

Send us Fan Mail “Being a strong woman is to be kind to yourself.” — Shannon Michelle What happens when you wake from a coma and the life you remember is no longer the life you can return to? After a severe accident and traumatic brain injury, Shannon Michelle faced memory loss, multiple surgeries, and the work of learning to walk, read, and navigate everyday life again. She had spent more than 25 years running her own business. Now she had to ask for help and begin discovering who she was beyond the life she had built. In this episode of Women Like Me: Stories and Business, Shannon joins Julie Fairhurst to talk about recovery, identity, self-care, and her memoir, Step Into Your Miracle. She shares how notes on her phone became part of her book, why staying present matters to her, and the three-word practice she uses to check in with herself. This conversation is for anyone finding their way after a life-changing experience or learning to be kinder to who they are today. IN THIS EPISODE: • Waking from a coma with memory loss • Relearning daily life after a traumatic brain injury • Letting go of pressure to become your old self again • Asking for help and making self-care a priority • Writing Step Into Your Miracle • Shannon’s three-word practice for staying present Explore Shannon’s book and work: https://stepintoyourmiracle.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-michelle-a870a4371? utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app https://www.instagram.com/stepintoyourmiracle?igsh=bXE5dmU0cGwyeDI= https://www.instagram.com/shannonmch?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr https://www.facebook.com/share/1EsV3xLQiE/?mibextid=wwXIfr ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media . After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom , your credibility , and the work you are here to do . Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters . Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━