The Life Shift: Real Stories of Life-Altering Moments

What if grief could live beside joy instead of swallowing it whole?

When Marie Alessi’s husband, Rob, died suddenly from a brain aneurysm while on a work trip, her life shattered in an instant. But instead of letting grief move in permanently, Marie made a quiet, powerful promise: to create the happiest life possible for her and their two young boys. What followed wasn’t perfect, but it was deeply human. And deeply intentional.

In this episode:

• The moment Marie knew she had to parent through pain and still keep a promise
• How her husband's death sparked a shift toward healing, purpose, and spiritual connection
• Why she believes grief is a visitor, not a permanent resident

This conversation is a reminder that joy and grief can hold hands. And that love doesn’t end.

What happens when your earliest moments of intimacy are taken from you?

In this raw and powerful conversation, author Kaila Yu shares the truth about a traumatic experience in her early twenties that splintered her sense of self. Raised in a household where emotions were rarely named, Kaila spent years seeking validation outside herself. When a modeling opportunity turned into a violent betrayal, she dissociated to survive. For a long time, she told no one. But silence has a way of catching up to you. In time, Kaila found the strength to tell the truth and honor the version of herself who got through it.

Three key takeaways from Kaila’s life shift:

• Sometimes survival looks like silence, but healing begins when we tell the truth
• Dissociation is a form of protection, not weakness
• Self-worth is something we can reclaim, even after it’s been stolen

This episode holds space for the complexity of trauma, cultural expectations, and the slow, brave act of integration.

What do you do when the world falls apart and your inner voice says, “Not yet”?

Dr. Devin DeGreif shares a story so unimaginable it feels like fiction until you realize it is her truth. After the brutal loss of her mother, Devin unraveled, disassociated, and considered ending her life. But a thunderous inner "no" marked a turning point. What followed was a slow, intentional shift toward healing, spiritual alignment, and helping others reclaim joy after pain.

• Learn what it means to truly go all in on living after hitting emotional bottom
• Hear how a single voice, her own, interrupted a life-ending plan and changed everything
• Explore how Devin now helps others heal through breathwork, body-based therapy, and truth-telling

This is not just a story of survival. It is about remembering who you are underneath all the pain and building a life around that truth.

What if the bravest thing you can do is admit you’re struggling?

When Jill Schulman walked into her ROTC unit ready to quit, she expected rejection. Instead, she was met with empathy. And that changed everything. In this powerful conversation, Jill shares the quiet, steady kind of bravery that helped her stay the course and eventually shape her life’s work.

• Learn how asking for help can be the most courageous move of all
• Reframe failure as information and fuel for growth
• Discover why bravery isn’t about big gestures, but small, consistent choices

This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to do it alone. And that choosing to keep going? That’s brave.

Jill Schulman is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, corporate leader, and expert in the science of bravery. With a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, she blends research with lived experience to help people take bold action, build resilience, and live with intention. Her new book, The Bravery Effect, offers practical tools to grow courage in everyday life, one brave moment at a time.

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What happens when your life splits in two more than once?

Ash Perrow was a schoolteacher with a plan and a future he could see clearly. Then he held his stillborn daughter in his arms. That moment shattered everything. Years of survival, anxiety, and silence followed. Then a near-death experience cracked him open in a way nothing else ever had. And in that space beyond his body, he made a choice that changed his life.

• The ripple effect of grief, perfectionism, and a body stuck in survival
• What somatic therapy, plant medicine, and radical self-love can unlock
• How a near-death experience revealed a calling to live from the heart

Ash's story is a raw and beautiful reminder that healing is not linear, and it is never too late to wake up.

Guest Bio

Ash Perrow is a coach, speaker, and storyteller who helps heart-centered professionals reconnect with their deeper wisdom and live from the truth of who they are. After the stillbirth of his daughter and a near-death experience following back surgery, Ash returned to life with a clear contract: to stay for the work he does and walk the planet from his heart. That moment became a second beginning, one that unraveled everything he thought he knew about purpose, identity, and healing.

Through somatic therapy, spiritual exploration, and his own relentless curiosity, Ash rebuilt his life from the inside out. Now, he guides others through that same kind of transformation with grounded compassion and deep respect for their inner knowing. His work takes shape through coaching, workshops, group programs, and powerful storytelling that reminds us we are never alone in our becoming.

What if the perfect time never comes?

Katie Svoboda-Rini spent years waiting for things to settle before she could finally chase her dream. But life had other plans, including the loss of both parents, a lifetime of body shame, and a wildfire that didn’t burn her house down but still took almost everything. In the rubble of grief, burnout, and survival mode, Katie found something deeper than resilience. She found softness. And she gave herself permission to start anyway.

In this episode, Katie shares:

• Why grief sometimes takes decades to process, and why that’s okay
• How caregiving at sixteen shaped her sense of responsibility and shame
• What it meant to finally start her baking business after losing almost everything

If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting for the “right time,” this one might meet you where you are.

What happens when five grief-focused podcast hosts come together to speak grief out loud?

Real people. Honest moments. Life, unfiltered.

The Life Shift Podcast is a collection of candid conversations with people who’ve experienced the moment when everything changed – and chose to keep going.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, cracked open, or quietly transformed, there’s probably an episode for you.

Share this clip with your friends if you're a fan of The Life Shift – you never know who might need to hear the stories on this show.

This is a personal invitation to something meaningful.

What if the memory that saved your life came from a letter you almost forgot?

Michael Allison’s life has been anything but easy. From childhood abuse to combat in Iraq, the grief of loss to the silence of survival, Michael carried the weight of a thousand lifetimes before reaching a breaking point. Standing on a Florida bridge, he made a decision that would change everything.

In this powerful conversation, Michael shares how he:

• Faced the grief, guilt, and trauma he spent years avoiding
• Reclaimed his voice after decades of silence and survival
• Chose to stay – and turned that moment into purpose, service, and leadership

Michael’s story is a reminder that even in our darkest hour, something beautiful can still begin.

Your next chapter might be one decision away.

Michael W. Allison is a U.S. Marine Combat Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and resilience coach who has transformed adversity into impact. After surviving a devastating VBIED car bomb attack in Iraq and navigating the aftermath of PTSD, TBI, and deep personal hardship, Michael reached a breaking point – but chose to stay. That decision became the foundation for his healing.

Now, as the Founder and CEO of The Adversity Academy, Michael empowers individuals and organizations to embrace resilience, rewire their mindset, and lead with purpose. His UN-Leadership and Break The Bottle – 3-D methodologies challenge conventional leadership paradigms and inspire growth through accountability, transformation, and mental strength. Michael has been featured by Microsoft, NBC, TEDx, ESPN, and VFW Magazine and speaks globally on personal reinvention, resilience, and overcoming limiting beliefs.

Listen to Michael’s story and rediscover what it means to stay, heal, and lead with heart.

What happens when the story you've believed for 35 years turns out to be incomplete?

When Lisa Sugarman was ten, she was told her father died of a heart attack. But decades later, one unexpected question revealed a long-held secret that shifted everything. In this open and emotionally honest conversation, Lisa and I explore what it means to grieve someone twice, how silence can shape our stories, and the power of finally speaking the truth out loud.

You’ll hear how she:

• Moved through deep grief and anger after learning her father died by suicide
• Found clarity by reframing her beliefs about mental illness
• Channeled her story into service and created a safe space for others to heal

→ If you connected with this story, please share it with someone who might need to hear it.

What do you do when the life you dreamed of looks nothing like the one you’re living?

Jenny always knew she wanted to be a mom. But when her first child, Sarah, was born with special needs, the parenting story she had imagined began to unravel. For years, she carried invisible bricks of guilt, believing she had to fix what wasn’t broken. Everything shifted the day she gave herself permission to just love her daughter exactly as she was.

• Letting go of the guilt and shame that clouded early motherhood
• Finding hope and community in the Son-Rise Program
• Discovering that love, not perfection, was the connection her daughter needed

In this conversation, Jenny shares what happens when we stop chasing a picture-perfect life and start honoring what is. It’s about love, resilience, and learning to see the spark that’s always been there.

Jennifer Celeste Briggs is a writer, mother, and advocate for emotionally connected parenting. She has a BA in English Literature from Swarthmore College and lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two daughters. Her daughter Sarah has a genetic anomaly and autism, which led Jenny to create and lead a home-based Son-Rise Program called Sarah-Rise. After training at the Autism Treatment Center of America, she coordinated hundreds of hours of therapeutic play with the help of volunteers. Her blog, Watching Sarah Rise, has become a source of comfort and inspiration to others navigating life’s unexpected paths. Jenny’s mission is to help parents feel seen and to spread the word about the power of presence, joy, and connection.

Connect with Jenny

What if burnout wasn't the end—but the beginning of your most authentic life?

After ten years in the classroom, Ryan Hennessey realized he was running on fumes. A powerful moment at a heart-led business retreat cracked something open in him and gave him the clarity he’d been chasing. He didn’t just walk away from teaching—he walked toward a life built on freedom, integrity, and impact.

• The exact moment Ryan knew it was time to leave the classroom
• How he navigated grief, guilt, and identity loss in choosing himself
• What abundance looks like when you finally stop people-pleasing and start living aligned

This one’s for anyone standing at the edge of change, wondering if they’re allowed to want more.

Ryan Hennessey is a former beloved science teacher who walked away from the classroom after a decade to pursue a life aligned with purpose, freedom, and impact. After a powerful realization at a heart-led business retreat, Ryan made the courageous decision to leave a career that once defined him to create a life that truly fulfilled him. Now, he hosts adventure-based wellness retreats, coaches others through major life transitions, and helps people reconnect with what sets their soul on fire. His story is one of integrity, reinvention, and what it really means to take back your power.

Connect with Ryan:

What do you do when your life changes in an instant?

When Donna Kendrick lost her husband to suicide, she was left standing at a painful crossroads – three young kids, a new house, and a future she could no longer picture. But by the light of a backyard bonfire, she made a vow: this would not be the end of her story.

In this honest and deeply human conversation, Donna shares how she navigated grief, rebuilt her life, and created a purpose-filled path for her family. Through heartbreak, she discovered strength she didn’t know she had – and now, she’s helping others do the same.

You’ll hear how she:

• Told her children the truth with compassion and created space for real grief
• Rebuilt a career that now helps widows and families through financial transition
• Found love again and blended two families into one sarcastic, supportive household

Listen to Donna’s full story and the moment she chose to keep going – with grit, purpose, and heart.

Donna Kendrick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and founder of Sephton Financial. After losing her first husband suddenly in 2013, Donna navigated widowhood with three young children, inspiring her to support families in transition through financial planning. She is the host of the Wisdom and Wealth Podcast and author of A Guide to Widowhood and A Guide for Blended Families. Donna is also an avid long-distance runner who, through her running group, raises funds for causes such as Safe Harbor, a grief counseling program for children. She lives in Jenkintown, PA, with her husband Jim and their six children.

Can one quiet moment change everything you thought your future would be?

When Mikelann Valterra sat across from her husband at their favorite sushi spot, she didn’t plan to end her marriage with a handshake. But that one act, quiet and deeply human, cracked open the life she had built and forced her to rebuild it from scratch. At 40, with her son by her side, she moved into her childhood bedroom and began the long, messy, and ultimately beautiful work of becoming herself again.

For anyone who has felt like their future disappeared in a single moment, this conversation offers hope, healing, and a reminder that starting over is never the end.

Three powerful takeaways from Mikelann’s story:

• Starting over is possible, even when everything feels lost
• Creativity can become a lifeline in healing
• Money stories carry power, and you can learn to rewrite yours

Listen to the episode to hear how Mikelann turned heartbreak into a whole new rhythm.

What do you do when the dream you’ve chased your entire life suddenly stops feeling right?

By the age of 17, Miron Pingasov had raced at 150 mph, broken bones, lost a close friend on the track, and watched his childhood passion for racing turn into something more political than purposeful. Faced with the weight of expectation and the pull of something deeper, Miron made a decision most wouldn’t at his age – he walked away.

In this episode, Miron opens up about the grief, clarity, and courage it took to choose a new path. His story is a reminder that we’re allowed to outgrow our dreams and that starting over doesn’t mean failure. It can actually be the beginning of real freedom.

Three things you’ll take away from Miron’s story:

• How letting go of a lifelong dream can make space for something more meaningful
• Why early failure is actually a gift that accelerates growth
• The power of being a sponge – and listening when others share wisdom

About Miron Pingasov

Miron Pingasov has raced open-wheel cars at 150 mph, flown solo at 10,000 feet, and co-founded businesses in real estate, clothing, and media – all before turning 18. Now a student at Syracuse University pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering, he’s also the co-founder of PT Development in Florida and works alongside his former racing sponsor on litigation funding initiatives in the UK.

Miron believes that the earlier we fail, the sooner we learn – and the sooner we learn, the sooner we succeed. Whether behind the wheel, in a boardroom, or on campus, he brings speed, structure, and a deep curiosity for growth. He’s especially passionate about helping younger individuals trust themselves, take risks, and find meaning on their own terms.

What if we treated everyone like they were stage four of something?

We’re all carrying something we can’t always see. In this episode, I talk with author and storyteller Adam Erwin about what happens when we slow down and choose to lean in, to really see people instead of scanning past them. Adam shares the life-altering moment on a post-9/11 flight that changed how he moves through the world and ultimately led him to launch a multi-year project: interviewing strangers on airplanes and capturing their stories in his book Lessons from Coach.

For anyone feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure how to make a difference, Adam’s story is a reminder that presence is power. By leaning into the moment, we don’t just change someone else’s day.

We change ourselves, too.

Takeaways from Adam’s life shift:

• He realized that judgment was robbing him of connection and chose curiosity instead.
• His small act of leaning in sparked a five-year project filled with empathy and meaning.
• Modeling daily kindness (especially for his kids) rewired how he sees the world and how others see themselves.

What do you do when your partner says, “I have tumors in my lungs and spine”?

We don’t get instructions for that kind of moment. And we definitely don’t get told what it means to carry someone you love through the hardest, slowest, most beautiful goodbye. In this episode, I talk with Tony Stewart—writer, partner, caregiver—about what shifted the day his wife, Lynn, was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and what he learned as they walked through the next six years together.

This conversation isn’t just about loss.

It’s about presence.

And what happens when you let yourself feel every bit of it.

• He learned to access and express emotions he’d long buried
• He discovered the healing power of sharing his raw, unfiltered truth
• He found beauty – even joy – amid the hardest days of his life

🎧 Listen to this episode now to hear how love and grief reshaped one man’s understanding of what it means to live.

From walking out of school to creating art worldwide, Danny Suede chose his own way forward.

What if the life you want is just past the fear?

So many of us stay stuck because the obstacles are loud and obvious — the job, the money, the expectations. But the route to the life we dream about?

That path is quiet.

Subtle.

Hidden.

In this episode, I talk with artist and creative nomad Danny Suede about the bold decision he made as a teenager that changed everything, and how that one moment opened the door to a life he never imagined — one full of art, travel, and purposeful creation.

Danny’s story reminds us that we can reimagine what “normal” looks like. That there’s nothing wrong with choosing something different. And that starting before you’re ready might just be the bravest thing you ever do.

• Danny's bold decision to leave school at 13 marked the beginning of his own story.
• Learning doesn’t have to resemble a classroom; it can unfold in line with your own curiosity.
• The most meaningful moments often lie just behind the fears we tend to avoid.

Danny Suede is an indie/pop artist, musician, and visual creator who embodies the mantra, "Life Can Be More Of What You Dream."

Beyond his music, Danny shares his perspective through his Substack writings and explores creativity through his own art and visuals. He also creates captivating videos on YouTube to inspire a global audience.

Danny has retired from social media to fully dedicate himself to his craft. He embraces a nomadic lifestyle that allows him to create without distraction. In 2025, he’ll travel the world, drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and experiences to shape his music, storytelling, and art.

What if your superpower was secretly destroying your life?

Ian Fee spent decades thinking alcohol was his key to connection – his edge in business and relationships. He built a successful career, a massive network, and a party-filled life that looked like everything was working. But beneath the surface, he was numb, disconnected, and silently unraveling.

Everything changed on the third day of rehab, when a moment of clarity hit: if he wasn't right with himself, nothing else would ever be right. That spark ignited a complete shift. Since then, Ian's found deeper purpose through daily routines, emotional healing, and a strong core of support. He's sharing his story not just to reflect, but to help others know it's never too late to change your life.

Takeaways:

• A moment of emotional awakening in rehab changed Ian's direction for good
• He learned to replace numbing with daily healing practices like journaling, meditation, and cold plunges
• His transformation was possible because he built a small, trusted circle of support who saw every version of him

Topics Discussed:

• Why he believed alcohol was the key to his professional success
• The emotional suppression that followed decades of drinking
• Entering rehab and hitting a breaking point
• The role of his "core four" in keeping him grounded
• Creating daily rituals to feel better, not just function
• How sharing vulnerably helped him reclaim his story
• The ripple effect of helping others through his book

Websites: