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In this inspiring episode of Soulful Self-Care Conversations, Pearl welcomes Cathy Derksen, founder of Inspire Tenacity, international speaker, 23-time number one bestselling author, and publisher who helps midlife women step into visibility, legacy, and impact through books, retreats, and community.

Together, they explore the power of storytelling, overcoming self-doubt, and why your story matters more than you think.

🌱 Meet Little Cathy

Cathy shares how moving frequently as a child shaped her resilience, adaptability, and curiosity. Growing up constantly starting over helped her develop the ability to connect quickly and see opportunity in change.

Her lifelong curiosity—especially about living things—led her first into a career in biology. But over time, that same curiosity and love for people evolved into something deeper: helping women discover, own, and share their personal stories.

📖 Why Your Story Matters

One of the most common beliefs Cathy hears from women is:

Nobody wants to hear my story. I haven’t done anything important.

Cathy challenges this mindset directly. Through conversation and guided reflection, she helps women uncover the turning points, lessons, and growth moments that make their experiences powerful and relatable.

Even if someone’s journey looks different from yours, the courage, resilience, and perspective within it can inspire transformation.

As Pearl shares through her own story—especially the legacy project honoring her late son—stories create ripple effects far beyond what we may ever see.

📚 Becoming a Bestselling Author

Cathy specializes in collaborative anthology books, bringing together 20 authors around inspiring themes such as:

• Passion, Purpose, and Possibilities
• Embrace Courage
• Ripple Effect of Impact

By publishing in a multi-author book, women gain:

• Expanded visibility
• Shared marketing power
• Built-in community support
• The bestselling author title
• Confidence to later publish solo projects

Cathy explains that becoming a bestselling author is not just about writing—it involves editing, formatting, marketing, Amazon optimization, launch strategy, and coordination. Having an experienced publisher helps navigate those moving pieces and avoid costly mistakes.

🌊 The Ripple Effect of Storytelling

Pearl and Cathy reflect on how one conversation, one book, or one shared experience can impact someone years later.

Your story may:

• Encourage someone during a difficult season
• Help someone feel less alone
• Give someone courage to take a next step
• Create community where there was isolation

Stories do not expire. They continue to reach people long after they are written or recorded.

🌸 Self-Care and Thinking for Yourself

The conversation closes with a reflection on personal growth and intentional living.

Pearl shares her word for the year: Streamline—focusing on simplifying systems in both business and home life to avoid burnout.

Cathy emphasizes trusting her intuition and building a business aligned with her own imagination and values rather than following someone else’s blueprint.

Both agree that self-care includes:

• Protecting your time
• Recognizing your accomplishments
• Choosing alignment over pressure
• Thinking for yourself

🐾 Cathy’s Favorite Self-Care Practice

For C

Follow Pearl on
social media TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook: @Pearlchiarenza

Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wsliving.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Remember to embrace your inner pearl, nourish yourself, and find balance in life. Stay
true to your authentic self and continue working on your personal growth.

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Rewriting Your Story: Resilience, Reinvention & Living Your Truth with Robyn Tanner

In this empowering episode of Soulful Self-Care Conversations, host Pearl Chiarenza welcomes Robyn Tanner — writer, editor, ghostwriter, and rebel thought leader. After 25+ years in the fitness industry, Robyn turned adversity into fuel and now helps people transform their hardest chapters into powerful stories, books, and thought leadership that set them free.

Together, Pearl and Robyn dive deep into what it takes to rise from adversity, reinvent yourself, and unapologetically write your own story — both literally and figuratively.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

✨ Little Girl Dreams:
Robyn reveals how her childhood dream of becoming a writer has come full circle — and why she’s finally living it out loud.

✨ The Power of No:
Why saying “no” doesn’t need backup explanations, and how eliminating the “muck and mud” in life creates space for clarity, peace, and purpose.

✨ Adversity as a Catalyst:
From chronic health issues and multiple surgeries to homelessness and heartbreak, Robyn shares how she refused to stay stuck in her story — and why reckoning moments are often the start of revival.

✨ Reinvention Without Apology:
Robyn talks about the importance of giving yourself permission to change your mind, experiment with life, and surrender old versions of yourself to step into who you’re meant to be.

✨ Ghostwriting & Storytelling:
She explains what ghostwriting really is, how she helps people tell their truth in their voice, and why everyone has a story that can impact the world.

✨ Experiment With Life:
Pearl and Robyn explore how to take courageous steps toward your joy list, pay it forward to your future self, and stop letting your story hold you back.

Powerful Quotes from Robyn:

“Plan B is to fully execute Plan A. Go all in on yourself.”

“No doesn’t need backup answers.”

“Your reckoning is your revival.”

“You’re allowed to change your mind. You can outgrow dreams and start over ugly.”

“If you don’t write your own story, you’ll stay stuck in the one that happened to you.”

Connect with Robyn Tanner:

Instagram: @writer_robinlen

Facebook: Robyn Len Tanner

Book: The Machete Mentality – Available on Amazon

Ghostwriting Inquiries: DM Robyn directly on Instagram

Pearl’s Reflection & Challenge for You:

Robyn reminded us that we must experiment with life. One way to start? Create your Joy List — 10 things that bring you joy. Then, build a Stop Doing List so you can make space for those joys.

Your story doesn’t have to define your future. You can rewrite your next chapter at any time.

👉 Ready to live as the SHERO you are — Strong, Happy, Empowered, Radiant, and Original? Book your Keep It Simple SHERO Call with Pearl today at WSLiving.com.

✨ Subscribe to Soulful Self-Care Conversations on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts — and don’t forget to share this episode with a friend who’s ready to rewrite their story!








Follow Pearl on
social media TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook: @Pearlchiarenza

Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wsliving.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Remember to embrace your inner pearl, nourish yourself, and find balance in life. Stay
true to your authentic self and continue working on your personal growth.

Follow Pearl on
social media TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook: @Pearlchiarenza

Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wsliving.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Remember to embrace your inner pearl, nourish yourself, and find balance in life. Stay
true to your authentic self and continue working on your personal growth.

Send us a text

In this deeply moving episode of Soulful Self-Care Conversations, Pearl welcomes Bill Chini, Executive Director of Mary & Martha House, a nonprofit dedicated to helping women and families overcome domestic violence and homelessness.

Bill—an Air Force veteran with lived experience of abuse, addiction, and homelessness—shares his extraordinary journey from darkness to leadership. His story of survival, resilience, and faith shows how even the most painful paths can lead to a life of purpose and service.

Together, Bill and Pearl unpack the concept of “normal,” discuss the cycles of abuse, and explore how love, respect, and healthy communication can rebuild lives. They also shine light on the life-changing work happening every day at Mary & Martha House and the ripple effect of empowerment programs that help women find stability and self-worth.

This episode is both raw and redemptive—a must-listen for anyone who’s ever questioned their worth, their “normal,” or their ability to start over.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

💬 Bill’s Story: From childhood abuse to homelessness, addiction, and transformation through service.
💔 Breaking the Cycle: How parental patterns of control and trauma become generational—and how to stop them.
🪞 Redefining “Normal”: Why everyone’s version of normal is different, and how to create a healthier one.
🏡 Inside Mary & Martha House: How this nonprofit helps women rebuild their lives through shelter, stability, and empowerment.
🧠 Understanding Gaslighting: Where the term really came from and how it’s used to manipulate and control.
💪 Healing Through Storytelling: How sharing your story can release shame, inspire others, and create connection.
❤️ Empowerment through Coaching: The impact of female empowerment programs and the importance of believing you’re enough.

Key Quotes

• “Normal is what you know—but what you know isn’t always what’s right.” — Bill Chini
• “Abuse isn’t always punches and kicks. It’s about control—emotional, financial, or psychological.” — Bill Chini
• “You can’t help someone if they don’t know you exist.” — Bill Chini
• “We can’t change where we came from, but we can decide what our new normal looks like.” — Pearl
• “When you tell your story, you don’t just free yourself—you give someone else permission to heal.” — Pearl

Gentle Guidance & Takeaways

🌱 Redefine Your Normal: You get to decide what healthy love, safety, and respect look like.
💡 Abuse Takes Many Forms: Control—whether emotional, financial, or physical—is never love.
🕊 Healing Takes Work: It’s okay to seek therapy, to talk, and to set boundaries.
💬 Use Your Voice: You never know who needs to hear your story.
❤️ Ask and Listen: Sometimes “How are you?” can save someone’s life.
🏠 Support Local Shelters: Awareness saves lives—share the work of organizations like Mary & Martha House.

About Mary & Martha House

Founded in 1982, Mary & Martha House provides shelter, support, and empowerment programs to women and families escaping domestic violence and homelessness. Their mission: to help women find safety, independence, and stability while breaking the cycles of abuse and poverty.

• 🌐 Website: marymarthahouse.org
  
  
• 💌 Donations & Volunteer Opportunities: Visit the website

Follow Pearl on
social media TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook: @Pearlchiarenza

Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wsliving.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Remember to embrace your inner pearl, nourish yourself, and find balance in life. Stay
true to your authentic self and continue working on your personal growth.