In this deeply moving episode of the Day One Podcast, I sit down with Carrie Eaton from Elgin, Texas — author, caregiver, and woman of unwavering faith — for a powerful conversation about grief, redemption, and the healing power of God’s love.

Carrie vulnerably shares the heartbreaking loss of her 3-year-old daughter in 1995 due to a tragic accident. She opens up about the overwhelming grief that followed — a season where life felt colorless, where she describes only seeing black and white, and where she turned to substances in an attempt to numb the pain.

But her story does not end in despair.

Carrie shares how God met her in the deepest, darkest pit of her life, redeemed her, restored her, and lovingly challenged her to forgive herself. That journey of healing led her to write her first book, Walking in the Fullness of Joy after Tragedy. She holds onto the hope that she will one day see her daughter again in Heaven.

Today, Carrie continues walking in faith. Her second book, Faith Without Borders, chronicles her faith journey over the past three years as she cares for her 92-year-old mother in Texas — a season where God continues to show Himself faithful.

This episode is for anyone navigating grief, guilt, loss, or the long road back to joy. It is a reminder that redemption is possible, healing is real, and joy can return — even after tragedy.

• Losing a child and surviving unimaginable grief

• The emotional and spiritual effects of trauma

• Using substances to cope — and finding true healing

• God’s redemption in dark seasons

• The challenge and freedom of self-forgiveness

• Writing through pain as part of healing

• Faith that sustains across decades

Carrie Eaton is an author and woman of faith living in Elgin, Texas. After losing her 3-year-old daughter in 1995, she experienced a season of deep grief and despair. Through God’s grace, Carrie found healing, restoration, and renewed joy, which led her to write Walking in the Fullness of Joy after Tragedy.

Her second book, Faith Without Borders, reflects her recent journey of faith while caring for her 92-year-old mother. Carrie’s story is one of redemption, resilience, and unwavering hope in God’s promises.

📩 Connect with Carrie Eaton:
Facebook @carrieeatonConnect with Giselle QuintanillaInstagram & Facebook: @gisiquin
Website: www.readywriterservicesllc.com

If you are walking through grief or carrying guilt that feels too heavy — this episode is a reminder that God’s loving light can reach even the darkest places.

Listen now and take your next Day One move.

In this powerful episode of the Day One Podcast, Assata Michelle Thomas, founder and CEO of Assata Michelle Enterprises, shares the deeply personal origin of her new book, Forward Only: Speak Power. Live Change, reflecting on a dark season in her past when she was facing potential jail time.

We discuss how this circumstance, many years ago, long before the leadership roles and recognition she holds today, set the path to her destiny. During that challenging period, she began speaking affirmations over herself, declaring truth over circumstances that did not yet reflect the future she believed God was preparing her for.

She opens up about how difficult it was to speak life during that time, and how there were moments she chose not to speak at all because she understood the weight and power of words. In those moments, she surrounded herself with people who spoke affirmations over her, helping her stay aligned with where she was going rather than where she was.

This episode is a reminder that transformation doesn’t begin when everything looks better; it often begins when you decide to speak differently.

We also discuss the courage required to redefine relationships that cannot accompany you into new seasons. Growth demands clarity, boundaries, and the willingness to move forward — even when it means leaving certain connections behind.

• How affirmations shaped her future long before success

• Speaking power during life’s darkest seasons

• Why silence can sometimes protect your future

• The role of community in personal transformation

• Redefining relationships as you grow

• Living “forward only” — even before you see results

Assata M. Thomas is the founder and CEO of Assata Michelle Enterprises and the author of Forward Only: Speak Power. Live Change. A nationally recognized reentry strategist and systems-change leader, she brings over two decades of experience advancing equity, public safety, and workforce access for people impacted by the criminal legal system.

Today, she serves as Executive Director of Reentry for the City of Philadelphia, leading citywide strategy and cross-sector collaboration. Her leadership is grounded in lived experience and the belief that language, intention, and forward movement shape both personal transformation and systemic change.

If you are navigating growth, redefining relationships, or learning to speak life over your future before you see it, this episode will remind you that your past does not disqualify you. It may be the very thing that prepared you.

Listen now and take your next Day One move.

Connect with Assata Michelle Thomas:
www.assatamichelle.net

Connect with Your Host, Giselle QuintanillaInstagram & Facebook: @gisiquin
Website: www.readywriterservicesllc.com

In this deeply moving episode of the Day One Podcast, host Giselle Quintanilla sits down with Daniela Roman, international best-selling author, speaker, survivor advocate, and founder of Daniela’s Delicious Delights, LLC, for a conversation about healing, heritage, and turning pain into purpose.

Daniela shares how growing up Italian shaped her relationship with food—not as a chore, but as an expression of love, creativity, and connection. That early joy in cooking later became a source of healing and purpose. She opens up about surviving domestic violence and sexual trauma, and how the encouragement of her husband, Emilio, gave her the courage to share her story publicly, believing that stories don’t just heal, they save lives.

Her powerful book series, Behind Closed Doors: I Survived Domestic Violence, and You Can Too, reached #1 Best New Release status on Amazon and continues to amplify the voices of women who have endured trauma, with a 4th edition set to release in 2026. Daniela also shares the heart behind her book Big Bear Wisdom, written in honor of her father, who was her greatest inspiration.

Today, Daniela blends advocacy, authorship, and culinary creativity to help women (especially mompreneurs) reclaim confidence through her Kitchen Confidence course, encouraging them to nurture both their families and their dreams.

• Growing up Italian and finding joy in cooking

• Healing from domestic violence and sexual trauma

• The role of support and encouragement in sharing your story

• Why stories can save lives

• Honoring legacy through authorship and creativity

• Empowering mompreneurs through confidence and nourishment

• Turning survival into purpose and advocacy

Daniela Roman is an International Best-Selling Author, Speaker, and Survivor Advocate whose work empowers women to reclaim their power after trauma. She is the founder of Daniela’s Delicious Delights, LLC, where she brings healing and joy through nutritious meals rooted in her Italian heritage. A former co-owner of the Mediterranean Café at the University of Pennsylvania, Daniela now blends culinary expertise with empowerment through her Kitchen Confidence course. Her mission is to touch lives globally through storytelling, advocacy, and nourishment (body and soul).

Connect with Daniela Roman:
Website: https://www.danielasdeliciousdelights.com
Email: info@danielasdeliciousdelights.com

Connect with Your Host, Giselle QuintanillaInstagram & Facebook: @gisiquin
Website: www.readywriterservicesllc.com