Our guest on the podcast today is Lani Gonzales. She is a clinical hypnotherapist, author, and keynote speaker . Lani shared many defining moments , some that include childhood trauma, rape, sexual abuse and story of family member who committed suicide. This episode is heavy and enlightened all at the same time. Lani spoke very openly and beautifully about her life story, being an immigrant , experiencing trauma, achieving more but feeling more empty and unfulfilled the higher she climbed and what led her to changing her life and creating from a space of love. She had a lifechanging experience with ayahuasca and hypnotherapy and now she is helping others. Lani wrote two incredible books, "Rebirth of a Sage"- and "METANOIA" that you can purchase by going on Lani's website at https://lanigonzales.com/. There are quite a few free resources to you to check out, learn more about Lani's story and her work. #whatsyourdefiningmoment #sharingourstorieshasapowertoheal #momentsthatdefineusodcast #thebeststorytellingpodcast

Welcome to season 6!!! Our first guest is a novelist, Leigh Shalloway. She wrote an incredible book called "Journey back to you". In today's episode Leigh shared her experience with mental health, being diagnosed with clinical depression at 30 , and how that deepen he writing. She opened up about experiencing emotional extremes and how it allowed her to write characters who feel real and complex. Leigh took us into her writing process, research that went into this book, personal stories, past relationships that helped her built Kathleen, Jase and Richard. Journey back to you is the first novel in the Hilltown Trilogy for the author. Its a romantic novel, with complex interpersonal relationships, heartbreak, once thriving small town , turned to addiction and drugs because of greed but there is hope, there is love and there is survival.

To learn more about Leigh Shalloway and to order your copy of the book, visit https://www.hilltownseries.com/ #whatsyourdefiningmoment #sharingourstorieshasapowertoheal #thebeststorytellingpodcast #mentalhealthmatters

In this final episode our host Iryna is doing a recap of season 5 (the season of women) and of 2025 all together. She is talking about lessons she's learned from her guests in season 5, lessons she learned so far by doing her podcast , why it is important to stay consistent and what is is proud of. This episode is short but its full of gratitude! #whatsyourdefiningmoment #sharingourstorieshasthepowertoheal #momentsthatdfineuspodcast #finalepisodeofseason5

Today's conversation is the one for the soul. It will feel your heart with so much hope & love. Iryna sat down with Wafa Saeed, a brilliant woman, an immigrant an avid reader, humanitarian and a proud member of the Sudanese community. Iryna & Wafa talked about their stories about coming to America, what it means to be an immigrant and where do we really belong as immigrants. Wafa shared so many defining moments that shaped her, how her life changed after 9/11, how going back to Sudan for 2 years helped her understand her identity and what wearing hijab means to her.

Wafa also spoke about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and why it is so important for us to comer together . This conversation will make you think deeply about the world we live today.

#whatsyourdefiningmoment #sudan #humanitariancrisisinsudan #sharingourstorieshasthepowertoheal #immigrantsstories

It was such an honor to have Suzzie Vehrs, the founder and owner of She Births Bravely on our podcast. She is a certified doula, based in Seattle Washington, who has been part of almost 300 births. Suzzie also provides childbirth education and and abundance of resources on pre and post birth. Check out her resources here: https://shebirthsbravely.myclickfunnels.com/sbbbc

During our conversation with Suzzie we discussed her motherhood journey, the loss she experienced with her first pregnancy and dealing with grief. Suzzie opened up about struggles in her marriage, going though divorce and coparenting. There were a lot of defining moments that led Suzzie to become a person she is today, to make decision to become a doula and open her own business and support women in this wonderful journey of becoming a mother.

To lean more about Suzzie and her organization She Births Bravely, check out her website at https://shebirthsbravely.com/suzzie-vehrs-author-bio/ . You can also follow her on Instagram @shebirthsbravely #whatsyourdefiningmoment #sharingourstorieshasapowertoheal #motherhood #childbirthisbeautiful

Today's episode is a special one. Iryna is talking to Eman Abdur-Rahman, who is a mom and entrepreneur. Eman had quite a journey when it comes to motherhood. With her first child she had a very difficult birth followed by severe postpartum depression and in the midst of going through postpartum depression, she started her business. Eman tells a story of how starting her business while battling postpartum depression saved her life. This is the most honest and open conversation about postpartum depression.

In the second part of the episode Eman opened up about the pregnancy and birth of her second baby and she called that birth a "redemption birth" . She also talked about building her business while raising 2 kids under 6, hiring other moms to work with her and how important it is to have a strong community around.

Eman is a founder and CEO of Your Virtual Keeper, Accounting and Full Charge Bookkeeping Services for Mission-Driven Service Providers. To learn more about Eman's company and book her services, please go to https://www.yourvirtualkeeper.com/

#whatsyourdefiningmoment #motherhood #postpartumdepression #momprenuer #bossmom

Today's episode is all about motherhood. Iryna opened up about her journey, her pregnancies, breastfeeding and why being a working mom makes her a better mom, why showing her kids there are different options out there is very important for her.

Do you want to be a stay-at-home mom or go back to work, should you breastfeed or give your baby formula? Why women still judge other women for choices they make as moms? Is it ok to touch a pregnant woman's belly? But why not? These and some many other questions were answered in this episode.

We all have an idea of what it means to be a mom but all of us have different journey, motherhood comes to us in all different forms and that what makes it beautiful.

Iryna opened up in a way she has never done in the past so press play and enjoy this episode. #whatsyourdefiningmoment #sharingourstorieshasapowertoheal #whatitmeanstobeamom #motherhood #stagesofmotherhood

Today's conversation is about a mom , who lost her son to a gun violence, and how through grief and with a help of a very strong community she created a foundation to keep her son legacy alive. Angel Shabazz is the founder of The DJ Armstrong Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is twofold: to empower young people and families through scholarships, mentorship, mental health support, and grief assistance, and to walk alongside grieving mothers through A Mother’s Love, a healing community rooted in faith, empathy, and shared understanding. Angel talked about her son Davarie and what an amazing young man he was, that tragic day in 2020 that charged her life forever, and how community have been showing up for her for the past 5 years. I talked to Angel about forgiveness, grief and what kind of gun laws and gun prevention she would like to see. To learn more about The DJ Armstrong Foundation, to donate and get involve , please visit https://www.djarmstrongfoundation.org/ . Folow them on Facebook and Instagram at dj.armstrong_foundation_ #whatsyourdefiningmoment #sharingourstoriesishealing #gunlaws #gunviolenceandprevention #thoughtsandprayersbutnoactions #djarmstrongfoundation