Four cancers, three strokes, two brain aneurysms, a divorce, and 27 surgeries — and she came out on the other side with a book, a podcast, and a whole lot of laughter.

Teresa Baglietto joins Brigitte Cutshall on Real Things Living for a raw and deeply relatable conversation about surviving the unsurvivable. From her first cancer diagnosis in 2008 through a decade of medical crises, Teresa shares how she leaned on her faith, her village of friends, and her sense of humor to keep going.

She opens up about raising three boys through it all, writing her book, The Ripple Effect, and launching her podcast In Shock — both rooted in the belief that our hardest moments don't have to define us, but they can absolutely shape us.

Takeaways:

(1) Laughter is medicine. Teresa credits her community of funny, loving friends as one of her most powerful healing tools. Giving yourself permission to laugh — even in the darkest moments — releases stress, shifts your energy, and brings moments of joy when you need them most.

(2) Suppression creates disease. Teresa and Brigitte both emphasize that keeping your struggles hidden can catch up with you. Being vocal and open about what you're going through isn't weakness — it's a survival strategy.

(3) Your anchors matter. Rather than just talking about resilience, Teresa's book, The Ripple Effect, focuses on the anchors — the specific habits, people, and mindsets that actually carry you through. Resilience is the outcome; the anchors are the practice.

Check out Teresa's book "The Ripple Effect" - https://www.amazon.com/Ripple-Effect-Teresa-Baglietto/dp/B0G2SXSLXG

Her podcast "In Shock" on YouTube and all major platforms https://www.youtube.com/@inshock.podcast

Connect with her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inshock.podcast/

Visit her website at https://teresabaglietto.com

And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who needs a reminder that joy is always worth fighting for.

Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD) is an ultra-rare diagnosis that often requires a long, complex journey toward answers.

In this episode, Brigitte Cutshall sits down with Kelly Berger and Avery Roberts, hosts of the Wheel Talk with Kelly & Avery Podcast, to explore their lives with the same rare subtype of CMD.

From meeting on a Zoom call to becoming close friends and collaborators , they share how they navigated the transition to mobility devices for independence and safety , the frustrations of a world not built for them , and their mission to amplify disabled voices through female empowerment.

3 Key Takeaways

(1) Diagnosis is a Spectrum: Avery was diagnosed at age seven after extensive testing , while Kelly lived with a misdiagnosis until her late 20s ; their experiences highlight that CMD is a spectrum disorder where every individual's journey is unique

(2) The Difference Between Compliance and Access: The ADA provides only a "bare minimum" for public spaces , but many private or older venues, such as New York theaters, remain inaccessible , forcing those with disabilities to perform exhausting "pre-planning" just to run basic errands.

(3) The Power of Allyship and Unlearning: Being a supportive ally starts with a willingness to "unlearn" misconceptions and assumptions about the disability community , understanding that there is power in collective action to enact meaningful, lasting change.

Action items: - Support and listen to people with disabilities- Advocate for accessible environments- Stay informed about genetic testing and health

Check out Kelly and Avery’s stories on the Wheel Talk with Kelly & Avery Podcast—available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube—and follow their mission to uplift and empower rare voices.

"I was in robot mode: high productivity, zero emotional connection."

Kevin Rice built a company from his garage to 250 employees and $40M in revenue, but the "success" felt hollow. In this episode, we dive into how to break out of survival mode, redefine "balance" through intentionality, and lead your family with the same passion you bring to your career.

Key Takeaways

(1) Move from Balance to Intentionality: True work-life balance may be unrealistic for high performers, but intentionality is achievable by planning family time with the same focus and purpose as a business meeting.

(2) Beware of "Robot Mode": Leaders often default to "robot mode"—a state of high productivity without emotional connection—during intense stress. While this helps business survival, it prevents you from feeling the joys and highs of your achievements.

(3) Lead by Example, Not Compliance: Parenting is less about enforcing chores and more about modeling values like grit and initiative. Children are more likely to contribute to the household naturally when they see their parents working for something they believe in.

Visit the CEO's and ABC's podcast - https://www.ceosandabcs.com/

Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmrice/

The journey to finding your true self often requires leaving behind the stories that no longer serve you.

In this episode of Real Things Living, host Brigitte Cutshall sits down with Robin Ferguson—an executive leader, coach, and author of "The Phoenix Effect."

Robin shares how her background as a nurse and minister shaped her understanding of resilience and self-acceptance. They discuss the "Phoenix Effect," a transformative process of breaking down old personas to ignite a more authentic version of yourself, and how "positive disruptors" can help anyone break free from a stagnant routine.

3 Takeaways:

(1) Self-Awareness is a Superpower: Understanding the stories and cultural messages that shaped your history allows you to consciously choose who you want to be today.

(2) Embrace Positive Disruptors: Stepping into uncomfortable territory—whether by taking a new class or simply changing your commute—breaks rote patterns and opens the door to new possibilities.

(3) The Power of Curiosity: Staying endlessly curious keeps the mind young, aids in navigating change, and serves as the heart of creativity.

Pick up a copy of Robin’s book, The Phoenix Effect, available on Amazon https://bit.ly/3Md4lkN

Barnes & Noble https://bit.ly/4rgLuUX

Connect with her at https://robin-ferguson.com

If you think your past defines your future, this story of Ivy League success, 20 years of homelessness, and ultimate redemption will change your mind.

Ken Miller joins Brigitte Cutshall to share his powerful journey from being a National Merit Scholar at Dartmouth to spending two decades battling addiction, homelessness, and incarceration.

Now 21 years sober and a successful business owner, Ken discusses the "internal problem" behind addiction, the courage required to face childhood trauma, and how he transitioned from a life of "negative secrets" to becoming a kind, gentle mentor for the next generation.

3 Key Takeaways

(1) Own Your Truth, Lose the Power: Healing begins by "turning the lights on" in the rooms of your past. By speaking his "big secrets" aloud, Ken stripped them of their power to cause him pain or shame.

(2) The Myth of the "Why": While trauma and environment are factors (antecedents), Ken emphasizes that rationalizing bad behavior through past pain prevents true recovery. Accountability is the first step toward change.

(3) Service as Self-Care: One of the fastest ways to build self-worth is to get "outside of yourself." Helping others—whether through formal mentoring or simply calling a lonely relative—creates the value you might feel you're lacking.

Grab a copy of Ken Miller’s book, Becoming Ken, on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4tDHdwA

"I don't think I had a choice—this is just how my river runs."

In this episode of Real Things Living, host Brigitte Cutshall talks with Yousef Benhamida, the systems-driven entrepreneur behind the national brand Humboldt’s Secret. Yousef shares his journey from childhood "hustles" to bootstrapping a national empire. He explains why he values a "clean house" and organized systems over raw hustle, and how a relentless refusal to lose drives his success.

3 Key Takeaways:

(1) Systems are the Wings: Radical organization is the only way to scale. You must eliminate chaos to make a business light enough to "fly."

(2) The Habit of Winning: Yousef trades the word "discipline" for a strategic focus on avoiding the habits that lead to losing.

(3) The Draft Moment: Success is years of quiet preparation meeting one massive opportunity. You have to be positioned to perform when the big contract appears.

Connect with Yusuf Benhamida - https://yousefbenhamida.com/

Humboldt’s Secret Supplies - https://humboldtssecretsupplies.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yousefbenhamida/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousefbenhamida/

Imagine working your entire life for a retirement you never reach. Engineering leader, Jossie Haines, shares how a family tragedy transformed her perspective on ambition, burnout, and the urgent need for human-centric leadership in the age of AI.

After reaching the heights of Silicon Valley as a VP of Engineering and working on iconic products like Siri, Jossie realized that the traditional "up and to the right" career path often leads to burnout rather than fulfillment.

She discusses the systemic reasons why 50% of women leave tech by age 35, how to leverage AI as a leadership tool rather than a replacement for human judgment, and why true success must be defined on your own terms.

3 Key Takeaways:

(1) The "Next Step" Philosophy: Avoid the paralysis of trying to map out a massive goal from A to Z. Focus exclusively on the immediate next step—whether it's a phone call or a brainstorm—to gain clarity without the overwhelm.

(2) Inclusion is a Product Feature: Diverse teams aren't just a metric; they build better tech. Jossie highlights how a lack of diverse testers can lead to products (like voice assistants) that fail to recognize women's voices or various accents.

(3) AI is a Change Management Challenge: Integrating AI into a team isn't just about the software; it’s a leadership task. Success with AI requires human oversight to determine what "good" looks like and to ensure it solves the right problems.

Connect with Jossie Haines on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jossiemann/

Check out her website - https://JossieHaines.com to learn about her upcoming workshops and coaching programs.

"We need to focus on who we are." The secret to raising resilient children starts with the parent stepping away to find their own calm in the chaos.

In this episode of the Real Things Living Podcast, Brigitte Cutshall explores the essentials of Parental Resilience with psychologist and author Dr. Kate Lund.

Dr. Lund introduces her "Step Away" book, which focuses on the psychology of parenting and why resilient parenting requires us to prioritize our own well-being first.

They dive into the comparison trap of social media, the importance of mindfulness for parents, and practical strategies for overcoming parental stress. By shifting from a "crisis mode" to a "resilient lifestyle," moms and dads can find better work-life balance for families and improve overall mental health for moms and dads.

3 Key Takeaways

(1) Manage the Baseline: Resilience isn't just for emergencies; it’s a daily practice. Using tools like the "relaxation response" helps parents start their day at a lower stress level so they can ride life's challenges like a wave.

(2) The "Step Away" Philosophy: Stepping away isn't about checked-out parenting; it’s about putting on your own oxygen mask first. By prioritizing self-awareness and personal joy, parents can "step back in" more robustly for their families.

(3) Context Over Comparison: High stress often stems from comparing our "messy" reality to curated digital lives. True resilience comes from optimizing within your own unique context and focusing on authentic human connection.

To find more of Dr. Kate Lund’s resources and pick up a copy of her new book, Step Away, visit her website at https://KateLundSpeaks.com

Connect with her on:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-lund/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dr_kate_lund/