She went blind during an intimate moment with a near-stranger. He told her to "give it 20 minutes." Then he asked her not to die in his apartment.

Carrie Corcoran had been divorced for about a year when she took a chance on a fling, despite what she now calls 1,500 red flags. The night ended with a brain aneurysm, half her body gone numb, and her alone on the floor, unable to tie her shoes. Weeks later, an MRI confirmed the aneurysm. Her holistic practitioner had already given her a different explanation: a spiritual attack.

In this episode of The Secret of My Success, host Erin Currin and Carrie Corcoran trace how that night fits into a larger unraveling. It started with two layoffs in a single year, the end of a nearly 20-year marriage, and a spiritual awakening that changed how she sees nearly everything. Carrie describes how she stopped asking "Why did this happen to me?" and started asking "What is this trying to teach me?"

The conversation takes some unexpected turns. Erin pushes back on the popular phrase "the world is on fire" and challenges the habit of calling every hardship a trauma. Two self-described introverts talk honestly about small talk, dating as the ultimate mirror, and how to find the balance between stretching beyond your comfort zone and listening to the intuition telling you to stay home.

**Memorable moments**

"To heal, you have to feel."

"We are all unbreakable light, and we have to sometimes fracture in order to let the light come in."

"One person in alignment is more powerful than a million who aren't."

**About Carrie Corcoran**
Carrie Corcoran is the visionary behind the Unbreakable Light Movement, inspiring individuals to turn adversity into resilience and rise fully into themselves.

A brain aneurysm survivor, she brings a powerful, lived perspective on authenticity and self-leadership to every stage.

She is also a dynamic speaker and employer brand strategist, and founder of Carrie Cares Employer Brand Consulting, with 10+ years of experience transforming how organizations attract and engage talent. Carrie has spoken at ERE, TalentNet, and Evolve, and was named a Top 10 finalist in the Next Top Speaker competition.

The is on a mission to ignite transformation—from the inside out—helping people and organizations lead with truth, courage, and light.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/globalkeynotespeaker/


**About the show**
The Secret of My Success explores what it means to live a fulfilling life through real stories of challenge, responsibility, and transformation. If this episode moved you, subscribe, tap the bell so you don't miss new episodes, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that pain can become power.

#BrainAneurysm #SpiritualAwakening #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #Intuition #EmotionalHealing #Empath #Mindset #SecretOfMySuccess

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## Episode Description
In this deeply moving episode, Erin Currin sits down with PoeEtiq The Street Prophet, a South Florida-based spoken word artist, songwriter, and media entrepreneur. Their conversation reveals an extraordinary story of personal tragedy, racial reconciliation, and spiritual transformation. PoeEtiq shares how the murder of his brother in 1982 and his subsequent journey from anger to unconditional love shaped his philosophy on life, relationships, and human connection. This episode explores profound themes of grief, forgiveness, and the power of authentic conversation to bridge divides.

## Key Topics Discussed
- The mysterious connection between Erin and PoeEtiq who attended the same schools but never met until a chance Starbucks encounter
- The tragic story of PoeEtiq's brother Darrell's murder in 1982, initially ruled a suicide
- PoeEtiq's journey from viewing life as unreal to understanding its preciousness
- His transformation from seeking revenge to embracing unconditional love
- The impact of family dynamics, including the loss of a brother at birth
- Racial tensions in South Florida during the 1980s and their parallels to today
- The power of authentic conversation in building bridges between people
- PoeEtiq's spiritual journey and the influence of his cousin Freddy
- His recent personal transformation and commitment to "showing up as the internal you"

## Memorable Quotes
"All white people didn't kill your brother. Maybe two evil people did." – God’s message to PoeEtiq
"I can't hold you responsible for something that somebody else did. I can only judge you on how you treat me." - PoeEtiq
"You need to show up as the internal you. Don't let the world shape you. You shape your world around you." - PoeEtiq sharing his son Joshua's wisdom
"Conversation is what creates understanding. By not communicating, creates differences. We have differences, but we can talk about. We can create magic together, and that's how relationships become bonds." - PoeEtiq

## Guest Information
**PoeEtiq The Street Prophet** is a South Florida-based spoken word artist, songwriter, and media entrepreneur focused on using culture to inspire reflection and community growth. He is the founder of Hip Hop National Media, a platform dedicated to amplifying voices and connecting creativity with purpose. PoeEtiq is currently preparing to launch the Roar and Release podcast, a roundtable-style platform centered on real conversations about culture, family, and youth development. He is also developing his upcoming book, Monkey Jungle Syndrome, exploring mental and societal conditioning, guided by the philosophy, "impact humanity one mind at a time."

## Connect With PoeEtiq The Street Prophet
Direct: 954-501-0613
Website: https://www.hiphopnationalmedia.com
Elevating Voices. Creating Opportunity. Protecting Legacy.
“We don’t make promises. We create opportunities.”

## Call to Action
If you were moved by PoeEtiq's story of transformation and forgiveness, consider how you might apply his philosophy of unconditional love in your own relationships. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this message of reconciliation and hope.

## Subscribe to The Secret of My Success
Don't miss future episodes exploring what it means to live a fulfilling life. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and follow us for updates on upcoming guests and conversations.

Want to learn more about exploring what it means to live a fulfilling life?
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

IN THIS EPISODE

What would you do if the life you built… no longer felt like yours?

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, I sit down with Alese Johnston, who made a bold and unconventional decision at 69 years old—she walked away from a life that looked beautiful on the outside but felt misaligned on the inside.

This isn’t a story about loss.
It’s a story about truth, courage, and what becomes possible when you finally listen to yourself.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re living a life that looks right but doesn’t feel right, this episode will hit home.

✨ In This Episode, We Explore:

The quiet realization that your life no longer fits
Why “having it all” can still leave you unfulfilled
The courage it takes to walk away—from identity, comfort, and expectations
What it actually means to “start over” later in life
How curiosity can become your compass
Letting go of everything that no longer aligns (literally and emotionally)
Redefining success on your own terms

🔑 Key Takeaway:

Reinvention isn’t reckless—it’s honest.
And it’s never too late to choose a life that truly feels like your own.

💭 Questions to Reflect On:

Where in my life am I settling for “good enough”?
What feels out of alignment that I’ve been avoiding?
If I trusted myself fully… what would I change?

Guest Bio - Alese Johnston

Alese Johnston is a visionary entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for redefining aging with vitality. As co-founder of StorageTrader, the first platform enabling fractional investment in self-storage facilities, she has spent over a decade in the self-storage industry. She shares her expertise in her book, Beyond the Locks.

Alese is a seasoned speaker who thrives on engaging audiences with thought-provoking insights. She has spoken on stage at the ISS World Expo in Las Vegas, the Exit Planners National Conference, and various industry events. Her ability to blend expertise with an engaging, relatable style makes her a sought-after voice on entrepreneurship, investment strategies, and navigating personal reinvention.

Beyond business, Alese is deeply passionate about longevity, healthspan, and the power of reinvention. She founded the Fabulous70 Challenge, a movement proving that turning 70 is not a time to slow down—but to speed up, take on new experiences, and challenge outdated beliefs about aging.

An experienced mentor and investor, Alese serves as board chair emeritus of the Arkansas Angel Alliance and consults with startups at The Forge and The Venture Center in Little Rock. She has represented Arkansas investors at the Angel Capital Association’s National Conference and is a graduate of the ACA’s Angel University.

Alese’s leadership and impact have been widely recognized, including being named an Arkansas Business Power Woman (2021) and one of About You Magazine’s Most Intriguing Women (2023). She is an alum of Leadership Greater Little Rock (Class 21) and Leadership Arkansas (Class 12).

When she’s not speaking, writing, or mentoring, Alese can be found hiking, dominating Beat Saber, rocking out to her favorite music, and indulging in her love of sci-fi films. Above all, she is a proud mom and grandmother, embracing life with curiosity, adventure, and a relentless pursuit of what’s next.

🌿 Connect with Erin Currin:

If this episode resonated with you, you’ll love the work we do inside my programs designed to help you reconnect with what truly matters and create a life that reflects it.

👍 If This Spoke to You: Like the video Subscribe for more conversations like this Share with someone who might need to hear it

🎙 About the Podcast: The

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