This week I’m sitting down with Marana Johnson, a mother, author, and entrepreneur who grew up in the polygamist community of Short Creek. You may have seen her on the Netflix docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet, and she has also been featured in Time and People. She went from a life of extreme obedience, through 18 months in federal prison, to rebuilding with purpose. She is the founder of Positivity Labs, which creates affirmation jewelry and experiences, and she’s working on a book and an upcoming documentary.

I got to spend time with Marana while helping to uncover and tell her story, and I wanted to give you a conversation about who she was, who she is today, and who she’s becoming. Together we look at how a voice gets shut down, and what it takes to ask the hard questions that bring it back.

• What a “fairly normal” childhood looked like, and the moment at age eight that changed how she saw her own worth
• How the drive to prove herself through perfect obedience cost her her voice
• Why ages eight to ten are so often when women’s voices go quiet, and how long it can take to connect the dots
• The aha moment on a trampoline under the stars with her sister Chandra
• Life in the community after Warren Jeffs’ arrest, and the sudden shift when marriage and children came back into the picture
• What it felt like to go from not being told anything to being told, “this is what you’re supposed to do”
• The law of sacrifice and why she went numb
• Prison as a culture shock and a “fishbowl” moment, and the discovery mode she’s been in ever since
• Why her story matters for women well beyond her community

1. A way out is a way in. Healing begins by going inside and asking yourself the hard questions.
2. Our voices often go quiet early. One moment in childhood can shape decades of how we speak, or don’t.
3. Look at why you said yes. Was it because you wanted to, or because you feared what would happen if you didn’t?
4. You can come out the other side in discovery mode. Marana’s story shows that a new version of you can be born in the hardest chapter.

Marana is a mother, author, entrepreneur, and aspiring life coach. She is the founder of Positivity Labs and is working on a book and an upcoming documentary, where she shares her story in her own voice. She’s passionate about helping others feel seen, heard, and supported.

He's been called the "life coach to the stars" and "today's pop prophet" — and after 30 years working with everyone from Charlton Heston to Oprah Winfrey, Tim Story has learned exactly what separates a good idea from a God idea.

In this Top Talent Book Week conversation, Tim opens up about his new book, Good Idea or God Idea, and the moment in Oprah's backyard when she got emotional over one simple phrase: "we have been spoken over." He traces his journey from a cramped two-bedroom apartment in Compton — where his mother told him "we may be lower income, but we will never be lower class" — to becoming a trusted voice for hundreds of entertainers and public figures.

Tim also shares the surprising origin of his gift for soundbites (hint: it wasn't the pulpit — it was comedians), the loneliness behind coaching high-profile clients, and details on his upcoming ventures: the Tim Story Miracle Mattress and Miracle Shoe, both designed around a philosophy he calls "Holy ground vs. battleground."

Whether you're chasing a good idea or trying to discern the God idea meant just for you, this conversation will leave you asking: what has your life been spoken over?

What if the very thing that once held you back became the foundation of your greatest success?

When Linda Fisk was growing up, she lived with a severe stutter. Standing in front of a room to speak wasn't just uncomfortable—it was terrifying. In fact, during her very first college speech, she passed out before she could even finish her opening sentence.

Today, Linda is a multi-award-winning CEO, two-time TEDx speaker, international bestselling author, university professor, and one of the world's leading voices in leadership, entrepreneurship, and women's empowerment.

So...what changed?

In this inspiring episode of Claim Your Voice, Linda shares the mindset shifts, practical tools, and unwavering perseverance that transformed fear into confidence and purpose into impact. We explore everything from overcoming glossophobia (the fear of public speaking), to creating an alter ego that helped her step onto the stage, to why confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you build.

Whether you're leading a company, launching a dream, or simply learning to trust your own voice again, Linda reminds us that our greatest challenges often become our greatest gifts.

In This Episode We Explore:

• Linda's journey from a debilitating stutter to becoming an internationally recognized speaker
• The surprising power of perseverance, preparation, and practice
• How adopting an alter ego helped her overcome crippling stage fright
• Why confidence is built through action, not perfection
• The importance of creating a "power tribe" that reflects who you're becoming
• The mindset shifts every entrepreneur and leader needs in today's rapidly changing world
• Why lifelong learning is one of the greatest competitive advantages
• The role of AI in helping entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses
• How women can step into greater confidence, financial empowerment, and leadership
• Why Linda believes "Your voice is a gateway to your soul."

About Linda Fisk

Linda Fisk is a multi-award-winning CEO, 2x Stevie International Business Award Winner, 2x TEDx speaker, 8x international best-selling author, U.S. Senator for the WBAF, TV producer and Podcast host, keynote speaker, and university professor dedicated to amplifying and extending the success of other high-caliber business leaders. She is the President of CurvUp, and the Chairwoman of LeadHERship Global, a community of unstoppable women enhancing their leadership blueprint and embracing their power to be the best version of themselves- in work and life.

Connect with Linda

• 🌐 Website: https://www.curvup.com
• 💼 LinkedIn: Linda Fisk
• 🌍 LeadHERship Global: https://www.leadhership.global

Connect with Justine Reiss

🌐 https://empoweredvoicecoach.com

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If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's ready to stop waiting for confidence and start building it.

Because your voice isn't just something people hear.

It's the gateway to your soul.

Visualize it. Vocalize it. Monetize it.