Groove with Portia Portia Booker

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I am joined by Money and Debt Coach Larissa Steffen. Larissa sheds light on the contradiction that exists between financial advisors and financial coaches. Larissa holds a background in psychology and this helped her work with her clients to understand the behavioral science around money. Our money and debt coach shares how addressing her mental health was the key to the ignition of going from worried to wealthy. Larissa challenges us to think about how our parents interacted with money along with reconnecting with our inner child and building our self-awareness muscle in order to combat overspending. She emphasizes learning the difference between a necessity and a want along with taking time to make purchases.

Connect with Larissa
https://www.instagram.com/worriedtowealthy/
worriedtowealthy.com

In this inspiring episode of "Groove with Portia," I'm joined by Alexis Albro, a Certified Trauma-Informed Coach and the Founder of Survivor Rising. Alexis begins by celebrating a deeply personal milestone - her father's one-year milestone of being cancer-free. Her journey from leaving her corporate job to embracing her authentic self opens a door to profound insights.

Our Trauma-Informed Coach shares invaluable wisdom on how to cultivate self-love amidst traumatic experiences. Instead of playing the blame game, she encourages us to embrace every version of ourselves, especially from those challenging times. Alexis reveals the power of education and the healing strength of sitting with our emotions during seasons of grief.

Alexis leaves us with a heartfelt reminder to stay present in every moment, understanding that healing is a continuous journey, not a final destination. She emphasizes the importance of finding safety as the key to rising above the odds.

Connect with Alexis
https://www.instagram.com/survivorising/
https://www.alexisalbro.com/

In this episode of Groove with Portia, I'm thrilled to be in conversation with Katie Rossler, a seasoned therapist and a guiding light through transformative grief. Katie dives deep into the delicate art of integrating grief into our daily lives without it becoming an overwhelming burden.

Katie sheds light on how neglecting self-care can amplify the weight of grief, emphasizing the vital role of self-nurturing during challenging times. Drawing from her extensive experience in couples therapy, she explores the intriguing influence of fictional characters, especially those from Disney movies, on our perception of life's "should-be" scenarios and how these perceptions can impact our grieving process.

Katie's wisdom extends an invitation to our listeners, encouraging them to find a balanced equilibrium within their grief journey and to acknowledge the unique grief that arises from our preconceived notions of how life should unfold. She advocates for a shift in focus, steering away from the uncontrollable aspects of life and redirecting attention towards what can be harnessed and reshaped.
Bonus: Katie and I share how our loved ones who have transitioned have connected with us on this physical plain.

Connect with Katie
https://www.instagram.com/katie.rossler/
https://katierossler.com/

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I am joined by Zoe and Iris, the Co-founders of Island Beats, and Kiara Smith from the American Lung Association Cleveland Chapter. A central theme of Groove with Portia is discovering the hidden gift in grief. Kiara shares finding strength through her grief journey. Iris opens up about how faith and belief in a higher power came to her through grief. Zoe shares a touching story of discovering purpose through Zumba which was sparked from the transition of her father in 2019 from lung cancer. Grief needs an outlet, and Zoe found hers through Zumba, leading her to partner with Iris in creating Island Beats. In support of lung health awareness, the American Lung Association is hosting a walk on October 1st, 2023, at the Cleveland Zoo. Zoe and Iris have a team for the walk and will also be hosting a Zumba Pop-up on September 24th, with proceeds benefiting the American Lung Association.

Connect with Iris and Zoe
https://www.instagram.com/island.beats.cle/
https://www.facebook.com/islandbeats.cle/

Connect with Kiara and learn about Lung Force Walk 2023 https://www.instagram.com/americanlungcleveland/
lungforce.org/cleveland

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Judy Ben-Asher, an amazing individual who graced Oprah's stage and is the visionary behind Truthseeker Wellness. Judy's journey unveils the profound grief she endured upon discovering, through a DNA test, that her biological father differed from the man she believed to be her dad.

Adding a layer of complexity, Judy's mother had already passed away, leaving her with questions that could never be answered. We dive into the deep trauma that this revelation brought to her identity and how she eventually found herself sharing her story on Oprah's platform, focusing on the powerful theme of forgiveness.

Judy's wisdom shines through as she dismantles the societal belief that grieving equates to being a person in pain. She emphasizes the importance of accountability, the strength found in community, and the invaluable support we can give and receive from one another.

Connect with Judy
https://www.instagram.com/judybenasher/
https://truthseekerwellness.com/

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I am joined by Larry Penton Sr (LP), Founder of Penton Pending Consulting Solutions LLC. Larry opens up about the challenges of dealing with grief from the standpoint of being a first responder. Being a man, yet alone a man of color, a heavy stigma is placed around grief and mental wellness. Larry shares how men can learn to embrace vulnerability along with the role toxic masculinity plays in addressing grief. He offers men a blueprint to navigate complex emotions through professional help or another form of holistic wellness such as meditation to dismantle the stigma on mental health and grief.

Connect with LP
www.pentonpending.com
https://www.instagram.com/lpfiremedic/
https://www.instagram.com/penton_pending_cs/