Send a text to suggest topics you’d like to hear! At just 18 years old, Yokmany Longlat discovered a golf-ball-sized tumor pressing against her spinal cord. Within days, she experienced paralysis on the left side of her body and underwent emergency surgery. But her story of adversity began long before that moment. In Episode 109 of The Open Exchange, Paul Martinez sits down with Yokmany Longlat, entrepreneur, licensed esthetician, mother, and founder of Beauty and the Body, for a deeply personal conversation about childhood trauma, depression, identity, healing, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. Growing up, Yokmany moved between numerous schools, took on adult responsibilities at a young age, and struggled with feelings of abandonment and rejection. At 11, she experienced suicidal thoughts. At 18, following a life-changing medical emergency, she began reclaiming her identity, including choosing to embrace the name she had spent much of her childhood hiding. Today, she's building a business, raising her son, and sharing the lessons that helped her move forward. **In this episode, we discuss:** - Discovering a spinal tumor at 18 and undergoing emergency surgery - Growing up with family instability and adult responsibilities - Childhood depression, suicidal thoughts, and the importance of emotional support - Reclaiming her identity and embracing her real name - How affirmations, gratitude, and mindset influenced her recovery - Learning to forgive and understand difficult family relationships - Motherhood, postpartum depression, and the importance of self-care - Building Beauty and the Body in Norwich, Connecticut - Turning entrepreneurial ideas into real businesses - Raising children in a world of technology and instant gratification - Why she wouldn't trade the experiences that shaped her This conversation is about more than overcoming adversity. It's about learning who you are, taking ownership of your future, and recognizing that your past doesn't have to determine what comes next. CONNECT WITH YOKMANY Beauty and the Body Website: https://www.beautyandthebody.com/ Instagram: @batb.yokmany Chapters: 00:00 A Spinal Tumor Changes Everything 01:02 Discovering the Tumor at 18 04:16 Growing Up Too Fast 07:15 Family Relationships and Recovery 08:13 Depression and Finding a Way Forward 11:18 Rebuilding Her Mindset 14:10 Why She Reclaimed Her Real Name 17:17 Childhood Trauma and Suicidal Thoughts 22:52 Breaking the Cycle as a Parent 27:05 Running Toward Healing, Not Away From Pain 30:02 Gratitude and Daily Habits 34:31 Motherhood and Putting Yourself First 36:36 The Challenges of Entrepreneurship 38:06 Finding Her Business Purpose 40:28 Building Beauty and the Body 42:27 Her Biggest Fear as a Mother 44:28 What's Next: Business, Growth, and Going Viral 47:23 The Final Exchange: Would She Change Her Past? 48:21 Where to Find Yokmany and Closing Thoughts **CONNECT WITH THE OPEN EXCHANGE** If this conversation resonates with you, consider sharing it with someone who could benefit from hearing Yokmany's story. Subscribe for more conversations about personal growth, mental health, faith, family, business, and the experiences that shape us. **MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES** This episode includes personal discussions of depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. In the United States, call or text **988** to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. **DISCLAIMER** The views and experiences shared by guests are their own. The Open Exchange provides conversations for informational and educational purposes and does not provide professional medical, mental health, financial, or legal advice. Individual experiences and outcomes may vary. #TheOpenExchange #PersonalGrowth #OvercomingAdversity 🎙️ Follow Me: TikTok: @paullymtv @theopenexchangepodcast Instagram: @paullyym @theopenexchangepodcast Email: Theopenexchangepodcast@gmail.com Subscribe: / @paullyymm 🎙️ Other ways to listen: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-open-exchange-with-paul-martinez/id1733876904 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qh1HPG7IF9vlI1Sy21gST Podcast #Conversations #PersonalDevelopment #Faith #Inspiration #StoryTelling #Podcast Support the show 'Virtual Tip Jar' - Donate to my show to keep me going! Thank you! Paypal: https://paypal.me/PaulMartinez89?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US (PaulMartinez89) Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/Paullyymm (Paullyymm)