Radiant Resilience - Real Conversations with Tawny Palm

Tawny Palm

Welcome to Radiant Resilience, the podcast where real people share their unfiltered stories of triumph, perseverance, and the raw realities of life. In a world dominated by curated social media narratives, it's easy to feel alone in our struggles. But the truth is, everyone faces challenges – some overcome them, others navigate through, and a few find themselves still in the midst of the storm. Tawny Palm invites you to join an open and honest conversation that goes beyond the highlight reel. These are not just success stories; these are real-life accounts of resilience in the face of adversity. In each episode, guests bravely step into the spotlight to recount their journeys, sharing the highs, lows, and the unexpected twists that have shaped them. You'll hear stories of triumph, stories of survival, and stories that are still unfolding. In the spirit of fostering genuine connections, Radiant Resilience encourages listeners to send in their own stories anonymously if they prefer. This podcast is a safe space where vulnerability is celebrated, and your struggles are not minimized. Why share these stories? Because, in the power of storytelling, we find solace. By listening to the experiences of others, we learn that we are not alone in our challenges. Radiant Resilience believes that sharing our stories can be a beacon of hope, a source of inspiration, and a reminder that resilience takes many forms. Through tough conversations, empathy, and a shared commitment to understanding, Radiant Resilience aims to break down the walls of isolation. Join us as we explore the depths of the human experience, embracing the good, the bad, and everything in between. Your story matters, and by sharing it, you contribute to a world where compassion and understanding flourish. Tune in to Radiant Resilience, because we all have a story to tell, and in our stories, we find strength.

  1. 95. Shay Watson - Migraines, Money Stress & Learning to Come First

    3D AGO

    95. Shay Watson - Migraines, Money Stress & Learning to Come First

    Send a text TRIGGER WARNING TOPICS Chronic illness & pain (migraines)Diet talk & sugar eliminationWeight changes & body imageFinancial stress & student loan debtBrief mention of cancer (in a family member)Infertility & painful periods briefly mentionedBurnout, mental health struggles & self-sabotageOn today’s episode of Radiant Resilience, I’m sitting down with my longtime friend Shay Watson, and we are going all the way there—from 14-day migraines to five jobs at once to finally deciding she is allowed to put herself first. Shay shares how her first migraine hit at 11 years old and slowly became the thing that ruled her life: days locked in a dark room, cold compresses, trying to parent through the pain, and feeling like this was just “her normal.” After a 14-day migraine as a brand-new mom, she hit her breaking point and stumbled into the world of gut health, holistic healing, and Plexus. For the first time, she went months without a debilitating migraine, lost 80 pounds, and started to feel like she had her life back. We also dive into the money side of her story—graduating with $127,000 in student loans, starting her teaching career at $32,000 a year, working five jobs (yes, five) including Applebee’s, and how that financial pressure shaped her choices, burnout, and self-worth. Shay talks honestly about self-sabotage, living on convenience food, the loud and confusing world of health & wellness advice, and what it really looks like to start over… again. If you’ve ever ignored your own needs, put everyone else first, or felt stuck in cycles you know how to break but can’t seem to, this conversation is for you. Shay’s story is a reminder that your health matters, your financial reality matters, and you are allowed to be “selfish” in the name of taking care of yourself. WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE POD??? Click here to be featured in the podcast! WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY ANONYMOUSLY? EMAIL ME! @ radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com CONNECT WITH TAWNY! Email us your stories and questions! radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com Follow Tawny: @tawnypalm Watch us on YouTube

    51 min
  2. 94. Malisa Hepner - Choosing Love Without Bypassing the Pain

    FEB 16

    94. Malisa Hepner - Choosing Love Without Bypassing the Pain

    Send a text TRIGGER WARNINGS Childhood trauma / Complex PTSDAddiction & substance abuse (parental addiction)Child neglect / abandonment (children left alone)Foster care / kinship care experiencesPhysical abuseSexual abuse (discussed)Death / overdose death (parent + child loss)Grief and mourningSuicidal ideation (past; discussed)Mental health crisisIncarceration (mentioned)Family dysfunction / estrangementIn this deeply honest conversation, I’m joined by Malisa Hepner—therapist, podcast host, public speaker, and creator of healing workbooks like Safe to Be Seen and The Beauty of Imperfection: Good Is Enough. Melissa shares her lived experience as a survivor of Complex PTSD, including early childhood instability, foster care/kinship care, parentification, and the long-term impact of trauma on emotional availability, boundaries, and relationships. We also talk about the messy, real-time work of healing—how forgiveness can’t be forced, why toxic positivity can be harmful, and what it looks like to stop overthinking and start living grounded and present. Malisa opens up about profound grief after losing her son to an accidental overdose, and how she’s learning to “ride the waves,” receive support, and keep choosing love without bypassing pain. This episode is tender, intense, and full of wisdom—especially if you’ve ever felt like life made you “be strong,” or you’re trying to find your way back to yourself. Find Malisa on Instagram (and all her links + podcasts) and check out her shows Emotionally Unavailable and Unquiet Soul. WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE POD??? Click here to be featured in the podcast! WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY ANONYMOUSLY? EMAIL ME! @ radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com CONNECT WITH TAWNY! Email us your stories and questions! radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com Follow Tawny: @tawnypalm Watch us on YouTube

    1h 17m
  3. 93. FROM THE ARCHIVES - Infertility, Identity & the Question of a Child-Free Life

    FEB 9

    93. FROM THE ARCHIVES - Infertility, Identity & the Question of a Child-Free Life

    Send a text This episode is a From the Vault re-release that lives very close to my heart. If you’re new here, I recommend listening to Episode 6, where I first shared my infertility journey solo, before diving into this conversation. This episode originally aired as Episode 8 and is a continuation — a deeper, more vulnerable exploration of what comes after years of trying. In this conversation, I’m joined by my dear friend Carrie Hoskins, a freelance writer whose work centers around infertility, grief, and life after loss. Carrie and I talk honestly about the possibility of being child-free after infertility — not by choice, and all the complicated emotions that live in that space: grief, jealousy, identity loss, anger, compassion, and the slow rebuilding of a meaningful life. This is not a “how-to” episode. It’s a real, unfiltered conversation about what infertility takes from you — and what you’re left to redefine when the path you imagined no longer exists. Carrie also shares her own powerful story (which you can hear more fully in Episode 18), and together we explore friendship shifts, triggers, boundaries, marriage, hope cycles, and the quiet bravery of continuing to live fully even when the ending looks different than planned. After opening my heart in recent episodes, this felt like the right one to bring back. If you’re navigating infertility, grief, or the uncertainty of what comes next — you’re not alone here. Trigger / Content Warning: infertility, pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, IVF, medical trauma, grief, jealousy, child-free after infertility, emotional distress. Please take care of yourself while listening. Pause or return when you feel supported. This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health care. Thank you for being here — and for holding space for stories that don’t always get told. 🤍 WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE POD??? Click here to be featured in the podcast! WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY ANONYMOUSLY? EMAIL ME! @ radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com CONNECT WITH TAWNY! Email us your stories and questions! radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com Follow Tawny: @tawnypalm Watch us on YouTube

    1h 36m
  4. 92. Shannon Curtis - No More Monsters: Healing Trauma, Addiction & the Inner Child

    FEB 2

    92. Shannon Curtis - No More Monsters: Healing Trauma, Addiction & the Inner Child

    Send a text Trigger warning topics Childhood sexual abuse / molestationAddiction (opioid/pain pill dependence) and recoveryInfertility and miscarriagesMedical trauma (endometriosis, hysterectomy, menopause)Infidelity / affair discussionTrauma processing and mental health themesDiscussion of psychedelics / plant medicine (non-graphic, therapeutic context)Shame, grief, and emotional distressIn this powerful episode of Radiant Resilience, Tawny sits down with Shannon Curtis, founder of Angel Goddess Healing, intuitive coach, medium, and author of No More Monsters Under the Bed: Shining Your Light on the Dark. Shannon shares her raw, deeply human journey—navigating childhood sexual abuse, endometriosis, infertility and miscarriages, postpartum pain-pill addiction, and the long road to recovery. Together, Tawny and Shannon unpack what addiction really is (and why shame keeps people stuck), how trauma lives in the body, and why being seen can be the catalyst for true healing. They also explore Shannon’s transformation through treatment, AA, and spiritual expansion—including her perspective on plant medicine, approaching it with reverence and safety, and how forgiveness became a pathway back to power. Shannon explains her forgiveness framework, why self-forgiveness comes first, and how we can begin to release the stories that keep us trapped in pain. This conversation is tender, intense, hopeful, and full of light—an invitation to meet yourself with compassion, reclaim your worth, and remember who you are underneath everything you’ve survived. CONNECT WITH SHANNON www.angelgoddesshealing.com WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE POD??? Click here to be featured in the podcast! WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY ANONYMOUSLY? EMAIL ME! @ radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com CONNECT WITH TAWNY! Email us your stories and questions! radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com Follow Tawny: @tawnypalm Watch us on YouTube

    1h 3m
  5. 91. FROM THE ARCHIVES - Kellyn Van Laere

    JAN 26

    91. FROM THE ARCHIVES - Kellyn Van Laere

    Send a text I’m opening the Radiant Resilience vault to re-share a conversation that’s incredibly dear to my heart — and also one of the most listened-to and downloaded episodes of the entire show. In this “From the Archives” episode, I sit down with my sweet best friend, Kellen, as she shares her story with a level of honesty that still takes my breath away. At just 21, Kellen became a caregiver as her dad battled lung cancer — and she ultimately lost him far too soon. A few years later, life asked the unimaginable again when her mom’s cancer returned and progressed, and Kellen found herself walking through another long, painful goodbye. We talk about what it’s like to grieve so young, the chaos of “life logistics” while your heart is shattering, the moments that change you forever, and the truth Kellen reminds us of so beautifully: grief is often the final act of love. If you’re a newer listener and haven’t gone back to the early episodes, I’m so glad you’re here for this one. Trigger Warning / Sensitive Topics: death of a parent, cancer, caregiving, anticipatory grief, intense grief/loss, medical trauma, mental health struggles, mention of suicide. If this episode feels tender for you today, please take care of yourself — pause, skip, or come back when you feel supported. This podcast is not a substitute for professional help. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or someone you trust. ✨ Until next time — keep choosing softness, truth, and resilience.1 WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE POD??? Click here to be featured in the podcast! WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY ANONYMOUSLY? EMAIL ME! @ radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com CONNECT WITH TAWNY! Email us your stories and questions! radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com Follow Tawny: @tawnypalm Watch us on YouTube

    1h 8m
  6. 90. Clara Schroeder - A Second Chance at Life

    JAN 19

    90. Clara Schroeder - A Second Chance at Life

    Send a text Trigger warning / sensitive topics to note Traumatic brain injury (TBI) / concussionsCar accident / rear-end collisionPTSD / hypervigilance / anxietyDepression (discussion of dark emotional periods)Medical trauma / feeling dismissed by providersChronic symptoms and long recovery / disability and limitationsGrief and identity loss after traumaIn this episode of Radiant Resilience, Tawny sits down with Clara Schroeder—eco-therapist, outdoor guide, and author—whose life changed in an instant after being rear-ended at a red light and sustaining a traumatic brain injury. Clara opens up about the brutal reality of an “invisible” injury: the dizziness, overstimulation, isolation, and depression that came with months of not being able to drive, read, tolerate screens, or even handle everyday environments like restaurants and grocery stores. She shares what didn’t work, what helped a little, and the turning point that changed everything—an intensive concussion rehab program at the University of Pittsburgh that challenged the “dark room and rest” narrative and helped her reclaim her life. We also talk about the emotional aftermath: PTSD, hypervigilance, grief over the version of yourself you lose, and the complicated road toward forgiveness. Clara explains what ecotherapy is, how nature became a healing partner in her recovery, and how that journey ultimately led to her book We Nature the People and a mission rooted in post-traumatic growth, nervous system healing, and reconnecting to the earth. If you’ve ever felt like your life got split into “before and after,” this conversation is for you—especially if you’re walking through something no one else can see. CONNECT WITH CLARA My website: claraschroeder.com My substack: https://claraschroeder.substack.com/ Instagram Handles: @livingwithclarity & @renaturebook Facebook: Living with Clarity Coaching LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/clara-schroeder-ma/ WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE POD??? Click here to be featured in the podcast! WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY ANONYMOUSLY? EMAIL ME! @ radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com CONNECT WITH TAWNY! Email us your stories and questions! radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com Follow Tawny: @tawnypalm Watch us on YouTube

    55 min
  7. 89. Radiant Reflections - A Truer Ending: Finding Peace, Identity, and Self-Trust

    JAN 12

    89. Radiant Reflections - A Truer Ending: Finding Peace, Identity, and Self-Trust

    Send a text Trigger Warning Topics Infertility & childlessnessGrief & loss (relationships, identity, expectations)Anxiety & nervous system dysregulationEmotional overwhelm & burnoutMental health strugglesPeople-pleasing & self-abandonmentTrauma & healing journeysAdoption & foster care (discussion, not pursuit)In this deeply personal Radiant Reflections solo episode, Tawny opens her heart and reflects on a heavy, transformative year—one marked by grief, growth, loss, healing, and the ongoing search for peace. From infertility and identity shifts, to outgrowing relationships, grieving versions of herself, navigating anxiety, boundaries, people-pleasing, and nervous system overwhelm, Tawny speaks candidly about what healing actually looks like when it’s messy, nonlinear, and unfinished. She explores themes like soul alchemy, trusting yourself, choosing alignment over comfort, letting go of timelines, and learning to love yourself while still unraveling. This episode is an honest conversation about resilience that isn’t loud, strength that doesn’t always feel strong, and endings that aren’t the ones we hoped for—but may still lead us closer to our truest selves. If you’re in a season of transition, grief, self-discovery, or quiet rebuilding, this episode is for you. You’re not alone. WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE POD??? Click here to be featured in the podcast! WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY ANONYMOUSLY? EMAIL ME! @ radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com CONNECT WITH TAWNY! Email us your stories and questions! radientresiliencepodcast@gmail.com Follow Tawny: @tawnypalm Watch us on YouTube

    40 min
5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Welcome to Radiant Resilience, the podcast where real people share their unfiltered stories of triumph, perseverance, and the raw realities of life. In a world dominated by curated social media narratives, it's easy to feel alone in our struggles. But the truth is, everyone faces challenges – some overcome them, others navigate through, and a few find themselves still in the midst of the storm. Tawny Palm invites you to join an open and honest conversation that goes beyond the highlight reel. These are not just success stories; these are real-life accounts of resilience in the face of adversity. In each episode, guests bravely step into the spotlight to recount their journeys, sharing the highs, lows, and the unexpected twists that have shaped them. You'll hear stories of triumph, stories of survival, and stories that are still unfolding. In the spirit of fostering genuine connections, Radiant Resilience encourages listeners to send in their own stories anonymously if they prefer. This podcast is a safe space where vulnerability is celebrated, and your struggles are not minimized. Why share these stories? Because, in the power of storytelling, we find solace. By listening to the experiences of others, we learn that we are not alone in our challenges. Radiant Resilience believes that sharing our stories can be a beacon of hope, a source of inspiration, and a reminder that resilience takes many forms. Through tough conversations, empathy, and a shared commitment to understanding, Radiant Resilience aims to break down the walls of isolation. Join us as we explore the depths of the human experience, embracing the good, the bad, and everything in between. Your story matters, and by sharing it, you contribute to a world where compassion and understanding flourish. Tune in to Radiant Resilience, because we all have a story to tell, and in our stories, we find strength.