Finally Seen

Chrissy Bernal
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Finally Seen™ is a curiosity-fueled podcast for ambitious women who are ready to move to the next level, personally, professionally, and spiritually, but feel unseen, out of sync, or stuck playing small. Hosted by Chrissy Bernal, Visibility Strategist and Brand Architect, this podcast blends bold conversations with real-life reinvention to help you show up fully and be recognized for who you truly are, not just what you do. Here, we believe women are never just one thing. We honor the complexity of your story, and we celebrate your desire to grow. From business and branding to motherhood, mindset, and personal power, this is a space for women (ok, men, too heehee) who are done hiding and ready to lead. Because when we share their stories, we create momentum for ourselves and for others. Whether you're building a brand, launching a platform, or rebuilding your sense of self, you’ll walk away from each episode feeling seen, supported, and strategically aligned with your next-level vision.

  1. Who Are You After Loss? Caregiving, Grief, and Finding Yourself Again with Suzy McNamara

    MAR 17

    Who Are You After Loss? Caregiving, Grief, and Finding Yourself Again with Suzy McNamara

    Who are you when the roles you’ve built your life around begin to disappear? In this week’s episode of the Finally Seen™ podcast, join us for this powerful and deeply human conversation as we sit down with author Suzy McNamara to explore what it really means to love through loss and rebuild yourself in the aftermath. After losing both her husband to early-onset Alzheimer’s and her sister within the same year, Suzy shares the unfiltered truth of caregiving, anticipatory grief, and the identity shift no one prepares you for. If you’ve ever found yourself asking, who am I now? Let this conversation inspire you to become someone new, on purpose. In this episode, we’ll explore: The identity shift from partner to caregiver and what gets lost along the wayWhy anticipatory grief hits differently and how it reshapes your realityThe emotional toll of early-onset Alzheimer’s on marriage and familyHow faith can anchor you when nothing makes senseThe power of storytelling, honesty, and community in healingWhat it really takes to rebuild after profound loss This episode is sponsored by: Bobelo (Use code ChrissyBernal15% at checkout to get 15% off!) Bio: Suzy McNamara is an author, poet, mother of four, fundraiser, lawyer, Secular Carmelite, and widow. In 2024, she lost her husband of 37 years, Bob McNamara, to Posterior Cortical Atrophy, an aggressive form of early-onset Alzheimer’s, after caring for him for five years in their home. Months before her husband died, her sister and best friend, Elizabeth Muslin, died from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. She dove into her grief and trauma to write this memoir as both a love letter to her husband and her sister, and to begin a conversation with her fellow caregivers and sisters-in-arms in the battle of loss and grief. As Suzy writes, grief is a lonely sport and building community and companionship is key to survival. Suzy writes honestly about the physical and emotional challenges of caregiving, but also celebrates the magic of love and connection with the ones she lost and the ones who walked with her during the journey of loss. Suzy shared her lifelong love of books, movies, and music with her husband and her sister and  now finds great joy in sharing those interests with her children. She fights back the loneliness of grief by immersing herself in her sustaining faith practices and by surrounding herself with those four wonderful adult children and the community of friends that she and her husband built together.  Website: suzymcnamara.com/ Facebook: facebook.com/suzy.mcnamara LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/suzymcnamara  Instagram: instagram.com/mcnamara.suzy beabetterbrand.com/

    58 min
  2. When Your Body Is Fighting You: Autoimmune Illness, Advocacy, and the Power of Food with Annie Toro Lopez

    MAR 11

    When Your Body Is Fighting You: Autoimmune Illness, Advocacy, and the Power of Food with Annie Toro Lopez

    What happens when your own body becomes the battleground? In this week’s episode of the Finally Seen™ podcast, we welcome author and autoimmune advocate Annie Toro Lopez for a candid conversation about resilience, healing, and learning to advocate for yourself when the medical system doesn’t always listen. Annie was diagnosed with lupus in her twenties and later faced celiac disease during a season of deep personal loss. What followed was a powerful journey of reclaiming her health, understanding the role of food as foundational medicine, and building community for women navigating autoimmune challenges. Listen in as we explore the emotional and physical realities of autoimmune illness, how women are often dismissed in healthcare, and why self-advocacy is one of the most powerful tools we have.  If you've ever felt dismissed, overwhelmed by your health, or like your body is working against you, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone and that healing often begins with reclaiming your voice. In This Episode: Annie’s lupus diagnosis and the long road to answersThe reality of living with autoimmune illnessWhy women’s health issues are often dismissedFood as a powerful tool for healing and resilienceBuilding community and connection while navigating chronic illnessThe mindset shift from surviving to advocating for yourself This episode is sponsored by: Bobelo (Use code ChrissyBernal15% at checkout to get 15% off!) Bio: Annie Toro Lopez is an author, chef, and transformational speaker who teaches audiences how to thrive through life's challenges. She reversed lupus through visualization, nutrition, and mind/body/gut connection. Later, while navigating profound personal loss and a celiac diagnosis while competing in a national cooking competition, she proved again how mindset and food can fundamentally transform health.  A former teacher whose students achieved top rankings, Annie authored Simply Gluten-Free: Real Ingredients for Everyday Life and founded DAWN - the Denver Area Women's Network, supporting 500+ women through life's transitions. With 20 years of documented lupus remission and a lifetime of overcoming ‘impossible’ challenges, Annie helps audiences and community members discover that healing begins with how you speak to yourself, and that self-care is not selfish. Website: https://www.annietorolopez.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-toro-lopez-a410b330/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@annietorolopez7781 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annie.toro.lopez/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@annietorolopez beabetterbrand.com/

    47 min
  3. Healing Childhood Trauma as a High-Functioning Woman: From Survival to Self-Love with Beth Jones

    MAR 3

    Healing Childhood Trauma as a High-Functioning Woman: From Survival to Self-Love with Beth Jones

    What happens when a woman who uncovers hidden fraud around the world realizes she’s been hiding her own pain? In this week’s episode of the Finally Seen™ podcast, we welcome Beth Jones, a former global forensic investigator turned healing mentor, to unpack what it really means to heal childhood trauma while still performing at the highest level. For more than 30 years, Beth led complex investigations across 35+ countries. As an investigator, she was sharp, strategic, respected, and high-functioning. But behind the professional polish was a 45-year survival wall built to protect her from childhood sexual abuse she had buried since age five. A hypnotherapy session brought everything to the surface. What followed was a courageous unraveling. And ultimately, a powerful rebuilding rooted in hope, evolution, and love. Listen now and take the next step toward healing that actually transforms. In this episode, we talk about: • Why high-achieving women often use work as an escape • The difference between “couch therapy” and trauma therapy • Somatic healing, emotional regulation, and stored trauma • Letting go of shame that was never yours to carry • Why self-love is the true foundation of every relationship This episode is sponsored by: Bobelo (Use code ChrissyBernal15% at checkout to get 15% off!) Bio: Beth Jones is a former global forensic accountant turned healing mentor, bestselling author, and founder of Empowered Survivors. For more than 30 years, Beth investigated fraud and white-collar crime across 35+ countries, uncovering truth inside corporate ledgers while hiding her own trauma behind a professional mask. From the outside, she was successful and high-functioning. Behind the scenes, she was living in survival mode. At age 50, a hypnotherapy session brought buried memories of childhood sexual abuse to the surface and changed the trajectory of her life. What felt like a breakdown became the beginning of a profound transformation. Today, Beth mentors others through her HEAL Framework™ — to Hope, Evolve, And Love — guiding survivors from survival to joy, peace, and self-love. Through her book Becoming an Empowered Survivor, her podcast Let’s HEAL! with Beth Jones, and her growing television platform, she shares one powerful truth: You can heal. And you do not have to walk the journey alone. Website: https://empoweredsurvivors.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethjoneshealingmentor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BethJonesHEALingMentor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethjoneshealingmentor beabetterbrand.com/

    1h 5m
  4. Book Proposal Secrets: The Truth About Book Deal Advances, Literary Agents, and Getting Traditionally Published with Debra Eckerling

    FEB 17

    Book Proposal Secrets: The Truth About Book Deal Advances, Literary Agents, and Getting Traditionally Published with Debra Eckerling

    So many ambitious authors think the answer is to just publish the book. But what if that decision is costing you more than money? In this week’s episode of the Finally Seen™ podcast, we sit down with book proposal expert Debra Eckerling to explore what most authors misunderstand about publishing. We’ll talk about why so many authors waste money on the wrong hybrid publisher, what traditional publishers are actually looking for, and why a book proposal is a strong positioning tool that can open many more doors for your book. This conversation is equal parts candid truth and powerful strategy. We break down advances, literary agents, distribution myths, and what it really takes to get your ideas into the right hands. If you’ve been thinking about writing a book or you’re debating how to publish, this episode will help you think bigger. Because if done right, your book can be a product of a visibility strategy that positions you to be seen, heard, and paid. In This Episode: The Moment You Realize Your Book Is Bigger Than You ThinkOwning the Niche No One ClaimedThe Publishing Lie Most Authors Still BelieveTraditional vs. Hybrid: What You’re Really Paying ForAdvances, Royalties, and the Myth of “Losing Control”Why a Book Proposal Changes Everything, Even If You Self-PublishWhat Literary Agents Actually Look For in 2026Visibility Is the Real Currency of PublishingIf You’ve Been Thinking About Writing a Book… Listen to This This episode is sponsored by: Bobelo (Use code ChrissyBernal15% at checkout to get 15% off!) Bio: Debra Eckerling is The Book Proposal Expert. An award-winning author and speaker, she works with thought leaders to turn their ideas into impactful nonfiction books. She helps clients clarify their vision, develop persuasive proposals, and navigate the publishing world. Debra is the creator of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified and the author of Your Goal Guide (IPPY Silver Medal, Self-Help) and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting. She hosts GoalChat, Taste Buds with Deb (LA Press Club SoCal Journalism Awards, 1st Place), and the Book Proposal Podcast, and has spoken for TEDx, Innovation Women, Writer’s Digest, the Women’s National Book Association, Wellcoaches, and the LA County Bar Association.  Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with Deb on LinkedIn. Website: https://thebookproposalexpert.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coastbunny/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedebmethod/ beabetterbrand.com/

    58 min
  5. Recovering Overachievers, This Is Why Burnout Keeps Finding You with Erika Coleman

    FEB 4

    Recovering Overachievers, This Is Why Burnout Keeps Finding You with Erika Coleman

    What if the thing holding you back is not a lack of discipline, ambition, or drive, but the belief that success requires self-sacrifice? In this week’s episode of the Finally Seen™ podcast, we welcome speaker and organizational psychologist Erika Coleman for a candid, science-backed conversation about burnout, overachieving, and why so many high-performing women are quietly exhausted. Erika shares her personal journey through grief, business loss, and recovery, along with the powerful insight that changed everything: you can give your best without giving your all. We’ll explore why “doing everything right” still breaks so many women, how stress actually works in the body, and what sustainable high performance really looks like. This episode is for the woman who is capable, driven, and deeply caring but tired of paying for her success with her health, presence, and joy. If you are ready to stop white-knuckling your way through ambition and start building a life and brand that honors your full humanity, this conversation is for you. In This Episode: Why Overachieving Is Failing High-Performing WomenWhen Doing Everything Right Still Breaks YouThe Overachiever’s Trap No One Talks AboutOverachieving vs Even AchievingThe Dark Side of “Good” IntentionsWhy Self-Care Isn’t Working for High AchieversThe Science of Stress and Sustainable PerformanceWhen You Become Your Own Biggest RivalLearned Confidence vs Embodied ConfidenceBusyness Is Blocking Your Biggest ImpactTwo Questions That Reveal Burnout EarlyRecalibrating Without ShameGiving Your Best Without Losing Yourself This episode is sponsored by: Bobelo (Use code ChrissyBernal15% at checkout to get 15% off!) Bio: Erika Coleman is a speaker, organizational psychologist, and recovering overachiever who helps high-performing leaders achieve more without burning themselves out. She is the founder of a multimillion-dollar virtual training company and holds a master’s degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Harvard University. After navigating profound burnout alongside personal loss, Erika became deeply curious about stress, motivation, and what sustainable success actually requires. Today, she blends research-backed insight with lived experience to help individuals and teams redefine high performance in a way that protects their health, relationships, and sense of purpose. Through keynotes, workshops, and executive coaching, Erika challenges the belief that success must come at the cost of well-being and offers a smarter, more humane path forward. Her work empowers ambitious people to give their best without giving their all. Website: https://www.erikacolemanspeaks.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-coleman-1591b435/ beabetterbrand.com/

    51 min
  6. Why Demographics Are Dead and What Actually Drives Human Behavior with David Allison

    JAN 21

    Why Demographics Are Dead and What Actually Drives Human Behavior with David Allison

    What if everything we were taught about understanding people is wrong? In this week’s episode of the Finally Seen™ podcast, we welcome David Allison, one of the world’s leading experts on human values, a best-selling author,  and the founder of The Valuegraphics Project. David breaks down why age, gender, income, and other demographic labels no longer work and what actually drives human behavior, decision-making, and loyalty. This conversation goes deep into values, neuroscience, brand strategy, leadership, and visibility. You’ll learn why values shape everything from how people buy to how they trust, follow, and commit, and how understanding what matters most to your audience makes your message clearer, your impact stronger, and your presence more magnetic. If you’re building a brand, leading people, or trying to connect without shrinking or performing, this episode will change how you see your audience and yourself. In This Episode: ​​Why Demographics Are Dead in Marketing and BrandingWhat Actually Drives Human Behavior and Decision-MakingValues vs. Age, Gender, and Income: What Marketers Get WrongHow the Brain Uses Values to Choose, Buy, and TrustThe Neuroscience of Values, Dopamine, Alignment, and AnxietyWhy Stereotypes Fail and How They Damage ConnectionBrand Strategy Built on Human Values, Not LabelsCorporate Values vs. Human Values: The Critical DifferenceHow Understanding Values Creates Loyalty and TrustWhy Shared Values Matter More Than Political or Cultural DividesUsing Values to Lead, Communicate, and Build Stronger CulturesHow Values Shape Visibility, Messaging, and Personal BoundariesWhy Knowing What Matters Most Changes EverythingA New Way to See Your Audience and Yourself This episode is sponsored by: Bobelo (Use code ChrissyBernal15% at checkout to get 15% off!) Bio: David Allison is a human values expert, global researcher, and two-time best-selling author. He is the founder of the Valuegraphics Project, an organization devoted to a simple goal – influencing outcomes with shared human values. The Valuegraphics Research Company is one division of the Valuegraphics Project, with a team of researchers and project managers who help organizations understand how to engage and influence the people they want to reach. David coined the term valuegraphics for an entirely new type of predictive audience insights, which organizations like PayPal, lululemon, Five Star School Supplies, Google, and the United Nations Foundation have embraced. His work has been written about in Forbes Magazine, Harvard Business Review, Business Insider, and INC Magazine. The World Economic Forum published his findings, and valuegraphics are now included–next to demographics–in college textbooks used around the world. David speaks internationally and helps brands use valuegraphic data to engage, motivate, and inspire the people they want to reach. INC Magazine named his last book one of the ten best leadership books of the year, and Kirkus Reviews called his new bestseller, The Death of Demographics, “convincing, insightful, and...revolutionary.” Website:  https://www.davidallisoninc.com/ https://valuegraphics.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidallisoninc/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidallisoninc/ beabetterbrand.com/

    58 min
  7. When Your Nervous System Is Asking for Help, and You’re Too Busy to Notice with Roxy Saran

    JAN 14

    When Your Nervous System Is Asking for Help, and You’re Too Busy to Notice with Roxy Saran

    Are you ready to pivot your life in a new direction?  Life transitions don’t always announce themselves loudly. Sometimes they show up as exhaustion, anxiety, disrupted sleep, or the quiet feeling that something is off. In this week’s episode of the Finally Seen™ podcast, Roxy Saran shares her journey of transformation from a successful essential oil business to becoming a women’s life coach and what it really looks like to listen to your body in seasons of change. From nervous system dysregulation and burnout to faith, identity, and sustainable wellness, Roxy shares practical tools to help high-achieving women restore balance without shame or self-abandonment. This conversation challenges the idea that constant stress and exhaustion are normal and offers a more grounded path forward, one rooted in grace, awareness, and alignment. If you are building a full life and a meaningful business and feel like you are running on empty, this episode is your permission to pause, recalibrate, and come back to yourself. In This Episode: When Burnout Doesn’t Look Like BurnoutListening to Your Body in Seasons of ChangeNervous System Dysregulation in WomenJust Because It’s Common Doesn’t Mean It’s NormalFaith, Stillness, and DiscernmentGrace Over Guilt. Balance Over Burnout.Coming Back to Yourself This episode is sponsored by: Bobelo (Use code ChrissyBernal15% at checkout to get 15% off!) Bio: Roxy Saran is a women’s business and life coach who has helped over 1,000 women worldwide reclaim clarity, confidence, and balance since 2012. She works with high-achieving women, including CEOs and founders generating up to $5M in sales, supporting them through business growth, family dynamics, health, sleep, marriage, and motherhood. Known for her direct, results-driven coaching style, Roxy helps women identify and break limiting thought patterns to create rapid, sustainable breakthroughs. Her work is designed for women in their 30s and 40s who want to reduce stress and anxiety, stop waking up exhausted, and feel like themselves again, without sacrificing success. Website: https://roxysaran.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxy.saran/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxy-saran-b4490119/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roxysaran/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@roxysaran YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RoxySaran beabetterbrand.com/

    54 min
  8. The Truth About Becoming a Bestselling Author with Alexa Bigwarfe

    JAN 6

    The Truth About Becoming a Bestselling Author with Alexa Bigwarfe

    Why do so many authors feel frustrated, invisible, or exhausted after publishing a book? In this week’s episode of the Finally Seen™ podcast, we sit down with Alexa Bigwarfe, USA Today bestselling author and founder of Write Publish Sell, for an honest conversation about why so many authors struggle and what it actually takes to build publishing success differently. From collaborative bestsellers and realistic sales expectations to motherhood, health, visibility, and building teams that support real life, this episode pulls back the curtain on the publishing industry. If you are an author, creative, or thought leader who wants impact, income, and longevity without hustle culture, this conversation will help you rethink what success really looks like. In This Episode: Turning passion into a publishing businessWhat it really takes to become a bestselling authorMotherhood, entrepreneurship, and redefining successThe hidden cost of hustle culture and health wake-up callsWhy most authors struggle financiallyBooks, AI, and the future of creative workVisibility, promotion, and building genuine communityAdvice for women ready to stop hiding and be seen This episode is sponsored by: Bobelo (Use code ChrissyBernal15% at checkout to get 15% off!) Bio: Alexa Bigwarfe is a USA Today best-selling author, publishing coach, and founder of Write|Publish|Sell. She helps women and underrepresented voices publish professional books, build platforms, and grow businesses around their expertise. As the creator of the Women in Publishing Summit, Alexa brings together thousands of authors and publishing professionals each year to learn, connect, and amplify diverse voices in publishing. Whether guiding authors through powerful book launches or helping them turn their stories into tools for impact, Alexa is passionate about helping women use their words to inspire change. She also writes romantic comedies under the pen name Lexi Haddock. Website:  https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/ https://writepublishsell.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/writepublishsell/ https://www.instagram.com/alexabigwarfe/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexabigwarfe/ beabetterbrand.com/

    56 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Finally Seen™ is a curiosity-fueled podcast for ambitious women who are ready to move to the next level, personally, professionally, and spiritually, but feel unseen, out of sync, or stuck playing small. Hosted by Chrissy Bernal, Visibility Strategist and Brand Architect, this podcast blends bold conversations with real-life reinvention to help you show up fully and be recognized for who you truly are, not just what you do. Here, we believe women are never just one thing. We honor the complexity of your story, and we celebrate your desire to grow. From business and branding to motherhood, mindset, and personal power, this is a space for women (ok, men, too heehee) who are done hiding and ready to lead. Because when we share their stories, we create momentum for ourselves and for others. Whether you're building a brand, launching a platform, or rebuilding your sense of self, you’ll walk away from each episode feeling seen, supported, and strategically aligned with your next-level vision.

Information

  • Creator
    Chrissy Bernal
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Finally Seen
  • Show Website
    Finally Seen