Tender Space

Confidence
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Daily

Tender Space is a soft place for honest conversations about life, mental health, fading friendships, emotional exhaustion, healing, freedom, and the quiet struggles we carry alone. This podcast explores the parts of being human we don’t always know how to explain — overthinking at night, feeling lost in life, outgrowing people, trying to heal while still hurting, and learning how to exist in a world that can feel both beautiful and unfair. Through deep reflections, real conversations, and vulnerable storytelling, Tender Space reminds listeners that they are not alone in what they feel.

  1. 18h ago

    The Untold Stories of Ground Zero with Solange Schwalbe

    In this deeply meaningful conversation, Emmy Award-winning sound editor and author Solange Schwalbe takes us beyond her celebrated Hollywood career and into her extraordinary experience at Ground Zero following the September 11 attacks. After volunteering with the Salvation Army in New York City, Solange became a safety monitor inside the Pit, working alongside firefighters, police officers, and construction crews during the recovery effort. As one of only four women among more than 1,500 responders, she witnessed moments of courage, humanity, and loss that would stay with her forever. Through her memoir, I'm Not Supposed to Know This, Solange preserves the stories and experiences behind a moment in history that changed the world. Join us as we explore memory, service, resilience, and the importance of telling stories that might otherwise remain unheard. About the Guest Solange Schwalbe is an Emmy Award-winning Motion Picture Sound Editor with more than three decades of experience and over 175 film credits. A UCLA graduate, she has worked on productions including The Goonies, Gremlins, The Color Purple, Die Hard, Pirates of the Caribbean, Black Hawk Down, Moneyball, and HBO's John Adams. Following the September 11 attacks, she volunteered with the Salvation Army before becoming a safety monitor inside the Pit at Ground Zero, where she served for four months. Her memoir, I'm Not Supposed to Know This: An Unlikely Account of Ground Zero After the 9/11 Attacks, shares her firsthand account of the recovery effort and the people she encountered. Guest Link https://imnotsupposedtoknowthis.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/imnotsupposedtoknowthis

  2. 2d ago

    The Power of Sharing Your Story with Adam Torres

    What makes a story worth telling, and how can sharing our experiences help us connect with others? On this episode of Tender Space, we welcome Adam Torres, bestselling author, international speaker, and co-founder of Mission Matters. As the host of a globally distributed podcast series, Adam has interviewed entrepreneurs, executives, entertainers, athletes, and influential voices from around the world. We explore the power of storytelling, the courage it takes to put yourself out there, and the importance of staying authentic while pursuing success. Adam also reflects on his journey from financial services to media, the lessons he's learned from thousands of conversations, and the human connections that make meaningful storytelling possible. This conversation goes beyond podcasting and personal branding. It's about finding your voice, learning from others, and understanding that your experiences may hold value for someone who needs to hear them. Because sometimes, one honest story can make someone feel a little less alone. About the Guest Adam Torres is a global media executive, international speaker, and bestselling author of 1 Billion Podcasts: The Future of ALL Media. He is the co-founder of Mission Matters, a media, branding, and book publishing agency dedicated to amplifying the voices of entrepreneurs, entertainers, executives, and experts. As the host of Mission Matters' podcast series, Adam has accumulated millions of views and built an international audience. His work has been featured in media outlets including Forbes, Yahoo! Finance, CBS, and Fox Business. Before entering media and publishing, Adam spent more than 14 years in financial services, building relationships with business owners and high-net-worth families. Today, he combines his business experience and passion for storytelling to help people share their expertise, expand their reach, and make their voices heard. Guest Link https://www.askadamtorres.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamtorres8

  3. 2d ago

    Finding Strength, Belonging, and Inclusion with Jenna Udenberg

    On this episode of Tender Space, we welcome Jenna Udenberg, an author, disability advocate, accessibility educator, and founder of the nonprofit Above & Beyond With U. Diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis at seven years old and a wheelchair user since age eight, Jenna brings a deeply personal perspective to conversations about disability, resilience, identity, and belonging. Through her book, Within My Spokes, her writing, and her advocacy, Jenna encourages people to understand disability through lived experience rather than assumptions. We discuss growing up with a chronic condition, the importance of accessible spaces, the relationships that help us navigate difficult seasons, and what genuine inclusion looks like in everyday life. We also explore vulnerability, the courage to share our stories, and the responsibility we all have to make our communities more welcoming. This conversation is a reminder that accessibility is not simply about physical spaces. It's also about respect, listening, representation, and ensuring people have the opportunity to participate without being defined by their limitations. Join us for an honest conversation about breaking barriers, finding belonging, and creating a world where everyone has room to be themselves. About the Guest Jenna Udenberg is an author, disability advocate, accessibility educator, and lifelong resident of Minnesota's North Shore. Diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in childhood, she has used a manual wheelchair since the age of eight. A former music educator of 19 years, Jenna is a 2017 Blandin Foundation Community Leader and a 2020 Bush Fellow. Through her newspaper column, Local View from 4 foot 2, she encourages vulnerability and greater understanding by sharing perspectives drawn from her lived experiences. She is the author of Within My Spokes, which explores perseverance, healing, and the relationships that shape our lives. Through her nonprofit, Above & Beyond With U, Jenna champions accessibility, inclusion, and opportunities for people of all abilities to participate more fully in their communities. Guest Link https://www.aboveandbeyondwithu.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/above-beyond-with-u/

  4. 5d ago

    Breaking Old Patterns and Rebuilding Trust in Yourself with Jon McLernon

    Why is change so difficult, even when we know what we need to do? On this episode of Tender Space, we welcome Jon McLernon, a board-certified health and wellness coach, former nanotechnology researcher and Navy marine engineer, and creator of the NeuroQuit Method. Jon shares a deeply personal journey of surviving a near-fatal assault, navigating PTSD and anxiety, struggling with emotional eating, rebuilding after financial loss, and losing more than 100 pounds. Along the way, he discovered that lasting change required more than willpower, pressure, or self-criticism. It required understanding his behaviour, developing self-compassion, and learning to take consistent, sustainable action. Together, we explore why people repeat destructive patterns, how shame can make change harder, and why self-sabotage may sometimes be connected to attempts to cope with difficult emotions. We also discuss rebuilding self-trust, finding meaning after hardship, and creating habits that can withstand the pressures of everyday life. If you've ever felt frustrated with yourself for struggling to change, this conversation offers a reminder that you don't have to become perfect to move forward. You can begin by understanding your story, treating yourself with compassion, and taking one meaningful step at a time. About the Guest Jon McLernon is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Master Health and Nutrition Coach, certified personal trainer, stress management coach, and creator of the NeuroQuit Method. With a background in nanotechnology research and marine engineering, Jon brings a systems-oriented perspective to behaviour change. His coaching draws on neuroscience, psychology, health principles, and lived experience to help people better understand patterns involving emotional eating, addiction, anxiety, burnout, and self-sabotage. Having navigated trauma, financial loss, and his own struggles with destructive habits, Jon is passionate about helping people move beyond shame and build sustainable change through self-awareness, compassion, structure, and consistent action. Guest Link https://tidycal.com/coachjon/15-minute-meeting https://jonathanmclernon.substack.com/

  5. Oct 25

    Healing Your Relationship with Money and Yourself with Pericles Rellas

    What if your relationship with money is shaped by more than your income, spending habits, or financial circumstances? On this episode of Tender Space, we welcome Pericles Rellas, a money mindset and manifestation expert who has spent more than 30 years helping people examine their beliefs about money, develop greater financial awareness, and work toward the lives they want to create. We explore his concept of the Financial Thermostat, the influence of childhood money messages, and the ways fear, guilt, self-worth, and deeply rooted beliefs can affect our financial choices. We also discuss manifestation, personal responsibility, and the importance of pairing a healthy mindset with practical action. This conversation goes beyond wealth. It's an opportunity to reflect on what money means to us, how our experiences shape our expectations, and whether the stories we tell ourselves are helping us move toward the future we want. If you've ever felt stuck in familiar financial patterns or wondered why changing your circumstances can feel so difficult, this episode offers questions worth exploring. Disclaimer: This conversation explores Pericles's personal approach to money mindset and manifestation. Financial outcomes are influenced by many factors, including income, circumstances, and practical decisions; mindset practices do not guarantee specific results. About the Guest Pericles Rellas is a money mindset and manifestation expert with more than three decades of experience helping people explore their relationship with money and themselves. His work centers on the concept of the Financial Thermostat—his term for the internal beliefs, expectations, and emotional patterns he believes influence how people earn, keep, and experience money. Through his approach, Pericles encourages people to examine their financial conditioning and work toward greater financial confidence, freedom, and alignment with their goals. He also offers educational resources, including a free webinar about the Financial Thermostat and its relationship to manifestation. Guest Link https://www.periclesrellas.com/

  6. Oct 25

    Rebuilding Your Life and Learning to Listen to Your Body with Hollyanna Vellichor

    What happens when the life you've always known suddenly falls apart—and you have to discover who you are all over again? On this episode of Tender Space, we welcome Hollyanna Fisher, a wellness practitioner whose journey of leaving a high-control religious community, rebuilding her life after homelessness, and navigating chronic pain and complex trauma led her to explore the body's adaptive responses. Hollyanna shares the experiences and questions behind Bio Coding™, her evolving framework for exploring the relationship between the nervous system, movement, sensation, and human adaptation. We talk about identity, grief, resilience, chronic pain, and what it means to approach our struggles with curiosity rather than judgment. This conversation also invites us to reconsider what recovery can mean, how we rebuild after losing our sense of belonging, and how we begin to understand ourselves beyond the identities we've inherited. If you've ever felt disconnected from yourself, struggled to make sense of your experiences, or wondered whether a new beginning is possible after profound loss, this episode offers space for reflection and meaningful questions. Note: Bio Coding™ is Hollyanna's evolving approach; the discussion explores her perspective and experiences rather than presenting the framework as an established medical treatment. About the Guest Hollyanna Fisher is a UK-based wellness practitioner, educator, and speaker whose work focuses on nervous system recovery, chronic pain, trauma, resilience, and human adaptation. After leaving a high-control religious community in 2022, Hollyanna faced significant personal losses while navigating complex PTSD and fibromyalgia. Her experiences, combined with her background as a competitive athlete and her work with clients, inspired her to explore the relationship between bodily responses, movement, sensation, and lived experience. She developed Bio Coding™ and Bio Intelligent Movement, evolving frameworks through which she explores body-led recovery and adaptive patterns. Hollyanna's work encourages people to become curious about their experiences and consider new ways of understanding their bodies. Guest Link https://www.hollyannavellichor.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-anna-7737652b2 https://www.instagram.com/hollyannavellichor?vrfl=ajY0MHpsc3FoNm5l

  7. Oct 24

    Finding Peace After Childhood Trauma with Donna Donahue

    Can we find peace after a childhood filled with pain? And what does healing look like when the past continues to affect the present? On this episode of Tender Space, we welcome Donna Donahue, a psychotherapist specializing in trauma recovery and a survivor of complex childhood trauma. Drawing from her personal healing journey and more than 20 years of studying trauma and healing approaches, Donna shares insights into self-awareness, emotional regulation, inner-child work, and learning to care for ourselves in healthier ways. We discuss the long road toward self-compassion, why healing isn't always linear, and how survivors can begin building a sense of safety and peace. Donna also shares the story behind her memoir, Witness Awakening: Finding Peace and Healing in the Midst of Childhood Trauma, written under the pseudonym Marie McCarthy. This is a compassionate conversation about moving beyond survival, reclaiming your sense of self, and discovering that a more peaceful life may be possible, even after profound pain. A gentle reminder: You don't have to heal all at once, and you don't have to do it alone. About the Guest Donna Donahue is a psychotherapist specializing in trauma recovery, with a personal history of complex childhood trauma and decades of experience working toward her own healing. She has studied trauma and healing techniques for more than 20 years and draws on approaches including Internal Family Systems (IFS), inner-child work, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness, acceptance-based techniques, art, and psycho-spiritual practices. Donna takes a self-empowerment approach to healing, helping clients develop practical tools for self-awareness, calming difficult emotions, understanding younger parts of themselves, and responding to their needs with greater care. She is also the author of Witness Awakening: Finding Peace and Healing in the Midst of Childhood Trauma, published under the pseudonym Marie McCarthy. Through her personal story and professional work, Donna hopes to help fellow survivors experience greater well-being, self-understanding, and peace. Guest Link https://www.amazon.com/Witness-Awakening-Finding-Healing-Childhood/dp/1986039099 https://www.instagram.com/donnadonahuelcsw?cplk=c2g5ZjRpYTc0dnp2

  8. Oct 23

    Reclaiming Our Humanity in the Age of AI with Sasikanth Battula

    Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, think, communicate, and live. But as technology advances, how do we make sure we don't lose our independence along the way? On this episode of Tender Space, we welcome Sasikanth Battula, AI pioneer, founder of Hola AI, and author of AI Jobs and AI SiCK. Drawing on three decades of Silicon Valley leadership, Sasi shares his perspective on the future of work, the growing influence of algorithms, and the importance of preserving human agency in an increasingly automated world. We explore the anxiety surrounding AI and job security, the difference between competing with machines and learning to direct them, and the psychological risks of relying too heavily on technology. We also discuss how innovation can serve humanity without replacing our judgment, relationships, and instincts. This is a conversation about more than artificial intelligence. It's about choice, responsibility, and remembering that even as technology becomes more powerful, we still have a role in shaping the future we want to live in. About the Guest Sasikanth Battula is an AI pioneer, Silicon Valley technology leader, founder of Hola AI, and author of AI Jobs and the dystopian fiction series AI SiCK. With three decades of leadership experience, he has helped bring AI-powered healthcare solutions to market, contributed to technology serving large global populations, and conducted what he describes as the first-ever live interview with an artificial intelligence. Through Hola AI, Sasi focuses on helping professionals navigate AI-driven changes in the workplace, strengthen their career prospects, and develop the skills to direct technology rather than compete with it. His writing also explores the cultural, psychological, and human consequences of becoming increasingly dependent on algorithms and connected devices. His work encourages people to approach AI with awareness, practical preparation, and a commitment to preserving human agency. Guest Link https://books2read.com/ap/nmv6Az/Sasikanth-Battula https://sasibattula.carrd.co/

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5
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About

Tender Space is a soft place for honest conversations about life, mental health, fading friendships, emotional exhaustion, healing, freedom, and the quiet struggles we carry alone. This podcast explores the parts of being human we don’t always know how to explain — overthinking at night, feeling lost in life, outgrowing people, trying to heal while still hurting, and learning how to exist in a world that can feel both beautiful and unfair. Through deep reflections, real conversations, and vulnerable storytelling, Tender Space reminds listeners that they are not alone in what they feel.

Information

  • Creator
    Confidence
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    164
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Confidence
  • Show Website
    Tender Space