Raised by Women

Willijah Dawson
  • 5.0 (6)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Raised by Women is a storytelling and leadership podcast exploring how our lives, energy, and direction are shaped by the influences that raise us. Hosted by Willijah Dawson, each episode features honest conversations and reflective insights on personal growth, life transitions, emotional and leadership patterns, and the lasting impact of mothers, mentors, caregivers, and cultural influences through presence, guidance, or absence. Blending storytelling with systems thinking and personal development, the show helps listeners recognize inherited patterns, restore clarity, and make intentional choices about how they live and lead. At its core, Raised by Women invites a deeper question: What is your story, who are you becoming, and what are you choosing to carry forward?

  1. 4D AGO

    Listening to the Body: Gut Health, Ancestral Wisdom, and Healing with Michelle Heberling

    What happens when you’ve done everything right… and your body still breaks? In this episode, Michelle shares the turning point that changed her life from growing up on a farm with real food and homegrown meals, to city living and processed convenience, to eventually landing in San Francisco at the start of the modern food movement. But the real shift came when her health collapsed. After 10 years of severe bleeding and anemia, repeated ER visits and procedures, injuries, infections, and a season of depression that left her feeling stuck, Michelle finally hit a breaking point with the medical merry-go-round. That’s when she began rebuilding her health from the ground up starting with fermented foods, the microbiome, and the ancestral practices we’ve largely forgotten. Michelle explains: Why fermented foods can support gut health, mood, and resilienceHow “sterilized” modern food systems affect our bodies (and why diversity matters)What she learned hosting off-grid events where people reset—physically and emotionallyHow she created her two-week “Gutsy Reset” framework (7 simple steps added to your current diet)Why monitoring digestion (yes… poop) is real data your body is giving youThe wisdom she inherited from her grandfather: Who did you help? What did you create? What did you learn?This conversation is part wellness, part legacy, part truth-telling: get back to basics, stop outsourcing your health, and start listening to your body again. Michelles Links & Resources Visit The Guts of Fermentation and download the free Gutsy Two-Week Reset. Website: https://thegutsoffermentation.com/FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheGutsofFermentationIG: https://www.instagram.com/thegutsoffermentatioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heberling/If this conversation stirred something in you, join the Inner Circle a private space for listeners and guests to stay connected and continue the reflection beyond the show www.willijahdawson.com/innercircle

    52 min

  2. FEB 3

    When the System Shapes the Family and How to Break Free with Dr. Karolina James

    What happens when you grow up in a system that never taught you freedom then spend your life reclaiming it? In this episode, Dr. James shares her journey from a post communist childhood in Europe to becoming a U.S. citizen, scholar, mother, and advocate for women healing from narcissistic abuse. After living in six countries and navigating generational trauma, rigid parenting, and coercive relationships, she reflects on identity, forgiveness, and the power of repair. We talk about: Growing up without emotional safety and how that shaped resilienceGenerational trauma without blame or shameLeaving academia to turn pain into purposeParenting with intention after traumaFaith as relationship, not religionWhy you are not your job, your past, or one single identityThis is a conversation about freedom, narcissist abuse, self-authorship, and choosing a different legacy for yourself and the next generation. To connect with Dr. James, visit her following sites: Website: https://echonomorecoaching.org/homeFB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579623976158IG: https://www.instagram.com/echonomorecoachingllcLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/echo-no-more-coachingIf this conversation stirred something in you, join the Inner Circle a private space for listeners and guests to stay connected and continue the reflection beyond the show www.willijahdawson.com/innercircle

    31 min

  3. JAN 27

    Becoming Unblocked: Doug Belkofer on Breaking Old Beliefs

    In this episode of Raised by Women, Doug reflects on the frustration of doing the books, listening to the podcasts, and doing the “work”only to find the same patterns repeating. A pivotal moment led him to examine belief-based filters formed in childhood, and how they shape what feels possible, how we show up in relationships, and what we quietly expect will end. As Doug begins to untangle stories like “I don’t matter” and “people leave,” a new path starts to open personally and professionally. We also talk about his parents relationship and the legacy of his mother a Gold Star mom and lifelong community leader whose courage and service stand worthy of respect regardless of political viewpoints, including introducing Barack Obama at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, and whose influence is woven into Doug’s life and work.  Watch his mom’s speech here → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CThvYYuvHvA If you’d like to connect with Doug you can find him via the following: FB: forgingtruthllcIG: forging_truthLinkedIn: forging-truth-llcWebsite: https://forgingtruth.com/If this conversation stirred something in you, join the Inner Circle a private space for listeners and guests to stay connected and continue the reflection beyond the show www.willijahdawson.com/innercircle

    30 min

  4. JAN 26

    Why This Podcast Exists (And Yes, the Name Changed Again)

    If your life didn’t follow a straight line and you’re in a season of making sense of it, you’re in the right place. Raised by Women reflects a name change that brings clearer language to the same heart exploring emotional inheritance and the experiences that quietly shape how we lead, decide, and carry responsibility. Join the Inner Circle: If something stirred or feels like it’s shifting, you’re invited to join us www.willijahdawson.com/innercircle Connect hang out with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willijahdawson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@willijahdawson

    9 min

  5. 05/08/2025

    The Martyr Syndrome

    Ever felt like everything would fall apart if you didn’t hold it all together? In this episode, I share my personal experience with martyr syndrome the silent burnout of being the one everyone counts on. The truth? People don’t need you as much as you think they do.

    10 min

  6. 05/01/2025

    People are Watching - Your Presence Inspires

    In today’s episode, we’re talking about what it means to lead, inspire, and create impact even when no one acknowledges you. If you’ve ever felt overlooked while others mimic your moves or take inspiration without credit, this one's for you. When you’re aligned, your presence shifts things. Whether they admit it or not, your work is working.

    11 min

  7. 04/25/2025

    Peace hits different when your spirit is grounded

    19 min

  8. 04/02/2025

    When the Future Reaches Back

    What if your future self is already shaping who you are today? In this solo episode, Be a Woman to Remember unpacks the quantum concept of retrocausality—the idea that the future can influence the past—and explores how this connects to intuitive leadership, burnout recovery, and energetic healing. You’ll hear: What retrocausality really meansA real story involving NASA and psychic dataHow to lead from your future self nowJoin Newsletter

    19 min
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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Raised by Women is a storytelling and leadership podcast exploring how our lives, energy, and direction are shaped by the influences that raise us. Hosted by Willijah Dawson, each episode features honest conversations and reflective insights on personal growth, life transitions, emotional and leadership patterns, and the lasting impact of mothers, mentors, caregivers, and cultural influences through presence, guidance, or absence. Blending storytelling with systems thinking and personal development, the show helps listeners recognize inherited patterns, restore clarity, and make intentional choices about how they live and lead. At its core, Raised by Women invites a deeper question: What is your story, who are you becoming, and what are you choosing to carry forward?

Information

  • Creator
    Willijah Dawson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Raised by Women
  • Show Website
    Raised by Women