Brilliantly Resilient

Mary Fran Bontempo
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What's your train wreck? Everyone has one–past, present, or future. But why do some people come through stronger while others never recover? Hang on for the ride as Mary Fran teaches you to move beyond crisis to discover your Brilliance and Resilience. You'll face challenges with strategies to come through brilliant, not broken, for personal and professional fulfillment and success!

  1. 4D AGO

    Episode 237: How to Avoid Self-Sabotage Through "Tapping" and EFT with Therapist and Author Carol Looke

    “Resilience isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about aligning what you want with what your system feels safe enough to allow.” ~ Carol Looke: Therapist, Coach and Author of The Yes Code and Yes Thank You   Are you sabotaging yourself? The obvious question is, "Why would anyone do that?" The not so obvious answer is that you may not know you're doing it. Carol Looke is a renowned therapist, author and coach who explores how resilience and forward momentum can be blocked not by lack of effort, but by unconscious sabotage and unresolved nervous system stress. Carol (who grew up with two alcoholic parents) explains that we often live in survival mode--a mindset that focuses on keeping us safe and avoiding potential harm, whether the risk of harm is real or not. In an effort to avoid harm, the mind creates obstacles to risk, ultimately keeping us stuck. Our emotional stress, internal resistance, and self-sabotage also live in the body and nervous system, not just in our thoughts. So what to do? One helpful solution, consistently applied, relies on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), one portion of which relies on "tapping." Tapping relies on releasing stored emotional tension by tapping on points on the head and upper body while repeating positive affirmations. (On a personal aside, I thought tapping was downright silly--until I tried it!) A nervous-system-based approach, tapping creates safety, awareness and emotional alignment--encouraging momentum without forcing change. Carol's work and her book The Yes Code—help people identify the invisible “no’s” that keep them stuck and transform those patterns into forward momentum, building resilience through intentional action, clarity and self-permission. Living a Brilliantly Resilient life requires reflection as well as action. Once we recognize our internral resistance and yes, self-sabotage, we can move from frustration and burnout as we align our bodies and minds to allow our brilliance to shine.  Learn more about Carol and The Yes Code here and use this link for bonuses. Tune into this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast for more of Carol's wisdom and listen for these additional bits of brilliance: “Sabotage isn’t a character flaw—it’s an internal conflict that hasn’t been resolved yet.” “When people keep trying to push forward but can’t, it’s usually because part of them is saying no beneath the surface.” “The Yes Code is about finding those unconscious no’s and turning them into conscious yeses.” “Stress lives in the nervous system, not just in our thoughts, and it has to be released—not reasoned away.” “When you calm the nervous system, clarity and motivation follow naturally.” “Emotionally focused work helps people feel safe enough to change, instead of forcing themselves to change.” “Tapping allows the body to release emotional conflict so the mind doesn’t have to keep fighting itself.” “When internal resistance dissolves, success stops feeling like a battle.” “Resilience isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about aligning what you want with what your system feels safe enough to allow.”

    40 min

  2. JAN 25

    Episode 236: Turning Grief into Resilience with a Purpose, with Author, Patient Advocate and Blue Faery Founder Andrea Wilson Woods

    “Resilience doesn’t mean you’re not broken—it means you keep going anyway.” ~ Andrea Wilson Woods, Author of Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days, Patient Advocate and Founder of Blue Faery   Grief. The loss of someone we love is likely the most devastating of human experiences. And while death is a part of life, the death of a young person proves particularly wrenching. Author of Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days, Andrea Wilson Woods suffered the loss of her younger sister Adrienne after a desperately critical and short illness due to a rare liver cancer. Adrienne's illness and death affected Andrea in countless ways, among them hopelessness leading to thoughts of suicide. Ultimately, Andrea began to channel her grief into advocacy, noting the lack of resources for patients and families during her sister's illness.  Refusing to let despair consume her, Andrea began to take intention, imperfect action to address the needs of families and patients and founded Blue Faery, an organization created to provide education, support, and hope to those affected by bile duct cancer. What began as a response to personal heartbreak evolved into a mission-driven community—one rooted in compassion, awareness, and resilience. Blue Faery exists not because the journey was easy, but because Andrea chose to respond rather than retreat. Andrea's journey personifies how to live a Brilliantly Resilient life--evolving and resetting in the midst of terrible challenges, rising through advocacy and action, and ultimately revealing brilliance through service to others. Her journey reminds us that resilience doesn’t erase grief—it gives us a way to move with it, transform it, and use it to light the path for others walking a similar road. To learn more, visit Andrea's website and tune into this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast for more of Andrea's wisdom. Listen for these additional bits of Brilliance: “We were overwhelmed, scared, and grieving—but we also knew we had to do something.” “Advocacy became a lifeline for us when everything else felt out of control.” “Watching someone you love fight cancer takes an emotional toll you can’t fully explain.” “Adrienne wanted to help others even while she was fighting for her own life.” “Blue Faery’s mission is to educate, support, and bring hope to patients and families affected by bile duct cancer.” “There were days when resilience looked like simply getting through the day.” “We didn’t have a roadmap—we learned as we went.” “Taking action gave us a sense of purpose in the middle of so much pain.” “Grief and hope can exist at the same time.” “Resilience doesn’t mean you’re not broken—it means you keep going anyway.” “If our experience could help even one family feel less alone, then it mattered.” Thank you Andrea and Adrienne for your brave hearts. Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together. XO, Mary Fran

    43 min

  3. JAN 19

    Episode 235: How to Practice Active Hope and Build Resilience with Author and Speaker Jay Armstrong

    “Maybe we don’t need the new year to make us new— maybe we just need the courage to let go.”   ~ Jay Armstrong, Award winning writer, speaker, humorist. Author of A Good Calamity, Follow Your Dreams Down and other inspirational books   What if, instead of piling things on to improve ourselves over this new year, we simply let some things go? Award winning author and speaker Jay Armstrong has had to release much in his life, primarily due to his struggle with Ataxia, a neurological disease that causes a lack of muscle control affecting balance, walking speech and fine motor skills. As a result, Jay has found ways to create resilience every day in ways big, small and unexpected. In this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, Jay invites us to rethink resilience not as grit-your-teeth endurance, but as a daily, evolving practice rooted in presence. Jay notes that resilience isn’t about fixing ourselves or racing toward some imagined future version, it’s about showing up fully in the body and life we have right now. Whether it’s turning off distractions, focusing on the next step (literally or figuratively), or simply being present for the moment in front of us, resilience begins when we focus on the now. As a practitioner of active hope—the idea that hope grows through movement, action, and personal engagement—Jay subscribes to the belief that instead of waiting for circumstances to change or for motivation to magically appear, hope is built when we physically engage in our own saving. Even small actions (in Jay’s case, writing a paragraph, walking the dog, lifting a weight, making someone laugh) become life-saving behaviors. In choosing action over passivity, we choose momentum, dignity and forward motion, even on the hardest days. Further, Jay encourages us to release the burden of “shoulds” and comparisons to others. Jay recognizes that shoulds can morph into expectations that when unmet begin to create regret and bitterness, while comparison is the “thief of joy.” A central theme of living a Brilliantly Resilient life, releasing shoulds and comparisons and instead focusing on the impact of small actions always initiates forward growth. Jay’s barometer for a good life revolves around a simple question: If I were to die tonight, what would make my last day successful? The answer isn’t perfection or productivity, but connection, creativity, humor, movement, and love. By trading comparison and pressure for intention and meaning, resilience becomes less about surviving and more about living—one honest, imperfect day at a time. Follow Jay Armstrong, The (dis)Abled Writer on Substack and find his books on Amazon. Be sure to listen to Jay on this week’s episode of The Brilliantly Resilient podcast, and tune of these bits of Brilliance. “The more you physically engage in your own saving, the stronger hope becomes.” “When you engage in life-saving behavior, you engage in hope.” “Hope alone isn’t enough. Hope needs movement.” “My body isn’t a problem to solve—it’s a story to listen to.” “Presence means saying: I’m here right now, and that’s enough.” “Passive hope is the fantasy that one day I’ll wake up upgraded.” “The ‘should-bes’ lead to maybes and might-bes—and then one day they turn into regret and bitterness.” “Comparison is the thief of joy—and it’s completely unproductive.” “Every choice leads to a result. You have to ask yourself: what good will come from this?” “Little movements create active hope because they create momentum.” “If I were to die tonight, what would make my last day successful?” “Maybe we don’t need the new year to make us new—maybe we just need the courage to let go.” Let’s be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran

    49 min

  4. 11/19/2025

    Episode 234: Resilience in Action: Turning Setbacks Into Service and Purpose into Brilliance, with Bishop Kevin Foreman

    "Faith isn't just believing for something—it's believing through something. Real faith is resilient faith." ~ Bishop Kevin Foreman, "The People's Bishop," Founder of Harvest Church, Author of Sins of the Fathers, Evolutionaries and History Makers   What if every challenge was an invitation to grow closer to your purpose? Collectively, the world isn't in the best shape right now. Challenges abound, both on global and individual fronts. Yet Bishop Kevin Foreman reminds us that these are precisely the opportunities that allow us to build our resilience through faith and service, to help us rise from our lowest moments, guiding us to uncover brilliance even in the darkest times. Known as "the people's bishop," Bishop Foreman encourages us to turn to faith as a guide when times seem bleak, especially when there are no obvious solutions to problems. Bishop Foreman sees faith as the foundation of resilience, reminding us that resilience isn't passive endurance—it's active faith, where we learn to trust in something bigger than ourselves even when the outcome is uncertain. Through his words, we're reminded that strength is born not from having all the answers, but from the belief that every challenge carries meaning and movement toward something greater. As founder of Harvest Church and author of several books, Bishop Foreman has made service a hallmark of his work. He notes that rising isn't about climbing higher for ourselves—it's about lifting others as we go. That's the heart of being Brilliantly Resilient--using our transferable strengths to build community and impact. As we serve through struggle, we demonstrate how resilience becomes richer when it's shared, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and hope. As Bishop Foreman reflects on pain, purpose, and light, we're reminded that brilliance isn't about perfection—it's about allowing our faith, scars, and growth to illuminate the path for others. When we share our stories and serve from our healed places, we not only rise—we shine. Learn more about Bishop Foreman here, and tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast for more of his wisdom. Be sure to listen for these additional bits of brilliance: "Faith isn't just believing for something—it's believing through something. Real faith is resilient faith." "You can't rise without serving. The higher you go, the more people you're called to lift with you." "If you want to be a light in the dark, you have to first walk through the darkness yourself." "Resilience doesn't mean pretending everything's okay—it means trusting that even this will work together for your good." "Don't curse the season you're in. Every challenge is a setup for your next elevation." "You discover brilliance when you realize that your story isn't just yours—it's someone else's survival guide." "God doesn't waste pain. Every trial has purpose, and every scar shines light." "Your brilliance is revealed when your faith produces fruit that feeds others." "I literally say that on a daily basis, I am shalom, nothing is missing, nothing is broken, nothing is lacking, all is well. "I am a light… You are a light. Whatever area you're in, you are a light. And being a light for other people makes it so much easier for you to be resilient." "We are constantly evolving… Some areas you're flying… some areas you're in the cocoon… No matter what, you're evolving. But the principle? Keep it moving." Thank you, Bishop Foreman, for sharing your light. Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran

    41 min

  5. 11/10/2025

    Episode 233: The Art of Rising: Finding Resilience Through Creativity with Pia Mailhot-Leichter

    "You have to give yourself permission to suck — that's how we grow and develop. Resilience is built in the messy middle." ~ Pia Mailhot-Leichter, Founder of The Kollektiv Studio and Author of Welcome to the Creative Club Pia Mailhot-Leichter, founder of The Kollektiv Studio and author of Welcome to the Creative Club, joins the Brilliantly Resilient Podcast to explore how creativity is one of the most powerful tools for resilience and self-discovery. Pia reminds us that creativity isn't reserved for artists — it's a life skill. Whether you're building a business, solving a problem, or reimagining your next chapter, creativity allows us to reset our thinking, rise from challenges, and reveal the brilliance that's already within us. Through her stories and insights, Pia shows how creativity thrives through connection — with others, with ideas, and with life itself. She challenges us to let go of perfection, embrace play, and give ourselves permission to create — not because it's perfect, but because it's possible. In that permission lies true resilience, as we grow, evolve, and experience resilience through those changes. By rediscovering our creative spirits, we reset, allowing new ideas, processes and paths to emerge. As we open our creativity to collaboration, we rise, allowing for imperfections along the way. And brilliance shines through as we dare to design the next scene of life on our own terms. As Pia says, "You're the creative director of your own story — and it's time to call, 'Action!'" Learn more about Pia and her work here, and tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast for more of Pia's wisdom. Be sure to listen in for these additional bits of Brilliance: "Creativity is a practice — we have to keep showing up and reminding ourselves to play. It's just as important as ticking something off a to-do list." "When we're able to imagine, dream, and create space for play, we can shape a very different reality — for ourselves and for others." "In a time of destruction, creativity and creatives are needed more than ever. We all have that innate creativity — it's time to reclaim it." "You have to give yourself permission to suck — that's how we grow and develop. Resilience is built in the messy middle." "Logic and magic work together. Creativity isn't separate from structure — it's the partnership between both that lets ideas thrive." "Creativity is how we find novel and delightful ways of solving everyday challenges. It's how we've always survived — it's part of being human." "There's no such thing as a lone creative genius. Everything is co-created — with people, ideas, and even life itself." "The best way to become resilient is to do it — to keep creating, sharing, and learning through the process." "Be the creative director of your life. You get to choose the next scene and how you want it to look." Thank you, PIa, for sharing the joy of creativity! Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran

    40 min

  6. 11/01/2025

    Episode 232: Turning Resilience into Action: Introducing the Brilliantly Resilient Mini-Course Series

    "These courses are a roadmap — they guide you to not only uncover your resilience but to rise, thrive, and ultimately find your brilliance within life's challenges." ~ Mary Fran Bontempo, Creator of the Brilliantly Resilient Mini-Course Series   Today it's me--sharing the story behind the creation of the Brilliantly Resilient Mini-Course Series — Reset with Resilience, Rise and Thrive, and Reveal Your Brilliance. After years of helping people bounce back from life's challenges through her books, speaking, and podcast, I wanted to create a hands-on way for anyone to learn and live the Brilliantly Resilient process at their own pace. Through short, powerful video lessons and guided workbooks, these mini-courses will  take learners from simply surviving to thriving — one intentional step at a time. Reset with Resilience helps you uncover your core values and reclaim control over what truly matters. Rise and Thrive guides you to identify transferable strengths, build supportive tribes, and take imperfect action toward progress. And finally, Reveal Your Brilliance leads you to discover your unique gifts and let go of rigid outcomes so your brilliance can shine in every area of life. These courses were born from a desire to make resilience doable. Whether you're facing a major life shift or simply ready to grow, this series offers practical, heartfelt guidance for anyone ready to reset, rise, and reveal their brilliance — one brilliantly imperfect step at a time. Tune into this podcast to learn more, and access the courses through this link: https://brilliantlyresilient.mvsite.app/pages/view/11354/. Be sure to use Promo Code EARLY BIRD for big discounts!   "Nobody really tells us how to become resilient. Well, that's what I've been able to do with the Brilliantly Resilient process and the new mini-course series." "Reset with Resilience teaches you quite literally how to tap into your inherent resilience through your value system, your perception of challenges, and controlling your controllables." "These courses are a roadmap — they guide you to not only uncover your resilience but to rise, thrive, and ultimately find your brilliance within life's challenges." "The good news about these courses is not only do they teach you to find your resilience, but how to rise and thrive beyond the initial crisis and continue to move forward." "When we lead with our hearts, the best of us comes through — we can discover our brilliance through service." "The places where we think we're going to find our brilliance aren't always where we end up — and yet, there's always brilliance to share wherever we land." "I really believe these courses are the perfect way to help individuals and organizations reset, rise, and reveal their brilliance — in the easiest, most personal way possible."   I know these mini-courses will be a great tool to help you live a Brilliantly Resilient life.  Let's learn to be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran

    11 min

  7. 10/27/2025

    Episode 231: Building Resilience One Move at a Time with Jake Weiner of Zooz Fitness

    "Sometimes resilience looks like showing up. That's it. Just being here, trying again, and refusing to give up." ~ Jake Weiner--Founder, Zooz Fitness   Everyone knows that exercise and movement are important to health, both mental and physical. But can exercise help build strength in other ways--like resilience?  Jake Weiner thinks so. Jake is the founder of Zooz Fitness, an inclusive fitness community in Los Angeles dedicated to making health and movement accessible to individuals of all abilities. Jake has witnessed the transformative power of movement, and shares how resilience, inclusivity, and empowerment drive his mission to make movement accessible to all. Zooz is more than a fitness space — it's a community where individuals of all abilities discover confidence and capability through movement. Jake's belief that "movement is a universal language" allows him to reach individuals regardless of ability or self-perception to help them reframe limits and redefine what's possible. Jake's approach exemplifies taking intentional, often imperfect action and building community. He helps clients focus on what they can do, building small victories into major transformations. Jake's work demonstrates that resilience is often rooted in consistency, compassion, and community — not in perfection. Each session at Zooz reinforces the idea that progress is personal, and every step forward is worth celebrating. Jake's leadership helps others see their innate strength and potential--even when they can't see it themselves. By creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity in ability and experience, he helps people reveal their brilliance through movement, self-belief, and connection. Jake's story reminds us that true brilliance is not about doing more — it's about being more, right where you are. For more of Jake's wisdom, and to learn from Zooz Fitness member (and awesome lady!) Mary Bella, tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Learn more about Jake and Zooz here, and be sure to listen for these additional bits of Brilliance:    "Movement is a universal language — everyone deserves the chance to experience what their body can do." "At Zooz, we don't focus on what people can't do. We start with what they can — and we build from there." "When someone walks through our doors, it's not about perfection or performance. It's about participation." "We all have barriers, but when you move beyond them — physically or mentally — that's where growth happens." "Inclusivity isn't just about access. It's about creating a space where everyone feels seen, capable, and celebrated." "Sometimes resilience looks like showing up. That's it. Just being here, trying again, and refusing to give up." "The biggest transformation I see isn't in muscle or strength. It's in confidence." "Everyone has their own version of brilliance. At Zooz, our job is to help people uncover it through movement." "Zooz isn't just a gym — it's a community of people redefining what strength and success look like." Thank you, Jake (and former guest Allison Norlian--episode here) for caring and doing what you do! Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran

    36 min

  8. 10/17/2025

    Episode 230: How to Build Resilience By Questioning the Status Quo, with Victoria Lenormand

    "I realized I was battling in a system that valued the system over the child — and that was a big wake-up call." ~Victoria Lenormand, Former Police Detective, Founder of Gemini Directions and Author of The Magic of Not Fitting In   Have you ever felt like you just didn't fit in? Occasionally, and especially during the teenage years, everyone feels like they don't belong. But how would you manage feeling like that every day? And if you were a parent watching your child struggling with such feelings, how would you help them (and you) through it? Victoria Lenormand is a former police detective from the U.K. who has used her acute skill set to help her autistic son navigate a world where he doesn't always "fit" within the systems society has in place.  Victoria's journey from investigation to advocacy revealed the cracks in systems designed to serve but not always to see the individuals they are meant to help. Once her son was diagnosed with autism, Victoria found herself confronting institutions that valued rules and systems over people. That moment became a call to tap into resilience with courage as she began to ask questions and challenge the status quo with compassion and clarity. Recognizing an ever evolving diverse population within her community, Victoria pushed for growth and change through flexiblity, observation and adaptation. Further, she openly advocated modeling mistakes for children and embracing imperfection, thus empowering parents, educators, and leaders to take small, intentional steps toward changing systems to better serve communities. Victoria reminds us that "we're better when we're together," offering everyone the chance to shine their own brilliant light through differences to build vibrant communities. Her book, The Magic of Not Fitting In, invites us to celebrate diversity as a source of strength. By shifting focus from fixing those who are different to understanding, adapting and learning, she shows how true brilliance is revealed not in conformity, but in compassion, curiosity, connection and the willingness to institute change. Learn more about Victoria here and tune in for more of her wisdom on this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Be sure to listen for these additional bits of Brilliance:    "I realized I was battling in a system that valued the system over the child — and that was a big wake-up call." "Our children don't fit the narrative, so we have to create another narrative." "When the community shows itself to be diverse, the system can't respond if it remains the way it is." "If a child is in trauma in that environment, it's not for us to critique their resilience — it's for us to meet the need." "Resilience...is the ability to flex, to step back, and to ask better questions." "We don't develop resilience from the comfort place — we develop it through the rough stuff." "Let me model mistakes for you. Learn to laugh at yourself. You don't have to measure everything as a pass or fail." "Maybe if we focus first on helping children discover who they are — and make that okay — we'll start to see real growth." "We're better when we're together. Diversity should be echoed in our systems, not othered by them." Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran

    46 min
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About

What's your train wreck? Everyone has one–past, present, or future. But why do some people come through stronger while others never recover? Hang on for the ride as Mary Fran teaches you to move beyond crisis to discover your Brilliance and Resilience. You'll face challenges with strategies to come through brilliant, not broken, for personal and professional fulfillment and success!

Information

  • Creator
    Mary Fran Bontempo
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    106
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020-2023 Brilliantly Resilient
  • Show Website
    Brilliantly Resilient