I Just (Blank)! Now What‪?‬ Jessica Stephens

Hey Friend,

This week's episode I'm sharing a podcast update.  We’re going to be on a short hiatus after today for a little while.  It’s my birthday in a few days and normally around this time I do a lot of life reflection and reevaluate many areas of my life. And when I did that, I knew that I couldn’t keep going with the show as it is right now.  It has become unsustainable in its current format. And if you know me, that’s a huge filter for my life.  Is this sustainable? If not, how can I make it sustainable? What’s possible?  How can this be better?    So in order to make the show more sustainable for the long term  we’re hitting pause. This isn’t the end. Just a short hiatus. We’ll be back. I promise. 
Listen in as I share about:
Why I’m taking this hiatus right now mid-season
What’s happening behind the scenes. 
What’s the plan for the show moving forward to make it more sustainable. 
Inviting you all to maybe hit pause on something in your life to retool it and make things better. More sustainable for you. 


Do you love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep growing! https://www.patreon.com/IJustBlankNowWhat 
 
I’d love to connect with you:
Come follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.loves.life/ 
Signup for my newsletter at: https://jessicastephens.ca/ 
Or read more about all the things I love on my Blog: https://jessicastephens.ca/blogs/jess-loves-life 
 

Hey Friend,

In this week's episode, I sit down with Natalie Guzman, who shares her extraordinary journey of being voluntarily placed into foster care by her mother and how she overcame the trauma and abandonment to build a successful life. Natalie recounts her life's ups and downs, including her adjustment to a drastic change in living conditions following her parents' divorce, her mother's decision to place her in foster care, and her efforts to maintain normalcy during her tumultuous teenage years.

Despite the challenges, Natalie becomes emancipated at 17, works hard to make ends meet, and eventually builds multiple successful businesses. She also navigates rebuilding her relationship with her mother and finding love and a sense of family with her husband and children in Florida. Throughout her story, Natalie highlights the importance of setting boundaries, asking for help, and the resilience in facing life's adversities. This episode provides a powerful testimony on healing, growth, and the strength found in adversity.

Natalie Guzman became a virtual assistant in 2015 after her job told her she had two days to give birth, and then she would have to return to work. She immediately started her virtual assistant business to make money from home, on her terms. When she decided to turn her side hustle into an agency.

Now Natalie owns multiple businesses including a marketing agency and business consulting firm as well as an all in one software for business to build websites, emails, automations and more while raising her family in southwest Florida. 
Listen in as we talk about:
Her life when her mom turned her over to child services
What was going through her head when her mom dropped foster care on you out of nowhere
Her foster family and emancipation
Does she attribute her "what's possible" mindset to your upbringing
Life after emancipation
Advice for someone whose situation could even remotely resemble this one
My tie in to Rising Strong
Episode Sponsors
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Do you love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep growing! https://www.patreon.com/IJustBlankNowWhat 
I’d love to connect with you:
Come follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.loves.life/ 
Signup for my newsletter at: https://jessicastephens.ca/ 
Or read more about all the things I love on my Blog: https://jessicastephens.ca/blogs/jess-loves-life 
Connect with Natalie:
https://www.instagram.com/itsnatalieguzman/ 
https://www.tiktok.com/@itsnatalieguzman 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieguzmanva/ 
https://itsnatalieguzman.com/ 
Freebies: https://www.ngmarketinggroup.com/   
 

Hey Friend,

In this week's episode, Melody Murray joins me, who redefined her life through what she calls radical self-care. Melody discusses her shift from a life filled with depression, anxiety, and the struggles of managing her sister's addiction, to making bold decisions that included ending her marriage, shutting down her initial private practice, and adopting a lifestyle as a nomad.

The episode explores the importance of setting boundaries with oneself and others, redefining personal values, and allowing oneself the flexibility to make mistakes. Melody shares insights from her book, 'Mourning the Living: When the Loved Ones You've Lost is Still Here,' aimed at navigating toxic relationships and finding peace in one's decisions.

Melody is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Child Mental Health Specialist, known for her expertise in assessing and managing patients with critical mental health conditions, especially within hospital ER settings. Her experience extends over four years, where she has made significant contributions to evaluating homicidal and suicidal ideations, demonstrating a profound ability to navigate high-pressure environments with empathy and professionalism.

In addition to her clinical prowess, Melody has been an influential voice in mental health advocacy, featured in interviews by major outlets such as the New York Times and Business Insider, and on shows like "The Doctors" and "Peace of Mind with Taraji." Her previous career in the entertainment industry, directing reality TV shows such as MTV’s "The Real World" and "Bad Girls Club," adds a unique dimension to her understanding of human behavior, enhancing her approach to therapy and mental health communication.
Listen in as we talk about:
What’s important to know about her
What was happening before she blew up her life
Shadow work
Her retreat in Bali
The first promise she ever made to herself
Deciding motherhood wasn't for her
Approaching being mindful of who is impacted by our actions without having that hold you back


Episode Sponsors
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Do you love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep growing! https://www.patreon.com/IJustBlankNowWhat 
I’d love to connect with you:
Come follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.loves.life/ 
Signup for my newsletter at: https://jessicastephens.ca/ 
Or read more about all the things I love on my Blog: https://jessicastephens.ca/blogs/jess-loves-life 
 
Connect with Melody:
www.instagram.com/MelodyLMFT 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-murray-0a247419b/ 
www.MelodyLMFT.com 

Hey Friend,

In this week's episode, Farah Flisher joins me to talk about something many of us can relate to: the loss of her mother.

Farah opens up about experiencing multiple personal losses, including the untimely death of her mother from a gunshot wound. Farah discusses how writing, baking, yoga, and counseling helped her navigate her grief, eventually leading her to write and publish her memoir 'Mahar and Me'. She also shares her philosophy of looking for hope and strength in times of adversity.

Farah, who is of Parsi origin, was born in London and raised in North India. She is a British national with an Indian heart, and embraces the different facets of her identity with ease. After the untimely loss of her mother, struggling to reconcile the mysteries of life and death, Farah embarked on a journey inward to find a conduit to channel her loss and pain. Farah has built a career in the banking industry, across continents, over the span of thirty-plus years and is now based in Dubai. 
Listen in as we talk about:
What’s important to know about her
How she moved through tragedy in her life
The story of her mom's death
How she started finding her way back from the tragedy
Using her journal for therapy, starting her writing and working on her book
Did the process of writing the book and publishing it help in her journey of grief
Telling her children about her mother's death
The one takeaway she hopes readers get from her book
Advice to help move through grief


Episode Sponsors
Arbonne Greens Gut Glow Bundle. Use promo code ARBONNE10 at checkout to get 10% off. (https://www.arbonne.com/ca/en/shop-all/nutrition/green-gut-glow-convenience-pack/p/1055%20CA)  Or start a subscription and save 20%  off every order and free shipping! (https://www.arbonne.com/ca/en/arb/JessicaStephensToronto/cart?shareId=8835579432487) 


Do you love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep growing! https://www.patreon.com/IJustBlankNowWhat 
I’d love to connect with you:
Come follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.loves.life/ 
Signup for my newsletter at: https://jessicastephens.ca/ 
Or read more about all the things I love on my Blog: https://jessicastephens.ca/blogs/jess-loves-life 
Connect with Farah:
www.instagram.com/Farah.Press 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/farahflisher/ 
https://www.farahpress.com  

Hey Friend,

In this week's episode, I delve into the stressful, unfocused and distracted season I'm experiencing and highlight the challenges I've faced recently. Mostly feeling unfocused, conflicting priorities and uncertainty.

We also discuss the importance of establishing a morning routine for mental health, turning off digital distractions, maintaining physical cleanliness for mental clarity, and expressing emotions to trustworthy individuals to prevent mental clutter.

I emphasize the necessity of recognizing my mental capacities and taking the necessary steps to alleviate stress. Lastly, we talk about my messy phase and share strategies to regain focus, while reassuring that it's okay to be in seasons like this.
Listen in as we talk about:
The season of life I’m currently in
Feeling extremely distracted
Not having the capacity to do all the things
What I have been doing to try and help with the distraction
Acknowledging the mess in my life adding to distraction
Being overstimulated
Tapping into what's important
Talking about capacity
The importance of talking things out


Episode Sponsors
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Do you love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep growing! https://www.patreon.com/IJustBlankNowWhat 
 
I’d love to connect with you:
Come follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.loves.life/ 
Signup for my newsletter at: https://jessicastephens.ca/ 
Or read more about all the things I love on my Blog: https://jessicastephens.ca/blogs/jess-loves-life 
 

Hey Friend,

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Phebe Trotman, a Vancouver-based entrepreneur and accomplished soccer player. She has achieved many accolades as an athlete, including being inducted into several sports halls of fame, winning championship titles, and being recognized as an exceptional athlete. Phebe has also excelled in her career as a network marketer, earning top awards and recognition within her company. She is passionate about personal growth and empowering others to reach their full potential.

We talk about Phebe’s life story, starting from her experience in sports to building her reputation in network marketing and eventually authoring her book, 'Never Quit on a Bad Day'.

We discuss various moments where Phebe almost quit. However, we acknowledge the importance of pushing through difficult moments and how growth happens through discomfort. Phebe also shares her approach to daily challenges and strategies for nurturing resilience. Jessica highlights the aspect of integrity and importance of aligning actions with core values. Finally, they discuss Phebe’s book and how it aims to inspire others through shared experiences of resilience.
Listen in as we talk about:
What’s important to know about Phebe 
Rewind tape to younger phebe who she was and these moments that she wanted to quit
The importance of who you surround yourself with
Pushing through that first hurdle, or deciding when to quit
Throughout your career how many other times did you want to quit or almost quit
When was a time you did quit and regret it
Advice for people who tend to quit on themselves for the little things
Advice for when you do need to quit something to service something else
Stepping into your ideas
 
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Do you love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep growing! https://www.patreon.com/IJustBlankNowWhat 
I’d love to connect with you:
Come follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.loves.life/ 
Signup for my newsletter at: https://jessicastephens.ca/ 
Or read more about all the things I love on my Blog: https://jessicastephens.ca/blogs/jess-loves-life 
Connect with Phebe:
https://www.instagram.com/NeverQuitOnABadDay/
www.NeverQuitOnABadDay.com