Think Courageously with Deb Cummins Stellato Deb Cummins Stellato

This episode marks the end of my podcast, Think Courageously. For three years, I’ve been discussing topics that center around women’s courage and resilience, and how to cultivate a courageous mindset.

I’ve been privileged to speak with amazing women who have shared their stories of success, pivots and of course, courage.

The podcast has been a perfect platform for me to reach out to other women as they embark on their own journey of growth and self-discovery. In this last episode, I want to take some time to reflect on the experience that this show has given me and what it has meant to me.

One of the most important things that I learned from this experience is that each story of courage is unique. Including mine!

The Think Courageously podcast may be ending but my mission remains the same—to Think Courageously! My company, Think Good Coaching & Consulting continues its mission by providing one-on-one and group coaching. 

Through these services I intend on continuing my work towards empowering more women everywhere!  

And I am committed to sharing the incredible stories and lessons learned through this show. Look for updates about the book I am committed to beginning in 2023.

This final episode of Think Courageously marks an important milestone in my life—it is both an ending and a beginning at once!  It has allowed me to connect with so many amazing people who have inspired me along the way. Although I am saying goodbye today, it doesn't mean that my work here is done—in fact, it only serves as motivation for future endeavors! So thank you for joining me on this journey – here's looking forward to more inspiring conversations ahead!

In 2001 at the age of 3 years old, Michelle Zenie’s son was diagnosed with leukemia. Although he is now a successful 24 year old adult, Michelle knows that you can never go back from being a cancer mom. 

From 2005-2013, Michelle experienced profound grief as she lost 6 people in her life. In the midst of all of this was a difficult divorce. 

In her healing process, Michelle connected with the  Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley as a volunteer. Since January 2014,  Michelle has served as the agency's  Executive Director. With personal experience in the world of pediatric cancer to back her professional expertise, 

In our conversation, the final installment of  The Think Courageously Podcast, we discuss the silver linings found in every traumatic event. We explore what it feels like to be in the direct pathway of grief. 
Michelle shares her own lessons from living and leading with grief and loss. We talk about how life’s reality is that it is hard. To live a full life, we must appreciate how sadness and beauty are both part of our shared experiences. 
We talk about Michelle’s philosophy on healing from trauma which includes:
Acknowledging that life is really hard. Accepting that life is a journey. Recognizing that no is coming to save you. You are the only one that will save you. Each of us can figure out how to survive and thrive after trauma.Allow creativity to pave your way. Give yourself a moment to take in the beauty of lifeIt’s important to sit in hard moments. Finally , we explore embracing the notion that we are all a mess. That we all have moments of not feeling good enough. Moments where we are battling imposter syndrome. And the power of finding grace in all of the ups and downs of our shared experiences. 
As the Executive Director of PCFLV, Michelle's passion for this cause, along with her business acumen, has helped her grow PCFLV into an award-winning organization and one of the Lehigh Valley's most well-respected non-profits. PCFLV helps over 300 families in the Greater Lehigh Valley area. In addition, she received the Lehigh Valley Business’ Women of Influence award in 2022. 

Her vision for PCFLV is to bring a compassionate network of resources and services to families during the most challenging time in their lives, while collaborating with Lehigh Valley businesses, organizations, and community partners. PCFLV works closely with Lehigh Valley Health Network to provide their pediatric oncology patients with programming and services and access to help with bills through the Family Assistance Fund. 

In her personal life, Michelle is blessed to be mom to three kids: Cole (a pediatric cancer survivor), Aidan, and Makenna. She is a Reiki Master, a Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher, and enjoys yoga, art, writing, hiking and travel with her kids and husband, Eric Rounds.
Learn more about Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley at: https://www.pcflv.org/

Today, I welcome back our very own Katharina Stuerzl to The Think Courageously Podcast. This is  another installment in our “The End of an Era…Conversations with Members of the Think Courageously Community”.
Since our last recording,  Kat has been on a major journey  towards becoming the best version of herself.  Kat has completed her certification as an iPEC coach.  She is also an Amazon bestselling author, contributing a chapter in the collaborative book “Step Into Your Brave.” 
Our conversation today focuses on pivoting towards alignment…or what we call the “Katvolution.” 
In today’s conversation, we talk about how when you challenge yourself, you challenge the box that you’ve put yourself in. You lose the weight of expectations and show up in a place of choice. Kat shares the power of being brave enough to take responsibility for what we move towards. And, how our thoughts create our reality.
We also talk about:
The power of coachingWomen supporting other women The importance of daily mindset work Breaking cultural and family expectationsThe continuum of courageCreating the space for growthKat is a Certified Professional Coach and also has her SHRM Certification. As a coach, Kat empowers young professionals and leaders of various experience levels to leave the box of expectations, limiting beliefs and comfort behind. She is 
To learn more about Kat, visit www.leaveyourboxwithkat.com
“Mindset is a practice. Just because you make a step forward doesn’t mean that you cleaned up all the triggers…."

Today, I welcome back  Leanne Smith to The Think Courageously Podcast. This is another installment in our “The End of an Era…Conversations with Members of the Think Courageously Community.”

You may remember that Leanne was my accountability partner in the “Elevate Your Voice” storytelling project. She is a coach, storyteller and dear friend.

Since the launch of the book, Leanne’s story has evolved and blossomed. She is pivoting towards the most powerful version of herself.

Her story today starts with this…Hello my name is ___ and I am a failure.

In today’s show, we talk about what it takes to deny your inner critic and silence self doubt.  For so long, Leanne was not able to show up as her authentic self. Her evolution is focused on how to dig deeper and claim her own personal happiness.

She takes us on a very personal journey of a divorce and  bankruptcy. And the moment she realized how self-doubt was claiming her future. Leanne describes when she knew that she needed to claim back her own power. In that moment she gave herself permission to unleash her awesomeness.

“I was looking for failure and I needed to flip that switch.”

Now, today she can say…”Hello My Name is Awesome."

She shares some great insight into starting your day and planning for happiness.

Leanne Smith is a life and self-esteem specialist that teaches you a piece-by-piece approach to living the life of your dreams, so you can create happy and successful days by using vision planning. She is the founder of Force of Happiness and an active leader inside her VIP women's membership Board of Masterminds. She also authors “The Happiness Report” substack.

To learn more about Leanne visit:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/197285848389268
https://www.instagram.com/absoluteleanne/

Welcome to our first installment of what I’m calling “The End of An Era…Stories from The Think Good Community.”
Today, I welcome Vicki Grossman Capps. Vicki is trained as a therapist and is a licensed professional counselor, a licensed addiction counselor, a nationally certified therapist, an approved clinical supervisor and an EMDRIA certified trauma therapist.  She has worked for nearly 19 years at a program within the District Attorney’s office that offers first time juvenile and adult offenders an alternative to formal court filing by going through a therapeutic counseling program and restorative justice process.

At the heart of this episode is the story of one woman’s journey of survivorship. Vicki shares how being swept off her feet as a young professional in New York City set the stage for a marriage that looked promising to her (in all of the bright shiny ways that we can all relate to) and almost more importantly, to others. She talks about the emotional blackmailing that happens in abusive relationships and the final words that put her in a place of action.

Vicki’s storytelling is powerful and courageous. She talks about trusting her gut. She also shares a very real internal questioning that happens with the brain of  survivors…does my experience qualify as abuse? Was it “real”? And how this mindset contributes to not sharing our stories for fear of not being believed.

By sharing her story, Vicki hopes to shine a light on issues of domestic violence with others. She also hopes that she can model the way for her teenage daughters as she owns and steps into her own think courageously moment.

For more information on Vicki, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickilcapps
This episode of the Think Courageously podcast is brought to you by The Pivot Project…my signature group coaching program. 
Created for courageous women like you.
The Pivot Project is a 6-month virtual group coaching program.
Six months. A small tribe of courageous women ready for deep connection and a mindset transformation. 
Elevate your confidence. Get crystal clear on who you are and where you are headed. Build resilience. Think courageously. For more information on the Pivot Project, visit: https://www.thethinkgoodcompany.com/pivot-project

Natalie Suppes is a Mother, a Daughter, and a Wife. In 2007, she was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's). 
In today’s episode of The Think Courageously Podcast, Natalie shares her stories of redefining success, leaning towards pivots and living a courageous life. From her days of being a University student to walking away from a corporate gig while on maternity leave to the launch of her business (@SickandSuccessful) , Natalie provides us powerful insight into thinking courageously. And, what I’m calling Pivot Pops…those moments when you trust your intuition enough and make a quick pivot. 
As the owner of Sick and Successful, Natalie leads a company that has  redefined our traditional stories about work and chronic illness. In today’s show, we explore the challenges of holding boundaries and modeling the way for other women. 
We also explore:
Creating businesses that align with our valuesThe difference between thinking courageously and living courageouslyThe secret life of those dealing with chronic painKeeping joy front and center in lifeGlass balls and rubber ballsThis inspiring interview is filled with nuggets around the stories that limit us and those stories that we chose to set ourselves free. 
For more information about Natalie, visit:

https://www.sandscreative.ca
https://ca.linkedin.com/company/s-and-s-creative-media
https://www.facebook.com/sandscreativemediaa/
https://www.instagram.com/s.and.s.creative
https://www.instagram.com/for.the.success