What if the challenges you're facing right now are actually preparing you to rise into something greater?

In this episode, Rebecca Hall Gruyter is joined by Shequana Hughes and Noelle Kustas for a powerful conversation on overcoming challenges, reclaiming confidence, and stepping into your next chapter.

Shequana shares how women can break free from burnout, release the pressure to "do it all," and rebuild their confidence after setbacks. Noelle brings a deeply personal perspective on reinvention, community, and what it means to become the version of yourself you're meant to be.

Together, they explore how to move through uncertainty, find the silver lining in difficult seasons, and take aligned steps toward a life that feels more intentional, balanced, and fulfilling.

This episode is for women ready to stop surviving and start rising.

As always, you can find Rebecca at
www.yourpurposedrivenpractice.com.

Shequana Hughes is a wife, mother of five, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping women break free from burnout and the constant grind of business. Through her work, she has helped women reclaim their time, save thousands of hours in administrative tasks, and build businesses that support their lives, not consume them.

Connect with her:

Website: https://www.thesavagroup.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shequana-hughes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_sava_group/
Substack: https://substack.com/@shequanahughes

Noelle Kustas is a lifestyle and community curator, certified life coach, and founder of The Shine House and Rise 2 Shine Collective. She creates intentional spaces where women grow, connect, and step into the version of themselves they're meant to be.

Connect with her:

Website: https://rise2shine.co
Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/joyful_noelle
Instagram (Community): https://www.instagram.com/TheRise2ShineCollective
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoelleKustas/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Noelle_Kustas/podcasts

What if your body isn't breaking down, but trying to guide you toward something better?

In this episode, Rebecca Hall Gruyter is joined by Christine Fitzgerald, clinical nutritionist and hormone expert, to explore how women can overcome burnout, hormone imbalances, and fatigue, and find the silver lining in what their bodies are trying to say.

Together, they discuss how high-achieving women can shift out of constant "go mode," reconnect with their bodies, and begin to truly thrive, not by pushing harder, but by listening differently.

This episode is for women ready to move from burnout to balance and rediscover how to feel like themselves again.

As always, you can find our host, Rebecca Hall Gruyter, at
www.yourpurposedrivenpractice.com.

About the Guest

Christine Fitzgerald is a clinical nutritionist and hormone expert with over 25 years of experience helping women restore their energy, metabolism, and confidence.

She is the creator of the Hormone Harmonics Method™, a science-meets-soul approach designed to help high-achieving women over 40 decode symptoms, regulate their nervous system, and feel like themselves again.

Connect with her at @hotmesshormones.

You know that awkward moment? That moment when you or someone you know feels tongue-tied talking with a person of a different race or culture? What do you do? What if you're misunderstood? What if you say something offensive?

We've all lived it. But it doesn't have to feel SO awkward. In this replay, Rebecca talked with author and coach, Amy Narishkin, about the communication connection that is so important in the challenges facing our modern moment. By embracing cultural intelligence, both individuals and businesses can unlock new opportunities for growth and thrive in today's multicultural landscape.

As always, you can find our host, Rebecca Hall Gruyter at www.yourpurposedrivenpractice.com. Our guests are also online. Dr. Amy's online home is: https://www.empoweringpartners.com/.

About Our Guest

Dr. Amy Narishkin. Retention and engagement are at an all-time low, and leaders are finding they must create a culture of safety and belonging. That's what Dr. Amy and the Empowering Partners consultancy is all about. With a PhD in adult education and 30 years' experience, Dr. Amy provides training, coaching, and strategic guidance to help organizations across multiple industries, including financial, healthcare, construction and manufacturing, make the shift to Cultural Intelligence.

As CEO of Empowering Partners, LLC, she has worked with more than 400 leaders, CEOs, Executive Directors, and management teams in and the US and other countries, to effectively increase their ability to lead, retain and engage people who have different perspectives and backgrounds. Dr. Amy leverages a globally recognized tool for measuring ability to navigate cross-cultural conversations, the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®), as a certified administrator. You can find her online at: https://www.empoweringpartners.com/.

Some conversations don't end when the event does. They linger. They shift something. They stay. This is one of those.

In this Author Showcase Virtual Summit, powerful voices come together to share the real stories behind their books, the moments that shaped them, the truths they had to face, and the courage it took to finally put it into words.

These aren't just authors. These are lived experiences, turned into messages that matter. If you've ever needed clarity, encouragement, or a reminder that your story has power, you're in the right place.

These are the voices you heard, and the stories you'll want to stay connected to:

Cathryn Farr - Life Writer. #1 International Best Selling Author. Visit her website: https://lifewritingcathryn.com/ Grab a copy of her book: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/VKJivF1/LastMileThree

Becky Moller - #1 International Best Selling Author, founder of Undone Academy. Grab a copy of her book: https://beckymoller.com/undone-unafraid-book/ Join her FREE masterclass: https://beckymoller.com/the-crucial-tool/

Dezlee Hancock - #1 International Best Selling Author, Realtor, entrepreneur. Get a copy of her book: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/XCwjNZg/HeartfeltConnections

Laurie Hartley- Moore - #1 International Best Selling Author, Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Human Behavioral Expert, and nationally accredited Native American Medicine Woman. Grab a copy of her book here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/71mkXCU/ColorConstitution

M. Kay Bush - International Best-Selling Author, School counselor, Child life Specialist, and Support group Facilitator. Grab a copy of her book: https://linktr.ee/youcandohardthings Learn more about her work: https://www.youcandohardthings.today/

What does it take to turn street smarts into lasting success, and then use that success to build something bigger than yourself?

In this episode, Rebecca Hall Gruyter sits down with John Gullo, entrepreneur, visionary, and founder of The American Dream Foundation, for a dynamic conversation about grit, opportunity, and purpose-driven leadership.

Raised in Buffalo, New York, John learned early how to navigate challenges and create opportunities. From working his way up in the grocery and restaurant industries to becoming a Burger King franchisee, he built a successful business career, but didn't stop there. Driven by a larger vision, he launched numerous nonprofit initiatives and later became a pioneer in the world of professional pickleball.

Together, Rebecca and John explore the turning points that shaped his journey, the mindset required to step into entrepreneurship, and what it means to keep evolving, even after achieving success. They also discuss his passion for giving back and why building something meaningful is just as important as building something profitable.

This episode is a powerful reminder that thriving isn't just about what you achieve, it's about what you create, contribute, and leave behind.

As always, you can find our host, Rebecca Hall Gruyter, at
www.yourpurposedrivenpractice.com

John Gullo is an entrepreneur, nonprofit founder, and author of The Extraordinary Adventures of an Ordinary Man. Raised in Buffalo, New York, he turned early street smarts into business success, rising through the grocery and restaurant industries before becoming a Burger King franchisee.

John is also the founder of The American Dream Foundation, where he has launched numerous community and patriotic initiatives. Known for his ability to spot opportunity, he became an early pioneer in professional pickleball, helping grow the sport at a national level.

Through his work and writing, John shares a message of perseverance, vision, and the belief that extraordinary lives are built from ordinary beginnings.

Connect with John:
Website: https://www.johnagullo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580569176254

Being passionate about your purpose is like igniting a fire within your soul—it fuels every action, decision, and moment of your life. When you align with your purpose, you find a deep sense of fulfillment and clarity that transcends ordinary motivation. In this replay, Rebecca talked with Wellness Expert and Coach Carmen Milagro about letting your purpose fuel you to greater wellness, as well as helping you persevere through challenges and celebrate even the smallest victories.

As always, you can find our host, Rebecca Hall Gruyter at https://yourpurposedrivenpractice.com. Our guests are also online. Carmen's online home is https://expandi.tv/authors/author-carmen-milagro.

About our guest:

Carmen Milagro is a dynamic speaker and multi-faceted "entrepren-artist" dedicated to empowering individuals worldwide. With her engaging storytelling, insightful expertise and infectious energy, Carmen leaves audiences inspired to act. As a motivational Master-Certified Coach she's passionate about supporting youth as well as women over 50, offering a unique blend of wisdom and insights. Carmen champions inter-generational and multi-cultural connections to foster growth and resilience. As host of Wellness 360, now in its 4th season, she approaches health and wellness with a holistic, 360-degree perspective to show us how to live more abundant, joyful, healthy and purpose-driven lives! Find her online at: https://expandi.tv/authors/author-carmen-milagro

What does it mean to live through history, and then spend decades making sense of it?

In this powerful conversation, Rebecca Hall Gruyter welcomes Mimi Nichter, author of Hostage: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience, to reflect on a moment in history that changed her life.

In 1970, Mimi was taken hostage in what became one of the first internationally recognized acts of modern terrorism. Decades later, she revisits that experience with the insight of a cultural anthropologist and survivor. Together, they explore fear, delayed trauma, faith, identity, and why it took nearly fifty years to tell this story.

This episode is not just about what happened; it's about how we carry what happened, and what it takes to reclaim freedom long after the crisis ends.

As always, you can find Rebecca at
www.yourpurposedrivenpractice.com

About the Guest

Mimi Nichter, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita at the University of Arizona and a respected cultural and public anthropologist whose work explores core issues shaping contemporary American life. Her award-winning book Fat Talk received the prestigious Margaret Mead Award for making anthropology accessible to a broad audience.

Her memoir, Hostage: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience, marks her most personal work. In it, she revisits her experience as a hostage during a 1970 international terrorism incident and reflects on trauma, resilience, identity, and the long journey toward healing.

Connect with Mimi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miminichter/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mimi-nichter-30673313/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/MimiNichter