In this episode, I sit down with Ally Shaw, author of Chasing Tigers in the Dark: Life Lessons of a Fierce Survivor, to talk about how she transformed profound trauma, loss, and illness into fierce empowerment and purpose.

From abuse and cancer to reinvention and healing, Ally shares the tools, mindsets, and moments that helped her step out of survival mode and into a life guided by joy, faith, and authenticity.

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We explore how adversity can become a catalyst for growth, why connecting with joy and adventure is essential even in your darkest seasons, and how the Japanese Kintsugi philosophy reshaped her view of being “broken.”

Ally also offers practical strategies for healing - from EMDR and her TIGER acronym to learning to trust intuition, invest in yourself, and follow the clues of procrastination and flow states to uncover your true passions.

This conversation is for anyone navigating grief, trauma, or major life detours, and looking for a hopeful, honest roadmap to reinvention and self‑acceptance.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to the episode and Ally Shaw’s background

02:16 – Connecting with joy and adventure during adversity

04:35 – How obstacles can catalyze professional and personal happiness

06:29 – Childhood messages about emotional suppression and how they linger

08:22 – When life doesn’t follow “the plan” after tragedy

10:05 – Reframing “being broken” through the Kintsugi philosophy

12:24 – Surviving cancer and life’s “triple curveballs”

14:00 – How adversity can reveal purpose and fuel growth

16:45 – The TIGER acronym for healing and the final chapters of her memoir

18:34 – Navigating sexual assault, shame, and healing through EMDR

21:26 – Rewriting negative beliefs and finding trusted practitioners

23:30 – Trust, investing in yourself, and character growth in healing

26:01 – The kindness initiative and reducing gossip through authenticity

26:54 – Reinvention, trusting the process, and embracing life’s surprises

30:36 – Reinventing yourself after personal and professional upheavals

35:05 – Saying “yes” to divine opportunities and trusting the process

37:12 – Discovering passion through flow states and early signs of interest

40:22 – Procrastination as an indicator of buried passion

44:45 – Creating for fulfillment and loving the process, not the outcome

47:09 – Facing fears, authenticity, and the power of vulnerable storytelling

50:23 – Supporting loved ones and the strength of community support

52:59 – Letting go of others’ opinions, embracing authenticity, and living freely

55:19 – Practical advice for beginning to write and share your story

58:12 – The symbolic strength behind the title Chasing Tigers in the Dark

59:02 – Final words on hope, community, and continuous movement forward

*This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea.*

Visit LiveDivini and use discount code *Breanne10* at checkout for a discount!

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