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Episode Summary
Twenty four years ago, Adrian sat in my high school English classroom. He was quiet. Thoughtful. The kind of student who did not demand attention, but was always paying attention. I do not think either of us could have imagined where life would take him.

Today, he is an Air Force ROTC commander and instructor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, leading and mentoring the next generation of Air Force and Space Force cadets.

But there is a chapter in between those two versions of Adrian that most people never saw.

After 9/11, he felt pulled toward military service, searching for purpose and direction. He became a pilot. He deployed. He stepped into leadership. And in one defining deployment, no one showed up when he left and no one checked in when he returned. In an environment that expects strength and steadiness, he carried that weight quietly.

In this conversation, we talk about what it feels like to grow up unseen, the pressure to hold it together when others are depending on you, and the moment that changed the way he leads. Adrian made a decision that day. If he ever had the opportunity to lead others, he would not let them walk through major moments alone.

Now, as an instructor and commander, that commitment shapes the way he mentors this generation.

This episode is about the moments that mark us, the responsibility that comes with leadership, and the choice to show up differently because of what you once needed yourself.

The Hidden Chapter Moment
Adrian’s hidden chapter was not just the deployment itself. It was what surrounded it, or more accurately, what didn’t.

No one checked in before he left. No one reached out when he came home. In a role where you are expected to be steady and strong, he quietly carried that experience by himself.

That moment stayed with him. Not in a bitter way, but in a clarifying way. He decided that if he ever had the responsibility of leading others, he would pay attention to those moments. He would not let someone walk through something significant and feel invisible. Now, as a commander and instructor, that decision still guides him. The way he shows up. The way he checks in. The way he leads.

Resources and Mentions:

🇺🇸 The LMU Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) : https://academics.lmu.edu/afrotc/

📩 Email: adrianfcruz@gmail.com

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Background Music: "In Time" by Folk_acoustic from Pixabay

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🎙️ Episode Summary

At 42, Zulma walked into a classroom with determination and a clear sense of who she was.
At 46, just two months after graduation, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
At 50, she chose to pursue her master’s degree and begin again.
At 60, she chose her mind, body, and soul and moved to Panama to build a life aligned with freedom.

But between those milestones lies a hidden chapter.

In this episode, Zulma shares what it was like to face a breast cancer diagnosis in midlife while remaining grounded in her strength. She takes us into the quiet reality of treatment, the hard days when strength did not feel strong, and the decision to return to Argentina to focus on healing before rebuilding her life.

We talk about what it means to start over after breast cancer, to listen to your body instead of pushing through, and to believe in another dream when most people would have slowed down.

This is a story about rebuilding your life in midlife. Not because you lost who you were. But because you chose to grow again.

What We Talk About in This Episode:

• The emotional weight of a breast cancer diagnosis at 46
• The day strength did not feel strong
• Letting go of plans to prioritize healing
• Listening to your body after survival mode
• Becoming a therapist shaped by lived experience
• Grief and freedom in a move to Panama
• Honoring your internal hero in ordinary life

The Hidden Chapter Moment

Zulma’s hidden chapter was not just the breast cancer diagnosis.

It was the season where she had to stop.

Where achievement paused.
Where plans unraveled.
Where her body asked for attention instead of ambition.

That moment could have defined her by loss.

Instead, it became the turning point where she rebuilt her life in midlife.

Rather than rushing back into productivity, she chose healing. Rather than seeing herself as a victim of what she survived, she began to see herself as someone becoming again.

Resources and Mentions:

🦋 Dragonfly Therapy Services
www.dragonflytherapyservices.net

🎙️ Host of Keeping It Real with Zulma The Swearing Therapist Podcast

📩 Email: dragonflytslv@gmail.com

🔗 🎙️🎧 Zulma and I met from Podmatch.com https://www.joinpodmatch.com/genevievekruger

Support the show

❤️I would love to hear from you!

💬 Leave me a voice message on: https://www.speakpipe.com/HiddenChapters

☕️ Want to support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/hiddenchapters

Let's stay connected: 🔗

📷 Instagram: @hiddenchapterspodcast

📘 Facebook: Hidden Chapters

Got a story to share or want to be a guest?

💌 Email me: chapters@hiddenchapterspodcast.com
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Background Music: "In Time" by Folk_acoustic from Pixabay

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🎙️ Episode Summary:

This week’s bonus episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how I started Hidden Chapters. From the equipment I use to the platforms that keep everything running, I walk you through my real setup and what works for me.

But this episode is not just about microphones and software.

It’s about connection.

I share how honest conversations have created unexpected reconnections with former students, old friends, and new guests. I talk about the ripple effect of storytelling and how one shared story can quietly inspire someone else to speak up.

If you’re curious about starting a podcast or you simply want a behind the mic look at how stories create connection, this episode is for you.

💡 In this episode you’ll hear about:

• My podcast setup from recording to hosting
• Platforms I rely on like Buzzsprout, Riverside, and PodMatch
• The equipment I personally use including my MacBook Air, Samson Q2U, Focusrite 2i2, and Sony headphones
• Why podcasting is more than just a mic
• The unexpected ripple effect of sharing your story

This podcast is not just me talking. It’s a conversation.

If this episode sparked something in you, I would love to hear from you. Your story might be the ripple someone else needs.

🔗 Links & Tools I Use (Affiliate Links Where Applicable):

• Buzzsprout – https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2406015
• Riverside – https://riverside.com/
• PodMatch – https://www.joinpodmatch.com/genevievekruger
• Samson Q2U Microphone – (on Amazon) https://a.co/d/0iXj6kwv
• Focusrite 2i2 Audio Interface – (on Amazon) https://a.co/d/09ssoNA2
• Sony Headphones – (on Amazon) https://a.co/d/0ipiyQqv
• These are tools I personally use and recommend. If you use these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

❤️I would love to hear from you!

💬 Leave me a voice message on: https://www.speakpipe.com/HiddenChapters

☕️ Want to support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/hiddenchapters

Let's stay connected: 🔗

📷 Instagram: @hiddenchapterspodcast

📘 Facebook: Hidden Chapters

Got a story to share or want to be a guest?

💌 Email me: chapters@hiddenchapterspodcast.com
🎙️ Be a guest? Apply here

Background Music: "In Time" by Folk_acoustic from Pixabay