In this Season 5 finale of Persistence U with Lizbeth, Lizbeth shares a deeply personal reflection on generosity, survival, and why she is stepping back from weekly episodes to make space for writing, teaching, and other creative work. As she approaches the podcast’s fifth anniversary, she looks back with gratitude at the listeners, guests, patrons, and community members who helped shape nearly five years of conversations about healing, persistence, and overcoming obstacles.

Lizbeth recounts two times in her early life when she and her daughters were lifted up by strangers during the holidays. After leaving an abusive marriage, entering a shelter, and relying on food stamps and Section 8 housing, she was adopted by a holiday giving program that provided gifts, food, and a sense of dignity during a season that had otherwise felt heavy with fear and uncertainty. Years earlier, while pregnant and struggling under financial and emotional control, her friend Shelly arranged for anonymous support through her faith community. These acts of kindness, offered by people who never knew her name, helped restore hope during the most fragile years of her life.

Those moments stayed with her. They were part of what fueled her determination to finish college, break cycles of poverty and violence, and raise her daughters in safety. They also shaped her belief that generosity—financial or otherwise—can change the trajectory of a family in ways the giver may never see.

As the holiday season arrives and Season 5 concludes, Lizbeth encourages listeners to consider giving in whatever way they are able. Monetary donations to food banks, adopting a family through local programs, offering time or blood donation, or simply finding a way to lighten someone else’s load may be the most meaningful gift of the season. Volunteering, she reminds listeners, is often both selfless and deeply restorative.

Lizbeth also shares an important programming update. After nearly five years of producing Persistence U with a full roster of guests, she is pausing the guested format. The financial and time commitments are substantial, and she is ready to reclaim more space for writing, reading, teaching, and restorative quiet. This is not a goodbye. Persistence U will return with occasional, limited-series episodes. She simply needs time to breathe, create, and be present in her own life for a while.

Listeners are encouraged to stay connected through he

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

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In Part 2 of Unmapped Conversations, Lizbeth gathers five contributors from Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers on Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery to explore how travel shapes identity, courage, and connection. Guests include Kathy Kirkpatrick, Tammy Horvath, Phyllis Skoy, Kate Colbert, and Anne Buckley, each offering a unique perspective rooted in life experience, personal healing, and a determination to live with intention.

Each contributor shares wisdom for women who want to travel but feel hesitant. From trusting that most people are kind, to saying yes more often, to carrying creature comforts, to recognizing that emotional safety begins long before a suitcase is packed, their insights offer reassurance and empowerment.

This conversation also revisits why half of Unmapped’s royalties support the YWCA of Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley. While the world offers beautiful possibilities, intimate partner violence remains a universal threat. Travel, self-trust, community, and awareness all play roles in building safer lives.

Unmapped remains a reminder that healing, confidence, and connection often begin the moment a woman chooses to step toward something new.

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS

You will learn:
• How women rebuild confidence through unexpected and intentional travel
• Why saying yes to new experiences often leads to healing and expanded identity
• How resilience grows when women trust themselves, seek community, and embrace possibility.

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

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In this special Unmapped Contributor Connects episode, Lizbeth talks with authors Debbie Russell and Kate Colbert about what inspired their solo travel stories in Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers. Though neither has met in person, the conversation reveals deep connections formed through shared vulnerability, resilience, and the transformative power of being alone in the world.

Debbie Russell shares how her chapter emerged from a major life shift in her late fifties. After leaving her long-term job and embracing self-employment, she bought a camper and taught herself every aspect of RV life. Her experiences illuminate how travel can keep the brain active and how camping as a single woman challenges assumptions about safety and capability.

Kate Colbert reflects on her early fear of travel, having grown up in a small Midwestern community with little exposure to the wider world. A journalism career required her to travel solo constantly, which quickly transformed her worldview. She describes how discovering independence during business trips reshaped her sense of identity and helped her break away from limiting beliefs. Kate also talks about navigating travel and selfhood after surviving severe illness during the pandemic, explaining how she maintains a solo traveler’s heart even when journeying with her husband.

Connect with Kate at https://www.silvertreecommunications.com/

Connect with Debbie at https://debbie-russell.com/

This conversation also touches on domestic violence, the book’s dedication, and why half of all royalties from Unmapped support the YWCA of Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley. The episode closes with gratitude for the contributors’ honesty, courage, and willingness to carve out space for themselves despite competing demands. Their stories remind listeners that travel, even small local adventures, can be an entry point into healing, empowerment, and rediscovering one’s own voice.

Three Key Takeaways

You will learn:
• How solo travel can shift long-held beliefs about safety, confidence, and independence
• Why resilience grows when women choose their own adventures, large or small
• How freedom, healing, and community often arise from taking the first uncomfortable step

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

This week on Persistence U, Lizbeth welcomes back friend and former guest Richard Wilmore to talk about the power of returning to an old dream, choosing joy, and building a creative life that feels good from the inside out.

Richard first appeared on Persistence U years ago when he was helping bring the arts into hospitals through a nonprofit that changed his own life as much as it changed the lives of the patients he served. But as nonprofit work often goes, roles shifted, pressures grew, and the very job that once gave him energy began taking a toll on his health. Leaving felt sudden, but Richard shares that the decision was the result of a long internal push to return to what he always knew he wanted to do.

His childhood dream had been clear. A daytime talk show. A space filled with color, community, laughter, and meaningful conversations. After leaving the nonprofit world, he planned to support other podcasters behind the scenes. But while helping others build their shows, he realized it was time to give himself permission to create his own. Make Your Day Richer was born.

In this conversation, Richard speaks honestly about the realities of launching a show from scratch, including the pressures of being live five days a week, the overbooking that nearly burned him out, the technology that drives him crazy, and the surprising lessons that surfaced only after 200 plus episodes.

He also talks about the essential mindset shift that has shaped his creative process. Instead of going from zero to a hundred, he encourages listeners to stop at twenty if that is enough. Take one small step toward the thing that brings happiness rather than waiting for the perfect moment. Build slowly. Build honestly. Protect the joy of creating.

Richard also shares how play, color, and art influence his energy and his set design, why he loves hosting guests from all backgrounds, and how he plans to bring more local artists from South Carolina into his studio next.

Listeners will appreciate his practical wisdom about handling no-shows with grace, refusing to weaponize passion projects against yourself, and remembering to celebrate small wins. Richard reminds us that the fastest route to burnout is failing to acknowledge what is going right.

If you are someone who has always dreamed of doing something different, something creative, or something that lights you up, this episode is a reminder that ti

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

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This week on Persistence U with Lizbeth Meredith, meet Unmapped contributor Heidi Siefkas — an author, speaker, and adventurer whose story reminds us that life can change in an instant, but our power to rebuild is limitless.

Once a high-powered travel industry executive living what looked like a perfect life, Heidi’s world turned upside down when a thousand-pound tree limb struck her down, breaking her neck and forever altering her path. What followed wasn’t just recovery — it was reinvention.

In her essay for Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery, Heidi shares how travel became her greatest teacher, leading her from heartbreak to healing and from survival to thriving. After her recovery, she set off alone for Patagonia to test her strength — a journey that inspired her first memoir, When All Balls Drop, and later her global movement built around her mantra: Look Up.

That mantra — to shift perspective, find the silver lining, and stay present — helped Heidi through another unimaginable loss years later, when her longtime partner, a medevac pilot, was killed in a crash. From those ashes, she built a new life in Nashville and finished her anthology, Look Up: Global Stories of Resilience, gathering true stories of courage from around the world.

You Will Learn:

1. How travel can restore confidence, faith, and connection after trauma.
2. Why “looking up” — in every sense — can shift grief into gratitude.
3. How Heidi turned unimaginable setbacks into books, talks, and a movement that uplifts others.

Half of all royalties from Unmapped benefit the YWCA, helping survivors and families rebuild their lives.

Find Heidi’s books, talks, and her Look Up series at heidisiefkas.com, and follow her on social media @HeidiSiefkas.

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

What does it take to completely shift your life at 55, trade a full pension for personal freedom, and trust the universe when it nudges you into unfamiliar territory? Debbie Russell, former Assistant County Attorney in Minneapolis and contributor to the bestselling solo travel anthology Unmapped, shares her journey from burnout to brave.

In this conversation with host Lizbeth Meredith, Debbie talks about rediscovering her independence through travel—and how buying and towing a camper solo helped her reconnect with self-trust, risk-taking, and resilience. A lawyer turned award-winning author, Debbie reflects on the signs she followed, the stories she now shares, and the personal strength that comes from pushing past comfort zones.

Connect with Debbie Russell at https://debbie-russell.com/

Also spotlighted in this episode: Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers—Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery, the bestselling anthology now available in print and ebook. 50% of all royalties benefit the YWCA and their services for survivors of domestic abuse.

You Will Learn:

• Why Debbie traded her high-profile legal career for a new life rooted in writing, nature, and solo travel.
• How following your gut—without overthinking—can lead to joy and growth.
• What it’s like to tow a camper solo for the first time and find confidence on the road.

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

What does a decades-long friendship between two radically honest men look like?

Welcome to the dynamic world of Greg Wilker and Mark Wendt—childhood friends, creative collaborators, and co-hosts of the Moped Outlaws podcast.

In this episode, Lizbeth explores how Greg and Mark’s enduring relationship has evolved over time—from their spit-in-the-face 20s, to their current collaborative podcast, and their commitment to having real conversations about hard things. From wresting through anti-racism training to building emotional fluency as men in a world that often discourages it, they prove that resilience isn’t a solo act—it’s a shared ride.

Connect with Greg and Mark from Moped Outlaws at https://mopedoutlaws.com/

They also discuss their podcast’s origin story, their upcoming dreams of hitting the open road on actual mopeds, and the role humor plays in healing and growth. Whether it’s friendly fire, forgiveness, or the freedom to ask “Are we good?”—Greg and Mark’s bond exemplifies the power of courageous, messy, enduring connection.

As we round out the year on Persistence U, this episode is a perfect reminder that community, vulnerability, and humor help us persist—and that lifelong friendships are worth the work.

You Will Learn:

• How lifelong male friendships can evolve and deepen through honesty and conflict
• Why emotional intelligence and humility are essential tools for growth
• How friendship fuels the creative partnership behind Moped Outlaws

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...

When the #MeToo movement encouraged women to speak their truths, former nurse Stephanie Maley felt a deep stirring to finally release the story she had carried for decades—one shaped by abandonment, sexual abuse, and the quiet survival that followed.

In this moving conversation with Lizbeth Meredith, Stephanie shares how writing her memoir No Longer That Girl: Retracing the Scars of the Past and Present became a pathway to healing and self‑forgiveness.

Together, they explore the courage it takes to revisit childhood wounds, how COVID and isolation forced her to confront unresolved pain, and why sharing stories matters for every survivor who has been told to stay quiet.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How the Me Too movement and therapy sparked Stephanie’s writing journey
• Why memoir writing is a tool for healing, not just storytelling
• How her faith and family helped her find safety again.

Stephanie’s memoir launches November 4, 2025,. Find out more about events and Stephanie's writing at www.stephmaley.com.

Author Bio

A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Stephanie L. Maley dreamed of writing a book since she was a young woman. Thirty years later, that dream found its way to a reality. Before becoming an author, Stephanie worked as a pediatric nurse after getting her BSN, home-educated her two sons, and became a professional photographer after obtaining an associate’s degree in photography at forty-eight years old. She and her husband, Mike, live in their dream home on Lake Hartwell in Northeast, Georgia, where you can find Steph swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and driving her boat.

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF

Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on L...