What happens after survival? Karen Hall celebrates with Lauren Willardson, about how the Lord not only helped her heal physically, but enabled her to come off conqueror! Witness her story of faith, forgiveness, and finishing God’s mission in Part 2 of this inspirational story on The Hero Within with Karen Hall, where we move beyond survival into the greater challenge: physical and emotional healing as well as choosing forgiveness. After surviving nine stab wounds during a mission in Texas, Lauren faced an equally powerful journey—choosing to forgive her attacker and embracing God’s call to continue His mission.

This episode explores the emotional and spiritual healing that follows trauma, and the courage it takes to live beyond fear. Lauren shares her deep gratitude for the Lord saving her life yet again which motivated her to want to continue serving Him and helping others. With vulnerability and strength, Lauren reveals how she turned unimaginable pain into a testimony of faith and resilience.

Host Karen Hall, The Queen of Empathy™, guides this heartfelt conversation with compassion, showing how emotional intelligence and faith work hand-in-hand to turn tragedy into triumph. This episode moves beyond survival—it’s about redemption, purpose, and the healing power of forgiveness.

Lauren's story gives us all hope for healing from the traumas we experience in this life, and the power of gratitude to help us move beyond our pain.

Meet Karen Hall:

Karen Hall, known as The Queen of Empathy, is an Emotional Intelligence Leadership Coach, speaker, international bestselling author, and podcaster. With over 40 years of experience coaching, Karen specializes in helping leaders develop emotional intelligence to build trust and strengthen relationships. Karen combines neuroscience, emotional intelligence principles, and practical leadership strategies to increase resilience and inspire high-performing teams. She is the Executive Producer and host of The Los Angeles Tribune, and Managing Director of The Los Angeles Tribune Women’s and Spanish Journals . Trained by renowned thought leader Marianne Williamson as a spiritual life coach, she hosts The Hero Within Podcast™, ranked in the top 2.5% globally. She also hosts Unstoppable AF - Unstoppable AND FUNNY! comedy podcast, The Empathy Advantage podcast and The AI Advantage podcast. Karen empowers leaders to regulate emotions to remain calm in crisis, overcome adversity, and deepen meaningful connections. Married for nearly 40 years to her husband Joshua, Karen cherishes her family of four children and five grandchildren as her greatest blessing.

Connect with Karen Hall:

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Meet Lauren Willardson:

Lauren Willardson, an Utah native, graduated from BYU in spring of 2025 with a degree in journalism and minors in Spanish and political science, with an emphasis in religious freedom. She was serving for just 10 weeks as a young missionary when an intruder entered her apartment in the middle of the night, stabbing her and her companion multiple times in their sleep. The young missionaries were saved by the hand of God, and Lauren has since enjoyed sharing her story to promote faith through podcasts, firesides, and many other venues. You can learn more about her story on Facebook and Instagram @TheWorkofHisHands.

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Karen Hall visits with Lauren Willardson to discover what happens when her mission in Texas turns into a fight for survival?

Lauren’s story is one of unimaginable courage: stabbed repeatedly in the night, she should not have survived. But through her faith, inner strength, and the miraculous power of God, she not only lived—she found new purpose.

In Part 1 of her journey, Lauren takes us into the darkest hours of her life and the gift of faith and hope that carried her through. This episode of The Hero Within with Karen Hall is a powerful reminder that miracles do happen, and the human spirit is stronger than we can imagine.

Meet Karen Hall:

Karen Hall, known as The Queen of Empathy, is an Emotional Intelligence Leadership Coach, speaker, international bestselling author, and podcaster. With over 40 years of experience coaching, Karen specializes in helping leaders develop emotional intelligence to build trust and strengthen relationships. Karen combines neuroscience, emotional intelligence principles, and practical leadership strategies to increase resilience and inspire high-performing teams. She is the Executive Producer and host of The Los Angeles Tribune, and Managing Director of The Los Angeles Tribune Women’s and Spanish Journals . Trained by renowned thought leader Marianne Williamson as a spiritual life coach, she hosts The Hero Within Podcast™, ranked in the top 2.5% globally. She also hosts Unstoppable AF - Unstoppable AND FUNNY! comedy podcast, The Empathy Advantage podcast and The AI Advantage podcast. Karen empowers leaders to regulate emotions to remain calm in crisis, overcome adversity, and deepen meaningful connections. Married for nearly 40 years to her husband Joshua, Karen cherishes her family of four children and five grandchildren as her greatest blessing.

Connect with Karen Hall:

Linked In

YouTube

Website

Facebook

Instagram

X

Meet Lauren Willardson:

Lauren Willardson, an Utah native, graduated from BYU in spring of 2025 with a degree in journalism and minors in Spanish and political science, with an emphasis in religious freedom. She was serving for just 10 weeks as a young missionary when an intruder entered her apartment in the middle of the night, stabbing her and her companion multiple times in their sleep. The young missionaries were saved by the hand of God, and Lauren has since enjoyed sharing her story to promote faith through podcasts, firesides, and many other venues. You can learn more about her story on Facebook and Instagram @TheWorkofHisHands.

Connect with Lauren:

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In this episode of The Hero Within Podcast, host Karen Hall interviews Lisa Urbanski, a holistic wellness advocate from Manitoba, Canada. Lisa shares her profound story of overcoming addiction and embracing her highly sensitive and empathic nature. Struggling with these traits from a young age, Lisa turned to substances to cope, which led to a severe addiction. At the age of 30, she decided to turn her life around, utilizing methods like yoga, manifestation, and natural health practices. Lisa explains how understanding her sensitivity and finding the right support systems were crucial in her recovery. The conversation delves into the importance of purpose, processing emotions, and the role of community and holistic health in maintaining sobriety and personal growth. Lisa also speaks about her impactful work with therapy dogs and her commitment to helping others unlock their potential.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Struggles

00:39 Welcome to the Hero Within Podcast

01:13 Meet Lisa Urbanski: The Unconventional Conventional Woman

02:29 Lisa's Early Life and Empathic Abilities

04:03 Struggles with Substance Abuse

07:01 Journey to Sobriety and Self-Discovery

10:14 Finding Purpose and Helping Others

15:08 The Power of Mindset and Natural Healing

21:45 Conclusion and Contact Information

Meet Karen Hall:

Karen Hall, known as The Queen of Empathy, is an Emotional Intelligence Leadership Coach, speaker, international bestselling author, and podcaster. With over 40 years of experience coaching, Karen specializes in helping leaders develop emotional intelligence to build trust and strengthen relationships. Karen combines neuroscience, emotional intelligence principles, and practical leadership strategies to increase resilience and inspire high-performing teams. She is the Executive Producer and host of The Los Angeles Tribune, and Managing Director of The Los Angeles Tribune Women’s and Spanish Journals . Trained by renowned thought leader Marianne Williamson as a spiritual life coach, she hosts The Hero Within Podcast™, ranked in the top 2.5% globally. She also hosts Unstoppable AF - Unstoppable AND FUNNY! comedy podcast, The Empathy Advantage podcast and The AI Advantage podcast. Karen empowers leaders to regulate emotions to remain calm in crisis, overcome adversity, and deepen meaningful connections. Married for nearly 40 years to her husband Joshua, Karen cherishes her family of four children and five grandchildren as her greatest blessing.

Connect with Karen:

Linked In

YouTube

Website

Facebook

Instagram

X

Meet Lisa Urbanski:

Lisa Urbanski is a holistic wellness advocate and community leader from a small town in Manitoba, Canada. After overcoming a personal battle with addiction, she discovered her passion for personal growth, mindset, and holistic healing. Through her transformative journey, Lisa tapped into her inner strength and is now dedicated to helping others unlock their own potential. As the pack leader of a therapy dog program and a pioneer in frequency-charged nutrition, Lisa blends innovative practices with her healing approach to create lasting change and support individuals in their transformation.

Connect with Lisa:

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In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of The Hero Within podcast, Karen Hall sits down with Skylar Sorkin, the founder and host of the Regardless podcast. Skylar shares her personal journey of resilience, grief and growth, highlighting how the word “regardless” became a transformative mindset during pivotal moments in her life.

From navigating early career challenges to dealing with personal grief and the California wildfires, Skylar and Karen discuss how Skylar used this mantra to overcome adversity and inspire a community of women to move forward—no matter what life throws their way. Together, Karen and Skylar explore the power of emotional intelligence, the importance of building authentic connections, and how to find strength through life’s chaos.

Whether you’re navigating challenges in your relationships, career, or personal life, this episode will leave you feeling empowered and ready to embrace your own “regardless” mindset.

🎙️ Topics Discussed in This Episode:

• Skylar’s journey to founding the Regardless podcast
• The transformative power of the “regardless” mindset
• Emotional intelligence as a tool for resilience
• Grieving, healing, and growing through life’s toughest moments
• Building community and connection during times of crisis
• Practical advice for navigating the chaos of your 20s

🌟 Links & Resources:

Follow Skylar Sorkin:

• Regardless Podcast: Apple Podcasts
• Instagram: @SkylarSorkin
• TikTok: @SkylarSorkin
• Podcast Instagram: @RegardlessThePod

Connect with Karen Hall:

• YouTube Podcasts: Karen Hall
• Facebook: Karen Hall Coaching
• LinkedIn: Karen Hall
• Instagram: @KarenHallCoaching
• Website: www.karenhallcoaching.com

💌 Stay connected with Karen Hall for more inspiring episodes.

Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs a little inspiration today. ❤️🙏❤️

Join host Karen Hall in this heartfelt episode of The Hero Within Podcast as she sits down with David Meltzer, a successful serial entrepreneur who married his dream girl, had 3 loving children yet hit rock bottom.

David shares his emotional journey of overcoming life's adversities, the pivotal role his wife played in his transformation, and his healing journey to learn to release his hate for his father, his mother and others, including himself. Join us as he shares his personal transformation by forgiving others, and forgiving himself and replacing hate with love. We celebrate his mission to empower others to find joy each day as they consistently persist in achieving their potential. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about faith, love, forgiveness, and the true meaning of happiness and learn about David's biggest surprise miracle!

00:00 A Night of Reckoning

00:35 Welcome to the Hero Within Podcast

01:32 Introducing David Meltzer

02:51 Defining Happiness and Life Lessons

04:42 From Scarcity to Abundance

09:48 The Turning Point: Bankruptcy and Realizations

12:44 A Life-Saving Moment

17:37 Rebuilding and Empowering Others

18:34 Conclusion and Gratitude

About Karen Hall: Karen Hall, known as the Queen of Empathy, is an international motivational speaker, bestselling author, and expert in emotional intelligence. She serves as Executive Producer, Trainer, Speaker and Host for The Los Angeles Tribune events, while also leading as Managing Director of the Tribune global Women’s and Spanish Journals.

Trained by the renowned Marianne Williamson as a certified spiritual life coach, Karen brings over 40 years of coaching and teaching, helping leaders manage emotions, build trust, and foster resilience. She hosts a TV show and The Hero Within Podcast™ , ranked in the top 3% globally, showcasing inspiring true stories of unsung heroes who use emotional intelligence while navigating adversity to find hope and healing to return to love™.

Karen helps her clients tap into their spirituality and compassion to remove resentment and build relationships of trust both professionally and personally. Married to her supportive husband Joshua for 39 years, they have four kids and five grandkids.

Links:

Website: https://KarenHallCoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-hall-749369130?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.o.hall

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theherowithinpodcastkarenhall/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theherowithinpodcast?_t=8jV1jc1QA74&_r=1https://www.facebook.com/karen.o.hall?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHeroWithin23

The Hero Within Podcast™ audio: https://podnews.net/podcast/ia7z1/listen

Free gift: https://KarenHallCoaching.com

Los Angeles Tribune Women's Journal: https://latribunewomensjournal.com

About David Meltzer

David Meltzer is the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing and formerly served as CEO of the renowned Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, which was the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire. David is also a three-time international best-selling author, a Top 100 Business Coach, and host of the top entrepreneur podcast, The Playbook.

David is the Executive Producer of the Apple TV series 2 Minute Drill and Office Hours. He is also the executive producer of Entrepreneur’s #1 digital business show, Elevator Pitch. David is featured in many books, movies, and TV shows such as World’s Greatest Motivators, Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy and Beyond the Secret, airing on Netflix. Additionally, he has been recognized by Variety Magazine as their Sports Humanitarian of the Year and awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

His life’s mission is to empower OVER 1 BILLION people to be happy! This simple yet powerful mission has led him on an incredible journey to provide one thing…VALUE. In all his content and communication that’s exactly what you’ll receive. For the past 20 years, David has been providing free weekly trainings to empower others to empower others to be happy.

Links:

Website: https://dmeltzer.com/

Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @davidmeltzer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidmeltzer11/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmeltzer2/

Free book: david@dmeltzer.com

Free training: https://free.dmeltzer.com/training

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What happens when you step onto a stage with your heart pounding and your mind going blank? In this heartfelt episode, host Karen Hall vulnerably recounts her deeply personal behind-the-scenes emotional journey of facing her fears and overcoming her public speaking anxiety to deliver an impactful speech at SPEAK Faith event in NY. Joining her is the empathetic and insightful Barbie Ray, who witnessed Karen’s journey firsthand and shares her own valuable observations.

Karen dives deep into the emotions that even seasoned speakers face—feelings of isolation, inadequacy, and the ever-present fear of not being enough. They explore how faith and determination can transform those fears into powerful moments of connection and authenticity.

Throughout the episode, Karen opens up about the exhilarating highs and nerve-wracking fears of preparing for her speech. From the unexpected moments of forgetting parts of her talk to the profound sense of peace she found through letting go and trusting God, Karen’s story is a testament to the transformative power of faith and vulnerability. She also shares the joy of connecting with her audience and the overwhelming gratitude she felt when receiving a standing ovation, all while reflecting on the incredible support from her community.

Barbie Ray, with her wealth of experience as a speaking coach, offers deep insights into the importance of community support, heart-centered communication, and together, she and Karen discuss the role of empathetic coaching in overcoming stage fright. Together, Karen and Barbie highlight the profound impact of sharing personal stories and the motivations behind public speaking, along with the importance of emotional intelligence in making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

About Karen Hall:

Karen Hall is an international, inspirational motivational speaker known for her work on The Empathy Advantage™ and emotional intelligence. She is the Managing Director of The Los Angeles Tribune Women's and SpanishJournals. With over 40 years of experience as a spiritual life coach, trained under Marianne Williamson, Karen is committed to helping individuals overcome barriers to love and build relationships of trust through empathy. Host ofThe Hero Within Podcast™, it ranks among the top 3% globally. Karen’s forthcoming book aims to further her mission of fostering emotional intelligence and empathy in both personal and professional relationships.

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• Website
• Links:
• The Hero Within Podcast™
• The Los Angeles Tribune Women's Journal

About Barbie Ray:
Barbie Ray is an accomplished speaking coach, author, and empath known for her heart-centered approach to helping others overcome public speaking anxiety and trauma. With a deep commitment to making a difference in the world, Barbie uses her expertise to guide speakers in finding their authentic voice and delivering impactful messages. She has worked with countless individuals, helping them transform their fears into strengths. Barbie is also the founder of Empower with Barbie, where she offers coaching and resources for those looking to conquer their fears and step confidently into the spotlight. Her upcoming book will dive deeper into her methods and experiences, offering even more tools for personal and professional growth.
Connect with Barbie:

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In this powerful and inspiring episode of The Hero Within Podcast, host Karen Hall sits down with bestselling author Dan Armstrong for a heartfelt conversation about surviving bullying, overcoming adversity, the power of gratitude, and the profound impact of a mother's love.

Dan shares his remarkable journey from a child struggling with a speech impediment from his cleft palate and facing relentless bullying to becoming a multi-bestselling, successful author, speaker, and inspiration to many. With raw honesty and touching vulnerability, he recounts the challenges he faced, the incredible story of Dan's mother's influence in his life in addition to her acts of kindness to a homeless women, and the pivotal moments that shaped his life.

Whether you're facing your own challenges, seeking inspiration, or simply love a good story of triumph over adversity, this episode is a must-listen. Dan Armstrong's journey reminds us all of the hero within each of us, waiting to emerge.

Karen Hall
Karen Hall is an international motivational speaker, Co-Producer of Events, Trainer, and Managing Director of The Los Angeles Tribune Women's and Spanish Journals. Trained by Marianne Williamson as a spiritual life coach, she hosts The Hero Within Podcast™, featuring inspiring stories of unsung heroes™ who use emotional intelligence to overcome adversity, find hope, build trust and return to love. Married for 39 years to Joshua, they have 4 married children and 5 grandchildren.

Connect with Karen:
https://linktr.ee/theherowithinpodcast
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-hal...

Dan Armstrong
Dan is a multiple best selling author. Born with a cleft palate and unable to communicate as a child, Dan dove into reading and writing until his confidence brought him to the stage. From school plays, a professional singer in a Christian rock band, to his own one-minute radio spot of 1000 episodes, Dan overcame the challenges of having a birth defect and shares his stories to inspire many audiences. He lives in Pennsylvania and continues to write fiction and non-fiction as well.

Connect with Dan:
https://danarmstrong.us
/ dan.armstrong.5076

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What happens when ambition meets unwavering support and strategic brilliance? Visionary entrepreneur Aaron Young learned valuable lessons from his hardworking parents. From a young enterpriser at 18, driven by financial desperation, to becoming a leader who has guided over 100,000 entrepreneurs and in his successful firm, Laughlin USA, Aaron's strategic vision and business acumen have transformed his multiple ventures into multimillion-dollar successes. Aaron shares a glimpse of his new book, "Unshackled," where we can learn how to revolutionize our approach to business.

We celebrate the power of a supportive partnership in this episode, as Aaron shares how his 37-year marriage to Michelle has been a cornerstone of his success, highlighting the importance of living true to your values and prioritizing strong family bonds while balancing entrepreneurial success and personal commitments. He shares how his wife Michelle’s unwavering support allowed him to pursue his ambitions, while he also supported her in her greatest desires to stay home with their kids.

Lastly, Aaron shares valuable lessons from his experiences, including those learned during personal setbacks, such as his prison sentence, and how these have shaped his resilience and credibility. Prepare to be inspired in this episode brimming with wisdom, resilience, and actionable strategies for achieving your entrepreneurial dreams.

Thank you for listening!

If you enjoy this show, please subscribe, review and rate with your reflections with our community.

I'm wishing you lots of love on your own hero's journey,
Karen
xoxo

Connect with Karen Hall
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Connect with Aaron Young
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Aaron Young, is a lifelong entrepreneur, trusted advisor to CEOs and business owners, and creator of The Unshackled Owner, a program for entrepreneurs looking to build a business and not just a glorified job.

Aaron is Chairman/CEO of Laughlin Associates, a 52-year-old company that has helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs start, grow and profit from their business. For over 3 decades, his experience founding, acquiring and directing entrepreneurs from Main Street to multi-million dollar businesses, along with his integrity set him apart from the crowd as a voice of vision and authority.

Aaron arms other business owners with success formulas that immediately provide exponential growth and protection. In addition, Aaron is a highly sought after Chief Strategy Officer, keynote speaker, author, media guest, and he sits on several boards. He works very few hours a day and enjoys horses, traveling and spending time with his wife, Michelle, of 37 years. They live in the Pacific Northwest where they enjoy time with their 5 children and grandchildren.

Order your book, Unshackled, HERE and enter a drawing to work with Aaron!
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