This week on We Can Be Real, I have a conversation with Veronica Finlay, Director of Development at The Center for Great Expectations. CGE is a nonprofit rehabilitation center that seeks to form a partnership with homeless pregnant, and /or parenting women and adolescents, men, and their children, in creating a safe place, safe presence and a safe path, that enables clients to experience, choose and maintain physical, psychological, social and spiritual health for themselves, their children and their families.
CGE's Vision " To be a national leader in providing transformational (behavior health) substance use and mental health treatment to women, children, men and families impacted by trauma, abuse and neglect". As the Director of Development at CGE, Veronica is responsible for donor identification and stewardship, event planning and execution, grant writing, appeals, newsletter and outreach. Her passion is helping people; uplifting those who struggle or face significant challenges due to circumstances beyond their control. Everyone deserves the opportunity to flourish and CGE helps families and women due just that.
To learn more about CGE and to help, you can reach out to Veronica at vfinlay@cge-nj.org and please visit the website www.cge-nj.org.

No one goes into a marriage expecting to get divorced. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that many marriages fail and when they fail it is so important to have the right people on your side to help you navigate this extremely intimate and sensitive time. This week on We Can Be Real I’m talking about prenups, signs of separation, and having a “successful” divorce.

Angela Kim is the chair of HDRB&B’s Matrimonial and Family Law Department. Her clients rely on her at critical – and often profoundly upsetting – moments in their lives. Angela handles a wide range of matrimonial and family law matters, including marriage dissolution (divorce), property distribution, child custody, spousal support, child support, and matrimonial agreements (prenuptial, post-nuptial and separation). A key part of Angela’s practice centers on economics and personal financial matters in an effort to secure equitable treatment for her clients. Angela chose to practice law because people are important to her; she wanted to belong to a profession where she could have a positive impact on lives and bring something back to the community.

In this episode, Angela and I discuss:

• How a good mentor can help move you forward in your life and career.
• A matrimonial attorney’s thoughts on prenups.
• Signs that your marriage might be headed for divorce.
• Knowing when it’s time to call it quits for the best interest of all parties.
• What a “successful” divorce looks like.

If you enjoyed this episode don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you.

CONNECT WITH ANGELA KIM:

HDRB&B

HDRB&B LinkedIn

Angela Kim's LinkedIn

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If you’re like me trying to date again later in life, you may have realized that dating isn’t how it used to be. In this digital era of dating, you might find yourself intimidated to even start or end up on dates with all the wrong guys. That’s why for Valentine's Day I wanted to treat my listeners to an episode with love coach, Natalie Kita. This week on We Can Be Real Natalie and I are talking about finding your last love.

Natalie Kita is a love coach, helping smart, successful, spiritually conscious, "single again" women over 40 stop choosing and attracting the wrong guys. Her methods help her clients say goodbye forever to loneliness and rejection and manifest healthy, fulfilling, deeply connected, and lasting love with the exact right partner, in just 3-6 months.

In this episode, Natalie and I discuss:

• Natalie’s recommended pre-date screening process to get to know your online date better beforehand and protect yourself as a woman.
• There is so much inner work that needs to be done and mental blocks to work through before you can begin choosing the right people to date.
• What it means to date someone at the same bus stop as you.
• Choosing someone that aligns with your lifestyle, personality and values is much more important than seeking out someone for appearances.
• Reflecting on your non-negotiables, soul’s desires and cherry on top BEFORE you begin dating.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it on social media using the hashtag #WeCanBeRealPod. Don’t forget to also follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell me what resonated with you.

CONNECT WITH NATALIE KITA:

Website

Your Last Love Method Program

Facebook

Instagram

STAY CONNECTED WITH ELLEN:

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Podcast Update: After this episode, I will be putting the podcast on pause for a bit. In light of the cruelty happening in Israel, it feels disingenuous to continue posting content that in comparison, feels so trivial. It is important for me to keep the airways open for the professionals who come to serve and educate. In the meantime, you can connect with me on Instagram @ellenschweitzer_lifecoach. Please continue to follow the podcast so that you will be notified when I return. I am looking forward to reconnecting with you in a much lighter time.


We are conditioned to be strong, put on a brave face, and believe that vulnerability is a weakness. In reality, being vulnerable is one of the strongest things you can be. This week on We Can Be Real I’m talking about the power of vulnerability.

In this episode, I share my experience of embracing vulnerability as a strength and the book and TED Talk that helped me open up to it. I try to be as real as possible on this podcast and truly believe that showing your most vulnerable self is the most real you can be.

I challenge you to ask yourself next time you’re feeling vulnerable if you’re being weak or if you’re just being real.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it on social media using the hashtag #WeCanBeRealPod. Don’t forget to also follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell me what resonated with you.

STAY CONNECTED WITH ELLEN:

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LINKS REFERENCED:

TED Talk: Brene Brown: Power of Vulnerability

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Antisemitism is far from a new concept. Historically, there have been times when it was extremely bad and other times when it leveled out. Right now we are unfortunately in a really bad, really scary time. This week on We Can Be Real Lauri is back on the podcast to join me in talking about antisemitism.

Lauri Bader has been actively involved with the Jewish Federation of Nothern New Jersey for 20 years and served as President of its Women’s Philanthropy for 3 years. She is a member of AIPAC which promotes the relationship between the U.S. and Israel. Lauri has also been a member of Temple Emanual for 30 years

In this episode, Lauri and I discuss:

• Our upbringing and being naive to the hatred around the Jewish people.
• Finding the balance between being brave and standing up for what you believe in while keeping yourself out of harm's way.
• The antisemitism on college campuses and the impact it has on our future generations.

Times are scary and while we cannot sit back and do nothing, we don’t have to do any form of activism that we’re not comfortable with or feel unsafe doing.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it on social media using the hashtag #WeCanBeRealPod. Don’t forget to also follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell me what resonated with you.

STAY CONNECTED WITH ELLEN:

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For the first time ever, The Bachelor franchise is giving someone a second chance at love in the later part of their life with the release of The Golden Bachelor. As widows ourselves, my friends Debbie, Jaynee, and I were interested in tuning in to get a glimpse of what it looks like for other people in our situation to find love again. This week on We Can Be Real, my guests and I discuss The Golden Bachelor from a widow’s perspective!

In this episode, Debbie, Jaynee, and I discuss:

• Our positive and negative takeaways from the first couple of episodes of The Golden Bachelor.
• The impact the contestants on the Golden Bachelor have on the women watching.
• Our speculations on the intentions of the contestants.
• The major differences between what contestants on The Bachelor look for and what the contestants on The Golden Bachelor look for.
• Our thoughts on uprooting your life at our age, PDA, and sex on the first date.

If you enjoyed this episode don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you.

STAY CONNECTED WITH ELLEN:

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In light of the senseless violence and destruction in Israel, it would be irresponsible to continue putting out regular podcast episodes without using my platform to address these horrific acts of terrorism. Complacency is NOT an option here. This week on We Can Be Real I’m joined by my dear friend Lauri Bader who fortunately got out of Israel safely and recounts her story while sharing resources for how we can help.

Lauri Bader has been actively involved with the Jewish Federation of Nothern New Jersey for 20 years and served as President of its Women’s Philanthropy for 3 years. She is a member of AIPAC which promotes the relationship between the U.S. and Israel. Lauri has also been a member of Temple Emanual for 30 years

In this episode, Lauri and I discuss:

• Lauri’s experience being in Tel Aviv when the missiles hit on Saturday and her internal dilemma to stay in solidarity or flee to safety.
• Touching the surface of why this is happening and why now.
• Providing resources for how we can show our support and get involved.

Resources:

• Write a letter to Congress asking for their support.
• Find your local Jewish Federation and donate.
• Donate to Friends of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).
• Donate to Magen David Adom, Israel’s National EMS Organization.

Jewish or not, we owe it to the people of Israel to stay educated and support them in any way that we can.

If you enjoyed this episode don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you.

CONNECT WITH LAURI:

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Content Warning: This episode includes brief mentions of violence and murder.

We are not in control of the hand we are dealt in life. We are, however, in control of what we do with that hand and how we make the most of it to make a life worth living. This week on We Can Be Real I’m joined by Mark “Mayor” Farese sharing his life story and how he cultivated connection and capitalized on every opportunity that came his way.

In this episode, Mark “MAYOR” and I discuss:

• How he turned his passion for sneakers into a full-time hustle that opened the door to more opportunities in the online space.
• The incredible role models in Mark’s life that had a hand in building him into the person he is today.
• How Mark managed to grow and leverage his network without ever using people.
• How he overcame the circumstances of his upbringing to create a successful and fulfilled life.
• Learning and growing from your mistakes.

If you enjoyed this episode don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me what resonated with you.

CONNECT WITH MARK “MAYOR” FARESE:

Instagram

X (formerly Twitter)

STAY CONNECTED WITH ELLEN:

Website

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