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"You can be broken, messy, and still rise stronger than you ever imagined."

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Stella Safo, Founder of Just Equity for Health, about standing up in the face of challenges and finding purpose through hardship.We talk about the difficult spaces she has navigated, including a toxic work environment, gender discrimination, workplace abuse, fertility struggles, pregnancy loss, and raising her two children, while still working to create positive change in healthcare. Through honest reflection, we explore how she leaned on her community, turned pain into action, and built programs to help others.

If you have faced setbacks, felt overwhelmed by life’s pressures, or are trying to make sense of your own difficult seasons, this episode will remind you that resilience, hope, and small steps forward can still light the way.

Song of the week: Rise Up by Andra Day

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode Snippet

00:01:21 – Advertisement: Ready to take charge of your health? Get a free session with Dr. Diana Lake at bit.ly/fitbossfreesession

00:05:20 – How early experiences shape who we become

00:09:53 – The emotional toll of speaking out against injustice

00:18:33 – Arming people with knowledge from real-life battles

00:22:20 – How egg freezing gave me time and choice

00:28:29 – Protecting your fertility before the window closes

00:32:01 – Gratitude for refusal to be defeated

00:36:20 – Digging deep: practical strategies for resilience

00:39:27 – Love

00:41:14 – Connect with Dr. Stella Safo

Key Takeaways:

"There is something radical about my existence, and I refuse to allow this world to break that and to take that from me in a way where I make myself small."

About Our Guest

Dr. Stella A. Safo is a Ghanaian-American board-certified HIV primary care physician and public health practitioner with extensive experience in care model design for health systems and industry. She is the founder of Just Equity for Health, where she leads work centered on advocacy, education, and equitable care delivery.

Connect with Dr. Stella:

Web: https://justequityforhealth.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/justequityforhealth

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

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our Email Community

Join our community to receive our newsletters and to be the first to hear about exciting announcements and opportunities to connect.

The doors for the R&R Collective will reopen in 2026. Join the waitlist today! https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/u4ehbbody9

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"The journey is going to continue to shape your character and who you are in this world."

In this episode, I’m speaking about the often-overlooked middle where faith is tested, identity is stretched, and growth quietly takes root.

I share how the middle can feel disorienting, heavy, and deeply uncomfortable, yet it is also the place where God does His most transformative work. Through honest reflection, we’ll talk about facing hard truths, releasing what you thought your life would look like, and choosing to trust God even when the path forward isn’t clear.

If you’re standing in transition, carrying unanswered questions, or trying to make sense of your own in-between season, this episode will remind you that the middle is a sacred part of your journey.

Song of the week: The Journey by H.E.R.

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode Snippet

00:01:53 – Healing is ongoing

00:04:54 – Why the middle matters more than the ending

00:06:28 – Join the R&R Collective waitlist

00:09:00 – The middle: the place between what was and what will be

00:15:00 – When truth shatters what you thought you knew

00:19:56 – Who's gonna care for me?

00:21:37 – Living in the middle season

00:25:39 – Dreaming while afraid

00:28:14 – God’s will may differ from desire

00:30:58 – Seeing the light after the middle

00:33:17 – The journey serves a purpose

00:34:30 – Your journey reveals character

00:37:14 – Your journey reveals your commitment to growth

00:39:29 – Stay on the journey

Key Takeaways:

"Our journey has a purpose. Your journey reveals your character, your journey reveals your convictions, and your journey reveals your commitment to growth."

"There are always decisions that we need to make in our lives and things that we need to do to grow and to evolve into the absolute best versions of ourselves."

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our Email Community

Join our community to receive our newsletters and to be the first to hear about exciting announcements and opportunities to connect.

The doors for the R&R Collective will reopen in 2026. Join the waitlist today! https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/u4ehbbody9

Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating divorce while walking in her Christian faith.

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"Reinvention in midlife isn’t about starting over, it’s about stepping fully into the version of yourself you were always meant to be."

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Joy’El Ballard, board-certified OB/GYN, menopause and midlife strategist, and business coach, about what it looks like to reinvent yourself in midlife.

Dr. Joy’El shares how she courageously left a thriving medical career, trusted God through change, and let go of perfectionism and the need to always be “the strong one.” She opens up about redefining her identity and discovering a bigger purpose beyond what she had imagined.

If you’re ready for a new career, mindset, relationship, or simply a new way of showing up, this episode will inspire you to trust yourself, embrace change, and step boldly into your next chapter.

Song of the week: New Attitude by Patti Labelle

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode snippet

00:01:48 – Introducing our guest, Dr. Joy’El Ballard

00:03:30 – Dr. Joy’El’s bold leap into midlife coaching

00:08:47 – Letting go of perfectionism

00:13:05 – Our purpose evolve with us

00:17:17 – Midlife shifts and the rising trend of “gray divorce”

00:22:10 – Rethinking marriage and life after autopilot

00:25:36 – Therapy and self-care for caregivers

00:29:26 – The concept of a “jug of joy”

00:32:42 – Why is midlife a fabulous time to reinvent ourselves?

00:36:50 – Alignment

00:40:10 – Where to find Dr. Joy’El Ballard

Key Takeaways:

"When you walk into something new that requires leaving something."

About Our Guest:

Dr. Joy’El Ballard, known as The Menopause Mogul, is a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Business Coach for Black women 40 and over. Through her Menopause Mogul online coaching program, she empowers women to reclaim their energy, clarity, and confidence during menopause, helping them launch businesses and create lives on their own terms.

Connect with Dr. Joy’El Ballard:

Web: https://www.drjoyel.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/drjoyel

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drjoyel

YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUuhQ4ypjI6vXmCI86pPKA

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

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our Email Community

Join our community to receive our newsletters and to be the first to hear about exciting announcements and opportunities to connect.

The doors for the R&R Collective will reopen in 2026. Join the waitlist today! https://yourn

Send us a text

Finding real love starts with learning how to love yourself first. Healing, rebuilding confidence, and opening your heart after heartbreak can feel daunting, but it’s also where the most beautiful stories begin.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Heidi B. Friedman, attorney and author of Love Lessons: 104 Dates and the Stories That Led Me to True Love, about what she discovered through the often messy, funny, and revealing process of dating after divorce.

Heidi shares how saying yes to new experiences, breaking old rules, and stepping beyond her comfort zone led her to unexpected connections, and ultimately, to her husband. If you’ve ever wondered how to start again or feared it’s too late for love, this conversation is your gentle nudge to keep your heart open, trust the process, and be brave enough to let love find you.

Song of the week: Real Love by Mary J. Blige

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode snippet

00:01:56 – Introducing our guest, Heidi Friedman

00:03:25 – Choosing independence and self-worth

00:07:05 – Letting go of the “Fixer” Mindset

00:12:19 – Dating as a journey of self-discovery

00:15:12 – Researching lasting love through interviews with couples

00:17:10 – Writing Love Lessons to guide her children

00:21:09 – Taking turns supporting each other in love

00:23:21 – Open heart and open mind

00:27:55 – Let luck play a role in love

00:30:06 – Break rigid dating rules

00:36:19 – Biggest lesson: Don’t settle

00:41:10 – Be brave

00:42:40 – Where to find Heidi and her book

Key Takeaways:

"What therapy did for me was create an awareness about my inability to see that I was worthy of an equal partner who I could rely on and who can support me."

About Our Guest:

Heidi B. Friedman is an accomplished attorney, author, and partner at a leading law firm specializing in environmental law and ESG-based counseling. After 104 dates and nearly a decade of single life, she found love again and penned her debut book, Love Lessons, sharing wisdom from her journey of rediscovery.

Connect with Heidi B. Friedman:

Web: https://heidifriedman.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lovelessons104

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ViNW35LJ75ilXd360Yqcl

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our Email Community

Join our community to receive our newsletters and to be the first to hear about exciting announcements and opportunities to connect.

The doors for the R&R Collective will reopen in 2026. Join the waitlist today! https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.co

Send us a text

Sometimes, God’s call to purpose comes in the form of heartbreak. Sometimes, the very thing that breaks you is the very thing that awakens you to your deepest potential.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Paula Hollis, a transformational speaker, author, and certified life transitions coach, about how loss can become a catalyst for purpose, intentionality, and legacy.

Paula shares her personal journey from the heartbreak of losing her husband to discovering renewed strength and direction, offering practical steps for moving from grief to growth.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by grief or uncertain how to move forward, this conversation is a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, you can honor the love you have lost, lean on God’s strength, and move forward with intentionality.

Song of the week: For Every Mountain by Kurt Carr

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode snippet

00:02:53 – Introducing our guest, Paula Hollis

00:06:02 – A love story rooted in faith and divine orchestration

00:09:40 – Praising God in pain

00:13:46 – Serving from a place of healing

00:16:25 – Living with daily reminders of God’s grace

00:19:26 –When God transforms loss into ministry

00:23:21 – The “Ivory Yes”

00:28:56 – Book: The Journey from Grief to Growth

00:37:37 – Facing a new reality

00:41:13 – Book: The G.I.F.T. in Grief

00:44:29 – Clarity

00:46:05 – Connect with Paula Hollis

Key Takeaways:

"The loss of my husband represents a renewed sense of purpose, launching in me intentionality and a sense of legacy, not just what I leave behind, but what I’m living right now."

About Our Guest:

Paula Hollis, “The Acronym Queen,” is a transformational speaker, author, and certified life transitions coach. She helps women move from grief to growth and from life transitions to transformation through her books, coaching, and pH Academy. Drawing from her 30-year marriage and personal loss, Paula speaks with warmth, wisdom, and authenticity, anchoring her message in faith, family, and legacy.

Connect with Paula Hollis:

Web: https://paulahollis.com/; https://www.coachlinks.paulahollis.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/iampaulahollis

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Join our Email Community

Join our community to receive our newsletters and to be the first to hear about exciting announcements and opportunities to connect.

The doors for the R&R Collective will reopen in 2026. Join the waitlist today!

Send us a text

Sometimes, the greatest breakthroughs begin in the moments we feel most broken. When life falls apart, what comes next isn’t just about survival. It’s about remembering your strength and choosing to rise again.

In this episode with Dr. Dianah Lake, we explore how mindset and movement can help you rebuild your life from the inside out. Dr. Diana shares her powerful story of rediscovery after divorce, from heartbreak and exhaustion to healing through therapy, faith, and fitness. Her journey reminds us that reclaiming your rhythm starts with one small decision to care for yourself.

If you’ve ever felt weighed down by expectations or afraid to start again, this episode will remind you that your next chapter begins when you choose yourself

Song of the week: Free Mind by Tems

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode snippet

00:02:06 – Introducing our guest, Dr. Dianah Lake

00:03:49 – Dr. Diana’s story of heartbreak and discovery

00:08:22 – The weight of doing it all

00:11:00 – Fitness as a healing tool

00:13:05 – The silent struggle of high-achieving women

00:17:01 – Were capable of far more than we believed

00:21:46 – The ripple effect of self-care

00:26:11 – Fitness as emotional release

00:29:23 – What do you make your pain mean?

00:31:55 – It’s not genetics, it’s behavior

00:33:26 – Learning from what you once allowed

00:35:00 – The lesson: Discovering capability

00:38:16 – Purpose born from experience

00:40:11 – The deal breaker: Violence

00:42:47 – Abuse doesn’t discriminate

00:44:00 – Abundance: The Oath of Manifestation

00:46:58 – Connect with Dr. Dianah

Key Takeaways:

“In life, we’re either running away from pain or moving toward pleasure. It’s human behavior, avoiding what hurts and chasing what feels good.”

About Our Guest:

Dr. Dianah T. Lake, also known as Dr. Di, is an emergency medicine physician, best-selling author, speaker, and wellness expert. She’s the founder of Dr. Di Fit Life, where she helps women live healthier and more balanced lives through a holistic approach to fitness, self-care, and wellness. As an autism parent advocate and fitness competitor, Dr. Di uses her experience and voice to inspire others to take charge of their health and well-being.

Connect with Dr. Dianah T. Lake:

Web: https://drdifitlife.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/DrDiFitness/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/DrDiFitLife

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

The doors for the R&R Collective will reopen in 2026. Join the waitlist today! https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/u4ehbbody9

Send us a text

Freedom doesn’t just happen, it’s a choice to release what no longer serves you and make space for what God is trying to do next.

As Your nEXt Chapter celebrates its first birthday, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons this year has taught me about freedom, healing, and the courage it takes to start again. This episode is an invitation to release the weight of the past and reclaim your rhythm.

Through the language of music, I’m sharing five powerful steps that have guided me on my own journey, from tuning your instrument and surrendering the mix, to cleaning the record, singing a new song, and finding your harmony. Each one is a reminder that healing isn’t about perfection; it’s about learning to flow with God’s grace and truth.

If you’ve ever felt stuck replaying old stories or settling for what feels safe, this conversation will remind you that you can choose freedom. You can sing something new.

Song of the week: Shackles by Mary Mary

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 – Episode snippet

00:02:11 – Celebrating one year of Your nEXt Chapter

00:05:32 – What freedom really looks like in your healing journey

00:06:33 – Step 1: Tune Your Instrument

00:09:27 – Stop settling for less

00:12:12 – Step 2: Surrender the Mix

00:17:02 – Step 3: Clean the Record

00:19:04 – How replaying past only prolonged the pain

00:23:57 – Step 4: Sing a new song

00:26:29 – Stop boxing yourself in

00:27:12 – Step 5: Find Your Harmony

00:32:02 – Freedom looks good on you

00:33:47 – Recap: The Five Steps to Freedom

Key Takeaways:

"Your freedom begins with your truth."

"Surrendering is acknowledging that there is a higher power who knows better, who does better, and who's working it all out for your good."

"As a God girl, my form of surrender largely has to do with letting go and giving it over to God. Nobody can fix it like God can fix it."

"You were made to shine, you were made to thrive, you were not made to just settle. So when you're doing anything other than that, you are settling. You can't be free when you're settling."

"You cannot trust everybody, not everybody can be and should be trusted with your heart. But there are so many amazing people out here who can."

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Sign up TODAY to be a Founding Member in the R&R Collective:

https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/waitlist

Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating divorce while walking in her Christian faith.

Send us a text

Some chapters begin in pain but end in power.

At just 29 years old, Lisa Satchell was diagnosed with breast cancer — an unexpected detour that tested her faith, stripped away her control, and redefined what healing truly means. In this heartfelt conversation, Dr. Nicole and Lisa talk about surrender, vulnerability, purpose, and how God can turn even the most difficult diagnosis into divine redirection.

Lisa opens up about her journey through diagnosis, double mastectomy, and the deep lessons learned along the way — from learning to ask for help to finding joy again in unexpected places (like meeting the Jonas Brothers!). This episode is a reminder that miracles aren’t always the absence of pain, but the presence of God’s grace through it.

Song of the week: Healed by Donald Lawrence

Topics Covered:

(00:00:00) Episode snippet
(00:02:30) Introducing our guest, Lisa Satchell
(00:04:20) Navigating a breast cancer diagnosis at 29
(00:08:55) Finding faith in the face of fear
(00:13:10) The moment she knew God would use her story
(00:16:42) Symptoms women should never ignore
(00:21:30) The power of vulnerability and asking for help
(00:27:18) Friends, capacity, and grace in relationships
(00:31:40) Understanding purpose beyond your profession
(00:38:12) When God redirects your plans
(00:44:10) How suffering strengthens compassion
(00:47:55) Redefining what healing looks like
(00:53:05) Lisa’s next chapter and her devotional-in-progress
(00:56:20) Final reflections: consistency and perseverance

Key Takeaways:

“I didn’t need to be special in this way — but I realized God chose me for a reason. And if I’m going through it, He’s going to heal me and use it.”

“If it’s getting harder, it might mean you’re closer to your breakthrough.”

About Our Guest:

Lisa K. Satchell is a storyteller, community builder, and digital content creator passionate about helping others live with faith and purpose. A breast cancer survivor, author of Living Single, and host of the Purpose Looks Good podcast, Lisa inspires others to find beauty in the hard places and trust God’s plan even when life doesn’t look like the plan.

Connect with Lisa K. Satchel:

Book: Living Single

Social Media: Instagram | TikTok | YouTube: @LisaKSatchell

About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Web: https://yournextchapter.co/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yournextchapter_co

FB:https://www.facebook.com/yournextchapter.co

Sign up TODAY to be a Founding Member in the R&R Collective: https://yournextchapter.myflodesk.com/waitlist

Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navi