Shows
Unfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 15: Trusting the Leap: How Angilee Kapoor Rewrote Her StoryHave you ever found yourself standing at the edge of a big change—scared, uncertain, yet knowing deep down that staying the same isn’t an option? In today’s episode of Unfinished Stories: Next Chapter, I sit down with the incredible Angilee Kapoor, a powerhouse leader, entrepreneur, author, and TV host, who knows exactly what it feels like to face those pivotal crossroads.
Angilee shares her deeply personal journey from a healthcare executive to a full-time entrepreneur traveling the world—exploring how building self-trust, shifting your mindset, and redefining your relationship with fear can change everything. We talk...2025-04-2939 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 13: The Soul Behind the Story: Gary Parker on Writing What MattersWhat does it mean to write for yourself first? To write for your legacy, not for the spotlight?
In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Gary Parker—prolific author of over 20 novels, screenplays, and someone whose words are as soulful as they are skillful. Gary and I explore the winding road of writing: how it starts, why it stalls, and what makes it worth finishing. From his early days growing up with books as best friends, to writing novels born from a single image etched in childhood memory, Gary shares how storytelling isn’t just some...2025-04-1943 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 12 : Messy, Brave, and Becoming: Reclaiming Your Narrative with Geena HymerIn this episode, I sit down with the incredible Geena Hymer—a writer, survivor, and truth-teller who is courageously turning years of trauma into a powerful memoir called Body of Armor. Her story is one of transformation through writing, using words not only to process pain but to build something healing, lasting, and deeply human.
Geena shares how early childhood abuse, eating disorders, and trauma shaped her relationship with her body, her voice, and her worth. We talk candidly about what it means to survive, to stumble, and ultimately to choose healing—even when it feels messy or d...2025-04-151h 26Unfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 11 : The Journey to Finding your Voice with Steph EssaryFor years, I was the woman who hid behind a keyboard—writing thousands of words that no one ever saw. I convinced myself that my voice didn’t matter, or that maybe it just wasn’t “ready.” Sound familiar?
In this solo episode, I open up about the long, winding road I’ve taken to find my voice—not just as a writer, but as a human being. Because voice isn’t just about how we sound on the page. It’s about how we show up in the world. And sometimes, we have to lose ourselves to finally hear wh...2025-04-0630 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 10 From Isolation to Expression: The Journey to Finding Your Voice with Tina DjureticWriting can feel like a lonely pursuit—but finding your voice is about more than just words on a page. It’s about stepping out of isolation, embracing your story, and daring to share it with the world.
In this episode of Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, I sit down with writer and poet Tina Djuretic to explore what it really means to find your voice as a writer. Tina’s journey hasn’t been linear—like many of us, she’s wrestled with self-doubt, creative blocks, and the fear of being truly seen. But through poetry and storytel...2025-04-0149 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 09: Overcoming Overwhelm: Guide to Turning Overwhelm into Opportunity Corrie LoGiudiceOverwhelm can be one of the biggest roadblocks in a writer’s journey—stopping us from finishing the book, sending the pitch, or even sitting down to write. But what if overwhelm wasn’t a dead end? What if it was actually a tool, guiding us toward our next chapter?
In this episode, I sit down with Corrie LoGiudice, a speaker, entrepreneur, and coach whose Overwhelm Culprits framework has helped countless people move from stress to success. Her journey—from navigating personal loss to redefining her career—offers invaluable lessons for writers struggling with self-doubt, time constraints, and creati...2025-03-2534 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 08: Reclaiming Power: How Resilience Transforms Trauma into Strength with Darla RadillaWhat happens when life hands you a story you never wanted to write? How do you reclaim the narrative and turn the hardest chapters of your life into something meaningful? This week on Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, I sit down with Darla Radilla—a certified somatic trauma-informed coach, relationship expert, and podcaster—who turned her experience of surviving narcissistic abuse into a mission to help others rewrite their lives.
Darla shares how she went from losing everything—her home, her finances, and her sense of self—to taking back control of her story. We dive into the powe...2025-03-1843 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 07 Life in the Second Act with Pat Black-GouldHave you ever felt like life closed a door on your dreams? What if that wasn’t an ending, but an invitation to turn the page? In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Pat Black-Gould—award-winning author, clinical psychologist, and former theatre director—who proves that reinvention isn’t just possible, but powerful.
Pat’s journey weaves through the bright lights of theatre, the challenges of single motherhood, and the deeply human work of helping veterans heal. After years of dedicating herself to psychology, she found her way back to her first love—writing—and is now tel...2025-03-1141 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 06 : No More Permission Slips with Steph EssaryWhat if the only thing standing between you and the life you want is the belief that you need someone else's permission?
For years, I let fear, self-doubt, and the need for external validation keep me from sharing my writing. I told myself that if I were really meant to be a writer, someone would have told me. I waited for permission—until I realized no one was coming to give it to me.
In this episode, I share my journey from waiting on approval to reclaiming my own voice. We’ll talk about how the...2025-03-0431 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 05 Turning Pain into Purpose with Loren CellentaniWhat if the pain you’ve endured wasn’t an ending, but the beginning of something greater? In this episode of Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, we explore how hardship can be transformed into purpose. Loren Cellentani, a somatic success mentor and host of The Sovereign Self Show, shares how anxiety, burnout, and health struggles forced her to reimagine her life. Through somatic healing and spiritual mastery, she not only found her way forward but created a path for others to do the same.
Loren’s story is a testament to the power of listening—to our bodies...2025-02-2549 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 04 Beyond Burnout: How to Reconnect with Yourself & Your Purpose with Magali MathieuWe’ve all been there—pushing ourselves to the limit, running on empty, and waking up one day wondering, Is this really the life I wanted?
In this episode of Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, I sit down with Magali Mathieu, a former tech entrepreneur who found herself caught in the relentless cycle of hustle culture. After years of grinding, burnout hit her like a tidal wave, forcing her to face the reality that her body, mind, and spirit were calling for change.
Magali takes us through her deeply personal journey from exhaustion to transformation—one th...2025-02-1845 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 03: Wealth & Well-being: How Self-Worth Transforms Success with Dedee Cai
In today’s episode, Stephanie welcomes Dedee Cai, founder of Fit to Profit, a holistic coaching practice that empowers entrepreneurs to align their self-worth with their net worth. Through her personal story of overcoming burnout, loss, and limiting beliefs, Dedee shares how self-care, setting boundaries, and nurturing your emotional well-being are pivotal to unlocking the life you deserve. From navigating a deep personal loss to building a thriving business, Dedee’s journey is a testament to the power of reinvention and the importance of self-worth in achieving success. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will help you...2025-02-1138 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 2: Embrace the Mess with Anne Lepelaars,Welcome to Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter. In this episode, we dive headfirst into the beauty of imperfection with Anne Lepelaars, a somatic trauma therapist whose journey from debilitating panic attacks to guiding others through life's most turbulent challenges is nothing short of inspiring.
Together, Anne and I explore how our "mess" isn’t something to hide but a treasure trove of growth, transformation, and self-discovery. From surviving her first panic attack at 16 to working in conflict zones like Afghanistan, Anne shares how saying "yes" to life’s invitations has transformed her path—and how it can do the...2025-02-0449 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterEpisode 1: The Courage to Begin AgainHave you ever felt like you've missed your moment? That your dreams belong to a version of yourself that no longer exists? In this premiere episode of Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, I'm inviting you into my own journey—one filled with detours, self-doubt, and a creative spark that refused to go out.
For over four decades, I wrote in private, convinced my stories weren’t worth sharing. But life has a way of pulling us back to the things that matter most. Through unexpected challenges, personal reinvention, and a move that reset my entire life, I redi...2025-02-0430 min
Unfinished Stories : The Next ChapterUnfinished Stories Presents : The Writer's RoomJoin host Stephanie Essary for a special monthly episode of Unfinished Stories: Next Chapter. Each month, we bring together an inspiring panel of writers, creatives, and individuals navigating personal and professional transformations. Alongside mental health professionals, wellness experts, and industry insiders, we explore what it means to reclaim your story, rewrite your narrative, and embrace your next pivotal moment.
Whether you're healing, creating, or reimagining your path, The Writers Room delivers practical advice and real-life stories to guide you forward with intention. Packed with thought-provoking discussions, this series is a powerful reminder that no matter how unfinished...2025-01-0100 minUnfinished Stories : The Next ChapterWelcome to Unfinished Stories : Next ChapterWelcome to Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, a podcast for anyone who's ever felt stuck between who they were and who they want to become. In this series, we'll explore the messy, beautiful journey of reclaiming our paused dreams and abandoned goals.
Each week, we'll dive into different aspects of this journey:
How to find strength in our failures
Rediscovering our voice after silence
The art of starting over
Finding purpose in our pain
And most importantly, how to write our next chapter
You'll hear raw, honest stories from me and others who've walked this...2025-01-0101 min