Sometimes the hardest person to be honest with is yourself.

In this episode, I’m sharing the story of how I went from a $5,600-a-month luxury Manhattan apartment and endless freedom…to packing up my life and moving to Florida to step into the love, family, and future I didn’t even know I wanted.

It’s about recognizing when the version of you you’ve been clinging to, no matter how glamorous, independent, or accomplished, has expired. It’s about ghosting the old life that no longer fits, and having the courage to step into the one that’s calling you.

We’ll talk about starting over, rewriting your story, and why telling yourself the truth will get you to your next era faster than anything else.

If you’ve been feeling the pull toward something different, something bigger, this episode is your permission slip to stop fighting it and finally own what you really want.

✨ PS: Enrollment is open for Literary Queens, my signature storytelling workshop for women ready to own their voice and write their most magnetic stories. Join us here.

📖 For more stories like this, find me on Substack at Cara Says It All → https://caraalwill.substack.com

It’s the episode you’ve all been waiting for…

In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Aaron and I sit down to share the full story of how we broke up (more than once), how we found our way back to each other, and how we ended up engaged.

We open up about:

• Why our relationship ended and what finally brought us back together
• The healing work we both had to do
• Aaron’s reaction to reading about himself in my book
• What dating long distance (and in our 40s) taught us about real love
• The moment I knew we were ready
• Our proposal story (!!)
• Why men commit, “if he wanted to, he would,” and all the nuance in between

PLUS: the urgent care trip for Viagra visit (yes, really lol), our blow-up fights, our mind-blowing makeup sex, the tears, the laughs, and the one moment that changed everything.

It’s messy, romantic, honest and hilarious.

This is our plot twist. And we’re so glad you’re here for it.

💌 Want more of the story? Read The Plot Twist Diaries on Substack and grab my latest book, Don’t Do Anything I Would Do.

Today on the show, I’m throwing it all the way back to the very first time Aaron joined me on the podcast. Before the plot twist, the champagne-soaked proposal and our second chapter.

At the time, he was my new boo (lol), and we had just started exploring what it meant to choose love with intention. We talked about punk rock values, how we approach life, art, and relationships, and honestly, listening back now hits so differently.

Whether you’re new here or you’ve been along for the ride since the beginning… this one is special. Enjoy. 🖤

P.S. There’s more to this story…If you want a deeper look into how love, healing, and unexpected plot twists shaped what came next, read The Plot Twist Diaries on Substack: https://caraalwill.substack.com/s/the-plot-twist-diaries

Grab my new book Don’t Do Anything I Would Do here.

About Aaron:

Aaron Leatherbarrow is the creator behind PunkRockTeacher, a writer, livestreamer, and educator whose work blends raw honesty with relentless creativity. By day, he teaches 5th grade and leads marketing strategy for Wayman Academy; by night, he’s built a thriving global community of nearly half a million followers through his livestreams and writing projects. Aaron is currently working on his first book, The Amplifiers, exploring how money, sex, fame, power, and silence don’t change us, they reveal us. Known for his grit, humor, and unfiltered voice, Aaron lives at the intersection of teaching, art, and building a life that feels like freedom.

Follow Aaron:
🎸 TikTok: @punkrockteacher
📸 Instagram: @punkrockteacher_official