Send us a text

In this deeply moving episode of Soulful Self-Care Conversations, Pearl welcomes Bill Chini, Executive Director of Mary & Martha House, a nonprofit dedicated to helping women and families overcome domestic violence and homelessness.

Bill—an Air Force veteran with lived experience of abuse, addiction, and homelessness—shares his extraordinary journey from darkness to leadership. His story of survival, resilience, and faith shows how even the most painful paths can lead to a life of purpose and service.

Together, Bill and Pearl unpack the concept of “normal,” discuss the cycles of abuse, and explore how love, respect, and healthy communication can rebuild lives. They also shine light on the life-changing work happening every day at Mary & Martha House and the ripple effect of empowerment programs that help women find stability and self-worth.

This episode is both raw and redemptive—a must-listen for anyone who’s ever questioned their worth, their “normal,” or their ability to start over.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

💬 Bill’s Story: From childhood abuse to homelessness, addiction, and transformation through service.
💔 Breaking the Cycle: How parental patterns of control and trauma become generational—and how to stop them.
🪞 Redefining “Normal”: Why everyone’s version of normal is different, and how to create a healthier one.
🏡 Inside Mary & Martha House: How this nonprofit helps women rebuild their lives through shelter, stability, and empowerment.
🧠 Understanding Gaslighting: Where the term really came from and how it’s used to manipulate and control.
💪 Healing Through Storytelling: How sharing your story can release shame, inspire others, and create connection.
❤️ Empowerment through Coaching: The impact of female empowerment programs and the importance of believing you’re enough.

Key Quotes

• “Normal is what you know—but what you know isn’t always what’s right.” — Bill Chini
• “Abuse isn’t always punches and kicks. It’s about control—emotional, financial, or psychological.” — Bill Chini
• “You can’t help someone if they don’t know you exist.” — Bill Chini
• “We can’t change where we came from, but we can decide what our new normal looks like.” — Pearl
• “When you tell your story, you don’t just free yourself—you give someone else permission to heal.” — Pearl

Gentle Guidance & Takeaways

🌱 Redefine Your Normal: You get to decide what healthy love, safety, and respect look like.
💡 Abuse Takes Many Forms: Control—whether emotional, financial, or physical—is never love.
🕊 Healing Takes Work: It’s okay to seek therapy, to talk, and to set boundaries.
💬 Use Your Voice: You never know who needs to hear your story.
❤️ Ask and Listen: Sometimes “How are you?” can save someone’s life.
🏠 Support Local Shelters: Awareness saves lives—share the work of organizations like Mary & Martha House.

About Mary & Martha House

Founded in 1982, Mary & Martha House provides shelter, support, and empowerment programs to women and families escaping domestic violence and homelessness. Their mission: to help women find safety, independence, and stability while breaking the cycles of abuse and poverty.

• 🌐 Website: marymarthahouse.org
  
  
• 💌 Donations & Volunteer Opportunities: Visit the website

Follow Pearl on
social media TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook: @Pearlchiarenza

Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wsliving.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Remember to embrace your inner pearl, nourish yourself, and find balance in life. Stay
true to your authentic self and continue working on your personal growth.

Send us a text

In this special episode of Soulful Self-Care Conversations, Pearl sits down with her longtime friend and business partner Crystal Fox, founder of Fox Business Marketing AI, a Chicago-based digital marketing consultancy helping small businesses automate, optimize, and grow.

From meeting on Clubhouse during the pandemic to building powerful collaborations, Pearl and Crystal dive deep into how entrepreneurs can find harmony instead of hustle by creating systems that support both business and life. Crystal shares her inspiring personal story of resilience — from losing her mother at 13 to overcoming fear and finding her voice — and how that shaped her purpose to empower others through digital strategy and marketing clarity.

This episode is packed with wisdom for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and creatives who are ready to stop playing busy and start growing intentionally.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

💎 Crystal’s Story: How childhood trauma, loss, and survival mode led to resilience, humor, and a passion for helping others.
🧠 Stop Chasing, Start Attracting: The mindset shift every entrepreneur needs to make to grow sustainably.
💻 The Power of Streamlining: How automating and optimizing your systems saves both time and money.
💬 The Google Game: Why reputation management and reviews matter more than ever.
📈 The Goal is Growth, Not Busyness: How to focus on ROI, not “look busy” tasks.
💖 Trust and Teamwork: Why finding the right people for your business (and life) changes everything.
🎯 Audit, Align, and Level Up: How Crystal helps clients identify leaks, refine processes, and find their “why” behind every goal.

Key Quotes

• “You can always stay busy playing business — or you can choose to actually grow.” — Crystal Fox
• “You have to know your ‘why’ before you can figure out the how.” — Crystal Fox
• “I want to be remembered for showing up radiant, happy, and present — not just busy.” — Pearl
• “Systems don’t replace your creativity; they make room for it.” — Crystal Fox
• “Every entrepreneur needs to stop chasing and start attracting — that’s where harmony begins.” — Crystal Fox

Gentle Guidance & Takeaways

💡 Audit Your Business: Review where your time and money are going. What’s serving you — and what’s not?
⚙️ Automate What You Can: Free up time for creativity, coaching, or connection.
🕰 Time ≠ Money: Ask yourself, “Is this worth my hourly rate?” If not, delegate it.
📬 Consistency Builds Trust: A weekly newsletter, updated Google page, or regular social post matters more than perfection.
💰 Streamline for Savings: Every unnecessary platform or subscription is money you could reinvest elsewhere.
✨ Play the Long Game: Systems and storytelling together create sustainable growth — not overnight success.

About Crystal Fox

Crystal Fox is the founder of Fox Business Marketing AI, a boutique digital marketing consultancy based in Chicago. She helps small businesses grow by combining technology, automation, and authentic storytelling. Crystal’s mission is to make digital success achievable for everyone, blending strategy with heart and humor.

• 🌐 Website: foxbma.com
  
  
• 💬 LinkedIn: Crystal Fox 2020
  
  
• 📞 Phone: (309) 922-5216
• 🎙 Podcast: Crystal Ball Clarity of It All

Follow Pearl on
social media TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook: @Pearlchiarenza

Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wsliving.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Remember to embrace your inner pearl, nourish yourself, and find balance in life. Stay
true to your authentic self and continue working on your personal growth.

Send us a text

In this beautifully honest episode of Soulful Self-Care Conversations, Pearl sits down with Leonne Sherr, founder of The Wonder Mama, parenting coach, and creator of The Wonder Mama Compass and Calm Before the Monday. Leonne helps parents move from reactivity to calm, confidence, and connection—creating homes that feel steady, safe, and whole again.

Leonne shares her story of faith, resilience, and motherhood, including her own journey through grief after losing a child. She and Pearl open up about navigating loss, rediscovering identity, and learning that calm is not a luxury—it’s a choice. Together, they explore how to build emotional tools that support the entire family, how to replace guilt with grace, and how to lead with love instead of burnout.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, reactive, or unsure where to start on your journey toward balance and peace, this conversation is the reminder you’ve been waiting for: you have a choice—and it’s possible to build better.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

🌿 Leonne’s Story: From corporate leadership to grief, coaching, and motherhood—how her faith led her to create The Wonder Mama.
🧘‍♀️ From Reactive to Responsive: How to build calm and confidence in parenting, even when life keeps “life-ing.”
💬 The Power of Choice: Why emotional awareness and personal responsibility are the first steps toward change.
💞 Healing and Parenting After Loss: Both Pearl and Leonne share how they continue to honor their children while choosing joy.
🪞 Breaking Cycles: Recognizing and releasing generational patterns that no longer serve you.
⏰ Calm Before the Monday: How to reclaim time, set boundaries, and start the week from peace instead of panic.
✨ The Wonder Mama Compass: A step-by-step process to land where you are, meet your inner voice, and create a steady life filled with intention and legacy.

Key Quotes

• “We have to know where we are before we can make any change.” — Leonne Sherr
• “Life is going to keep ‘life-ing.’ The work is learning how to stay grounded while it does.” — Leonne Sherr
• “You don’t have to wear every title at once—your worth isn’t in your roles.” — Pearl
• “You are allowed to be calm. You are allowed to be confident. You are allowed to be you.” — Leonne Sherr
• “Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning how to walk with both grief and joy.” — Pearl

Gentle Guidance & Takeaways

💫 Start where you are: You don’t have to have it all figured out—just begin.
🕊 Replace “have to” with “get to”: Every task can become a choice instead of a burden.
🌷 Meet your inner voice: Teach it to be your ally, not your critic.
👣 Break the cycles: Generational habits don’t define you—you get to decide what stays and what ends.
🪶 Land where you are: Comparison steals peace. Be present in your own story.
💖 Build your legacy: Every small act of calm and connection becomes part of what you pass on.

About Leonne Sherr

Leonne Sherr is the founder of The Wonder Mama, parenting coach, and creator of The Wonder Mama Compass and Calm Before the Monday. She helps parents worldwide replace reactivity with calm and confidence, build connection within their families, and lead from peace rather than pressure.

• 🌐 Website: thewonderm

Follow Pearl on
social media TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook: @Pearlchiarenza

Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wsliving.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Remember to embrace your inner pearl, nourish yourself, and find balance in life. Stay
true to your authentic self and continue working on your personal growth.