Have you ever whispered to yourself, “I don’t know how much longer I can keep going?” In this raw and powerful episode of Hard Beautiful Journey, Tiff Carson sits down with therapist and podcast host Malisa Hepner, whose story reads like a trauma survivor’s handbook—childhood abuse, parental loss, CPTSD, and burnout so intense it nearly took her life. But what followed is a breathtaking example of choosing healing over perfection, embracing imperfection as power, and learning to love the fire within.

This conversation is for anyone who feels broken, exhausted, or like they’ve lost themselves in the chaos of motherhood, trauma, and people-pleasing. We talk about nervous system regulation, parenting through grief, emotional hygiene, and what it really takes to rebuild a life you actually love.

✨ We also explore Malisa’s incredible upcoming Empowerment Exchange Summit and how it aligns with finding your own timbre—the sound signature of your soul.

Let this be your permission slip to stop holding it all together.

Connect with Malisa Hepner:

Instagram: @malisa.hepner

Website: www.empoweredwithmalisahepner.org

Connect with Tiff Carson:
Instagram:⁠ @iamtiffcarson⁠

Website:⁠ www.tiffcarson.com⁠

In this episode of Hard Beautiful Journey, Tiff sits down with former criminal trial lawyer turned author and spiritual seeker, Bob Martin. From Miami's cocaine cowboy era to Taoist teachings and deep soul shifts, Bob shares how he moved from a life built on power to one built on purpose. They explore the intersections of faith, storytelling, unconditional love, and why curiosity just might be the most spiritual act of all.

0:00 Intro – From Power to Purpose

3:45 How Bob's Legal Career Collapsed Spiritually

11:12 Meeting the Taoist Grandmaster

20:04 The Wake-Up Call After 9/11

27:30 Writing Children of Abraham

36:48 Blending Taoism and Christianity

44:15 The Messy Middle in Faith

53:00 Garage Book Sales and Publishing Realities

1:02:20 What Healing Looks Like Now

1:08:40 One Thing Bob Hopes You Remember

Connect with Tiff on Instagram: @iamtiffcarson

Connect with Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awiseandhappylife

Visit Bob's website: awiseandhappylife.com

What if the thing you’re most afraid to let go of is the very thing keeping you stuck?

In this powerful episode, transformational coach Michelle Gauthier shares her personal story of walking away from a high-achieving, burnout-fueled life to rebuild from the inside out. We talk about how to tune into your body’s whispers before they become screams, release perfectionism, reclaim joy, and live a life that feels as good as it looks.

🎧 If you’ve ever wrapped your worth around your work or struggled to slow down, this is the conversation your heart’s been waiting for.

00:00 – Intro

01:25 – When Michelle’s body said “Enough”

07:40 – Fear, divorce, and identity unraveling

13:00 – Signals from the body: anxiety, back pain & blood pressure

19:15 – Rebuilding a new life: what joy looks like now

26:40 – Dropping the disclaimer and the five “Whys”

33:10 – Sustainable life vs. busy life

39:00 – The myth of doing it all

42:55 – When joy felt like a luxury

48:10 – What would you say to your past self?

50:30 – The ripple effect of calm mothers

53:00 – Gratitude & closing reflections

💛 Connect with Michelle on Instagram: @michellegauthiercoaching

🌿 Visit her website: www.michellegauthier.com

🎙️ Follow me on Instagram: @iamtiffcarson