Some stories don’t just turn corners; they redraw the map. Zaire joins us to share how she rebuilt a life from the ground up: eight years sober, a single mom of two, and a graduate student on the path to becoming a school psychologist. What began with survival—sleeping outside, losing custody for a time, clawing back trust—grew into a steady life shaped by boundaries, spiritual surrender, and an open-eyed commitment to her kids.

We get real about the “pink cloud,” the quiet work of staying sober after the glow fades, and the power of remembering pain without living in it. Zaire talks through learning to say no without guilt, shifting from eldest-child fixer to a mom who models self-respect, and standing up to an overreaching supervisor by creating graduate assistant guidelines so no one else has to burn out in silence. It’s a masterclass in self-care as service.

The turning point toward school psychology came from the other side of the table. Before any diagnosis, a school psychologist recognized her son’s needs and opened the door to services that transformed his early education. That moment reframed labels as keys, not cages. We explore what school psychs actually do—evaluation, intervention, family partnership, and building equitable systems that adapt to children. It’s behind-the-scenes work that changes trajectories.

Threaded through is a bigger theme: breaking generational cycles. The teen leaning into Running Start, the first grader with the right supports, the mom who shows up with presence rather than perfection—these are milestones of a new family story. If you’ve ever wondered whether small steps matter, this conversation says yes. Do the next right thing, pause when you want to control everything, and don’t stop before the miracle happens.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find these stories. Your support helps us bring real voices and real tools to more ears.

Social Media Links