Ever wonder what leadership looks like when compassion isn’t a buzzword but the operating system? I sit down with Brandi Amundsen, who went from LA’s intensity to the Ellensburg community and now leads Peers Rising, a recovery nonprofit built on connection, clarity, and real accountability. Her story moves from culture shock in grocery lines to the quiet confidence of a team that shows up for people every day without judgment—and without toxicity.

Brandi opens up about stepping into leadership, battling burnout, and learning to celebrate wins instead of racing past them. We dig into her approach to building a healthy team: hire for heart and professionalism, keep boundaries clear, apologize when you mess up, and make accountability a gift. You’ll hear the strategy behind Peers Rising’s rapid growth and why the next chapter is intentional consolidation—tightening programs, refining systems, and creating a dedicated space for teens who deserve respect, structure, and room to be heard.

At the center is a simple recovery truth: compassion opens the door; accountability helps you walk through it. If you’re overwhelmed by the long road ahead, Brandi’s advice is to look at your feet and take the next indicated step. Whether you’re leading a nonprofit, navigating sobriety, or just trying to be a steadier human, this conversation offers practical tools and real hope. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review—then tell us: what’s your next step today?

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The glossy highlight reel hides a harder truth: most of us are fighting battles no one can see. This solo deep dive gets honest about adversity—what it feels like to lose your footing, how shame isolates, and why the way back is built from small, stubborn choices. I share the moments that reshaped my life, from a failing sub shop and a beloved dog’s diagnosis to standing in the same courtroom years later as my felonies were vacated. The thread tying it all together is simple and repeatable: start where your feet are, separate who you are from what you’ve done, and let consistency outrun confidence.

We dig into practical tools you can use today. A one‑minute grounding routine to steady your mind. A language shift that turns “I’m a failure” into “I’m learning from failure.” The power of showing up when it’s awkward and letting community carry you when your own belief wobbles. I walk through the pink cloud of early wins and the harder, second‑year work of building a life that lasts—paying off debts, making amends, returning to school at 41, and learning to trust daily wins more than fireworks.

Three truths become the backbone of this conversation: shame isolates while connection heals, grit is built in the small choices no one sees, and hope is contagious. When you rise, others rise with you. If your flame feels dim, borrow light from your people until yours returns. End each day naming one thing that went right. Turn pain into purpose by sharing your story, because someone out there needs your map. Ready to trade shame for momentum and take one honest step forward? Press play, subscribe for more weekly deep dives, and leave a review to tell us the next right action you’re taking today.

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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.

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