Living a Fantastic Life with Deena Kordt

In this moving episode of Living a Fantastic Life, Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes Deena Kordt, a podcaster, publisher, author, and advocate dedicated to empowering others through storytelling and community. With a heart-centered mission, Deena brings hope and connection to those navigating life’s toughest challenges. She shares her powerful journey from invisibility to visibility, revealing how lived experience became the foundation of her purpose-driven work.

Becoming the Invisible Woman

Deena opens up about her early life in rural Saskatchewan, where silence and smallness were encouraged in her strict upbringing. This foundation of invisibility carried into over three decades of domestic abuse—abuse that was not always physical but deeply emotional and manipulative. Survival meant becoming unseen to protect herself and her children. She emphasizes that abuse often hides behind patterns of incidents, gradually undermining a person’s self-worth until they doubt their own reality.

The Turning Point

A brave friend became the catalyst for Deena’s transformation. When her friend revealed harmful actions by Deena’s then-husband, Deena finally recognized the truth of her own unsafe situation. Breaking her silence, she began to share her story, and this shift marked the beginning of her recovery from invisibility. She stresses the importance of identifying abuse as a repeated, destructive pattern and finding the courage to trust one’s instincts.

Building a Compassionate Community

From her healing journey, Deena’s mission grew. She now builds what she calls a “curiously compassionate community,” offering support and resources for others in similar struggles. Through her leadership of Divorce Magazine Canada and Life Changes Magazine, she opens conversations about abuse, divorce, and healing. She also hosts The Shift Happens Show, connecting people through dialogue and empowerment. Deena advocates for awareness, reminding us that abuse is far more widespread than reported, with many victims not realizing they are living in abusive dynamics.

Advice for Those Ready to Leave

For individuals recognizing abuse in their lives, Deena offers three critical steps:

1. Tell someone you trust—and if they don’t believe you, tell someone else.
2. Document everything—keep track of incidents, words, and behaviors to reveal harmful patterns.
3. Prepare to leave safely—gather important documents, medications, and essentials in advance, ideally storing them with someone supportive.

Living a Fantastic Life

Despite her hardships, Deena embodies optimism. She draws inspiration from gratitude, the memory of her late brothers, and the opportunities she now embraces. Through her writing, publishing, speaking, and podcasting, she encourages others to get curious, trust their instincts, and accept invitations that can lead to transformation. Her message is clear: no one has to remain invisible.

Connect with Deena

Learn more about Deena at www.deenakordt.com for personal insights or visit www.lifechangesmag.com for community resources, podcasts, events, and support networks. You can also reach her directly at deena@lifechangesmag.com

BIO:

Podcaster, Publisher, Author & Advocate, Deena Kordt, draws from her personal journey to passionately empower others.Through her compelling content and engaging presentations, Deena communicates a deep sense of caring, with a heart-centered purpose to instill hope and create connections so people never feel alone in their life struggles. As owner and publisher of Life Changes & Divorce Magazine, and host of the Life Changes Channel Podcast, her mission is to inspire and connect caring humans to see and value each other with curiosity and compassion.

Social Media Links

DeenaKordt.com

hello@lifechangesmag.com

LifeChangesMag.com