Have you ever reached a season in life where everything should have been calm, but inside you were restless, exhausted, and searching for something more?

Today’s guest, Florencia Durón, Ph.D. (aka Flo), shares how she went from chasing stability by the ocean to walking through her own “dark night of the soul.” Her journey led her into trauma work, deep presence, and ultimately, the discovery of her true passion for writing.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Moving back to Mexico after earning her PhD in the U.S.
• Searching for peace by the ocean, but finding instability instead
• The exhaustion and restlessness that signaled something deeper was wrong
• Facing old wounds and realizing the healing work she was finally ready for
• How Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy transformed her self-understanding
• Learning the importance of presence and quieting the mind
• Why creative writing became both a healing outlet and her true calling
• How the “dark night of the soul” can serve as a doorway to clarity

GUEST INFO

Connect with Flo on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@florenciaduron.writer

Connect with Flo on IG: https://www.instagram.com/florenciaduron.writer/

Connect with Flo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@florenciaduron.writer/shorts

RESOURCES

• Grab a journal from my shop: https://www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/shop
• Want a free journal download? Leave a review + get the Apology Avenue Journal: https://www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/free-journal-download

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Please leave a rating wherever you listen to podcasts
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Submit a guest interest form here: https://forms.gle/98HBRmQHBYyrDrJ28

CONNECT WITH LINA

• Lina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-la-rue/
• Lina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestreetsofourlives/

Have you ever held onto a fantasy about someone...clinging to the hope that if you just loved them enough, they’d finally change?

In this episode of Diary Detours, I’m reading a free verse poem I wrote about feeling manipulated by someone I deeply cared for. I use the image of arrows to describe how their behavior repeatedly wounded me, and how I kept coming back for more, hoping the next time would be different. This is about breaking that cycle, accepting reality, and taking them off the pedestal I once put them on.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• A free verse poem about manipulation, false kindness, and emotional control
• Using the metaphor of “arrows” to describe repeated hurt and betrayal
• Why we sometimes fantasize about a person’s potential instead of seeing who they really are
• Letting go of the need for approval or affection from someone who won’t give it
• The role of journaling in recognizing—and finally breaking—unhealthy patterns

RESOURCES

• Grab a journal from my shop: https://www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/shop
• Want a free journal download? Leave a review + get the Apology Avenue Journal: https://www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/free-journal-download

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Please leave a rating + review wherever you listen to podcasts
• Make a donation: https://buymeacoffee.com/tsool

CONNECT WITH LINA

• Lina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-la-rue/
• Lina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestreetsofourlives/

Have you ever wondered how to tell if a coach is truly trustworthy or just using manipulative tactics? What should you look for before investing your time, money, and trust in a coaching program?

In this episode of the Guidance Grove series, we speak to Danielle Ryan, a YouTuber who exposes common manipulative marketing tactics used by some coaches and shares how to protect yourself while finding ethical, effective support.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover common red flags and manipulative tactics coaches use to lure and trap vulnerable clients.
• Hear personal stories of financial, emotional, and social harm caused by unethical coaching relationships.
• Find out why defining your goals clearly before hiring a coach is crucial to avoid scams.
• Learn how to research and vet coaches effectively to protect your investment and well-being.
• Explore the impact of toxic coaching relationships on mental health and personal boundaries.
• Listen to practical advice on how consumers can help shift the coaching industry toward more honesty and accountability.

GUEST INFO

Danielle's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@itsdanielleryan

RESOURCES

• Grab a journal from my shop: https://www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/shop
• Want a free journal download? Leave a review + get the Apology Avenue Journal: https://www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/free-journal-download

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Please leave a rating wherever you listen to podcasts
• Make a donation: https://buymeacoffee.com/tsool

APPLY TO BE A GUEST

Submit a guest interest form here: https://forms.gle/98HBRmQHBYyrDrJ28

CONNECT WITH LINA

• Lina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-la-rue/
• Lina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestreetsofourlives/

Have you ever felt like you were living in emotional extremes—never truly at peace, just bouncing between survival modes?

In this episode of Diary Detours, I’m sharing a journal entry about growing up between two households after my parents divorced. I reflect on how I adapted differently in each home, and how those extremes shaped the way I currently show up in my adult relationships.

This episode is for anyone who felt invisible as a child, or who’s only now finding the words to describe what they went through.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• What it was like to constantly shift between two emotional identities as a child
• How extremes in childhood shaped my emotional patterns and sense of self
• The longing for attention, approval, and balance as a kid
• What my therapist said that finally helped me understand why I struggle to be authentic
• A reminder that writing can be a powerful tool for healing

RESOURCES

• Grab a journal from my shop: https://www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/shop
• Want a free journal download? Leave a review + get the Apology Avenue Journal: https://www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/free-journal-download

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Please leave a rating + review wherever you listen to podcasts
• Make a donation: https://buymeacoffee.com/tsool

CONNECT WITH LINA

• Lina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-la-rue/
• Lina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestreetsofourlives/

How often do you allow yourself to pause and think about how fragile life really is — how easily we slip into routines, forgetting how precious each moment might be?

In this episode of Diary Detours, I’m reflecting on the recent passing of two family members and sharing a journal entry I wrote in the middle of that grief. It’s a reminder of how fleeting life can be—and how we can choose to live more intentionally while we have the chance.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Reflecting on the unexpected deaths of two family members
• Regret, grief, and the reminder of how precious life truly is.
• Questioning how we spend our days and the tendency to take life for granted.
• Exploring the meaning behind Memento Mori and Memento Vivere—two phrases that changed my perspective.
• Encouraging self-reflection on how you'd live differently if you truly grasped life's fleeting nature.

RESOURCES

• Grab a journal from my shop: www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/shop
• Want a free journal download? Leave a review + get the Apology Avenue Journal: https://www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/free-journal-download

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Please leave a rating/review <3
• Buy me a tea: buymeacoffee.com/tsool

CONNECT WITH LINA

Lina's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lina-la-rue/

Lina's Instagram: www.instagram.com/thestreetsofourlives/

Have you ever built a life around something you thought would bring happiness, only to realize it was leading you down a destructive path?

Today's guest, Mike Feeks, shares how he went from chasing temporary highs—both as a DJ and through addiction—to finding lasting fulfillment through discipline, service, and personal growth.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Working as a DJ in New York and New Jersey
• Becoming addicted to drugs
• When Mike realized he needed to change his life
• The support system that helped him break free from addiction
• Calling out for help
• How he rebuilt his life with a new sense of purpose
• How Mike structures his daily routine for consistency and success
• Lessons he has learned from being a bodybuilder
• What he loves about being a personal trainer with 20+ years of experience
• The importance of showing up for others, no matter what he’s going through
• The main reason for Mike's contentment, hope, and love for life

GUEST INFO

Follow Mike on Instagram: www.instagram.com/mike_feeks/

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Please leave a rating/review <3
• Grab a journal from my shop: www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/shop
• Buy me a tea: buymeacoffee.com/tsool

APPLY TO BE A GUEST

Submit a guest interest form here: https://forms.gle/98HBRmQHBYyrDrJ28

CONNECT WITH LINA

Lina's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lina-la-rue/

Lina's Instagram: www.instagram.com/thestreetsofourlives/

Have you ever wished for an apology that might never come?

In this episode of Apology Avenue, we hear a powerful letter from a mother to her son, where she admits all the areas she failed as a mother. Through her words, we see the devastating consequences of her selfishness and irresponsible behavior.

(*Remember: In this series, we are reading apology letters we have written to ourselves from the person who has hurt us. This is a journaling practice.)

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• A mother’s moving apology to her son for her failures as a parent.
• Her admission of prioritizing her wants over her son’s needs.
• Acknowledgment of how her actions caused neglect, abandonment, and abuse.
• Her plea to her son to break the cycle and choose love, vulnerability, and connection.
• A mother’s sorrow expressed in her hopes for her son’s healing and forgiveness.

RESOURCES

• Grab a journal from my shop: www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/shop
• Want a free journal download? Leave a review + get the Apology Avenue Journal: www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/free-journal-download
• Submit your own letter: https://forms.gle/Z3qGCa62BGMYmMLt5

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Please leave a rating/review <3
• Buy me a tea: buymeacoffee.com/tsool

CONNECT WITH LINA

Lina's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lina-la-rue/

Lina's Instagram: www.instagram.com/thestreetsofourlives/

Ever felt like you’re experiencing a whirlwind of different emotions? One moment you’re down in the dumps and hopeless, another moment you’re agitated and frustrated…?

In this episode of Diary Detours, I’m sharing a voice note I recorded while on a walk one day. It’s messy, raw, and honest. It’s a glimpse into the rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions about my current life. From anxiety and depression, then to moments of clarity,...it’s all here. Maybe you’ve felt this way too. Let’s dive in.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Sharing a real and unfiltered voice note recorded during an emotional low point.
• Struggling with anxiety, frustration, and feeling stuck in the moment.
• Unexpected ways to release built-up tension (yes, throw pillows are involved).
• Reflecting on how journaling becomes a companion during tough times.
• Embracing the messy, imperfect reality of human emotions.
• Finding clarity and self-compassion through raw expression.

RESOURCES

• Grab a journal from my shop: www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/shop
• Want a free journal download? Leave a review + get the Apology Avenue Journal: https://www.thestreetsofourlives.xyz/free-journal-download

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Please leave a rating/review <3
• Buy me a tea: buymeacoffee.com/tsool

CONNECT WITH LINA

Lina's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lina-la-rue/

Lina's Instagram: www.instagram.com/thestreetsofourlives/