Angela interviews Reverend Kaleel Sakakeeny, an ordained animal chaplain, pastor, and credentialed grief counselor who founded the Boston-based nonprofit Animal Talks after the devastating loss of a beloved cat. Sakakeeny explains that pet loss is not merely “like” losing a family member—it is—and that unprocessed grief can be misunderstood by medical models that try to “fix” heartbreak as mental illness. He describes grief as a universal pain shared across many losses, distinguishes grief (the inner state) from mourning (the actions taken), and offers rituals such as journaling, creating memorial spaces, planting trees, and support groups to externalize sorrow. They discuss spirituality, the difference between belief and faith, how pets bring out our best selves, and why grief has no timeline. Sakakeeny shares Animal Talks resources, courses, and contact options.

https://www.animaltalksinc.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/animaltalksinc/

https://www.instagram.com/animaltalksinc/

https://www.facebook.com/animaltalksinc

Angela welcomes Dr. Sue McCreadie, a holistic pediatrician and midlife transformation expert, to discuss coping with grief and heavy uncertainty. Dr. Sue shares Tony Robbins’ idea that quality of life depends on how much uncertainty you can handle, relates her experience with multiple miscarriages, and describes a vivid dream that led her to try baby aspirin and later discover methylation issues that informed her work helping thousands of children. They discuss rituals for reconnecting to joy, including journaling, noticing “God winks,” and allowing waves of grief to be felt in order to heal. Dr. Sue explains growth through friction, boundaries, and using Byron Katie’s “The Work” to move from rage to neutrality after a family conflict. They touch on midlife as a “second adolescence,” tarot numerology as a guide, Dr. Sue’s offerings, and ending with the question, “What would love do?”

https://www.drsuemccreadie.com/

Angela welcomes Amy Thurman, bestselling author, international speaker, and creator of the Authentic Intelligence and authenticity score frameworks. Amy shares her lived experience of rebuilding her life after spending 10 years with a broken neck and a sheared brainstem that went undiagnosed for six months, leaving her incapacitated for nearly a year, costing her, her job and sense of self-worth, and bringing her close to suicide before choosing to fight to live and use her story to help others. The conversation focuses on authenticity as measurable and strategic, beginning with self-discovery removing layers of expectations, roles, and masks to reconnect with who you are often by revisiting childhood and examining which beliefs are truly yours versus inherited from family, schools, or religion. They discuss the resistance and judgment that can arise when stepping into authenticity, including Amy losing her marriage and friendships, and why support from someone who has been through the process can help people navigate fear, discomfort, and emotional work without getting stuck. Amy describes her two bestselling books "Finding My Hero Within" and "Polish the Mirror Self-Discovery," a reflective coloring workbook with intentional prompts and activities, and mentions research she is exploring on coloring’s effects on the nervous system, as well as a future book planned for 2026. Amy shares that her work is about holding up a mirror for others to find their own authentic selves, and she emphasizes that introspection strengthens how we show up in community and can create a ripple effect by giving others permission to live authentically.

www.getamyshelp.com

www.youtube.com/@IAmAuthenticallyAmy

www.tiktok.com/@authenticallyamy

www.instagram.com/amycthurman