Unfinished Stories : The Next Chapter

What does it mean to write for yourself first? To write for your legacy, not for the spotlight?

In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Gary Parker—prolific author of over 20 novels, screenplays, and someone whose words are as soulful as they are skillful. Gary and I explore the winding road of writing: how it starts, why it stalls, and what makes it worth finishing. From his early days growing up with books as best friends,...

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Geena Hymer—a writer, survivor, and truth-teller who is courageously turning years of trauma into a powerful memoir called Body of Armor. Her story is one of transformation through writing, using words not only to process pain but to build something healing, lasting, and deeply human.

Geena shares how early childhood abuse, eating disorders, and trauma shaped her relationship with her...

For years, I was the woman who hid behind a keyboard—writing thousands of words that no one ever saw. I convinced myself that my voice didn’t matter, or that maybe it just wasn’t “ready.” Sound familiar?

In this solo episode, I open up about the long, winding road I’ve taken to find my voice—not just as a writer, but as a human being. Because voice isn’t just about how we sound on the page. It’s about how we show up in the world. A...

Writing can feel like a lonely pursuit—but finding your voice is about more than just words on a page. It’s about stepping out of isolation, embracing your story, and daring to share it with the world.

In this episode of Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, I sit down with writer and poet Tina Djuretic to explore what it really means to find your voice as a writer. Tina’s journey hasn’t been linear—like many of us, she’s wrestled ...

Overwhelm can be one of the biggest roadblocks in a writer’s journey—stopping us from finishing the book, sending the pitch, or even sitting down to write. But what if overwhelm wasn’t a dead end? What if it was actually a tool, guiding us toward our next chapter?

In this episode, I sit down with Corrie LoGiudice, a speaker, entrepreneur, and coach whose Overwhelm Culprits framework has helped countless people move from stress to s...

What happens when life hands you a story you never wanted to write? How do you reclaim the narrative and turn the hardest chapters of your life into something meaningful? This week on Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, I sit down with Darla Radilla—a certified somatic trauma-informed coach, relationship expert, and podcaster—who turned her experience of surviving narcissistic abuse into a mission to help others rewrite their liv...

Have you ever felt like life closed a door on your dreams? What if that wasn’t an ending, but an invitation to turn the page? In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Pat Black-Gould—award-winning author, clinical psychologist, and former theatre director—who proves that reinvention isn’t just possible, but powerful.

Pat’s journey weaves through the bright lights of theatre, the challenges of single motherhood, and the d...

What if the only thing standing between you and the life you want is the belief that you need someone else's permission?

For years, I let fear, self-doubt, and the need for external validation keep me from sharing my writing. I told myself that if I were really meant to be a writer, someone would have told me. I waited for permission—until I realized no one was coming to give it to me.

In this episode, I share my journey from waiti...

What if the pain you’ve endured wasn’t an ending, but the beginning of something greater? In this episode of Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, we explore how hardship can be transformed into purpose. Loren Cellentani, a somatic success mentor and host of The Sovereign Self Show, shares how anxiety, burnout, and health struggles forced her to reimagine her life. Through somatic healing and spiritual mastery, she not only found h...

We’ve all been there—pushing ourselves to the limit, running on empty, and waking up one day wondering, Is this really the life I wanted?

In this episode of Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, I sit down with Magali Mathieu, a former tech entrepreneur who found herself caught in the relentless cycle of hustle culture. After years of grinding, burnout hit her like a tidal wave, forcing her to face the reality that her body, mind, ...

In today’s episode, Stephanie welcomes Dedee Cai, founder of Fit to Profit, a holistic coaching practice that empowers entrepreneurs to align their self-worth with their net worth. Through her personal story of overcoming burnout, loss, and limiting beliefs, Dedee shares how self-care, setting boundaries, and nurturing your emotional well-being are pivotal to unlocking the life you deserve. From navigating a deep personal loss to ...

Have you ever felt like you've missed your moment? That your dreams belong to a version of yourself that no longer exists? In this premiere episode of Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, I'm inviting you into my own journey—one filled with detours, self-doubt, and a creative spark that refused to go out.

For over four decades, I wrote in private, convinced my stories weren’t worth sharing. But life has a way of pulling us back to...

Welcome to Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter. In this episode, we dive headfirst into the beauty of imperfection with Anne Lepelaars, a somatic trauma therapist whose journey from debilitating panic attacks to guiding others through life's most turbulent challenges is nothing short of inspiring.

Together, Anne and I explore how our "mess" isn’t something to hide but a treasure trove of growth, transformation, and self-discovery....

Join host Stephanie Essary for a special monthly episode of Unfinished Stories: Next Chapter. Each month, we bring together an inspiring panel of writers, creatives, and individuals navigating personal and professional transformations. Alongside mental health professionals, wellness experts, and industry insiders, we explore what it means to reclaim your story, rewrite your narrative, and embrace your next pivotal moment.

Whether y...

Welcome to Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, a podcast for anyone who's ever felt stuck between who they were and who they want to become. In this series, we'll explore the messy, beautiful journey of reclaiming our paused dreams and abandoned goals.

Each week, we'll dive into different aspects of this journey:

• How to find strength in our failures
• Rediscovering our ...