After falling in love with the Island of Bali and living there for nine years, Kathy decided to bring back with her a handful of handcrafted pieces to show to the world. With the idea of designing the difference, off she went.

The most important thing I have learned to do is to trust my inner voice," says Kathy Kamei, designer, and CEO of the line of jewelry that bears her name, "and if I can create a piece of jewelry that inspires a person to break from the pack and celebrate their own uniqueness, that is the most exciting thing I can ever hope to do in my work." Kamei credits her desire to celebrate women as the inspiration for her business, "what we wear should empower us and give meaning to our passions." ​

Kamei's journey to create her company began with a courageous trip she took to Bali with her two daughters. "The Balinese are the most beautiful human beings I have ever encountered," says Kamei, whose six-month excursion turned into a nine-year romance with the land. " I had never seen such heart, love, sprit and graciousness expressed in a community."

​Before Kamei left the island, she created her line of jewelry, hand-crafted in Bali by artisans. From pendants which encourage us to open our hearts, to earrings which remind us to be mindful, each piece celebrates and reminds us of our relationship with self and others. "I have an idea what a piece means," says Kamei, who, like the family she came from, is now the mother of three daughters, Sydney, Alexa and Kenzi, "but everyone will uncover their own personal understanding. That's the beauty of this work, to encourage people to seek their own truth."

Lyn is a speaker, retreat leader and survivor of early childhood trauma as well as a retired elementary school teacher, school principal and church pastor. At the age of 45, Lyn was diagnosed with multiple personality disorder, now known as dissociative identity disorder (DID).

From happy wife and mother to a suicidal woman who felt the crazy fog of dissociation take over her life, she embarked on a journey to uncover the secrets that overwhelmed her. After suffering decades of inner chaos and deep pain, Lyn now lives a fulfilling and integrated life and considers herself a whole person again. Lyn is thankful for her wonderful therapist, friends and her own dogged determination to heal.

Lyn currently facilitates writers workshops and teaches a memoir class for dissociative writers, writes weekly blogs and a newsletter, and speaks on public radio, podcasts, and in other settings. She holds advanced degrees from Lehigh University and Lancaster Theological Seminary. She can be reached through her websites at lynbarrett.com and dissociativewriters.com.

After bartending for 10 years, Nadia realized that she was heading nowhere and heading there quickly. She decided to no longer be a victim of her circumstances. Instead, she became a victor of life. Over the past 8 years, Nadia has committed to creating a positive health legacy and has helped women worldwide to do the same. She is extremely passionate about building women from the inside out. She believes when a woman is empowered, a generation is transformed.

Learn more about THE KASH METHOD by visiting and subscribing Nadia's Official YouTube channel.

Terry's story in his own words:

"In many ways, I believe I am just like any of the billions of people existing on this planet. ​I have reinvented myself frequently over my professional career. After I graduated from college at The Citadel (where I played NCAA Division I basketball), I was employed in the Marketing Department at the corporate headquarters of Wendy's International in Dublin, Ohio. From there, I worked in hospital administration for Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

After getting married and moving to California for my wife's job, I became the Customer Service Manager for an academic publishing company in Santa Barbara. After our daughter was born and we moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, I became a police officer with the Cincinnati Police Department, where I was a SWAT Hostage Negotiator. Following a family relocation to Texas, I started a school security consulting business and coached high school girls basketball in Houston. Each time I took on a new job, I had to develop new skills and faced different challenges. There was always a significant learning curve with every new position.

But my greatest challenge began in early 2012 when I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Acral Lentiginous Melanoma, which presented on the bottom of my foot. By the time the melanoma was detected, it had metastasized to a lymph node in my groin. Because my cancer is so rare (only about 5,800 people are diagnosed with this form of malignancy in the U.S. each year), I was treated at the world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center. I had two surgeries to remove the tumors, and after I healed, I was put on a weekly injection of the drug, Interferon, to help keep the disease from coming back.

I took those weekly injections for almost 5 years before the Interferon became so toxic to my body that I ended up in the Intensive Care Unit with a fever of 108 degrees. Fortunately, expert medical care saved my life. The Interferon gave me severe flu-like symptoms for two to three days after each injection. I lost fifty pounds during my therapy, was constantly nauseous, fatigued, and chilled, my ability to taste food significantly diminished, and my body constantly ached. This misery went on for over 1,660 days!

One thing I learned during all my pain and discomfort is that you have two choices. You can succumb to the debilitating distress and misery, or you can learn to embrace it and use it to make you a stronger and better human being. I chose the latter. There were times I felt so poorly and was in so much agony that I prayed to die. Each day was a struggle to use my mind to override my body's apathy and distress.

I realize pain and discomfort can beat you to your knees and keep you there if you let it. But I also came to appreciate that I could use my hurting and anguish to make me stronger and more resolute. I was no better at dealing with pain and discomfort than the next person. But every day, I found a way to survive, with the knowledge that I would need to do it again the following morning. I recently wrote a book, entitled Sustainable Excellence, Ten Principles to Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life to help people find and live their purpose. The ten principles outlined in the book will provide the bedrock necessary to form the foundation of unshakable beliefs and dedicated behaviors to reinforce your attitude, no matter how much pain you must endure or how many obstacles you must overcome. My hope is that the people who read the book will lead a life of significance, as well as a life of success."

Learn more about Terry from his blog Motivational Check.

With 28 years in the senior living industry in an Operations, Sales, and Marketing leadership role, Andrew has a proven track record in building teams, creating a collaborative vision and strategic plans to achieve consistent positive outcomes.

Andrew is currently Executive Director, Elegance Berkeley, an Elegance Living Community, and in addition to a Senior Living Consultant, has served as Senior Vice President for Carlton Senior Living as well as Divisional Director of Operations for Westmont Living, Regional Sales for Atria Senior Living and Benchmark Assisted Living, Director of Operations for Senior Living Residences, working in 7 states with significant experience in start-up and turn-around of challenged, underperforming projects.

His approach is simple: Foster an environment that supports and empowers your team, creating engagement, buy-in, and loyalty, which will translate into energetic, genuine, and exceptional interactions with the customer and, in turn, provide consistent positive financial and satisfaction outcomes. An environment created along with a strategic look at the needs in the market, assessing the opportunities, analyzing labor and expense efficiencies, evaluating the team, resources, procedures, and putting a plan in place to achieve greater results.

Originally from Connecticut and after attending college and living in Boston, Massachusetts, for many years, Andrew currently resides in Berkeley, California, with his two children, Henry, a college freshman, and Kate, a junior at Berkeley High School.

With a masters degree in gerontology from San Francisco State University, and as a licensed nursing home administrator, she spent 17 years in the long-term care field, amassing an extensive book of contacts and a wealth of historical knowledge of the Bay Area's geriatric care providers and facilities.

In 2020, Margot established Montclair Elder Services to provide authoritative, white-glove geriatric care management in the San Francisco East Bay Area. Her broad depth of experience working throughout the long-term care field allows families to make informed decisions — be those about hospitals, medical centers, home health care, assisted living facilities, or hospice. For families seeking a personal, bespoke response to their elder loved one's needs, the company provides guardianship, fiduciary and specialized care management assistance.

Montclair Elder Services delivers trusted, preeminent care management, companionship and specialized concierge services to seniors, their families and various partner institutions throughout the East Bay Area.

"Curator of a Bigger Vision Within," Mark V. Smith specializes in speaking from his personal experience of trials and tribulations in life. His desire to chronicle CHOICES and share the "journey" of his life resonates with everyone at our core, personally and professionally.

Smith served as Vice President of MACCA (Middle Atlantic Career Counseling Association) and former RESEA (Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment) facilitator for the Department of Labor. In those previous roles, he used his gifts to share words of perseverance that helped individuals push forward through adversity.

In addition, Mark had received standing ovations when speaking on GROWTH, PURPOSE, and LEGACY at venues across the country. Alumni of The Ohio State University he has a strong passion for mentoring. Smith lives with his wife, Tasha, in Laurel, MD.

Currently, he is an award-winning STRIVE (Support Training Results in Valuable Employees) trainer at the Center for Urban Families in Baltimore, MD. His teachings and guidance have changed the lives of thousands of men and women not only in Maryland but nationwide. With his podcast, "The Process," he outlines and breaks down SITUATIONS we all go through and offers insight on methods to defeat the storms in life.

Known for his clever use of acronyms within his messages, Smith gives listeners a way to remember key points as we GROW FORWARD. Mark's signature vision statement, "Your Why is Greater Than Your Situation Which is Part of Your PROCESS," gives us the perspective that we are always GROWING.

We want to express our most profound appreciation to our podcast guests in 2021, Brando Menjivar, Dr. Carolyn A. Brent, Wanda Wallis, Robert Pearl, MD, Michael Lenoir, MD, Karen Warner Schueler, MAPP, Ashton Applewhite, Jevon Wilkes, Roz Jones, Steve Shallenberger, Robert Espinoza, Jason Matthews, MDRT, Magda Kaczmarska, Megan Logan, MSW, LCSW, Robb Kelly, PhD, Cedrick D. Bridgeforth, EdD, Bret Alexander Sweet, for their valuable contribution and for being planters of change!

It has been a great honor to have all of them on Life is a Sacred Journey, sharing priceless knowledge and wisdom with our audience. Each of them has contributed to being the change that is needed in our world!

What was your favourite episode? Reach out to us and share your thoughts, ideas, and expectations for 2022. You can send us an email or fill out this contact form. 🙏

Mr. Sweet is an active advocate for Alzheimer's caregivers, social entrepreneur, author, inventor, orator, and urbanist. He has started digital media companies, social enterprises, and education companies. He created the first online music distribution system in 1996, which led to his passion for building systems and companies that change how people interact.

In March 2016, Bret entered and won the Chevron eQuip Project Pitch, securing three million dollars to build a business incubator and co-working space in downtown Richmond known as CoBiz Richmond, which will open for business in August 2019.

Bret Alexander Sweet was born in San Francisco, California. He was raised between Oakland and Sacramento, settling in San Francisco in 1997. Bret graduated from Berkeley High School in 1995. He is the son of prominent Bay Area civil rights attorney and social entrepreneur Clifford Charles Sweet.

Bret combined his passion for music and entrepreneurship at a young age by earning himself an internship at PolyGram Group Distribution's San Francisco office in the summer of 1995. Three months later, he was an artist development rep focusing on the company's urban division associated with Island Def Jam artists.

He left PolyGram shortly after the merger to focus more on his college career at San Francisco State University and open his own label. Throughout his studies, Bret invested his time working in various community development organizations and running his own independent record label, House Kemetic Suns.

Although House Kemetic Suns never reached platinum status with its artists, Bret had established the first online music distribution channel when he was 19; 6 years before Steve Jobs would bring iTunes to market.

He has taught and developed entrepreneurship curriculum for youth for the last decade for companies such as NFTE and BUILD. In addition, Bret was instrumental in the building of Coconuts Palo Alto through his consulting firm, the Dualism Group. Furthermore, he served as a valued advisor to the Back A Yard corporation.

Most recently, Bret served as the director for entrepreneurship and digital media management programs at Cogswell College. Over the years, Bret volunteered as a mentor and motivational speaker for young adults in urban schools.

In July 2013, Bret became a published author with the release of his novel "Among The Veils". Bret holds a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University in Broadcasting Electronic Communications Arts with an emphasis in Radio and Television Broadcasting Production. He also holds a Master's of Business Administration from the University of San Francisco in Entrepreneurship as well as Marketing.

Bret is a certified entrepreneurship instructor trainer and brings a natural ability to connect with audiences. He is an outspoken advocate for Alzheimer's caregivers. In his free time, Bret enjoys reading, martial arts, and community development. He is passionate about wellness, fitness, and preventive health for lower-income communities of color.

🎙 Dr. Brent has four works in 20 publications in 1 language and 1,104 library holdings Worldwide and is the founder of Deep Beauty Health and Wellness University ®️. Her life mission is to help individuals and caregivers discover their own sense of personal strength in preparing for the future. Her research and an extensive collection of published works have made her a notable figure in her field.

Discover more about Dr. Brent and get a copy of her books here.

A native of Decatur, Alabama, Cedrick is a U.S. Air Force veteran and holds a Bachelor's degree in Religion from Samford University, a Master of Divinity Degree from the Claremont School of Theology, and a Doctorate Degree in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.

He is a former District Superintendent in the California-Pacific Conference of The United Methodist Church and served as Director of Academic Programs at the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies at the University of La Verne.

Prior books include Thoughts and Prayers and 20/20 Leadership Lessons: Seeing Visions and Focusing on Reality. His newest book, Alabama Grandson, is a Tell-All Memoir Exposes a Hidden Life and Hard-learned Lessons.

Get your copy here.

Dr. Kelly has worked for many years helping addicts and alcoholics to recover their lives from the disease of addiction. Based on his own experiences working with addicts and alcoholics over the last 20 years, a Ph.D. in Psychology from Oxford University, and as a recovered alcoholic himself – he is a triple threat against the disease of addiction. Dr. Kelly was the CEO of a thriving telecommunications company when the walls came crashing down on him due to alcoholism. He ended up homeless and broken on the streets of Manchester, England, until he found the courage to save himself.

He has lectured on addiction at many high-profile universities, national conferences, public schools, churches, business organizations, and hospitals. He is recognized as a leading authority on addiction recovery methods that are changing lives worldwide. Dr. Kelly is currently the CEO of the Robb Kelly Recovery Group, an addiction recovery coaching company he created based on extensive research and behavior studies over the last 20 years. Dr. Kelly's methods may seem unconventional, leading some people to refer to him as "The Gordon Ramsay of the Addiction World" because of his direct, no-nonsense, and candid approach to treating addiction. Dr. Kelly works to "make the road of recovery less of a mystery tour."

A sought-after recovery expert, Dr. Kelly has appeared on such shows as The Doctors, Eye Opener, Good Morning Texas, and Kens5 morning news. A sample of radio and print interviews include The Jim Bohannon show, Miracles in Recovery, and USA Today. Dr. Kelly hosted the Sober Celebs show on KLIF radio in Dallas and currently hosts the Recovery Channel podcast featuring special guests discussing various mental health issues. Instructor/speaker for Let's Get Back to 98% Recovery DVD's used in prisons and recovery treatment centers throughout the US. Dr. Kelly shares his highs and lows as he struggled and overcame crippling alcoholism in the November 2019 release of the book "Daddy, Daddy Please Stop Drinking."

Professional Credentials:

• Ph.D., Psychology, Trinity College/Oxford University, October 13, 1984
• Ph.D., Psychology (Behavioral Science concentration), University of Southampton, July 25, 2013
• Nationally Certified Recovery Coach (NCRC 1)
• Somatic Experience Practitioner Certification
• Certified Life Coach
• Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner
• Certified International Interventionist
• Certified Brain Spotting Practitioner

Megan has more than 20 years of counseling experience in various mental health settings, including domestic violence and sexual assault centers, an eating disorders program, and a local hospice program. In addition, for the past ten years, she has enjoyed private practice, specializing in issues related to trauma, abuse, eating disorders, grief, and loss.

Megan is a native of Annapolis, Maryland; she graduated Summa Cum Laude from James Madison University in Virginia with a Bachelors's Degree in Social Work and a minor in Family Issues. Additionally, she received my Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from Florida State University.

Clients often describe her as easy to talk to, down to earth, and compassionate. Megan has a great sense of humor and an open mind, which allows her to quickly connect with clients and create a safe therapeutic environment. She also has a gift for working with children and teenagers.

Kaczmarska was born in Poland but grew up in the southwestern United States. She received her M.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography and her B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics from the University of Arizona.

Magda spent ten years working in neuropharmacology research and 18 years in intergenerational community-based education settings in dance and creative expression for persons of all abilities.

As a teaching artist Magda has devoted her career to using the transformative power of dance to celebrate, unite and galvanize communities. Before relocating to New York, Magda served as co-founder, choreographer, and performer with Evolve Dance~West, a non-profit dance company seeking to expand accessibility to dance in southern Arizona. Through Evolve Dance~West, she offered community-based creative movement programs for diverse communities, including a subsidiary Dance for PD® program in Arizona, programs with the Alzheimer’s Association, and Owl and Panther, an organization supporting intergenerational refugees and survivors of trauma.

In New York City, she worked as a lead teacher and performer with Dances for a Variable Population (D.V.P.), supporting hundreds of older adults in the exploration of strong and creative movement. In addition, she leads and develops programs that foster a creative community for intergenerational groups of all abilities, including a program Storytelling in Action, which combines creative movement and narrative for people living with dementia.

Devoted to building an evidence base while expanding public and professional education in best practices in creative aging practice globally, Magda balances her work in intergenerational community-based teaching with engagement in advocacy in several sectors. Magda has presented at multiple public panels, conferences, and workshops about the benefits of creative aging on individual and social health, building intergenerational creative communities, and dispelling ageist myths around how older adults can participate and engage in physical and creative activity.

Credits include Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer’s Artfully Aging Conference (2018), Columbia University Teachers College Symposium (2019), National Dance Education Conference (2018-2020).

Magda mentors future leaders in the creative and health sector through a regular partnership at the Fordham Ailey School of Dance in New York City and the Arts in Medicine Fellowship in Lagos, Nigeria. She serves on the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Dance & Disability Taskforce, supporting access, equity, and inclusion in the dance education community, for which she received the Executive Director Award in 2021. She also serves on the Communications Sub-Committee at the N.G.O. Committee of Ageing, supporting expanding the public voice for the human rights of older persons.

In 2021, she serves as the Co-Chair of the U.N. International Day of Older Persons (UN IDOP). Also, Magda is an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at GBHI, where she is working on designing and expanding access to creative aging programs that support brain health across the life span.