Beautiful Shifts

Reclaiming Joy & Reinvention at 58 with Judith Balis

In this fun and inspiring episode, Judith Balis—interior designer, store owner, empath, and empty nester—shares her brave step into a new season of life. From buying an apartment in Spain and traveling solo for the first time to preparing to leave the familiar behind, Judith reflects on fear, freedom, and rediscovering herself. A conversation about choosing joy, embracing change, and stepping into a beautiful new chapter.

From Scientist to Advocate: A Mother’s Journey Through Autism and Founding an Organization to Support Families Affected by Autism

In this episode, Dr. Theresa Lyons, PhD from Yale and Founder and CEO of Navigating AWEtism, shares her journey through life’s unexpected transitions—from a career in chemistry to becoming a passionate autism advocate after her daughter’s diagnosis. She reflects on the question that changed everything: “Ok, so now what?” and how it led her to founding Navigating AWEtism, a company centered around supporting parents and grandparents as they seek trustworthy information and compassionate guidance for children with autism. Theresa offers insight, hope, and practical wisdom for navigating uncertainty and creating meaning and purpose through life’s unexpected turns.
 
Find Navigating AWEtism at awetism.net
 
Find Theresa on her YouTube Channel Navigating AWEtism with Theresa Lyons, PhD here -  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrnw5_DvQ4E7IRwa3zSJe7g
 
Find Theresa on Instgram here

Holding Joy and Grief: Jennie Latham Johnson on Loss, Love, and Becoming Again

In this moving conversation, Jennie Latham Johnson shares her journey through the transitions of stepping away from the LDS church, navigating an unexpected twin pregnancy, and enduring the devastating loss of her twin daughter, Isabelle. Jennie reflects on grief, identity, and the non-linear process of healing after infant loss. 
With honesty, tenderness, and hope, Jennie also shares about navigating divorce while raising her children and honoring Isabelle’s legacy through The Isabelle Blanche Foundation. This episode is an honest conversation about navigating grief, resilience, and finding light and hope after loss. 
Find Jennie on Instagram @jlathamjohnson

When Loss Becomes Purpose: Kami Banks on Grief, Resilience, and Finding Your Voice

This conversation features Kami Banks, a triathlon and nutrition coach who shares how losing her mother to ALS reshaped her life and sense of purpose. Kami reflects on grief, healing, and the ways love and legacy continue after loss. Through endurance sport and coaching, she found a way to carry her mother’s voice forward while helping others push beyond their comfort zones. It’s an honest, grounding conversation about resilience, meaning, and moving forward without leaving love behind.
Find Kami online http://linktr.ee/kamibanks
On Instagram @kamibankscoaching
Kelsey's chocolates www.kelsiskitchen.com

Perspective Shifts in the Face of Cancer with Kylee Dart

In this moving episode, Kylee Dart shares her experience of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer—the same diagnosis her mother once faced—while she was a young, healthy, and devoted mother. What began as a commitment to natural healing evolved into an integrative approach that honors both holistic, whole-body care and modern medicine. Kylee reflects on how this shift, along with her deep love for her family and faith, has transformed the way she lives, heals, and shows up for each day. Her story is a powerful reminder of courage, perspective, and choosing life in the midst of uncertainty.
 
Find Kylee on Instagram @kddart

Values Realignment in the New Year

In this episode, we talk about how identifying our values and realigning with them can help guide how we want to live our lives. We talk about how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) relates to values and why small, intentional shifts can be more meaningful than big New Year’s resolutions. Thanks for joining us, and we hope you all are having a great beginning to the New Year!

What Grief Teaches Us About Living with Kathie Supiano

Dr. Kathie Supiano joins us for a rich conversation about grief, meaning, and the human capacity for resilience. Drawing from her work in bereavement care, grief, suicide survivorship, and hospice, and as a clinical social worker and psychotherapist for over 45 years, Kathie offers thoughtful perspectives on how we navigate loss. She also shares personal reflections on retiring after a meaningful career and learning to embrace life differently in this season.
 
Kathie is a Professor Emeritus and the former director of Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program at the University of Utah. You can find Caring Connections: nursing.utah.edu/caring-connections.
 
We’re so grateful to Kathie for taking the time to come on our podcast and loved this conversation with her! 

What We Learned Moving to Costa Rica, and Changing Course Along the Way with Kari Montgomery

In this episode, Kari shares what it was like to fulfill a long-held dream of moving to Costa Rica with her husband in early 2024- the joys, surprises, lessons, and what led them to readjust their plans along the way. We talk about what following a dream actually looks like once you’re inside it, how to pivot as life unfolds, and what this experience taught them about culture, plans, and living a life that feels aligned.
Find Kari and her salon at salonaries.org and on Instagram @kari.salon.aries

People Will Rise: Leadership, Light, and Hope with Ronald McDonald House Charities CEO Carrie Romano

Carrie Romano, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), joins us to share how her breast cancer diagnosis reshaped her understanding of resilience, leadership, and the power of people to rise. She talks about the unexpected ways her team showed up during treatment, the intentional practices she relies on to bring light into hard days, and why choosing small sparks of joy can shift everything.
 
With more than 20 years of mission-driven nonprofit leadership, Carrie brings her energy, heart, and clarity to this conversation. She shares why she believes so deeply in the work of RMHC, what keeps her grounded in hope, and how service and working in the non-profit space has shaped her life. It’s a conversation about hope, community, and the beauty we can find even in seasons of uncertainty.
 
Learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities and how you can get involved at ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.

Finding Meaning After Loss with Ashley Parks

Ashley Parks shares the moving story of her son’s leukemia diagnosis and his passing, and how grief reshaped her life. She shares about her work with Ronald McDonald House Charities, where she now supports families navigating medical crises similar to her own. Through her powerful story, Ashley shows how love, loss, and service can come together to bring connection and a way forward.
 
Learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities and how you can get involved and help at ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.