Beautiful Shifts

Grief, Faith Transition, Letting Go, and Becoming Herself — with Aimee Mortensen

When Aimee lost her husband in a tragic car accident just three days after their wedding, it marked the beginning of a life-altering transformation—one shaped not only by grief, but by a traumatic brain injury that changed how she experienced the world. Years later, while serving in a high-level leadership role in the LDS Church, Aimee made the life-altering decision to step away from her faith, leave her marriage, and confront the realities of infidelity and identity. In this deeply honest and hope-filled conversation, Aimee—a trauma-informed therapist and Certified Sex Therapist—shares her story of unraveling, rebuilding, and choosing to become more fully herself. With raw vulnerability, Aimee invites us into her story of loss, transformation, and the healing that comes from choosing to live authentically.
 
Find Aimee on Instagram @therapyaimee. Find Aimee’s therapy practice Worth It Counseling and Coaching at worth-it.com and on Instagram @worthitcounselingcoaching

Journaling Through Divorce, Grief, Motherhood, and Emotions with Samantha Hawley

In this episode, we sit down with Samantha to talk about how journaling became a powerful tool during her divorce and life as a single mom. She shares how writing helped her navigate difficult emotions and transitions, and how she now helps women tap into this same healing process through journaling. Samantha explains her approach and how it helps women reconnect with their inner voice, and how it can be a tool for healing. 
 
We really enjoyed chatting with Samantha—she’s open and insightful and it was compelling to hear how journaling can help us work through emotions and be a valuable tool for self care. Whether you’re curious about journaling or already love it, this episode has some great takeaways.
 
Samantha is an Inner Voice and Self-Trust Coach and a mom. Find her website samantha-says.com. Find her on Instagram @samantha.s.says. Download her free Calm Mind Blueprint we discuss in the episode here. And find her podcast Journal Entries here. 

Caring for Our Mental Health: Real-Life Insights with Andrea Beckstrom from LEVO

Andrea, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and Medical Director at LEVO, brings over 16 years of experience in mental health and addiction treatment. In this episode, she shares how her own journey with anxiety led her to a career in psychiatry, and how personal experiences with ADHD and anxiety in her family have shaped her compassionate, holistic approach. Andrea explains the importance of seeing the whole person—biologically, psychologically, and socially—in order to create understanding and healing.
 
We also dive into the stigma that still surrounds mental health and how we can work to dismantle it. Andrea offers simple, practical tips anyone can start to support their mental well-being. Whether you're navigating your own journey or supporting someone else, you'll walk away from this conversation with insight and hope.
 
Find Andrea on Instagram @help.just.one where she shares valuable mental health tips and insights, and her clinic Levo Mind, specializing in mental health, medication management, and mind care tools online at levomind.com and on Instagram @levomind.

From Rock Bottom to Reclamation: Kellie Adams on Sobriety and Owning Her Story

In this heartfelt and candid conversation, Kellie Adams shares her journey through addiction and transformation to sobriety. From beginning to drink at a very young age to becoming completely dependent on alcohol, Kellie opens up about the turning point that led her to get sober in 2014—and how that decision changed everything. Her story is raw, relatable, and filled with both honesty and humor.
 
Much like her memoir Shit I Do Sober, this episode explores the real-life complexities of recovery—the struggles, the beauty, and the growth along the way. Kellie’s reflections on healing, identity, and embracing life without alcohol remind us that reclaiming your story is a radical act of self-love and strength.
 
We loved getting to know Kellie and are so grateful she came on the podcast to share her story and valuable perspective. 
 
Find Kellie and her book on Instagram @shitidosoberbook where she posts helpful and fun videos and thoughts about sobriety, and find Shit I Do Sober on Amazon here. 

How to Talk When You Don’t Agree with Brandie Paterakis

How can we stay grounded, compassionate, and open when navigating conversations around politics, religion, or other high-stakes topics? In this episode, we’re joined again by Brandie Paterakis—licensed therapist and founder of Blue Bee Counseling—for a conversation about how to have meaningful, and sometimes messy, discussions with friends, loved ones, and even our children and spouses. We talk about how she approaches interpersonal tension as a therapist, and tools for communicating when we fundamentally disagree. Brandie offers tips and steps to help us move through tough conversations with care. 
 
Thank you to Brandie for coming on our podcast and bringing her fun, lively, and practical perspective to this important topic! You can find Brandie's clinic online at bluebeecs.com
On Instagram @bluebeecounseling
Find Brandie's Podcast Therapist Table Talk here and on YouTube here.
 

Divorce, Growth, and Choosing Joy: Becki Andrus on Letting Go and a New Path

Becki Andrus shares the deeply personal story of how she came to the decision to end her marriage—despite doing everything “right.” With honesty and grace, she talks about what it was like to stay for years in a relationship that began strong but transitioned to one that looked great from the outside but left her feeling stuck, unseen, and spiritually conflicted on the inside.
 
In this conversation, Becki opens up about breaking free from perfectionism and finding clarity through emotional growth and spiritual realignment. She offers insightful reflections on conscious uncoupling and what it means to live a full, joyful life on your own terms—even when that means walking away from the life you thought you were supposed to live.
 
We’re so grateful Becki joined us on the podcast to share her story with such honesty and heart.
 
Becki recently began coaching, and you can find her on Instagram at@relationshipswithrebecca as well as @beckiann13 (personal account). 

Raising Three Kids with Down Syndrome – Kecia Cox on Adoption, Inclusion & Love

Kecia Cox is a mother of seven, including three incredible children with Down syndrome. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares her journey into special needs parenting, the unexpected paths that led to adoption, and the unique joys and challenges of raising twins. Kecia opens up about the mindset shifts she’s embraced along the way and the lessons she’s learned about inclusion, community, and love.
 
Her perspective on raising children with disabilities is both eye-opening and inspiring, and we couldn’t be more grateful for her willingness to share her story. We know you’ll walk away from this episode with a fresh appreciation for the beauty found in life’s unexpected turns.
 
Find Kecia and follow her family’s journey on Instagram: @lovemakesmiracles_ 
 
Watch the video they made in collaboration with @madewithlovethemovie on YouTube - Family adopts 2 kids with Down syndrome from Ukraine because of daughter with Down syndrome - watch here. The movie can also be watched as a 9 part series on @lovemakesmiracles. 

Radical Survivor: Finding Joy, Resilience, and Beauty in Life After Loss with Nancy Saltzman

Dr. Nancy Saltzman’s life is a testament to resilience, love, and the power of embracing joy despite unimaginable loss. A lifelong educator and award-winning principal, Nancy faced profound tragedy when she lost her husband and two sons in a small plane crash—after already battling cancer. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares her journey of survival, healing, and finding beauty on the other side of life’s hardest moments, as chronicled in her memoir, Radical Survivor.
 
With honesty, humor, and wisdom, Nancy offers insights into navigating grief, how to show up for people experiencing loss, and choosing joy even in the face of deep pain. She also speaks about her work with Soaring Spirits International, supporting widowed individuals worldwide. Whether you’ve faced loss or simply seek inspiration and insight on resilience and gratitude, this conversation is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit.
 
Nancy is one of the most delightful and inspiring people we’ve had the honor of speaking with. We absolutely loved getting to know her and are so grateful she shared her family and story with us.
 
Find Nancy's book Radical Survivor here. 
Find Nancy online at nancysaltzman.com and on Instagram @nancysaltzman

Faith, Trauma & Brainspotting: Healing LDS Religious Trauma with Ashley Buckner

Raised in a small-town LDS community, Ashley moved away in 2008 and thought her faith transition was behind her, until opening her therapy practice in 2022 led her to an unexpected specialization: religious trauma, particularly within Mormonism. In this episode, Ashley shares her personal journey growing up in an inactive LDS family, leaving the church, and ultimately returning to Utah as a therapist now helping others navigating faith transitions and trauma. We also dive into what Brainspotting is, how it works to regulate the nervous system, and how somatic therapies are powerful tools for healing. 
 
Whether interested in the intersection of trauma and religion, exploring therapy and brainspotting, or both, this conversation offers insights into the healing process. Thank you to Ashley for sharing her story and therapeutic expertise in this thoughtful conversation!
 
Find Ashley online at ashleybucknerlmft.com and on Instagram @ashleyb_therapy. 

Turning Loss into Purpose: A Journey into Functional Medicine and Nutrition with Andrea Nakayama

In this episode, Andrea shares about the profound loss of her young husband to brain cancer in 2002 and how it reshaped her life. As a new mother navigating grief, she found herself on an unexpected path—one that led to a deep passion for functional nutrition and using food as medicine. What began as a personal search for healing became a calling to help others, changing the course of her career and life. 
 
Now a Functional Medicine Nutritionist, educator, and former CEO of Functional Nutrition Alliance, Andrea has guided countless individuals and trained thousands of practitioners in root-cause methodology and systems biology. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares how loss, motherhood, and purpose intersected to shape her work and how she now empowers others to take control of their health.
 
Find Andrea on Instagram @andreanakayama and online at andreanakayama.com.