Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Cynthia Simmons, a Chattanooga native, is an author of three books including a historical novel, Pursuing Gold which is a story written about Chattanooga, Tennessee during the Civil War.   


Cynthia hosts her own radio talk show, Heart of the Matter.  She also writes for Leading Hearts Magazine and has served as resident of Christian Authors Guild and co-founded Homeschool Answers.  

Cynthia homeschooled all five of her children from grade one THROUGH high school.

During her interview, she shared a dark time in her life when a series of extreme circumstances bombarded her.  For one, her husband contracted a life-threatening brain infection and required 24/7 care for years.  Cynthia shares how she never gave up when many negative situations hit her at the same time.

Hope is the Only Thing Between You and the Abyss

Kathleen Pooler spent the first 18 years of her life in a loving, supportive family. The next 25 years were engulfed in the abyss of two abusive marriages. Pooler rescued herself and is now dedicated to helping other women (and men) do the same.

She hopes to help others find their inner strength through sharing her hard-earned lessons in her new memoir.  In addition to dealing with her two failed marriages, she was diagnosed with cancer and her son was abusing drugs.

Hope is often the only thing between you and the abyss

She sums up her message in these seven tips:

A loving family, solid career and a strong faith foundation do not guarantee a problem-free life.

We all have everything we need within, but we need to claim and honor our own inner strength to get the life we want and deserve.

Abuse, in any form, is harmful. Emotional abuse may not cause direct physical harm, but it can be damaging to your mind and your spirit.

The very things you think are holding you back from having the life you want can serve to help you find your way to freedom.

Hope matters, even when all seems hopeless in the moment.

Give yourself permission to GRIEVE!

Nothing can rescue you until...

 you decide to rescue yourself

Trauma is hard to overcome - BUT you can

Kristen Harper is a speaker, entrepreneur, and health and wellness expert.   Kristen has a unique connection with her audience that derives from her own personal journey towards wellness and happiness.  Before becoming a success, Kristen struggled with health issues and an eating disorder. 

Kristen founded her company Perfect Health Consulting Services, LLC in 2009, with the goal to help people all around the world become healthy.  She is a certified Nutrition Consultant, in addition to holding a Master of Administration, with an emphasis in Health Promotion, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She is presently studying to become a Registered Dietitian.

This is what Kristen offers on her website:

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Blogging -- from the Expert

Susan Maccarelli created BeyondYourBlog.com and is a recognized expert on going from personal blogger to published writer. 

Beyond Your Blog offers tips for getting published, directories of writing opportunities, interviews with editors, the Submission Savvy e-course and more. 

Susan’s interviews include editors from the New York Times, Chicken Soup For The Soul, The Washington Post, and dozens of other publications. She has been published in many websites and anthologies and spoken at conferences including BlogHer, BlogU, and Bloggers at Midlife.

In 2014 Susan created Beyond Your Blog to help other bloggers through the learning curve of getting published on sites beyond their own personal blog. It has since evolved as a central stop for writers of all kinds spanning a wide range of publication goals. Susan made BYB a place where you can get the info you need regardless of your connections. Directories of writing opportunities, tips and inspiration for writers, interviews with editors and more are all part of BYB.

It's Not Happening TO You, It's Happening FOR You

Chris Kidawski has a Bachelors in Social Science and a Masters in Kinesiology. He has been a strength coach for 18 years and has trained Navy SEALs and professional athletes.  He has more than eight certifications related to health and wellness and is the author of two books.

Chris came to a crossroads in his life when it felt like the world around him was crashing. He hit a low when his wife left him right after he had major surgery, his mother passed away and his good friend was committed for a mental illness. He had to make some serious changes and started with his thought patterns, digging himself out of that deep emotional state.

Today, Chris is committed to consulting and speaking on all facets of health and wellness to help people live and feel better. His new goal is to never stop helping people open up their hearts, their minds, and ultimately their lives.      

In his interview, he shared many tidbits of truth that certainly stimulates thought including:

Do You Believe Fear is Rational?

In this episode of FEAR NOT, Author of Battered Hope Carol Graham shares with us how to about deal with fear and the trials and traumas that life can bring. Listen in to this honest exchange and you will learn:

Click here to listen
           Fear is rarely rational, so think rationally.

• Face the reality of the situation, take a deep breath and approach it in a state of calmness.
• Unacceptance of being trapped in the situation is one way to face your fear.
• Whatever you feed will live, so feed your faith, not your fears.

Carol Graham is the author of a fast-paced award-winning memoir, Battered Hope, the blog Never Ever Give Up Hope, and a regular contributor to numerous blog sites.  She writes two monthly columns in Book Fun Magazine and has been published in several anthologies including a best-seller.  In 2015, Carol received the Woman of Impact Award from Focus on Women Magazine and Author of the Year for her memoir, Battered Hope.

Furthermore, Carol hosts a bi-weekly talk show Never Ever Give Up Hope in which she interviews people with remarkable stories of how they conquered overwhelming obstacles and achieved success. Never Ever Give Up Hope has an international audience in over 120 countries.

Carol has survived so many challenges. Major illnesses, devastating personal losses, and financial ruin more than once, yet she has refused to become a victim. Her goal is to share with others how to survive and thrive.

In addition to being a motivational speaker, hosting a talk show and writing, Carol owns two jewelry stores.  She is also a wife, mother, grandmother and together with her husband have rescued over 30 dogs.

Purchase Carol's book here 

Click here to listen

Powerful Presence Begins with Acute Self Awareness

Kristie Kennedy is a Licensed Image Enhancement Consultant and a Certified Women’s Worth and Wellness Expert, who provides confidence and clarity coaching to female leaders, executives and business owners who are exhausted from being the world’s best kept secret, ready to claim center stage as the leading lady of their own life, powerfully shift in mind and magnificently shine.

Kristie is a contributing writer for a wide range of online publications including, Black Life Coaches, Identity Magazine, Self-Growth, Ezine Expert Author, beauty columnist for Amoize women’s magazine and Publishing Editor of Magnificent Living Magazine. 

There is Always Hope after Loss

Lindsay Gibson is a writer, speaker and Joy Coach. Although she experienced intense trauma in her life, she has learned how to choose joy after grief.

You will be drawn into her story as she shares how her life dramatically changed when she was raped at 16 years old.  She was in complete denial of the event and covered her hopelessness with bad habits and unhealthy comfort zones.

It was not until she gave birth to her stillborn son that she was able to start living again.  His birth and death created a new life in Lindsay.  

Her story is one of courage, hope and finding a Higher Love through the darkness of grief and sorrow.  Hope led her to Love and Love Never Fails.

Lindsay has learned to forgive her attacker who tried to kill her.  This happened when she opened her heart to healing after the loss of her precious son.  With it came an understanding of unconditional love.