Author: Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

25-18. Take the Wheel

Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air from May 6th

Today, I want to talk about self-leadership. What does that really mean? We often look for a leader in life—someone to guide us along the path of self-discovery or help us uncover our abilities—because we feel we can’t lead ourselves. But ultimately, no matter who’s guiding you—whether at work, in relationships, or anywhere else—you are the leader of your own life. Self-leadership means stepping into your own empowerment. It’s about knowing what you need, recognizing the path you must take, being aware, and caring deeply about yourself, the environment you’re in, what you’re giving out, and what you’re receiving. Your life, your arena—it all begins with you.

Awareness and Choice

Is your environment bringing out something in you that feels uncomfortable? Are you surrounded by people who claim to be leaders but are leading you astray? Are you in the company of negativity—those who are angry, bitter, vengeful, jealous, or retaliatory? Because those kinds of environments won’t serve you. So, how do you step into your own leadership? It starts with a choice. I will choose the path I take. I will choose the people I allow around me. I will choose how I interact, how I receive, and how I perceive the world. That kind of leadership begins with awareness—awareness of your surroundings and of what life is making you feel. We’re living in a time of heightened emotion: global unrest, political upheaval, wars, famine, division—it’s overwhelming. And in all that noise, it’s easy to feel powerless. It’s easy to feel like our voice no longer matters in shaping our own life.

Yet leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means taking ownership of how we show up. Are we reacting from past wounds? Are we stuck in patterns that aren’t even ours? Generational trauma, societal programming, inherited fear—it’s all there. But we can pause and ask: “Is this mine? Is this helping me? What can I shift?” And from that question, the journey begins.

Empowerment, Exploration, and Leading by Example

Self-leadership doesn’t mean going it alone—it means tuning in. You may be using tools, programs, or practices passed down from others. They might have sparked something in you, or maybe you’ve created your own. Either way, it’s still your leadership. You’re in charge of your actions, your voice, and your direction. While the universe might hold the map, you’re holding the wheel.

Sara shares how her own path to podcasting began at age 57. She didn’t know what a podcast was, but said yes to the invitation. Now, more than 13 years and thousands of shows later, she reflects on how every step before led to this one. Her story reminds us that it’s never too late to begin steering your own journey.

She paints a powerful metaphor—life is a vehicle, and we must learn how to drive it. Know your gears: first, second, third, fourth, and when it’s time for fifth. Your trauma and fears might still ride with you, but they belong in the trunk or backseat, not behind the wheel. Learn from them, but don’t let them drive.

True self-leadership isn’t loud. It’s a calm confidence. It’s feeling your way forward even when the road isn’t clear. It’s choosing what resonates in your gut, heart, and soul. It’s quiet courage and soulful conviction. And when we embrace it, we inspire others to do the same.

We’re not meant to walk alone—we’re meant to harmonize. As we step into our own leadership, we become strong instruments in life’s orchestra, playing with clarity, confidence, and care. Together, we create symphonies that awaken and uplift the world.

So, take the wheel. Tune into your truth. Choose your direction, one breath, one step, one gear at a time. Because the greatest adventure you’ll ever take is the discovery of your Self.

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AMAZON

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LM25-18. ELLIS HALL is “The Ambassador of Soul,”

Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

“for the LOVE of Music” with Sara Troy and her guest Ellis Hall, on air from May 6th

ELLIS HALL: A LIFE IN FULL COLOUR, SOUND, AND SOUL

When word got out that a blind kid could play anything, doors opened wide. At 17, Milt Jackson of the Modern Jazz Quartet invited me to tour—Mama said no, but let me sit in when he played Boston. So I went to school by day, played clubs by night, jammed for 5,000 at Franklin Park, and soon formed The Ellis Hall Group. No label, just soul. We packed venues with “Ellisized” covers, caught J. Geils’ attention, and opened for legends like The Cars, Earth, Wind & Fire, Taj Mahal, The Temptations, and The Spinners—who once had me sub on bass mid-show.

In 1976, opening for Tower of Power changed my life. Seven shows later, Emilio Castillo asked me to join. While still in Boston, I scored film soundtracks—including a sex ed film shown in schools—and played with fellow blind musicians in Project Insight, collaborating with Tom Scott, Rob Mounsey, and The Brecker Brothers.

In ’84, I moved to L.A. to break into commercials, and just as I was boasting about the sunshine, TOP called. Two weeks later, I was onstage freezing in Minnesota. I did 300 shows a year with them, sang, played keys and guitar on the Power album (1987), and earned a Grammy nomination for “Some Days Were Meant for Rain,” which I later revived with George Whitty for our new WHAT!!!! project.

That run led to Kenny G’s Duotones—I was brought in to sing “What Does It Take” in Jr. Walker’s key. The album went 5x platinum and helped launch smooth jazz. Other milestones followed: working with the Muppets, scoring Chicken Run, writing a Michelob jingle sung by pre-fame Luther Vandross, and even performing at a Clinton inaugural ball.

Then came a moment I’ll never forget—Christmas 2001. After performing at Stevie Wonder’s benefit, Ray Charles saw me play and offered to sign me to his Crossover label. “Where the F have you been?” he said. We recorded 15 tracks together before he passed. They’ve never been released, but the experience was priceless.

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Covers have always spoken to me. George Whitty and I close our new album with “I Thank You,” honoring my roots. Even David Bowie heard my version of “Let’s Dance” and loved it.

Since then, I’ve written over 4,000 soul, gospel, blues, and pop songs. I’ve worked with Patti LaBelle, James Taylor, Toby Keith, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Maurice White, George Duke, John Klemmer—you name it. I’ve sung on dozens of film soundtracks, including The Lion King 2, Shrek 2, Invincible, Bruce Almighty, and even sang Louis Armstrong’s voice in Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can.

I also created and toured two symphony shows: Ellis Hall Presents Ray, Motown and Beyond and Ellis Hall Soul Unlimited. George Whitty, a longtime fan, finally connected with me through my project manager Alec Berfeld. George sent me a tribute song for Ukraine called “Hug Me,” and I immediately heard the potential to lift it into something epic. That was the birth of WHAT!!!!.

But beyond all the gigs and glory, what fills me most is watching my four children grow and thrive, inspired by my journey. I am a vessel for the music, a soul ambassador, and after all this time, I’m still just getting started.

FIND THE LAST SHOW ELLIS DID WITH SARA HERE

www.ellishall.com

www.whittyHall.com

https://www.instagram.com/whittyhallartistteam

https://www.instagram.com/whittyhallartistteam

https://www.facebook.com/WHAT!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeWhittyMusic

@whittyhallartistteam

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All of our shows/interviews are done by donation; if you enjoyed this show, please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support. Thank you. Please support Our Forgotten Seniors anthology and help to bring this book to awareness.

C25.18. Michaela Gaffen Stone. Your Human Design

Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Choose Positive Living with Sara Troy and her guest Michaela Gaffin Stone, on air from May 6th

Discover the freedom of living as your truest self—aligned, empowered, and unapologetically you.

Aligned & Unapologetic: The Human Design Guidebook is your clear, compassionate, and transformative introduction to the Human Design system. Whether you’re brand new to this powerful modality or seeking a deeper understanding of your Bodygraph, this guidebook will walk you through the core principles with heart, clarity, and purpose.

Blending ancient wisdom with modern science, Human Design reveals how your energy is uniquely wired to navigate life, relationships, and decision-making. This guide breaks it all down—energy types, strategies, authority, profiles, and more—so you can begin living your design instead of chasing someone else’s.

Inside, you’ll find:

  • Clear explanations of the 5 energy types and how they’re meant to operate
  • An introduction to the Bodygraph: centers, gates, channels, and profiles
  • Practical tools for using your strategy and inner authority
  • Gentle reminders that you were never meant to fit someone else’s mold
  • Encouragement to trust yourself, your rhythm, and your natural gifts

Whether you’re a Generator, Manifestor, Projector, Manifesting Generator, or Reflector, this book gives you permission—and the tools—to live boldly in alignment with your authentic self.

You are not broken. You are designed.
And it’s time to come home to who you were always meant to be.

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Born in England, I am a lifelong learner and nomad. Having lived in eight countries to date, I consider myself to be a Global citizen – where I come from is a story, not a place. Home is wherever I am, right now.
I took my expertise in tropical diseases nursing from London, UK, to Bangladesh to volunteer in an orphanage, later single-handedly running a High Commission’s medical clinic and caring for upwards of 300 people.
I became a Montessori assistant teacher in Belgium so I could work in the same system my kids were in.
I studied Buddhism and mindfulness with monks in Singapore. My quest for more took me from Bhutan, India, Ladakh, and Sikkim, to Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
I took my love for learning to college in the USA, becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. The science of behavior change ignited in me a deeper understanding of human potential. Diving into Doctoral studies fueled my desire to share my extensive knowledge of human behavior with people open to receiving all that I have to offer.
Throughout my travels, raising my two sons to be responsible global citizens was a priority and sharing what I learn though experience and study is what I am here for.

AMAZON

MIKKI ALSO CO-AUTHORED OUR BOOK. “OUR FORGOTTEN CHILDREN”, YOU CAN FIND MORE SHOWS WITH MIKKI AND HER BOOKS SEEN HERE.

www.gaffenstone.com

https://linktr.ee/michaelags
*mikki@gaffenstone.com

facebook.com/michaela.stone.

linkedin.com/in/mikki-gaffen-stone

inspiredchoicesnetwork.com/podcast

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All of our shows/interviews are done by donation; if you enjoyed this show, please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support. Thank you. Please support Our Forgotten Seniors anthology and help to bring this book to awareness.

C25-17. Nick Marshall “Try Again”

Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Choose Positive Living with Sara Troy and her guest Nick Marshall, on air from April 29th

Nick Marshall, New York City-based writer, actor, director, producer and author of the new book, Try Again: An Ex-Con’s Path from Prison to Prosperity. This is about the struggle, hope (both loss of and holding on to), grit and perseverance. It’s a story about working hard and trying again, even when we feel the odds are stacked against us — and about the desire to be a person of humility and integrity. 

Nick’s journey back into society has been anything but easy. With a criminal record shadowing his every step, finding steady work and forming new relationships meant constantly confronting and disclosing his past. Despite these barriers, he poured himself into the hospitality industry, relentlessly climbing the ranks until he found himself at the center of New York City’s elite nightlife, working at iconic clubs like Avenue, The Darby, 1OAK, and Up&Down. But the path from suburban New Jersey kid to state prison inmate sentenced for armed robbery taught him hard, humbling lessons. Immersed in the glitz of A-list celebrity culture, Nick eventually lost himself in the illusion, costing him not only his career but his mental health and sense of stability. Through it all, his grounding force has always been storytelling, reading, and writing became his anchors, offering clarity amid chaos. Now pursuing his lifelong dream of being an artist, actor, director, and writer, Nick channels his pain into purpose. He co-founded The Collective NY, a not-for-profit theatre and film company dedicated to the authentic creative expression. His directorial debut, A Long Road, currently in pre-production, reflects his journey, a testament to the resilience, redemption, and the long path to healing. Nick continues to face challenges tied to PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and addiction, but through art, he finds strength, meaning, and a connection.

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Nick Marshall’s story is one of grit, reinvention, and the price of chasing dreams. At just 21, he walked out of prison after serving three years for armed robbery, carrying the weight of his past and the uncertainty of a future as an ex-con. Though he had a steady job, a roof over his head, and the basics for survival, something deeper called to him, his need to create, to express, to be more than his record.

Willing to risk stability for purpose, Nick started at the bottom of the hospitality industry, eventually climbing his way into New York City’s high-end nightlife. From bartending to brand ambassador, he moved through the velvet ropes of celebrity-studded clubs like Avenue, The Darby, 1OAK, and Up&Down. Surrounded by fame, luxury, and endless access, Nick looked like he had made it. But beneath the surface, the fast life took its toll on his mental health, his identity, and the very dream that started it all.

Try Again: An Ex-Con’s Path from Prison to Prosperity is Nick’s raw, inspiring account of rebuilding a life against the odds. It’s about losing everything, more than once, and still choosing to rise. Today, he’s a writer, actor, director, and co-founder of The Collective NY, a not-for-profit theater and film company where he brings stories to life—his own and others’. His journey isn’t just for those who’ve been incarcerated, it’s for anyone who’s ever had to start over, question their worth, or fight to become who they were always meant to be. He is currently in pre-production for his first directorial feature, A Long Road, based on his experience as an ex-convict trying to reintegrate into society, and a scripted series based on his experience in a New Jersey state prison. Try Again is his first book. 

AMAZON

ALSO BUY HERE

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-marshall

https://www.instagram.com/thenickmarshall

https://vivaeditions.com/book

FIND MORE SHOWS OF ILLUMINATION HERE

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All of our shows/interviews are done by donation; if you enjoyed this show, please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support. Thank you. Please support Our Forgotten Seniors anthology and help to bring this book to awareness.

25.17.The One Drop RIPPLES

Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air from April 29th

In a world constantly seeking the grand finale, the big bang, the dramatic pivot, the life-altering moment, we often miss the quiet miracles that live in the in-between. The truth is, it’s not always a thunderous event that changes everything. More often, it’s one small drop a single moment of insight, a gentle word, a quiet act of kindness—that sets a new path in motion. One drop becomes another, and then another, rippling out into something much larger than we could have ever predicted.

The ripple effect begins the moment we choose to be present. It could be a smile shared with a stranger, a pause before reacting harshly, or a thoughtful message to someone who’s hurting. These simple acts, small as they may seem, hold immense power. They shift energies, soften walls, and open doors to connection. They create a rhythm of change, one that moves through hearts, homes, and communities without needing applause.

We look to the world for transformation, hoping institutions, governments, or movements will change everything overnight. But real, sustainable change is personal first. It is born in the whisper of a thought, the weight of a feeling, and the intention behind our actions. Our thoughts are the first drops. Our words carry them outward. Our actions plant them into the soil of the world around us.

It is in the subtleties where the greatest impact lives. Like water shaping stone, consistency in small, mindful choices leaves a lasting mark. Speak to others in the tone you would want to receive. Let your words be an invitation to joy, comfort, or clarity. Think before you speak, not just to avoid harm, but to ensure your voice becomes a balm rather than a blow.

We are all seeking something: peace, meaning, a better way to live. But we don’t find it waiting for someone else to do the work. We find it by becoming the ripple. By embodying the change. We are at the beginning of the wave that can rise and carry others with us.

This is the heart of what I speak to on my shows: the magic of the everyday, the extraordinary within the ordinary. Through the stories of others and reflections of self, we explore how each of us can create meaningful change, not by waiting for the world to shift, but by choosing to drop love, kindness, and purpose into the waters of life.

Join me. Let’s ripple together.

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AMAZON

FIND MORE SHOWS OF ILLUMINATION HERE

Discover the sites we share on linktr.ee/saratroy

BE OUR GUEST AND SHARE THE WISDOM

All of our shows/interviews are done by donation; if you enjoyed this show, please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support. Thank you. Please support Our Forgotten Seniors anthology and help to bring this book to awareness.