In this episode, Dana is joined by Jessica Hallahan, a stress management expert who turned a personal health crisis into a powerful mission. At just 24, Jessica was hospitalized due to severe burnout, a rock-bottom moment that became her greatest teacher. She shares her raw and honest journey of how over-commitment and a lack of boundaries nearly broke her, and how she learned to rebuild her life from the ground up. Jessica reveals why saying "no" is a form of self-care, how to break the cycle of people-pleasing, and why clear communication is the antidote to 80% of workplace stress. She provides practical tools for setting flexible, healthy boundaries that allow you to move from a life of constant pressure to one of authentic purpose and peace.

Jessica's Linkedin

Jessica's Site

In this episode, Dana is joined by Heather Powers, a corporate executive and founder who masterfully navigated the complexities of building a career while raising a family. Heather shares her candid journey from a small town in New Hampshire to the boardrooms of Washington D.C., revealing how the pandemic crystallized her mission to advocate for working mothers. We discuss the outdated corporate structures that hold women back and why leaders must recognize the immense value working parents bring to the table. If you've ever felt torn between your career ambitions and family responsibilities, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone and your skills are needed now more than ever.

Heather's Linkedin

Heather's Website

In this episode, Dana is joined by Dr. Cali Estes, an addictions coach and entrepreneur who built a new path to recovery after her own journey through an eating disorder and prescription pill addiction. Dr. Estes shares her raw and honest story of hitting rock bottom—and how a doctor's blunt warning became her ultimate wake-up call. She reveals how she discovered healing not in traditional meetings, but on a yoga mat, and used that experience to challenge the one-size-fits-all recovery model. This conversation explores why your vice is a solution, not a problem, and how to create lasting change by finding what truly works for you.

Dr. Cali's LinkedIn

Dr. Cali's Website

In this episode, Dana is joined by Kate Semeniuk, a Rapid Transformational Hypnotherapist, to explore the unseen forces in our minds that hold us back. Have you ever known logically what you need to do—like set a boundary or say no—but found yourself unable to act? Kate reveals how subconscious beliefs, often formed in childhood, create these internal conflicts. She explains that fear and suppressed anger are not weaknesses but misguided protection strategies from a younger self. This conversation is for anyone ready to stop fighting their own mind and finally align their actions with their intentions, reclaiming control over their life and happiness.

Kate's LinkedIn

Kate's Website

In this episode, Dana is joined by Michael Levitt, founder of the Breakfast Leadership Network and self proclaimed "Chief Burnout Officer." Michael shares his personal story of being a high-achieving executive who pushed himself to the brink, working 6 AM to 11 PM seven days a week. This relentless drive led to a year of devastating consequences, including a near-fatal heart attack, job loss during the recession, and home foreclosure. He reveals how that immense pain became his greatest teacher, forcing him to recognize the dangerous red flags of burnout that so many driven entrepreneurs ignore.

Michael's Linkedin

Breakfast Leadership

In this episode, Dana is joined by Matt Gerlach, an entrepreneur who helped scale startups to 7 and 8-figures, only to find himself battling a severe mental health crisis after launching his own business. Matt shares his raw and honest journey of hitting rock bottom and how that pain became his greatest teacher. He reveals how he learned to reframe his struggles as "wake-up calls," setting firm boundaries to move from a survival-driven mindset to a life of authentic purpose and freedom.

Matt's Linkedin

Matt's Website

Host Dana Skaggs sits down with Abagail McKiernan, founder of the nonprofit HelpLink, to uncover the deeply personal story that inspired her mission. What began as a moment of isolation became a movement rooted in unconditional generosity. Together, they explore how giving without expectation can restore dignity, forge authentic community, and remind us that the kindness we extend often finds its way back when we need it most.

Abagail's Linkedin

HelpLink

In this episode of Phoenix and Flame, host Dana Skaggs sits down with three-time bestselling author and forgiveness coach Katharine Giovanni to talk about the idea of forgiveness—we're told to do it, but rarely taught how. Katharine explains that forgiveness isn't about excusing someone's behavior or even reconciling with them; it's a tool for your own healing. She shares a practical, step-by-step method for releasing the emotional charge from painful memories so you can stop letting people live "rent-free" in your head. Along the way, she highlights the connection between forgiveness and boundaries, showing that letting go of anger doesn't mean letting someone back into your life.

Katharine's Linkedin

Katharine's Website