Her Comeback | Episode Notes

Guest: Mikki Williams — Global Speaker, Storyteller & Accidental Influencer at 82

Mikki Williams is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), inductee of the prestigious CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, and TEDx speaker recognized by Meetings & Conventions Magazine alongside Tony Robbins and Bill Gates. She's spoken in every U.S. state, every Canadian province, and every continent except Antarctica — always in stilettos. A former award-winning Vistage speaker and Chair Emeritus of two peer advisory boards, Mikki runs Speaker School, Keynote Camp, and her coaching practice from Naples, Florida. Oh, and she recently went viral on TikTok with 1.2 million views.

The Defining Moment At 28, Mikki had achieved her dream — married to her college sweetheart, a two-year-old son, a home in the suburbs. Then at 2 a.m., a knock at the door changed everything. Her 29-year-old husband was killed in a car accident. No job, a mortgage, and very little life insurance. That night became the catalyst for a life she never could have planned.

Finding Untapped Potential Forced to reinvent herself, Mikki dug into her natural talents — dance and cooking — and built a career from scratch. She taught dance, launched a catering business, grew a health club, and belly danced on the side. (Her son Jason, she jokes, stood behind her and jiggled the furniture.) Her dance school became one of the largest in the country, and her catering business launched at the same time as that of a student named Martha Stewart — Mikki is featured in Martha Inc.

Staying One Step Ahead of Pain A turning point came when a no-nonsense mentor pulled Mikki out of her grief and pointed her back toward the stage. She credits the relentless drive to keep moving — for her son, for herself — as the thing that kept her one step ahead of the pain. She also shares that even today, a Beatles song can stop her in her tracks.

Experience List vs. Bucket List Mikki doesn't believe in bucket lists — things to do before you die. She creates an experience list — things to do while fully alive. The key? Write each item as a mini-story, not a bullet point. The brain holds onto stories. She manifested driving two laps on the Indy 500 track in front of 300,000 fans, waltzing in Vienna, and attending the Kentucky Derby in Millionaire's Row in an outrageously large hat.

The Setbacks That Kept Coming At 50, Mikki was embezzled out of every penny she had and rebuilt from zero — borrowing $5,000 to fly to Arizona for a consultant who changed everything. At 65, breast cancer. Her memoir-in-progress is titled We Interrupt This Life to Bring You — because that's how she sees adversity: interruptions, not endings.

Going Viral at 82 A friend suggested TikTok. Mikki hired a 17-year-old to film a casual closet tour. She introduced herself as "an all-natural 82-year-old" — and woke up to 1.2 million views. Her first instinct? Google it to make sure that was a good thing.

Key Takeaways

• When the worst thing happens, you still have choices.
• Dig into what you can do, not what you've lost.
• Replace your bucket list with an experience list — write stories, not items.
• Staying busy isn't avoidance; sometimes it's survival, and survival becomes thriving.
• It's never too late to disrupt. Mikki became an influencer at 82.

Connect with Mikki Williams

• Website: mikkiwilliams.com
• Facebook: Mikki Williams
• Instagram: @mikkiwilliamsunltd
• TikTok: @mikkigogo

Episode Resources: www.hercomebackpodcast.com

Guest: Dr. Antoinette Cruz, Founder of Providence Family Life Center & Mind-Body Movement Living Laboratory

Journey to Body-Centered Trauma Recovery

• Transitioned from traditional clinical work at University of Michigan and Columbia University
• Recognized gap between treating symptoms vs. addressing root causes of trauma
• Developed integrated approach combining mental health, chronic illness, and wellness

Hurricane Irma Awakening (2017)

• Personal experience with hurricane trauma revealed lack of mental health preparedness
• No emotional support systems in place for disaster victims
• Began addressing both housing needs and emotional trauma recovery

Mind-Body Movement Living Laboratory

• Teaches trauma survivors how to understand their nervous system
• Uses somatic experiencing and yoga to help body release stored trauma
• Focus: "The body keeps the score" - trauma lives in the body, not just the mind
• Provides tools for nervous system regulation and stress management

Hurricane Ian Response (2022)

• Worked with FEMA and Red Cross in disaster shelters
• Helped 200+ people with housing, repairs, and relocation
• Observed complex trauma from multiple hurricane experiences
• Developed disaster support groups and breathwork sessions

Providence Family Life Center Origins (2008)

• Started after personal life transformation as single mom
• Began with 3 bags of clothes, coffee pot, and crock pot
• Grew from 20 people on Thursday nights to 300+ every Saturday
• Focus on homeless individuals with undiagnosed mental illness

Success Story: Hollywood General Motors

• Homeless for 26 years with schizophrenia diagnosis
• Through advocacy, became stabilized with housing and benefits
• Now employed 6 years, authored book, reconnected with family after 40+ years
• Exemplifies lives transformed through integrated care approach

Research & Impact

• 30-day study shows immediate decrease in anxiety, stress, and insomnia
• Participants gain motivation for self-care and healthcare engagement
• Community-based model emphasizes partnerships and collaboration

Personal Comeback Journey

• Career changer who returned to education at midlife
• Earned degrees from University of Michigan as non-traditional student
• Now grandmother pursuing doctorate and running innovative programs
• Living example of transformation after 50

Vision for Future

• Integration of traditional medicine with holistic/alternative approaches
• Community-based prevention models
• Education to give people agency over their own healing
• Collaboration between MDs, alternative healers, and community workers

Contact Information

Website: www.mbmll.live Phone: (239) 676-3159 Social Media: @ProvidenceFamilyLifeCenter (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn)

Her Comeback with Denise Quinn

https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleThompson-LifeCoaching

https://hercomebackpodcast.com/

Guest: Denise Quinn, PCC, MBA - Career Transition Coach

About Denise: Career transition coach specializing in mid-career professionals navigating layoffs, career changes, business ventures, and retirement transitions. Works with both laid-off candidates and currently employed individuals seeking change.

Key Topics Discussed:

The Journey to Reinvention (6-7 years)

• Experienced two layoffs; first after 20 years with one company (2016-2017)
• Second layoff became catalyst for leaving corporate permanently
• Got coaching certification after first layoff, discovering passion for helping others
• Transitioned through stages: nonprofit work, 4-year university coaching role, then independent practice (launched October 2024)

Navigating Doubts & Challenges:

• Primary concern: finances (benefits, stability, new house purchase)
• Husband initially biggest skeptic due to financial impact
• Had supportive tribe of women friends and mentors who understood the journey
• Made "baby steps" rather than immediate leap—moved to higher education coaching role first

The "What Have I Done?" Moment:

• Stress around leaving full-time job and carrying family health benefits
• Husband's supportive nature vs. practical concerns
• Finding courage through community support and faith

Biggest Lessons:

• Career transitions don't have to be quick or linear
• Progress happens in ebbs and flows with multiple stages
• Baby steps, even when feeling slow, move you forward
• Each person's strategy and timeline is unique (3 months to years)

Value of Coaching:

• Women are often their own worst critics, underestimating skills and value
• Coaches challenge assumptions and roadblocks we create
• Denise offers both coaching (building confidence) and consulting (resume review, LinkedIn optimization, strategy)
• Even coaches need coaches—can't see our own blind spots

Advice for Women Considering Transition: Start with thinking, then research, then strategic planning. Consider: classes needed, volunteer opportunities, networking groups. Small actions lead to significant progress.

Contact: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisequinnpcc/ or dmqcoaching@icloud.com Offers free 15-20 minute consultations to ensure good fit