In this powerful episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, host Lisa Andria sits down with author, educator, and consultant Thymai Dong-Sheehan to explore a life shaped by courage, faith, identity, and transformation.

Thymai’s memoir, The Beauties of My So-Called Asian Life, tells the story of fleeing Saigon as a Vietnamese refugee in 1975, growing up as an Asian American navigating belonging, rising to become a Chief Equity Officer in public education, and ultimately stepping away from her executive role to prioritize family and faith. And then leaping back into her consulting business.

In this deeply honest conversation, we explore:

✨ What it means to live “in the hyphen” as a Vietnamese-American ✨ Overcoming discrimination and reclaiming identity ✨ Faith, spirituality, and leadership in public education ✨ Navigating DEI work in today’s climate ✨ Caregiving, resilience, and redefining purpose ✨ The healing power of vulnerability and memoir writing ✨ Why forgiving yourself is often the hardest leap of all

Thymai shares how leaving a prestigious leadership role became her greatest leap of faith — choosing family over title, purpose over prestige, and inner transformation over external validation.

We also discuss her consulting company, Innervate 2 Educate, and why real transformation in education begins from the inside out.

If you care about:

• Immigrant stories

• Asian American identity

• Diversity, equity & inclusion

• Faith and spirituality

• Personal growth and resilience

• Caregiving and family transitions

• Writing a memoir

• Leadership with heart

This episode is for you.

👉 Be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to support courageous stories that inspire women to leap.

Connect with Thymai Dong-Sheehan 📘 Book: The Beauties of My So-Called Asian Life 🌐 Innervate to Educate Consulting: innervate2educate.com

Connect with Lisa Andria (Host | Ladies Who Leap) 🌐 Website & offerings: ladieswholeap.com 📩 Email: ladieswholeap.podbean.com ▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@ladieswholeap

In this deeply moving episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, host Lisa Andria sits down with Michaela Avis, founder of CISTER (CIS-TER) (CISTER.COMMUNITY-Web site)— a nonprofit dedicated to empowering cisgender allies to visibly support the transgender community through branded merchandise.

Michaela shares her extraordinary journey of coming out as transgender at age 61, navigating decades of masking, raising four children, working in corporate tech sales, and ultimately stepping into her authentic self.

Today, she lives life on the road in her RV, traveling across the United States to connect with LGBTQ+ leaders, allies, and communities — building bridges through visibility, compassion, and courage.

Together, Lisa and Michaela explore:

• What it’s like to transition later in life

• The emotional cost of hiding your true self

• RV life as a path to freedom and self-discovery

• Why visible allyship matters now more than ever

• How CISTER creates a “circle of protection” for trans individuals

• The powerful link between giftedness, creativity, and LGBTQ+ identity

• A surprising grocery store moment that restored faith in humanity

• Self-acceptance, belonging, and living your “third act” with purpose

This episode is a masterclass in self-love, identity, courage, and community, and a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand how we can show up — loudly and lovingly — as allies.

✨ “True belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world.” — Brené Brown

🔗 Learn more & support Michaela's mission: 👉 www.ladieswholeap.com to get in touch with Lisa Andria - Emotional Transformation Coach.

Click the Let's Connect button to set up a call.

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What happens when life forces you to slow down… and you finally choose yourself?

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, host Lisa Andria sits down with Moyra Gorski—retired RN, wellness expert, podcaster, entrepreneur, and breast cancer survivor—who has dedicated her life to helping women live healthier, more joyful, and more purposeful lives.

Moyra shares her deeply human journey, including:

• How her early curiosity for science and helping others led her into nursing

• The life-changing experience of supporting her son’s health through holistic wellness

• Navigating her daughter’s long battle with an eating disorder—and the importance of boundaries and self-care

• Her own breast cancer diagnosis and the emotional, spiritual, and lifestyle shifts that followed

• Why the mind-body connection matters and how unprocessed emotions can affect physical health

• The role of forgiveness, letting go, and slowing down in true healing

• How ballroom dancing became an unexpected path to joy, trust, and feminine expression

• The powerful truth that changed everything: “Nobody’s coming.”

Moyra also introduces her supportive menopause community, where women can learn natural tools, create sustainable habits, and feel less alone during midlife transitions.

This episode is a must-listen for women who are caregivers, leaders, helpers, and high-achievers—especially those who are ready to stop putting themselves last.

🎧 Listen now, and if this conversation resonates, share it with a woman who needs the reminder that she matters too.

• Women’s wellness & sustainable healthy habits

• Emotional healing & the body-mind connection

• Breast cancer healing mindset

• Forgiveness, resentment & letting go

• Boundaries, burnout & caregiver stress

• Menopause & perimenopause support

• Self-care rituals, morning routines & nervous system regulation

• Joy practices, movement & ballroom dancing

• Website: moyragorski.com

• Find Moyra on Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn (search: Moyra Gorski)

• Ask about her Joyful M Circle – a supportive menopause community for women

• Email: LadiesWhoLeap.com

• Podcast: Ladies Who Leap Podcast

👉 Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT with your biggest takeaway. If you have your own leap story, Lisa would love to hear it.