From the outside, people may see strength, independence, confidence and success. They see the Realtor, instructor, nonprofit founder, podcast host, mother, grandmother, friend and woman who always seems to figure it out.

But what happens when the person everyone considers “strong” gets tired of always having to be strong?

In this episode of Shattered Not Broken, Dawn explores the difference between what people see and who she actually is underneath the accomplishments. She reflects on relationships, the need to prove her worth, why being needed can sometimes feel safer than being vulnerable, and the realization that independence doesn't mean you don't want someone beside you.

Most importantly, she shares what she's learning on the other side of survival: you don't have to audition for a place in someone's life, shrink yourself to make someone else comfortable, or prove that you're worthy of being loved.

Maybe the question isn't, “Who do I need to be so someone will choose me?”

Maybe it's finally, “Who gets access to me exactly as I am?”

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What happens when the strength that helped you survive starts wearing you out?

In this episode of Shattered Not Broken, I’m talking about something I’m living through right now: burnout. Not because everything is falling apart, but because I’ve spent so much time doing, achieving, providing, helping, proving, and staying busy that somewhere along the way, I stopped making room for myself.

A song playing in the background while I worked made me realize something uncomfortable: I may have stopped molding myself to fit into certain relationships, but I haven’t completely stopped trying to prove that I’m worthy.

This episode is about recognizing when strength becomes survival mode, when productivity becomes avoidance, and when taking care of everyone else leaves nothing for you.

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After a devastating scooter accident left him with multiple fractures, a traumatic brain injury, and only a small chance of recovery, Vincent Vandebroek had to rebuild his life one step at a time. In this powerful conversation, Vincent shares how he defied expectations, changed his priorities, and discovered that the life we intentionally build can become the very thing that saves us.

Dawn and Vincent discuss resilience, family, authenticity, and the importance of defining what “the other side” looks like before creating a plan to reach it. His story is a compelling reminder that being shattered does not mean being broken—and that what feels impossible today may simply be something you haven’t accomplished yet.

Info on Vincent:

Genres: Memoir, Narrative Non-Fiction, Self-help | Publication date: 11 October 2026 Availability: International, HB (£14.99) EB (£5.99) PB (£) AB (£16.99) | ISBN: 9781911774365(PB) 9781911774372(EB) | Publisher: Publish Nation | Page count: 93 | Media folder & enquiries: https://bit.ly/VincentVandenBroeck | info@literallypr.com | Author online: https://untilitsdone.eu/

Instagram: @vincentinthekitchen

LinkedIn: @vincentvandenbroeck

Pre order the book by clicking on the title: Everything Feels Impossible Until It's Done