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Rosanna shares the impact being diagnosed with Herpes at 19 has had on her self-image and why it's important now more than ever to open up up about the label and how she's overcome the fear of talking about it publicly.  If you'd like to ask Rosanna any questions about living and dating with Herpes, the impact, or anything else, you can join her Friday November 26, 2021, when she goes live on Facebook and Instagram at 10 am EST. If you would like to submit a question anonymously, you can do it here: Ask Rosanna  You can also reach out to Rosanna via email at Rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.com Links to connect on Social Media: Rosanna's Instagram: @Rosanna.e.gill Breaking Labels Instagram: @breakinglabelspodcast Her Path to Purpose: @herpathtopurposepod  

In the third part of the 'A Different Perspective' series, host Rosanna Gill shares insight she gained from the series and shares her own experience with white supremacy. She talks about the downfall on being focused on proving one is not racist or what your intention is versus focusing on how what you say or believe actually impacts others.  The book Rosanna references during the episode is So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo.  Connect with host Rosanna Gill to know when her next podcast launches and what the next Breaking Labels series will be about: • https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/ • https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/ • https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/ Email: Rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.com

In the second part of the 'A Different Perspective' series, host Rosanna Gill is joined by Lori Harris and Catharine Montgomery to discuss the term 'mulatto' and whether there's really much racism still in the world.  Both Lori and Catharine share insight on how to ask questions and the spirit to ask them in.  The two books Rosanna recommended as resources are: The Color of the Law by Richard Rothstein So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo Lori Harris is a recognized expert in the area of juvenile justice, youth in transition and has testified before the California State legislature. She is now a Certified Life Mastery Consultant who helps women create a life that they love.  You can listen to her podcast, Unlock Your Life, here and if you want a discovery chat with Lori, click here:  https://loriaharris.com/chat/ Catharine Montgomery is a DEI advocate and strategic communicator focused on social justice causes.  You can learn more about the work her company does  to use communications to blend differences in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to achieve equality here or on LinkedIn You can also connect with Catharine via her personal Twitter and LinkedIn.  Breaking Labels is proud to partner with Tru Supplements, a brand founded to be the simple, complete and honest solution to the need for high-quality natural supplements. Listeners of the podcast receive 5% off their order of Tru Supplements using the promo code breakinglabels at this link: http://gettrusupps.com?aff=663 Connect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels: • https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/ • https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/ • https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/  

"It cannot inherently be true that I am less than because of my appearance." -Lori Harris In the first part of the 'A Different Perspective' series, host Rosanna Gill is joined by Lori Harris and Catharine Montgomery to discuss a listener's question as to why a man of color might put down other men of color and what it feels like and means to be told they (Lori and Catharine) are not like 'other blacks' and what that really means.  In the midst of discussing specific scenarios, the three women  touch on everything from privilege to negative and positive self-talk to white supremacy.  Catharine and Lori each shared their unique experiences and thought-provoking examples that give listeners raw, honest insight. Lori Harris is a recognized expert in the area of juvenile justice, youth in transition and has testified before the California State legislature. She is now a Certified Life Mastery Consultant who helps women create a life that they love.  You can listen to her podcast, Unlock Your Life, here and if you want a discovery chat with Lori, click here:  https://loriaharris.com/chat/ Catharine Montgomery is a DEI advocate and strategic communicator focused on social justice causes.  You can learn more about the work her company does  to use communications to blend differences in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to achieve equality here or on LinkedIn You can also connect with Catharine via her personal Twitter and LinkedIn.  If you have a question you'd like discussed as part of this series, you can ask it all completely anonymously here: https://www.custominsight.com/box/?cb29894zqkd Breaking Labels is proud to partner with Tru Supplements, a brand founded to be the simple, complete and honest solution to the need for high-quality natural supplements. Listeners of the podcast receive 5% off their order of Tru Supplements using the promo code breakinglabels at this link: http://gettrusupps.com?aff=663 To donate to the production and advertising costs for A Different Perspective, check out this page on Go Fund Her: https://gofundher.com/differentperspective Connect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels: • https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/ • https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/ • https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/    

“Why not me?” asks stay-at-home mother Stephanie Mahoney when evaluating her hesitancy to achieve her goals. After years of believing that being a mom and lacking a degree would prevent her from finding professional success, Stephanie decided to travel outside her comfort zone. After experiencing a difficult postpartum during the pandemic, Stephanie had a change of perspective and began allowing positive affirmations into her life. Stephanie is now a passionate brand ambassador for Monat, a naturally-based skincare and shampoo line. Although she sometimes feels judged for her position in multi-level marketing, Stephanie now understands that she “can’t please everyone” and continues to make a difference in people’s lives.Tune into this week’s episode of Breaking Labels for a conversation on shifting your mindset and speaking your dreams into existence. Through Stephanie’s determination to build a financially freeing career, learn how anything is possible with consistent action and a positive frame of mind.Quotes• “I had to find myself where I was going to go down a very dark hole of postpartum, mother of three, trying to figure that out and I couldn't take the kids anywhere. I couldn't see my family. I couldn't see friends. And to be honest with you, when you get backed into a corner like that, it's either Option A: go down the spiraling rabbit hole, or Option B: get uncomfortable.” (16:41-17:10)• “You're 40% more likely to achieve a goal when you write it down and you speak it into existence. That's why people say speak it out loud, tell people about it. Because your brain is going to start hearing that and now it's going to start finding things to help prove that correctly.” (44:40-44:57)• “Why not me? Why am I limiting myself because I'm a mom, because I didn't get a degree, because I didn't finish? I've never finished anything in my life. Because I've been in relationship to relationship from kid to kid to kid. Like, dang it. I'm going to see something through and if that means scraping myself out of the soil for seven years like a bamboo tree, then gosh darn it. If that's what it takes, and that's what God has for me, then I'm going to continue to do it.” (49:25-50:00)• “My biggest fear was not pleasing people and doing my own thing and not worrying about what other people think. The minute I just changed that mindset and said, ‘You know, I'm gonna put myself out there.’ If I lose followers, that's fine. That means I'm niching down to people who do want to follow me. If you don't want to see what I have to say, that's okay. I can't please everyone, I can't speak to everyone. I can speak to my niche and my people that I can relate with and basically be friends with because that's what this is about.” (1:08:32-1:09:05)• “There's nothing wrong with making money as long as you're trying to serve people. You're trying to send a positive message. I don't think that there is anything wrong with that.” (1:13:16-1:13:32)• “If you're in multilevel marketing or wanting to be a part of multi level marketing, then I would just say choose wisely. Don't just go to your friend who's like, ‘Oh, sign up with me because I love it.’ Find someone who's serious. Find someone who has your best interests at heart.” (1:28:17-1:28:33)LinksConnect with Stephanie Mahoney: https://www.instagram.com/stephlmahoney/* To donate to the production and advertising costs for A Different Perspective, check out this page on Go Fund Her: https://gofundher.com/differentperspective* To donate to the production and advertising costs for Her Time, check out this page on Go Fund Her: https://gofundher.com/hertimeConnect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels:• https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/• https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/• https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/Have a scenario where you asked or said something that offended someone, but you don't know why? Share the details and it will be discussed on the Breaking Labels podcast during the 'A Different Perspective' series. Here is the link where you can ask it all completely anonymously: https://www.custominsight.com/box/?cb29894zqkdSchedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners: http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Breaking Labels is proud to partner with Tru Supplements, a brand founded to be the simple, complete and honest solution to the need for high-quality natural supplements. Listeners of the podcast receive 5% off their order of Tru Supplements using the promo code breakinglabels at this link: http://gettrusupps.com?aff=663Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

For this episode, I wanted to take the time to talk about the future. Specifically, about this podcast and two new projects that I’ve been working on. Inspired by my desire for a talk about race and ethnicity, I’ve decided to launch a series here on the Breaking Labels podcast called “A Different Perspective”. In this series, I’ll be having really open conversations that get into the questions some people have a hard time asking -- and answering. My second project is a brand new podcast called, “Her Time”, a show dedicated to stories of women who feel that they are meant to do something more and are called to answer that gentle rage within themselves. With so many new things happening, I also wanted to take the time to thank every single one of you guys listening in! I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for the absolutely overwhelming support you all have given me.  Episode Highlights: Questions open us to discussions but statements don’t About my new series, “A Different Perspective” What the “Her Time” podcast will focus on My future plans for “Breaking Labels” Links referenced in this episode: Mixxxed Chicks Instagram The Kinswomen Podcast To donate to the production and advertising costs for A Different Perspective, check out this page on Go Fund Her: https://gofundher.com/differentperspective To donate to the production and advertising costs for Her Time, check out this page on Go Fund Her: https://gofundher.com/hertime Connect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels: Website | Breaking Labels Podcast Instagram | @breakinglabelspodcast Instagram | @rosanna.e.gill Have a scenario where you asked or said something that offended someone, but you don't know why? Share the details and it will be discussed on the Breaking Labels podcast during the 'A Different Perspective' series. Here is the link where you can ask it all completely anonymously: https://www.custominsight.com/box/?cb29894zqkd

“You can choose to lead your life beyond the predicament you’re in. You can choose to see the light.” This was the advice that jewelry designer Lia Valencia’s mother gave her. At the time, they were living a difficult life in Philadelphia, and Lia was headed down a negative path. However, Lia credits her mother's words for unlocking her life, letting her natural light shine through, and inspiring her to start her joyful jewelry brand, Valencia Key.Lia’s mother also taught her that if you choose something, you should see it through. Lia took this advice to heart through her every endeavor, propelling her to earn a Master's in Education and her Cosmetology Instructor License. Realizing her goal of styling for QVC, Lia spent five years making this dream a reality. There, she met the incredible dream makers who changed her life and gave her the courage to become the designer she is today. Although not all of Lia’s accomplishments have served her long-term, she understands the power of learning who you are and that even if your progress is slow, positive energy will get you there. Tune into this week’s episode of Breaking Labels for a conversation on choosing joy no matter what hurdles come your way. Through Lia’s story of entrepreneurship, learn how to “speak your dreams into the world,” finish what you start, and maintain your enthusiasm for life to achieve your goals.Quotes• “I started in super humble beginnings, and I love sharing that because it shows it doesn't matter where you come from. It doesn't matter what the world says about you. All that matters is what you believe to be true in your heart, and what you decide to do with the power that is you.” (12:05-12:19)• “You can choose to lead. You can choose to lead your life beyond the predicament we're in. You can choose to see the light. You can choose to define that your predicament does not determine your destiny. And then she left it and said, ‘And you choose.’ And that was that easy.” (16:27-16:47)• “One power is really truly understanding who you are, what your strengths are, what you're good at, what works for you, what doesn't work for you.” (22:28-22:35)• “I feel like enthusiasm, energy and light is more powerful than any skill you'll ever obtain. Because you can't manufacture that.” (26:40-26:50)• “But my message that I want to give to everyone now, a key that I'd love to give to everyone now is to speak your dreams into the world. And it's really important, it's served me so well. But what, I must be clear. Speak your dreams without expectation. You're not looking to receive something when you speak it out. You are literally just getting it out of your body to permeate into the world. So that it can land in the world.” (32:15-32:49)LinksConnect with Lia Valencia Key:• www.valenciakey.com• https://www.instagram.com/liavalenciakey/• https://www.instagram.com/valenciakeydesign/Connect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels:• https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/• https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/• https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/Have a scenario where you asked or said something that offended someone, but you don't know why? Share the details and it will be discussed on the Breaking Labels podcast during the 'A Different Perspective' series. Here is the link where you can ask it all completely anonymously: https://www.custominsight.com/box/?cb29894zqkdSchedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners: http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Breaking Labels is proud to partner with Tru Supplements, a brand founded to be the simple, complete and honest solution to the need for high-quality natural supplements. Listeners of the podcast receive 5% off their order of Tru Supplements using the promo code breakinglabels at this link: http://gettrusupps.com?aff=663Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Sometimes your soul just doesn’t fit in a cubicle,” says Chanel Lee, Owner of Living Beauty Florals. After working in corporate for over eleven years, Chanel finally decided to pursue her dream of running a flower shop full-time. While she has experienced her fair share of hiccups along the way, Chanel explains that she truly loves what she does and couldn’t be happier with her decision to follow an entrepreneurial path.Before she became a florist and even before she entered a corporate role, Chanel was in beauty school with the intention of becoming a hairstylist. However, after giving birth to her daughter at the age of 19, this plan was sidetracked, as Chanel was forced to find a job that would support both her and her newborn. Despite flourishing in her corporate position, Chanel felt stifled by her cubicle and found no passion in the work she was doing. So, she stepped out on faith and opened her floral design business to model for her daughter the importance of drive and reaching for your dreams.Tune into this week’s throwback episode of Breaking Labels to learn more about Chanel’s journey as a parent and an entrepreneur. Learn how Chanel has defied the label of “teen mom,” why you’re allowed to let go of the people and things that no longer serve you, and why going where the love is is the key to finding fulfillment.Quotes• “My kid is a flower. I constantly try to water her and just nurture her and help her grow, daily. So when I stepped out on faith and decided to start this business, I wanted to make sure that my kid saw the drive and the fight for the things that I truly wanted.” (11:38-12:12)• “It doesn’t mean that because you’ve gotten pregnant at a young age that the whole world stops.” (16:22-16:27)• “If there's love around you, love on it. If it's not love, abort the mission. You don’t have time for that because there are so many people out here who absolutely love, support and adore you. So if there's anyone in your life that you're questioning about that, abort mission. Go where the love is, go where you don't have to question the love in a room, and I will tell my daughter that til the day I die.” (28:13-28:40)• “I give people advice every day when it comes to business and it is this: make sure that you are able to hold all your blessings when they come in because you have to be prepared for them. Sometimes that thing comes flying in hot and fast, you prayed for it, it’s on its way, and it’s coming. Are you prepared for it?” (33:47-34:09)• “Sometimes your soul just doesn’t fit in a cubicle.” (46:25-46:29)• “What God has for you is for you. There's a reason that you wake up and you can't stop thinking about your passion.” (48:39-48:45)LinksConnect with Chanel Lee:• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingbeautyflorals_/• See her craftsmanship (and order her arrangements!): http://www.livingbeautyflorals.com/Learn more about First Lady Fashions 904: https://firstladyfashion.company.site/Connect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels:• https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/• https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/• https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/Have a scenario where you asked or said something that offended someone, but you don't know why? Share the details and it will be discussed on the Breaking Labels podcast during the 'A Different Perspective' series. Here is the link where you can ask it all completely anonymously: https://www.custominsight.com/box/?cb29894zqkdSchedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners: http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Breaking Labels is proud to partner with Tru Supplements, a brand founded to be the simple, complete and honest solution to the need for high-quality natural supplements. Listeners of the podcast receive 5% off their order of Tru Supplements using the promo code breakinglabels at this link: http://gettrusupps.com?aff=663Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

Ever since the age of 11, Michelle Kuei has been followed by an invisible checkbox. Similar to the checkboxes you fill out on job or college applications, this unseen checkbox represents the assumptions that people make about Michelle with just a cursory glance. Michelle has a visible disability: she walks on crutches as a result of a car accident she was involved in during her early years. The resulting damage was permanent and has affected the labels people automatically ascribe to her ever since.Now a success coach, founder of Elevate Life Coaching, Michelle didn’t always have such a positive outlook. She explains that for many years, she was consumed by frustration, anger and sadness about her disability and the limitations it forced upon her. However, Michelle tells listeners that one day she woke up and decided to stop feeling sorry for herself. After avoiding the gym for most of her life, Michelle got a gym membership, a personal trainer, and ultimately climbed Machu Picchu! This feat inspired Michelle to quit her job as a pharmacist and become a full-time coach, motivating others to turn their dreams into realities. Tune into this week’s episode of Breaking Labels for a poignant conversation with Michelle about turning limitations into possibilities. Learn about the differences between passion and purpose, the transformational power of rejection, and why discovering your “why” is the first step towards achieving lifelong fulfillment.Quotes• “Any human being going through their life – we're always looking for some type of success. I got up in the morning – great success. I finished my coffee or got to my coffee – great success. I think success to a lot of people is just being able to show up and do the things that they want to do in their life, and feel accomplished, feel satisfied, feel fulfilled.” (05:20-05:44)• “I was done feeling sorry for myself, and I was done accepting those no’s when someone answered. I wanted that yes, and that yes needed to come from me.” (07:23-07:31)• “I keep adjusting, adapting in order to fit in, to manage my everyday activity…. There are a lot of realistic challenges that just show up regardless of how smart I am, how good I am, how talented I am. There's limitation all around.”  (12:54-14:20)• “There’s that invisible checkbox walking around next to you, and people just check off, ‘Oh, disabled. Let me give her special treatment.’....You start to believe that there are so many limitations on yourself that there’s no way that you can achieve anything at all because you’ve been labeled as disabled or handicapped or abnormal.’” (19:15-20:26)• “Physical work, taking care of our physical needs, it's actually the low hanging fruit. There are so many different things that we can address on a daily basis that would help us get going or achieve more goals, right? But the physical is the most easy to access.” (38:20-38:37)• “I think that should be the number one, top question on all job applications, all college applications: ‘Why do you believe that this is your purpose? Why do you believe this is important to you?’” (45:06-45:20)LinksConnect with Michelle Kuei:• Website: http://elevatelifecoaching.org• IG: https://www.instagram.com/elevatelifecoach/• FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theconfidencelab• LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-kuei/• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1sZpJJvPUQ8YVfEujhkDw?view_as=subscriber• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Lx5u5s0frBQY7PFWBv3i0?si=FjP0QBOyQdee0fsO7a8-fw&nd=1Connect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels:• https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/• https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/• https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/Have a scenario where you asked or said something that offended someone, but you don't know why? Share the details and it will be discussed on the Breaking Labels podcast during the 'A Different Perspective' series. Here is the link where you can ask it all completely anonymously: https://www.custominsight.com/box/?cb29894zqkdSchedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners: http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Breaking Labels is proud to partner with Tru Supplements, a brand founded to be the simple, complete and honest solution to the need for high-quality natural supplements. Listeners of the podcast receive 5% off their order of Tru Supplements using the promo code breakinglabels at this link: http://gettrusupps.com?aff=663Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

“It’s easy to be in the brain, it’s hard to be in the body,” says Kristen Schwartz, self-proclaimed Realized Empath. Kristen explains that she went through most of her life as a high achiever, repressing her trauma in a career that she believed would make her worthy in the eyes of the world. However, six years ago, on what Kristen calls her dark night of the soul, she hit a wall, met herself in the dark corner of a room, and began her spiritual awakening.It was that night was when Kristen realized that she was an empath, someone who feels the emotions of others in their own body. Over the years, Kristen had not only compounded traumas of her own, but she has also internalized the traumas of others. After undergoing severe bullying and physical abuse at a young age, Kristen learned to fear her own body, which served as a source of both her own trauma as well as the triggering experiences of those around her.Since beginning her spiritual awakening, Kristen is still peeling back the layers of her internalized trauma in her search for self-discovery, self-worth and self-love. She has also become a coach for empaths and highly sensitive people who, like her, need to establish the toolkit necessary to begin their own healing journeys. Most recently, Kristen published a book titled The Healed Empath, a guide to transforming trauma and anxiety and moving from overwhelm to empowerment. It’s is set to hit the shelves this coming January – preorder your copy now using the link below!Tune into this week’s episode of Breaking Labels for a conversation with Kristen about learning to love yourself after trauma. Learn about the difference between empaths and highly sensitive people, why anchor traumas make us more susceptible to future traumatic experiences, and why reconnecting with our bodies is the first step towards stepping into our truest selves.Quotes• “I didn’t realize I was an empath until about six years ago, what I call my dark night of the soul. I hit a wall, and I met myself in the dark corner of a room, and I knew things needed to change, like drastically needed to change.” (06:22-06:48)• “When trauma happens to us as children, we don’t have the capacity yet to understand who that other person is, the person that’s hurting us…. The child ends up, if they don’t have guidance or someone to help them heal it, then they become adults who believe that they are broken.” (09:15-09:38)• “We heal trauma, we end up rewiring our brains away from trauma, with safe relationships, with attunement. That’s the thing is that it’s natural and normal for traumatized individuals to pull back from connection because they’re not safe, they don’t feel safe. But the kicker is, what heals trauma is safe connection.” (21:52-22:31)• “I’m not here to save the world. Just because I can feel it doesn’t mean I’m here to heal it for them. It’s theirs.” (33:34-33:40)• “When I’m talking to a client who’s triggered, I’m going to say, ‘Ok, let’s pause for a second. Can you feel your feet on the floor?....Can you feel the weight of your body in the chair you’re sitting in?’ So, you ground them in the present moment. Because when we’re triggered, we’re in our head, and we’re in the past, and so then our body starts to respond as if we are back in the moment. We’re having a full reaction to our trauma all over again.” (37:37-38:04)• “It’s easy to be in the brain, it’s hard to be in the body, especially if the body was a source of trauma. It doesn’t feel safe.” (42:53-43:02)• “Trauma lies to us…but we’re so desperate to ease the feelings of being triggered and activated that sometimes the behaviors that it brings up are actually the things that end up destroying us.” (49:38-49:54)LinksConnect with Kristen Schwartz:Kristen Schwartz, MARealized EmpathHealing for Empaths and HSPhttps://www.realizedempath.com/https://www.realizedempath.com/buy-my-bookhttps://www.instagram.com/realizedempath/Connect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels:• https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/• https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/• https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/Have a scenario where you asked or said something that offended someone, but you don't know why? Share the details and it will be discussed on the Breaking Labels podcast during the 'A Different Perspective' series. Here is the link where you can ask it all completely anonymously: https://www.custominsight.com/box/?cb29894zqkdSchedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners: http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Breaking Labels is proud to partner with Tru Supplements, a brand founded to be the simple, complete and honest solution to the need for high-quality natural supplements. Listeners of the podcast receive 5% off their order of Tru Supplements using the promo code breakinglabels at this link: http://gettrusupps.com?aff=663Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

Have a question about race, ethnicity or another culture you've wanted to ask but didn't know how? This is your chance to ask.  Have a scenario where you asked or said something that offended someone but you don't know why? Share the details and it will be discussed on the Breaking Labels podcast during the 'A Different Perspective' series.  Below is the link where you can ask it all completely anonymously: https://www.custominsight.com/box/?cb29894zqkd LinksConnect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels:• https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/• https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/• https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/ Rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.com    

Are you dimming your own light because you don’t want to overshadow others? Are you constantly taking care of everyone else at the expense of your own needs and goals?This is what Brené Brown calls engineering smallness. In other words, you shy away from your truth and potential because you are worried about protecting others and, oftentimes, yourself. Engineering smallness can take endless forms, including not setting boundaries with your family and friends, settling into a career that feels comfortable rather than striving for your dream job, or deferring to your partner rather than setting your own expectations, just to name a few examples. The problem with making yourself small is that you’re only delaying an inevitable reckoning with yourself. While you may not notice it, the many moments when you put your true self on the back burner compound, slowly growing into an insidious collection of regrets. So, in this week’s episode of Breaking Labels, host Rosanna Gill implores listeners to ask themselves the following question: “How can I play big today?” By finding simple, yet meaningful, ways to consistently show up for yourself, you can start transforming your regrets into personal successes, so your light can shine through in full force.Quotes• “It is really easy to engineer smallness for yourself and to justify it by putting everybody else before yourself. That’s whether it’s your kids, whether it’s your spouse, whether it’s your parents. And I’m not saying don’t be there for them, but I’m also saying don’t use them as an excuse to not do the thing that you know you’re called to do.” (4:58-5:18)• “Whatever your goal weight is, understand that when you get there, if you get there….and a woman makes a comment about your size, it is not for you to feel bad about that. I’m going to tell you what I wish somebody had told me: you, be proud of yourself. You did whatever you needed to do to get to that size. If somebody is uncomfortable in their own skin, that’s on them. It is not on you.”  (9:38-10:10)• “I cannot encourage you enough: find a way to show up for yourself.” (13:16-13:23)• “In hindsight, I absolutely see that that was me playing small. That was me choosing what was comfortable in the moment over what I ultimately wanted. And how often do we do that? Sometimes we do it so much that we don’t even notice it until it’s late, until you wake up one day and you think, ‘How did I get here? This was not where I wanted to be, this is not where I wanted to go, and yet, I ended up here by tiny decisions, by tiny negotiations with myself, by tiny compromises that felt miniscule, insignificant in the moment.’” (21:35-22:15)• “So whatever your situation may be, whether you’re playing small with your partner by constantly deferring to them or not asking them to show up in the relationship to the extent that you do, whether you’re playing small in your career, playing small with your friends, playing small with strangers...STOP and just ask yourself, ‘How can I play big today?’” (24:46-25:24LinksConnect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels:• https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/• https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/• https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/Rosanna is now offering a 12-week coaching program focused on helping YOU craft positive narratives for long-lasting transformation. If you are interested in learning more, you can reach out to Rosanna via email at rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.com.Schedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners: http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

Have you ever played out endless scenarios of a heated conversation in your head, only to have it go nothing as you expected it would? Host Rosanna Gill has gone into this negative spiral countless times, working herself up over imagined conversations that ultimately never happened. So, where does this intense concern for other people’s expectations come from? Why do we expect people to react poorly, when in reality, the conversation goes smoothly?In this week’s episode, Rosanna will explore the concept of enmeshment as a potential answer to this question. Enmeshment describes a relationship where the personal boundaries between individuals are permeable and unclear. For example, did you ever have to put your own wants and needs on hold so that you could fit in with the family collective? This is an example of enmeshment, and it could be impacting the way you set and hold boundaries in your adult life.Tune into our newest episode of Breaking Labels for a conversation about critically examining your past to better inform your present. Learn why creating your own manifesto can help you set lasting standards, why you can ask people NOT to give their advice, and how to let go of others’ expectations for good.Quotes• “Where does this intense concern for other people’s expectations come from?” (6:20-6:28)• “Where [enmeshment] becomes an issue as an adult is you don’t all of a sudden wake up as an adult and think, ‘Well, I know how to stand on my own two feet as far as thoughts and decide what my standards and expectations will be.’ Because you’ve had to put your own desires on the back burner for the sake of fitting in with your family collective for so long that you’ve kind of lost the ability to connect with your intuitive self.” (10:39-11:16)• “If you haven’t looked at your people pleasing and how you respond to other people’s expectations, I’m going to tell you right now that it doesn’t matter how much you make, it doesn’t matter what your title is, you are still going to have the same struggles until you get to the root of why and, more importantly, until you decide what your standards and expectations are for yourself.” (13:12-13:40)• “You can tell a friend, you can tell a loved one, that you don’t want their advice….Here’s the beauty of people that love you: when you set that boundary, if they love you, they’re going to test it a few more times FYI, but they will learn to respect it. YOU have to be the one to decide, though, what that boundary is and what you will and will not take.” (21:21-21:40)• “You have that person in your life, you see their name and you automatically feel stressed, you automatically feel anxious, you automatically feel resentment. If those are the responses you get when you see that person’s name, you are probably over concerned with their expectations of you and their expectations of you are not aligned with boundaries that you actually want to be in place.” (33:38-34:00)LinksConnect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels:• https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/• https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/• https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/Rosanna is now offering a 12-week coaching program focused on helping YOU craft positive narratives for long-lasting transformation. If you are interested in learning more, you can reach out to Rosanna via email at rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.com.Schedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners: http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

Most of us have probably heard that our adverse childhood experiences inform our romantic relationships...but what about our work relationships? And what really constitutes an adverse childhood experience to begin with?Unfortunately, there is a misconception that childhood traumas must be severe in order to impact us later on in life. But it’s not just experiences such as emotional abuse, physical abuse or addiction that can leave a lasting impact. Did your parents ever force you to give hugs to strangers, even if you didn’t really want to? Did they put on a perfect front in public, even when things were falling apart behind the scenes? Did they ever read your diary without your permission? All of these experiences are traumatic and have likely shaped your behaviors in adulthood without you even realizing it!Join Rosanna Gill on this week’s episode of Breaking Labels for a conversation about how our upbringing fundamentally shapes the jobs we are drawn to and the experiences we have in the workplace. Learn about expectation hangovers, establishing boundaries, and why “Girl, stop apologizing” is lackluster advice if you haven’t discovered the root of why you’re doing it.Quotes• "There is so much information about the cycles that we perpetuate in our romantic relationships….But what I don’t think is talked about nearly as much and affects quite a big portion of our lives is our work relationships and the jobs that we’re drawn to, the roles that we’re drawn to and the way we show up in those roles and whether or not we feel empowered to set boundaries.” (4:57-5:47) • “Children are pretty amazing in that they learn, they adapt, to do what they know is going to keep them safe. So if that means not acknowledging their own needs for the sake of keeping up a good front, then they will, just like their parents have done.” (7:35-7:54) • “What boundaries [is your child] empowered to have if you as an adult, as their parent, as their authority figure, remove that from them?....Are you so surprised that they would have difficulty setting boundaries as an adult when they were told that their boundaries did not matter?” (12:17-12:38) • “For me personally, not knowing why I was having such a hard time setting standards, not knowing what the root issue was, meant that I would read something like that, be super inspired...and then when I didn’t follow through, oh, how hard I would beat myself up.” (22:48-23:05) • “If you don’t root out the emotional aspect of it, if you don’t get to that, if you don’t work on that, then the behavioral change really doesn’t matter. It’s just sticking a band-aid on a gash. It might cover up a little part of it, but that band-aid, it can’t hold a candle to the gash.” (29:55-30:12)  • “We are just as drawn to the professional situations that reflect our adverse childhood experiences as we are the romantic ones.” (32:18-32:22)LinksConnect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels:• https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/• https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/• https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/Rosanna is now offering a 12-week coaching program focused on helping YOU craft positive narratives for long-lasting transformation. If you are interested in learning more, you can reach out to Rosanna via email at rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.com.Schedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners: http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

Have you ever made a big change in your life only to settle back into the same old negative patterns of self-talk? This is a problem that host Rosanna Gill has faced multiple times throughout her life, whether in work, relationships, or just her day-to-day routine. She has undergone her fair share of “a-ha” moments, when a switch flips and catalyzes a major change....but, for a long time, the positive impacts that came from these shifts never really lasted. In this solo episode of Breaking Labels, Rosanna speaks to the Great Resignation that is currently occurring as record numbers of people leave their jobs post-COVID. She cautions listeners that, while major changes may seem attractive and long overdue after the frustrations of the pandemic, switching jobs or careers won’t rid you of your traumas. Everyone has baggage, and when you make shifts in life, this baggage comes right along with you. Tune into this week’s episode to learn more about the self-deprecating inner monologue that followed Rosanna from her childhood through her 20s and into her sales career. This emotional and introspective episode will not only remind you that you are not alone, but will also inspire you to do the consistent work required to permanently disrupt the toxic self-talk patterns that are holding you back. Not sure where to start? Rosanna is now offering a 12-week coaching program focused on helping YOU craft positive narratives for long-lasting transformation. If you are interested in learning more, you can reach out to Rosanna via email at rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.com. She can’t wait to hear from you! Quotes “When you switch jobs or careers or even if you go from being an employee to an entrepreneur, your trauma goes with it. The stories that you have been telling yourself about yourself and your value or lack thereof go with you, too.” (1:45-2:00)  “The ego, when it’s decided something about ourselves, will seek out ways to prove it.”  “The crazy thing about our egos and the nasty, insidious thing about our egos is they’re always looking to prove our thoughts about ourselves. And if your baseline thoughts are, ‘I’m not worthy, I’m not valuable, I should be ashamed of my situation, and it’s all my fault,’ then you’re going to remember the experiences that prove that, that align with that. It’s almost going to be like there’s a spotlight on those and everything else, all of the other messages that say otherwise, are in the dark.”  “Just because you have decided that you don’t want to be where you’re at doesn’t mean that all of a sudden your self-talk changes.”  Links Connect with host Rosanna Gill and Breaking Labels: • https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast/ • https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/ • https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/ • rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.com Schedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners:  http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2 Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

“I am not my illnesses,” says Mary Burgoon. Over the years, Mary has received six different mental illness diagnoses, including Bipolar Disorder, Harm OCD, and Borderline Personality Disorder, just to name a few. She has experienced suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, and been hospitalized countless times. But still, Mary’s inner strength and authentic self have always managed to shine through.Jim Burgoon, Mary’s husband and life partner, has also undergone his fair share of challenges while coping with Mary’s mental illnesses. The two of them acknowledge that mental illness never exists in isolation; instead, it both affects the person who receives the diagnosis and radiates out into all of their relationships as well. However, by combining their passion for research with their love of God, Jim and Mary have dived deep into the implications of Mary’s various diagnoses and have found effective ways to cope as a family unit.Tune into this week’s episode Breaking Labels to learn more about Mary and Jim’s journey through mental illness. Learn why Mary and Jim have become mentors for others who are experiencing similar struggles, how to define your “enough,” and why learning to love beyond feelings is a must. As Jim poignantly expressed to Mary during our show, “I love you, and your illness is just a challenge we have to go through.” You won’t want to miss this emotional episode about compassion, faith and forgiveness.Quotes• “That’s why we’re so open because we always want to put ourselves in the position where we’re going to be the mentors that we never found that we always wanted and everybody out there is looking for.” (7:57-8:07)• “The question that’s asked a lot is, ‘Well, if God can heal one, why didn’t He heal all?’.... One of the things I tell people is, ‘Listen, could God heal all of it in one second? Yes, he absolutely could. But we serve a progressive God that literally will walk through a process.’ We don’t claim to know what God’s going to do, we believe God whether he heals her or not. But the deal is that it’s a stepping process because every step that we take is a deeper faith.” (24:01-24:40)• “People will live according to the labels that we’re given or the labels that we give ourselves. So what you do is when you say, ‘I’m stupid,’ guess where you just put yourself? You put yourself in chains and you put yourself in bondage because now you’re living according to your label.” (37:10-37:23)• “I never blamed God, nor did I ever lose trust in God in the situation.” (44:14-44:18)• “What I can do is live better today, that one percent better. I can live today and say, ‘You know what, if put back in that situation today with what I know now, it would have been completely different.’ But I was young and dumb, and I’m judging my young and dumb self on somebody who’s wise and experienced.” (57:18-57:34)• “When you are with someone that has mental illness, when you have a relationship with them in any way, shape or form, they are not their mental illness. That’s not who they are…. You can list off all the traits of a mental illness, and you can say, ‘Yes, this person exhibits this, this, this, and this, but it’s still not who they are.” (1:15:14-1:15:45)• “Learn to love beyond the feelings because in the midst of the feelings, it’s easy to withhold love…. If love is going to be patient and love is going to be kind, it’s understanding that my love and when I say I love you, it’s not a feeling, it’s a commitment. And it means that I’m going to go deeper, and I’m going to be here when all of the dust settles, and you don’t ever have to worry about me leaving…. I love you, and your illness is just a challenge we have to go through.” (1:17:17-1:18:07)LinksConnect with Jim and Mary:• YouTube: www.leadwithjim.live  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/leadwithjim• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadwithjim  • You can find me on all social media @leadwithjim• For a FREE DISC personality Ebook, visit www.leadwithjim.comSchedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners: http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Connect with host Rosanna Gill:• https://www.instagram.com/breakinglabelspodcast• https://breakinglabelspodcast.com/• https://www.instagram.com/rosanna.e.gill/• rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.comPodcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

What would you do if someone told you to “smile a little less American?” This is what Tytti Tulianen’s grandmother told her to do when she was taking her high school graduation photos. While Tytti (pronounced TOO-tee) was born in Finland, she moved to the United States when she was nine years old and spent the majority of her childhood living everywhere from Wisconsin to New York to South Carolina. To Tytti, her smile didn’t feel “American;” it just felt like her natural smile. It wasn’t until Tytti moved back to Finland after high school that she understood the full extent of how “American” she had become. Although Tytti originally believed that moving back to Finland would feel like moving home, she was unprepared for the extreme reverse culture shock she would experience upon returning. While she is Finnish in origin, she had spent the majority of her formative years in the states...so where did she fit in?Join host Rosanna Gill for a conversation with Tytti about her struggles with reverse culture shock and her journey towards accepting her unique background. Learn about Tytti’s experience assimilating to US culture, the challenges she faced upon returning to Finland (i.e. relearning how to pronounce “Big Mac”!), and how she has now made a hobby out of documenting her continued travels. If you have ever had difficulty answering the question “Where are you from?”, then you won’t want to miss out on this week’s episode of Breaking Labels!Quotes• “Some Americans are so used to just seeing the typical American names that then when they get a strange-looking name, they almost get this mental block that they’re like, ‘Ok, I can’t possibly understand this name, and I can’t possibly say it right.’ They almost give up before they even try.” (8:46-9:06)• “I had the biggest culture shock moving back to Finland. For the longest time in the US….I always thought, ‘Ok, when I move back to Finland, it’ll be easier because I’ll be in my home country, I’ll be back with the other Finns.’ And not until I moved back did I realize how American I was. I wasn’t Finnish anymore.” (24:51-25:32)• “I have this trigger question of ‘Where are you from?’. I felt like I had to justify to people that, ‘Yeah, I’m from Finland, BUT know that I’ve also spent a significant part of my life in the US.” (30:01-30:11)• “It was really this balancing act for a long time for me to learn when I could use English without it being bragging and when I should ‘Finnishize’ the English words that I was using.”  (33:10-33:20)• “It helps to surround yourself with other people who have that same kind of background….If you’re really struggling, try to find other people who have similar experiences because you can really learn a lot from them and that might open your eyes like it did for me.” (56:54-57:55)LinksConnect with Tytti:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7szJmP7QcG0nRKxlmkb0iAhttps://www.instagram.com/travelingfinnishgirl/Schedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners:http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Connect with host Rosanna Gill:Instagram: @BreakingLabelsPodcast // @rosanna.e.gillEmail: rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.comPodcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

Are you on a healing journey? Well, Deborah Driggs is too. While you may know her as a Playboy Playmate, there is so much more to Deb than her appearance in the centerfold of the March 1990 Playboy issue. She has also had a career in acting, achieved the Top 5% in her industry as a member of the Million Dollar Roundtable, and, more recently, has dedicated herself to writing a tell-all memoir, in which she hopes to give readers an honest glimpse into her life’s journey.After getting a divorce at the age of 40, Deb explains that she found herself feeling lost. How had she gone from actress, homecoming queen, and model to a mom of three kids, who barely had enough time to squeeze a shower into her daily routine? This realization prompted Deb to reevaluate her priorities and start her own program of total immersion in healing. In November of 2020, Deb created two lists for herself: one list of things she would remove from her routine and one list of things she would add to bring more intention and reflection into her life. She plans to follow this program for a year, as she heals from past traumas and finds inner peace.Join host Rosanna Gill on this week’s episode of Breaking Labels for a fascinating conversation with Deborah Driggs about self-worth and self-discovery. Learn about the lessons Deb has taken from the entertainment industry, why Deb defies the label of “gold digger” she has so often been assigned, and how Deb is incorporating simplicity into her daily life to find a sense of joy and healing.  Quotes• “That’s how I built my business. I built it with nothing. And when I say with nothing, I mean with my phone book, my Roladex, my contacts, and my perseverance and hustle.” (11:22-11:40)• “I laugh about the fact that people call me a gold digger because…I get very uncomfortable with gifts. I’m one of those people where it makes me uncomfortable, it’s not my love language. I’m more about touch, and I like to take trips and adventure….But if somebody gives me a really expensive piece of jewelry, it’s really odd to me and it doesn’t feel authentic for me.” (51:22-52:02)• “That’s how I feel now – I want simple. I don’t need to buy a pair of shoes to feel good, I already feel good. I don’t need to buy some designer coat to feel good, I already feel good. And I think that when I started to make money, then I was filling that hole of, ‘Oh, now I can feel really good about myself and dress better and wear better shoes,’ but really I’m still me. It didn’t change a darn thing! I’m still me, and it really made me realize, I have to fix internally, not externally what’s going on.” (54:32-55:11)• “On November 30, 2020, I woke up at two in the morning, and I started writing on my whiteboard, and I started to realize that there was a pattern, and I needed to stop it now. And how am I going to stop the pattern? Number one, you have to recognize that there’s something that needs to change. And then number two...you have to make a program for yourself. And everybody’s program is going to look different. For me, this is what I need to do a dive deep into my soul, into my purpose, into what I believe.” (58:29-59:09)• “I think that we all go through these really tough times, but we never really take the time to heal from anything. We think we’re over it, but we’re not, or at least I’m not! I can just tell you, I have been through some really tough times in my life, and because I needed to move on or I needed to work, I never really took the time to heal from a lot of those things.” (1:03:35-1:03:58)• “I didn’t get this far to not give it back. I didn’t have all these experiences to hold onto them. I have to share them to really have them be worth something! I didn't go through all this mud and all this quicksand to not share what not to do.” (1:11:28-1:11:46)LinksConnect with Deborah:https://deborahdriggs.com/https://www.facebook.com/DeborahDriggsOfficial/https://www.instagram.com/deborahdriggs/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahdriggs/Schedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners:http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Connect with host Rosanna Gill:Instagram: @BreakingLabelsPodcast // @rosanna.e.gillEmail: rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.comPodcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing

In this bonus episode Rosanna walks you through an exercise meant to not only heal relationship wounds but also empower you to set boundaries and incorporate the lessons from the exercise in your day to day life.  Use this exercise for any relationship, be it a family member, partner, friend, or even boss.  And if you do the exercise, let us know what your experience is by emailing us at Rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.com Schedule a consultation for aligners with Candid and get $250 off your aligners:http://cnd.co/v/rosanna_2Connect with host Rosanna Gill:Instagram: @BreakingLabelsPodcast // @rosanna.e.gillEmail: rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.com

Six years ago, Roshanda Pratt’s life was upended after she, her husband and her kids experienced a home invasion. And although it may surprise you, this event actually changed her life for the better. It wasn’t until Roshanda quite literally had a gun pointed at her head that she realized she wanted to leave a larger legacy behind, she wasn’t fully present in her life, and she had never discovered who she truly was. This home invasion ultimately inspired Roshanda to start a journey of uncovering her true self. She learned how to wholeheartedly embrace her big personality, her voice, and her visibility. Now, Roshanda helps entrepreneurs and organizations display their authentic and unique identities through the power of storytelling and live video.Tune into this week’s episode of Breaking Labels for a conversation with Roshanda “The Rosho Live” Pratt about breaking out of labels and creating your own blueprint for growth and success. Learn about the most powerful experiences Roshanda has had as a coach, why your Facebook page is your personal version of CBS Headquarters, and why truly meeting yourself for the first time is the most important step towards full-fledged visibility. Quotes• “This is the question I asked myself: if this was it, and he killed us, what would be said specifically about my life? What legacy did I leave? What impact did I have? What was I really doing with my life? And up until that point, I can tell you I wasn’t doing anything significant. I wasn’t doing anything that was breaking labels. I was treating my business like a hobby, I was barely showing up for myself….I had not even fully discovered, I believe, who I was or the full potential of who I was.” (15:05-15:44)• “I decided that if this is how I’ve been made – I’m fearfully and wonderfully made – that I’m going to be fearfully and wonderfully me. That’s it. And up until that point, I wasn’t….That home invasion actually was a gift to me because it sparked something on the inside that said, ‘Wait a second, I can’t continue life like this because I almost lost it.’ Life becomes real when you have a gun pointed at your head….If life is a gift, then every day I have to be present.” (17:22-18:08)• “As women especially, we want to be all of the things in one day instead of over the course of our life.” (22:42-22:50)• “The first thing about visibility: it starts on the inside. Visibility is an inside job.” (25:03-25:08)• “I started my company, and I started this whole message really for people who are like me at the beginning stages or the middle stages and just need someone to be there to say, ‘No, your voice matters. We need you. You’re significant. You’re the solution. You’re the one we’ve been waiting for.’ That’s why I started it.” (30:27-30:27)LinksConnect with Roshanda:https://www.therosholive.com/https://www.instagram.com/therosholive/https://www.facebook.com/therosholiveBuy Roshanda’s most recent book, Visibility is Power: Discover the Power of Being Seen and HeardConnect with host Rosanna Gill:Instagram: @BreakingLabelsPodcast // @rosanna.e.gillEmail: rosanna@breakinglabelspodcast.comPodcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing