Rise, Heal, and Grow Podcast with
Leah M. Hill

In this empowering episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow with Leah M. Hill, Leah sits down with Dr. Carmela Mancini, board-certified Internal Medicine physician and founder of a concierge primary care practice, alongside Stephanie Cameron, Patient Care Coordinator, for an honest conversation about redefining healthcare through compassion, prevention, and partnership. Together, they explore the realities of menopause, healthy aging, hormone health, and the importance of advocating for yourself in today’s healthcare system. Dr. Mancini shares why feeling heard is often the first step toward healing, while Stephanie offers a unique perspective on how personalized patient care can transform lives. Whether you’re navigating midlife changes, searching for answers, or simply looking to optimize your health and longevity, this episode is filled with practical insights, hope, and encouragement to help you rise, heal, and thrive at every stage of life.

Meaghan Moraes Gerzon joins Leah M. Hill for a deeply personal conversation about identity, grief, healing, and the courage to become who you truly are. After experiencing a life-changing year marked by new motherhood, postpartum depression, the unexpected loss of her mother, and the loss of her corporate career, Meaghan found herself asking one transformative question: Who am I without the titles I’ve relied on? In this inspiring episode, she shares how that journey led her to create OwnPerson Leadership Coaching & Branding, helping women build authentic personal brands rooted in their lived experiences rather than expectations. Together, Leah and Meaghan explore what it means to rise after loss, heal through authenticity, and step confidently into the next chapter of life with purpose and power.

In this episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow with Leah M. Hill, Leah sits down with author and former pastor Ann Goltz for a powerful conversation about identity, faith, patriarchy, healing, and the courage to reclaim your own voice. Ann shares her deeply personal journey from serving as a parish pastor whose ministry was ultimately undermined by misogyny, to searching for answers about family and womanhood, encountering the seductive promises of the Quiverfull movement, and eventually recognizing the damaging realities beneath those promises. Her debut novel, Virtuous Women, grew from that journey and explores the painful price women can pay when they are given no choice but to be “good” or “virtuous.” Together, Leah and Ann explore what it means to release identities imposed by others, create a life that feels authentic, and embrace the truth that sometimes there are no easy answers—but there is always grace, and no one else gets to decide who you are.

In this inspiring episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow with Leah M. Hill, award-winning children’s author and educator Carolyn Watkins shares the heart behind her mission to help children discover kindness, courage, confidence, and resilience through the power of storytelling. Drawing from her years as an elementary teacher and special education consultant, Carolyn reflects on the lifelong influence of her mother, the lessons she’s learned from the children she’s served, and why she believes healing begins when every child feels seen, valued, and understood. Together, Leah and Carolyn explore how small moments of compassion can shape a child’s future, the vital partnership between parents and educators, and the lasting legacy we create through love, encouragement, and hope. This uplifting conversation will inspire anyone who believes that one caring adult—or one meaningful story—can change a life.

In this inspiring conversation, Leah M. Hill sits down with Jessamyn Anderson, founder of Root to Rise Creative and creator of Girl and a Bike, to explore what it truly means to grow into the life you’re meant to live. Jessamyn shares her journey of rediscovering purpose after more than two decades in business, navigating anxiety, menopause, and personal wellness challenges, and finding healing through movement, nature, and meaningful work. Together, Leah and Jessamyn discuss why growth is rarely linear, how authenticity creates lasting transformation, and the powerful ripple effect that happens when we support the people and organizations dedicated to helping others. Whether you’re navigating a life transition, seeking greater alignment, or looking for encouragement to trust your own path, this episode offers heartfelt wisdom, hope, and practical inspiration to help you rise, heal, and grow.

On this heartfelt episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow with Leah M. Hill, Leah sits down with Cyndie Morgan, the award-winning creator and host of insPAWed, to explore the extraordinary ways animals can shape our healing, purpose, and life’s direction. What began as an unexplainable bond with her beloved dog, Nigel, became the inspiration for a storytelling platform that celebrates the profound impact animals have on the human spirit. Together, Leah and Cyndie discuss how love can evolve into purpose, why healing often arrives through quiet presence rather than words, and how our relationships with animals can reveal unexpected paths of transformation. This uplifting conversation invites listeners to reflect on the animals who have touched their own lives and discover the powerful lessons, hope, and purpose they may have left behind.

When life falls apart, could it actually be the beginning of becoming who you were always meant to be? In this inspiring episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow, Leah M. Hill sits down with nervous system chiropractor, speaker, and intuitive healer Dr. Colleen Norris to explore her remarkable journey from devastating loss and debilitating anxiety to profound healing, purpose, and self-trust. After the end of an 18-year marriage left her questioning everything she once believed gave her security, Dr. Norris discovered that true healing begins when we stop searching for safety outside ourselves and start cultivating it from within. Together, Leah and Dr. Norris discuss navigating life’s biggest transitions, healing the nervous system, releasing survival patterns, embracing spiritual growth, and finding the courage to come home to your authentic self. This heartfelt conversation offers hope, practical wisdom, and a powerful reminder that our greatest challenges often become the doorway to our greatest transformation.

On this inspiring episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow, Leah M. Hill welcomes Lorraine Connell, founder of Speak Boldly, and Karen Butz Webb, one of the movement’s courageous storytellers, for a heartfelt conversation about the life-changing power of finding your voice. Together, they explore how storytelling becomes a pathway to healing, why courage always comes before confidence, and how sharing our authentic experiences creates deeper connection and community. Whether you’ve ever questioned whether your story matters or felt afraid to take up space, this conversation will remind you that your voice has value, your experiences matter, and healing often begins the moment you stop hiding.

In this inspiring episode of Rise, Heal, and Grow, Leah M. Hill sits down with author, songwriter, playwright, and performer Ralph Tufo to explore how creativity, kindness, and courage can transform lives. From the serendipitous moment that sparked his beloved Seemore the Seagull children’s book series to writing musicals that teach acceptance, inclusion, and anti-bullying, Ralph shares how his passion for storytelling has become a powerful force for connection and healing. Together, Leah and Ralph discuss the importance of finding your voice, choosing courage over perfection, and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. This heartfelt conversation is a reminder that every story matters—and that the way we make others feel can leave a lasting impact.

In this deeply reflective conversation, Leah M. Hill sits down with sociologist, educator, and author Ivy George to explore the powerful journey behind her memoir, Blind Sight. From growing up in India and resisting an arranged marriage to emigrating to the United States in search of freedom, Ivy shares how culture, patriarchy, migration, family, and belonging shaped her understanding of identity and self-worth. Together, Leah and Ivy examine the complexities of personal freedom, the hidden influence of systemic oppression, and the surprising lessons that emerge when we return to the stories and places we once tried to leave behind. This episode is a moving exploration of resilience, connection, and the courage to reclaim one’s life in a world that often asks us to surrender it.

What if the greatest barrier to healing isn’t addiction—but shame? In this deeply honest conversation, Leah M. Hill sits down with attorney, author, and recovery advocate Gail Brenner Nastasia to explore her remarkable journey from addiction and profound loneliness to twenty years of recovery, purpose, and hope. Together, they unpack why the things we often reach for to numb our pain can actually deepen our isolation, and how freedom begins when we realize there is nothing inherently wrong with us. Gail shares powerful insights on living clean, overcoming shame, finding authentic connection through “The Third Room,” and discovering a life that is not merely sober, but truly transformed. This episode is an invitation to rise above self-condemnation, embrace healing, and believe that lasting freedom is possible.