The Jess Berry Podcast: Stories of Resilience, Leadership & Overcoming Adversity

How do you heal from childhood trauma, break free from survival mode, and rebuild your confidence after life's hardest moments?
In this powerful episode, I sit down with trauma-informed coach, author, speaker, and founder of Moyo Wellness Therapy, Vivian Moyo, to explore what it really takes to heal emotionally and create a life rooted in self-worth rather than survival.
Vivian shares her personal journey of overcoming childhood trauma, the inspiration behind her book The Invisible Girl: Breaking the Silence of Trauma, and the practical tools she now teaches to help others regulate their nervous systems, build emotional resilience, and rediscover their identity.
Whether you're a leader navigating pressure, an entrepreneur facing burnout, or someone committed to personal growth and self-development, this conversation offers practical insights and hope for anyone ready to move from merely surviving to truly thriving.
In this episode, you'll learn:• How childhood trauma influences adult relationships, leadership, and decision-making• The signs you're living in survival mode—and how to break free• Why nervous system regulation is essential for emotional resilience• How to rebuild self-confidence and self-worth after adversity• Practical steps to begin your healing journey• How healing yourself can transform the way you lead, live, and serve others
If you're passionate about leadership, mindset, emotional intelligence, resilience, mental wellness, and personal development, this episode is for you.
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement today.
Connect with Vivian Moyo:
Website: https://moyowellnesstherapy.com

Book — The Invisible Girl: Breaking the Silence of Trauma: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GW872QG7

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/76edyttlLES02qLHBdHrTH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivianmoyowellness

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoyoWellnessTherapy

Email: moyowellnesstherapy@gmail.com

Can Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu be a tool for healing? In this resilience podcast interview, BJJ black belt and Netflix fight coordinator Ashley Laiko shares how jiu-jitsu became part of her own healing journey, and how it helps abuse survivors build confidence, strength, and resilience.
If you're a woman who wants to try martial arts but feels intimidated by a male-dominated gym, this one's for you. As a fellow BJJ practitioner and fighter, I loved getting real with Ashley about the challenges women face in the BJJ community and what it takes to create safer, more inclusive spaces for women and children.
Ashley has more than 13 years of competition experience and is passionate about empowering survivors through martial arts and making the mat a safer place for everyone.
In this episode:
How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu supports healing after abuse

Building confidence and resilience on and off the mat

The challenges women face in a male-dominated sport

Where to start if martial arts feels intimidating

Creating safer, more inclusive gyms for women and kids

Connect with Ashley:https://www.instagram.com/ashley_laiko
If you or someone you love is experiencing abuse, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7: call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

Have you ever felt alone after leaving the military? In this resilience podcast interview, USMC veteran Jmach, founder and host of the Jmach Podcast, opens up about his own struggles after military service and how he's building a place where veterans can be heard, understood, and supported.
Transitioning out of the military brings challenges most people never see. As a fellow veteran, I know that firsthand. Jmach and I talk about what it takes to find community, open up about the hard stuff, and lead others through it, so no veteran has to face life after the uniform alone.
This is a conversation about emotional resilience, vulnerability, connection, and the courage it takes to ask for support.
In this episode:
The hidden struggles of military-to-civilian transition

Why isolation hits so many veterans after service

How Jmach turned his own experience into a platform for others

What real community and connection look like for veterans

Connect with Jmach:
YouTube: youtube.com/@jmachpodcast
Instagram: instagram.com/jmachpodcast
Website: jmachpodcast.org

What does it really take to move from simply surviving to truly thriving—and to build a life rooted in a strong sense of identity and wholeness?
In this episode, we sit down with Sara Kelsey to talk about navigating the hard seasons of life, including the challenges of chronic illness, sobriety, parenting, and the physical and spiritual work of becoming stronger. Sara shares how these experiences have shaped her resilience, strengthened her faith, and helped her discover an inner strength she didn’t always know she had.
We’ll explore what it looks like to rebuild yourself when life gets difficult, how strength training can shape more than just your body, and how writing and storytelling can help us make sense of our experiences and connect more deeply with who we are.
Sara Kelsey is the founder of Booked By Sara, where she helps entrepreneurs and leaders share meaningful stories through podcast and media opportunities. Her work is deeply shaped by lived experience, resilience, and faith.
Connect with Sara:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarafitover40?stkn=YW8wODF2NnpkYWI4
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-kelsey-35a472b1/

What if the discomfort you feel as a leader isn’t a problem—but an opportunity?
Have you ever found yourself questioning your leadership, feeling uncomfortable with the responsibility, or wondering how you’re supposed to take the next step? What if you could take that discomfort and turn it into something powerful?
This week, we sit down with Sasha R. Simmons, a leadership keynote speaker, writer, and founder of Witavation™, to explore a different way of thinking about leadership, growth, and transformation.
With more than 13 years of experience in communications, leadership development, and organizational strategy, Sasha knows what it takes to connect people, purpose, and performance. In this conversation, she shares what Witavation™ is, why discomfort can be an important part of becoming a better leader, and how we can learn to use those challenging moments to create meaningful growth.
Whether you’re leading a company, leading a team, stepping into a leadership role, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on what it really means to lead.
So, are you ready to get uncomfortable?
Connect with Sasha: http://witavation.com