Advertise on podcast: Honest Conversations with Liz Bakey

Self-Sabotage - we all do it. At some point in our lives, we stand in the way of our success. We don't set out to derail our path, but subconsciously, there is an underlying force that prevents us from moving forward. So, what is self-sabotage, and how do we defeat it? Listen, and hopefully, you will heal the mindset that keeps you stuck.

Are you a person that feels everything so heavily? Are you understanding and compassionate? Can you stand in someone else's shoes? Feel their sadness, their suffering, their joy? Do you feel as if you handle conflict in a way that others don't understand? Is your solution to love more, forgive more? If so, that makes you an empath. Being an empath comes with its challenges. Our choices are usually misunderstood. In this episode, my sister, Kimmy Bakey, and I discuss the conflicts, decisions, and real truths about having empathy in a world where humans needs to be right, have power, or dismiss feelings. 

We are frequently told to trust in ourselves. Trust your gut. Trust your instincts. Trust in your intuition.  Almost every success story talks about this knowing within, the part of the self that knows what it's called to do, an answer to a decision, or a path to choose. What if we can hear the voice? What if we know, but don't know how to trust or follow through with that knowing? What do we do then? If you're wondering how, just as I was, then this episode is for you. How do we trust in our intuition? I have a theory. This episode discusses what needs to be done in order to follow through, in order to trust in our gift of knowing, in our own answers within.

Why do people love New Year's Resolutions? Why do we get so hype for, "New Year New Me?"  Honestly, I am not a fan of the New Year New Me mindset, however I am aware that I love the energy behind it. I think it's possible to change at any given moment. Why do we wait for a brand new year when we can do it at any point? I'm over it, and quite frankly, I am over myself and my own notorious behavior of giving up.  I fell off in 2022, so when 2023 came around, I wanted to be hype like everyone else, but how could I sustain that energy all year in order to avoid falling off?  So, I observed myself at my best and at my worst, and I came up with three key elements to creating a "New Year New Me" energy in my everyday life. 

How do you find the courage to discuss a topic that weighs so heavily? In this episode, I sit down with Michele Kidd, a mother and educator, as she courageously tells us about the loss of her son, Nathaniel, to suicide. Michele has created Nate’s Story, a non-profit organization, in order to honor Nate’s life and create awareness on mental health and suicide. This episode peels back the layers of  depression as Michele reveals her insight and perspective, unfortunately, through her experience with Nate. Nate’s Story has developed the hashtag, #keeptalking, and Michele leads by example as she tells us Nate’s childhood symptoms and signals, the generational gaps in parenting, and her proactive path for having the conversations with our younger generations. Michele wants people to know that it doesn’t need to reach the point of suicide, instead we can give people the gift of awareness and understanding, along with strategies and skills, to help cope with depression, as well as erase the stigma surrounding it. Michele, thank you. #keeptalking Nate's Story - You Tube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNQTd8X1WgCDAlB6rWN5aAg Nate's Story - Website https://natestory.com/ Nate's Story - Facebook https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Fgroups%2F283007262690873%2F%3Fref%3Dshare&data=05%7C01%7C%7C83cab7ea81f24b49aef408da3c10f890%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637888340821311021%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=eRL%2FrSr2YFuA1cw0K8f6FJfEBM65P5vOLqJw6JOXpuA%3D&reserved=0

After many life chats with business owner and brother, Jim Bakey, we finally sat down to record. Jim is the owner and founder of Bakey’s Custom Woodwork. Through the course of his work, he has fine-tuned his competitive nature into a drive that promotes self-growth and overall happiness. Jim talks about the everyday need to reprogram one’s thoughts in order to make the necessary changes for success. He notes that success is relative to the individual, and that your journey is just that, yours. Jim says that it’s time to think differently and face the fears, because failing is ok, but wasting potential is unacceptable. If you’re looking for the conversation to light the fire underneath you, this is it. 

Have you ever witnessed someone step into his or her greatness? It's a true-glow up, from the inside out. The outside appearance becomes a reflection of the inner self, and you're left feeling inspired in his or her presence. That's how I felt when having this conversation with business owner, Ariel Brigandi. Ariel was one of the pioneers for women in this area, opening her own barber shop, Brigandi's Barbering Company, at the young age of 26.  Her vision to create a  work environment that centers on valuing customers and employees was designed  during her own journey to become the truest version of herself.  She speaks about the importance of living as your authentic self, leaving what no longer serves you, putting in the work, and developing self-awareness in order to create the changes necessary for your own life. Ariel's energy is contagious. You will surely want to step into your own light after listening to her story. @brigandisbarberingco @elizabethrosewriting

In Episode Nine, Liz mentions her, "Deathbed Philosophy."  Liz believes that if we look at our deathbed thoughts and the things that will haunt us in those days, we can create positive pathways in order to both live and die in accordance to our life goals. Most of us will seek peace. We will ask for forgiveness. We will have regrets. Liz says that if we know that these thoughts will consume us one day, then we need to move differently now in order to shift our deathbed thoughts.  Liz centers this podcast on the topic of forgiveness - Why we should forgive and what it will do for us and the others around us.  She talks about forgiving, even when we really don't want to, in order to meet the ultimate goal - of resting peacefully both daily and forever.  The Skin Deep 15% discount code - click the link below http://theskindeep.refr.cc/honestconversations

Part Two of Kimmy Bakey's survival story exposes the horrors that exist on the streets of Camden. Through her unbelievable yet truthful accounts, Kimmy reveals the explicit details about her numerous life and death encounters and discloses the violence  that she has faced during her years of homelessness. These stories have yet to be told to the public. Through her survival, Kimmy has found the courage to speak out, bring awareness, and share her perspective on faith.

Liz sits down with her sister, Kimberly Bakey, for an emotional, yet powerful story of survival. Kimmy finally gets the opportunity to share an overview of her experiences with addiction, homelessness, traumas, abuse, and ultimately, survival. Part one of Kimmy's saga reminds us that it's never too late. She speaks on divine intervention, and her unwavering faith in God, as she found her way out of the streets of Camden and back to her family. 

With the everchanging society that we live in,  our fathers are being challenged to adapt to the 2021 way of parenting.  On this episode with professional fighter and gym owner, PJ Sweda, we discuss the need for men to reshape fatherhood through self-reflection and communication, in order to bridge the gap between old school and new school fatherhood. PJ lets the world know that being a real man requires doing the inner work in order to become the father that is needed in today's times.  The Skin Deep 15% off discount code - click the link below http://theskindeep.refr.cc/honestconversations

Social Media. Our reliance on social media is at an all time high. What messages are we absorbing through these apps?  Is social media asking us to look a certain way?  How does it contribute to our growing numbers of depression, and anxiety?  Is it time we step out of the box? Is it time we look at what's being fed to us, what we are posting, or what we are supporting?  Liz looks at Social Media through the lens of a woman in order to challenge and question the societal image that is being pressed upon us through social media.