The Lafaya Way Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Some stories sound too unbelievable to be real.

Imagine this: you’re a respected immigration lawyer… living the life you worked incredibly hard to build. Then one day, at LAX airport, a dozen armed federal agents arrest you for a crime you didn’t commit.

That’s exactly what happened to Kelly Giles.

What followed wasn’t just a legal battle—it was a journey through prison, trauma, identity, and ultimately deep healing. Through poetry, storytelling, and raw honesty, Kelly began unraveling a lifetime of buried pain—from adoption and abandonment to betrayal and injustice.

And somewhere along the way, something powerful happened.

The very experiences that could have broken him became the foundation for helping others heal.

In this conversation, we explore how Kelly learned to play the hand life dealt him—even when the cards looked impossible. From federal prison to poetry workshops, foster youth advocacy, and a memoir now being adapted for film, Kelly’s story reminds us that even our darkest chapters can lead to unexpected purpose. 

Key Takeaways Pain can become purpose.
Kelly began writing poetry simply to survive emotionally. What started as “therapy on paper” eventually became published work that now helps others process their own trauma.

 The stories we tell ourselves shape our lives.
For years, Kelly operated from unconscious survival identities formed in childhood. Through reflection and writing, he began to understand—and rewrite—those narratives.

 Sometimes the breaking point becomes the turning point.
His arrest and prison sentence forced Kelly to confront buried trauma and reassess everything he believed about himself and the world.

 Healing rarely happens alone.
Throughout his journey, Kelly encountered “angels”—people who supported him when he couldn’t support himself. From a lawyer who believed in his innocence to a therapist who walked with him for years.

 Your story may heal people you’ll never meet.
Kelly once received a message from a doctor in Brazil who reads his poetry to patients facing serious illness. Proof that sharing your truth can ripple far beyond your expectations.

 Favourite Quote“Until you learn how to love and forgive yourself, you’re already in hell.”

Find Out More & Connect with Kelly GilesKelly Giles is a former U.S. immigration attorney turned author, poet, and advocate. After a life-altering wrongful conviction connected to a colleague’s fraud case, Kelly spent 10 months in federal prison—an experience that became the heart of his powerful memoir Killing Justice.

Through writing, poetry, and storytelling, Kelly explores themes of trauma, identity, justice, and healing. Today he volunteers with foster youth, participates in poetry and hip-hop workshops supporting creative expression, and continues to use his voice to raise awareness about mental health and the criminal justice system.

His memoir Killing Justice is the first in a planned trilogy and is currently being adapted for film.

Website
 http://www.kellygiles.com

Author & Poetry Website
 http://www.kgstoryteller.com/

Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyab303/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077323377913
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-giles-0260269/
X: https://x.com/kellyab33

Books
Killing Justice
https://books2read.com/killingjustice

Poetry Collection
https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kellyab3/

If you're interested in learning more about playing the hand you're dealt in this mental game of life, you'll love my book Poker: A Woman's Game.

To download your free chapter today, visit:
 https://lafayawaypoker.com

There are some conversations that stay with you long after the microphones are turned off.

This was one of them.

When Andrea L. Wehlann sat down with me, she didn’t just share her résumé as a bestselling author, award-winning poet, Reiki Master, and yogi. She shared the parts of her story that most people would never dare to say out loud.

Sexual assault. Multiple miscarriages. The loss of a child.

And yet… what stood out most wasn’t the darkness.

It was her unwavering peace.

Andrea said something that stopped me in my tracks:

“The only peace you’ll find at the top of the mountaintop is the peace you bring there.”

And that right there? That’s The Lafaya Way.

Because life isn’t about escaping the storm.
It’s about mastering yourself in the storm.

Andrea’s journey is a masterclass in alchemy — taking unimaginable pain and transmuting it into clarity, love, and purpose. In this episode, we talk about how to stop playing the victim of your story and start rewriting it.

And trust me — you’re going to want to lean in for this one.

Key Takeways

• Pain can become power — but only if you choose to use it.
  Your experiences aren’t happening to you. They can be happening for you.

• Your mind is not always telling the truth.
  Andrea teaches that the mind speaks loudest and first — but it’s not always aligned with love. You can retrain it.

• It’s either love or fear.
  Every decision. Every reaction. Every story you tell yourself. Love or fear.

• Feel your feelings — don’t suppress them.
  Sad? Be sad. Angry? Be angry. Emotions are information. They’re your compass, not your enemy.

• Writing is a powerful healing tool.
  When you put your pain on paper, you create space in your mind for compassion, clarity, and peace.

• You are not what happened to you.
  You are who you choose to become because of it.

• Forgiveness is freedom.
  When you understand we’re all interconnected, forgiveness becomes less about excusing behavior and more about reclaiming your peace.

Favorite Quote

“The mindset creates the story of ‘I’m a victim’ — but it’s the same mind that can create a love story out of anything that’s ever happened to you.”

Mic. Drop.

That’s the mental game right there.

About Andrea

Andrea L. Wehlann is a bestselling spiritual non-fiction author, award-winning poet, Reiki Master, and yogi based in Ontario, Canada. Through her books and transformational coaching, she helps women turn profound adversity into inner peace and purpose.

Her books include:

• No Matter How Dark the Stain – A poetry collection for women navigating pain

• Deeper Days – A daily practice for calm amidst chaos

• Stillness in the Storm – A guided yoga and spiritual healing journal

She also offers a Transformational Coaching Call, a 60-minute deep dive designed to uncover what’s holding you back and create a personalized roadmap for healing.

 Special Offer for The Lafaya Way listeners:
Get 25% off a Transformational Coaching Call using code PODCAST25 at checkout here https://ganga-moon-yoga.square.site/ -> Book Now

 Website: https://ganga-moon-yoga.square.site/
 Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/andrealwehlann
 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-l-wehlann-a6b03b187/
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrea_l_wehlann/
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrea.l.wehlann/
 X: https://x.com/Gangamoonyoga
 Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/andrea-lynn-wehlann-14668342646

Life isn’t about the hand you’re dealt — it’s about how you play it. 

...

If you’re interested in learning more about playing the hand you’re dealt in this mental game of life, you’ll love my book Poker: A Woman’s Game. To download your free chapter today, visit https://lafayawaypoker.com​

Sometimes life hands you a storm so fierce you don’t know how you’ll stand—but Diane Woodford shows us that when you anchor yourself in love, peace can carry you through.

In this conversation, Diane shares the incredible story of her husband’s near-death battle during COVID, the 80 long days in ICU, and how she drew on faith, peace, and community support to hold the line for love when everything around her screamed despair.

From moving around the globe as “One Love Ambassadors” with her husband Charles, to learning the hard and holy work of forgiveness, Diane opens her heart with stories that remind us: the light never goes out, even in the darkest valley.

Key Takeaways

• Love is not just a feeling—it’s an action, a calling, and a way of life.

• Community is everything: it really does take a village to heal and keep going.

• Forgiveness isn’t a one-time event but a process that frees you to keep moving forward.

• When you pour out love, you also prepare yourself to receive love when you need it most.

• There is peace—and even joy—on the other side of trauma if you dare to walk through it.

Favourite Quote
“Always in your darkest moments, there will be light bearers. And that’s what we do—we carry the light. Even when it flickers, it never goes out.” – Diane Woodford

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:43 Meet Diane Woodford

01:37 The One Love Ambassadors' Mission

02:39 Spreading Love Around the World

03:56 Recent Projects and Experiences

07:33 Charles' Illness and the Birth of 'Aftercare'

09:50 Navigating the Healthcare System

16:07 The Power of Forgiveness

18:16 Living What You Preach

18:25 The Power of Forgiveness

18:38 Support Systems and Faith

18:57 Receiving and Giving

19:25 Personal Reflections on Forgiveness

22:30 The Miracle Man

23:45 Creating a Healing Space

24:25 The Journey of Writing a Book

26:05 The Role of Anka Herrmann

30:43 Global Healing Work

31:47 Book Release and Meditation Gift

34:50 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Find out more and connect with Diane
Diane Woodford is a retired critical healthcare professional and educator, published author, speaker, philanthropist, co-host of Love Drops Podcast, and world traveler. With a deep commitment to serving humanity, Diane focuses on mentoring young women and raising the energy wherever she goes.

 Website: paths2transformation.com
 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diane-woodford-7708a435
 Free Gift: After Care – Finding Peace Beyond Trauma

If you're interested in learning more about playing the hand you’re dealt in this mental game of life, you'll love my book Poker: A Woman's Game. To download your free chapter today, visit https://lafayawaypoker.com

Sometimes life deals you the most unexpected hand. For Sasha, that hand showed up at 55 years old, in the middle of a networking event in New York City. A deck of cards, a casual introduction to poker—and suddenly, her entire world shifted.

She went from writing for Wall Street to sneaking into underground cash games, eventually packing up her life and moving to Las Vegas at 63 to pursue poker professionally. Along the way, Sasha faced down self-doubt, age bias, and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated game.

What struck me most in our conversation wasn’t just her resilience, but her wisdom. Sasha doesn’t just play poker—she studies it like a language, documents it like a memoirist, and teaches it as a mental game coach. Her insights about “pain minimization,” awareness as a superpower, and learning to own her presence at the table are lessons that reach far beyond poker.

This episode will remind you that it’s never too late to start something new, claim your seat at the table, and play with swagger—no matter who’s sitting across from you.

Key Takeaways

• Why poker “hit Sasha’s brain like heroin” and how she followed that calling later in life.

• The gritty romance of New York’s underground poker scene—and what it taught her about courage.

• How imposter syndrome shows up differently for women, and why entitlement plays such a role.

• Sasha’s mental game strategies: awareness, meditation, breathwork, and “pain minimization.”

“My superpower is my awareness. I take it for granted, but it’s what allows me to stay grounded, minimize pain, and play the long game.” – Sasha

Find out more and connect with Sasha

A truly magical accident, poker beckoned to Sasha later in life. She cut her teeth on New York's rough-and-tumble underground cash scene, and moved to Vegas in 2020 to pursue a pro path. Her poker book, The Total Poker Manual, published by Weldon Owen, holds the beginner's hand and is visually singular. Today she plays, coaches, and writes about the game.

🌐 Website: www.suttonstories.com
🟦 Bluesky: @pokerforgirls.bsky.social

👉 If you're interested in learning more about playing the hand you’re dealt in this mental game of life, you'll love my book Poker: A Woman's Game. To download your free chapter today, visit https://lafayawaypoker.com

When life keeps handing you closed doors, do you give up—or do you find a way to make a plan?

In this episode, I sit down with the radiant Chiyedza Nyahuye, lovingly known as African AI Auntie. Her story will pull you in: after earning prestigious degrees in the U.S., she returned to Zimbabwe only to be told she was “too educated” and applied for 700 jobs without a single interview. What looked like failure became the foundation for her true calling—helping African students leapfrog traditional career struggles and thrive in the digital economy with AI skills and entrepreneurial courage.

You’ll hear how Chiyedza’s resilience, creativity, and deep respect for people shaped her mission. From reviving her mother’s rental business to tripling her sister’s spa income in five months to creating opportunities for young people against all odds—her story is a masterclass in turning setbacks into stepping stones.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a student, or someone navigating life’s curveballs, this conversation is packed with wisdom, heart, and inspiration.

Key Takeaways

• Never giving up pays off: Every “failure” in Chiyedza’s journey became an opening for transformation.

• Relationships are the real currency: From jobs to opportunities, it’s people who open doors.

• Education needs a reset: Degrees without skills no longer guarantee jobs—AI and entrepreneurship are the future.

• Selflessness creates success: Serving others generously often becomes the key to your own growth.

• Know when to be the student and when to be the teacher: Recognizing when to seek help is just as powerful as sharing wisdom.

Favorite Quote“Even with the cheerleaders we have around us, we need to also find ways to celebrate ourselves and thank ourselves for being who we are.” – Chiyedza Nyahuye

Find out more and connect with Chiyedza

Chiyedza Nyahuye (African AI Auntie) is on a mission to empower African students by equipping them with AI skills and tools to launch AI-powered businesses—while still in school. A daughter of Zimbabwean entrepreneurs, she blends global experience with a deep commitment to healing, empowerment, and treating every individual like royalty. She is a four-time international best-selling co-author, speaker, mentor, and change catalyst.

 Check out her new book: Global Degree, African Roots
 Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chiyedzanyahuye
 YouTube: African AI Auntie

If you're interested in learning more about playing the hand you’re dealt in this mental game of life, you'll love my book Poker A Woman's Game. To download your free chapter today, visit https://lafayawaypoker.com

When Alecia Tolver hung up her Army uniform after decades of service, she expected to simply swap it for a business suit and keep moving forward.

But life had other plans.

At the same time she was navigating the uncertainty of civilian life, she was growing her family—welcoming two babies, healing from loss, and redefining her purpose.

In this conversation, Alecia shares how she turned what could have been overwhelming chaos into a season of clarity, faith, and intentional living. Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes letting go of one chapter is the only way to fully embrace the next.

Key takeaways

• Lighten your load: Bringing “light” isn’t just about shining—it’s also about releasing burdens you were never meant to carry.

• Receive the help you prayed for: Support systems are only valuable if you allow yourself to lean on them.

• Clarity comes after release: You can’t fully step into the next season if you’re still holding onto the last one.

• You can’t be great at everything, all at once: Choosing your focus is an act of strength, not weakness.

• Perspective shapes the outcome: A “bad hand” can still win the game if you know how to play it.

Favourite quote
"I didn’t join the military to learn how to serve—I became a soldier because I was born to serve." — Alecia Tolver

Find out more and connect with Alecia Tolver
Once defined by obstacles, Alecia is now driven by transformation. As a woman of faith, wife, mother, US Army Veteran, author, mentor, coach, and change practitioner, she’s faced challenges that have deepened her resilience and compassion. Her mission is to inspire others to move from feeling challenged to living changed—turning challenges into catalysts for growth.

Connect with Alecia:

 LinkedIn

If you're interested in learning more about playing the hand you're dealt in this mental game of life, you'll love my book Poker: A Woman's Game. To download your free chapter today, visit https://lafayawaypoker.com

When the Silence Breaks: Turning Trauma into Purpose with Lisa Zarcone
She was just a little girl when the world around her started to unravel. Abuse. Neglect. A mother lost in mental illness. For years, Lisa Zarcone carried the weight of unspoken truths - until she decided to speak.
In this incredible conversation, Lisa opens up about the darkest parts of her childhood and how she not only survived them, but turned them into fuel for advocacy, healing, and hope. From writing her memoir The Unspoken Truth to becoming a national voice for survivors of child abuse, Lisa shows us what it really means to play a losing hand - and still come out winning.
Whether you’ve walked through your own trauma or are holding space for someone who has, this episode will leave you inspired, empowered, and reminded that your voice matters.
Key Takeaways:

• Why giving voice to pain can be the beginning of healing - not just for you, but for other
• The power of understanding the “why” behind generational abuse and mental illnes
• How to transform victimhood into advocacy
• Lisa’s journey from surviving to thriving - and using her platform to protect children and break cycles
• The importance of compassion, even for those who caused harm

 Favorite quote:
"When you walk the path of the very people who traumatized you, it gives you a different view of the whole situation." — Lisa Zarcone

Find out more and connect with Lisa Zarcone:
Lisa is the Massachusetts National Ambassador for NAASCA (National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse), a keynote speaker, author, mental health advocate, and survivor who uses her voice to uplift the voiceless. She’s also the author of two books:
The Unspoken Truth: A Memoir
The Book of Joann (a powerful look at mental illness and generational trauma)
Website: https://www.lisazarcone.net
Socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
And don’t forget…
If you're interested in learning more about playing the hand you're dealt in this mental game of life, you'll love my book Poker: A Woman's Game.
 To download your free chapter today, visit https://lafayawaypoker.com 

What if the very things you feared would break you… ended up healing you?

That’s the story of Daniel Hall—software genius, foster care survivor, adoptive dad of six, and someone who plays a hand many would’ve folded. When Daniel said yes to fostering children with trauma similar to his own, he didn’t just become a parent—he began rewriting his own story.

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Daniel opens up about the raw realities and unexpected joys of parenting through trauma, the healing power of honest reflection, and how forgiveness and communication became the lifelines that saved not only his kids but himself.

This one will move you, stretch your heart, and remind you what it means to show up for life, no matter the hand you’re dealt.

You'll hear

• How parenting children with trauma became Daniel’s mirror—and his medicine

• Why saying "yes" to fostering was the ultimate leap of trust in his wife’s wisdom

• The secret power of “What’s tomorrow? A new day.”

• How forgiveness and honest communication can shift even the most chaotic of moments

• The profound connection between healing others and healing ourselves

A favorite quote

“Chaos is such an unforgiving paradox. But if you can wield it and learn from it, you have the opportunity to help others—and in doing so, you forgive yourself.”

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:40 Daniel's Background and Career
02:36 Fostering Journey Begins
03:51 Challenges and Rewards of Fostering
05:51 Trust and Partnership in Parenting
09:19 Communication and Forgiveness
12:07 Honesty and Social Skills
16:49 Dealing with Tough Moments
18:44 Teaching Through Forgiveness and Communication
19:42 Encouraging Kids to Pursue Their Passions
20:19 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Balance
21:44 The Power of Forgiveness and Communication
24:10 Embracing a New Day
25:54 Navigating Emotions and Finding Balance
29:16 The Paradox of Chaos and Healing
33:42 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Daniel is a 5X bestselling nonfiction social media author, audio engineer, video editor, and proud #1 LinkedIn Platform Data Guru. He’s also a world-class AI song producer—and most importantly, a loving husband and adoptive dad of 7 who puts the HUMAN back in humanity.

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn: Daniel B. Hall

He’s generous with his wisdom, so feel free to reach out to pick his brain on video, audio production, book creation—or how to raise 6 kids and still smile about it.

If you're interested in learning more about playing the hand you're dealt in this mental game of life, you'll love my book Poker: A Woman's Game. To download your free chapter today, visit https://lafayawaypoker.com

When Christine Dziedzic was just 8 years old, quietly sitting in a cemetery office as her family fought over funeral arrangements, something life-changing happened: a stranger noticed her pain. He gave her crayons. He gave her dignity. He gave her a vision for her future.

That moment shaped her into the powerhouse she is today.

In this episode, Christine shares her unbelievable story: from a childhood spent in grief, to becoming a 36-year deathcare expert, to being literally run down by a client, and then rising up to build Bereavement AI, a revolutionary grief support tool changing how we experience death, comfort, and legacy.

This conversation is raw, heartfelt, and radically hopeful.

🎧 Key Takeaways:

• Why Christine left the traditional funeral industry behind - and how the pandemic pushed families to rethink grief

• How Bereavement AI is giving police officers, teachers, and families the right words during the worst moments

• The emotional and environmental costs of embalming, burial, and pressure-filled funerals

• Why “miss you much” became more than a phrase - it became a movement

• How Christine stays spiritually and emotionally centered, even through massive adversity

💬 Favorite Quote:
"The funeral industry has done sterile. People want something expressive now. They want to be seen."

✨ Find out more and connect with Christine Dziedzic:

Christine Dziedzic is the founder of Miss You Much, a grief-tech platform that combines Web3, virtual reality, and AI to support the bereavement journey.

She is the creator of Bereavement AI, a support tool trained specifically in grief, and has served the funeral industry for over three decades.

🔗 Website: missumuch.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christinedziedzic
Want access to Bereavement AI? Visit her site or request the QR code for free premium access.

And ...

If you're interested in learning more about playing the hand you’re dealt in this mental game of life, you'll love my book Poker: A Woman’s Game.
🎁 Download your free chapter today at https://lafayawaypoker.com

It started with being held back in first grade.

No one said she was stupid. No one had to. Sabrina told herself that - and carried that belief into adulthood.

And yet today, she’s a professional speaker, a co-author of an international bestseller, and the proud creator of a powerful networking group for introverts.

How? Through faith, fierce self-awareness, and a relentless commitment to practicing courage.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow Speechless co-author Sabrina Schottenhamel to talk about what it really takes to overcome fear and find your voice, even when your nervous system is screaming “No!”

Whether you’re introverted, anxious, or simply tired of playing small, Sabrina’s story will remind you that the hand you’re dealt doesn’t define you but how you play it absolutely does.

Key Takeaways:

• The pivotal moment when Sabrina realized massage was more than just a job - it was her first step toward confidence.

• How Toastmasters helped her turn insecurity into impact (and led her to become Speaker of the Year).

• The physical signs of anxiety introverts often experience, and how to calm your nervous system through intentional breathwork and breaks.

• Why stepping outside (literally!) can be the most strategic move during a networking event.

• How faith and prayer now guide her through life’s challenges and decisions.

Favorite Quote:

“There is no saber-tooth tiger here. It just feels like it.”

Find out more and connect with Sabrina:

Bio: Sabrina Schottenhamel is an Introverted Leader and Professional Speaker dedicated to helping others build humble confidence while prioritizing health. Her journey began in 2013 with Woodridge Toastmasters, where she overcame her fear of public speaking and won the 2015 Best Speaker of the Year Award.

Since then, Sabrina has delivered keynotes and workshops at colleges, universities, libraries, and professional organizations. She is a member of Engaging Speakers, a professional speaker network, and a co-author of Speechless: Giving the #Voiceless a Voice.

Her writing has been featured in Skin Inc., DaySpa, Fender Bender, OfficePRO, and Sparkle & Rise eMagazine.

🖥️ Website & Links:
https://linktr.ee/Sabrinaschottenhamel

👥 Networking for Introverts Monthly Call (Free to Join):
Register here

📱 Connect on Social:
Facebook
Be Touched Facebook Page
LinkedIn
Instagram @sabrina.schottenhamel

And ...

If you're interested in learning more about playing the hand your dealt in this mental game of life, you'll love my book Poker: A Woman's Game. To download your free chapter today, visit https://lafayawaypoker.com