Category: Thrive

Why Juneteenth Still Matters in 2025!

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

Imagine a world where history is a tapestry of untold stories, woven with the threads of courage, resilience, and truth. In the latest episode of Thrive by the Rising Muse, hosts Naty and Veda explore the significance of teaching real history. This journey not only honors the past but also shapes a more inclusive future.

“Juneteenth isn’t just about a moment in time. It’s about people known and unknown,” says Naty in the episode. The stories of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth are more than historical footnotes; they are powerful narratives that challenge us to see beyond the surface. By teaching real history, we ensure that these voices are heard, their struggles acknowledged, and their legacies preserved.

Healing Through Understanding: “Freedom came, but the trauma didn’t magically disappear,” Veda reminds us during the discussion. The scars of the past linger, and understanding history is a step towards healing. By acknowledging the pain and resilience of those who came before us, we create a space for empathy and growth. Teaching real history is not just about facts; it’s about fostering a deeper connection to our shared humanity.

“Teach your children about history. Real history,” urges Naty. In a world where misinformation can spread like wildfire, the responsibility to educate the next generation is more crucial than ever. By embracing the full spectrum of history, we empower young minds to think critically, challenge biases, and build a future rooted in equality and understanding.

As we reflect on the stories shared in this episode, let us commit to teaching real history with integrity and passion. By doing so, we honor the heroes who paved the way and inspire future generations to continue the fight for justice and unity.

Join us on this journey of discovery and empowerment. Subscribe to Thrive by the Rising Muse and be part of a community dedicated to truth, resilience, and hope. For this episode, click on the image below.

Balancing Work, Family, and Personal Goals: A Journey to Fulfillment

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment


In today’s fast-paced world, finding the right balance between work, family, and personal goals can feel like an elusive dream. But with intentional planning and a clear vision, it’s possible to create a fulfilling life that honors all aspects of who you are. This week on Thrive by The Rising Muse, we interviewed Rob Rolston, who gave us a great perspective on wealth.


The Art of Prioritization
“Success is different for everybody,” says Rob, a guest on our recent podcast episode. For him, success isn’t about flashy cars or material wealth; it’s about having the time and freedom to spend with family. This perspective highlights the importance of prioritizing what truly matters to you. By identifying your core values, you can make decisions that align with your long-term vision.


Communication is Key
Rob emphasizes the importance of open communication with his wife, stating, “Everything is discussed openly.” Whether it’s about work, parenting, or personal aspirations, having honest conversations ensures that both partners are on the same page. This transparency fosters a supportive environment where both individuals can pursue their goals without feeling isolated.


Embracing Flexibility
Life is unpredictable, and sometimes plans need to change. Rob shares how having various exit strategies in business allows him to pivot when necessary. This flexibility is equally important in personal life. By being adaptable, you can navigate challenges without losing sight of your goals.


The Power of Compounding
Rob’s journey underscores the power of starting early and the principle of compounding. Whether it’s investing in your career, relationships, or personal development, small consistent efforts can lead to significant growth over time. As Rob puts it, “It’s the same principle of eating an elephant. You only do it one bite at a time.”

Balancing work, family, and personal goals is a continuous journey that requires patience, communication, and adaptability. By staying true to your values and embracing flexibility, you can create a life that is both fulfilling and aligned with your vision. Remember, it’s not about achieving perfection but about making progress towards a life that resonates with your true self.

Robert Rolston was told his learning disabilities and mental health struggles would hold him back. But instead, he built a thriving property business, retired his parents, and gave his family a life most people only dream about.


Subscribe now to stay updated on more insights and stories that inspire a balanced and fulfilling life. Watch the full episode here.

Finding Hope and Healing: Navigating the Journey from Sexual Trauma

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

Healing from sexual trauma is a deeply personal journey that requires courage, support, and understanding. In our recent conversation on Thrive by The Rising Muse, with Tabitha Westbrook, a licensed trauma therapist and author, we explored the pathways to restoration and hope. Her insights offer a beacon of light for those seeking healing.

Understanding the Urgency:
Tabitha emphasizes the critical need to address sexuality after trauma. “People are realizing and reckoning with the harm they’ve experienced,” she notes, highlighting the importance of movements like Me Too in creating safe spaces for survivors to share their stories.

The Role of Faith and Community:
Faith and community play pivotal roles in the healing process. Tabitha shares, “God is also a God of how and practicality,” underscoring the importance of practical steps and community support in the journey towards healing.


Building Healthy Relationships:
A key aspect of healing is learning to build healthy relationships. Tabitha advises, “Prioritize friendship first, and good things will come from that.” Understanding and respecting boundaries are essential in fostering connections that support healing.

Healing from sexual trauma is not a linear path, but with faith, community, and a commitment to personal growth, it is possible to find hope and restoration. As Tabitha reminds us, “The same God that brought me out, He can bring you out.”
Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT-S, LCMHC-QS, LPC-S, is a licensed therapist who helps people who have messy, funky pasts (and sometimes messy, funky presents) live amazing, empowered lives today. In addition to being a licensed counselor and supervisor, Tabitha is an EMDR Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and Certified Christian Trauma Care Provider. 

She’s the Founder & CEO of The Journey and The Process, a private practice with offices in North Carolina and Texas, specializing in complex trauma, with a focus on domestic abuse and coercive control. Tabitha’s a nationally known expert and speaker on domestic abuse & coercive control, providing training to churches, therapists, and agencies. She also helps train domestic abuse advocates through Called to Peace Ministries’ faith-based advocacy training, as well as co-facilitates the G5 Men’s Batterer Intervention Group. Tabitha is the author of the forthcoming book Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control.


Join us on this journey of healing and hope. Subscribe to Thrive by The Rising Muse for more insightful conversations and support.

What Happens When You Finally Listen to Gods Signs?

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

What if the nudge you’re feeling isn’t just a thought, but a spark?

In this week’s episode of Thrive by The Rising Muse, returning guest John JR Rennie joins Naty and Veda for a deep and raw conversation about faith, calling, and his new book, Sparks Turn Into BrushFires.

JR doesn’t show up with pretense. He shows up with lived experience, spiritual wisdom, and a message for anyone who’s been stuck in a dry season, wondering if God is still speaking.

This episode is for:

  • Anyone who’s ever felt disconnected from their purpose
  • Those wrestling with regret, doubt, or burnout
  • Believers looking for real talk, not sugarcoated sermons
  • People are ready to reignite their faith and relationships

From church hurt to divine redirection, JR opens up about what it means to hear God clearly, obey when it’s uncomfortable, and find joy, not after the breakthrough, but during the battle.

We talk faith. We talk about failure. And we talk about the book born from the journey: Sparks Turn Into BrushFires.

As the founder of a nearly 40-year business software company, I thought I was going to ride off into the sunset and retire.  All that changed in 2015 when God decided to redirect me to my True Purpose.  Promptings, new understandings, and inspired guidance brought me to founding the BrushFires Ministry.   A ministry that helps other Believers discover their God Given Purpose and Destiny, just like God had led me to mine.

The BrushFires Ministry has created a system and tool set that allows believers to discover their strengths and weaknesses.  Once they have done this for themselves, they can discover this for their family, friends, and other ministry members.  There is nothing worse than feeling you are being misunderstood, overlooked, and spinning your wheels as a Believer.  I should know.  Our system and services can help the believer to find their jam and achieve that joy-filled state of mind that only the Lord can provide.  

  1. BrushFires Digital Workshop – an online video series to lead individuals, couples, small groups, churches, and organizations through our Workshop materials.
  2. The Design Coaching / Graduate Training programs – through three new workbooks (Mentoring Manual, Graduate Workbook and the Instructor’s Manual) we delve into deeper design insight, counseling tools, group dynamics and Church Body Building techniques.  This is also facilitated through Zoom conference training for the leaders.
  3. Church Leadership Training programs – using the Graduate Training materials, we coach church leaders to implement the BrushFires curriculum and to facilitate the BrushFires program in-house.  This is also facilitated through Zoom conference training for the leaders.
  4. The ReKindle coaching program – Follow up with Design Discovery Meeting graduates to help them pursue their purpose.
  5. Ignite Ministry Coaching – a facilitated Motivated Role exercise to help ministries brainstorm new solutions, new ministries, and new endeavors.

In 2025, the BrushFires program is expanding with the following new services. To connect with BrushFires, you can go to their website, find them on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

🎧 If you’ve ever believed you were too far gone to start over, this episode will change your mind.

🌸 Dear Caregiver: You Deserve Care Too

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

This Mother’s Day, we’re asking a different question.
Not “What are you doing for others?” but “When was the last time you did something for yourself?”

In our latest episode of Thrive by The Rising Muse, we sit down with the powerhouse, Maz Alexander—mental wellbeing coach, social worker, speaker, and author of Arise Kintsugi Queens—for a conversation every caregiver needs to hear.

If you’ve ever:

  • felt invisible while showing up for everyone else,
  • been told that rest is a luxury,
  • struggled to say no without guilt,
    —This episode is your reminder that self-care isn’t selfish—it’s survival.

Maz shares raw stories, wisdom passed through generations, and the truth about the emotional cost of caregiving. You’ll laugh, reflect, and probably exhale in relief because finally, someone gets it.

Maz Alexander is a Mental Well-Being and transformational Coach, Social Worker, Mother, Speaker, and Author based in South London. She supports busy professionals and caregivers in developing and maintaining healthy boundaries so that they can implement the self-care they need to live balanced, authentic, and fulfilled lives.

 Her first published book, Arise Kintsugi Queens: You Are Becoming All You Were Meant to Be, encompasses her personal and professional insights into mental health and wellbeing, faith, and recovery. It ministers to the souls of women who feel overworked, depleted, rejected, and unworthy. It assists them to reclaim their identity and discover their purpose.

🎧 This is for the mothers, the nurturers, the women who never get asked, “How are you really?”

👉 Tune in and give yourself the gift of being seen.

🎥 Watch on YouTube
📘 Grab Maz’s book: Arise Kintsugi Queens on Amazon

Finding Hope After Rock Bottom

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

What if your darkest moment could become the beginning of your greatest transformation?

In our latest episode of Thrive by The Rising Muse, hosts Naty and Veda sit down with the incredible Meredith White, a Kentucky Certified Peer Support Specialist, recovery advocate, and founder of Simply Sober. Meredith’s journey takes us through the depths of childhood trauma, addiction, prison, and profound heartbreak — but it’s not the tragedy that defines her. It’s her relentless resilience, her hope, and her commitment to helping others find their light.

From surviving life on the streets to creating a community that champions non-judgmental recovery, Meredith’s story is raw, real, and breathtakingly honest. You’ll hear about the pivotal moments that led to her sobriety, how she built her life back one small victory at a time, and why her mantra “Every Little Bit Helps” can change the way you look at healing forever.

This conversation will move you, challenge you, and leave you believing that no matter how far you’ve fallen, hope is always within reach. 💚✨

To connect with Meredith

TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube

🎧 Listen now and be reminded: You are never alone, and it’s never too late to reclaim your life.

The Power of Prayer—A Path to Mental Peace

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

Have you ever found yourself at the edge of your strength, unsure of the next step, but managed to whisper a single prayer that somehow changed everything?

In our latest episode of Thrive by The Rising Muse, we dive deep into the transformative connection between prayer and mental health. With our usual blend of honesty, humor, and heartfelt wisdom, we explore why prayer is more than just a spiritual tradition—it’s a lifeline. A powerful tool for healing. A sacred space where burdens are laid down and peace is picked up.

You’ll hear personal stories that will touch your soul, moments of laughter that remind us we’re human, and reflections that might just feel like home. From teething toddlers to teary breakthroughs, this episode is raw, real, and restorative.

If you’ve ever questioned your prayers, struggled with silence, or simply longed to feel heard, this one’s for you.

🎧 Come take a seat at the table. Let’s talk. Let’s laugh. Let’s heal. Together.

👉 Tap the link, press play, and meet us in the conversation. We promise you’ll walk away feeling seen, supported, and spiritually full.

🐣 Easter: Bunnies, Baskets & the Empty Tomb – What Does It All Mean?

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

Every spring, pastel colors take over store aisles, kids chase after brightly colored eggs, and marshmallow Peeps mysteriously multiply. But at the heart of it all, there’s a deeper story—one that begins at an empty tomb.

In this latest episode of Thrive by The Rising Muse, your favorite co-hosts Naty and Veda get real about Easter. From resurrection truth to childhood traditions, from chocolate bunnies to cultural blending, this episode is both heartfelt and hilarious. We go from theological reflections to personal memories, and we don’t shy away from how our own beliefs evolved—from legalism to liberation, from speeches and sunrise services to the freedom of letting your kid hug the Easter Bunny without guilt.

✨ Is Easter really a Christian holiday?
✨ How did rabbits and eggs sneak into the resurrection story?
✨ And most importantly—can we honor our faith while still making space for joy and celebration?

This episode is for the curious, the conflicted, and the culturally curious. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance your faith with the festivities—or you just love a good mix of nostalgia and spiritual growth—this one’s for you.

🎧 Grab your headphones, your favorite candy, and maybe a tissue or two. This one’s filled with grace, laughter, truth, and just the right amount of jellybeans.

🎙️ Listen now on your favorite platform and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share with someone you love!

🔗 Click here for the episode.

SEE, EXPOSE, LOVE, FREE: The Journey to Inner Freedom

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

What if the thing holding you back wasn’t the trauma itself—but what you’ve been taught to believe about yourself because of it?

In our latest Thrive by The Rising Muse episode, we sit down with coach, author, and trauma survivor Danielle Bernock, whose story and method might just shift how you see healing… and yourself.

Danielle shares the heart and soul behind her S.E.L.F. method—SEE, EXPOSE, LOVE, FREE—and how it helps people step out of inner chaos and into ownership of their lives. We talk about spiritual trauma, childhood emotional neglect, identity, self-worth, boundaries, and the power of choosing you.

This episode is honest, layered, and deeply personal—for us and probably for you, too.

🎧 Whether you’re just starting your healing journey or deep in the work, this conversation will meet you where you are. With compassion. With clarity. With hope.

Spoiler: There’s even a taco named Gary. (Yes, really.)

Don’t miss this one. Tap in. Share it. Save it. Heal with us.

Danielle Bernock—a trauma survivor, coach, speaker, and the founder of 4F Media.
Danielle has helped countless people reclaim their worth, heal deep wounds, and walk in emotional and spiritual freedom. She’s also the author of books like Emerging With Wings, Because You Matter, and Love’s Manifesto. Her coaching method is called S.E.L.F.—SEE, EXPOSE, LOVE, FREE. It’s a four-part process that helps people come out of “inner chaos” and into clarity, healing, and ownership of their lives. To schedule a Discovery session with Danielle, click here. For her website, click here.

“That lady on the internet who loves you.”

🎙️ Available now on all major platforms.

🎉 One Year In: The Episode You Didn’t Know You Needed 🎙️

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

We did it. One year. A full trip around the sun, filled with raw conversations, unexpected laughs, tough lessons, and everything in between. This episode is not just a celebration—it’s a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really taken to get here.

No filters. No fluff. Just the truth. We’re talking mistakes, mindset shifts, growth spurts, and real talk about what it means to stay committed when the hype wears off.

Whether you’ve been riding with us since day one or just jumping in, this episode brings it all full circle.

🔊 Hit play and hear the unfiltered reality of building something that matters.

🎧 Available now wherever you get your podcasts.