What if discovering your true strengths meant stepping away from something you love? In this powerful episode of The Grit Show, Shawna Rodrigues opens up about her decision to close the Authentic Connections Podcast Network, exploring the intersection of passion, burnout, and the search for meaningful impact. She weaves in insights from Patrick Lencioni’s “Six Working Geniuses” framework and shares lessons from her journey with breast cancer. Listeners get a teaser of how aligning your “zone of genius” with your mission can change everything and why self-awareness is crucial.

Thinking about career pivots, purpose, or making tough decisions? Tune in to hear how growth can sometimes mean letting go and and learn more about women’s voices in podcasting. Don’t miss this episode if you crave inspiration, career clarity, or honest conversation about following your calling.

Is gratitude just something you dust off for Thanksgiving, or could it be a powerful daily practice that actually transforms your mindset? In this episode of The Grit Show, Shawna Rodrigues unpacks how regular gratitude can shift your perspective, revealing the unexpected ways it impacts decision-making and well-being. She shares personal stories—including navigating breast cancer—and offers actionable steps for making gratitude a habit, not just a holiday tradition.

Curious how gratitude can help you break out of toxic positivity, and create more meaningful connections? Tune in for a dose of real talk and practical wisdom that might just change how you look at everyday life.

Are you in midlife, staring at a packed closet, wondering why letting go is so tough? In this episode of The Grit Show, host Shawna Rodrigues invites the inspiring writer and creative Vickey Brown to unpack the real reasons behind our attachment to “stuff”—from childhood scarcity mindsets to inherited family blueprints. Discover how downsizing, intentional living, and even being a little “delusional” can open the door to new possibilities.

Curious about how meal planning, clutter, and shifting perspectives can truly transform your life? Tune in to hear practical stories and insightful reflections, all designed to help you make room for what’s next. This episode is perfect for anyone seeking personal growth, emotional healing, and a fresh take on midlife transitions.

Vickey Brown (writing as Ella Shawn)

Vickey Brown is a Southern speculative fiction author, hybrid publisher, and founder of SOMO Publishing House, LLC. Writing under the pen name Ella Shawn, she brings raw, unfiltered conversations on creativity, resilience, and the audacity to take up space in the literary world. Her work centers the complexities of Black womanhood through a sacred, spiritual, and erotic lens.

As a Southern Gothic erotic romance writer, Vickey is determined to "speak, so she can speak again." Heavily influenced by Zora Neale Hurston and William Faulkner, she endeavors to give voice to all the nameless people who were told to be quiet and "keep family secrets in the family." Through her Broken Souls series and as host of the Black Writer Therapy podcast, she champions the stories and lived experiences of unapologetic writers.

She weaves tales of marginalized Southern women through a lens of liberation, creating a sanctuary for discerning readers wise enough to see beyond the ordinary and bold enough to embrace the extraordinary.

Find her work:

Are your daily habits and influences helping you thrive—or holding you back? In this re-release episode of The Grit Show, host Shawna Rodrigues explores the hidden power of the inputs in your life: everything from playlists and podcasts to friendships and social feeds. Shawna shares her own “input audit” story and offers creative tips for curating what you allow into your world, striking a balance between joy and purpose. She touches on social media, the books you read, and even the TV shows you choose—challenging you to get intentional about your environment. If you’re seeking more positivity, resilience, and authentic connection, this episode’s full of thought-starters and practical takeaways. Discover why your inputs are the seeds you sow for your future. Curious what you might need to shift? Join us and find out.

Other episodes referenced:

Conversation with Justin (61)-

Are you facing a wave of decisions after a breast cancer diagnosis? In this heartfelt episode of The Grit Show, host Shawna Rodrigues peels back the layers of what really matters when breast cancer turns life upside down. Shawna shares her personal journey through a double mastectomy, tips for navigating overwhelming choices, and why knowing your “North Star” is more vital than any research or treatment plan. Listeners will catch insights on single vs. double mastectomy, Oregon’s groundbreaking out-of-state reconstruction access, insurance curveballs, and the real questions every patient should ask before surgery.

Packed with candid storytelling and practical frameworks, this episode offers hope, clarity, and confidence to anyone touched by breast cancer. If you’re looking for support through Breast Cancer Awareness Month, decision-making tools, or just crave real talk about cancer, quality of life, and self-advocacy, you’ll find inspiration here!