Pockets of Knowledge

In this heart-opening and hilariously insightful episode of the Pockets of Knowledge podcast, host Desiree Stanley sits down with the multifaceted Merit Kahn, playwright, comedian, keynote speaker, and creator of the one-woman show Optimistic Personality Disorder™. Merit shares the deeply personal and refreshingly funny journey that led her to write and perform a show that unpacks life’s messiest plot twists—divorce, cancer, narcissists, motherhood, and more—with irreverent humor and emotional depth.

Merit and Desiree explore how laughter can be a powerful healing tool, how journaling can unlock new perspectives, and how rewriting our personal narratives (literally and figuratively) can reshape the way we move forward. Merit reflects on the threads that have run through her life and how returning to “who you've always been” can be the most powerful transformation of all.

She also dives into emotional intelligence, the concept of "anchored optimism," and why the simple question “Are you open to…” can be a gateway to possibility and change.

Whether you're navigating change, looking to reframe your past, or just in need of a good laugh and some soulful insight, this episode is a must-listen.

Bio:

Merit Kahn is the playwright, producer, and performer of Optimistic Personality Disorder™, an inspiring, hilarious one-woman show for women navigating life’s messiest plot twists—divorce, cancer, narcissists, motherhood, empty nesting, and everything in between. 

It’s a rollercoaster of real-life stories told through stand-up, storytelling, and a healthy dose of irreverent optimism… because sometimes the only way through it is to laugh at it. But the show is just the opening act.

Merit also leads Rewrite. Reset. Reimagine: The WorkShow Experience™—a transformational 24-hour retreat that blends personal development with powerful performance. It’s part workshop, part comedy show, and 100% devoted to helping you reframe your story and design your next chapter with clarity, courage, and maybe even a few cartwheels.

Offstage, Merit is a professional keynote speaker and Emotional Intelligence expert who’s trained thousands of leaders and sales teams to show up with more humanity, authenticity, and impact. Her favorite audiences are the ones ready to laugh, learn, and let go of who they were supposed to be.

Whether she’s on a stage, in a workshop, or on a podcast, Merit’s message is clear:

You can’t change the past… but you can rewrite your past and rewire your future. It's my greatest joy in life to open people's minds to new possibilities.

As a businessperson, I do that through keynotes, consulting, training & coaching on sales, influence, communication & leadership topics.

As an entertainer, I do that through comedy performances and workshops that help you rewrite your past and re-ignite your future.

Connect with Merit:

In this refreshing and empowering episode of Pockets of Knowledge, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Lisa Haynes—retired CFO, retirement coach, and author of Retired and Killin’ It—to talk about reinventing life after corporate success and why retirement is really just the beginning of a bold new chapter. After three decades in corporate America, including a decade in the C-suite, Lisa walked away from her high-powered role to redefine retirement on her own terms—and now she helps others do the same.

Together, Desiree and Lisa explore the emotional side of leaving full-time work, the challenges many professionals face in transitioning from “doing” to “being,” and why your sense of identity doesn’t have to retire when you do. Lisa introduces her signature Killin’ It formula—eight elements that help retirees design a life of joy, purpose, and meaning. Whether it’s legacy, creativity, health, or fun, Lisa shows that retirement is a chance to align with what truly lights you up.

With warmth, humor, and practical insight, Lisa shares what it takes to navigate this transition with clarity and confidence—and how we can all start thinking differently about what success looks like in our later years.

Whether you’re nearing retirement, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how to live with more intention, this episode is packed with uplifting wisdom and real-world tools for creating your most fulfilling chapter yet.

Bio:

Lisa Haynes is a retired Chief Financial Officer turned Retirement Coach, author, and speaker helping professionals redefine life after full-time work. After more than three decades in corporate America—including ten years as a CFO—Lisa stepped away from the C-suite to empower others to build purpose-driven, fulfilling retirements.

She’s the founder and CEO of Haynes Executive Solutions, where she blends financial consulting with certified executive and retirement coaching. Lisa is also the author of Retired and Killin' It: The Ultimate Retirement Plan, a practical and inspiring guide based on her signature Killin' It formula, which highlights eight essential elements of a meaningful retirement.

Lisa speaks to audiences about life transitions, legacy, reinvention, and the often-overlooked emotional side of retirement. Whether on stage or in her coaching practice, she brings clarity, humor, and a deep belief that retirement shouldn't be boring—it should be your best chapter yet.

Connect with Lisa:

Email: [email protected]

In this powerful episode of Pockets of Knowledge, host Desiree Stanley sits down with leadership coach, speaker, and author Marianne Renner to explore how the stories we tell ourselves can hold us back—and how to break free from them. Marianne shares her deeply personal journey through decades of depression and addiction, and how changing her inner dialogue became the catalyst for healing, transformation, and success in every area of her life.

Drawing from her new book Self-Talk: 10 Stories You Tell Yourself That Hold You Back...And How to Overcome Them, Marianne and Desiree unpack some of the most common self-limiting beliefs, like “I’m not enough,” “It’s too late,” or “I don’t belong”—and reveal how shifting your self-talk can change your entire trajectory. They also discuss practical tools for rewiring your mindset, building confidence, and leading yourself through periods of self-doubt and uncertainty.

Whether you’re a leader feeling stuck, a professional navigating change, or simply someone ready to step into a more empowered version of yourself, this episode offers both inspiration and actionable wisdom to help you rewrite your internal narrative and take the next right step forward.

Bio:

Marianne Renner is a highly sought-after leadership coach and keynote speaker who has helped thousands of leaders remove self-imposed barriers and unleash their greatest potential.

In her new book, Self-Talk: 10 Stories You Tell Yourself That Hold You Back…And How to Overcome Them, she shares the lessons she learned during a decades-long battle with depression and addiction to help growth-minded leaders who feel stuck.

Marianne is a TEDx speaker whose previous books include the Chaos to Clarity Success Journal and Stop Thinking Like an Employee.

From workaholism to alcoholism, Marianne tried everything to make the bad feelings go away. After decades of debilitating depression and addiction, she finally found the answer: changing her self-talk. Not only did the depression lift, but she saw every other outcome of her life transform, including her career, relationships and financial stability.

Self-Talk is an inspiring revelation of ten common stories people tell themselves that sabotage their best efforts for success. The book is packed full of practical action steps to help you get unstuck and start moving forward in any area of your professional or personal life.

Whether you’re seeking more confidence, greater purpose, or elevated success, Self-Talk will help you change the stories inside your head, break free from what holds you back, and regain control of your journey.

With a Master’s Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications, Marianne has spent years studying human behavior and the “WHY” behind decisions people make.

Connect with Marianne:

In this soul-nourishing episode of Pockets of Knowledge, host Desiree Stanley sits down with bestselling author and intuitive healer Inna Segal for a powerful conversation about emotional healing, ancestral patterns, and the wisdom of the body. Inna shares her personal journey—from growing up as an immigrant facing deep emotional and physical challenges to experiencing a spiritual awakening that led her to become a global teacher and healer.

Together, they explore how unresolved trauma, generational pain, and childhood experiences can show up as physical symptoms, and why tuning into the body’s messages is a vital step in healing. Inna offers compassionate insights on working with the inner child, understanding emotional roots of illness, and reconnecting with your intuition.

Drawing from her bestselling book The Secret Language of Your Body, Inna shares practical guidance for decoding symptoms and releasing patterns that no longer serve you. Whether you're struggling with chronic symptoms, seeking clarity around old emotional wounds, or simply curious about energy healing, this conversation offers hope, compassion, and tangible tools for transformation. It’s a beautiful reminder that healing is not about fixing yourself—it's about reconnecting with who you truly are.

Bio:

Inna Segal is a bestselling author, intuitive healer, and creator of The Secret Language of Your Body. Her healing journey began after immigrating from Belarus to Australia as a child, navigating emotional isolation and chronic health issues. A profound spiritual awakening in her early 20s set her on a path to help others heal emotionally, physically, and energetically.

Over the past 25 years, Inna has worked with clients around the world—including healthcare professionals and trauma survivors—and led international trainings on emotional wellness, ancestral healing, and spiritual development. She has authored several books and created seven healing card decks, blending intuitive insight with years of study in Anthroposophy and the teachings of Rudolf Steiner.

Through her courses and teachings, Inna helps people uncover the root causes of pain and reconnect with their inner wisdom. Her work has been featured on CNN, FOX, ABC Radio, and Woman’s Day, and continues to impact thousands seeking transformation through mind-body healing.

Connect with Inna: