In this episode of Shedding the Shame, Tami is joined by Sarah Savoy, a Vancouver-based end-of-life doula, for a deeply honest conversation about grief, uncertainty, reinvention, and what it means to live more intentionally.

Sarah opens up about a chapter of her life she rarely talks about: the adoption process she and her husband went through years ago, their decision to ultimately withdraw, and the ambiguous grief that followed. She shares what it was like to grieve a child she had imagined, hoped for, and prepared for, while simultaneously questioning whether she even had the right to grieve the loss.

We also talk about the ritual of grief, the “what ifs” that can follow us long after a decision has been made, and the ways our minds try to protect us by imagining every possible future catastrophe.

Then we dive into Sarah’s own reinvention. After owning her Vancouver retail store for 13 years, she made a major career pivot in her 50s and became an end-of-life doula. Her mother’s death, reaching the age her mother was when she died, and an unexpected introduction to the work all played a role in helping Sarah realize that this was where she wanted to use her empathy and compassion.

Despite what many people assume, Sarah doesn’t find working with death depressing. She finds it incredibly life-affirming. We talk about why conversations about death are ultimately conversations about what matters most, how to lead with curiosity instead of assuming we know what someone needs, the importance of advanced care planning, and why our relationships and chosen family may matter more than anything we accumulate.

Sarah also shares what she has learned about starting over, being a beginner again at 55, navigating ageism, building a business from scratch, and reminding herself that uncertainty and possibility can exist at the same time.

Perhaps most importantly, she has a message for anyone who thinks it’s too late to change their life: It’s not too late. Dive in.

This is a conversation about grief, mortality, purpose, self-compassion, and the courage to create a life that feels more like you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Grieving a future that never happened
• Ambiguous grief and the losses we don’t always feel entitled to mourn
• Why rituals can help us mark transitions and integrate grief
• Sarah’s journey from retail business owner to death doula
• How losing her mother shaped her relationship with mortality
• Why talking about death can actually be life-affirming
• Leading with curiosity instead of trying to have all the answers
• Advanced care planning and navigating difficult family dynamics
• Starting over and becoming a beginner again in your 50s
• Ageism and society’s assumptions about women as they get older
• Living with uncertainty while staying open to possibility
• Self-compassion when doubt gets loud
• What working closely with death has taught Sarah about what really matters

This episode is a reminder that we don’t have to wait for certainty to begin again, and sometimes the most honest conversations about death can teach us how to live.

Sarah's website: https://www.agoodfarewell.ca/

Sarah's IG: https://www.instagram.com/agoodfarewell_vancouver/

Michelle Doan, founder of Emani Cosmetics, knows what it's like to feel like you're hiding in plain sight.

Michelle struggled with painful cystic acne from a young age, describing herself as an "ugly duckling" and feeling like her appearance affected her confidence and how she believed others saw her. She eventually turned that deeply painful experience into a career dedicated to helping women feel confident in their own skin.

In this episode, Michelle and Tami talk about the shame that comes with visible skin conditions, their shared experiences with cystic acne and Accutane, and the pressure women face to look "perfect." They talk about motherhood, menopause, aging, self-acceptance, and what happens when the insecurities you thought you'd left behind come back in a different form.

Michelle also shares how she built Emani Cosmetics from her own struggles with acne and why she believes the very thing she once considered a curse ultimately became a blessing.

This is a conversation about beauty, but it's really about something much deeper: learning that you don't have to be perfect to feel beautiful, and you don't have to hide the parts of yourself that make you human.

If you've ever felt ashamed of your skin, your hair, your body, or any part of yourself you wished you could change, this episode is for you.

Emani Website: https://emani.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoorGQhJF3EJHbjI5NHeEAagoaqhTRdZ3QjZRJSvCu0Jj1sJYmVO

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emanicosmetics/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emanicosmetics

Season 2 of Shedding the Shame starts with this deeply moving conversation. Tami sits down with bestselling author, leadership coach, and Embrace Global co-founder Jane Chen to explore the hidden shame that can fuel achievement, perfectionism, and burnout.

Jane shares the incredible story behind Embrace, the portable infant warmer that has helped save more than one million babies around the world. But behind the accolades, recognition from President Obama, and global success was a woman quietly carrying childhood trauma, believing she had to constantly prove her worth.

We talk about how unresolved pain shapes the way we lead, love, parent, and work, why productivity can become a form of numbing, and what finally helped Jane begin healing after years of pushing herself beyond exhaustion.

Together, we discuss:
• Why so many high achievers secretly struggle with feeling "not enough"
• The connection between childhood trauma, perfectionism, and burnout
• How Internal Family Systems (Parts Work) helped Jane develop self-compassion
• The courage it takes to confront generational trauma
• Why belonging isn't something we find, but something we build within ourselves
• How healing ourselves changes future generations

Jane's message is simple but profound: You are enough exactly as you are.

Whether you've experienced childhood trauma, struggle with people-pleasing, or simply feel like your worth is tied to what you accomplish, I hope this conversation reminds you that healing is possible and that you're not alone.

Connect with Jane: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janemariechen/
Website: www.janemariechen.com

Resources mentioned:
• Like A Wave We Break by Jane Chen
• No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

In this episode, I sit down with physician-turned-medicine woman Dr. Alexandra Perel-Winkler to explore the shame that comes with feeling like the black sheep. From a young age, Alexandra felt different. While training as a physician and later specializing in rheumatology, she found herself asking questions that traditional medicine couldn't answer. After years of burnout and a life-changing family crisis, she chose to leave the path she'd worked so hard to build and follow a calling that felt deeply aligned with who she truly is.

Together, we talk about:
• Why so many women feel like they don't belong
• The shame of being "too different" and learning to embrace it
• Burnout, perfectionism, and people-pleasing
• The connection between the nervous system, intuition, and healing
• Why worthiness is at the root of so many of our struggles
• Letting go of the need to be liked
• What it means to live in alignment with your authentic self

Whether you connect with spirituality, therapy, breathwork, or simply the desire to feel more like yourself, this conversation is an invitation to stop hiding the parts of yourself that make you unique.

Maybe the thing you've spent your life trying to change is actually the gift you're here to share.

Where you can find Alexandra:

Website: https://www.themysticmedicine.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themysticmedicine/

It's about trusting yourself enough to take the first step anyway.

In this episode of Shedding the Shame, I sit down with Sheena Yap Chan, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, TEDx speaker, host of The Tao of Self-Confidence podcast, and creator of the VISIBLE™ Framework. For nearly a decade, Sheena has been helping women build confidence and step into leadership, with a special focus on increasing the visibility and representation of Asian women, whose voices and contributions have too often been overlooked.

Together, we explore why so many women struggle to recognize their own abilities and how the confidence gap impacts our careers, relationships, and lives.

Sheena shares how cultural expectations, imposter syndrome, and the fear of self-promotion can keep women playing small, even when they're more than qualified. We also talk about why simply working hard isn't enough, the importance of advocating for yourself, and how confidence is a skill that can be built.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What the "confidence gap" really is and why it holds so many women back

• Why working hard doesn't always lead to recognition or promotion

• The importance of self-advocacy in your career and everyday life

• How cultural conditioning can shape the way we see ourselves, especially for Asian women navigating stereotypes and expectations

• Navigating imposter syndrome and learning to trust your own voice

• Why confidence isn't something you're born with. It's something you practice.

• Small, practical ways to become more visible and advocate for yourself, even before you feel ready

If you've ever questioned whether you're qualified enough, worried about speaking up, or waited for someone else to recognize your worth, this conversation is for you.

The opportunities you're waiting for may start with believing you're already capable of them.

Sheena's Website: https://www.sheenayapchan.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheenayapchan/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheena.yap.chan/?hl=en

Bridging the Confidence Gap Book: https://a.co/d/0eSzCMZm

Who is Tami? And why is she talking about shame?

In this deeply personal solo episode, I'm answering that question. I'm sharing the experiences I've spent decades carrying quietly, from living with hair loss since I was 15, to growing up in an emotionally unsafe home, navigating religious shame, experiencing abandonment, infertility, miscarriage, grief, family trauma, and the imposter syndrome that still follows me today.

For years, I believed these were the parts of my story that needed to stay hidden. Now I've learned that the very things we hide are often the things that connect us most deeply to one another.

I also share why I started Shedding the Shame, how this podcast has grown beyond anything I imagined, and why I'll continue creating a space where women can tell the stories they've been told to keep quiet.

If you've ever wondered whether your story matters...

If you've ever felt like your struggles made you "too much" or "not enough"...

Or if you've been carrying something alone for far too long...

This episode is for you.

Because shame grows in silence. Healing begins when someone is brave enough to speak.

But for many women, including host Tami Wong, it affects every part of their lives.

In this episode of Shedding the Shame, Tami sits down with Emily Shea, founder of Flox Hair, a wig brand in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to talk about her decades-long journey with hair loss, the devastating impact it had on her mental health, and how she turned her biggest insecurity into her life's purpose.

Emily shares what it was like to lose half her hair as a teenager, the years spent searching for answers from doctors, the depression and isolation that followed, and the moment she finally found hope through alternative hair.

We also talk about:

• Why hair loss is so much more than a cosmetic issue
• The emotional toll of being told "it's not that bad"
• Learning to advocate for yourself in the medical system
• The role community plays in healing
• Why no one is actually looking at your hairline
• How sharing your story helps others find the courage to share theirs
• Turning your biggest insecurity into your greatest purpose

Whether you've experienced hair loss yourself or love someone who has, this conversation is a powerful reminder that confidence, healing, and connection are possible.

In this deeply moving conversation, Libby shares her experience of stillbirth, the isolation that often follows pregnancy loss, and the years-long journey of learning how to live with grief rather than trying to "get over it."

Together, we discuss:

• The heartbreak of receiving devastating news at a routine pregnancy scan
• What people often don't understand about stillbirth and pregnancy loss
• The shame, guilt, and self-blame many women carry after loss
• Why grief doesn't follow a timeline
• How alcohol, therapy, travel, and self-discovery shaped Libby's healing journey
• The powerful analogy that changed how she views grief forever
• Why asking for help is one of the bravest things we can do
• How she transformed her pain into purpose through her support group, I Feel It Too, and The Little Bear Project

This episode is a reminder that grief is not something we move on from. It is something we learn to carry. And even in our darkest moments, healing, connection, and purpose are still possible.

Whether you've experienced pregnancy loss yourself, love someone who has, or simply want to better understand the realities of grief, this conversation is filled with compassion, honesty, and hope.

To learn more about Libby's work, the I Feel It Too support group, The Little Bear Project, and her children's book Fletcher and Bear, connect with her through the links below.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ifeelittoo_peersupport/ and

Other Resources:

Canada: https://www.babysbreathcanada.ca/

United States: https://rtzhope.org/ and https://www.marchofdimes.org/

UK: https://www.sands.org.uk/

Australia: https://stillbirthfoundation.org.au/

In this episode of Shedding the Shame, I sit down with business strategist, certified Imposter Syndrome Coach, and founder of Creative Dynamics Virtual Services, Brittney Ashley, for an honest conversation about growing up with dyslexia, navigating ADHD, and learning to challenge the stories we tell ourselves about our worth.

Brittney shares how being labeled "dumb" by teachers shaped her confidence, why imposter syndrome still shows up despite her success, and how she built a thriving business while raising two young children. Together, we explore the realities of motherhood, postpartum struggles, people-pleasing, burnout, perfectionism, and the pressure women face to be everything to everyone.

This conversation is a reminder that you don't have to earn your worth through achievement, productivity, or perfection. You are already enough.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Growing up with dyslexia and the lasting impact of being labeled "dumb"
• How imposter syndrome shows up for high-achieving women and entrepreneurs
• ADHD, neurodivergence, and creating systems that work with your brain
• Postpartum depression, anxiety, and asking for support
• The pressure of motherhood and why so many women feel like they're failing
• Setting boundaries, protecting your energy, and letting go of perfectionism
• Why success doesn't have to look like hustle culture
• What it really means to shed shame and step into your own power

If you've ever felt behind, not enough, or like you're carrying the weight of impossible expectations, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Shedding the Shame, Tami sits down with financial planner, coach, and financial literacy advocate Krista Lee Hynes for a powerful conversation about money stories, financial shame, and why so many women struggle with fear, guilt, scarcity, and feeling “behind.”

Krista shares how our childhood experiences, family dynamics, culture, and societal conditioning shape the way we think about money, often without us even realizing it. We talk about the emotional side of finances, the connection between trauma and money habits, and why financial literacy is deeply tied to confidence, freedom, and self-worth.

We also discuss:

• What a “money story” actually is
• How childhood experiences shape financial behaviors
• Why women often feel shame, fear, or guilt around money
• The connection between perfectionism, scarcity, and financial anxiety
• Why financial literacy was historically kept from women
• How to begin rewriting unhealthy money beliefs
• Journaling prompts to uncover your own money story
• Budgeting tips and practical first steps toward financial clarity
• Why financial independence matters in relationships and life transitions
• The importance of wills, insurance, emergency planning, and transparency
• How social media and constant economic fear impact our mindset
• Why money itself isn’t bad, and how it can become a tool for freedom, care, and choice

Krista also shares practical tools women can start using today to feel more confident and empowered financially, while reminding us that being “behind” financially is often a harmful myth rooted in unrealistic societal expectations.

This conversation is honest, validating, educational, and incredibly important. If money has ever felt overwhelming, shameful, confusing, or emotionally heavy for you, this episode will make you feel far less alone.

Financial confidence isn’t about perfection. It’s about clarity, choice, and learning that you deserve to feel safe, informed, and empowered.

Find Krista Lee on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/kristaleehynes/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-lee-4709b232a/

Krista's article in By The North: https://www.bythenorth.ca/articles/5-smart-financial-moves

Financial Planning Pyramid: https://www.sunlife.ca/en/tools-and-resources/money-and-finances/saving-for-retirement/what-is-a-financial-plan-and-do-i-really-need-one/

She shares why she finally decided to start EMDR, what the process has actually been like emotionally, and how therapy continues to challenge and transform her after years of doing inner work. From difficult dreams and grief, to learning how to let herself be silly again, this episode is an honest conversation about mental health, resilience, and reclaiming the parts of ourselves we were taught to hide.

Tami also talks about:

• The emotional exhaustion and breakthroughs that can come with trauma therapy
• How childhood experiences shape perfectionism and fear of abandonment
• Why people-pleasing no longer serves her
• Grieving relationships, loss, and the pressure to appear “okay”
• Learning to trust herself and take up space unapologetically
• The importance of safe relationships, therapy, and emotional honesty
• Why her motto for 45 is: give less f*cks and have more fun

If you’ve ever struggled with feeling “too much,” not enough, or afraid to fully be yourself, let this episode remind you that healing is possible and you are not alone.

Diagnosed at just two and a half years old, Jenna shares what it was like growing up constantly managing a life-threatening chronic illness while also carrying the emotional weight, stigma, and shame that often comes with it. From childhood memories of blood sugar crashes at school to navigating work, relationships, burnout, and the pressure to appear “low maintenance,” Jenna opens up about the realities most people never see.

Together, Tami and Jenna discuss:

• The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
• The mental and emotional toll of chronic illness
• Shame, stigma, and harmful cultural jokes about diabetes
• The pressure to over-perform professionally while managing illness
• How wearable medical devices changed Jenna’s life
• The fear of being perceived as “different”
• The invisible emotional weight of chronic disease
• Learning to ask for help and let go of perfectionism
• Why speaking openly about chronic illness matters

This episode is a powerful reminder that many people are carrying battles we cannot see and that empathy matters more than judgment.

If you’ve ever struggled with shame, chronic illness, feeling different, or trying to hold it all together while appearing “fine,” this conversation will resonate deeply.

You are not alone.

You can connect with Jenna on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-l-van-dusen/

It starts with a little girl who felt different: clumsy, quiet, and out of place.She didn't understand body image, shame had already taken root.

In this episode, Penny shares how early experiences- feeling uncoordinated, misunderstood, and later undiagnosed ADHD- shaped the way she saw herself. By 13, she turned to food restriction and over-exercise as a way to cope, long before she had the language to understand what was happening.

We talk about:

• How body shame can start before we even recognize it
• The link between ADHD, rejection sensitivity, and self-worth
• The dangerous praise of “looking healthy”
• Bodybuilding, control, and the illusion of perfection
• Why eating disorders are often missed—especially in kids
• What it actually takes to start healing

Penny also shares how becoming a mother shifted everything, and how she’s now using her experience to help parents recognize the early signs of eating disorders through her non-profit, ReFrame Voices.

This is a conversation about what we carry in our bodies, what we were never taught to understand, and how we begin to let it go.

⚠️ Content warning: Eating disorders, body shame, mental health

Resources:

Reframe Voices website: https://www.reframevoices.ca/

Reframe Voices IG: https://www.instagram.com/reframevoices/

Canada

• National Eating Disorder Information Centre- https://nedic.ca/
  Helpline: 1-866-NEDIC-20 (1-866-633-4220)
  Offers live chat, referrals, and educational resources.
• Canadian Mental Health Association- https://cmha.ca/
  General mental health support, including body image and BDD-related resources.

U.S.

• National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)- https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
  Helpline: (800) 931-2237
  Offers screening tools, treatment referrals, and support resources.
• National Alliance for Eating Disorders- https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/
  Provides free support groups, referrals, and education.

UK

• Beat Eating Disorders- https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
  Helpline: 0808 801 0677
  Youthline: 0808 801 0711
  Offers support for individuals and families, plus online chat.

Australia

• Butterfly Foundation- https://butterfly.org.au/
  Helpline: 1800 33 4673
  National support for eating disorders and body image issues.
• National Eating Disorders Collaboration- https://nedc.com.au/
  Provides education, research, and treatment pathways.

Years later, she found herself in a relationship that looked painfully familiar.

In this episode, Ruth shares her journey through domestic violence, the reality of being a young bride and mother, and the moment everything changed; the moment she knew she had to run.

We talk about the parts people don’t always understand:

• The fear
• The manipulation
• The moments of “good” that keep you holding on
• The strength it takes to finally leave

Ruth also shares what came after: raising her daughters on her own, healing from deep trauma, and learning how to take her power back.

This is a conversation about survival, resilience, and what it means to choose yourself, even when it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do.

⚠️ Content warning: Domestic violence, abuse.

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, support is available. You are not alone. Leaving isn’t simple. It isn’t quick, and it can be dangerous.

Support exists. Safe people exist. Options exist.

You deserve safety. You deserve peace. You deserve a life that isn’t built around fear.

Support Resoures

United States

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  Call: 1-800-799-7233
  Text: START to 88788
  Live chat available online (24/7, confidential)
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
  Call or text: 988 (24/7 support for emotional distress)
• Love Is Respect (for teens & young adults)
  Call: 1-866-331-9474
  Text: LOVEIS to 22522

Canada

• VictimLink BC (if you’re in British Columbia)
  Call or text: 1-800-563-0808 (24/7, multilingual)
• ShelterSafe Canada
  Online directory to find shelters across the country
• Kids Help Phone (youth & young adults)
  Call: 1-800-668-6868
  Text: CONNECT to 686868
• 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada-wide)
  Call or text: 988

United Kingdom

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline
  Call: 0808 2000 247 (24/7, free & confidential)
• Samaritans (emotional support)
  Call: 116 123 (24/7)

Her story began at just 15 years old after taking Accutane, when she first noticed changes in her hair that would continue for decades. What followed was a long and often isolating experience of thinning hair, shame, and trying to hide something she didn’t understand and felt she couldn’t talk about.

In this episode, Tami opens up about the emotional and psychological impact of hair loss in women, including how it affected her confidence, identity, and relationships.

She shares:

• What it was like experiencing hair loss as a teenager
• The reality of living with androgenic alopecia (AGA)
• The mental toll of hiding hair loss and feeling “less than”
• Dating with hair loss and the fear of rejection
• Her experience with wigs, hair fibers, and alternative hair solutions
• Finding a supportive partner and navigating vulnerability in relationships
• Why true acceptance had to come from within, not from others
• The impact of societal beauty standards on women with hair loss

Tami also discusses the lack of emotional support and resources available for women with hair loss, and how that led her to create Hair Loss Pride— a community focused on support, education, and empowerment.

This episode is for any woman struggling with hair loss who feels alone, ashamed, or unsure of how to move forward.

Through honesty and lived experience, this conversation highlights an important truth: hair loss does not define a woman’s beauty or worth.

You are not alone, and there is support, community, and confidence waiting on the other side of shame.

Tina opens up about experiencing hair loss as a teenager and how it impacted her confidence, relationships, and sense of identity. From navigating cruel comments and rejection to enduring toxic relationships and heartbreak, her story is raw, emotional, and incredibly relatable.

We talk about:

• The reality of dating with hair loss
• How past trauma and insecurity can shape relationships
• The pressure women feel around appearance and motherhood
• Finding a partner who truly accepts you exactly as you are
• Letting go of shame and learning to embrace alternative hair

Tina also shares her experience with hair systems, the transition into wearing wigs, and the surprising empowerment she’s found along the way.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that you are not your hair, and the right person will see your worth beyond anything physical.

If you’ve ever felt like your hair loss makes you “less than” or worried you won’t be loved because of it, this episode will hit home in the best way.

You are not alone; and once you start talking about it, you begin to take your power back.

You can find Tina on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/myhairwasoncethere/

In this episode, Tami sits down with a guest who has chosen to remain anonymous to share her story of divorce, a seven-year relationship with a married man, and the emotional complexity that comes with it. This isn’t a conversation about blame or scandal. It’s about what happens when a woman realizes she’s been leaving herself out of her own life.

Together, they unpack the shame, guilt, and isolation that can come with choices others don’t understand. They talk about people-pleasing, losing your voice in relationships, and the slow, often painful process of learning to include yourself in your own decisions.

This episode explores:

• What it really feels like to stay in a relationship that isn’t fully choosing you
• The internal shift from self-abandonment to self-respect
• Why leaving isn’t always as simple as it seems
• The role of support systems, coaching, and somatic work in healing
• How to hold both heartbreak and empowerment at the same time

At its core, this conversation is about reclaiming your worth, setting boundaries, and finding the courage to choose yourself, even when it costs you something.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you are and who you’re expected to be… this one will hit.

The coach mentioned in this episode is Freya Kennedy, and you can find more information about her here: https://www.freyakennedy.com/

What began as years of emotional pain, unmet needs, and repeated hurt ultimately led Tami to make one of the hardest decisions of her life, walking away from her family to protect her peace, her marriage, and her children.

She opens up about the complex layers of grief, guilt, and shame that come with estrangement, the pressure from family to “make it work,” and the emotional toll of growing up without the love and validation every child deserves.

Tami also shares what happened when she reconnected with her father after seven years, the hope it gave her, and the heartbreak that followed.

This episode is not about blame. It is about truth. It is about choosing yourself. And it is about healing from the kind of pain that isn’t often talked about out loud.

If you have ever felt alone in complicated family dynamics, questioned your decision to walk away, or carried shame around your story, this conversation is for you.

You are not alone, and you are worthy of love that feels safe.

After six years of marriage, Kelly’s husband died from complications of Crohn’s disease, leaving her widowed at 40 and raising their two young children alone. Her son was just 16 months old and her daughter was three.

While family and friends surrounded her with sympathy, Kelly found herself navigating something far more complicated than grief. Alongside the heartbreak was an unexpected feeling of shame. As a young widow and single parent, she often felt as though the world viewed her differently.

In this conversation, Kelly shares:

• What the early days of loss looked like after her husband passed
• How people responded to her grief and how those reactions affected her
• The challenges of raising two small children while processing unimaginable loss
• The people who stepped in and helped her rebuild her life
• The hidden shame she carried as a young widow and single parent
• How she slowly found her footing again

Now, thirty years later, Kelly is finally ready to speak openly about this chapter of her life. A humour writer and author, she has begun exploring her experience with widowhood through storytelling and fiction.

Together, Tami and Kelly talk about grief, stigma, resilience, and the power of sharing the stories we once kept hidden.

Kelly also offers words of hope and compassion for anyone who has been widowed or may face profound loss in the future; because even in the most devastating seasons of life, healing and meaning can still emerge.

Find out more about Kelly here: https://www.kellylmckenzie.com/

Before becoming a mother to her two daughters, Tami experienced two miscarriages. Each one was different; each one devastating in its own way. In this raw and deeply vulnerable conversation, she opens up about the shock of the first loss, the compounded grief of the second, and the heavy shame she carried in between.

She speaks candidly about the feelings many women quietly wrestle with: betrayal by her own body, questioning her worth, wondering what she had done wrong, and the profound sadness of losing not just pregnancies, but the futures she had already begun imagining.

Tami walks through:

• How her two miscarriages differed physically and emotionally
• The silent pressure and self-blame she placed on herself
• The medical appointments, interventions, and efforts she tried while attempting to conceive
• The fear that followed each positive test
• And ultimately, how she went on to have her two daughters

This episode is honest, unfiltered, and tender. It invites listeners into one of the most painful seasons of Tami’s life; not to center tragedy, but to remove isolation.

If you have experienced miscarriage, infertility, or complicated feelings about your body, this conversation is for you.

In this opening conversation, Tami, Founder of Hair Loss Pride, shares the personal story behind this podcast and why she believes shame thrives in silence.

Tami opens up about experiencing hair loss at fifteen and how the isolation, pretending, and minimizing were often more painful than the hair loss itself. When she finally began speaking about it publicly, something shifted. Not just for her, but for the women around her.

This made her her realize something bigger:

Hair loss isn’t the only thing women are whispering about.

In this episode, Tami shares her lived experiences with infertility, miscarriage, family estrangement, friendship breakups, layoffs, a parent going to jail, emotional abuse, anxiety, autoimmune disease, and debt; and how carrying those stories quietly shaped her life.

This podcast was created to normalize honest conversations about miscarriage, infertility, mental health, estrangement, trauma, identity, and the complicated realities women are often shamed into silence over.

Shedding the Shame is not about trauma dumping. It’s not about perfection. It’s about respectful, grounded conversations where women can speak the truth about what they’ve survived and how they rebuilt.

If you’ve ever:

• Felt alone in your pain
• Minimized your own struggles
• Wondered if you were “too much”
• Smiled while carrying something heavy

This space is for you.

Shame weakens when it’s spoken out loud.

This is just the beginning.

Let’s shed the shame.

Want to be a guest? Fill out the intake form here: https://therealtamiwong.com/podcast

Emily has built her life around human connection. She designs spaces that pull women out from behind their screens and back into real, honest conversation. She skips the small talk and leads with courage.

In this episode, Emily shares her experience of miscarriage at 12 weeks. We talk about the grief that followed, the well-intended but unhelpful things people say after pregnancy loss, and how her mother’s own miscarriage shaped the way she approached trying to conceive.

We also talk about her estrangement from her father, which began when she was fifteen, and how that decision has impacted her identity, boundaries, and sense of trust.

This is a conversation about:

• Miscarriage and pregnancy loss
• Grief and the pressure to “have perspective”
• Family estrangement
• Trusting yourself after loss
• Building community as a form of healing
• Holding grief and gratitude at the same time

Emily shares how community has been woven into every chapter of her life; and how gathering women together has helped her process hard things and rebuild.

If you’ve experienced miscarriage, estrangement, or any kind of loss that reshaped you, this episode will resonate deeply.