The Internal Shift Show With Debbie Longo

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Jonny Havey about asthma, health challenges, resilience, perseverance, and the internal shift that taught him not to let limitations determine what he could accomplish.

Jonny shares how he was diagnosed with severe asthma as a young child and was told he should stop playing soccer. Instead of accepting that as the only possible outcome, his parents sought additional guidance and helped him find a gradual approach that allowed him to strengthen his lungs and remain active. Over time, he went from struggling through a few...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Sameer Ranjan about emotional numbness, trauma, resilience, and the internal shift that helped him reconnect with his humanity after working in one of the world's most dangerous professions.

As a mining engineer responsible for the safety of hundreds of workers deep underground, Sameer witnessed serious injuries and deaths on a regular basis. Over time, the constant exposure to danger caused him to disconnect emotionally, viewing accidents as statistics rather than human tragedies. He eventually realized he had become emotionally detached not only at work but...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Kanika Vasudeva about grief, surrender, purpose, healing, and the internal transformation that followed the devastating loss of her daughter during pregnancy.

Kanika shares how, on the surface, her life appeared successful and stable. She was working with major global brands, traveling, raising her young son, and preparing for the arrival of her second child. Internally, however, she was struggling with depression, emotional exhaustion, disconnection, and a growing loss of meaning in life.

At 31 weeks pregnant, Kanika experienced the unimaginable loss of her daughter...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Carine Van Hee about toxic relationships, emotional abuse, healing from manipulation, self-awareness, and the internal shifts that helped her understand lifelong relationship patterns and rebuild her life.

Carine shares how she grew up believing she came from a loving family, never realizing many of the relationship dynamics she witnessed as a child were emotionally unhealthy and controlling. Although she believed she would never stay in an abusive relationship, she later found herself trapped in toxic emotional patterns without fully understanding what was happening.

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In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Angell Kelly about burnout, limiting beliefs, spirituality, intuition, personal transformation, and the internal work that completely changed the direction of her life.

Angell shares how she spent years working as a full-time geologist in Canada while living in a constant cycle of overworking, hustling, and attaching her worth to productivity. Although she had already spent years doing inner healing work, improving her finances, relationships, and emotional well-being, she still felt deeply unhappy and disconnected from her career and lifestyle.

Throughout the conversation, Angell...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Nancy Dayo about chronic pain, disability, opioid addiction, identity loss, resilience, and the internal shifts that helped her rebuild her life after going from Silicon Valley CEO to bedridden chronic pain patient.

Nancy shares how her entire identity was built around achievement, endurance, pushing harder, and constantly proving herself through work and performance. After selling her business to a competitor, she attempted to reclaim her sense of strength by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Instead, the climb triggered a devastating spinal injury that completely changed the course...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Heather-Ann Ferri about childhood abuse, PTSD, self-care, emotional healing, meditation, and the internal shifts that helped her rebuild her life after years of trauma and self-sacrifice.

Heather-Ann shares how years of childhood abuse shaped the way she viewed herself, her voice, and her role in relationships and work environments. As an adult, she became an over-giver who constantly focused on helping others while ignoring her own emotional and physical needs.

While working in senior homes teaching yoga, meditation, and wellness programs for elderly...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Gina Economopoulos about grief, emotional pain, addiction, faith, loss, self-worth, and the years of internal conflict that shaped her life journey.

Gina shares how the sudden loss of her mother to cancer at 23 years old completely changed the direction of her life and left her searching for meaning, identity, and emotional stability. Struggling with grief and emotional pain, she returned to her Catholic roots and eventually joined a convent, believing that dedicating her life to God would bring healing and peace.

Although Gina...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Brenda Bridges about divorce, emotional trauma, victim mentality, personal responsibility, and the internal choices that helped her rebuild her life after the end of a 26-year marriage.

Brenda shares the moment her husband unexpectedly told her their marriage was over and how the divorce process became one of the most traumatic and emotionally difficult experiences of her life. She explains how easy it was to become consumed by negativity, anger, blame, and emotional overwhelm during the process.

Instead of staying stuck in that...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Steve Barton about therapy, forgiveness, spiritual awakening, intuition, and the life-changing experiences that completely shifted the direction of his life.

Steve shares how, despite having success, family, and stability, he still felt unhappy and disconnected internally. That realization led him to begin therapy more than 30 years ago during a time when seeking mental health support carried significant stigma.

During therapy, Steve realized he needed to confront unresolved emotional pain and forgive his father. After having a deeply emotional conversation with him, Steve experienced...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Zulma Williams, also known as The Swearing Therapist, about overcoming breast cancer, changing careers later in life, and refusing to let setbacks define her future.

Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Zulma moved to the United States at age 31 and spent years working in accounting before realizing she wanted a completely different life. At 42 years old, she decided to return to school pursue her passion for helping others through therapy.

Just six weeks after graduating with her bachelor’s degree and preparing to...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Vincent Hazenboom about overcoming trauma, fear, addiction, and years of living inside a negative mindset.

Vincent shares how childhood trauma and emotional pain led him into isolation, video game addiction, pornography addiction, and constant fear. For years, he avoided risk, stayed inside his comfort zone, and believed the negative thoughts he repeatedly told himself about not being good enough .

Everything began to change in 2014 when he experienced what he describes as a wake-up call that pushed him to finally ask for help. Through...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Zander Sprague about the devastating loss of his sister Lucy, who was murdered in 1996, and the emotional transformation that followed.

What began as overwhelming grief, depression, confusion, and emotional isolation eventually became a turning point that reshaped Zander’s life and direction. He openly shares the reality of sibling loss, the loneliness that often comes with unacknowledged grief, and the emotional impact of feeling invisible while others focused mainly on how his parents were coping.

Zander explains how difficult the early stages of gr...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo Transformational Coach speaks with Barry Deeks about surviving a life-altering accident and the long, ongoing process of rebuilding both physically and mentally.

After a serious accident that left him unable to walk or speak, Barry faced a complete disruption of his life. What followed was not an immediate recovery, but a gradual process of relearning basic functions—starting with speech, movement, and coordination . Within days, he began to regain his ability to communicate, and over time, he rebuilt his capacity to move, adapt, and function independently.

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In this episode of The Internal Shift Show Debbie Longo speaks with Russell Van Brocklen about transforming what is often seen as a limitation into a measurable advantage.

Diagnosed with dyslexia and placed in special education early on, Russell faced years of frustration, setbacks, and academic barriers. With a first-grade reading and writing level entering adulthood, the expectation was limitation—not advancement. Instead of accepting that outcome, he made a decision to challenge it.

The turning point came when he forced himself into environments that required higher-level thinking, including auditing law school classes and engaging in...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo, Transformational Coach speaks with Kevin Cover about a critical leadership breakdown that started not with failure—but with success.

After rapidly growing a business and doubling performance as a young general manager, Kevin found himself in a position many aim for—things were working. But that success led to comfort, and comfort led to subtle changes. He began stepping away from the very processes that created the results in the first place. What followed was not an immediate failure, but a gradual collapse.

Kevin shares how...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo, Transformational Coach speaks with Al Isaacs about a life-altering discovery that forced him to completely re-evaluate his identity, past, and sense of self.

During the COVID pandemic, while dealing with career disruption and both parents facing serious health issues, Al received unexpected news from a doctor that changed everything—he was adopted. What began as a passing comment turned into a confirmed reality that reshaped how he viewed his life, family, and personal history .

The process that followed was not immediate clarity, but layers of re...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo, Transformational Coach speaks with Cheryl Fimbel about the unexpected emotional and psychological impact of retirement—and the internal shift that changed everything.

After 45 years in healthcare, Cheryl was forced into retirement just weeks after losing her mother. What seemed like a financial concern at first quickly turned into something deeper. Without the structure, routine, and identity tied to her career, she found herself feeling lost, unproductive, and disconnected from purpose .

The turning point came when she realized she was not failing—she was experiencing a docu...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo, Transformational Coach speaks with Zolal Habibi about a life shaped by loss, resilience, and a commitment to something larger than herself.

At just seven years old, Zolal lost her father, a writer and human rights activist, to political violence. What could have defined her life through grief instead became the moment that reshaped how she saw the world. Rather than identifying as a victim, she made a decision early on to view her experience through strength, responsibility, and purpose .

That internal shift influenced every decision...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo, Transformational Coach speaks with Belinda Coker about the internal turning point that transformed her life from burnout, depression, and disconnection into clarity, health, and purpose.

At 55, during the pandemic, Belinda found herself overwhelmed by years of accumulated stress—divorce, motherhood, career pressure, and identity loss. She was exhausted, unhappy, and relying on habits that were pulling her further away from the life she wanted. The turning point came when she looked at herself honestly and made the decision that something had to change .

Instead of lo...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Heike Yates about the internal shift that changed how she approached health, performance, and self-worth.

After struggling with weight as a teenager and again after becoming a mother, Heike entered the fitness world determined to change her body and her life. What began as progress quickly turned into a pattern of pushing harder—bodybuilding, endurance racing, ultramarathons, and eventually completing an Ironman. On the outside, it looked like discipline and success. Internally, it was driven by pressure, comparison, and the need to prove something.

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In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Debbie Weiss about a lifetime of caregiving, burnout, and the moment that forced her to finally shift how she was thinking about her life.

From becoming her father’s caregiver at 17, to raising a child with special needs, supporting a husband with mental health challenges, and later facing his terminal illness, Debbie spent decades putting everyone else first. Over time, that pattern led to exhaustion, resentment, and a sense that her life was no longer her own .

The turning point came at age 50 wh...

Tigrilla Gardenia joined The Internal Shift Show With Debbie Longo and shared a powerful story of walking away from a life that looked perfect on the outside but felt misaligned internally. She described the moment she chose uncertainty over comfort—leaving a stable career at Microsoft and a structured life to follow a deeper internal truth.

The conversation explored how internal decisions, not external circumstances, drive real change. Tigrilla broke down how creative expression, community, and professional support helped her transition into a completely different path rooted in purpose and authenticity.

This episode highlights that yo...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo, Transformational Coach speaks with Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD, about a major internal and professional transformation that redefined her career, identity, and direction.

After years of building a successful career in higher education and reaching senior leadership, Mickey found herself experiencing severe burnout, health challenges, and a growing disconnect from her work. Despite external success, internally she recognized that the path she had committed to no longer aligned with who she was or what she valued.

The turning point came when she made the decision to step...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo, Transformational Coach speaks with Eric Robinson about a defining life decision that changed his direction, identity, and long-term outcomes.

Eric shares his journey from leading a growing church to realizing that the emotional weight of constantly carrying other people’s struggles was taking a serious toll on his health. What began as purpose-driven work turned into chronic stress, daily headaches, and internal conflict. Despite success on the outside, internally something was not aligned.

The turning point came when he made the decision to step away. Th...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo, Transformational Coach speaks with Rebecca Mullen about a moment that seemed small on the surface but carried deeper meaning that was quietly shaping her relationship and decisions.

What started as frustration over something as simple as an unmade bed revealed deeper assumptions, fears, and patterns rooted in past experiences. Rebecca shares how she moved from frustration and miscommunication to clarity by challenging her own thinking and changing how she communicated.

The turning point came when she stopped expecting others to think and respond the same...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Nan Saysana about her 30-year struggle with binge eating and how she ultimately broke the cycle through internal change.

Nan shares how her journey began with dieting in her teens, which quickly turned into years of yo-yo dieting, emotional eating, and frustration. Despite trying multiple approaches—from restricting food to intense exercise—nothing created lasting change.

The turning point came when she was introduced to a new perspective: her eating behavior was not random, but driven by her thoughts and emotional patterns. This real...

IIn this episode, Sheryl Hauk shares her experience of surviving childhood trauma and the long process of rebuilding her life piece by piece.

She opens up about years of silence, the impact of abuse, and the moment everything shifted—not through control, but through perspective. From her son’s life-threatening illness to a simple moment that changed how she saw everything, Sheryl explains how rebuilding doesn’t happen all at once—it happens step by step.

The conversation goes deeper into what it means to find your voice after years of staying quiet. Sheryl shares her deci...

In this episode, Heather Stewart shares the moment that forced her to slow down—a stroke that completely interrupted her fast-paced, wellness-focused life.

What started as resistance quickly became a shift in perspective. Heather explains how she moved from fighting what was happening to accepting it, trusting the process, and becoming curious instead of reactive. That shift changed everything—not just her recovery, but how she approached her life and work moving forward.

She breaks down the difference between physical health and emotional well-being, and why focusing on one while ignoring the other creates imbalance. The...

In this episode, Laura Bratton shares her experience of losing her vision and the internal shift that followed. What stands out is not the circumstance—but how she chose to respond to it.

This conversation focuses on resilience, faith, and the decisions that shape identity when life does not go as planned. Laura breaks down what it means to move forward without relying on external control, and how mindset, belief, and personal responsibility play a role in navigating adversity.

This is not about inspiration for the sake of feeling better—it is about understanding how stre...

In this episode, Nikki Allen shares her journey through adversity, emotional setbacks, and the moments that forced her to take a hard look at herself. What becomes clear is that change didn’t come from outside circumstances—it came from shifting how she thought, responded, and took responsibility for her behavior.

This conversation goes beyond storytelling. It breaks down the patterns that keep people stuck, the role of accountability in real growth, and what it actually takes to rebuild your identity after difficult experiences. There are moments where perspective shifts in real time—where excuses are challenged and aw...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Rick and Clancy about how major life transitions can reshape identity, relationships, and purpose.

The conversation begins with the moment many parents face but rarely prepare for—the transition to becoming empty nesters. Rick reflects on how the phrase itself carries a negative connotation, often associated with loss and loneliness. Instead of accepting that narrative, Rick and Clancy chose to approach the change differently.

They share how shifting their perspective allowed them to see the transition not as something ending, but as something ev...

IIn this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Transformational Coach Anna Quigley about how unexpected life disruptions can become powerful turning points.

Anna shares the story of a period in her life when everything she believed was stable suddenly collapsed. A career she loved ended abruptly, legal issues emerged around her home, and the life she had carefully built began to unravel in a very short period of time. What once felt like the “perfect life” quickly turned into uncertainty, stress, and difficult questions.

Instead of staying stuck in the question of w...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Olaolu (Lou) Ogunyemi about how rejection, adversity, and personal challenges can become the foundation for leadership and growth.

Lou shares how early experiences in childhood shaped the way he viewed rejection and personal worth. As one of six children, he learned how perceptions formed early in life can influence confidence, decisions, and direction. Over time, those experiences pushed him to develop resilience, discipline, and a stronger understanding of how internal beliefs affect external outcomes.

During the conversation, Lou explains how setbacks and uncomfortable...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo speaks with Jenna Udenberg about how personal adversity can shape resilience, purpose, and leadership. Jenna shares her journey growing up with juvenile arthritis, becoming a wheelchair user at a young age, and navigating a world that was not designed with accessibility in mind.

Through discrimination, medical challenges, and nearly two decades as a music educator, Jenna developed grit, adaptability, and a powerful perspective on identity and inclusion. She explains how early experiences with disability shaped the way she approached education, relationships, and opportunity.

The conversation...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Chip Scholz shares the defining moment that forced him to completely reassess his life and leadership. After years of nonstop work, heavy travel, unhealthy habits, and constant pressure, he suffered a stroke in 2012 that left him partially paralyzed and struggling cognitively. What could have ended his momentum instead became the turning point.

Chip made a deliberate decision not to identify as a victim. He rebuilt step by step, losing over 100 pounds, restoring his physical strength, reshaping his mindset, and redefining what success actually meant. This conversation explores burnout, discipline...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo sits down with Phyllis Leavitt to discuss trauma, healing, and the internal responsibility required to create lasting change. Phyllis shares her personal journey through adversity and how confronting painful truths became the foundation for emotional freedom, clarity, and purpose.

This conversation explores the long-term impact of unresolved trauma, the behavioral patterns that keep individuals stuck, and the courage it takes to break those cycles. Phyllis explains how awareness, accountability, and conscious choice create the internal shift that changes both personal and professional outcomes.

If you...

What happens when life changes in an instant? In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo sits down with Ken Kunken to discuss resilience, identity, and the internal decisions that shape long-term outcomes. After a life-altering event that could have defined his limits, Ken chose a different path. He shares how mindset, discipline, and personal responsibility became the foundation for building a meaningful life and career.

This conversation explores overcoming adversity, redefining purpose, navigating setbacks, and the internal shift required to move from limitation to leadership. Ken speaks candidly about perseverance, perspective, and building strength...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Randy Bishop shares the defining moments that reshaped his mindset and redirected his path forward. He speaks candidly about the challenges he faced, the internal decisions that changed everything, and how personal responsibility became the turning point in his growth. This conversation explores resilience, accountability, and the quiet but powerful shifts that move someone from surviving circumstances to leading with clarity and strength. If you have ever questioned whether real change is possible after a setback, this episode demonstrates how transformation begins internally long before results appear externally.

Connect...

In this episode of The Internal Shift Show, Debbie Longo sits down with Alicia Meek to explore how internal pressure, perfectionism, and unprocessed stress can manifest physically—and how conscious daily rituals can create lasting transformation.

Alicia shares her personal story of experiencing an eight-week panic attack that forced her to stop working, rebuild her confidence, and completely reevaluate how she related to pressure and performance. What began as a breaking point became a defining internal shift.

The conversation explores nervous system regulation, grounding practices, morning rituals, identity shifts, and the discipline required to maintain em...