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Unwritten with Steph
Life doesn’t always go as planned — but it’s never too late to begin again.
Unwritten with Steph is a podcast about reinvention, resilience, and the beauty of starting over. Each week, host Stephanie Shanks sits down for honest, heart-centered conversations with people who have faced life’s unexpected turns — and found their way back to themselves.
Through stories of transformation, courage, and self-discovery, Unwritten reminds us that our past doesn’t define us — it refines us. Whether you’re navigating midlife changes, rediscovering your purpose, or healing from the past, these raw and inspiring conversations will help you reconnect with your truth and remember: it’s never too late to rewrite your story.
Keywords: personal growth, transformation, reinvention, authenticity, self-discovery, healing, midlife awakening, empowerment, resilience, self-worth, courage, starting over
Episodes
65 episodes
Finding Your Best Self with Dr. Harmony Ryan
Dr. Harmony Ryan is a board-certified family medicine and obesity medicine physician, and owner of Harmony Medical Aesthetics in Verona, WI. After over a decade in corporate healthcare, she made the leap to build something on her own terms — a ...
Raise Your Frequency with Dennim Daniels
Raise Your Frequency with Dennim DanielsWhat if the anxiety you can't shake, the tension you carry in your shoulders, or the physical symptoms your doctor can't explain are actually stored emotions living in your body? In this epi...
Own Your Wellness with Dr. Tes Jordens
Dr. Tes Jordens didn't leave traditional medicine to do less — she left to finally do it right. In this conversation with Stephanie, she breaks down everything midlife women deserve to know about their bodies, their hormones, and their power to...
Your Body Isn't The Enemy with Dr. Angela Hanley
Dr. Angela Hanley has been a chiropractor in Baraboo for 26 years, and she's seen the same pattern over and over: women walking into her office convinced their bodies have betrayed them.In this conversation, we talk about why your nervou...
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"What if Nobody Books?" with Laura Hulleman
When was the last time you sent out a price and felt sick to your stomach?In this episode, I sit down with business coach Laura Hulleman to talk about the one thing that stops most of us from building sustainable businesses: charging wha...
Getting Curious About Your Inner World with Tina Hallis
What if instead of fighting your anxiety, perfectionism, or that voice that says you're not good enough, you could actually befriend them? Tina Hallis introduces us to Internal Family Systems—a framework that says all those "difficult" parts of...
What’s Really Happening with Dr. Tesa Jordens
What's Really Happening with Dr. Tesa JordensYou've been told you're fine. Your labs came back normal. But you're not sleeping. Your anxiety is through the roof. Your body doesn't feel like yours anymore. And no one is listening.<...
Building a Brand That Women Trust with Dena Frisch
Dena Frisch has watched countless businesses rise and fall over her 20-year career in media. The ones that survive? They build trust, stay consistent, and show up for their audience — even when the platforms keep changing. In this episode, Dena...
Beyond the Bedroom: Honest Conversations About Sex and Partnership with Christie Bemis
In this deeply honest conversation, Steph sits down with Christie Bemis—psychotherapist, somatic sex educator, and relationship coach—to explore one of the most taboo topics in the Midwest: sex and eroticism.Christie shares her personal...
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From Colonoscopies to Christmas Cards with Betsy Bowers Hansen
Betsy returns for her second episode to talk about what really happens when you turn 45—starting with that surprise box in the mail and her eye-opening colonoscopy experience (spoiler: "virtual" doesn't mean what you think it means).But ...
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Dineo Dowd on Women's Empowerment, Hiking, and Living Authentically
What happens when women stop waiting for permission and just get outside?In this episode, I sit down with Dineo Dowd—hiker, author, and women's empowerment guide—to talk about finding freedom on the trail, building sisterhood in nature, ...
Makeup, Manifestation, and Owning Your Confidence at Any Age
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Francesca, a New York-trained makeup artist with 35+ years of experience and a gift for helping women feel beautiful in the skin they’re in. Together they explore the truth about beauty as an inside-out...
Taking Life by the Horns with Courtney Feigl of Green Pastures Cattle Co
Courtney Feigl lives between Plain and Sauk City, raises Texas Longhorns, and has built Green Pastures Cattle Co. into a 76K-follower community—all while battling the voice in her head that says she's not good enough. In this raw conversation, ...
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Finding Your Holiday Happy With Lacey Steffes
What if the holidays didn't have to be something you just survive? In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Lacey Steffes, owner of Spa Serenity in downtown Baraboo, to talk about creating a holiday season that actually brings you joy.T...
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The Things We Don't Talk About with Jessica Summers
In this deeply honest episode of Unwritten, I sit down with my friend Jessica Summers — an author, speaker, and coach who has turned her own pain into purpose.We talk about the things most people avoid: shame, silence, tr...
How to Bloom After Corporate: Branding, Identity & Choosing Yourself with Shauna Thayer
In this episode, I’m joined by marketing & branding expert Shauna Thayer, founder of Bloom Creative, for a conversation about what it really means to rebuild your life from the inside out.Shauna spent years in ...
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The Journey of Angels of Dirt: Storytelling, Spirit & the Power of Film
In this episode of Unwritten with Steph, I sit down with filmmaker Wendy Schneider to explore the nearly two-decade journey of creating the documentary Angels of Dirt. The film tells the story of Charlotte Cain a...
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A Life Of Creative Expression with Marjorie Cutting
From sewing costumes during the London Blitz to painting watercolors in Baraboo, Marjorie Cutting’s life is a living tapestry of creativity, courage, and reinvention.Born in England in 1933, Marjorie began her journey in the arts during ...
Holding the Frequency of Love with Marielle School
Welcome to another episode of Unwritten with Steph ShanksToday's Guest is Marielle School, you can find out more about her here:https://www.marielleschoolyoga.com/After a divine encounter in a hospital room, Mariela’s life ...
Permission to pivot: Krystle Frey’s Journey of Pivots, Podcasting & Purpose
Krystle Frey didn’t just start a podcast—she built a business. In this episode, we talk about valuing your work, knowing your worth, and how one “yes” can change everything. Whether you're launching a podcast or navigating a new season of life,...
Peaceful Choices, Powerful Outcomes: A Conversation on Divorce, Legacy, and Self-Worth with Shaunis Mercer
What if the scariest transitions in life—divorce, death, or starting over—could be handled with peace, clarity, and even empowerment? In this episode of Unwritten, I sit down with family law and estate planning attorney Shaunis Mercer,...
Lessons in Partnership & Pleasure with Christie Bemis
🎙️ Lessons in Partnership & Pleasure with Christie Bemis What does it mean to be truly seen and met in love—especially after 40? In this candid conversation, psychotherapist and women’s empowerment leader Christie...
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Digging into Baraboo: Archaeology, Community & Nature with Seth Taft
In this episode, I sit down with Seth Taft—professional archaeologist and director of Downtown Baraboo—for a deep dive into local history, mental health, the power of small towns, and living life with purpose. From sacred effigy mounds to the m...
Building A Purpose Driven Business with Andrea Andree
Andrea Andrea went from an overwhelmed corporate achiever to an intuitive leadership coach — and in this conversation, we unpack how. Tune in for real talk about entrepreneurship after 30, healing through breathwork, embodying your inner guidan...
You Are Here: Practicing Gratitude, Growth, and Finding Your Place with Nancy Kalsow
“You are here” isn’t just a map marker—it’s a mindset. Nancy shares how journaling, retreat hosting, and learning to speak up helped her go from invisible in the workplace to designing a legacy rooted in alignment. We talk fear, leadership, wri...
