What if your voice was your greatest creative tool?

In this week's Follow Your Joy podcast episode, meet Vaughn Fahie—a jazz saxophonist, intuitive audio engineer, and creative visionary behind Audio Newborn Productions and The Voice Brander.

Vaughn's journey began with a love for music three decades ago, following his intuition to become a full-time artist even before the money caught up. Today, he brings that same artistic soul into the audiobook world—helping first-time authors step into their authentic voice and record their books with confidence and heart.

He's like a voice whisperer—intuitively guiding authors to speak from their soul, not their script. His process transforms recording from a "daunting task" into an inspiring experience of self-expression.

His greatest joy? Watching his clients go from self-doubt to "When can I record my next book?" It's about overcoming fear, unlocking expression, and honoring the legacy of your voice.

In this soulful and enlightening episode, we talk about:

• How Vaughn integrated his musical career with his creation of Audio Newborn Productions

• His actor's studio-style process to help authors speak their truth

• Why every voice has a "voiceprint"—and how to find yours

• How sound carries our stories, emotions, and energy into the world

🎁 Plus, get Vaughn's free ebook Push Record So the World Can Push Play to discover how your voice can become your legacy → Find it in the Portal of Joy: www.marladiann.com/podcast/portal

Streaming on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon, YouTube (@marladiann)

Resources + Links:
Instagram: @vaughnfahie

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaughnthevoicebrander

FB: Vaughn Fahie
https://audionewbornproductions.com

Marla loves helping ambitious women redefine and integrate new success metrics that honor their feminine arts & wisdom blended with masculine strategies creating a new identity, next chapter and new relationship with money.

Her next 90-day Soul-Led Next Level Portal begins in late January 2026. Curious? Book your Soul-Led-Next-Chapter curation call: https://tinyurl.com/soul-led-call

Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

Buongiorno… or perhaps Buonasera—depending on where you are in the world.

Today's episode is a heart-opening love letter to Florence, Italy. And if you've ever stepped foot in a foreign city and felt inexplicably at home—like your soul had been there before—this story will speak to you.

I'm joined by the beautiful and wise Melinda Gallo, writer, intuitive expat, website developer, and author of the exquisite new book Messages from Florence—a collection of soulful reflections, photography, and poetic messages received through her 21-year journey of living in Florence.

Melinda didn't plan to live in Italy. But after arriving for what was meant to be a three-month break to learn Italian and find inspiration, the city had other plans.

Within weeks, she had an apartment, a job, and a whole new life—and she's been guided by Florence ever since.

Inside this romantic, soulful episode, we talk about:

• How Melinda followed her intuition (and left a successful tech career in Paris) to start over in Italy

• Why Florence became her muse, her teacher, and her greatest guide

• The story behind her book Messages from Florence and how it was divinely downloaded over years of quiet communion with the city

• The creative rituals and intuitive practices that shaped her path

• What it truly means to lead a heart-centered life

• A beautiful $10-off gift for Messages from Florence—link below!

Melinda's story reminds us that reinvention doesn't always begin with a plan. Often it begins with a feeling… and the courage to follow it.

🎧 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon, YouTube or:
👉 www.marladiann.com/ep94

🛍️ Grab Melinda's stunning book with $10 off:
Available via the Portal of Joy → www.marladiann.com/podcast/portal

Resources + Links:
www.melindagallo.com
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInFlorence/
https://www.instagram.com/melindagallo

Marla's favorite mentoring - Helping ambitious women redefine and integrate new success metrics that honor their feminine arts & wisdom blended with masculine strategies creating a new identity, next chapter and new relationship with money.

Her next 90-day Soul-Led Next Level Portal begins in late January 2026. Curious? Book your Soul-Led-Next-Chapter Call: https://tinyurl.com/soul-led-call

Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

You are going to love this week's episode of the Follow Your Joy Podcast—it's an inspiring, full-circle moment with someone I've had the honor of walking alongside for over 17 years as a dear friend and client: Brianne Cohen, a Los Angeles based certified sommelier, event producer, writer, and wine industry trailblazer.

Brianne and I met in 2007 when we were both navigating reinvention. Since then, she's built a remarkable career that blends creativity, entrepreneurship, strategy—and of course, a deep love of wine.

In our conversation, we explore:
+How she scaled her online wine education business during the pandemic to serve over 10,000+ people
+The exact way she uses her intuition to evaluate opportunities and protect her time
+Her international wine writing career with features in Decanter, Edible, and Business Insider
+ Her commitment to spotlighting diverse-owned wines (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women-owned)

And we are celebrating her newest accomplishments as Lead Sommelier at Montauk restaurant in Redondo Beach and her role as President of the LA Chapter of Women for WineSense

From galas and capital campaigns to curated wine tastings for corporate teams and ERGs, Brianne has redefined success on her own terms—and she's still evolving.

She's also gifting you her fan-favorite guide: "Answers to the 5 Most Commonly Asked Wine Questions" Grab it here: marladiann.com/podcast/portal

Resources + Links:
Instagram: @Sommspirations
FB & LI: Brianne Pergola Cohen
www.briannecohen.com

Marla's favorite mentoring - Helping ambitious women redefine and integrate new success metrics that honor their feminine arts & wisdom blended with masculine principles creating a new identity, next chapter and new relationship with money.

Her next 90-day Soul-Led Next Level Portal begins in late January 2026. Curious? Book your Soul-Led-Next-Chapter Call: https://tinyurl.com/soul-led-call

Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

If you've been craving a more soulful connection to your body, your intuition, and the way you lead your life—this episode is a breath of fresh air. It's not just about horses. It's about coming home to you.

I'm so delighted to bring you today's deeply moving conversation with transformational coach and equine guide, Sue Willoughby, founder of Willoughby Coaching and host of the Midlife Strategies for Badass Women podcast.

This episode explores something I've been fascinated by for years: the intuitive, spiritual, and healing power of horses—and how they reflect back to us the truth of who we are. My closest friends are horse women. I love the whole intuitive aspect of horses and how they teach us the importance of being grounded, authentic, and transparent.

From my early mentor Kendall Summerhawk's teachings in her book Brilliance Unbridled, to Sue's equine-assisted coaching practice, I've witnessed again and again how horses become sacred mirrors of our inner lives.

They teach us about leadership, presence, boundaries, and the wisdom of being in a "herd"—a community where everyone matters and connection is everything.

Sue brings her lived wisdom, humor, resilience, and story to this episode in a way that's both grounding and inspiring. She shares candidly about her path:

· Growing up in hardship and learning to self-soothe through her bond with horses

· Coming out gay as a young woman and navigating her identity through decades of growth and reinvention

· Saying yes to risk, creativity, and change—leaving behind a 6-figure job to follow her calling

· How skydiving became the metaphor (and literal leap!) into her next career

And at the heart of her message is this powerful truth: Horses are intuitive, present, and emotionally honest. When we partner with them, they help us become the same.

You'll also learn:

• What equine-assisted coaching actually looks like in practice

• Why Sue believes working with horses is not just healing—but life-changing for many women in midlife

• How horses sense and reflect back our incongruence, helping us re-align with our intuition

• The power of somatic awareness in decision-making

• Her involvement in the documentary film Rescued Hearts and what it revealed to her about communal healing

Sue's work guides women from feeling burned out and boxed in to becoming resilient, radiant, and unshakable.

Sue's secondary focus and passion is real estate and podcasting. She teaches real estate investors and realtors how to build a podcast platform for their brand. She's offering you a robust free workbook and download to begin that journey for yourself. Links below.

Tune in now on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, YouTube or iHeart Radio.

Let this be your invitation to reinvent your success metrics through presence, community, and intuitive trust.

Resources + Links:
FB: willoughbycoaching
Instagram: sue_willoughby
LinkedIn: suewilloughby

-Sue's newsletter, tips: https://willoughbycoaching.com
-Download Sue's free gift in our Portal of Joy: Podcasting for Real Estate Pros" Series + Companion Workbook. Access in the Portal of Joy https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal

Exclusive access to all 21 episodes of Podcasting for Real Estate Pros: Attract Clients, Build Trust, and Stand Out in a Crowded Market—along with the official Companion Workbook to guide your journey. The lessons apply to any entrepreneur ready to add podcasting to their marketing arsenal.

Loved this episode? Unlock all the tools, downloads, and featured guest resources at the Portal of Joy: https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal

Book your Soul-Led Next Chapter call with Marla: https://tinyurl.com/soul-led-call

Who doesn't love a good, nostalgic piece of homemade pie? It's the ultimate comfort food. You know the kind—golden, flaky crust… bubbling fruit or creamy filling… the scent filling the kitchen while someone you love pulls it out of the oven. It's more than dessert. It's a feeling. A memory. A moment of joy.

In today's episode, I bring you a guest whose story is as comforting and inspiring as the pies she bakes. Meet Laurie Gray, the steadfast founder and creator of Laurie's Pie Bar, a beloved pie shop located in the heart of Long Beach, California.

But here's the twist: Laurie never intended to become a pie entrepreneur. In fact, owning a dessert company wasn't even on her "life bingo card," as she says. After a long and fulfilling career in corporate America, Laurie was laid off unexpectedly at age 50—as a single mom of two teens. In the middle of uncertainty, she turned to something familiar, simple, and soul-soothing: baking pies in her home kitchen.

What started as a holiday side hustle to make ends meet quickly blossomed into a full-blown business—and Laurie's Pie Bar was born.

In this heartwarming episode, you'll hear:

• The behind-the-scenes story of Laurie's unexpected reinvention

• How trusting her intuition led her to say yes to entrepreneurship

• The joy and meaning she finds in watching people connect through pie

• Her favorite part of owning a brick-and-mortar business in a digital age

• Why she believes pie holds a special place in people's hearts and homes

Laurie reminds us that sometimes life's most fulfilling chapters come when we least expect them—and that sweetness can come out of even the most uncertain moments.

Special Listener Pie Gift! Access in the Portal of Joy https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal

Stop by Laurie's Pie Bar in Long Beach, CA or inquire online at the site about catering (hello, Cutie Pies!) for weddings, birthdays, corporate events. www.lauriespiebar.com

Follow Laurie and her pie magic:
Instagram: @lauriespiebar
Facebook: Laurie's Pie Bar
TikTok & YouTube: @lauriespiebar

Loved this episode? Unlock all the tools, downloads, and featured guest resources at the Portal of Joy: https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal

Welcome back, creative soul! After a summer of reflection and re-airing several of our most impactful episodes through the Summer Reset Series, I'm returning refreshed, excited to jump back into connecting with you on the show—and a renewed devotion to women's reinvention.

In this milestone 90th episode, I take you behind the scenes of our sold-out Your Voice Matters: Setting the Stage to Impact Humanity workshop. After nine months of visioning, setbacks, breakthroughs, and co-creation with my brilliant collaborators Laura Chavez Weintraub and Ashley Rivera, we brought to life an unforgettable day of empowerment, vulnerability, and transformation.

You'll hear how women—from emerging speakers to seasoned leaders—moved through fear, imposter syndrome, and resistance to boldly own their voices and share their stories on stage. What happened in that room wasn't just a workshop—it was a call to rise, to speak, to lead with soul.

And that's exactly what this episode is about.
We are not returning to business as usual.
We are taking a Quantum Leap forward to our future selves.

This episode is a love letter to the woman who is:

• Feeling the stirring inside for something deeper

• Questioning the old metrics of success

• Craving more joy, play, adventure, sensuality, and desire in her life

• Tired of the burnout loop and ready to work with her intuition—not against it

✨ I'll guide you through:

• The origin story of my Creative Achievement Formula — Desires + Goals = Transformation & Results

• My 2017 burnout that catapulted me into a month-long soul-led adventure in Florence, Italy—and completely redefined my identity

• Why we must stop neglecting the feminine gifts of creativity, desire, feelings, and intuitive leadership

• What happens when we build from burnout versus when we create from overflow

• How to embody your next-chapter self by shifting from "doing" to being—from a verb to a noun

You'll also hear about the upcoming Soul-Led Next Level Portal, my 90-day immersive coaching container beginning October 8th, created for women who are ready to:

• Redefine success from the inside out

• Create aligned income with less push, more pull

• Lead with grace, joy, creativity, and power

• Live and work from the union of feminine energy and productive action

This isn't about abandoning your ambition. It's about amplifying it—with alignment, intuition, and divine feminine leadership.

This is your invitation to return to the wisdom of your body, your joy, and your soul's desires. You're not stuck. You're being called to a new chapter. And I'm here to help you design it.

Tune in now and let this episode be your permission slip to redefine what success really means—for you.

Learn more about the Soul-Led Portal: https://marladiann.com/soulled/
Book your Soul-Led-Next-Chapter Call: https://tinyurl.com/soul-led-call

Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy.