Unfinished Stories : The Next Chapter

Episode 03: Wealth & Well-being: How Self-Worth Transforms Success with Dedee Cai

In today’s episode, Stephanie welcomes Dedee Cai, founder of Fit to Profit, a holistic coaching practice that empowers entrepreneurs to align their self-worth with their net worth. Through her personal story of overcoming burnout, loss, and limiting beliefs, Dedee shares how self-care, setting boundaries, and nurturing your emotional well-being are pivotal to unlocking the life you deserve. From navigating a deep personal loss to building a thriving business, Dedee’s journey is a testament to the power of reinvention and the importance of self-worth in achieving success. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will help you get unstuck and find purpose in your own challenges.
Discussion Highlights:
The Breaking Point: A Life Reimagined Dedee shares her personal turning point—losing her best friend and hitting burnout—leading her to a deeper path of self-healing and coaching.
The Power of Physical and Emotional Health How Dedee’s journey into fitness and mindfulness became the foundation for both her personal transformation and business success.
Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs Around Money Understanding how self-worth directly impacts financial success, and why entrepreneurs must overcome feelings of unworthiness to thrive.
The Role of Boundaries in Personal and Professional Growth How setting boundaries is essential for maintaining energy and focus, both in life and business, and practical tips for creating non-negotiable routines.
From Pain to Purpose: Navigating Challenges Dedee discusses how every obstacle is an opportunity to grow and how embracing challenges can help uncover your true purpose.
Ready to embrace your own messy, beautiful story? Tune in now, subscribe to Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone. Let’s continue writing our next chapter—together.

Episode 2: Embrace the Mess with Anne Lepelaars,

Welcome to Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter. In this episode, we dive headfirst into the beauty of imperfection with Anne Lepelaars, a somatic trauma therapist whose journey from debilitating panic attacks to guiding others through life's most turbulent challenges is nothing short of inspiring.
Together, Anne and I explore how our "mess" isn’t something to hide but a treasure trove of growth, transformation, and self-discovery. From surviving her first panic attack at 16 to working in conflict zones like Afghanistan, Anne shares how saying "yes" to life’s invitations has transformed her path—and how it can do the same for you.
Highlights from this episode:
Panic as a TeacherDiscover how Anne reframed her debilitating panic attacks into powerful signals of self-awareness and resilience.
Say Yes to the Mess Learn how accepting life’s chaos can open doors to unexpected healing and purpose.
The Wisdom of the Body Why tuning into your physical sensations is a crucial step in recognizing and responding to emotional trauma.
Healing in Action How Anne’s work with women and children in war-torn areas sheds light on the power of human resilience.
From Fixing to Feeling Shift from trying to “fix” yourself to embracing every part of who you are—messiness and all.
Ready to embrace your own messy, beautiful story? Tune in now, subscribe to Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone. Let’s continue writing our next chapter—together.
 

Episode 1: The Courage to Begin Again

Have you ever felt like you've missed your moment? That your dreams belong to a version of yourself that no longer exists? In this premiere episode of Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, I'm inviting you into my own journey—one filled with detours, self-doubt, and a creative spark that refused to go out.
For over four decades, I wrote in private, convinced my stories weren’t worth sharing. But life has a way of pulling us back to the things that matter most. Through unexpected challenges, personal reinvention, and a move that reset my entire life, I rediscovered my passion for storytelling. Now, I’m stepping out of the shadows, embracing the uncertainty, and finally sharing the stories that have been waiting to be told.
If you’ve ever put a dream on hold—whether for a season or for a lifetime—this episode is for you. Let’s talk about fear, imposter syndrome, and the courage it takes to pick up the pen and start again. Because no matter how long it’s been, your story isn’t over.
Highlights from this episode:
The Weight of Unfinished DreamsHow fear and self-doubt kept me from embracing my passion for writing—and why I finally decided to change that.
Reinvention and ResilienceFrom real estate to podcasting to becoming an author, the twists and turns that led me here.
The Life Reset I Didn’t See ComingHow an unexpected move to San Diego helped me reconnect with my creative self.
Trusting the Story You’re Meant to TellWhy the stories inside us refuse to stay silent—and how I’m learning to let mine take center stage.
A New BeginningWhy I started Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter and what you can expect in the episodes ahead.
So grab a coffee, settle in, and start this new chapter—together.

Unfinished Stories Presents : The Writer's Room

Join host Stephanie Essary for a special monthly episode of Unfinished Stories: Next Chapter. Each month, we bring together an inspiring panel of writers, creatives, and individuals navigating personal and professional transformations. Alongside mental health professionals, wellness experts, and industry insiders, we explore what it means to reclaim your story, rewrite your narrative, and embrace your next pivotal moment.
Whether you're healing, creating, or reimagining your path, The Writers Room delivers practical advice and real-life stories to guide you forward with intention. Packed with thought-provoking discussions, this series is a powerful reminder that no matter how unfinished or messy your story feels, you hold the pen.
Don’t miss this month’s panel—subscribe now to Unfinished Stories: Next Chapter on your favorite podcast platform and join us in The Writers Room.

Welcome to Unfinished Stories : Next Chapter

Welcome to Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, a podcast for anyone who's ever felt stuck between who they were and who they want to become. In this series, we'll explore the messy, beautiful journey of reclaiming our paused dreams and abandoned goals.
Each week, we'll dive into different aspects of this journey:
How to find strength in our failures
Rediscovering our voice after silence
The art of starting over
Finding purpose in our pain
And most importantly, how to write our next chapter
You'll hear raw, honest stories from me and others who've walked this path. We'll bring in experts who can help us understand the psychology of unfinished dreams, and practical tools to move forward.
Because here's what I've learned - sometimes our greatest setbacks are actually setups for our strongest comebacks. If you're ready to dust off your unfinished story and start writing again, this is your invitation to join us.
This is Unfinished Stories: The Next Chapter, because your story isn't over - it's just waiting for its next beginning.