After a 30-year marriage ended, most people wouldn't buy a house alone in rural France. Roberta Samuels did and then wrote four books about it.

Roberta is an author, painter, and lifelong Francophile who studied at the Sorbonne, led small-group tours through the hidden corners of France, and ultimately traded her old life for a medieval townhouse in the southwest.

In this conversation with Brigitte Cutshall, Roberta shares how a COVID-era writing course unlocked a creative second act, why her mystery novels are packed with real-world issues like immigration and stolen art, and the one mindset shift every aspiring writer needs.

3 Takeaways:

(1) Reinvention is a choice.

(2) The richest stories come from real life.

(3) Start with patience, not perfection.

Inspired by art, travel, and the courage to start over?

Visit https://RobertaSamuels.com to explore her books and artwork, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Reach out. She'd love to hear from you.

Grief doesn't ask you to move on. It asks you to carry love forward.

Brigitte Cutshall speaks with Enya Flack, an actress, reporter, and Infinity Garden advocate for an honest, heartfelt conversation about navigating loss. Drawing from personal experience — including losing her husband in 2018 — Enya shares how grief reshaped her perspective on healing, remembrance, and connection.

Together, they explore why grief doesn’t follow a schedule, how the words we use around loss can either isolate or comfort, and how Infinity Garden is helping fill the quiet gap that often comes after the casseroles stop coming and the calls fade out.

3 Takeaways:

(1) Grief has no timeline — healing looks different for everyone.

(2) Small acts of remembrance can create comfort, connection, and peace.

(3) Kindness and human connection help carry us through loss.

If you or someone you love is navigating loss, check out Infinity Garden at https://infinitygarden.org — a gentle digital space to remember, reflect, and heal on your own timeline.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.

A system designed to heal shouldn’t wait for people to get sick.

In this episode of Real Things Living, Brigitte Cutshall speaks with Gil Bashe, Chair of Global Health & Purpose at FINN Partners and author of Healing the Sick Care System: Why People Matter.

With decades of experience across healthcare, business, and caregiving, Gil shares a powerful perspective on why today’s healthcare system often prioritizes processes over people.

Through personal stories and real-world examples, Brigitte and Gil dive into the importance of communication, curiosity, and human connection in creating better health outcomes.

Key Takeaways

(1) Prevention is undervalued. The system often delays care until conditions worsen—costing more in the long run.

(2) Connection drives better care. The strongest outcomes come from providers who listen, communicate, and build trust.

(3) You are your own advocate. Asking questions, staying curious, and choosing the right providers can transform your health journey.

Resources & Links:

"Healing the Sick Care System: Why People Matter" by Gil Bashe

https://www.finnpartners.com/bio/gil-bashe/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilbashe/

Share this with someone who cares about their health or someone navigating the healthcare system.

Let’s create a healthier future together.

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Survival shouldn't be a guessing game.

Diagnosed with advanced T-cell lymphoma in 2009, Army veteran and attorney Glenn Sturm refused to leave his survival to chance. He built his own integrated, multidisciplinary cancer care team before most hospitals even knew what that meant.

Now he's writing the book on it — literally — and the data behind his approach is staggering: a 70% reduction in mortality rates for cancer patients who use this model.

3 Takeaways:

(1) Your cancer team should have more than just a doctor. Glenn's research identified 46 potential specialists — from psychiatrists and exercise physiologists to epidemiologists and music therapists. Most people need five. Almost no one has them.

(2) Mindset isn't a cliché — it's medicine. From making someone laugh every day to finding a passion worth fighting for, Glenn lives by one phrase: "We must give up hope for a better yesterday." Move forward, on purpose.

(3) Children spell love as T-I-M-E. Not quality time — quantity. The people and passions that fill your days are what slow the disease and extend the life.

Connect with Glenn at https://glensturm.com — his upcoming book, More Than Hope, and his full list of multidisciplinary cancer care specialists are there.

If something's missing, he genuinely wants to hear from you.

You don't have to blow up your life — or your kids' — to end a marriage.

Joe Dillon, co-founder of Equitable Mediation Services, joins Real Things Living to challenge the traditional divorce narrative by treating it as a forward-looking financial and emotional transition rather than a post-mortem of a failed contract.

Drawing from his own childhood experiences, Joe explains how staying "future-focused" through the windshield instead of the rearview mirror can preserve a family's dignity and long-term health.

Key Takeaways

(1) The 75% Rule: Because child support, alimony, and property division are core components, approximately 75% of a divorce is financial in nature and requires data-driven decisions.

(2) Discovery Before Deciding: To avoid "unwittingly" creating significant long-term damage, couples must gather all necessary information before finalizing parenting plans or asset divisions.

(3) Intentional Amicability: A peaceful, "no-fault" divorce is an achievable choice when parents prioritize the needs of their children over legal litigation and personal grievances.

Visit https://equitablemediation.com to access free resources, state-specific guides, and book a consultation with Joe or his co-founder Cheryl.

When life serves up a terminal diagnosis or a career-altering shift, most people search for a way out. Tom LeNoble searches for the lesson.

From growing up in a Florida shack to becoming employee #57 at Facebook, Tom’s journey is a masterclass in risk, renewal, and the art of "living fully while dying".

In this episode of Real Things Living, Tom discusses how to treat resilience as a muscle and why he considers himself a "clinical trial of one" after 14 years of living with metastatic cancer.

3 Key Takeaways:

(1) Resilience is your greatest currency. The stock market can crash, you can lose your title or your home — but no one can ever take your resilience away from you. Treat it like a muscle and train it.

(2) Embrace Terrible Gifts: Difficult experiences like illness or loss often yield a "gift" over time, such as a new perspective or a solution that helps others.

(3) Be here now. Don't live in the past hoping for a do-over, or in the future fearing what might come. The magic of life is happening right now.

Grab Tom's memoir-meets-self-help book, "My Life in Business Suits, Hospital Gowns and High Heels", available on Amazon and all major retailers.

Connect with him at https://www.tomlenoble.com/

Check out his podcast, Opening Pathways on YouTube and your favorite platform.

What happens when everything is stripped away?

In a split second, Dominic Forth went from a honeymoon rafting trip to fighting for his life beneath the surface of the Zambezi River. That "flipped moment" didn't just change his perspective—it redefined how he leads and how he helps others share their truth.

Dominic Forth, CEO of Thought Leaders America, joins Brigitte Cutshall on Real Things Living to discuss:

(1) The Calm, Clarity, Courage framework for facing any challenge.

(2) Why "starting with heart" is the key to resolving conflict.

(3) How to stop the "invisible tax on silence" in your business and life.

Dominic’s journey from the depths of the Zambezi to leading a platform for global thinkers serves as a powerful reminder that our stories are our greatest assets.

"I realized what would have happened if I'd have died that day. All of my life, my stories and everything inside of me... would have gone. There's more life in me yet."

Don't let your story go untold.

Visit https://www.thoughtleadersamerica.com/ to learn how Dominic and his team are amplifying voices that make a positive impact.

Stop surviving your circumstances and start thriving through the "adventures" that shaped you.

In this episode of Real Things Living, Brigitte Cutshall hosts Rhonda Farrah, a lifestyle empowerment alchemist who shares how she navigated high-stakes life "adventures"—including a federal prison camp stay, a breast cancer diagnosis, and financial ruin.

Rhonda reveals how she transformed these "messes into messages" by choosing to see them as opportunities for growth rather than crises. Notably, she clarifies that her prison record was later expunged and was entirely non-violent and non-drug related.

They explore the "inside job" of fixing your relationship with yourself to move from merely surviving to truly thriving.

Key Takeaways:

(1) Fix Your Reflection First: True empowerment begins by learning to appreciate, respect, and love the person looking back at you in the mirror.

(2) The Alchemist’s Formula: Combining daily gratitude with deep self-forgiveness creates an empowered life by clearing the "debris" of past resentment.

(3) Respond, Don't React: Choosing to respond rather than react allows you to move through life’s challenges with authenticity and clarity.

Ready to fix your reflection? Visit Rhonda at https://helpmerhondanow.com or reach her directly at rhonda@helpmerhondanow.com.

Follow her on social media for inspiration:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rhonda.farrah

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/helpmerhondanow_/

And keep an eye out for her upcoming book, "Fix Your Reflection: Your Guide to Growing Where You're Planted" coming this fall.