In this episode, "Finding the Gift in Your Situation" special guest Michelle Mann shares her journey of resilience and transformation, highlighting the impact of a life-changing, drunk driving car accident and the subsequent growth and self-discovery. She emphasizes the power of community support and the importance of finding the gift in challenging situations. The candid narrative also explores the themes of vulnerability, self-love, and the significance of looking up in the face of adversity.

Takeaways

• Resilience through simultaneous losses
• Community support and creating Sacred Circles
• Looking up in face of adversity

About Michelle Mann:

Michelle is a healer and practitioner of Native American and non-traditional healing techniques. She lives in Vail, Arizona, where she hots monthly healing circles called Sacred Circles. Find more about Michelle and her Sacred Circles on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.i.mann.

About Heidi Siefkas:

Heidi Siefkas is a Nashville-based author of 4 books, TEDx speaker, podcaster, and adventurer.

📖 To explore her latest book, Look Up—Global Stories of Resilience: https://bit.ly/49QOPCH.

🎤 Bring Heidi to your event: https://heidisiefkas.com/speaking/

🌐 To connect with Heidi and share your story for the Look Up Mindset Podcast, visit www.heidisiefkas.com.

In this episode, "Tidal Wave of Loss," Amy Becker recounts her family's tragic loss of Sydney, age 22, followed by the grieving process, and the journey to finding a new normal. In this not sugar-coated and emotional story, Amy highlights how surrounding yourself with the right people is essential for support after the loss of a loved one. She also stressed that Look Up is a genuine tool that has allowed her to slow down and be in the moment.

Takeaways

• Resilience as a parent and as a family
• Find your people
• Look Up allows you to slow down and be in the moment
• It's ok to walk alongside your pain

About Amy Becker:

Amy is a proud mother, wife, and athlete, and the Lead Educator in the Quality & Patient Safety Department at Emplify Health, previously known as Gundersen Health System, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Amy, her husband, and daughter encourage supporting the Mini Donut Foundation (www.minidonutfoundation.com) or your local mental health awareness non-for-profit.

About Heidi Siefkas:

Heidi Siefkas is a Nashville-based author of 4 books, TEDx speaker, podcaster, and adventurer.

📖 To explore her latest book, Look Up—Global Stories of Resilience: https://bit.ly/49QOPCH.

🎤 Bring Heidi to your event: https://heidisiefkas.com/speaking/

🌐 To connect with Heidi and share your story for the Look Up Mindset Podcast, visit www.heidisiefkas.com.

In this episode, "Lessons from a Survivor," the Look Up Mindset dives into Mariah Forster Olson's journey as a childhood cancer survivor, highlighting her resilience, survivorship, and the importance of hope and positivity. Mariah, a real-life shero, also emphasizes the Look Up Mindset and the significance of community and support for those affected by childhood cancer. She shares advice for patients and caregivers, and provides information on where to find more about her, her book, Hope Over Despair, and the organizations she works with.

Takeaways

• Resilience at any age
• Survivorship
• The Look Up Mindset
• Finding Your Community

About Mariah Forster Olson:

Mariah is an author, childhood cancer survivor, and advocate. To find out more about Mariah and her book, Hope Over Despair, visit, www.hopeoverdespair.com

About Heidi Siefkas:

Heidi Siefkas is a Nashville-based author of 4 books, TEDx speaker, podcaster, and adventurer.

📖 To explore her latest book, Look Up—Global Stories of Resilience: https://bit.ly/49QOPCH.

🎤 Bring Heidi to your event: https://heidisiefkas.com/speaking/

🌐 To connect with Heidi and share your story for the Look Up Mindset Podcast, visit www.heidisiefkas.com.

This episode, "From Adversity to Purpose," with Tom Thibodeau on the Look Up Mindset podcast delves into themes of resilience, community, and servant leadership. Tom shares his personal journey of adversity and transformation, highlighting the importance of compassion, empathy, and the power of storytelling. The conversation also explores the impact of community support and the role of education in fostering empathy and understanding.

Takeaways

• Resilience and Transformation
• The Power of Compassion and Community
• The Need for Third Spaces

Find out more about Tom Thibodeau and his projects

Tom Thibodeau is proud husband, father, grandfather, and active community member. He has been an educator at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin specializing in Servant Leadership for over forty-two years. To find out more about his endeavors, visit https://www.servantleadershipworks.com/

To learn about the servant leadership conference, head to https://www.viterbo.edu/slconference.

About Heidi Siefkas:

Heidi Siefkas is a Nashville-based author of 4 books, TEDx speaker, podcaster, and adventurer.

📖 To explore her latest book, Look Up—Global Stories of Resilience: https://bit.ly/49QOPCH.

🎤 Bring Heidi to your event: https://heidisiefkas.com/speaking/

🌐 To connect with Heidi and share your story for the Look Up Mindset Podcast, visit www.heidisiefkas.com.

The conversation delves into the experience of Pamela Reader, a Lahaina resident, and her family who lost their home in the Maui wildfire of 2023. Her family's heroic story of, "Lahaina Rising," recounts life before the fire, the impact of the fire, the process of rebuilding, and the resilience and community support that emerged from the tragedy.

Takeaways

• Resilience
• Community support
• It's the little things
• Paying it forward
• Get good insurance

Connect with Pamela Reader and help other Maui fire survivors:

Pamela Reader is a realtor-broker on Maui. She and her husband Keenan are parents to two adolescent girls. All are involved in the community. To connect with Pamela, visit www.PamReader.com. To donate to others affected by the Lahaina fire, visit www.mauiponofoundation.org.

About Heidi Siefkas:

Heidi Siefkas is a Nashville-based author of 4 books, TEDx speaker, podcaster, and adventurer.

📖 To explore her latest book, Look Up—Global Stories of Resilience: https://bit.ly/49QOPCH.

🎤 Bring Heidi to your event: https://heidisiefkas.com/speaking/

🌐 To connect with Heidi and share your story for the Look Up Mindset Podcast, visit www.heidisiefkas.com.

The Look Up Mindset is where extraordinary true stories of resilience, transformation, and adventure come to life.

Hosted by author, TEDx speaker, and Look Up Mantra creator Heidi Siefkas, this podcast explores the mindset shifts that help people rise from adversity and create a new path forward.

This trailer previews courageous conversations with sheroes, heroes, and badasses from around the world who have navigated life-changing events, bold reinventions, unexpected detours, and adventures of the heart, mind, and spirit. Listeners gain insights into how ordinary people discover extraordinary strength — and how you can too.

The Look Up Mindset reminds us all of two things that we can leverage to pivot our mindset at anytime and anywhere:

1. Be in the moment.
2. Find the upside.

Through intimate storytelling and practical wisdom, this podcast reveals how embracing these principles can ignite resilience, spark transformation, and inspire you to seek adventure in everyday life.

If you're craving real stories, deep perspective, and a mindset that helps you bounce forward into your next chapter, you're in the right place.

Listen and/or watch to this trailer to learn more.

Subscribe to the podcast for episodes starting in February 2026!

As always, here's to looking up!

About Heidi Siefkas

Heidi Siefkas is a Nashville-based author of 4 books, TEDx speaker, podcaster, and adventurer.

📖 To explore her latest book, Look Up—Global Stories of Resilience: https://bit.ly/49QOPCH.

🎤 Bring Heidi to your event: https://heidisiefkas.com/speaking/

🌐 To connect with Heidi and share your story for the Look Up Mindset Podcast, visit www.heidisiefkas.com.

The episode of the Look Up Mindset Podcast features special guest, Rhonda McGowan, and her journey of resilience in the face of a health challenge. Rhonda's story, "Look Up and Around," unfolds through chapters that cover her health diagnosis, impact on personal and professional life, community support, and resilience. During this candid chat, Rhonda shares advice for those facing health challenges.

Takeaways

• Resilience
• Community support
• The importance of looking up and around

Find out more about Rhonda and Amyloidosis:

From Wisconsin, Rhonda is a retired Spanish teacher. Rhonda and her husband of thirty years are proud parents of two adult sons. As a born educator, she also speaks for the Amyloidosis Speakers Bureau. To learn more about Amyloidosis and the mission, visit https://mm713.org/

About Heidi Siefkas:

Heidi Siefkas is a Nashville-based author of 4 books, TEDx speaker, podcaster, and adventurer.

📖 To explore her latest book, Look Up—Global Stories of Resilience: https://bit.ly/49QOPCH.

🎤 Bring Heidi to your event: https://heidisiefkas.com/speaking/

🌐 To connect with Heidi and share your story for the Look Up Mindset Podcast, visit www.heidisiefkas.com.

In this episode of the Look Up Mindset, Author Heidi Siefkas invites special guest, peer author Sage Adderley to share her powerful story, "Look Up-Life is Now." Her tragic and unexpected loss of her husband becomes the pivotal moment that leads to a significant shift in her life. Sage shares what helped her through this life transformation and wise words for finding a new normal after loss.

Takeaways

• Resilience is a choice
• Choosing oneself after life's unexpected detours
• Connection to the Look Up Mantra

About Sage Adderley:

Sage is a Pacific Northwest-based author and founder of Tell Your Stories LLC. You can find all her creative endeavors at https://tellyourstoriespublishing.com/

About Heidi Siefkas:

Heidi Siefkas is a Nashville-based author of 4 books, TEDx speaker, podcaster, and adventurer.

📖 To explore her latest book, Look Up—Global Stories of Resilience: https://bit.ly/49QOPCH.

🎤 Bring Heidi to your event: https://heidisiefkas.com/speaking/

🌐 To connect with Heidi and share your story for the Look Up Mindset Podcast, visit www.heidisiefkas.com.