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What does it take to go from a life dimmed by control and doubt to a voice that fills pages and crosses state lines on two wheels? We sit with Teri as she walks us through the quiet tactics of emotional abuse—financial gatekeeping, isolation, and the slow erosion of self—and the practical steps that helped her leave for good. A single, measurable boundary around money became the hinge of a new life. Therapy rebuilt lost pillars: work, friendship, and agency. Allies showed up without pressure, offering presence over prescriptions and making room for a choice only she could make.

On the far side of fear, her creativity returned with force. Six weeks after leaving, 50,000 imperfect words spilled out, the first of many drafts that taught her hand to tell the truth. We talk about the craft of becoming an author: embracing messy first manuscripts, partnering with an editor, learning marketing as a skill, and publishing before perfect. Then the story moves to the road—3,102 miles of cycling that rewired identity from “I can’t” to “I did.” Big physical acts can anchor a new narrative in the body, and that proof changes everything.

Teri also shares a hard-won philosophy: throw out the bucket list. Pick the one dream that won’t leave you alone and do one concrete step today. That urgency sharpened after losing her husband Bruce to glioblastoma; because they rode when they could, the ride exists as a finished chapter, not a deferred wish. We close with where to find her work—podcasts that champion indie authors, new books and anthologies—and a toolkit for supporting friends in harmful relationships: reduce isolation, offer specific help, and hold space without judgment.

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The Quiet Gift: A Journey of Self Worth and Resilience is now available for download as an audible.  Check it out!

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The co-hosts of this podcast are not medical professionals. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided by the podcast hosts or guests is solely at your own risk.

Pamela Cass is a licensed broker with Kentwood Real Estate
Natalie Davis is a licensed broker with Keller Williams Realty Downtown, LLC