Reclaim your story and build your most beautiful future.
Join Dr. Shafer, a physician, life coach, mother, musician and author as she shares stories of resilience, discovery, and personal growth. Explore what it means to nurture your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, heal from the past, and form genuine connections. An inspiring, and safe space for connection, where you can ask the important questions and find support. Join us each week to explore mindset, wellness, and the transformative power of storytelling.
What if one day you realized that your personality was just a well-practiced performance?
The author of Performing Normal: A Woman’s Story from Self-Abandonment to Self-Leadership, therapist turned truth teller Amy Watkins, LPC joins us on Talks with Dr Shafer today to share her story, and how she is learning to reclaim it, piece by piece, and let go of performative roles that didn't serve her. With years of experience working with trauma and family systems, Amy is using her expertise to help others uncover patterns learned in childhood and finally break free.
Get your copy of Performing Normal: A Woman’s Story from Self-Abandonment to Self-Leadership, a story of self-abandonment, awakening, and learning to choose yourself, here:
https://www.strandbooks.com/performing-normal-find-your-voice-discover-yourself-reclaim-your-life-9798234076397.html (https://www.strandbooks.com/performing-normal-find-your-voice-discover-yourself-reclaim-your-life-9798234076397.html)
Connect with Amy Watkins here:
https://www.instagram.com/gods.favorite.problem/ (https://www.instagram.com/gods.favorite.problem/)
Thank you Amy Watkins for being on the show & sharing your inspiring story with us!
What got you thinking in today's episode? Let us know, and share this episode with someone you think will love this talk.
Connect with Dr. Shafer: https://drshaferstedronova.com/ (https://drshaferstedronova.com/)
To watch inspiring and informative Talks with Dr Shafer head to her YouTube Channel: / @talkswithdrshafer
This episode does not offer individualized medical advice. Opinions discussed are for informational purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice.
Little House Of Dreams Entertainment, LLC, 2026.
All Rights Reserved
#godsfavoriteproblem #amywatkins #talkswithdrshafer #empowerment #storytelling
15 Sept 2026
Making Reading Cool & Connecting for Kids with Aron Nels Steinke
Aron Nels Steinke is an incredible voice in children's literature. The author of Speechless, a Pacific Northwest Book Award Winner, and the beloved Mr Wolf's Classroom series, Aron started out as an artist, drawing from a young age, and started to accompany his drawing series with words, leading to his popular graphic novels. Kids not only love Steinke's stoires, they also see themselves in them. Aron Nels Steinke advocates for supporting kids with kidlit and discussing important topics in children's literature, and talks today with Dr Shafer about book bans, working as an author illustrator, and more. Join us for an inspiring conversation about Aron's writing and illustrating journey, and the impact his work has had on kids worldwide.
Share this episode with a teacher or family with a middle grader in your life!
Learn more about Aron Nels Steinke's work here:
https://www.mrwolfsclass.com/ (https://www.mrwolfsclass.com/)
Connect with Aron Nels Steinke here:
https://www.instagram.com/mrwolfcomics/ (https://www.instagram.com/mrwolfcomics/)
The newest addition to the Aron Nels Steinke collection is out October 6. Pre-Order here:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/la-classe-de-m-loup-aron-nels-steinke/b5020de33d750a3f?ean=9798225061609&next=t
Meet Aron Nels Steinke at the upcoming Bigfoot Kids Book Festival in Redmond, Oregon on October 10, 2026!
Learn more here:
https://www.bigfootkidsbookfestival.com/
Thank you Aron Nels Steinke for being on the show & sharing your inspiring story with us!
What inspired you about today's episode? Let us know, and share this episode with someone you think will love this talk
Connect with Dr. Shafer: https://drshaferstedronova.com/ (https://drshaferstedronova.com/)
To watch inspiring and informative Talks with Dr Shafer head to her YouTube Channel: / @talkswithdrshafer
This episode does not offer individualized medical advice. Opinions discussed are for informational purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice.
Little House Of Dreams Entertainment, LLC, 2026.
All Rights Reserved
#graphicnovels #aronnelssteinke #talkswithdrshafer #empowerment #storytelling
10 Sept 2026
Dr Shafer's I Love This Book features a Neuropsychologist's Work Supporting Kids with Kidlit
Dr Suzy Gray is a neuropsychologist, elementary school educator, and children's author of the illustrated children's books Lily and the Fairy Cake (A Story for Autism Spectrum Disorder) and her newest book, Teddy the Bear (A Story for Anxiety), published by Miriam Laundry Publishing.
Dr Gray shares her work with us today and how her books highlights the stories of neurodivergent children, the struggles they face, and how loving caregivers can help support them and model skills to help them navigate their emotions and the world.
I love these books, and the important lessons they share. More importantly, I love the warmth with which the messages are delivered, and how they at once highlight how we may be different, while reminding us that we are all more alike than we may think.
Learn more about Dr Gray and her books here:
https://drsuzygray.com/
Thank you to Dr Suzy Gray for being on the show and sharing her books with us!
To watch inspiring and informative Talks with Dr Shafer head to her YouTube Channel: / @talkswithdrshafer
This episode does not offer individualized medical advice. Opinions discussed are for informational purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice.
Little House Of Dreams Entertainment, LLC, 2026.
All Rights Reserved
Love this book, too? Share this episode with someone and share the love! Books aren't pie: the more you share them, the bigger the enjoyment.
Do you have a book that you would love to have Dr Shafer review on the show? Let us know!
Contact at shaferstedronova@gmail.com (mailto:shaferstedronova@gmail.com) for book recommendations, to recommend a guest or for other questions.
Want to have Dr Shafer come speak at your event about literacy and the power of storytelling! Go to www.drshaferstedronova.com (http://www.drshaferstedronova.com/) to learn more about Dr Shafer and speaking events.
Photo Credits: Dr Suzy Gray
Photo Credits for Dr Shafer: Stephanie Baker Photography
Music Credit: Shafer Yost, Impulse
PR: PR from the Heart
#autism #author #ilovethisbook #bookreview #talkswithdrshafer
Inside a recent episode
Building Bridges for Women in Need
Published 6 May 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] So really the focus of all of it is just to try and help women navigate their situation in whatever way we can to support them. Whether that means you know and again as we talked off screen, the organization is continually changing. I am a person where I don't want to reinvent the wheel. If something if an organization is out there, I would much rather poor money into what they're doing and help them out. And I think the biggest hurdle that women have right now is one knowing where to turn. Because there's a whole lot of shame in the first situation, there was shame that I didn't have savings. […]
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