Wisdom Stripes with Meg Tuohey

Episode 106: Dyslexia: Learning to Work With It, Not Against It | Dr. Rebecca Troy

In recognition of Dyslexia Awareness Month, we're bringing back this important conversation to shine a light on how children with dyslexia learn, the challenges they face, and how parents can help them thrive.

What if just 10 to 15 minutes a day could make a meaningful difference in how your child learns to read?

In this episode of Wisdom Stripes, Meg sits down with Dr. Rebecca Troy, an educational neuroscience researcher, nationally board-certified teacher, and mother of two children with dyslexia, to explore what dyslexia really is, why it has nothing to do with intelligence or effort, and how understanding the science behind reading can change the way we support our children.

Together, they explore:

What dyslexia actually is and why it has nothing to do with intelligence or effort.

Why writing numbers backwards is often misunderstood and how it relates to dyslexia.

How short, daily practice can help the brain reorganize for reading in about 16 weeks.

Why the science of reading has been around for decades but still isn't reaching enough classrooms.

What children can start believing about themselves as early as age 7 when they struggle despite trying their best.

Why “wait and see” rarely works and how to become a scientist about your own child.

How to advocate for your child at school, even when it means going against the grain.

Why recognizing your child's strengths matters just as much as helping them build new skills.

Whether you're a parent, an educator, or someone who remembers how difficult school could feel, this conversation is a reminder that children deserve to be understood, supported, and given the tools they need to succeed. This Dyslexia Awareness Month, let's move beyond misconceptions, trust our instincts, ask better questions, and learn to work with dyslexia, not against it.

Learn more about Dr. Rebecca Troy and her work: drrebeccatroy.com | Follow her on Instagram @drrebeccatroy

Get Meg's new book, HeartPrint: Unlock the Wisdom Of You, at yourheartprint.com.

Follow Meg Tuohey on Instagram @megtuoheyofficial and subscribe to Wisdom Stripes wherever you listen to podcasts.

New episodes every Thursday.

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What happens when we choose to support the small businesses in our communities and realize that our everyday choices can create real change?

In this episode of Wisdom Stripes, Meg sits down with Zahra Amanpour, a serial entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Main Street Assembly, to explore how small businesses strengthen communities and why entrepreneurship can give ordinary people more power over their own futures.

Recorded on New York’s Lower East Side, this conversation explores:

Why entrepreneurship is about power, not just profit.

How small businesses create dignity, opportunity, and a sense of belonging.

Why local businesses can become places where people from different backgrounds connect.

How choosing to shop local can be a meaningful way to support your community.

What Zahra has learned from working with small business owners across cities, small towns, and rural America.

Why being an entrepreneur doesn't always mean starting a business.

How small, everyday choices can contribute to lasting change.

Whether you're a business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply someone who cares about the community around you, this conversation is an invitation to think differently about where we spend our money, how we support one another, and the power we each have to create change.

To learn more about Zahra Amanpour and her work, visit Main Street Assembly at www.mainstreetassembly.com.

Get Meg's new book, HeartPrint: Unlock the Wisdom Of You at yourheartprint.com.

Follow Meg Tuohey on Instagram @megtuoheyofficial and subscribe to Wisdom Stripes wherever you listen to podcasts.

New episodes every Thursday.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 104 | Money Isn't for Everyone | Filipe Santos on Wealth, Recovery and Reading Energy

Redemption isn’t a straight line. Sometimes it looks like rebuilding your life one honest choice at a time.

Filipe Santos joins Meg for a raw and deeply personal conversation about addiction, incarceration, recovery, resilience, and the courage to rewrite your story. Now more than 12 years sober, Filipe is a husband, father, entrepreneur, investor, and mentor who shares how he transformed a life once shaped by survival into one rooted in purpose, abundance, and connection.

Together, Filipe and Meg explore what it takes to break old patterns, rebuild trust, move out of defense mode, and create a life that reflects who you truly want to become.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How fear, intensity, and survival instincts can be redirected into growth

• How Filipe learned to read energy and use it as a tool for understanding people

• What recovery taught him about taking action, seeking guidance, and surrounding yourself with the right people

• Why challenging your belief system can open the door to greater possibilities

• How moving from information to action can create lasting transformation

• Why your past doesn’t have to determine your future

To learn more about Filipe Santos and follow his journey, connect with him on Instagram @chop_safil.

Get Meg’s new book, HeartPrint: Unlock the Wisdom Of You at yourheartprint.com

Follow Meg Tuohey on Instagram @megtuoheyofficial and subscribe to Wisdom Stripes wherever you listen to podcasts.

New episodes every Thursday.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 103 | Finding Your Way Back When You've Lost Everything with Karen Coffey

What do you do when life as you know it falls apart and you can't see a way forward?

As we close out Suicide Prevention Month and enter October, we're revisiting a conversation that reminds us why discussions about hope, connection and finding our way through life's most difficult moments matter year-round.

In this episode of Wisdom Stripes, Meg sits down with Karen Coffey, a two-time Inc. 500 CEO, business consultant and founder of Spirit-Led Business, whose journey took her from homelessness as a single mother to building a multimillion-dollar business.

Together, they explore:

Finding hope and direction when life feels overwhelming.

How faith and spirituality can provide comfort during life's darkest moments.

Taking one small step forward when you can't see the bigger picture.

Overcoming fear, anxiety and feelings of abandonment.

The importance of compassion, connection and creating spaces free from judgment.

Whether you share Karen's faith or are simply searching for hope in a difficult season, this conversation is an invitation to reflect on what it means to find your way forward, one step at a time.

If you're struggling, feeling overwhelmed or simply need someone to talk to, reaching out for support can be an important first step.

If you or someone you know is struggling or experiencing suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

To learn more about Karen Coffey and follow her work, find her on Instagram at @karencoffey.coaching.

Get Meg's new book, HeartPrint: Unlock the Wisdom Of You at yourheartprint.com.

Follow Meg Tuohey on Instagram @megtuoheyofficial and subscribe to Wisdom Stripes wherever you listen to podcasts.

New episodes every Thursday.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 102 | Finding Hope When Life Feels Unbearable with Imad Jbara

In recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we're revisiting a deeply personal conversation about hope, human connection and finding a reason to keep going when life feels unbearable.

In this episode of Wisdom Stripes, Meg sits down with entrepreneur and speaker Imad Jabara, who opens up about growing up on his own at just 15, experiencing homelessness and reaching a point where he contemplated ending his life. Through his story, Imad shares how he began rebuilding his life and why creating a sense of safety and belonging has become so important to him.

Together, they explore:

How childhood abandonment can shape our sense of safety, identity and relationships.

Imad's experience with suicidal thoughts and the unexpected encounter that became a turning point in his life.

Finding hope and rebuilding after profound hardship.

The importance of emotional safety, meaningful relationships and having people you can turn to.

Moving beyond survival, finding purpose and creating a future worth looking forward to.

Whether you've faced similar struggles or want to better understand what someone else may be going through, this conversation reminds us of the importance of compassion, connection and making space for honest conversations about mental health.

Content note: This episode includes a personal account of suicidal thoughts and a suicidal crisis.

If you or someone you know is struggling or experiencing suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

To learn more about Imad Jbara and follow his work, find him on Instagram at @ImadSpeaks.

Get Meg’s new book, HeartPrint: Unlock the Wisdom Of You at yourheartprint.com.

Follow Meg Tuohey on Instagram @megtuoheyofficial and subscribe to Wisdom Stripes wherever you listen to podcasts.

New episodes every Thursday.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices