Recounting Life Lessons

Choosing Joy: Lessons on Joy, Love, & Living with Eunice Atuejide - Ep. 107

In this episode of Recounting Life Lessons, Sione and Alana sit down with Eunice Atuejide to explore what it truly means to choose joy, lead with love, and live fully no matter what the circumstances. Eunice is a lawyer, mother, transformational coach, public speaker, former Nigerian presidential candidate, and the author of Happiness is Free!!! Her life has been impacted by profound hardship, high-level leadership, and a near-death experience that completely transformed how she approaches happiness, purpose, and perspective. She shares how detaching from outcomes, embracing present-moment living, and leading from a place of love have allowed her to experience joy even through loss, pain, and uncertainty. Eunice's story is a powerful reminder that happiness isn't something we achieve, it's something we choose through how we see life and respond to it. Together, they discuss radical self-acceptance, resilience, and how adversity can become a tool for growth when we stay open, hopeful, and willing to learn. This conversation invites listeners to rethink where joy comes from and how it's available, even in the middle of life's hardest moments. Stick around until the end, where Alana highlights key life lessons from Eunice's story and reflects on how choosing perspective, love, and focus can shape a life of greater joy and meaning. IN THIS EPISODE: Eunice's journey through hardship. leadership, and a near-death experience Why happiness isn't tied to achievements or outcomes  How detaching from results creates joy in the journey The power of present-moment living and intentional choice Turning adversity into growth, insight, and purpose LINKS MENTIONED: Eunice Atuejide's website: https://happinessisfree.uk/ Get Happiness Is Free!!! at https://amzn.to/4rWlUW0 (using this link will also support the podcast) Follow Alana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanauyema/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- For our latest insights and things we don't share with the public, become a Sione and Alana Insider. It's free and easy to join: https://www.recountinglifelessons.com/insider ------------------------------------------------------------------- FOLLOW US:  ► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sioneandalana  ► Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sioneandalana  ► Alana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanauyema  ► Sione's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sioneuyema Want to connect with Sione & Alana? ►Website: https://www.recountinglifelessons.com ►Email: sioneandalana@recountinglifelessons.com   Have a life lesson to share? Interested in being a guest? We'd love to connect: click here to schedule a time to connect

From Conflict to Change: Lessons from Darirus Cache - Ep. 106

In this episode of Recounting Life Lessons, Sione and Alana sit down with author Darius Cache to explore his journey of transformation, accountability, and conflict resolution. Darius has faced enormous challenges, including time in jail, struggles with substance use, and navigating difficult environments. He shares how he got sober, changed his surroundings, and committed to helping others make better choices. His story is a powerful reminder that real change is possible, no matter where you start, and that our choices can ripple out to impact the people around us. They discuss accountability, empathy, and understanding the factors that shape behavior, as well as how these insights can improve conflict resolution and strengthen meaningful connections. Stick around until the end, where Alana highlights practical takeaways from Darius's journey and how you can apply them in your own life to make positive change and leave a lasting impact. IN THIS EPISODE: How Darius transformed his life after incarceration and substance use The power of responsibility and committing to change Why your environment shapes behavior and the role of empathy How positive choices create ripples in your life and the lives of others Practical lessons for conflict resolution and personal growth LINKS MENTIONED: Darius Cache: https://www.dariuscache.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- For our latest insights and things we don't share with the public, become a Sione and Alana Insider. It's free and easy to join: https://www.recountinglifelessons.com/insider ------------------------------------------------------------------- FOLLOW US:  ► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sioneandalana  ► Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sioneandalana  ► Alana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanauyema  ► Sione's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sioneuyema Want to connect with Sione & Alana? ►Website: https://www.recountinglifelessons.com ►Email: sioneandalana@recountinglifelessons.com   Have a life lesson to share? Interested in being a guest? We'd love to connect: click here to schedule a time to connect

How to Journey Beyond Fear with Darrow Kirkpatrick - Ep. 105

In this episode of Recounting Life Lessons, Sione and Alana sit down with author Darrow Kirkpatrick to explore the life lessons behind his powerful memoir, Two Sticks, One Path: A Journey Beyond Fear on the Colorado Trail. Darrow is an early-retired civil and software engineer with a lifelong passion for outdoor adventure. Over six years, he section-hiked the rugged, almost 500-mile Colorado Trail—one of the highest and most demanding long-distance trails in the United States. And he did it while managing significant physical limitations, hiking on specialized forearm crutches, and working through lifelong anxiety and the lingering effects of past mental health struggles. Darrow's book, Two Stick, One Path, weaves together things like high-stakes climbing stories from Yosemite, the tension between personal goals and family life, spiritual growth through meditation, and the reality of pushing through fear when the mountains and life feel overwhelming. In our conversation, we talk about preparation, mindfulness, and how we sometimes kill our courage worrying about things that could happen, even though they probably won't. We also talk about how choosing to face difficulty on purpose helped him retrain his mind, rebuild confidence, and reshape the way he sees his life and capabilities. And you'll want to stick around until the end where Alana highlights and talks about several powerful takeaways from Darrow's story that can help you navigate and manage your own fears with more confidence, move forward with greater courage, and see your path with more clarity. IN THIS EPISODE: What Darrow Kirkpatrick learned while hiking the almost 500-mile Colorado Trail with forearm crutches How he worked through lifelong anxiety and fear on the trail Why worrying about unlikely dangers can hold us back The difference between healthy and wise preparation and overthinking How meditation and mindfulness supported his journey Practical lessons and success principles for building courage and confidence in everyday life LINKS MENTIONED: Darrow's website: https://trailmemoir.com/ Get Two Sticks, One Path: https://amzn.to/4oClGRg (using this link will support this channel as well as Jamal at no extra cost to you) ------------------------------------------------------------------- For our latest insights and things we don't share with the public, become a Sione and Alana Insider. It's free and easy to join: https://www.recountinglifelessons.com/insider ------------------------------------------------------------------- FOLLOW US:  ► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sioneandalana  ► Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sioneandalana  ► Alana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanauyema  ► Sione's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sioneuyema Want to connect with Sione & Alana? ►Website: https://www.recountinglifelessons.com ►Email: sioneandalana@recountinglifelessons.com   Have a life lesson to share? Interested in being a guest? We'd love to connect: click here to schedule a time to connect

Jamal Henry: Building Success Early in Life - Ep. 104

In this episode of Recounting Life Lessons, we're joined by Jamal Henry, a first-time homeowner at 23, investor, and author of Keys to Your 20s: The Ultimate Homebuyer Playbook for Young Adults. Jamal's journey began with the same questions many young adults face: Who am I? Where am I going? How do I navigate life on my own? His search for answers led him deep into personal development, studying success, developing routines, and learning how to stretch beyond his comfort zone. Those habits and mindsets eventually laid the foundation for achievements like buying a home at such a young age. This conversation goes far beyond homeownership or finances. You'll walk away with universal success principles that can support any goal, in any stage of life.  IN THIS EPISODE: How practicing gratitude can shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance. Why consistency and discipline are critical for building momentum and long-term progress The importance of investing in yourself before opportunities arrive How accountability puts you in the driver's seat of your own life Practical ways to build habits and routines that prepare you for success Information about the NACA program for buying a home How Jamal was able to save $28k in a year and buy his first home at 23 yrs old How these principles apply to personal growth, career development, and any big goal LINKS MENTIONED: Jamal's website: https://keystoyour20s.com/ Get Keys to Your 20s: https://amzn.to/48orqc8 (using this link will support this channel as well as Jamal at no extra cost to you) Instagram: @mr_royality0 X: @mr_royality0 Tik Tok: keystoyour20s ------------------------------------------------------------------- For our latest insights and things we don't share with the public, become a Sione and Alana Insider. It's free and easy to join: https://www.recountinglifelessons.com/insider ------------------------------------------------------------------- FOLLOW US:  ► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sioneandalana  ► Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sioneandalana  ► Alana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanauyema  ► Sione's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sioneuyema Want to connect with Sione & Alana? ►Website: https://www.recountinglifelessons.com ►Email: sioneandalana@recountinglifelessons.com   Have a life lesson to share? Interested in being a guest? We'd love to connect: click here to schedule a time to connect

Redefining Ugly: Peculiar Medinus on True Beauty - Ep. 103

What would you do if a car accident left you with a scar across your face? That's exactly what happened to Peculiar Medinus, a Nigerian author, career coach, and former journalist, and it led her to ask one life-changing question: "What does ugly mean to you?" In this conversation, Peculiar shares the lessons and experiences that shaped her journey and how she came to see beauty from God's perspective. Alana also shares some insights and lessons on how the meanings of the words we hear and use shape our reality, where those meanings come from, and how to choose meanings that will empower us.  If you've ever struggled with the way you see yourself or in finding the beauty in your life's journey, this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE: Why defining ugliness as harmful choices, and not just appearance, shifts everything The inner virtues that reveal true beauty The personal story behind What Ugly Means to You, and how a scar became a symbol of survival and purpose How to see beauty through God's perspective and embrace authenticity without hiding your light LINKS MENTIONED: Peculiar's website: https://peculiarpages.co.uk/ Get What Does Ugly Mean here: https://amzn.to/44b8oUa ------------------------------------------------------------------- For our latest insights and things we don't share with the public, become a Sione and Alana Insider. It's free and easy to join: https://www.recountinglifelessons.com/insider ------------------------------------------------------------------- FOLLOW US:  ► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sioneandalana  ► Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sioneandalana  ► Alana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanauyema  ► Sione's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sioneuyema Want to connect with Sione & Alana? ►Website: https://www.recountinglifelessons.com ►Email: sioneandalana@recountinglifelessons.com   Have a life lesson to share? Interested in being a guest? We'd love to connect: click here to schedule a time to connect