Root-to-Rise Podcast Interview with Pete A. Turner on the Break It Down Show Podcast
Recently, I had the privilege of returning to The Break It Down Show with my friend and host Pete A. Turner for an open-hearted conversation about life, loss, emotional resilience, and my new book, Root to Rise: How to Love Life. As we talked, something powerful came through—not just about the book itself, but about the deeper questions it asks and the human truths we all navigate. We also talked about coping with grief after suicide loss.
This post is for anyone who’s felt stuck, questioned their path, or wondered if healing is even possible. I hope it gives you not only insight into Root to Rise, but permission to explore your own journey—one step, one root, one choice at a time.
Why I Wrote Root-to-Rise
Life isn’t easy. Most of us carry emotional wounds—some visible, some silent. As someone who has worked with global brands and top creatives in the music industry, and also as a certified life coach, I’ve had a front-row seat to both success and suffering. I created Glow Living as a space for growth-minded people to come together, but what I kept seeing was a deeper need:
We’re craving grounding. Clarity. Something real to hold onto when everything feels uncertain.
Root-to-Rise was born from this space. It started as a course, became a workshop, and finally transformed into a book and workbook—a roadmap to reconnect with what matters most, create emotional balance, and rise into your potential with intention.
The Three Questions That Change Everything
During the interview, I shared three guiding questions that shape the heart of the book:
- What do you want?
- Why do you want it?
- What are you willing to do about it?
These might seem simple, but when answered honestly, they can unlock massive shifts. Many of us struggle to articulate what we truly want, let alone connect with the deeper why behind it. And even when we do, we often get stuck at that third question—willingness.
Because let’s face it: personal growth takes effort. It takes self-honesty. It takes courage.
Why Willingness Is the Key to Breakthrough
You can read every self-help book on the shelf. You can take all the courses, listen to all the podcasts. But unless you’re willing to apply what you learn—to dig in and do the work—nothing changes.
Willingness isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, again and again. It’s about asking hard questions, sitting with discomfort, and choosing growth over avoidance.
In Root-to-Rise, I don’t just offer ideas—I provide tools. Each chapter guides you through reflections, exercises, and real-life strategies to strengthen the five core roots of your life: Health, Family, Relationships, Career, and Friends.
Honoring the Hard Things
During our conversation, Pete and I opened up about grief, loss, and the emotional storms that shape us. We both know what it’s like to lose someone to suicide—and how that kind of pain can unravel your world and refocus your purpose.
When I lost my best friend of 40 years, I questioned everything. As a coach, I wondered what more I could have done. But I also found clarity: This is why I write. This is why I teach. This is why I rise. To help others find hope in their darkest seasons.
Grief, especially coping with grief after suicide loss, has a way of stripping things down to what matters most. And Root to Rise is about rebuilding from that place—not with false positivity, but with depth, truth, and compassion.
What It Means to Truly Rise
To rise isn’t to “get over it.” It’s not about bypassing pain or pretending everything’s fine.
To rise is to root down. To heal. To build emotional strength.
It’s about aligning with your purpose, meeting your needs in healthy ways, and finding your unique path to fulfillment.
As Pete said in the episode: “Your legacy isn’t something you leave behind—it’s something you’re creating every day.”
Want to Start Your Journey?
Grab your copy of Root-to-Rise: How to Love Life (now available in Kindle and print editions).
Take the free Hidden Forces Quiz to discover what emotional needs are silently driving your decisions.
And if you’re curious about the full conversation with Pete, you can watch it on YouTube or visit The Break It Down Show website.
Watch the full Break It Down Show episode here ›
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be willing.
Willing to pause. To reflect. To ask different questions.
And most importantly, to rise.
