The Storytellers Podcast: Elevating Your Life Through Inspiring, Unexpected Moments

In this episode I reunite with longtime student and teacher Cindy Brewer-Purser to reminisce about Yoga South and the wider Charlotte yoga scene. They explore studio life in the 2000s, the shift from hot/Bikram and Kundalini styles to gentler, community-focused classes, memorable teachers and workshops, and how those experiences shaped their personal and teaching journeys.

Through laughter and candid stories—about teacher training, memorable classes, influential guests like Chandra Om, and community charity events—Cindy shares how Yoga South helped her reconnect with herself, find confidence as a teacher, and build a local wellness presence.

 

Give Cindy a follow on social media & check her out @cindybrewerpurser & @albermarlepilatesyoga

I'm here with my dear friend Dori Fusaro to recount the rise of Yoga South (formerly Yoga of Matthews), the studio takeover, and how a small yoga space grew into a tight-knit community. They reflect on memorable teachers, transformative classes, and the personal bonds formed through practice.

The episode highlights studio life in Charlotte during the early 2000's - teacher trainings, eclectic classes, and the challenges of running a studio—while celebrating friendship, resilience, and the lasting impact of yoga on their lives.

Give Dorie a follow on social media and if you are in the Charlotte area - go see her at Y2Yoga!

@_doriejoy

@y2yoga

I'm excited to sit  down with former student Allie to reminisce about Yoga South in Charlotte — a studio defined by 90-minute classes, chanting, community rituals, and teachers who prioritized connection and healing over fitness trends.

We discuss how the studio’s slow, intentional approach shaped lifelong practices, the role of assists and music, and why fostering welcoming, non‑competitive spaces matters for students and studio owners today.

I loved every moment of catching up with Allie - I hope you will enjoy this episode!

I get to interview a couple near and dear to my heart.

It's not always sunshine and roses - and Matt & Angela teach us every day what it's like to be in the work and our human-ess.  I love this  heartfelt conversation about how two people found each other amid divorce, distance and personal transformation.

We follow along with Angela and Matthew’s first meeting in New York, the challenges of long‑distance life, emotional growth, and the hope that kept them committed to one another.

Follow them on Instagram: @voicebymatt and @msangelagoodman

This one is soooo fun - I get to sit down with my LONG TIME friend Ellen to trace her journey from AOL days to co-founding a Row House franchise. We discuss moving back home, balancing family and full-time jobs, franchise training, and the delay and pivot caused by COVID.

The episode highlights building community through boutique fitness, staff development, local impact, and perseverance as Ellen and her husband grow two studios while staying committed to members and their team. 

I just love this family and all they do! Please give @rowhouseashburn a follow on the socials and get in for a community ROW! 

 

Part 2 of our conversation with Joel is live now! his personal journey from addiction and emotional lows through 12-step recovery into a life reshaped by yoga, meditation, and community.

He discusses pivotal turning points—the emotional “bottom,” spiritual experiences, teacher training, and finding purpose—and how daily practices helped him reconnect with himself and serve others.

Find Joel: www.fivepeakspoweryoga.com (in loudoun county va)

In today's conversation I sit with Sarah and recall a time that shaped us both - in many similar ways. Sarah and I have a  heartfelt conversation about building yoga studios, teaching, mentorship, and community—tracing the journey from early classes in Charlotte to growing studios in Charleston, and the role of storytelling, humility, and inclusion in their work.

Sarah has always been a force and a true leader. What a gift to have her sit with me - I'll take any moment with her again as the time we spent together in Charlotte and the years after are precious. 

Sarah is known for her booming brand of movement studios in Charleston SC, her generous heart, her advocacy for not only women's rights but her friends  and she is the most motivating teacher - just by being truly herself. You won't get anyone more authentic than Sarah!

Keep up with Sarah on the gram: @Sarahlivesyoga & @Theworkschs

Marcia sits down with former student of Yoga South - Stephanie Welch   Stephanie Welch about her experiences at Yoga of Matthews (Yoga South). They recall the welcoming studio atmosphere, early morning classes, and how the practice offered community, grounding, and healing during life transitions.

They discuss teacher training, the art of teaching, and the lasting impact of yoga as a way to get back to life. The conversation celebrates connection, memory, and encouragement for listeners to find their own yoga practice.

 

Dawn sits down with me to revisit her time at Yoga South. This conversation (and those to follow) are two longtime friends revisiting the warmth and community of Yoga South, sharing memories of beloved teachers, transformative workshops, and the rituals that healed them — from 108 sun salutations to quiet savasana. It's where she found her "yoga sisters"

We reflect on how yoga culture has shifted, the power of women’s circles, and how the practice continues to bring connection, resilience, and joy despite life’s challenges.

 

In this episode Dawn Thompson shares her powerful story of growing up with abandonment, battling addiction and weight struggles, experiencing painful relationships and an abortion, and ultimately finding healing through faith and personal development.

She explains how those experiences led her to start the You Are Enough movement, the work she does to help women and children, and the ongoing practices—faith, forgiveness, and self-celebration—that sustain her recovery and purpose.

IG:yourenoughmovement

www.yourenough.com