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There are moments in life when choosing yourself can be one of the most courageous things you can do.

In this deeply moving episode of Hope Comes to Visit, I was privileged to sit down with Deborah Santana—author, activist, and voice for women’s empowerment—to explore what it means to step out of the shadows and fully into your own life.

Through her new memoir Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom, Deborah shares her journey of transformation after decades of partnership, public life, and self-evolution. Together, they talk about identity, grief, growth, and the quiet courage it takes to ask: What is out of alignment—and what am I ready to change?

This conversation is for anyone standing at a crossroads, navigating loss, or wondering what it might look like to truly choose themselves.

💙 You’re not alone. I'm so glad you are here.

Connect with Deborah Santana on her Website.

Order her book - Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom.

00:00 — Choosing yourself + episode introduction
01:15 — Deborah Santana’s work and new memoir Loving the Fire
02:00 — Living in someone else’s story vs. becoming yourself
03:00 — Evolution, identity, and stepping out of the shadow
04:45 — Feeling unseen + recognizing your value
05:55 — The decision to leave + choosing yourself
06:25 — Fear, courage, and asking what’s out of alignment
08:45 — “Little deaths” and navigating life transitions
10:30 — Grief, silence, and finding light
11:30 — Activism and the Do a Little Foundation
13:45 — Ancestry, identity, and passing belief to the next generation
17:00 — Raising curious, open-minded children
18:15 — Standing fully on your own + freedom
19:40 — Letting go of the past + living in the present
20:30 — Compassion, judgment, and “being the rainbow”
21:50 — Family, support, and generational impact
22:15 — Defining hope
23:00 — Who this book is for
24:15 — Growth, reflection, and taking ownership of your life
25:10 — “Shed the old, walk through the fire…”
25:30 — What’s next + where to find Deborah
26:30 — Closing

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit