Have you ever hesitated to share your story? Have you ever questioned whether other people want to hear it? Do you think it's scary to share your mess publicly?
If that's a YES, I feel you! That’s why you should definitely listen to this week's podcast episode to understand that your story, every detail of it, matters!
You’re the expert of your own life and the only one who can share YOUR story with the world!
Because when her friend first suggested she give a TEDx talk, my guest on today’s podcast,
, hesitated, too. "Who wants to hear about this?" she asked."I can't go on stage and talk about this painful thing."
That moment of doubt, of questioning whether her story was worth telling, is something every (newish) writer can relate to. But what happened next is proof of the power of making yourself vulnerable and that’s why it’s so important to for me to share Tanmeets’s story with you today.
Turn Your Pain Into Power
I had the privilege of sitting down with board-certified Integrative Family Medicine physician and author of Joy is my Justice, Tanmeet Sethi, for an incredible conversation about turning pain into power—and how she ultimately found herself on the TEDx stage.
Guess what? You can't build a personal connection if you don't dare to be vulnerable.
Your readers want to get to know the real you.
Her journey is one of courage, storytelling and deep transformation.
And…
✅if you've ever wondered how to tell your own difficult story or bad things that happened to you,
✅or even dreamed of taking a TEDx stage yourself,
then this episode is for you.
I promise you will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed our deep and soulful conversation - even if you might shed a tear while listening to it.
The Story She Was Afraid to Share
I met Tanmeet on Substack Notes where she shared a mini anecdote about her little boy. Being a mother of two myself, this post on Notes kept me busy for days and I asked Tanmeet for an interview because I knew she had turned a catastrophic moment in her life into something good.
As she told me, Tanmeet’s life changed forever when her son was diagnosed with a rare degenerative neuromuscular disease. A disease that, much like ALS, progressively weakens the muscles and is ultimately fatal.
She was nine months pregnant with her third child when she received the news about her second son—news that shattered the vision she had for motherhood and life itself.
For a long time, she struggled to believe she could ever feel joy again.
"How could a mother be happy when her child is dying?" she asked herself.
But what she discovered was something deeper than happiness: joy. A joy that is not dependent on circumstances, but rather, something that can be cultivated even in the hardest of times.
Getting On Stage
When she was first asked to talk on a TEDx stage, she resisted. She wanted to talk about her professional expertise, not the personal pain she carried. But a mentor told her, "It’s not about your career. It’s about sharing your vulnerability." That nudge changed her life…forever.
In the months leading up to the TEDx talk, Tanmeet worked with TED coaches to refine her story, struggling to condense something so deeply personal into just a few minutes.
She even tried to change the topic at the last minute, but the coaches guided her back. She had to share this story—not just for herself, but for everyone who needed to hear it.
What Came Next
The talk changed everything.
It resonated deeply, not just with those in the audience that day, but with about 300,000 who watched it online.
It opened doors she never expected.
Her book Joy Is My Justice soon followed,
earning recognition from Oprah Daily!
She then launched her Substack newsletter, Your Integrative Physician, a space where she brings together science, medicine, and the deep emotional resilience she has cultivated.
The Stories We Are Most Afraid To Tell Are Often The Ones That Need To Be Heard The Most
In our new podcast, Tanmeet is sharing everything she has learned about storytelling, resilience, and getting on a TEDx stage on The Online Writing Club podcast.
Don't miss this episode - it's a conversation that could change the way you look at your own story and, if you dare, could change your whole life.
Based on this interview, I now also dare to weave in more personal anecdotes.
Here’s what Tanmeet shared a few minutes ago:
🎙️If you say, “Kristina, let me listen to the show!”🎙️
You can listen to it as Substack podcast, on Spotify or watch it on YouTube.
Enjoy the show!
If you’re listening via Spotify it would be awesome to get a review from you ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. You can really make a different with this small gesture. Thanks 🙏🏻
🎙️Meet Tanmeet LIVE in our MASTERCLASS
Tanmeet opened my eyes when we talked about how important it is to be human, show that we're human, sharing the messy stories, the bad things (even if people tell us not to).
Writing can help us feel present. For me it's also meditative.
I love to let my heart lead, not my brain.
Even if you're sharing educational stuff like me you can weave in your personality, soul, let your heart speak and let it shine through.
Especially on Notes people connect with YOU! And you're more than your newsletter topic! Soooo much more. 🙏
Meet my friend Tanmeet Sethi, board-certified Integrative Family Medicine physician, TEDx speaker and author of Joy is my Justice, in April 2025 for a LIVE masterclass inside the Club!
In this 60min+ masterclass we’ll discover together “the magic and challenges of vulnerability and joy and how they all merge into your most powerful writing”.
Monday April 21
12 pm PST / 3 pm EST
(replay will be available)
2x Substack Growth Masterclasses For Paid Members
Also, I want to celebrate a huge milestone (12,000 subscribers 🥳🥳🥳 THANK YOU!!) with you and invite all paid members to 2x Substack growth tool Masterclasses with yours truly on:
How I Grew My Substack to 12,000 Subscribers with Notes – And How You Can Too - Wednesday, March 26 3pm EST
Substack Growth on Autopilot: The Power of Recommendations – Thursday, March 27 3pm EST
Don’t Take My Newsletter and Podcasts for Granted, Please
Now is the time to join more than 300+ members. As you know, I’m building and growing this newsletter and community part-time. I know from talking with you, you’d like to join but often money is an issue.
So I'm offering 40% OFF!
However, please keep in mind that I’m offering soooo much support and help inside the membership experience.
And look what tribe members shared:
Besides my content library with more than 80 posts, you’ll get:
Access to all 35+ replays
Access to 50+ video tutorials
Access to Medium and Substack School (value $399)
1 Month Substack Content Planner (value $29)
12 Month Substack Content Calendar (value $59)
👉🏻What led you here? Which struggles, circumstances, bad decision? Are you scared to tell your story?
Tell us in the comments! This is a safe space. You can also meet us in the Chat.👈🏻
🙏🏻🙏🏻Your feedback is just a spark but enough to keep me going so it would be wonderful to hear from you in the comments 🙏🏻🙏🏻
PS Hungry For More? Here’s Tanmeet’s TEDx talk.
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