Empowered Human Academy

As a self-described forever learner, Trisha McDonald has already lived what feels like multiple lifetimes. From surviving a traumatic stroke when she was only 19 to retiring from the US Air Force at 23 and to now building an inspiring career in the realm of tech and social impact—Trisha is constantly evolving. Her openness, vulnerability, and fierce optimism are reflections of how she’s awake to each twist and turn—her life is a story she’s actively writing.

In this episode we discuss impostor syndrome, confronting gender and geographical stereotypes, loneliness as an opportunity to come home to yourself, and owning your worthiness. Trisha drops so many powerful insights and we’re stoked to share it with you.

Show Notes

As a self-described forever learner, Trisha McDonald has already lived what feels like multiple lifetimes. From surviving a traumatic stroke when she was only 19 to retiring from the US Air Force at 23 and to now building an inspiring career in the realm of tech and social impact—Trisha is constantly evolving. Her openness, vulnerability, and fierce optimism are reflections of how she’s awake to each twist and turn—her life is a story she’s actively writing.

In this episode we discuss impostor syndrome, confronting gender and geographical stereotypes, loneliness as an opportunity to come home to yourself, and owning your worthiness. Trisha drops so many powerful insights and we’re stoked to share it with you.

Full show notes, downloadables, and links are also available at empoweredhumanacademy.com/12

Keep the conversation going...

Table Questions: What is something you’re grateful for from 2020? How has the potential loneliness of this year invited you into closer connection to yourself? 

Journal Prompt: If your life was a story, how would you describe the chapter that you’re in right now? What are the themes, who are the main characters, and where would you like to go next? 

Action Step: When you start to feel stress or overwhelm, practice looking outward and doing something thoughtful for someone else. Notice how that shifts your internal landscape.

View the printable worksheet on Google Docs

Further reading:  
Follow Trisha on Instagram: @trishakaymcdonald
Listen to “Levels of Loneliness” by Jay Shetty here 
Reach out to Trisha via LinkedIn 

This is a production of Lightward, Inc. Like everything we do, this show is Pay-What-Feels-Good.

What is Empowered Human Academy?

We believe that we’re all meant to live our most expansive lives possible—but it can be overwhelming knowing where to begin, and feeling stuck is real. Empowered Human Academy exists to unlock your imagination with real conversations with inspiring humans of all different kinds, sharing the wisdom they've gained in their respective fields. Throughout these episodes we’ll explore holistic wellness, activism, self-discovery, emotional intelligence, and more. We’ve gathered some of the most heart-forward humans we know all in one place—and we can’t wait for you to meet them. The truth is, we find ourselves in each other’s stories—and learning is ultimately just remembering what we already know. We hope you’ll join us and become the empowered human you’ve always been inside.