Hey friends, and welcome to the very first episode of Unmasking the Heart for Change. I'm your host, Tammy Winsted, and I'm so glad you're here with me today. This podcast is more than just a series of conversations. It's a space where we peel back the layers, unmask the process, and get to the heart of what it really takes to create that change in ourselves, our communities, and our world.
So today in this short but powerful first episode, I wanna talk to you about why this podcast was born, what you can expect, and how I hope it will truly speak to your heart.
The truth is change isn't always shiny or glamorous most of the time. It's messy, it's painful, and it's deeply personal. We often celebrate the end results, the new business, the thriving nonprofit, the Inspiring Community project, but we rarely talk about what happened in the middle. That is a space I want to explore here.
The space where growth hurts, where purpose is birthed in pain, where healing begins in honest conversation. That is what unmasking the heart for change is all about.
And believe me, I know change. I was a non-traditional college student who earned my degree nearly 20 years after high school. In 2020, during a time when the world was shutting down, I made the bold decision to leave behind a stable corporate job and finally pursue the dream that has been calling to me for many years of owning my own business.
Yes, that year of uncertainty was the very year I found the courage to bet on myself, and from that leap of faith, I established TrueLove Designs, a small manufacturing company that now ships custom products to customers around the world.
Let me be honest. Starting a business wasn't all vision boards and victory laps. There were hard days. Days, I questioned if I had made the right choice. I was learning everything from scratch, from design, marketing, manufacturing, accounting, managing customer expectations, and doing it during a time when the world was full of unknowns.
I remember one night sitting at my kitchen table surrounded by shipping labels and product samples. Exhausted and wondering what in the world did I get myself into? But deep down, I knew I was building something that mattered. I was creating a brand rooted in purpose, not just products. That's what True Love Designs is all about.
Hard led work that reflects the courage to try to learn and to grow. And looking back now, every challenge was a piece of that process. It wasn't perfect, but it was real. And that's what I want this podcast to reflect too. Real people doing brave things imperfectly.
But change didn't stop there. Now I find myself in a whole new season, what many call the grown and flown chapter as my children spread their wings and step into their own lives.
And for the first time in a long time, I'm turning inward and asking, who is Tammy really underneath the roles, the responsibilities, and the routines. So I'm on this journey right alongside you. Not as an expert, but as a fellow traveler. And I want to invite you to walk with me because I believe there's something beautiful that happens when we give ourself permission to pause, reflect, and speak from the heart.
So through storytelling and meaningful conversation, we're gonna highlight how small acts of kindness, advocacy, and service can lead to lasting impact. That's part of our mission, and it's what drives this podcast forward.
You might be wondering why the word unmasking. To me, unmasking means dropping the act, taking off the labels we wear to keep it all together. It means showing up honestly without the pressure to be perfect or polished. Because behind every successful business, every nonprofit, every act of service is a person with a story.
A story that's probably had a few plot twists, a few heartbreaks, maybe even some moments where they almost gave up. Unmasking is about creating space to share that part of the story. And when we do that, something powerful happens. We realize we're not alone. We realize that courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes it whispers. Hey, try again tomorrow.
Each episode, I'll sit down with people just like you and me, people who saw a need and did something about it. Some started businesses, some fought for justice, some found healing, and turned their pain into purpose. Others are still in the thick of their transition. No matter where they are in their journey, they're here to share the raw truth about change, the highs, the lows, the moments of fear, and all the parts we don't usually see.
We'll talk about fear, faith, burnout, breakthrough, loss, healing, and everything in between. This podcast is also meant to be therapeutic, not just for the guests, but for you too. If you're in a season of waiting and wondering or wrestling, guess what? You're not alone. We're here to remind you. Change doesn't have to be loud to be powerful. Your story matters, even if you're still writing it and healing. Healing is allowed to take its time.
Before we close today, I wanna invite you to reflect on one question. What change in your life has shaped you the most, and what did it take to get there? Let that sit with you, maybe journal about it later, or bring it to your next conversation with someone you trust. This podcast is about building bridges between where you've been and where you're going.
If that reflection stirred something in you, don't just let it sit. Maybe it's time to have a conversation you've been avoiding. Maybe it's time to revisit a dream you set aside. Or maybe it's simply time to take a breath and honor how far you've come. Whatever it is, know this. Your process is deeply meaningful. You don't have to rush it. If this space was made for people like you, real, raw, brave, and becoming.
You know, one of the biggest reasons I started this podcast is because I realized how often people suffer in silence thinking they're the only ones going through the messy middle. We see everyone's highlight reels on social media, the ribbon cuttings, the promotions, the perfectly captioned before and after moments.
But what we don't see is the three AM breakdowns, the crash outs, the self-doubt, the pivot that felt like failure. Until years later. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's this. People don't connect with our perfection. They connect with our process. That's where the healing begins. That's where the real magic of change starts to shine.
So this podcast, it's my way of saying, let's stop pretending. Let's normalize the stumbles. Let's honor the strength it takes just to keep going, especially when no one's watching. If even one person listens to an episode and feels less alone, then all it took to get here for me was worth it.
In the coming episodes, we'll sit down with powerful guests who have lived through transformation and come out stronger, wiser, and more grounded in purpose. I can't wait for you to hear their stories.
What can you expect as a listener? Well, some episodes will make you feel fired up and inspired. Others might challenge you to think differently or revisit something you've buried. Some will leave you with practical takeaways, and some will simply offer space to breathe and reflect. I'll be interviewing business owners, non-profit leaders, artists, educators, parents, faith leaders, you name it.
People from all walks of life who decided they couldn't ignore the tug in their hearts to make a difference. We'll talk about what it really feels like to start over, how people move through burnout and found balance, what it takes to listen to your inner voice when the outside world is so loud, and how acts of service and creativity have help people heal and help others heal too.
And yes, I'll be sharing some of my own personal stories along the way too. I'll open up about lessons. I'm still learning, and I'll be honest about the questions I don't yet have answers to because this isn't just a podcast. It's a mirror, it's a movement, and hopefully a home for your heart too.
Before I go, I have to take a moment to think. A very special group of people from my childhood, my teachers who wrote, talks too much on every single report card. Y'all really saw it early. You knew I had a lot to say even when I was supposed to be quiet during reading time. So thank you. Thank you for realizing way back then that I had a voice that needed to be shared.
It just took me a few decades, some life lessons and a podcast mic to figure out what to do with it.
Also to all those listening today, thank you. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for being open, and thank you for being a part of this movement.
If you or someone you know has a story of change you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you. You can sign up to be a guest by visiting our Facebook page. Or clicking the link in the show notes. Your journey could be the inspiration someone else needs right now. If you've enjoyed today's episode, I'd love for you to subscribe, share, leave a review so more people can find us.
And if this spoke to your heart, send it to someone you love. Remember, change begins within, and it starts with one heart to heart at a time. See you next time guys. Thanks so much. Bye.