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When Loyalty Breaks: Betrayal, Self-Preservation & Rising Anyway

There’s a quiet kind of heartbreak that doesn’t come from a breakup or a layoff.

It comes from someone you trusted… choosing themselves over you.

That sting?

Yeah—it’s betrayal. And it happens to all of us eventually.

Even, apparently, to Taylor Swift.

Let’s talk about the rumored Taylor Swift and Blake Lively fallout.

Two women who were bestie goals. Seen at football games together, parties, red carpets.

Now? No birthday posts. No photos. No mention of each other. Just silence.

And while we’ll never know the full story, the speculation is a wake-up call:

Even the closest friendships can unravel when fear, pressure, or self-preservation kicks in.

🎙 This Week’s Episode: “They’ll Throw You to the Wolves”

In this new episode of Rise to More, I’m sharing something raw and personal:

A betrayal I didn’t see coming.

It wasn’t cinematic. It wasn’t explosive. It was quiet. Calculated. And devastating.

But it taught me something I needed to learn:

Most people won’t throw you to the wolves… until it benefits them.

Here’s what I dive into:

* Why betrayal almost always comes from someone close

Not enemies. Not strangers. Friends. Mentors. Business partners. The people you believed in.

* Self-preservation bias

When fear creeps in, most people will act in their own best interest—and justify it later.

* How to spot the signs early

(The silence, the distancing, the rewriting of history.)

* Why loyalty is beautiful—but leverage is essential

You can be a good person and still protect your position.

* Four strategies to protect your peace and integrity

From documentation to detachment, I lay it all out.

A Truth We Hate to Admit

People will protect their own reputation before they protect your relationship.

And when betrayal happens, the worst part isn’t the loss of the connection.

It’s that gut-wrenching voice that whispers,

“How did I not see this coming?”

You’ll question your instincts.

You’ll replay the last conversation over and over.

And if you’re not careful, you’ll start believing you can’t trust anyone again.

But here’s the thing: you can prepare without becoming paranoid.

You can be loyal without being naive.

You can build trust and still build a backup plan.

My Challenge to You

This week, take stock of your world:

* Are you too reliant on someone?

* Do you have leverage—or are you just hoping people do the right thing?

* If someone pulled the rug out tomorrow… would you be okay?

If the Taylor & Blake fallout taught us anything, it’s this:

Fame, success, and years of history don’t always protect you from disconnection.

So let’s stop pretending that loyalty alone will keep us safe.

Let’s start learning how to rise anyway.

-

🔗 Share this with someone who’s rebuilding after betrayal.

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This week on Rise to More, I had the honor of sitting down with a guest whose story moved me to my core.

Anne Ahmed is not just a chef. She is a memory-keeper, a storyteller, and a bridge between worlds. A former refugee from Laos who arrived in the United States as a child, Anne's life and work now anchor some of the most celebrated dining experiences in Minneapolis. Her restaurants—Kaluna, Gai Noi, and Laat 14—are more than destinations. They are sanctuaries of flavor, memory, and culture.

What unfolded in our conversation was not just a culinary tale, but a deep and layered exploration of:

* The invisible strength of refugee women: Anne shared how she was raised by three widowed women in a refugee camp, arriving in Minnesota with nothing but their will to survive. As a refugee myself, I felt an ache of recognition in her words.

* Finding belonging between worlds: Not Lao enough for Laos, not American enough for America—Anne spoke so vulnerably to the in-between space that so many of us immigrants inhabit.

* Why food became a language of care: Watching her grandmother reinvent recipes with unfamiliar ingredients, Anne learned that nurturing others begins at the table. That simple act of care, of creating comfort, resonated deeply with me.

* Rising above resistance: From recession to pandemic, from critics to self-doubt, Anne walked us through her journey of perseverance, reminding me of the strength we all carry beneath the surface.

* Reimagining authenticity: In her words, "It may not taste like your grandma's cooking. But your grandma isn't here. What you're tasting is the memory we create today."

* Honoring lineage while raising the next generation: As a mother in a bicultural family, Anne reflected on the quiet choices that keep heritage alive. It was a conversation that mirrored my own hopes for my children.

* The power of taking up space: For women, for immigrants, for dreamers—Anne's advice was both grounding and galvanizing.

We connected not just over our shared refugee backgrounds, but over our profound belief in the resilience of women, the healing power of beauty, and the audacity to rise beyond what the world expects.

Anne reminded me—and all of us—that "when you want something so badly, it will find a way." Her journey from the margins of survival to the heights of culinary acclaim is a living embodiment of that truth.

If you listen to one conversation this week, let it be this.

For those who have ever felt othered, unseen, or unsure of their path—this episode is a gentle hand on the back, a permission slip to take up space, and a reminder that your roots are not something to shed or overcome. They are the very foundation that makes you steady, grounded, and whole.

Ann Ahmed’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/chefannahmed/

Her restaurants:

https://khaluna.com

https://www.gainoimpls.com

https://www.lat14.com

Link to Ann’s trip to Laos in January 2026

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🎙️ Welcome to the First Episode of 'Rise to More'

This is the official rebrand of the podcast formerly known as Uplevel Together. I’m excited to step into this new chapter with you. If you’re wondering why I made the switch and what “Rise to More” truly means, I break it all down in this article:

Now, for our first episode under the new name—it's a big one.

Podcast Recap: Are we drugging the magic out of our kids?

I don’t know about you, but as a mother and a concerned citizen, I am becoming very frustrated with the mental health of our children - our future!! Today’s episode is deeply personal—and deeply needed.

We explore a growing crisis: the over-medicalization of childhood. It’s not just a parenting concern; it’s a cultural shift that’s replacing trust in intuition with reliance on labels, diagnoses, and prescriptions. Inspired by Abigail Shrier’s controversial but courageous book Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up, this episode calls parents to reclaim what we’ve outsourced: our ability to see and support our children without panic.

Here’s the truth: being loud, curious, sad, or restless isn’t a problem to fix—it’s childhood. When we intervene too quickly, we don’t help our kids—we teach them they’re broken. And that belief follows them for life.

We discuss:

* The real cost of misdiagnosis and overmedication

* Why therapy isn’t inherently bad—but overuse is

* How parental intuition is being dismissed in favor of systems and checklists

* The power of letting kids be wild, emotional, and fully human

* Steps parents can take to reclaim sacred childhood

Timestamps:

* 00:00 – Opening monologue: Are we drugging the magic out of our kids?

* 01:20 – “Kierkegaard said, ‘When you label me, you negate me’” – What we’re missing when we pathologize childhood

* 04:00 – Review of Abigail Shrier’s Bad Therapy and the book’s core arguments

* 11:20 – Step 1: Trust your knowing before you diagnose

* 14:07 – Healing the inner child by raising yours with freedom and trust

Closing Thoughts: This episode isn’t a takedown of therapy—it’s a wake-up call for overreliance. When 90% of a classroom is medicated, that’s not healing. That’s crisis. Let’s get back to basics. Let's trust ourselves—and our children—again.

Call to Action: Share this with a parent who’s been questioning the system. Comment with your thoughts—especially if you're in education or mental health. And remember, trusting your child isn’t radical. It’s ancient.

Have thoughts or want to share your story? Drop a comment or reply directly. This isn’t just my voice—it’s ours.

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Today feels like a homecoming.

The podcast you’ve known and trusted has officially evolved.

Formerly Uplevel Together, now proudly: Rise to More.Because who you become next is what truly matters.

This isn’t just a rebrand. It’s a declaration.It’s a reminder that the life you want—the one that feels grounded, meaningful, alive—isn’t found in chasing more noise, more pressure, or someone else’s version of success.It’s found by rising above the noise. Above the limits. Above the old stories.

Rise to More is about stepping beyond what you thought possible:

* Rising above distraction and overwhelm to focus on what truly matters.

* Expanding your mental, emotional, and physical capacity to live with more energy and presence.

* Leading with purpose—not just for yourself, but for your family, your business, your community.

* Choosing more clarity, more joy, more balance, more connection.

* Living not smaller out of fear, but larger with intention.

Because impact isn’t reserved for a lucky few. It’s built every day—through the way you show up, the way you serve, and the way you rise.

Every episode of Rise to More is crafted to meet you exactly where you are—and then call you higher.

You’ll be stirred awake with bold, honest truths that most people are too afraid to name.You’ll hear the real struggles—the ones we all quietly carry but rarely say out loud.You’ll be invited to rethink the stories you’ve been taught, using science, soul, and lived experience to open a new path forward.You’ll walk away with real, practical steps—not hype, not fluff—designed to help you move with more clarity, courage, and purpose.

And at the heart of it all, every conversation leaves you with a challenge:To rise.To claim more of who you are.To live the life you’re truly meant for—not someday, but now.

This next chapter is deeper, more intentional, and more alive than anything I’ve ever created before.

If you’ve been here since the beginning—thank you.You are part of this evolution.You are the reason this work matters.

If you’re new here—welcome. You are not late. You are exactly on time.

The first episode under the new name is live.I can’t wait for you to hear it, feel it, and rise with it.

Thank you for believing there’s more inside of you.There is. And it’s time.

Here’s to rising to more—together.

With so much love,Jasna

In a world screaming for our attention, stillness has become revolutionary.

In this episode of the Uplevel Together podcast, I sit down with spiritual teacher and dowser Joey Korn to explore how unseen energies—the emotional residue of fear, anger, and overwhelm—impact our bodies, our homes, and our lives.

We talk about why so many have been feeling “off” since 2020, how negative patterns root deeper than just bad habits, and why mainstream solutions—supplements, meditation, more achievement—aren’t enough if your energy field is carrying invisible interference.

I’ll share the story of how, after a year of broken sleep and growing exhaustion, the Miracle Blessing Process shifted everything in my life. What Joey teaches isn’t complicated—and that’s the point. It’s a radical return to the basics of energy, intention, and personal sovereignty.

Because real peace isn’t something you buy.It’s something you remember.

You are not powerless against the chaos.You are not trapped by the noise.You still have the ability to reclaim your space, your clarity, and your deepest connection to oneself.

This isn’t just about clearing your home.It’s about clearing your life—for more peace, more presence, and more power.

P.S. You can find Joey and Jill's beautiful work (and the free Miracle Blessing) at dowsers.com. If you do nothing else today, read about it. Your life—and maybe someone else’s—could change.

Below are all the resources, tools, and links we mentioned in the show:

🔗 Helpful Resources from Joey Korn:

→ Joey’s Website:Learn more about Joey’s work, services, and teachings.dowsers.com

→ Joey’s Book – Dowsing: A Path to EnlightenmentThis was the book that started it all for me. Highly recommended for anyone interested in energy work and personal transformation.View the book here

→ Walter Russell Book LibraryA rare and powerful collection of Walter Russell’s works, available directly through Joey and Jill.Explore Walter Russell books

→ Spiritual Home Clearing ServicesInterested in working directly with Joey for a personal or space clearing session? Learn more here:Spiritual Space Clearing Service

→ Joey’s Blessing FilesFree resources where you can explore multiple blessing processes designed by Joey to help shift your energy and environment.Access Blessing Files

🌟 Special Gift: Download the Miracle Blessing Process

This is the heart of today's episode — a simple, profound blessing that anyone can use to clear negative energy and restore balance, peace, and well-being.

Download the Miracle Blessing PDF here:Joey’s Miracle Blessing Process (PDF)

Contact Joey and Jill Korn:

If you want to learn more, book a session, or ask questions, you can connect with Joey and Jill directly:

* Email: joey@dowsers.com | jill@dowsers.com

* Website Contact Page: dowsers.com

This is the kind of episode that makes you stop and think… What have I accepted as truth just because it’s been said enough?

Maybe you’re chasing a version of success that was never yours to begin with.

Maybe you’ve been telling yourself a story that was written for you, not by you.

It’s time to pause, question, and reclaim your truth.

Hey beautiful people,

Let’s cut through the noise.

We’re living in a time where you’re expected to have billionaire-level results in six months or less. Launch a brand, skip the process, and go straight to the top. It’s everywhere:

A brand-new coach charging $10,000 per client—with zero results to show.A freelancer demanding premium rates before delivering real value.People branding themselves as “experts” after one course and a Canva logo.

Now, this isn’t just ego. It’s deeper than that.It’s culture. It’s psychology. It’s a system that rewards image over integrity—and it’s hurting an entire generation of potential greatness.

In this week’s Uplevel Together podcast episode, I go deep on something we all need to talk about:

* The Dunning-Kruger effect—why beginners often overestimate their ability

* The lie of overnight success and the damage of fake highlight reels

* The truth behind “charge what you’re worth”—and what’s missing from that message

* Why chasing premium pricing before proving real value is the fastest way to crash

* And what the actual greats did before anyone paid them what they were worth

Let’s not forget:Jeff Bezos was packing books on his hands and knees.Sarah Blakely was selling fax machines door to door.Howard Schultz didn’t inherit Starbucks—he pitched the vision over and over until someone finally listened.

You don’t start at the top. You start in the mud.You start by becoming the best—not charging like the best.

And I know it’s not what the influencers are telling you. But it’s the truth.

Your early days? They’re not about making bank.They’re about building skill. Learning to serve. Getting better.Your first few clients? They’re not your golden ticket—they’re your training ground.

The money will come—but not before the mastery.

So here’s the question:Are you obsessed with getting paid, or are you committed to getting good?

This episode is a call to humility, to real growth, to putting in the reps.It’s about choosing the long road over the illusion of instant arrival.

Because the greats didn’t fake their way to the top—they earned it.And so will you.

Thank you for tuning in.

Hey beautiful humans,

This one’s for the sensitive souls, the overthinkers, the high-achievers who get thrown off course by the smallest comment, email, or bump in the road. Trust me—I’ve been there.

But here’s the blunt truth:

If every little thing gets under your skin, you’re giving away your power.

This week’s Uplevel Together episode is a masterclass in building resilience—not by numbing yourself, but by becoming unshakable.

We talk about:

Why reactivity drains your energy and delays your growth

The neuroscience behind our tendency to fixate on the negative

Five practical strategies to stay grounded, even in the chaos

How to build internal calm like top CEOs and world leaders do

Why emotional detachment is the real power move

Here’s a taste of the wisdom inside:

* Create space before responding.

* Use the 5-Year Filter: Will this matter in five years?

* Train your body to stay calm. Your physiology drives your psychology.

* Expect hard things. Pressure isn’t personal—it’s the price of greatness.

* Let people wonder. You don’t need to clap back. Silence is strength.

🧠 Scientific studies back this up—ruminating over small slights increases cortisol for days.

And the worst part? Most of us are doing this daily without realizing it.

But here’s the shift:

Master non-reaction, and you become untouchable.

You don’t chase peace—you carry it.

Challenge:

This week, choose one moment a day to practice calm over chaos.

Pause. Breathe. Respond from power—not panic.