Cover Stories

Stories That Inspire

Chains are Meant to be Broken: Artist & Fire Dancer Mercy Extinguishes Gaslighting

Los Angeles, California

If you have ever struggled with breaking free from the chains of your past, addiction, gaslighting, abuse, or any other form of bondage, you know that breaking chains can be a daunting task. Maybe you have chains of negative thinking or limiting beliefs. Perhaps they are chains of insecurity, chains holding you back from reaching your full potential. Regardless of your chains, the very word chain produces an image of something solid, heavy and impossible to break. We often assume that a chain cannot be broken; yet chains are not unbreakable. When put into these chains that shackle us, it is our choice to stay bound or free ourselves.

Self-Love & Rebuilding Confidence: Monica Luisi

Everybody gets stuck somewhere along the way, but when you can free yourself to be your true self, you’ll have a beacon that leads you where you need to go. By letting go of the judgement, you embrace positivity and let go of the past. It is a sense of loving yourself, a desire for new experiences and a driving ambition that leads you to make the most of every opportunity that life has to offer. Monica Luisi’s story will inspire you to have self-confidence and faith in yourself despite what others might say.

EDM artist Michael Schmidt on overcoming opioid addiction & helping others as a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Michael Schmidt is a US Army Veteran currently studying to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Battling opioid addiction, music became his lifeline. When his relationship with EDM (Electronic Dance Music) grew from admiration to creation, his own music was born. He dove headfirst into his passion crafting a dynamic mix of beats that is sure to make waves in the dance music scene. As a new father with a bright future ahead of him, he is an example of the importance of finding yourself in recovery.

Rock star of the hair world Larisa Love believes you should do what you love

How much do you love what you do? When you think of your career do you get excited? When you are at work are you happy? Do you love the people you are working with? Do you wake up everyday ready to learn and improve your skillsets? Most importantly, do you love your life? Larisa’s message of tenacity, doing what you love, and the importance of living by your own rules will help you embrace your originality so you can find your inner rock star.

Founder of the Hope, Life & Dreams Centers: Dr. Roya Hassad is transforming lives

Dr. Roya J. Hassad is an award-winning physician, educator, philanthropist and speaker helping people unlock their true potential. She is the Medical Director of Advanced Medical Health Services and Founder of the Hope, Life and Dream Centers. With over twenty years of experience within the health and wellness industry, she has extensive experience in family medicine, regenerative medicine, dermatology, women’s health and anti-aging. She is affiliated with some of New York's most prestigious medical institutes, such as Mount Sinai Hospital and Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Hassad has devoted her life to establishing herself as a highly experienced and trusted professional who transforms the lives of others for the better. Dr. Roya is passionate about helping people to look and feel their best. She goes beyond beauty; beyond the surface and beyond the skin to get to what is really going to change a person’s life.

Kaya Gravitter addresses domestic violence through her novel After She Said Yes

In her debut novel, After She Said Yes, Kaya Gravitter makes a social commentary about the issue of domestic violence. The feminist fiction draws parallels between Aurora, the main character, and what Kaya has faced in her own life as a survivor of domestic abuse. Her trauma and passion for writing led her to pen this poignant story in order to give solace to women left grappling with the consequences on their mental health. Kaya hopes her words help women speaking out against their abusers and for the women who still haven’t by giving a voice to the voiceless.

Movement in the wild: Inspired by nature with dancer Billy Mustapha

Influenced by the nature-rich resources of his Canadian hometown of Calgary, Billy Mustapha has a passion for storytelling in the wild through movement. Using nature and fluid choreography, he creates a poetic fusion. Commanding his body and his mind, he connects emotionally to nature through dance. Through our in-depth conversation we gain insight into Billy's love of nature, how we can all reconnect with Mother Earth, pursuing dance as a first-generation immigrant and finding freedom in a time of isolation.

More than skin deep: Dr. Rada Shakov, MD & Dr. Emil Shakov, MD of The Youth Fountain wellness center

Entering the second year of pandemic-living has left people all around the world wilting under the pressure to adapt to what is now being considered “the new normal.” For most, it feels anything but normal. To combat the virus, countless spaces in the health and wellness world had to be shut down for public safety, leaving many people unable to gain the help and relief they need. These unprecedented times are tough and mentally challenging. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and there is a deep two-way connection between the brain and skin that can cause issues for both what shows up on our body’s largest organ and how we react to it.

Spreading her wings: Lili Liu on breaking free from her fixed identity as a pianist

We often identify ourselves based on what we do, believing it is our identity. This fixed identity is often tied to the core of our sense of self when defining who we are. Sometimes we are seen as being one thing, when we have more to offer. Renown classical pianist Lili Liu knows this dilemma all too well. Her identity reaches far beyond the practice room or the global stage. Lili is constantly on a mission to reinvent herself, to grow and seek out new ways for self-expression.