Carolyn Sophia on Why You’re Stronger Than You Think

Rich & Wendy 0:00
Hey everyone, it's Rich Bennett. Can you believe it? The show is turning 10 this year. I am so grateful for each and every one of you who've tuned in, shared an episode, or even joined the conversation over the years. You're the reason that this podcast has grown into what it is today. Together, we've shared laughs, tears, and moments that truly matter. So I want to thank you for being part of this journey. Let's make the next 10 years even better. Coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union studios, Hartford County Living presents Conversations with Rich Bennett. 

Rich Bennett 1:00
Before we begin, I want to inform our listeners that this episode may contain discussions about substance abuse, mental illness, addiction, recovery, or possibly even suicide. Some content may be triggering or distressing for those who have experienced similar struggles or are sensitive these topics. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek help from a trusted professional and supportive organization. Today, I'm honored to be joined by Carolyn Sophia Scowron, mental health advocate, author, and founder of Unbreakable by Carol. She's sitting there laughing because I butchered her name and thank God for Editing. Carolyn's powerful journey from battling depression, anxiety, and navigating life with a non-verbal learning disability to survive in a life-changing car accident has inspired her to become a passionate voice for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Her book Unbreakable shares a moving story of resilience, hope, and self-acceptance. And she's dedicated her life to helping others feel less alone in their struggles. So Carolyn, first of all, welcome to the Conversations with Rich Bennett. We were talking before. Those of you listening, I'm just going to tell you right now. Go to what? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 2:28
No, it's just funny. I'm just thinking in my head like how many ways people have said Scowron's go. Like it's just funny to 

Rich Bennett 2:34
just... 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 2:34
me because I 

Rich Bennett 2:35
Oh, did I mispronounce it again? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 2:37
No, no, no. You did it right the second time. Second time's 

Rich Bennett 2:39
Oh, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 2:39
a 

Rich Bennett 2:39
okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 2:40
charm, right? Or no, sir, but 

Rich Bennett 2:42
charm. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 2:42
second time's a 

Rich Bennett 2:42
I don't know. As long as I don't know. 

So those of you listening, go to 

carolynsofia.com. And it's Carolyn, it's L-I-N and Sophia, 

S-O-P-H-I-A.com. And, you know, as you're listening, if you're listening on your computer, go through her website. And by the way, click, is it on the website, the link to the song? It's not Carolyn. 

Why not? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 3:16
I don't know. I was, I don't know. I felt like if that were a part of it too. I don't know. I just felt like keeping them separate because, because honestly, 

Rich Bennett 3:24
know. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 3:24
I don't 

Rich Bennett 3:25
Makes sense. No, it makes sense in a way. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 3:27
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 3:28
I mean. So. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 3:29
Comes together then sure. But like, I only had one song out too. So there was no point of like making it a big, big thing, you know? 

Rich Bennett 3:36
And it's on Spotify under, it's just under Carolyn Sophia, right? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 3:40
Mm-hmm. That's my stage name. 

Rich Bennett 3:42
Okay. So y'all, I like that stage name. So when y'all go on Spotify, Carolyn Sophia, and you can listen. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 3:49
Hold on and stay. 

Rich Bennett 3:51
Through what? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 3:52
Hold on and stay is the song. 

Rich Bennett 3:55
Oh, I thought you were telling people, hold on, because I'm going to stay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 3:59
Well, that too. You got to keep going through. Hold on. Hold on to life. 

Rich Bennett 4:05
Oh, this is going to be a lot of fun. Actually, I want to talk about that with the music. You said that's the only song you've done so far or recorded, but you've written others, right? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 4:19
Yes, I have. 

Rich Bennett 4:20
Okay. So how long have you been writing songs? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 4:26
You know, it's funny, because this all goes back to when I was writing my book. Somehow I started writing music. It's 

Rich Bennett 4:33
Mm-hmm. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 4:34
like a different, like it was like, you know, my book was great, but then to decompress from that, I literally would like write songs. And like, I was like, oh my gosh, I can write a song in 10 minutes. Like, that's crazy. And I realized it was like, like something I, like a talent of mine. And I was like, okay, we're going to keep this in the back burner. 

Rich Bennett 4:54
I love that. That's one thing I do. I used to write when I was younger too, all the time. And when did I stop? I think shortly after, 

shortly after high school, I guess. When I was in the Marine Corps, I stopped writing and I need to get back into it, but I'm working on a book now. So I can't, and I, and I, Unbreakable is your first book or only book. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 5:21
It's my only book. 

Rich Bennett 5:22
So far. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 5:24
So far. 

Rich Bennett 5:25
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 5:25
But, um, you know, if I would absolutely love to get a book deal, that would be amazing for the next one. But, you know, it's all about, I'm just taking it one step at a time. And, you know, I just try to be as real and, and build connection as much as I can. So it's like, you know, how I even wrote my book was through Georgetown University. So because of that, I, they had this program of like learning to write a book. So, um, but that's, I'm telling this so backwards, but that was after the car accident. And, um, my, uh, one of my best friends from where I did almost try to, you know, Um, in college, my first college, I hated it, miserable, whatever. But you know how they say mom was always right. My mom said, join one club. I joined the writing club. She actually wrote a book before, and I have my book Unbreakable now. And I asked her, I was like, should I do it? She's like, go for it. So I went through the whole process and they said, you know, you may or may not. And I said, no, no, no, this is happening. I'm going to be an author. This is, this is how, and I just full send. 

Rich Bennett 6:32
Which is good. And you, this was published in 2021, right? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 6:37
Mm-hmm. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 6:38
So shortly, was that after COVID, during COVID? I can't remember. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 6:41
During COVID, I guess. Cause. 

Rich Bennett 6:43
Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 6:44
COVID in 2021. 

Rich Bennett 6:45
Now, how long did it 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 6:46
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 6:46
take you to write? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 6:48
Um, 

honestly, nine to 10 months. Cause I honestly started in June of 2020 and then I published it in May of 2021. 

Rich Bennett 7:04
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 7:05
So I'm not good at math. So however money that one said that is. 

Rich Bennett 7:08
So, and with the, tell everybody about the book. Cause I think it's important that people do purchase it, whether they buy it on paperback or Kindle. It's not out on audio yet, is it? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 7:21
One thing at a time. 

Rich Bennett 7:22
Okay. But you have, do you have plans on doing it? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 7:26
If the opportunity presents itself. 

Rich Bennett 7:28
Okay. If you can find time. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 7:30
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 7:31
Okay. All right. So tell everybody about the book. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 7:33
Wow. Yes. So Unbreakable is something that means so, so much to me because from a young age growing up, I was always told you can't do this. You're never doing this. You're not pretty enough. You're not funny enough. You're not this. You're not that. And so it all started when I got bullied in third grade and that. Yeah. 

And I got a death threat that said kill Carolyn. And so. 

Rich Bennett 7:59
Well, in third grade, you did. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 8:03
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's okay. Did you just spit out your grave? 

Rich Bennett 8:07
Almost. I choked on it. Wow. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 8:10
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 

I think my parents remember that more than I do, to be honest with you. But yeah. So that kind of started. And then after that, you know, it was the whole not fitting in and not, you know, feeling like anyone understood or like whatever. And always feeling just like alone, anxious, just not feeling like I would find my group or whatever. And then in middle school, I was bullied really, really badly. And they called me Marvin the Martian because apparently I had frizzy hair, yellow teeth and a giant nose. And they made me hate my nose after that. And 

Rich Bennett 8:45
What? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 8:46
so, yeah. But now we're, we're working on it. I'm, I'm happy with being perfectly imperfect as the sweatshirt said. 

Rich Bennett 8:52
There's nothing wrong with your nose. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 8:55
Thank you. I appreciate that. But at the time, you know, as a kid, you're like getting bullied and all this stuff. So anyways, all these things happened. And then my, uh, my junior, sorry, not junior, my freshman year of high school, sophomore year, sophomore year, sophomore year of high school, I found out I had a learning disability called nonverbal learning disability. And when I first found out, I'm not going to lie. I was like, oh my gosh, like I'm already feeling depressed. I don't have friends. I don't fit in. I'm not invited to the parties. And now I have this thing about me. That's going to make me even more different. And so 

Rich Bennett 9:27
nonverbal. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 9:27
So yeah. So you're highly verbal, but you tend to lack spatial awareness. Like even parking now can be an issue. There are days where I'm just like, say to my best friends, or I'll just look at them and I'll be like, yep. And we'll just switch, uh, you know, switch seats because I'll be like, I just, I can't get that parallel parking spot today or whatever it is. So that's like one thing, but it's also like you internalize a lot and you kind of really, really think deep into a situation and think back to like the event, the past, something that someone else wouldn't hold on to kind of. And so it also really did affect me in just the way that, you know, I also am the way I am, you know, and I also realized that it made me really bad at math and everything, but it also made me really creative. And so I realized that non-verbal learning disability is actually my superpower. It's my blessing in disguise. And now I'm so proud to be working with an organization, the NVLD Project. I am an ambassador for them. And I'm so amazed that there's an organization now to help kids like that because I didn't have that person to be like, this is what NVLD, like kind of all this thing, but now I can be that person for 

Rich Bennett 10:46
else. Right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 10:46
someone 

Rich Bennett 10:47
See, and I've always, well, not always, but I, and I learned this, I had somebody on and we were talking, it may have been about Down syndrome. 

And one of the things that we said, they said, no, you don't say disability, say differing abilities. Because to me, a lot of the disabilities that people have, you can learn from them. And well, just like with you, what you said, 

it's, it's amazing. It's simply amazing. So, all right. So I'm sorry, you're, you did that. And then you're writing the book. No, wait a minute. You weren't writing the book yet. No, we're talking about the book. Good luck. Look, I am still, the third grade thing just blows. I got to ask this. So with that death threat in third grade, what happened to the person that made a death threat? Anything? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 11:39
Literally, it's third grade. So they get no recess and they get like taken home early or like maybe suspended one day or whatever, but they didn't do much. 

Rich Bennett 11:49
Now, have you, throughout the years, did you talk to that person anymore? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 11:55
No. 

Rich Bennett 11:56
No. Okay. All right. I'm sorry. Go ahead. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 11:58
No, no. And that's the thing too, though, is like, if you're going through things in life and you have gotten bullied and you, you know, all this stuff, don't fight fire with fire. You don't have to fight back. You know, like, I honestly just hope they learn from it and have a good life. Like, that's it. And I think that's where people really need to understand the mindset shift. I could speak, but some days it's just like, sometimes that puts 

Rich Bennett 12:20
brain. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 12:20
in my To be honest with you. Yeah. I sometimes have this like hamster wheel brain. So it just goes, oh my gosh, we have to make that song. Oh, wait, we have to make sure that we also send that email. Oh, and then like, I'll just be like all over the place. But I've learned to organize. And that is. 

Rich Bennett 12:35
I'm the same way. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 12:36
And that is the thing with nonverbal learning disability is you do kind of struggle being organized. So it is something I constantly work at because it's not something I'm just naturally good at. So it requires you being self-aware and all this stuff. But anyways, after the whole thing of finding out of everything and then going to boarding school and then college, thinking college would be the best four years of my life. But it ended up being, I thought, the worst decision of my life. You know, my freshman year of college, I almost, you know, my best friend called me at the right moment. If she had not had called, I probably would not be here. 

Rich Bennett 13:11
Wow. 

Because 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 13:14
Kind of. 

Rich Bennett 13:14
of the anxiety that, well, mainly because of the depression throughout the years of school. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 13:19
Yeah, it was, there was so much going on. You know, when you're a freshman in college, you're really kind of just trying to find your place. And it was weird because I thought I had friends and people that, you know, but then I didn't and people like talk bad about me and, you know, the guys didn't like me and the girls didn't want to be friends with me. And like, it just got And I got to the point where I truly did think that the world would be better off if I was not here. 

Rich Bennett 13:44
no, they 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 13:44
And 

Rich Bennett 13:45
would not. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 13:46
I know. And I know that now. And I'm so grateful I'm here now. But I literally like if she wouldn't have called, she's my saving grace, my best friend. You know, she literally, if like, it's insane. You know, for me, I believe in God and I think it was a moment in God. You know, I never tell people what to believe. I'm just saying like what I believe 

Rich Bennett 14:04
to 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 14:04
and what 

Rich Bennett 14:04
be. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 14:04
has But yeah, I like, I truly think it was a sign from God because an angel from God, because if she wouldn't have called, who knows? And so I just, I can never repay her for how much of an impact she actually has made on my life. And, you know, I just, I want the best for her too. And she's just such an amazing person. And I'm just, you know, everyone deserves to have that angel. Everyone deserves to have that person to stop them from doing something that you can't come back. And that's what I always try to do with like, just even social media and just like unbreakable is just be that angel and say like, look, I went through all this. So you don't have to do that. Just listen to like some of the techniques and figure out, oh, wait, I can shift my mindset. I can do this. I can do that. And you'll be surprised when you are like... I feel like I'm kind of healing. 

Rich Bennett 14:54
Yeah. So actually you mentioned techniques. What kind of techniques do you use? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 14:59
I'm really going all over the place. 

Rich Bennett 15:02
Look, Hey, Carolyn, this ain't no lie. I'm like that. There's times I've been thinking about renaming this podcast. Oh, look a squirrel, but 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 15:10
I'll

 

Rich Bennett 15:13
do that a lot. I'll be talking to guests. It's like, I make a left turn to go over here or something. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 15:18
it. 

Rich Bennett 15:19
that's 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 15:20
That's me. If I see a dog or like my friends and I'm like, you have a cat? I'm like, Oh, 

Rich Bennett 15:26
it's okay. But if soon the techniques, what kind of techniques, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 15:31
what kind of 

Rich Bennett 15:32
Yes. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 15:32
techniques? 

Rich Bennett 15:33
Thank you. Jeez. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 15:36
So, you know, the main one that I always say, and I mean, this has even changed. Like my friend, like I've gotten my friends and family even onto this. So I learned this thing in therapy called the deep three and it's a breathing method. And so what it is is. So if you're in a crisis, you're in a panic, I even, I'll demonstrate just to show you. So if you're in a panic, you're in a crisis, stop. 

and you take three to press, you go one, 

then you do it again, two, 

and then you do it a third time, three. 

And the more I did this, the more it changed my life. And that is the biggest one. That is for sure the best one. I would say other things really are just finding what's made, what, what I'm passionate about. And that's writing music. So for me, 

Rich Bennett 16:25
yeah, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 16:26
it's having that ability to just, you know, cope in that way. Like if I'm upset or something, it's like, Oh, you know, I don't go to negative coping anymore. Now I'm like, Oh, let me write about why I'm sad. Like, or like, you know, or let me, you know, 

Rich Bennett 16:41
it's good therapy. I'm 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 16:42
it. 

Rich Bennett 16:43
It's I found because when I was younger, I was writing all the time and I was bullied in school as well. And then once people found out who my older brother was, a lot of them would stop bullying me, but still sometimes you got bullied because, or I got bullied because of who my older brother was. But music, Oh my God, it helped a lot. And I didn't start writing probably until my teen years, but I started playing when I was five and just playing the inch, especially the drums is what I started on banging those drums. Oh, what a release. It felt so good. Felt so good. And I noticed, so those of you listening, behind Carolyn is a keyboard. So I take it you play as well. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 17:39
So I have had that there because I keep telling myself I'm going to teach myself piano because all I do now is saying, and in college I saying, I didn't learn an instrument, which I wish I would have, but yes. 

Rich Bennett 17:49
Singing is an instrument. Your voice is an instrument. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 17:54
Yes. Yes. Yes. Um, so yeah, that is behind me. You're right. That is something. 

Rich Bennett 17:59
But you, you haven't started. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 18:01
It works. 

I'll learn it eventually. Probably. I mean, 

Rich Bennett 18:06
Carolyn, how long ago did you get the piano? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 18:10
Oh gosh. 

Like 2020, 2019. 

Rich Bennett 18:15
Oh, okay. you're fine. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 18:18
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 18:19
Look, I got a bass guitar longer than that. My kids got for me and I 

haven't picked. I better shut up. I'm going to get in trouble. My kids are going to be like, even my daughter, my, she, she called me out the other day. she bought me an adult coloring book, which I didn't know was a thing. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 18:37
Oh 

Rich Bennett 18:37
yeah. And it was of my, my favorite, one of my favorite bands kiss, which of course you can't just color it because it's kiss. So you have to have all the right colored pencils. So I ordered the big, what? 

Hundreds of set of colored pencils. And she called me out the other day. I was sitting up there. She goes, you still haven't colored anything in it. I said, yeah, but I'm reading now. Grace, you told me listening to a book is not reading. So I'm reading a physical book. I can't, I can't win. I can't win. 

All right. So the, all right, the book, which is doing very well, it's got, well, five stars. So the reviews, you have five stars. Those of you listening, make sure you, you go to Carolyn's website, purchase the book. after you read it, leave a full review on Goodreads, Amazon, whatever, and then purchase it from, for other people as well. And let me ask you this. And I'm sure you probably know people that have gotten your book. Has anybody has anybody that's read it responded to you saying how it's helped them or anything? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 19:48
Yeah, I actually had one woman tell me the quote, no one deserves you more than you is something she was going to get a tattoo of. And she was like, and she sent me this really long and lovely message. And I was like, wow, like even one person, that's just insane. All I wanted to do was save one life or help one person. 

Rich Bennett 20:10
Yeah. Makes you feel good, doesn't it? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 20:14
Yeah, it's really special. So I mean, that's for me, it really, like I said, it's not about how many, it's just even getting that one. You're like, this is why I do what I do. 

Rich Bennett 20:23
So that there are people that tells you to purchase more than one book, purchase it and give it to other people that you think could, it would help. So after the book, I guess you decided after you wrote the book, is that when you decided to do speaking engagements? Or 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 20:42
you 

Rich Bennett 20:42
did 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 20:42
do 

Rich Bennett 20:43
before? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 20:45
It was more when I was in the process of writing the book, I kind of was really, I don't know. I just wanted to do more. And I was recovering from a car accident. So I was like there with my like bruised ribs and all that stuff, which is a whole other story. 

Rich Bennett 21:02
Actually, I'm glad you, I forgot to ask you about that. Do you mind talking, telling us about the car? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 21:06
Sure. What do you want to know? 

Rich Bennett 21:08
Because you mentioned that in the book, don't you? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 21:10
Yes, I do. 

Rich Bennett 21:12
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 21:13
It's not all about it. That's not the whole. 

Rich Bennett 21:14
Right, right, right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 21:16
There is a part of it. Yes. 

Rich Bennett 21:18
Okay. So yeah. Tell us about the car accident. You weren't driving. You were a passenger, right? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 21:26
I was in the backseat middle. It was. 

Rich Bennett 21:28
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 21:28
March 15th, 2020. So two days from 

Rich Bennett 21:32
Oh, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 21:32
now, it will be the anniversary of the five day. And that's always a very just emotional day for me. But I, you know, get through it. 

Rich Bennett 21:40
yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 21:40
But it really started because I wanted to go to this party that I thought the guy I liked at the time liked me. So I was like, sure, I'll go, whatever. So I bring my best friend. And then this is my other best friend. I have multiple best friends. But this one, she was like, oh, yeah, like, I'll go with you. I don't want you to go by yourself. I was like, okay, sure. Then she goes. And then she's like, you know what? I'm going to leave. And this was like a little after. I was like, it's okay. Like, you got me here and everything. Now I'll just, you know, do my thing. So she leaves. At the end of the night, everyone says, well, he says to me, you want to come back? We're going to like hang out. Like, and it was just like him and his friends. So when we get in the car, our, let me say this. Our driver is sober. And when we get in the car, I was like, I'm not, there was, they wanted me to sit in a certain place that I didn't sit at. And I was like, no. So I sat in the backseat middle. And when we were driving down the road, like we were just like smooth sailing. All of a sudden this car comes out. I should probably do it this way. Out of nowhere. And it just. 

Rich Bennett 22:46
And T-bones you? Oh. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 22:48
The craziest thing was is seconds before I was like, wait, I don't have my seatbelt on. Cause his friend tells me that he didn't let, or he like was talking to his other girl. I was like, are you kidding me? And then I saw it and I was like, crash. 

Rich Bennett 23:03
Wow. 

Hold it. So how, please tell me no fatalities. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 23:10
No. So that's the, and another thing too, though, it's everyone was alive. Everyone did have some severe injuries more than others, but you know, it was a hit and run. They never found the guy backed up, 

Rich Bennett 23:22
car. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 23:22
got out of the 

Rich Bennett 23:23
What? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 23:24
So that was unfortunate too, but it's okay. You know, I've, I've made peace with it because, you know, truly like, you know, I'm gonna, it's just. It's really like, my sister's always taught me like, don't hold hate in your heart. 

Rich Bennett 23:38
Right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 23:38
It's exhausting. 

Rich Bennett 23:40
It is. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 23:40
Like, she's so right about that. And so I just like, you know, I let it go, but yeah, it was, it was horrible. And luckily everyone was alive, but the car looked like we died. 

Rich Bennett 23:51
How long did it take you before you got back into a car or better or better yet behind the wheel of a car? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 23:58
I actually remember exactly when this happened. I was at the concussion doctor with my mom. 

Rich Bennett 24:04
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 24:04
And at this point I hadn't driven since. 

I was like, I'm not driving. I'm not doing that. No, absolutely not. And my doctor was like, yes, you are. Actually, you make sure she drives home. I said, are you kidding me? I'm not driving. I literally don't want to drive. He was like, you need to get back into that car and you need to And I was like, so I got back in the car and it was like, okay, it was fine. It was just kind of this hyping up to this feeling of, oh, wow, something could, but then I realized, you know, I'm at peace. Like, it's okay. Like, 

Rich Bennett 24:40
right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 24:41
PSD is a real thing, but also working through it is, is a real thing as well. So that's kind of the first time I really drove after that. 

Rich Bennett 24:49
But, and I guess also with the fact that you were behind the wheel, you probably felt like you were in more control on like when the accident, you were in the middle of the back seat. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 24:59
Yep. Yep. And I would have gone flying through that windshield if I didn't have that seatbelt on. I mean, for 

Rich Bennett 25:04
Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 25:04
me, it was a second chance at life from God. I mean, I've totally like believe that it was my second chance at life because I truly think for so much of my life, I was silently struggling and I wouldn't tell people what really was going on. I wouldn't really be who I was. And like, I have the most amazing, loving family, but yet every time I left, it was like, I didn't belong. Like even in college, I'm like, I don't fit in here. Like, so it was like a very long process. And after, and the car accident is really what sparked the book. 

Rich Bennett 25:34
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 25:34
Cause I was like, I don't want to be silently struggling anymore. I'm so blessed to be alive. I'm going to do something about it. And I said to my parents, I said, how is it that I'm doing the best I ever have in my life? And this is the worst time for most people. This is COVID. 

And literally, like my dad just said, he was like, you're like, you're unbreakable. Like you're going to get through this. And we are here for you. And, um, I was the one that ended up coming up with unbreakable, but I'm sure he said it because my dad said a lot of very smart things. My dad's very, very smart. 

Rich Bennett 26:09
Right. 

And actually in your work, you emphasize self-love and selfish self-acceptance. So why do you believe these are such challenging concepts for people to grasp? And what advice do you give for someone struggling with them right now? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 26:29
You know, I think it really all comes down to, again, my sister, she's probably played like the most impact in my life and 

Rich Bennett 26:35
remember. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 26:35
she doesn't even But she, you know, when I had my last episode, because yes, I did use to self-harm. My sister said to me, what life do you want for yourself? 

Rich Bennett 26:50
Wow. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 26:51
I took that so literal. And that is the same thing I would say. Ask yourself, what life do you want for yourself? Do you want to be happy? Do you want to be sad? Do you want to continue going down the path you're going? Ask yourself that one question and it might just be an epiphany for you. 

Rich Bennett 27:12
Yeah, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 27:12
That really can change everything. And I think that, you know, just being vulnerable and being open and being willing to talk about who you are. I mean, it took me so long to get to this point where I just don't care. I mean, people all the time ask, like, say, they're like, wow, you really put yourself out there. And I was like, I don't really care. Like people can say whatever they want. I just want to help people. And that's it. Like, that's it, period. You know, the blinders are on and I'm going to focus on what's important to me. And, you know, sometimes it's hard to not get caught up in the negativity. But anyways, going back to that, I really just, you know, be who you are. It's really simple if you really think about it. Like, who are you? If you 

Rich Bennett 27:49
right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 27:49
know who you are, be that person. Don't shut it off because you feel like other people are going to not like you. I did that for years and I didn't have the most genuine best friends that I do now because I'm me. And there's a difference. So learning to become yourself and accept yourself for who you are is really important because you are you for a reason. You know, there's only one of you and your life and every single person who's listening to this has a purpose. It's just about when you figure it out in your life. And that, to me, made me realize that this is my purpose, using my voice as my purpose. And I never would have thought that because I was always so shy 

Rich Bennett 28:30
Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 28:30
and so 

Rich Bennett 28:31
Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 28:31
just, like, scared and, you know, not the one raising hand in class and just, like, trying to, you know, go through the motions. So I would say that and really just understanding that, like, you don't have to change who you are to please anyone. 

Literally, the nose thing, I mean, it took me a really long time to accept myself for who I was. I mean, I can't tell you how many times I tried to beg my parents to get me a nose job and they always were like, nope. And then I was like, okay. But I'm so glad that they did because they know that I'm, you know. It's really kind of hard to put into words if I'm thinking about it, but they know that I'm amazing just the way I am and beautiful just the way I am. And they have kept me so grounded with that, too, because, you know, they really have said, like, this is who you are. Like, embrace it. And I think that's the thing is getting people also to support you and embrace who you are. The right people will find you, but you have to be who you are. 

Rich Bennett 29:32
You're listening to Conversations with Rich Bennett. We'll be right back. 

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Carolyn Sophia Skowron 30:37
Mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 30:38
And I learned this and I do this. How often do you look in the mirror and tell yourself that you love yourself? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 30:46
I'm going to be honest. I don't. 

Rich Bennett 30:48
You don't love yourself or you don't look in the mirror and say that? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 30:51
No, no, no. I love myself. 

Rich Bennett 30:54
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 30:55
I don't really look in the mirror or stand there and be like, hmm, what's one thing I- Because I honestly feel like for me too, it's about understanding what works for me and being- 

Rich Bennett 31:06
Right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 31:06
And the self-affirmations really help a lot too. 

Rich Bennett 31:10
Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 31:10
I am beautiful. I am enough. I am worthy. You know, even telling yourself that daily, it 

Rich Bennett 31:14
Well, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 31:14
just- 

Rich Bennett 31:14
you are telling yourself. So that's, yeah. Some people look in the mirror. Some people, as long as you're telling yourself that- 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 31:20
Yes. However you want to tell yourself. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 31:22
Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 31:23
Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 31:23
Yeah. I mean, me, I looked in the mirror the one time and it cracked, so I stopped- No, I'm joking. 

It didn't. At least I don't think it did. No, it didn't. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 31:35
You still have that mirror? You can go find- 

Rich Bennett 31:39
You know what? I don't think I do. It was- Oh. Why'd you have to bring that up? Thanks, Carolyn. 

God. 

So, with- You threw me off here again. 

With your journey, what's actually surprised you the most as, especially as a mental health advocated speaker, for your journey? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 32:13
I think what surprised me the most is how much more- Much more I can do than I thought I could do. I think we always put these limiting beliefs on ourselves first, telling ourselves we can't never do that. We can never write a book. We can never write a song. We can never do this, that. But it's like, when you don't tell yourself that, and you learn how to be like, this is what I'm going to do. And you just do it. Like, don't even question it. Just do it. And it's different when you do that. It really, really is. 

Rich Bennett 32:43
All right. So, you mentioned some of the techniques that you use. And I know when it comes to anxiety, depression, everything else, everybody's different. Some people use techniques. Some people, me, I love to meditate. That helps me a lot. And of course, physical activity. Some people use medication. What has actually helped you the most? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 33:09
Yeah. I mean, I'm not going to lie. Like, not ashamed. I still am on medication. But it's just because that works for me. 

Rich Bennett 33:15
Right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 33:16
Why change the good thing? You know, something that's already 

Rich Bennett 33:18
Mm-hmm. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 33:18
working. So, you know, for me, you know, that is something. And for some people, that is what to do. But that's between your doctor and you to figure out, you know, where you need to go with that. So, I would say that medication, but also, like, working out and going 

Rich Bennett 33:32
Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 33:32
to the gym and just, like, empowering myself and getting through, like, getting through a workout or doing something even small and just being proud of myself for showing up. Because I think that we always worry so much about the competition of everybody else. And we never focus on the competition with ourselves. And the competition with ourselves should just be to be better than I was yesterday. 

Rich Bennett 33:57
Ooh. You know, you have a lot of shirts you got to make. You got a lot of good sayings in here. I mean, come on now. When you're doing these speaking engagements, you could be selling your book and the shirts. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 34:10
That would be cool. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 34:10
It will cover your, at least to cover your travel. 

And speaking of which, with the speaking, are you trying to stay in one area or will you travel anywhere? And will you do it also virtually? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 34:24
I will do it, however, if someone, let's just put it this way. If someone needs me, I'll be there. 

Rich Bennett 34:30
Okay. That's a great answer. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 34:34
Mm-hmm. If you, if you want me to go, like, I mean, of course I want to speak at, like, Harvard. And that would be an amazing, 

Rich Bennett 34:39
opportunity. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 34:40
wonderful 

Rich Bennett 34:40
Right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 34:41
But if they said, we want you to come tomorrow, I'd be like, I'm on the flight tonight. 

Rich Bennett 34:46
Good, good. I love to hear that. How do you personally maintain resilience, especially during times when you feel overwhelmed or vulnerable? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 34:56
Resilience, I think, is not so much getting back up when you get down. It's pursuing that and continuing that. It's saying, okay, I got up, so we're going to stay up and keep going. Because getting back up is great, but continuing it every single day trying to make your day better, that's a whole different story. You know what I mean? 

Really understanding that you're resilient if you can make it through hard things and overcome them. I think that's a really big thing for me. Some days I'm like, I didn't overcome everything I wanted to do today or all this stuff. But I also think it's a very resilience as a way to be gentle with yourself and also give yourself grace. Because I can't tell you how many times my best friends have said to me, Carolyn, just give yourself grace. Actually, they'll say Carol because my best friends call me Carol. And that's why it's unbreakable by Carol, because I didn't have friends for so long. And I finally have my people. 

Rich Bennett 36:00
Carolyn's such a beautiful name, though. So is Carol. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 36:03
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 

Rich Bennett 36:05
I mean, and I'm not saying that because that's my mother-in-law's name. It's a beautiful name. I've just always loved the name Carolyn. Carolyn and Caroline. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 36:16
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 36:16
I don't, I don't know why. I didn't name any of my kids that. Although it'd be kind of weird for my son to be named that, wouldn't it? 

And my daughter's name's perfect. I mean, great. She can't, I mean. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 36:31
Yeah. Okay. 

Rich Bennett 36:32
So actually with not, have you, because you, you know, you speak, you're always speaking about mental health. Has anybody from NAMI contacted you or have you been in touch with them? 

National, was it national association? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 36:52
I used to do this one thing where I was like a speaker. It was like during COVID, but it was like a virtual thing. 

Rich Bennett 36:57
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 36:58
And it was like, yeah, I'm loving the association I've had there. 

Rich Bennett 37:01
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 37:01
But yeah, I mean, I would love to do it. I'm pretty sure the CEO I once tweeted about, because this is back on Twitter and I tweeted something about NAMI and just like how, like, you know, mental health and stuff. And I'm pretty sure he liked it. So like, you know, I would, I would love to collaborate with them. I think that would be really cool. 

Rich Bennett 37:17
Actually speaking of Twitter. So what is it now? Do you put out tweets or X's? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 37:22
I don't even use X. I mean, to be honest, I have it. I went on the other day just to like refresh it, but. 

Rich Bennett 37:28
Right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 37:29
No one talks about X. No one talks about Twitter anymore. It's like, that was such a thing when I was in high school, 10 years ago. Wow. 

Rich Bennett 37:39
Don't even go there. Don't even. Okay. I mean, come on. 

When you sit there and say high school, 10 years ago. Wow. Like it was a long time ago. 

Really? I mean, I'm not saying I'm old, but my, my school only had one room. No, I'm joking. I'm not that old. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 38:08
You don't look a day over 30. 

Rich Bennett 38:10
Oh God. I love you. That's because I don't have the full beard. Is that what it is? Or you're, yeah, you're just being nice. I see how it is. 

Look, I mean, look, there's not, see, there's nothing on top. That's because I, yeah, it's all gone. Well, I shit. Still, it's not the, look, Carolyn, there you go. Throw me off again. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 38:32
Why do people always say that too? Cause like people will talk to me too. They'll be like, wow, I never expected you. Like, I, I totally didn't expect you to be like this or like whatever. 

Well, you got what you should get. You don't be upset. That's what they tell you with the lollipop. So might as well do this. 

Rich Bennett 38:50
Oh, I mean, actually with, with speaking, because I know it, I would think you have to, you would have to learn how to, cause speaking in front of people is different than what we're doing here. It's different than one-on-one conversations. So how did you learn to actually stand up in front of people and speak? Or did you just do it? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 39:14
I just did it. 

Rich Bennett 39:15
it. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 39:15
I had 

Rich Bennett 39:16
Really? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 39:17
There were like 300 kids there and I was like really nervous. And then I did it and I was like, I did it. I can do it. And it's like, I underestimate myself. And I feel like we always say that so much to ourselves. Don't underestimate yourself and give yourself more 

Rich Bennett 39:30
yeah, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 39:30
credit, you know? So yeah, you just literally do it. Like, that's all I can say is just do it. Have an opportunity to do it. 

Rich Bennett 39:38
So who do you actually listen to? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 39:41
I love Robbins. 

Rich Bennett 39:43
Oh yes. Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 39:44
Mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 39:44
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 39:45
I would love to be on her podcast one day. That would be so cool. Because honestly, her let them theory has like really shifted a lot of just kind of, you know, even thoughts or like, if something happens, I'm like, you know what, just let them or whatever, you know, it's okay. Things are fine. And I just, you know, I just love and I've and I just have started reading her book, The Let Them Theory. And I want to read more of it. But I started it and she basically started it by saying like, I was in debt. I was going through a really hard time and all this stuff. And then basically she said one day, she just said five, four, three, two, one rocket ship or going and then never stopped. And I think that's 

Rich Bennett 40:24
Wow. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 40:24
so inspirational. 

Rich Bennett 40:25
Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 40:26
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 40:26
I'll have, I'll have to read that. One of my, I believe one of my co-hosts is actually reading her book. Now she listens to her podcast all the time. She doesn't listen to my podcast, even when she co-hosts. Yes, Wendy, I'm calling you out, but you know, she'll listen to Mel Ramos, but not mine. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 40:43
I mean, I could listen to her like all day. Like, I think that is someone who I very much admire. And 

Rich Bennett 40:50
yeah. Oh, she's good. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 40:52
I just like, I, you know, I just can't believe that. Like it really just started by her saying, I'm just going to do it. And honestly, like, I feel like that just be the model of life. I'm just going to do it. 

Rich Bennett 41:04
So, all right. Crazy question for you. Have you tried to contact her about going on her podcast? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 41:13
Um, no, I have not yet. 

Rich Bennett 41:16
You should. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 41:17
I don't know. I don't know. I mean, I'm sure she gets so many messages. I'm probably, I don't know if I will stand out, but, um, I could try, I guess. 

Rich Bennett 41:26
You'd never know. I mean, it's the worst they can say is no or not get back to you. And especially when it comes to big podcasts like that, I'm sure they get like thousands of 

requests. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 41:43
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 41:43
Yeah. Unlike me where I get maybe 10. Um, no, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 41:47
I'm. 

Rich Bennett 41:47
I'm, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 41:48
Hey, 

Rich Bennett 41:48
I'm, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 41:48
but 10 is still a number. 

Rich Bennett 41:50
What's that? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 41:51
10 is still a number. He's still. 

Rich Bennett 41:52
This is true. This is true. Yeah. At times I wish it was only 10, but, Oh, you know what? but I got to think pod match because otherwise it number one, I wouldn't have met you. Number two, I, the podcast wouldn't be as big as it is now because of all the different guests I found from there. You can only find so many local guests before you start talking to the same ones over and over. Actually, how many podcasts have you been on now? Do you know? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 42:24
Actually, I have been keeping track and I'm almost at 50. 

Rich Bennett 42:28
And when did you start doing it? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 42:31
So I started at 2021. Like I did one 20. 

Rich Bennett 42:35
Okay. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 42:35
And then the rest I did in like 2023, 2024. 

Rich Bennett 42:39
Okay. And you were on my, but I know you were on my buddy's podcast, Richard Wilmore. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 42:44
Oh yeah. Yeah. I was on his show. 

Rich Bennett 42:45
Yeah. I don't think he's posted that yet. Or did he? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 42:49
I, I actually have to check there. There's a lot of things that I have to like go through and, and see. Cause I try to turn them into clips or like reels. 

Rich Bennett 42:56
Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 42:56
Whatever. I don't know. I don't know. It's like social media. That's how I say I'm like, just someone else do it. Like I can't, I don't want to see all these. Like, uh, I just, you get so consumed by it. It's like. 

Rich Bennett 43:09
Oh, I know. I know. It's ridiculous. It's, it's, but now the thing is you, especially with, with your brand and everything, you need social media to grow it. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 43:22
I know. I know. I know. 

Rich Bennett 43:24
And it's, well, yeah. You wish you could just turn it off, but you can't, but you are, you do have something else, which is very important. And that's the website. And I'm going to yell at you. I'm going to call you out. 

When are you going to update the blog? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 43:45
You know, you're not. 

Rich Bennett 43:45
Carolyn, you're a writer. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 43:48
Yes, I am. Um, I am going to get back to it. I know that the website has been something I have been trying to update. So I will post a new blog soon. I promise. Uh, just for you. 

Rich Bennett 44:03
Well, here's the thing, because you know, and I don't know if you thought about this, of course, if you do it, make sure you put the copyright thing on there, but your lyrics to your songs, have you ever thought about turning any of them into a blog? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 44:20
Well, the first line is, we all make mistakes. 

Rich Bennett 44:25
And what's wrong with that? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 44:27
And that is definitely something everyone can relate to. 

Rich Bennett 44:30
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I, I, you, there's, of course, you don't have the time to do the podcast, to, to do your own podcast. We know that, or you don't have, you don't have the, what was it? You don't have the technical abilities? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 44:44
I don't know exactly what I'm doing with it. And I only had two episodes out. It was called, well, it's called coping with care, but I only have two out. And the only one is about anxiety. And then the second one's about the girl who's life I saved over social media. 

Rich Bennett 44:58
I'm sorry. What? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 45:01
Yeah, there. 

Rich Bennett 45:02
Oh, you got to tell us about this. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 45:05
Yeah. So there was a, uh, whenever I first published my book, I was finding people to try to send it to. And basically someone said, well, I don't think I need it, but I think you should send it to my friend or whoever. So I sent it to them and, um, I was like, okay, like, you know, sure. We'll see if they get it. I got a text from them one day and it was like, thank you so much. Like I just tried to commit yesterday. Like no one knows, like, you know, thank you for this. Anyways, over time I ended up keeping in contact with her. And one night she legitimately 

said like, you know, she was going to do it. And 

Rich Bennett 45:43
Right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 45:43
I legitimately called a wellness check on her in a different state. 

Rich Bennett 45:49
Wow. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 45:49
And I was like, I need someone to go and make sure she's okay. And I was glad that I had her address because like, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to, but they had someone go and she was so upset at first. And then she said, thank you. Thank you for doing that because that really, really, really helped me. And you know, and there was one other time that I just said, you can't do it. Find something to do, paint, do something, but don't take those. It's not worth it. 

Rich Bennett 46:20
Yeah. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 46:21
And yeah, she was happy and well today. So I'm sure she's doing great. So yeah. 

Rich Bennett 46:27
The power of social media. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 46:29
I guess it can be a good thing in some ways. 

Rich Bennett 46:31
It all, you know what, it all depends on how you use it. And one of the things I learned it, because let's face it, there are a lot of negative posts out there. You just got to scroll right past them. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 46:45
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 46:46
Ignore them. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 46:47
Yeah. I mean, honestly, the negativity, I made this one video once about how like being a 10 is a mindset and someone said, that's funny, not coming from a 10. And I was like, 

okay, like, all right, you probably look like a thumb. So bye. 

Rich Bennett 47:06
You know, and here's the thing. And I've always said this, you can have somebody that's a 10 on the outside and there's a zero on the inside. And you know, that's why I said beauty is so 

what's it saying? Beauty's skin deep or something like that. I forget what it is, but beauty anyways, but people need to look at that because yeah, somebody could be like a runway model, but don't have a personality worth diddly squat. And I wouldn't want to talk to them, you know, it's yeah, no. And you're beautiful the way you are. Nose. What'd you say before we started recording frizzy hair? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 47:54
Yellow teeth and a nose. They called me Marvin the Martian, which was so nice. Cause apparently I was from outer space, but at this point I wouldn't mind being from outer space. 

Rich Bennett 48:04
You know what? The funny thing is when I was younger, I would always do an impression of Marty the Martian. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 48:10
You're shitting me. 

Rich Bennett 48:11
No, I'm serious. I always love Marty Looney Tunes. He was awesome. I'm going to zap you with my super. Oh yeah. I loved him. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 48:21
You should get into animation and do voices. 

Rich Bennett 48:24
Oh yeah. I can't do it anymore. No, not like I used to. And my one friend, I got, now I am showing my age. My one buddy used to be, I mean, he could do droopy, droopy. Was it droopy the dog? I think was the character. Anyways, he could, the Carol is looking at me like, what the hell are you talking about? Rich? You're going, I didn't know Marty the Martian was a cartoon. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 48:47
That's so, that's so funny. That's so funny. It's just so funny. Like when I see Martian in something, I'm like, it's ties to something. 

Rich Bennett 48:55
How do you, how do you envision the future of your brand? Unbreakable by Carol and what legacy do you hope to leave? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 49:04
Wow. That's a hard loaded question. Um, 

You know, with unbreakable by Carol, I really wanted, you know, with speaking and also with the book, I really just want to give people the just knowledge and understanding of like, they are unbreakable. Like life is hard. There are good and there are bad days, but really understanding that you're going to get back up and you're going to keep going and you're not going to give up because you are unbreakable. That's like why I called it unbreakable because unbreakable is not just a word of a title. 

Rich Bennett 49:36
right. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 49:37
It's, it's a mantra, you know, like being unbreakable is, is letting people make fun of you and not caring. Being unbreakable is making sure that you are being you. And if someone tries to tear you down, you're not going to let that affect you. I think that's the major thing though. So I would say really kind of just building authenticity and building just a connection with people. And, you know, one day I hope to have like a platform so I can really just like, you know, inspire people to be like, listen, if I can do it, you can do it and give people hope because people need hope. You know, there's a really bad mental health crisis right now in it's really a time where if I'm not going to do it, who is kind of thing. And so that's kind of why I'm so passionate about doing what I do and, you know, suicide prevention, anti-bullying too. Like I would love to join like an anti-bullying board or something. Cause that's how passionate I am about it. I just want to be able to like make a change and help these kids. So I don't 

Rich Bennett 50:36
And 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 50:36
know. 

Rich Bennett 50:37
that, that would be one hell of a legacy to even just helping one person. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 50:42
No, for sure. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 50:44
Is, is enough. So something very important, even though I mentioned it earlier, if anybody wants to get in touch with you for you to come speak, how do they get in touch with you? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 50:56
As you said at the beginning of the podcast, CarolynSophia.com, you go to that, you go to book me, you connect with me, you fill it out, I'll get an email and then I'll be in touch with you. So it's very simple process if you need a speaker. 

Rich Bennett 51:10
All right. So before I get to my last question, 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 51:14
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 51:14
actually, are you, are you working on another book already? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 51:19
No, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. 

Rich Bennett 51:23
Okay. All right. So before I get to my last question, is there anything you would like to add? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 51:29
I mean, I think the bottom line here is just to always understand, you know, my speech talks about it too. It's positivity, adaptability, and resilience. Those are very three important words because they're something to live by, you know, being positive and not in like a toxic way of like, everything is great. Yeehaw. Why do I keep saying yeehaw? Maybe I should move to Nashville. 

Oh 

Rich Bennett 51:51
my God. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 51:53
Yeah. Anyways, I don't even know where was I trying to thought. I've had five concussions. So give me a second. 

Rich Bennett 51:58
Good Lord. 

Well, it ain't no wonder. I mean, before we started recording, you hit yourself with the microphone. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 52:07
Oh, yeah. 

Yeah, that would have been. So, yeah. Hey, everyone. I just got hit in the head. 

But no, I just think, you know, really understanding though, that making sure that you're making the best out of life and finding those beautiful moments that is going to bring you joy. And that is going to help you so much in your life moving forward, because you're going to be like, wait a Like I can, this might not be going well, but I'm really happy that this is going well. You know, so it's really about perspective and, you know, resilience is really just about getting back up and going. It's, it's really about just taking, it's basically being like a glass house, but nothing can break it because that's how thick the glass is. Because that's kind of how I think about it. You know what I mean? Cause it's like, no one can break my glass because at this point, I think it's just, when you get to that point in your life too. And I'm sure like everyone who even like has a name out there too, gets feels the same way. It's like, you just don't care because you know, what's real. You know, it's true. You know who your people are. And if people want to say other things, then okay. Like that was my biggest thing of why not to write unbreakable. But then I was like, I don't care what people think. I just want to help people. So if it helps someone and someone else is like, that's stupid. I'll be like, I will pray for you tonight. 

Rich Bennett 53:32
I love it. So my last, this is scary because I, my listeners have sent me some questions to ask guests coming on. The scary thing is some of the questions that my son sent. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 53:45
Wait, before you do that, I 

Rich Bennett 53:46
Uh-oh. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 53:46
forgot adaptability. 

Rich Bennett 53:48
Oh, go ahead. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 53:50
So adaptability, those are my three things. Adaptability is really just understanding that you have the power to control, how you handle situations. If something doesn't go right, if you don't make that flight, yeah, that might suck, but your future like person could be on the next plane and, or like you could have a business connection on the next plane. So like everything happens for a reason. So understand that adapting and making sure that you're adapting yourself to each situation and you just will feel so much freer. You're just like riding a wave. That's what I was going to say. 

Rich Bennett 54:21
Okay. You know, you don't want me to ask one of these goofy questions that my son sent to you. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 54:27
actually I do. What is it? 

Rich Bennett 54:29
Oh God. 

I, I, I don't understand this one. It must come from a rap song or whatever. So my son, Danny Bennett, 

how much a dollar cost? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 54:46
I'm not good at math, but a dollar. 

Rich Bennett 54:48
Uh, so I think it's from a song. So I'll ask you this one instead that he sent. 

I'm telling you, this is, this, 

this is, I don't know where his mind's at sometimes. Would you rather fight? 10 duck sized bears or 100 bear sized ducks and why? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 55:13
Wow. I would say. 

Well, I would say the ducks because the bear is going to kill me. The ducks at least. 

Rich Bennett 55:24
So the 100 bear sized ducks. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 55:27
Yeah. Well, they're still ducks. They're not going to, you know, kill you. The bear, I feel like the bear would just be like, looks like a nice snack. So I feel like I would rather the ducks, I think. 

Rich Bennett 55:42
I don't know. A hundred bear-sized ducks. That's a giant. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 55:46
Wait, but what was the other one? 

Rich Bennett 55:48
Ten duck-sized bears. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 55:50
Oh, oh, then. 

Rich Bennett 55:54
I told you, look, my son comes up with some goofy stuff. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 55:57
But 

Rich Bennett 55:57
course. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 55:58
yes, of 

Rich Bennett 55:58
I think he gets it from me. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 56:02
Yeah, I would say definitely the bear. 

Rich Bennett 56:05
I blame myself because I would always ask him stupid questions like, you know, when you get off the, when the bus driver gets off the bus, who closes the door? 

Because they're always opening the door from the inside. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 56:23
Question? 

Rich Bennett 56:24
No, these are questions I would ask him and my daughter when they were younger, that, or I would say, so if you're wearing a wool sweater and it gets wet, it shrinks, right? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 56:36
Right. 

Rich Bennett 56:37
So how come if a sheep's outside in the rain, they don't shrink? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 56:44
Because they have the extra protection and they're a sheep 

Rich Bennett 56:47
But 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 56:48
and they're 

Rich Bennett 56:48
it's 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 56:48
alive. 

Rich Bennett 56:48
still wool. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 56:50
I don't know how to answer that question. 

Rich Bennett 56:52
See, or what's my favorite one? And my uncle, you say, it's because this all the time. What's the difference between an orange? 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 57:01
An orange and what? 

Rich Bennett 57:03
An orange. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 57:07
It's orange? 

Rich Bennett 57:10
A bicycle because a vest doesn't have sleeves. 

I always gave that look to Carolyn. It's like, what the hell is he talking about? I even, and then the internet came along. I even Googled it. Oh yeah. Yeah. So I, I, I think I, my son's humor must come from me. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 57:35
God. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 57:37
Carolyn, I want to thank you so much. I want to invite you back too, because one of the things we've done before is we've done virtual round tables on mental health. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 57:46
Oh cool. 

Rich Bennett 57:47
And I would, I would love to have you on whenever we do it again. My, my co-hosts are going to yell at me because we haven't scheduled one. Um, but they're, they're fun. And I think that's where the listeners learn more. Does that make sense? Because when you have a group of people talking, it's also that the people on the panel learn more too. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 58:12
If 

Rich Bennett 58:12
I 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 58:12
you 

Rich Bennett 58:12
believe. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 58:12
need a panel guest, anything. Honestly, if you need a speaker panelist, you know, just go to the website and you'll see this, the speaker, my media kit, and you can just figure it out from there and say, I want to hire an authentic speaker. 

Rich Bennett 58:27
I think I will do that. Carolyn. Thanks so much. 

Carolyn Sophia Skowron 58:32
Thank you. 

Rich Bennett 58:35
Thank you for listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. I hope you enjoyed today's episode and learn something from it. As I did, if you'd like to hear more conversations like this, be sure to subscribe to the podcast. So you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, I'd love it. If you could leave a review, it helps us reach more listeners and share more incredible stories. Don't forget to connect with us on social media or visit our website at conversations with 

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