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Podcast

As a child, I was enthralled with history and biographies. I struggled in Math and Science, but one rainy Friday, my 4th grade teacher pointed out I was good in History and my life changed at that moment. I decided that day I would major in History. So that’s what I did 9 years later, I entered university in Washington, DC to study History- a continuation of learning and analyzing people’s lives and decisions. I interned in the US Congress, at The White House, and for NGOs; and volunteered on political campaigns, and worked in the city after graduation. But moving to London to study for my Masters changed my worldview. I’ve lived in 9 countries and have found myself in a completely different arena: fashion. Over the past 6 years, I have developed an eye for couture craftsmanship, learning how to put intricate and detailed collections into words. As a result, I have developed relationships with some of the world's most leading brands, covering Paris, Milan, New York, and Riyadh Fashion Week shows. I also have a faith and lifestyle magazine, Seele that I founded. I decided to launch ‘The Soulful Side Of Life,’ an amalgamation of my experiences, where I interview people in areas that have touched my life in: fashion, faith, entertainment, music, business, and entrepreneurship. The podcast is an extension of my interests in discussing people’s stories.

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please follow.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allysonlolitaportee/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSoulfulSideOfLife

Seele Magazine: https://seelemag.com/

Posts in Podcast 2025
Episode 72: Inga Rubenstein: From Modeling To Ardent Art Connoisseur

Russian born, Inga Rubenstein is also American. She’s St. Petersburg, turned New York City, turned fashion model, turned ardent art connoisseur. I first met Inga in Florence, Italy by chance and have admired her style, and the way she holds herself in a reserved manner. In this episode we talk about her life in Russia, modeling, NY, art, and her philanthropic work.

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Special Episode: Women In The Bible Series | Women Of Faith: The Shunammite Woman, Woman With Blood, Sarah

In episode 6 of the series, KB and Ally discuss three women of faith. Two are nameless (as there are many nameless women in the Bible): The Shunammite Woman, and the Woman With Blood. And then there is Sarah. The Shunammite Woman desired greatly to be a mother and almost lost the son God blessed her with, but she had faith for the child’s healing. The Woman With Blood suffered from a health issue and her faith was ignited by strong conviction. And Sarah, the mother of Israel is known for her great faith in God, that at 90 she bore a son, Isaac. All three of these women had great faith and God blessed them richly.

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Episode 71: Mary Senkowska On The Importance Of Having Confidence In Business & Creating Leadership Programs For Executives

Mary Senkowska is an international entrepreneur, executive coach, and single mother who has built her career bridging continents and cultures. As the founder of Creative Brain, she has spent eight years developing leadership programs for executives across 90+ nationalities, from her bases in the Netherlands, Malaysia, New York and now Poland. Mary's work focuses on the intersection of emotional intelligence and high-performance leadership, helping executives navigate uncertainty.

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Special Episode: Women In the Bible Series | Villainous Women: Jezebel and Delilah

In episode 5 of the series, KB and Ally discuss two villainous women: Jezebel and Delilah, and how these two foreign women tried to destroy God’s people. Jezebel was wicked, a murderer, a usurper, the alpha in her marriage to King Ahab, and just plain awful. Delilah is probably the woman in the Bible that used sexpionage to take down Samson, a man whose drive and motivation was driven by sex and beautiful foreign women. Even with the enemy’s scheming and people's own weaknesses, God always prevails and with Jezebel and Delilah, God got the glory and last say.

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Episode 69: Pierre Houssney On The Ministry Needs In Lebanon

Pierre Houssney is a Lebanese-American who has been in full time ministry with Horizons International (a mission organization founded by his father Georges). He leads a team of nationals and missionaries, running centers of evangelism and discipleship throughout Lebanon, as well as a school for refugee children and the Middle East Center for World Missions. I met Pierre in 2018 when I moved to Beirut and started serving with Horizons. In this episode we discuss the current need in Lebanon and how Horizons is responding to that need.

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Episode 68: Matthew A. Swift- The CEO & Co-Founder of Concordia On Creating A Network Of World Leaders That Insight Change

Matthew A. Swift is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of Concordia. Matthew has grown Concordia into the leading nonpartisan global affairs membership organization dedicated to forming innovative cross-sector partnerships that address the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time. Matthew has led conversations with preeminent world figures from U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden; President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; former President of Colombia Álvaro Uribe; The Carlyle Group Inc. Co-Founder David Rubenstein; former White House Advisor Ivanka Trump; her husband Jared Kushner; and Uber (NYSE: UBER) CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi. Concordia’s summits have been held in New York City, Miami, Bogotá, Athens, Madrid, London, Porto, and Guyana.

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Episode 66: Vickie Samushonga Explains Why Fashion Should Be Looking at India

With a dual calling in fashion and the ministry, Zimbabwean born Vickie Samushonga works with fashion designers between Africa and India, connecting designers with manufacturers, fashion weeks, and exhibitions. In this episode she opens up about her journey in both fields, what African designers need most, and what India offers the fashion industry.

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Episode 62: Rebecca George- Knowing You’re Not Too Late In A Hurry-Up World

Rebecca is the founder of Radical Radiance® - a podcast community where listeners are equipped to blend what they love with Jesus, who makes them shine. The episode centers around her new book “It’s Not Too Late,” where she unpacks how to deal with the experience of longing, whether that be for a spouse or a child, for a healing in a broken relationship, or for a clearer direction in our calling. Because of this waiting, we can fall into resentment about what we lack—or we can see our unmet desires as an invitation to draw closer to a trustworthy God.

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Episode 61: Keni Silva Opens Up About Her Book "Divorce As An Opportunity "

Keni is a multi-talented media personality, philanthropist, film industry investor, woman empowerment activist and speaker, model, entrepreneur and certified divorce coach. In this episode we talk about her new book “Divorce As An Opportunity," a comprehensive guidebook empowering women to navigate divorce successfully and challenging the traditional narratives surrounding separation.

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Episode 60: Nelson L. Schuman- From Banking to Inner Healing Ministry

Nelson L. Schuman is an author, teacher, speaker, and founder and president of Restored To Freedom located near Dallas, TX. Before he does what, he does now, Nelson was successful in the banking world. But through family challenges, God guided him into full time ministry: helping people get free from soul wounds. Nelson’s focus is the restoration of lives and marriages, specifically helping people get healed from their past soul wounds and delivered from demonic strongholds. In this episode we talk about his calling and journey into inner healing, what inner healing is, how one can hear from God, and much more.

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Episode 59: Eliza Huie on Equipping People to Engage With Trauma

As a licensed clinical professional counselor with advanced specialized training in trauma care, Eliza Huie has just published a new book “Trauma Aware.” We chat about her work in equipping and training church leaders in how to deal with trauma, she explains how to deal with friends that may have trauma, and she outlines examples of trauma in the Bible. Enjoy this podcast episode with Eliza.

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Episode 58: Sara Murad- A Network Media Presenter and Perfumer

Since 2013, Sara Murad has been a media presenter in the Middle East. She’s a Senior TV Presenter on MBC 1 and a founder of her own fragrance brand, By Sara Murad. In this episode we talk about her country of Saudi Arabia’s bourgeoning growth, her work in media, her fragrance brand, and she gives advice to women about discerning the right man.

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