Protecting the Little Girl Inside

Protecting the Little Girl Inside In this deeply moving episode of The BucketWish Podcast, Erica Nicole Malone sits down with the luminous Deborah, an entrepreneur and creative whose life story is a masterclass in resilience, boundaries, and the pursuit of joy. Deborah opens up about her personal evolution—from the rigid world of corporate suits and "church lady hats" to her current "Bohemian" era of luxury, kimonos, and self-chosen peace.

She shares the poignant story behind her signature red-and-white kimono, a gift to herself that served as a catalyst for moving out of a mindset of lack and into a life of abundance. In this conversation, Erica and Deborah discuss: Honoring "Little Debbie":** Deborah keeps a childhood photo by her bed as a reminder to protect her inner child and trust her intuition. The Weight of Decade: Unpacking 50 years of "invisible" grief through counseling and finding the strength to put down the heavy burdens of the past. The Art of the Pivot: Moving from "hunting and killing" for a living to creating passive income and memorializing a legacy through writing. Guarding Your Peace: The necessity of "putting folks out of the car" and why Deborah no longer tolerates phonies, mean girls, or sarcasm masked as humor. *Finding Stillness: Why the biggest breakthroughs happen in the quiet moments and why you must be careful about who you speak your dreams to. Deborah’s mission is simple yet profound: to sprinkle joy.

This episode is an invitation to get still, get brave, and finally start granting your own wishes. "Once you start adulting, you can't get so serious that you're not protecting the little girl inside. I have a responsibility to protect her."* —

Deborah-Join the Movement: The BucketWish is more than a podcast; it’s a community dedicated to uncovering the impossible. Subscribe and join us each week as we share the stories that help you follow your dreams. Follow us on social media and share your own BucketWish today