Breaking Through, The Ellina Abovian Podcast

Episode 61: Letting Love In Without Losing Yourself — with Sascha Haert

Sascha Haert is one of the world’s leading relationship coaches for women, dedicated to transforming the way humans connect, love, and relate to one another. With more than a decade of coaching experience, he has helped hundreds of women — including high-profile clients — break old patterns, open their hearts, and create the deeply fulfilling relationships they truly desire. His work focuses on emotional safety, authentic connection, and helping high-achieving women find love without losing themselves.
 
Sponsor
Sponsored by Keosian Law, LLP Office in Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: https://keosianlaw.com/
Phone:(866) 222-2020
 
Chapters
 
01:37 Discovering the Gift
 
05:26 Coaching High-Achieving Women
 
24:55 The Journey of Self-Mastery
 
29:29 Navigating Modern Relationships
 
34:14 Finding Authentic Connections
 
Guest
 
Sascha Haert | Relationship Coach for High-Achieving Women
____________________________________
Sascha Haert | Social https://www.instagram.com/lifeofsaschahaert/
Sascha Haert | Website https://www.haert2heart.com/about-page
 
 
Host Ellina Abovian | KTLA 5 News reporter, Armenian American storyteller, and proud single mom

Episode 60: From Immigrant Roots to Oscar History: The story of Sev Ohanian

Sev Ohanian is an Armenian-American film producer from Glendale, California, and a proud Hoover High School alum. The son of immigrant parents, Sev’s journey into Hollywood began not with studio backing or representation, but with a deep love of movies and the drive to create. More than 20 years ago, he started by making YouTube videos—laying the foundation for a career built on persistence, storytelling, and belief in the long game.
Sev is the executive producer of the critically acclaimed film Sinners which has earned an extraordinary 16 Academy Award nominations. With this achievement, Sev made history as the first Armenian producer ever nominated for Best Picture—a milestone moment not only for his career, but for Armenian representation in Hollywood.
Known for championing bold, original voices at a time when the film industry is rapidly evolving, Sev has become a defining force behind the scenes—navigating the creative, logistical, and emotional complexity of bringing films to life, often without the traditional safety nets of representation early on.
Central to his journey is his partnership with his wife, Natalie Qasabian - a fellow producer whom Sev credits as his unlikely hustler and true partner in both life and work. Together, they exemplify collaboration, resilience, and the power of building something meaningful from the ground up.
 
Sponsor
Sponsored by Keosian Law, LLP Office in Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: https://keosianlaw.com/
Phone:(866) 222-2020
 
Chapters
 
00:00 Introduction to Sev's Journey
02:52 Early Career and Breakthroughs
11:55 Love and Partnership with Natalie
23:58 A Proposal Story to Remember
25:55 The Impact of a Supportive Partner
28:25 Navigating the Film Industry
46:29 The Future of Immigrants in Film
 
Guest
Sev Ohanian
Film Producer & Screenwriter
____________________________________
Sev Ohanian | Instagram
Sev Ohanian | Website
 
Host
Ellina Abovian | KTLA 5 News reporter, Armenian American storyteller, and proud single mom

Episode 59: Amanda Kloots on Grief, Reinvention & Choosing Joy

Amanda Kloots is a TV host, former Broadway performer, bestselling author, and wellness advocate known for her resilience, optimism, and ability to reinvent herself through life’s most challenging moments. She began her career on Broadway, performing in productions such as Good Vibrations, Follies, and Young Frankenstein, before stepping into the national spotlight during the pandemic.
 
In 2020, Amanda shared her family’s deeply personal journey following the loss of her husband, actor Nick Cordero, becoming a source of strength and hope for millions around the world. She later authored the bestselling memoir Live Your Life, written as a way to cope, heal, and inspire others to choose joy even in the face of profound loss.
 
Amanda went on to co-host the daytime talk show The Talk and now hosts Amazon’s fitness competition series Trainer Games. A single working mom and self-proclaimed hustler, Amanda is admired for balancing career, motherhood, and wellness with grace, groundedness, and humility — embracing life’s flow while never losing her light.
 
 
Sponsor
Sponsored by Keosian Law, LLP Office in Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: https://keosianlaw.com/
Phone:(866) 222-2020
 
 
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Jerry O'Connell Memories
03:27 Balancing Life as a Single Mom
04:28 Coping with Loss and Finding Peace
26:01 Cherishing Simple Moments with Kids
28:29 Navigating Life After Loss and Dating Again
35:15 Fitness, Wellness, and New Ventures
 
 
Guest
Amanda Kloots
TV Personality | Fitness Entrepreneur | Best Selling Author
____________________________________
Amanda Kloots | Instagram
Amanda Kloots | Supplements
Amanda Kloots | Fitness
 
 
 
Host
Ellina Abovian | KTLA 5 News reporter, Armenian American storyteller, and proud single mom

Episode 58: Neuroplasticity & Trauma - How We Change Our Brain to Change Our Life

Dr. Kate Truitt is a clinical psychologist, neuroscientist, and trauma and resilience expert, and she leads an award-winning psychology practice in Pasadena that specializes in neuroscience-informed therapy for trauma, anxiety, and stress. Her team offers individual, couples, and group therapy using evidence-based approaches like CBT, IFS, neurofeedback, and more — with both in-person and telehealth options available across California.
Sponsor
Sponsored by Keosian Law, LLP Office in Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: https://keosianlaw.com/
Phone:(866) 222-2020
 
 
Guest:
 
Dr. Kate Truitt
Psychologist & Mental Health Author
____________________________________
Dr. Kate Truitt | Social 
Dr. Kate Truitt | Website
 
 
Host:
Ellina Abovian | KTLA 5 News reporter, Armenian American storyteller, and proud single mom

Episode 57: Friends, Unfiltered: Life, Love & Laughs With My 30-Year Best Friend - Mariam Bandarian

Mariam Bandarian is a mother of three boys, a longtime advocate of holistic living, and one of my closest friends of nearly 30 years. She chose the path of being a stay-at-home mom while nurturing a deep interest in nutrition, mindfulness, and intentional living. Known for her consistency, grounding presence, and quiet wisdom, Mariam values authenticity, meaningful connection, and protecting her energy — including taking intentional breaks from social media. She brings honesty, humor, and a deeply lived perspective on motherhood, friendship, and what it means to live in alignment.
 
Sponsor
Sponsored by Keosian Law, LLP Office in Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: https://keosianlaw.com/
Phone:(866) 222-2020
 
Chapters
00:00 Navigating Toxic Relationships
01:23 Balancing Personal and Professional Life
07:36 The Evolution of Friendship
26:27 Balancing Work and Motherhood
31:36 Navigating Social Media and Mental Health
43:01 Embracing New Relationships and Personal Growth
 
 
Guest:
Mariam Bandarian | Board Certified Health Coach
 
 
Mariam Bandarian| Social
https://www.instagram.com/miss_nutritionista/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D#author
https://missnutritionista.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio
 
 
Host:
Ellina Abovian | KTLA 5 News reporter, Armenian American storyteller, and proud single mom

Episode 56: Beyond the Game: Fighting Uncertainty & Finding Resilience with Gary Chivichyan

Gary Chivichyan — also known as “The Armenian Sniper” — made history as the first Armenian to be drafted into the NBA G League, becoming a trailblazer for an entire community that had never seen itself represented on that stage before.
 
Now 29, Gary is in a new chapter — one defined not just by basketball, but by identity, reinvention, and purpose. He’s a husband, a mentor, and a speaker who’s using his platform to remind the next generation that success isn’t always about becoming the next Michael Jordan — sometimes it’s about becoming the most authentic version of yourself, again and again.
 
Chapters
00:00 Tattoo Stories and Their Meanings
01:47 Journey into Basketball
07:14 Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Success
26:00 The Journey of Jamie Kern Lima
26:56 Embracing Individuality and Authenticity
31:46 Guidance, Growth, and Future Aspirations
 
Sponsor
Sponsored by Keosian Law, LLP Office in Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: https://keosianlaw.com/
Phone:(866) 222-2020
 
Guest: Gary Chivichyan
Professional Basketball Player
Gary Chivichyan | Social
 
Host: Ellina Abovian | KTLA 5 News reporter, Armenian American storyteller, and proud single mom

Episode 55: Caring for a dying parent & finding strength in stoicism with Dr. Dave Dickey

Episode 55 of Breaking Through, I’m sitting down with someone I not only admire professionally, but care for personally — my friend Dr. Dave Dickie.
Dave works in national security as a Senior Intelligence Analyst for Peraton, where he helps guide teams operating in high-stakes, high-pressure environments. He’s a father, a husband, a coach, and someone who understands what it means to carry a lot at once — emotionally, mentally, and operationally.
But the reason he’s here today is because of the journey that shaped his new book, The Stoic Cheat Sheet — a book he wrote while navigating more than two years of caregiving and hospice for his father. In that season of intense responsibility — balancing family, work, caregiving, and personal resilience — Dave turned to Stoicism not as a philosophy to study, but as a toolkit to survive. And eventually, to transform.
Today we’re talking about strength, presence, pressure, caregiving, grief, and the kind of inner steadiness that can carry us through our hardest chapters.
 
Sponsor
Sponsored by Keosian Law, LLP Office in Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: https://keosianlaw.com/
Phone:(866) 222-2020
 
Guest
Dr. Dave Dickie
Senior Intelligence Analyst & Author
Dr. Kate Balestieri |
Dr. Dave Dickie | Social
 
Host: Ellina Abovian | KTLA 5 News reporter, Armenian American storyteller, and proud single mom

Episode 54: How Emotional Labor Shapes Women’s Sex Lives with Dr. Kate Balestieri

Dr. Kate Balestrieri is a licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist. She is the author of “What Happened to My Sex Life?: A Sex Therapist’s Guide to Reclaiming Lost Desire, Connection, and Pleasure.” Dr. Kate …. Is the founder of Modern Intimacy, and host of the podcast Get Naked with Dr. Kate―uncovers the twelve most common causes of a loss of libido.
 
Sponsor
Sponsored by Keosian Law, LLP Office in Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: https://keosianlaw.com/
Phone:(866) 222-2020
 
Guest: Dr. Kate Bslestieri
Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist
Dr. Kate Balestieri |
Dr. Kate Balestieri | Social
How to Break Up with Someone
 
Host: Ellina Abovian | KTLA 5 News reporter, Armenian American storyteller, and proud single mom

Episode 53: Scott 2.0: Surviving a Near-Death Experience and 19 Surgeries to Be Reborn

Scott Minker is a husband, father, son, entrepreneur, and storyteller living his “2.0 Life” after surviving a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2024, an experience that radically transformed his understanding of success, gratitude, and purpose. What was once a relentless pursuit of performance and achievement evolved into a life guided by presence, patience, and the practice of being where his feet are.
 
After waking up blind in the ICU at UCLA, enduring 19 surgeries, and making a miraculous full recovery (beating the 17% odds), Scott is devoted to helping others experience their own awakening with the awareness that tomorrow is never guaranteed. He shares his journey as proof that growth and meaning can emerge from even the most unexpected and challenging moments.
 
Scott graduated from Georgetown University and received his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. A native Texan, he now lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Tracy, and their two teenagers.
 
Sponsor
Sponsored by Keosian Law, LLP Office in Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: https://keosianlaw.com/
Phone:(866) 222-2020
 
Guest: Scott Minker — Entrepreneur & Motivational Speaker Scott Minker | Social Media | Instagram 

Episode 52: The Daughter Who Walked Away & Came Back:Tania Khazaal on Repairing the Family Dynamics

Tania Khazaal is a family healing educator and reconnection mentor specializing in mother–daughter dynamics, emotional safety, and generational trauma repair. Her work blends compassionate communication, boundary restoration, and trauma-informed practices to help families move from conflict and estrangement into healthier, more secure relationships. Rooted in her own personal story of separating — and ultimately reconnecting — with her mother, Tania’s teachings combine lived experience with a deep understanding of emotional patterns and family systems. She now guides thousands through workshops, writing, and one-on-one support designed to help people heal the wounds they once believed were impossible to mend.
Sponsor
Sponsored by Keosian Law, LLP Office in Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: https://keosianlaw.com/
Phone:(866) 222-2020
 
Guest: Tania Khazaal
Award-Winning Journalist, Parenting Educator, and Author
Tania | Instagram: instagram.com/taniakhazaal/
 
Host: Ellina Abovian | KTLA 5 News reporter, Armenian American storyteller, and proud single mom