Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Dr. Maryann Rivera-Dannert

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Maryann Rivera-Dannert. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Maryann, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Such a great question! One of the things that I’m truly grateful for these days are slow mornings. As an entrepreneur, I’m intentional about not making any plans before 10:00am, when possible. Up until a few weeks ago, I was up at like six in the morning – waking up to the sunlight. However, as our days are getting shorter and daylight is becoming a thing of the past, I’m now waking up around seven. The first thing I do is thank God for waking me up, and giving me another day to pursue my dreams, and make a difference in the lives of women. I reach for my phone and read my daily bible verse. It’s important for me to begin my day grounded and with purpose. I look at my calendar and review my day, and while I’m doing that I’m sipping on warm water with lemon, and then move to some meditation and body movement. It feels good to set the tone for my day – spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. When you take care of your mind, body, and soul first thing in the morning you are letting yourself know that you matter. And you are pouring into yourself before you get consumed with other priorities and projects, which will deplete your energy and you’ll be too tired to nurture yourself. So, getting it done early is key.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello there! I’m Maryann Rivera-Dannert, the Founder and CEO of MRD Empowerment Solutions, LLC. I’m a certified life coach, author, speaker, and host of the HealingHer Within podcast. My heart’s work is helping women, especially those over 30, heal their inner child, break free from self-doubt, and step into the confident, powerful life they were created to live.

What makes my brand unique is that I don’t just focus on surface-level strategies. I create frameworks like the H.E.A.L.I.N.G. Framework, , the R.E.A.L. Method, and the Liberation Blueprint. These models guide women through deep inner work while also giving them practical steps to thrive in everyday life. Each program is unique and meets women wherever they are in life. My coaching, books, masterminds, and programs are all built around one mission: helping women rewrite their stories from limitation to liberation.

Right now, I’m working on expanding my book anthologies, growing my podcast, and continuing to build transformational spaces like The Liberated Woman’s Circle and the HealingHer Within experiences. My story is one of rising above challenges, reclaiming my voice, and using my journey to inspire others to do the same. With my podcast I’ve shifted to doing more solo episodes, so my community really sees me and get to know me.

I’m the mother to three adult children, and Grandmother to three beautiful girls, and a bonus one also. And I have the honor and privilege of sharing my life with my Dude, James. I love traveling, and if it involves the beach and or spa, I’m there!

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a girl who carried an innate boldness and curiosity about life. I believed in my own possibilities without second-guessing them. I was imaginative, expressive, and unafraid to take up space. I laughed freely, spoke my truth, and loved without restraint. And then self-doubt, imposter syndrome, feelings of rejection and abandonment came into my life. I didn’t have positive role models who were brave, bold, fearless – liberated. And overtime, I became what I saw.

Like so many women, I learned to quiet my voice, carry other people’s expectations, and shrink myself to fit into roles that didn’t reflect who I truly was. The difference now is that I’ve done the work to return to that original version of me. The version who is confident, bold, and unapologetically liberated. And through my work, I help women do the same: reconnect with who they were before the world told them who they had to be.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Some of the defining wounds of my life have been tied to growing up feeling unseen, sexual trauma, carrying the unspoken expectation to always be the “strong one,” and learning to navigate toxic and unhealthy relationships that chipped away at my confidence. For years, I internalized those experiences, shrinking myself and pouring into others while neglecting my own needs.

The healing came when I chose to stop performing and started doing the deeper inner work. It wasn’t easy, but it has been worth it. Acknowledging my pain, giving voice to my inner child and teen, and allowing myself to release the patterns, and people, that no longer served me. Through therapy, coaching, faith, plant medicine, and the frameworks I’ve since created, I’ve learned how to reclaim my power and rewrite my story.

Those wounds became the foundation of my purpose: guiding other women through their own healing journeys so they too can rise liberated, confident, and whole. I want women to know that no matter what life has thrown their way, they have a choice. You can keep taking it, or you can say enough is enough. I don’t want any of this, and it’s my time to heal, rise, grow, and glow.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Short answer: Now, yes….before – not always!

The public me used to be reserved, self-censor a lot, always the strong version, and people pleasing. People saw: dependable, composed, the one who carried other people so they didn’t have to. That was a survival posture, not the whole truth. Over time I learned to stop, and learned to lean in and take care of me. Because when I needed others, they were not around. People could count on me without hesitation, but I had no one to count on.

Now my public self is more honest and aligned with my Higher Self. I hold my boundaries and still show up professionally, but I don’t hide the inner work. I’ve started showing up with more of my real self, my doubts, my messy healing, my wins and my learning – and even disappointments. I use my story, my frameworks (like H.E.A.L.I.N.G., R.E.A.L and Liberation.), and my podcast to model both strength and vulnerability. I’m still growing, so the “public me” is a truer slice of who I am, but never the entire book. A little mystery is good. Sometimes it’s good to keep people guessing.

What matters most: I want people to see that imperfect, courageous being behind the “perfect” moments, because that’s the real invitation I give other women: show up whole, not just the parts you think the world wants.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I am most at peace when I’m living life on my terms. I’m not asking anyone for permission to do anything, I don’t have to ask for time off, because I’m my own boss. The only person I discuss things with is my Dude, James, and he has my back 100%! I’ve traveled alone for speaking engagements, to accept awards, to just be with friends – and I have his unconditional full support.

The beach is my happy place. The sound of the waves crashing, the salt filled air, and even the sounds of the seagulls, I’m immediately transformed and taken into another world. I’m also at peace knowing that I’m walking in my purpose. There are days where self-doubt tries to creep in, and because I’ve learned to recognize it, I invite it to have a seat and we chat. I got this idea from Elizabeth Gilbert, as she talks about fear. The important thing is to feel our feelings, but don’t attach yourself to those feelings (and I credit this one to one of my teacher’s, Lauren, for that). So, we chat, I ask self-doubt why are they popping up, I listen. And then I thank it for trying to protect me, but they are no longer needed because I have confidence, determination, fearlessness, etc., walking with me now. It’s a beautiful conversation to witness, but it takes practice and time.

Peace is all about living on purpose, and being in alignment with your values. And if you need help discovering what your values are, I’m here for you. Let’s connect on social media, and visit my website for some freebies, and more.

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