As Seen On
As Seen On
About Michelle Renee
Live With Your Soul Wide Open
A teen runaway who escaped a violent, traumatic childhood, Michelle beat the odds when she rose up from being a part-time bank teller to a respected Regional Sales Manager, Vice President, and Branch Manager in her 13-year career. A violent home invasion kidnapping, hostage, and bank robbery crime carried out against Michelle and her daughter ended her career. After retreating to Alaska to heal, and prepare to endure the criminal trials of their attackers, Michelle earned a degree in Mass Media Communication.
She launched VERB Media Group in 2009. Michelle closed VERB’s doors in 2012 following her daughter’s MS diagnosis to become her full-time caregiver. During that time Michelle began to study video production, digital marketing, and social media for business. With her lifelong passion for creative storytelling, VERB relaunched in 2014 as a video, photo, and podcast production agency focused on compelling event and video podcast content. Today VERB is a thriving boutique agency.
Michelle penned her first book, Held Hostage, the true crime story that became a Lifetime movie where she served as a consultant, writer, and producer on the project.
In 2023, she penned her second book, Nine Days, a memoir centered on the healing journey into the Alaskan wilderness after the violent home invasion kidnapping that eventually led Michelle and her daughter to San Quentin State Prison to face their attackers again. Nine Days became an Amazon #1 bestseller and is currently optioned for the development of a three-part documentary series.
In 2024, Michelle launched her Soul Wide Open podcast and community and earned her trauma-informed certification.
Books & Expertise
NINE DAYS
NINE DAYS: Living with My Soul Wide Open After Violent Trauma (June 2023) picks up where Held Hostage left off. NINE DAYS chronicles a single mother’s 4,200-mile solo road trip into the rugged terrain of the Alaskan wilderness where she braves the elements and faces her dark, turbulent past on her way back to her daughter, and prepares to meet one of their kidnappers…again.
Held Hostage
Michelle’s debut book is a true crime focused on the investigation and trial of her and her daughter’s kidnappers. Held Hostage was adapted for film and released as a Lifetime movie. Michelle was a Co-Writer and Assoc. Producer on the film.
Press & Social
ExpertisE
- Resilience: Living With Your Soul Wide Open
- Radical Compassion & Forgiveness
- Positive & Purposeful Parenting
- Getting Unstuck: The Why Me Trap
- Breaking Patterns That Hold You Hostage
- Choosing Your Future
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Speaking Topics
Resiliency
- Resilience: Living With Your Soul Wide Open
- Getting Unstuck & The Why Me Trap
- Breaking Patterns That Hold You Hostage
Trauma Recovery
- Self-Care, Compassion, and Forgiveness: Do It for YOU
- 9 Ways To Release Trauma Stored In The Body
- Positive & Purposeful Parenting Through Trauma
Entrepreneurship
- SCRATCH: How to Embrace & Celebrate the Suck of Starting Over
- 14 Things You Need to Know To Launch a Successful Podcast
- How to Grow Your Business with Video
Soul Wide Open Podcast
healing. vulnerability. empoweRMENt. connection.
Soul Wide Open podcast is a show that delves deep into exploring the many facets of the human spirit. It is a space for contemplation, reflection, and introspection, where listeners are invited to connect inwardly, and with others on their own healing path to living with their Soul Wide Open.
At its heart, this podcast is about sharing stories of triumph over adversity, love, loss, redemption, resiliency, and of the small moments in life that often hold the greatest meaning. These stories are told with honesty, vulnerability, and authenticity, allowing listeners and viewers to feel seen, heard, and understood and offer practical guidance and tools for living a more fulfilling life.
Join in the journey of self-discovery, transformation, and choosing to live with your Soul Wide Open.
Interviews
Raves & Reviews
Testimonials
A Feat of Empathy
“Renee brings healing full circle as, years later, she moves toward active, radical forgiveness in a face-to-face encounter with the past. The result is complex and heartening, a feat of empathy. Healing, forgiveness, and a marvelous road trip power this touching memoir.”
Comparable Titles: Lysa Terkeurst’s Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, and Stephanie Foo’s What My Bones Know.
Publishers Weekly/BookLife Editorial Review
Heartbreaking and Inspiring
“Nine Days is a journey of healing, rebuilding trust, and forgiveness after a traumatic event. A Mother’s love guiding the way in that journey. Michelle Renee’s memoir is both heartbreaking and inspiring, with moments where we are tempted to lose faith in humanity, only to have it strengthened by the love between a Mother and her Daughter in their quest to live.”
don Miguel Ruiz Jr.
The Path Forward
“Michelle’s courage to share her story and ‘go on’ in hopes of inspiring others to live beyond their trauma is something for each and every one of us to take inspiration from. Read Nine Days and let her grit, deep love for her daughter and commitment to healing her life help you create the path forward.”
Dr. Ken Druck
Raw and Beautifully Written
“Equally exhilarating, tragic, and transformative. NINE DAYS is raw and beautifully written.”
Greg Reid
Self-Responsibility and Forgiveness
Michelle’s and Breea’s story inspires me to be a better man. By taking responsibility for her future and freeing herself from the prison of the past, Michelle uses the power of forgiveness to heal what would have destroyed most people. Thank you for sharing all you experienced and learned.
Dr. Lance Wilson
Heart Wide Open
Michelle Renee’s memoir is incredibly inspiring, not just because of the rollercoaster of traumatic events that occur throughout her life, but because of her ability to keep her heart open, and listen to the voice of her Soul. She was unshakable in her determination to not allow the circumstances of life to close her heart. I bow to her as a mother. The story is at times harrowing, heartbreaking, and ultimately triumphant. Michelle proves that we are in control of our own lives and our destiny. Thank you Michelle for having the courage to share your story — it’s incredibly inspiring!
Jana Wilson
An Absolute Must Read!
I am amazed at the trust she had on this trip; how fully and openly she lives after all her trauma and tragedies. I can attest, she lives with her SOUL WIDE OPEN and she shares her story in hopes everyone who reads this book does too!
Kayla
Amazing Journey of Healing
Michelle’s story is incredible. She is the definition of resilience and perseverance. Anyone looking for hope, healing, and forgiveness would enjoy this book.
Nikki
Fantastic Read
I’ve known Michelle for a little bit of time now. On the surface, she is an amazing person who is warm and giving. When I started reading her book and after looking at her book trailer I was blown away by her story. I was shocked. I never knew. It was powerful and motivating. Her story and tone and colorful voice are shown in this book. I highly recommend this read! 10/10
Andre Evans
Unbelievable Resilience
Michelle and her daughter exhibited unbelievable resilience in the face of many life events that would have kept most of us down. Reading their story of grit, forgiveness passion, and undying love inspires us all!!
Angie Miller
Well Written
Nine Days takes you on the journey alongside Michelle. At first read it pulls you in. Her incredible journey of healing is inspiring.
Kris Cumo
Great Read!
This book is focused on healing, relationships, and learning to live freely without the chains of trauma. This is about the resilience of the human spirit, a mother’s love, transformation, redemption, and self-discovery.
Wildangel
Beautiful Reminders for Life!
This book is so wonderful in many ways. As soon as I purchased it and started reading I knew I was not going to be able to put the book down. The beginning is so sweet and exciting and scary , yet you as the reader, are anxious to read about Michelle’s journey. Very impressed that a person could go through so much and have a giant heart at the end. Makes you grateful for life and reminds us what really should matter. Highly recommend this book.
Philip Jacobs
Eye Opening. Soul Searching
Michelle takes you on her healing journey. LOVE LOVE LOVE the book. Took me less then 5 hours from start to finish. She is honest and makes you think. Great book to be reread again and again. Truly a healing experience if read with an open mind and soul. I would recommend as Michelle lays it all out there and allows you to journey with her as she learns forgiveness and to truly be happy with herself. I learned so much by being open to allowing myself to heal.
Belinda.
Raw and Beautifully Written
“Equally exhilarating, tragic, and transformative. NINE DAYS is raw and beautifully written.”
Greg Reid
The Path Forward
“Michelle’s courage to share her story and ‘go on’ in hopes of inspiring others to live beyond their trauma is something for each and every one of us to take inspiration from. Read Nine Days and let her grit, deep love for her daughter and commitment to healing her life help you create the path forward.”
Dr. Ken Druck
Heartbreaking and Inspiring
“Nine Days is a journey of healing, rebuilding trust, and forgiveness after a traumatic event. A Mother’s love guides the way in that journey. Michelle Renee’s memoir is both heartbreaking and inspiring, with moments where we are tempted to lose faith in humanity, only to have it strengthened by the love between a Mother and her Daughter in their quest to live.”
don Miguel Ruiz Jr
There Is No Higher Virtue
“Michelle Renee has written a very compelling book detailing her and her daughter’s traumatic victimization. But instead of hiding from it, she became a spokesperson for Violent Trauma Awareness and now offers hope and encouragement to others who have experienced similar events in their lives. There is no higher virtue.”
Angie Callahan
Inspiring Story of Survival
“Michelle Renee has an inspiring story of survival as a victim-survivor of violent crime. We have worked together to promote restorative justice via The Justice & Reconciliation Project (JRP). Michelle is an over-comer who is compassionate and committed to positive change.”
Lisa Rea
A Depth of Knowledge
“Michelle is an inspired speaker with a depth of knowledge. She moved our group of ex-offenders to self-reflection…not an easy task.”