Today we’d like to introduce you to Aniola Pierre.
Hi Aniola, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I always say that healing begins the moment you feel heard. My story started long before You Are Heard was ever created; it began in the silence. There was a time in my life when I lost my voice because of past traumas and experiences that made me believe I had to shrink myself to fit into spaces. For years, I worked as a correctional officer, a career that demanded strength and composure, but internally I was navigating my own emotional battles.
The turning point came after the loss of my cousin. That experience shook something deep within me. It was the wake-up call I didn’t know I needed, a reminder that life is too short to live in fear or silence. It pushed me to face my pain, to stop hiding behind strength, and to start healing from within.
Through my journey of self-discovery, including Reiki, meditation, and spiritual reflection, I learned to listen to my inner voice again. That’s when You Are Heard was born. What began as a podcast became a movement, a community and platform designed to remind others that their stories matter and that healing happens through being seen, heard, and understood.
Since then, You Are Heard has grown beyond the mic into fellowship dinners and storytelling experiences that bring people together to reconnect with their truth and purpose. Alongside that, I also co-founded The Holistic Soul Festival, an event that celebrates wellness and community healing. Together, these projects reflect my mission to hold space for transformation, whether through conversation, collective gatherings, or moments of reflection.
Today, my path continues to be guided by faith, intuition, and service. I stand as living proof that when you reclaim your voice, you not only heal yourself, you inspire others to find theirs too.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s been a meaningful one. Healing and building something from your heart rarely happens without growing pains. When I first started You Are Heard, I was still learning how to trust my own voice. I questioned if people would listen, if I was ready to share my truth, and if I could hold space for others while still healing myself.
There were moments of self-doubt, financial challenges, and seasons where I felt completely lost about what direction to take next. Transitioning from working as a correctional officer into becoming a healer and creative meant I had to rebuild my identity from the inside out. I had to learn how to be gentle with myself while I was also creating something meant to help others heal.
One of the biggest blessings during that time was finding supportive environments like Co-Space in Miami Gardens. It’s a space that really allowed me to bring my vision to life. Being surrounded by other creative people who were also bringing their visions to life inspired me and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. During the moments when things felt uncertain, being in a space that let me show up as my full, authentic self made all the difference. It gave me clarity, community, and the confidence to keep going even when things got hard.
The journey hasn’t been easy, but every challenge helped shape the woman I am today. I’ve learned that struggle and purpose often travel together, and when you find the courage to keep walking even through the uncertainty, that’s when real growth and alignment begin.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At my core, I’m a storyteller and space holder. I’m the founder of You Are Heard, a podcast and healing community centered on storytelling, self-expression, and collective growth. Through conversations, events, and activations, I create spaces where people can feel seen, supported, and inspired to reconnect with their voice and purpose.
What began as a podcast has evolved into an entire movement. You Are Heard now includes fellowship dinners, workshops, and community experiences that merge storytelling with holistic healing. Each activation is designed to remind people that their voice matters and that healing can look like connection, conversation, or creativity.
I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with many incredible people and organizations, from wellness leaders and artists to community partners and local creatives who believe in the power of healing together. Spaces like Co-Space in Miami Gardens, along with other community-driven collaborations, have provided the environment and inspiration to bring these visions to life.
I’m also a Reiki practitioner, intuitive healer, and wellness advocate, and I bring an energetic and spiritual depth to my work. I’m most proud of the community that’s grown around You Are Heard. Seeing people leave an event feeling lighter, seen, and reconnected to themselves is one of the most rewarding feelings.
What sets me apart is the authenticity and depth I bring to everything I do. I merge spirituality with structure, grounding energy with real-world action. My journey from working as a correctional officer to becoming a healer has given me a unique understanding of both pain and transformation. I know what it means to lose your voice and what it takes to reclaim it, and that perspective allows me to connect with people from all walks of life in a deeply human way.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t measured by numbers, titles, or how fast things happen. It’s measured by alignment, by how at peace I feel with what I’m doing and who I’m becoming in the process. Success, to me, is waking up every day and knowing that I’m walking in purpose, that I’m using my voice to help others find theirs, and that I’m creating something that genuinely impacts lives.
There was a time when I thought success meant achieving more, doing more, or constantly being in motion. But through my own healing journey, I learned that true success is rooted in presence. It’s in the quiet moments when someone says, “Because of You Are Heard, I felt seen,” or when a person leaves an event feeling lighter than when they arrived.
Success is being able to create from a place of authenticity and love. It’s maintaining integrity even when no one’s watching. It’s having the courage to rest when needed and to trust that what’s meant for me will always find me. Ultimately, success is the freedom to live in alignment with my purpose while making space for others to do the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youareheardpodcast.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youareheardpodcast/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@YouAreHeardPodcast
- Other: https://youareheardpodcast.komi.io/
