The Woman
Behind the Bangs

Erica Gumieny, MS

Author, Speaker, Facilitator, Author &
Professional Pumper-Upper

A woman with red hair, glasses, and a denim jacket holding a microphone, smiling, with a white background. The image has a colorful, neon-style circular border and a logo reading 'When Stories Speaker' in the bottom right.
A woman with red hair, glasses, and a denim jacket holding a microphone, smiling, with a white background. The image has a colorful, neon-style circular border and a logo reading 'When Stories Speaker' in the bottom right.
Close-up of the word "Chloe" written in pink neon cursive glow sign.

Hi, I’m Erica
“Gum-in-knee”

Seasoned, sassy, soul-led and here to help YOU get
where you want to go.

Yes, I’m a funny gal with high energy. I’ve always been that way.

But, for a long time, underneath all that, I carried stories, shame, self doubt, and painful memories that quietly shaped how I saw myself and moved through the world.

Like many women, I learned how to function and survive while feeling unworthy, unseen, stuck, and emotionally exhausted behind the facade.

I had the great jobs, the degrees, the things I always wanted, but something was still off.

I became very good at laughing things off, numbing out, pushing through, and pretending I was fine.

Until eventually, I realized I knew I wasn’t and couldn’t keep living that way anymore.

I made this video to honor the beautiful song Wendy Babcock wrote for me.

The words and images reflect the heart behind my work and the message I hope stays with women long after we connect.

My Journey from the Ashes
Changed Everything

A woman standing outdoors with her arms outstretched in front of an old stone building with a sunset sky in the background. Overlaid text reads: 'Erica Gumiery Journey from the Ashes. Rise, heal, and reclaim your life through monthly themes and daily inspiration.'

More than a decade ago, during a guided prayer exercise focused on healing past pain, I revisited a childhood memory that uncovered just how many lies I had been carrying for years.

Lies about my worth.
My identity.
My voice.
My value.

In that moment, I experienced something that would eventually become the foundation for my book, Journey From the Ashes, and the work I do today.

I realized healing is not about pretending the pain never happened.

For me, this journey had been about facing the hard stuff and, with God’s help - letting go of the shame, resentment, fear, and unforgiveness that had kept me trapped for so long.

Now I Help Women Move Forward With Hope

A woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a plaid jacket and glasses, is speaking on stage with a purple and black background, and is gesturing with her hands.

Today, I speak at women’s conferences, retreats, churches, leadership groups, and organizations about healing, emotional freedom, faith, resilience, and the courage to stop believing the lies that hold us back.

My style is honest, humorous, conversational, and deeply relatable because I believe women connect more through authenticity than perfection.

I want audiences to laugh.
Reflect.
Feel seen.
Breathe a little deeper.

And walk away knowing they are not too broken, too messy, or too far gone.

A woman in a teal dress is speaking into a microphone held by another woman during an event. The background displays the words 'Legendary Woman in Business'.
A woman in a teal dress is speaking into a microphone held by another woman during an event. The background displays the words 'Legendary Woman in Business'.

What Audiences Experience

  • Honest conversations about healing, shame, and self worth

  • Encouragement rooted in faith, humor, and hope

  • Practical reflection that inspires meaningful growth

  • Emotionally engaging storytelling audiences remember

  • A safe space to laugh, process, learn, and feel seen and supported

Learn more

Ways We Can Work Together

Speaking and Facilitation

I am not interested in showing up on a stage pretending I have life all figured out.

I would much rather create honest conversations that make women laugh, think, cry a little, heal a little, and finally feel safe enough to stop carrying everything alone.

That is the heart behind every keynote, workshop, retreat, and event I lead.

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Coaching

My coaching style is less “perfect life guru” and more “let’s honestly figure out what is going on here together.”

I help women work through negative self talk, emotional overwhelm, limiting beliefs, unhealthy patterns, and the internal narratives that quietly shape the way they move through life.

Together, we focus on awareness, relearning, practical next steps forward, and, for the love of GOD, learning how to stop being so unbelievably hard on ourselves all the time.

Explore Coaching

Journey From the Ashes

My devotional book and companion journal were created for women who are tired of carrying shame, guilt, fear, and old stories alone.

Journey From the Ashes helps women uncover the lies they have believed for years and reconnect with truth, healing, faith, and hope one day at a time.

Discover the Journey

The Funny Kind Podcast

The Funny Kind is where I share honest conversations about healing, faith, relationships, personal growth, humor, and the messy realities of everyday life.

Some episodes are deep. Some are funny. Most are both.

It is one of my favorite ways to connect with people on a more personal level and remind women that they are never alone in what they are carrying.

Check out the Podcast

Got 20 Minutes to REALLY
Meet the Woman Behind The Bangs?

Watch Erica’s

When Stories™ presentation

Listen to the the podcast to learn about the why behind

Erica’s When Stories™ presentation

Let’s Create a Meaningful Experience Together

  • Planning a women’s conference, retreat, leadership gathering, or faith based event? I would love to learn more about your audience and how we can create a message that truly resonates.

  • Ready to move forward and get to where you want to go? Consider my your Encouragement Coach to help you move forward.

  • Want to chat and do some podcasting together?

  • Need an officiant for your next wedding or celebration of life?

I’m only one call, email, text, holler away!

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Let's Talk