Unset your mind. Reset your life. Inspiration, encouragement, and ideas for curious minds looking to write their next chapter. Join host Chris DiCroce each week as he and guests unravel the internal dialogue that keeps us stuck creatively, personally, and
I know... we're supposed to be in the in-between, in the season break, but I have to clear the air. I have something to share with you. But first, a question.If someone said they were going to take a picture of you and a thousand years from now, the photograph will still look as it did the moment the photographer took it, would you feel any pressure? Would you travel 2,000 miles by car to sit for that photo? Just listen to the episode, I'll explain everything. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
Change is in the air. Baja Summer is making her graceful exit. October is just around the corner. It's happening so fast but that seems to be how it works.Once things start to ramp up and the tectonic plates of life start to actually move; it's only at that point, that I'm able to glance back and say, ah… that's what that was all about.We all know change is hard and that the transition period before the big change can be fraught with discomfort. Sometimes we cope with this discomfort by overanalyzing and speculating about all the possible outcomes, which then leads to analysis paralysis. Or worse yet, falling back into the easy chair of one of my least favorite words in the English language, someday. We can speculate all day long but speculation is just procrastination disguised as action. Yes, it's difficult but at the end of the day, you gotta go to know. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
I don't know why I ended up in that little surf village. It just looked like a cool place on my paper map, stashed way out there on a desolate point of land like the last berry on a branch drooping close to the ground.Oh, the things we discover when we load up the car and drive to a place we've never been. A place, that weeks before had been nearly wiped off the map by a hurricane. A place where, if you pause long enough, the idea you were searching for might just drift across your vision like a small feather from a cactus wren. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
Anthony Bourdain said food is everything we are. It's an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It's inseparable from those. It may not be the answer to world peace but it's a start. But what happens when your love affair with food turns sour? When what used to excite you leaves you cold. When culinary apathy sets in and nothing tastes good anymore. When you realize you just might know the answer to the question; How many fish tacos are too many? This is me...right now! Maybe the Baja heat has finally gotten to me. Thankfully, when all else fails, we still have that one thing that set civilization on its path to stardom. We still have the one thing that has been around since man himself. Let's talk about that marvelous marriage of flour, yeast, and water. In fact, let's break bread. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
How do I even begin to describe this episode?Well, in 1963, Paul Zahl, head guy at National Geographic coined a phrase when referencing the Coast Redwoods and Giant Sequoias in California. He called them the Mount Everest of living things. Fossils and seeds from these majestic beauties have been discovered in a place that can't be explained. Some date back 45 million years. What started as a simple assignment from my acting coach turned into an expansive journey that left me trying to connect the dots using the reintegration of wolves to Yellowstone National and a story about a tree that fell in the woods over one hundred years ago. Tune in to listen to one of the most difficult episodes I've ever recorded and quite possibly one of my favorites. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
"It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through." –Zig ZiglerEpisode 50! It's a pretty special day for us here at The Mind Unset because a little over a year ago, episode 1 went live. I remember feeling excited, overwhelmed, and so far behind everyone else in the game. The numbers told a tale that did not bode well for new podcasts. For example, of the 2.5 million podcasts out there in the universe, 90% of them will never reach their 20th episode. Well, here we are. Still new. Still learning. Still moving forward. Episode 50 is all about commitment. But not just any commitment. Tune in for your midweek dose of positivity. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
Albert Einstein said everything in life is vibration. Everything in the universe is in a constant state of movement. These movements are referred to as vibrations. The speed or rate of vibration is called frequency. And, from the moment life began on Earth, the planet has had its own natural frequency. This frequency enhances the body's natural healing processes and reduces stress and inflammation. As humans evolved, we became more in tune with the Earth's natural vibrations.If you think about it, these energies have been explained for centuries in different forms: Auras, halos, chakras, etc.In Episode 049, I talk about the Schumann Resonance, the Hierarchy of Vibrations, and how raising our vibrations immediately changes our lives for the better. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
He called it the 2% rule. He explained it like this. When you're flying a jet, you push the throttle to the limit and then back 2% so that it feels like you're riding just at the edge. He was a legendary figure and you don't know his name. He wrote songs for Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and the Highwaymen and you don't know his name. Lee Clayton was tougher on me than any artist I ever worked with and he made me better. In this episode, I tell the story of a fateful show in Amsterdam that left a mark on my journey that I don't think I'll ever forget. Complete with an unreleased recording. Tune in for this one. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
"When your emotions go down, your logic goes up." Amy MorinI had a recent conversation with someone I love dearly but disagree with on so many levels. I told myself before our conversation that I was not going to get emotional. Not going to take the bait and let our "catch-up" trigger me into a pointless debate.These types of conversations (you know how they go) tend to ramp up the nervous system and get things all outta whack. It didn't go so well. But, I learned (re-learned) a valuable lesson and discovered something new, Glimmers. Episode 047 has a little science, some raw emotion, and some Taylor Swift. Whataya mean they aren't connected? Of course they are. Let's get into it. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
Spreadsheets are hard. Asking people for help is hard. Dispensing with self-critical talk, meditation...incredibly hard for me. 1000 pushups? Not hard.Have you ever aspired to run a marathon or climb Mount Everest? If the answer is yes, you'd do well to acquaint yourself with the 40% Rule. The Navy S.E.A.Ls use it to push past perceived mental and physical limits and if it works for them, there's gotta be something in it for the rest of us. In this episode, I talk about the time I took a S.E.A.L. challenge to do 1000 pushups. You'd be surprised what you learn when you attempt the impossible.* * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
Do you ever feel like your brain is broken? Like, no matter how hard you try to focus on a task, you just can't beat the distraction faction? Well, that's me this week.Between the construction noises outside the studio and the usual carnival of events going on inside my brain, it's a wonder anything gets accomplished. But we push on and through and in this week's episode I expose my weakness when it comes to distraction and mental clutter. Things get a little dicey when The Mind Unset goes mobile and has a little fun playing with gasoline. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
Miles Davis said, "If you're not making mistakes, it's a mistake." In order to create structure and be productive, we have to develop routines, habits, and schedules. And then, once we have established those routines, we're told that routines stifle creativity. So… we need to break away from our routine. We need to improvise, like Miles Davis. We need to make big, glaring mistakes if we ever want to move forward. We have to disrupt the routine and break the rules. But before you can break the rules, you have to learn the rules. It's all here.* * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
...and when that mile was met, I said, one more. Like an inchworm, I measured the ground, inch by inch, foot by foot, mile by mile. Today in Episode 43, we are not talking about failure. We're talking about the other end of failure; the small victories. The small wins that become the stepping stones that lead to big goals. And this week marks one of those small victories for The Mind Unset, one I fully intend to celebrate and… I'm taking you with me.* * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
23.5 degrees. Not the temperature, the angle. I bet you never wasted a single second's attention on it. You'll feel differently after E042!Today's a special day. It's the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. So I'm doing something a little different on this episode and going off the cuff (and maybe just a little off the rails) with some fun facts about the summer solstice, summer on different planets, and my favorite Baja summer staple that's as essential as baseball. I promise, it's all connected. Give it a listen. * * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
Marcel Proust wrote, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."This episode is republished from Season 1 and was recorded at a time that had me fighting through a creative block. I was about to give up until a little shift from convergent thinking to divergent thinking shook something loose.There's nothing like a spur-of-the-moment road trip through Baja, Mexico, complete with military checkpoints and street tacos to get the juices flowing. Pun intended.Ride along with me and discover one of Baja's unlikeliest attractions.* * *If you like what you're hearing, subscribe, leave a review, and share with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com, follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast.Until next time... Be nice. Do good stuff.
Matthew McConaughey said, "The best advice comes from people who don't give advice."So, let's talk about giving advice.We all have that friend or family member. Their life is a bit of a mess. They're constantly embroiled in some sort of drama and they come to you for advice. Do you give it?This is a difficult position to be in because you want to help but you're reluctant to – you know – give advice. Do people really want help or do they simply want to be heard?Parker J. Palmer, an American author and educator suggested the latter in a piece called, My Misgivings About Advice. Palmer wrote, “The human soul doesn't want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be witnessed – to be seen, heard and companioned exactly as it is.”If this is true, that people don't really want to be healed or saved, how do you explain the fact that there are over 85,000 self-help books in publication today?Let's get into it!If you like what you're hearing, subscribe or follow the show on your favorite platform and share it with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com and follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast. Until next time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
"The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. " Stephen KingHere we are, the end of Season 3! Thanks for taking the ride with me. Producing this show has been an incredible experience. I've learned a lot about podcasting and about myself along the way. In this episode, I talk about how my relationship with the show has changed and how you guys are more than just listeners. I discuss feeling way too exposed at times, and how I've managed to become entangled in my own words. How sometimes, in order to discover just how far we've progressed, we have to glance over our shoulder at the circuitous trail we've left behind. And sometimes, that's painful. But that's the pain of progress. Thanks for being here and until we return for season 4, you know what I'm going to say. Be nice. Do good stuff. Support the show
"I spent a lot of time on my own, experimenting, trying to figure out what the upgraded version of me looked like. And honestly, that process never stops."Lili Wexu is an author, award-winning film and voice-over actress, and my voice acting coach. You've seen her on Grey's Anatomy and Alien vs Predator and if you're into video games, she's voiced some of the most popular out there. From a young age, Lili knew her voice was special. She spent years developing her signature sound and after a lot of work and reinvention, she's created a multi-faceted career that keeps her relevant in an ever-changing and fickle business. In this episode, we chat about getting over the fear of criticism and what it was like her first day on the set of Grey's Anatomy. I'm thrilled she's on the show and I hope you enjoy my conversation with the amazing Lili Wexu. Support the show
She is the Muse. Of course, we coddle her. Love her. And implore her not to abandon us. But sometimes, it takes running out of mustard to find her. Yes, I said it takes running out of mustard to connect with the muse.Listen in as I try to talk my way through this one. Support the show
One of the things I love most about doing this show is featuring some of my incredibly passionate and talented friends. Living like a gypsy for the last ten years had its drawbacks but I got to meet some fascinating people who were on amazing journeys themselves. One of them is John Timmons. I met John when he sailed into the marina we were in up on the Chesapeake Bay. We hit it off immediately and he's one of those guys who can do just about anything, from designing a solar array for his boat to rebuilding the engine… What I came to find out by accident really is that he was an expert in beekeeping. He went from hobbyist to a fully integrated member of St. Louis' beekeeping community. He was instrumental in growing awareness on the local levels and he had some serious run-ins with the large industrial agricultural machine that really didn't like his stance on what they were doing to harm the bee population. It's a wonderful discussion and if you're curious about bees, I think you'll enjoy what John has to say. Support the show
...all of them looking at me, the rockstar covered in blood and shit. Well, you can probably imagine what they were thinking: you ain't no rockstar. Oh, where to begin? With the children's book that was doomed from the beginning or with the record deal that the Universe just couldn't allow?Today's episode is a true story. It really happened and the takeaway is a big one because sometimes it takes a while to see the true outcome of a situation. Sometimes when you think you've won, you've really lost. And sometimes when you think you've lost, you've really won. Support the show
"There is no cosmic trash can. We can't just toss what we don't like about ourselves away. It's uncomfortable work but we have to do it if we want to heal." Leah Guy is an inspirational speaker, intuitive healer, and author of 3 self-care books. Her latest is Overcoming Toxic Emotions: A Practical Guide to Building Better Relationships with Yourself and Others. Leah uses her own personal experience and triumphs over anxiety, sexual assault, and addiction to help others heal. Her courses and events have helped thousands of people around the world and you can hear more from Leah on her Modern Sage Podcast. In this episode, Leah gives her thoughts on the possible damage that the letting go narrative can cause. She talks about turning the darkness we may be experiencing into light and so much more. Support the show
For the past few months, it feels as if I've been hooked up to a set of battery cables. The gods handed me a bolt of lightning and said, “Hold this.”Transition is both necessary and... messy.It's said that our bodies change every seven years or so. Maybe you've heard it referred to as Steiner's map of human development. Back in the early 20th century, philosopher and teacher Rudolf Steiner was known for his ability to connect spiritual and scientific concepts. He's probably most well-known for this map of human development which theorized that our lives are comprised of cycles as we move from childhood to adulthood. These cycles last seven years and each of these cycles presents us with challenges and rewards. The work we do within these cycles directly affects just how messy things get. In this episode, I talk about my own transition from one cycle to the next. Was Steiner correct? Just how messy is it gonna get? And... what are the essentials needed to get through it? Listen in to find outSupport the show
Fabio Favoretto is a postdoc at Scripps Institute of Oceanography and the chief scientist responsible for monitoring and tracking illegal fishing and other activity within the remote Revillagigedo Archipelago.This archipelago is a group of four volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean, known for their unique ecosystem. They lie approximately 458 kilometers (285 mi) from Socorro Island south and southwest of Cabo San Lucas, the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, and boast some of the highest rates of species diversity in the Eastern Pacific. In this episode, Fabio and I talk about the tropicalization of the eastern pacific waters, species migration, and I get to learn about Fabio's UN-backed initiative called Atlas Aquatica, a program to establish safe diving areas within protected waters. Fabio is Italian and against his wishes, I get him on the record regarding his true hot-button issue, pineapple on pizza. Support the show
In a world that often demands our attention through a cacophony of sights, sounds, and messages, the art of subtlety invites us to pause, listen, and truly engage with the hidden depths that lie beneath the surface. The captivating dance between the lines, the delicate balance of expression and restraint, the whispered nuance that, when performed correctly, elevates above the din of the modern world and teeters at the edge – where the question just might be more important than the answer. Now, I've swung wide before but in this episode, I take you out for a conversation over coffee, then back to my 7-year-old self in South Philly, and finally... to the Academy Awards in an attempt to make my point about subtlety. It's a fun one. Support the show
Alenka Vrecek was born at the foot of the Alps in Slovenia, a part of former communist Yugoslavia. She spent her earliest years idolizing the likes of Reinhold Messner and other great alpine climbers. Born with a spirit for adventure, she came to America at 20 years old with a backpack, a pair of skis, and a pocket full of dreams. Her run as one of the top ski instructors in Squaw Valley ended with an accident that left her with a shattered knee and torn ligaments. During her recovery from surgery, she got a cancer diagnosis that would change the course of her life. Barely through her chemo and radiation treatment, Alenka decided that the way to get clarity was to jump on her bicycle and ride solo from her home in Lake Taho to her home in Baja, Mexico via one of the most grueling trails on the planet, the Baja Divide. This is a story about one woman's quest to summit her own personal Everest. I love this episode so much. I rode the Baja Divide shortly after my conversation with Alenka and I have no idea how she did it. Actually, I do. She's Alenka. Listen to the end. It's an amazing conversation with an inspirational woman. Support the show
Happiness. It's not rocket science. Yet, we love to pretend it is. Can you believe that I'm actually foolish enough to attempt an episode on happiness? It's true. But I've been working on this for a while now and I've decided to let it fly. You see, I've got a ringer. I've got science on my side. 85 years of science... and data collection from one of the longest-running studies of human life ever conducted. Begun in 1938, The Harvard Study of Adult Development has been studying and detailing the lives of over 2000 people to determine the key components of happiness. Only 50 participants survive today and they're in their upper 90s or 100s. This might be the most important thing you hear today. Support the show
"Sleep, nutrition, and exercise are three legs on the same stool. If you're not sleeping well, it's like trying to sit on a two-legged stool." Dr. Michael Grandner is the Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.He's published hundreds of articles relating to sleep and health and you've seen him on every major news platform such as ABC, CNN, FOX, and the BBC. His research focuses on how sleep and sleep-related behaviors are related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, neurocognitive functioning, mental health, and longevity. In this episode, Dr. Grandner breaks down the causes of sleep disturbances and sleep apnea and discusses effective alternatives to the overly-prescribed CPAP machines. How effective is CBD in treating sleep disorders? Well, we get into all of it. Dr. Grandner gives three great resources that you can turn to immediately for help if you're experiencing any of these sleep disorders. I'll put them in the episode show notes over at themindunset.com. Support the show
We're all storytellers. But are we telling the real story? The stories we tell create the life we live in. They're the scripts to our movie and every single day we tell stories that chronicle our triumphs and tragedies, successes and failures, powerful moments, and vulnerable moments; where we're both hero and villain. We tell stories about our life, our work, past achievements, and future goals. Stories about our lovers, our family, and our health. All of these little stories reinforce what we believe about ourselves and influence how those around us see us. But how much of the story we're telling about ourselves and to ourselves is true? How much of it is deeply rooted in fiction and yet, we tell it without even noticing? In this episode, I explore 4000 years of storytelling to find out. Support the show
Do you believe in magic? Do you believe the Universe is dropping hints and clues to us all the time to help us connect with our creativity? All we need to do is pay attention. Famed music producer Rick Rubin has a new book out called The Creative Act: A Way of Being and listening to him speak about it has kicked me off on a tangent. He speaks of magic and adjusting our antennas so that we can pick up these mystical signs floating all around us. Tune in to Episode 026 to discover my new invention. It's a step ladder. Not just any step ladder but a very special step ladder. 026 is the last of Season 2. The launch date for Season 3 is still up in the air but if you're on the email list, you'll be the first to know. If you're not on the email list, themindunset.com is the place to go if you want to sign up, listen to past episodes, or find out how to support the show.Okay, thanks for taking this ride with me. Adjust that antenna. Unleash your magic to the world. We need it. Until next time: Be Nice. Do Good stuff. Support the show
In today's world, everything you do is an audition. If you put something out there that doesn't represent the best version of you, you shouldn't be confused about why it didn't have the impact you expected or reach the people you hoped to reach. Sometimes, while trying to put forth the best version of ourselves, we make things more complicated than they need to be. It's in our DNA. We're complex beings but also much more than just the aggregation of 100 trillion cells. This episode was dead in the water. Just 18 hours from the time it was to publish, I was staring at a blank page, working in a frigid Philadelphia library, and about to take my frustrations out on an equally frustrated heater repair man. Then, he said something that made me want to hug his big ol' face. Support the show
Sue Stillman Linja has traveled all over the world to meet and talk with centenarians in an effort to find the connection between their diets and their brain health. These folks are not just existing. They are flourishing and living an active life at or close to 100 years old. She's spent the past 25 years working with those living the later years of their lives. As a licensed Dietician and Nutritionist and co-author of The Alzheimer's Prevention Food Guide, nutrition and aging are her passion along with Alzheimer's disease prevention, and "Eating to 100." She's spoken at TEDx and all over the nutrition world. She is the Co-founder, Officer and President of S&S Nutrition Network, Inc., LTC Nutrition Consulting, LLC, and C0-founder and Vice President of Nutrition and Wellness Associates, LLC. A Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School called her book the food bible with everything someone needs to eat for a healthier brain.I lost my father to Parkinson's disease and was interested to hear all of her thoughts on eating to maintain a healthy brain. I had a lot of questions about some of the mixed messages we get surrounding food in our modern diets. I hope you enjoy this episode of Strong Coffee Strong Women™. Support the show
With 2023 approaching, I got to thinking about this resolution madness. Do you make them? Do you keep them? Here's one of the earliest instances where the actual phrase "new year resolution" was used in a January 1st issue of a Boston newspaper from 1813. “I believe there are multitudes of people who will sin all the month of December, with a serious determination of beginning the new year with new resolutions and new behaviour, and with the full belief that they shall thus expiate and wipe away all their former faults.” Has anything changed in 2022/23?Did you know, the fail rate for those of us participating in this madness is 88%? And here is a breakdown of why people fail at sticking to their resolutions. 35% of people said they set unrealistic goals. 33% said they never tracked their progressAnd my favorite: 23% said they forgot. There's a better way to practice self-reflection and self-improvement without the guilt, self-denial, and high probability of failure. Listen in to find out what I propose as an achievable alternative to the New Year's Resolution.Support the show
21 episodes, 9 guests, and too many cups of coffee to even count.As 2022 draws to a close, I thought a quick look back at the first two seasons of guests was in order. I had some great conversations and decided to pull some of my favorite clips for this year in review episode (for lack of a better description). If you listened to all of the guest episodes, I thank you. If you only listened to the solo episodes, here's a little taste of what you missed.I can't stress it enough but this show doesn't happen without interesting guests. And getting interesting guests to appear on a show with a small audience is a tall order. That being said, I wanna thank all of my guests for their time and their trust. And thank you for listening. Next week, Episode 023 is the last of the year and the perfect number episode to kick off the new year. It's almost as if I planned it!I'll be here. I hope you will too.Until then, be nice. Do good stuff. Support the show
Well, it's that time of year. I don't know where you are in this world, where you're listening from. Is it cold? Snowing? Decorated for the holidays? Or are you in a warm place with palm trees? Are you traveling this holiday season? Are you holidaying in place? Are you huddled under the covers with the shades drawn; an emergent date scheduled for sometime in March?I get it. The holiday season can be extremely stressful for so many. If you're going through a rough patch, grieving the loss of a loved one, or in the grips of seasonal depression, you're not alone. The Holiday Blues are for real. So I've put together a little booster episode to help you keep the Holidays from turning into the Holladaze. Mother's little helper… if you will, for when you're hiding in the bathroom at your in-laws. Take your phone with you and give this episode a listen. It just might help.And when you're done with this one, if you love what you're hearing and want to listen to back episodes, visit themindunselt.com.Until next time, be nice. Do good stuff. Support the show
Shane is a native of Bismarck, North Dakota, and a photographer. But just saying he's a photographer is a grave understatement. He's a Wet Plate Collodion photographer and if you don't know, wet plate is the process of printing on glass with silver and other, sometimes lethal, chemicals. The process began way back in 1848 and was quickly abandoned for more modern and efficient techniques. "Digital photography of today relies on technology. Wet plate photography relies on 170-year-old chemistry, a bit of magic, and some luck. I think it's important that as technology moves forward, we embrace and continue to celebrate and not forget important processes from the past.Wet plate photography is one of those processes. Every time I show someone the wet plate process in person, they are absolutely amazed regarding the ability to get a photograph using some chemicals and pieces of glass that I cut by hand."When I think of Shane's art, I think of him as an Alchemist, a historian, and a channeler who, through this legacy process, captures more than images on the glass. His work is being preserved in museums all over the world, including the Smithsonian Institute, Oxford and so many more. His portraits are impactful, political, and honest. Some have resulted in death threats but he's remained committed and dedicated to his path.This is a long conversation, the longest I've done so far but it's an important one. I'm grateful for Shane's work, his mission, and his time. Support the show
This episode is all about creating in the midst of chaos, how distractions and excuses sabotage your joy, and whether or not inspiration and motivation have anything to do with getting something done.No, Brain Weeds & The Joy is not a band. It's not the latest Ka' Chava blend either. Brain Weeds, or Cranial Kudzu as it's known by its scientific name (there's really no verifiable science. I made it up), have become a real threat to The Joy. What do you mean you don't know about Brain Weeds? The Joy? Holy-moly. There is too much going on here to make sense of. You're just going to have to listen to the full episode to make sense of this mumbo-jumbo. And when you're done, if you love what you're hearing and want to listen to back episodes, visit themindunselt.com.Until next time, be nice. Do good stuff. Support the show
Kristin Hanes is a freelance business and travel writer and the publisher of the incredibly successful blog, The Wayward Home. With over 400k readers per month, Kristin Hanes has become one of the authorities on living tiny. Whether it's an RV, Sailboat, Tiny House, or Van Life, Kristin has done it and written about it. Today we talk about the early days when she worked as a journalist in San Francisco. She was in debt, living in her car, and looking for a change. Today, Kristin travels full-time and sustains herself with her writing. It's an awesome story and she's living proof that a simpler more fulfilling dream life is possible. Until next time, be nice. Do good stuff. Support the show
When life gives you lemons, forget the lemonade. Break out the Tequila. If you listened to Episode 15, Family Practice, you know that my wife and I have been on an epic road trip. At this point, we're somewhere in the neighborhood of 7500 miles! As you might expect, there were some incredible moments and some not-so-incredible moments. Less than 12 hours after one of the best moments, we were caught by some nasty characters in deep south Louisiana. Vandalized. At this point in my life, I've learned the quicker you can process the anger into useful action, the better off you'll be. Thankfully, a few weeks prior to this event I discovered an incredible resource to help with turning feelings of helplessness and anger into forward motion. Listen to the full episode to find out. And until next time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
Decrease the speed at which you move through the universe, and your universe expands. My guest this week is Jimmy Hallyburton. Jimmy is a former Hot Shot fire-fighter, TEDx speaker, city council member, and the Executive Director of the Boise Bicycle Project. The organization is nationally known for its programs that serve incoming refugees, incarcerated individuals, and families experiencing homelessness. He created the Boise Goathead Fest, a community-building event that's grown into one of America's largest bicycle festivals. In 2021 took part in the planning and creation of 110 miles of walking and biking pathways across Boise. He's concise with his ideas on building community and modifying city infrastructures to better accommodate bicycles as solutions to city congestion and health issues.It's a great conversation and you'll want to listen to the end. If you like what you're hearing, subscribe or follow the show on your favorite platform and share it with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com and follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast. Until next time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
In 2002, the selfie came to life and it's been downhill ever since. Does it seem like more people than ever are talking about strained relationships these days? Families and long-time friendships are under a lot of pressure or breaking apart because of the polarizing political and cultural events in our country and the world. So what gives? It's not like things are any more tumultuous than they were in the days leading up to WWII or Vietnam. What's different? Why have we as a community lost the ability to disagree in a civil manner? And why is everything so personal? Listen in and find out. Support the show
In this episode, I talk about my guests, and why some solo episodes were the way they were. I answer a few listener questions and end with one of my favorite songs.14 weeks ago I was freaking out. We had been prepping for about a year and were about to go live with Episode 1. I had no idea what was going to happen. But the goal was simple. Make positive art and be in a different place at the end than I was at the beginning. As Rumi wrote, the path rarely appears until you start walking. We can always delay our transformation by telling ourselves things like I'm not ready, I don't have the right equipment, the right guests… But I believe ready is an illusion. You're never really ready. There will always be distractions and detours to test your commitment. But those tests aren't always about exposing your weakness, they can also expose strengths. Thank you for being here for Season 1. I hope you come back for Season 2 which begins on Wednesday, November 2. Please, if you like what you're hearing, leave a review at Apple Podcasts and get on the email list at themindunset.com for updates and news while we're ramping up to go for Season 2. Until that time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
Something as simple as a Sunday drive can change everything. Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. If not for the fact that it's inscribed on every passenger side mirror in North America, this innocuous little sentence might have never seen the light of day. This safety warning is designed to expand a driver's view reducing the likelihood that they misperceive what they see to the immediate right of the car. And in order to achieve a wider field of view, the mirror is curved, which distorts what the driver perceives. So by distorting a driver's perception in one way, you enhance perception in another– seemingly more important way. Are we missing something here? Could the auto industry's attempt to insulate itself against a litigious populous be something else entirely? This inscription… an existential tap on the shoulder? An invitation – to examine our own perceptions?Tune in to find out! Please, if you like what you're hearing, leave a review at Apple Podcasts and get on the email list at themindunset.comAnd until next week, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
Her first entrepreneurial endeavor was selling worms when she was 8 years old. It must have paid off because Melody DiCroce is now an online business strategist who started her business from a sailboat in the jungles of Guatemala and has since worked with some of the biggest names in the online space.She's an anomaly because she's tech-savvy and has what it takes to compete in today's online business space, and she's also a content creator with a keen ability to flip the switch from her analytical brain to her creative brain.I know this because I've spent the last 16 years watching her develop her craft. I'm married to her and biased, of course. In this episode, we talk about what it was like to live and run a business from a sailboat, work-life balance, our identity and the way we view ourselves, making your weaknesses your superpowers, and thriving as an introvert.“In life, we have two currencies; time and money. When you spend time, you can save money. When you spend money, you can save time. No matter what you want to accomplish, you'll spend one of those. Time or money… neither is wrong, but just remember – only one of them can you make back.”It was one of the most difficult interviews I've done for this show – I was so nervous – but an absolute pleasure to chat with one of the strongest and most talented women I know. Please, if you like what you're hearing, leave a review at Apple Podcasts and get on the email list at themindunset.comSupport the show
We're surrounded by patterns, in nature and in history. And these patterns remind us that everything will be ok.In 1965 British psychoanalyst, Elliott Jaques coined the phrase Midlife Crisis. He described it as a period in which we come face-to-face with our limitations, our restricted possibilities, and our mortality. A period of sudden awakening. Ironically, 3000 miles to the west, America was in the midst of its own midlife crisis. Political change, social change, space travel and great music defined the years 1965 and 1984. America was questioning the norm, searching for meaning. Was it a once-in-a-lifetime awakening or something else? Part of a recurring pattern that's happened before. A turning from one generation to the next? Episode 11 is all about patterns. And... apples. Well, they are connected. You'll just have to listen to find out how. If you like what you're hearing, subscribe or follow the show on your favorite platform and share it with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com and follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast. Until next time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
Dr. Gladys Ato is a clinical psychologist, award-winning educator, and author of The Good Goodbye: How to Navigate Change in Life, Love, and Work. Gladys is a public speaker and host of the Time Out Podcast. She's been featured everywhere from Forbes Magazine and Tedx to NPR and NBC. This episode is all about the power of story and discuss how what we tell ourselves shapes our reality. We talked about gentleness and I get her thoughts on alternative plant medicines like Ibogaine, DMT, and Ayahuasca. "All of this is about perspective. We are all being asked to choose what we want to believe." It's a beautiful conversation and the perfect mid-week reset. If you like what you're hearing, subscribe or follow the show on your favorite platform and share it with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com and follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast. Until next time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
What do Ghostbusters, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, and quicksand have to do with Jimmy Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, and Episode 9? Well, everything, of course. They're intimately connected.Episode 9 – The Fatal Episode – has a little bit of everything; numerology, the laws of attraction, and a dash of insight provided by a legendary Fabulist, and somehow it all works out. Or, does it? I... I just can't say any more. If you like what you're hearing, subscribe or follow the show on your favorite platform and share it with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com and follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast. Until next time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
You know the photo I'm talking about. That once-in-a-lifetime shot that makes you question whether or not it's even real. The one that causes you to wonder just how long the photographer had to wait to get it? How much preparation went into being in the right place at the right time? Now imagine that the photo you took is selected as one of the best photos in the world. That's Joseph Ruiz Cheires - or Pepe Cheires as he's known. As a member of Team Mexico, his photo and a handful of others were selected as the best in the world at the 2022 Photography World Cup in Rome, Italy. Pepe joined me live across the table to talk about the photo and so much more. If you like what you're hearing, subscribe or follow the show on your favorite platform.Share it with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com and follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast. Until next time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
Has this ever happened to you?You hear a phrase or a song you've heard a hundred times. Or…you pass by a sign that on any other day is so unexceptional you barely notice it. But on this day, for some unexplainable reason that phrase, song, or sign hits you differently; something sticks and you can't stop thinking about it. Well, it happened to me. And It was just a small, wooden sign–unremarkable and difficult to see by the side of the road but I saw it. Rise and shine.Then, I couldn't unsee it. And I couldn't figure out what to do with it – until I did. Episode 7 is a slow burn. Hang 'til the end. Trust me. I won't leave you out on the limb.If you like what you're hearing, subscribe or follow the show on your favorite platform and share it with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com and follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast. Until next time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
There are few environments in live television that come with more pressure than the Academy Awards or the Super Bowl. Emmy Award-Winning Director and Editor Mark Stepp sat down for a candid conversation about what goes on behind the scenes of some of your favorite shows.From his early days working on VH-1's Behind the Music, Stepp has worked with the biggest names in the entertainment industry. But for Mark, it's not about the celebrity cachet or his nine Emmy nominations. It's about him and his team delivering the highest quality work in the most demanding environments. "First, I'm always a member of a team and we all carry the same work ethic. It's a job that I have the privilege of doing but at the end of the day, if we all go home knowing we did something great, that's what matters. It's not about rubbing up against celebrities."If you like what you're hearing, subscribe or follow the show on your favorite platform. Share it with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com and follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast. Until next time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the show
Matthew McConaughey said, "The best advice comes from people who don't give advice." So, let's talk about giving advice. We all have that friend or family member. Their life is a bit of a mess. They're constantly embroiled in some sort of drama and they come to you for advice. Do you give it? This is a difficult position to be because you want to help but you're reluctant to – you know – give advice. Do people really want help or do they simply want to be heard?Parker J. Palmer, an American author and educator suggested the latter in a piece called, My Misgivings About Advice. Palmer wrote, “The human soul doesn't want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be witnessed – to be seen, heard and companioned exactly as it is.” If this is true, that people don't really want to be healed or saved, how do you explain the fact that there are over 85,000 self-help books in publication today?Let's get into it!If you like what you're hearing, subscribe or follow the show on your favorite platform and share it with your friends because the show doesn't go anywhere without you.Visit us at themindunset.com and follow us on Instagram @themindunsetpodcast. Until next time, be nice and do good stuff. Support the showSupport the show