Podcasts about detaching

In Episode 496 of the Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb open with a rich discussion on the theology of congregational singing — including the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, the Getty's Sing!, and why psalm-singing belongs at the heart of Christian worship. The main event, however, is the first installment of their study of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). Tony and Jesse argue that this parable is widely misread as a lesson in personal productivity or spiritual gift deployment, when in fact its center of gravity is entirely eschatological and theological: the wicked servant's failure is not financial incompetence — it is a catastrophic misunderstanding of who the master is, and therefore, who he himself is as a servant of that master. Key Takeaways The parable is eschatological, not motivational. Situated in Matthew 25 as the second of three eschatological parables in the Olivet Discourse, the Parable of the Talents answers the disciples' question about the sign of Christ's coming — not a general lesson about using your abilities for God. "Talents" refers to an enormous monetary sum, not personal giftedness. A single talent represented roughly 20 years of a laborer's wages. Even the least-endowed servant received an immense, unearned gift — which makes the wicked servant's inaction all the more indefensible. The wicked servant's problem is theological, not financial. He doesn't bury the talent out of ignorance or fear alone — he actively mischaracterizes the master as exploitative and unjust. His failure is a failure of theology: he does not know who his master is. The commendation "Well done, good and faithful servant" is the basic reward of every believer, not a tiered prize for the most productive. The five-talent and two-talent servants receive identical commendations, suggesting the measure is proportional faithfulness, not absolute output. Faithful stewardship is active, not passive. Both faithful servants are marked by immediacy and energetic engagement. The parable does not explain how they doubled their talents because the mechanics are not the point — their disposition of active, risk-taking faithfulness is. The parable resists works-righteousness readings. Whether one is Augustine or an anonymous deathbed convert, every justified believer enters into the same joy of the master. The parable is not a theology of graduated heavenly rewards but a distinction between those who understand their master and those who do not. The talents represent the stewardship of the Gospel and the Kingdom itself. The master entrusting his servants with his property is a picture of Christ entrusting the church with the message of salvation — ownership remains with the master, the servants are stewards, not proprietors. Key Concepts The Wicked Servant's Problem Is Who He Thinks the Master Is The most common misreading of this parable locates the wicked servant's failure in laziness or timidity — he was simply too afraid to act. But Tony Arsenal argues compellingly that the servant's own words expose something far more serious. He says, "I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow." This is not a confession of fear; it is an accusation. The servant has constructed a theology of his master as an exploitative, unjust overseer who doesn't deserve a return. What he catastrophically misses is that the very possession of 20 years' worth of wages — an unearned, unimaginable gift — is the master sowing into him. His refusal to act is, at its root, a refusal to acknowledge the master's generosity and authority. This is the parable's most penetrating theological edge. "Well Done" Is for Every Believer, Not Just the Most Productive One of the episode's most pastorally significant observations is Tony's argument that the commendation "Well done, good and faithful servant — enter into the joy of your master" is not reserved for spiritual high-achievers. Because the five-talent and two-talent servants receive word-for-word identical commendations despite wildly different absolute returns, the logical entailment is that the one-talent servant, had he been faithful, would have received the same words. This means the commendation is not calibrated to productivity — it is the basic inheritance of every believer who enters glory. The soul-winner and the deathbed convert, Augustine and the unknown faithful, all hear the same welcome. The parable is therefore not teaching a graduated hierarchy of heavenly reward, but a binary distinction: those who know their master and act accordingly, and those who do not. The Parable Cannot Be Detached from Its Eschatological Context Jesse Schwamb is careful to anchor the parable in its literary and theological context: this is the second of three eschatological parables in Matthew 25, all part of the Olivet Discourse, all delivered in direct response to the disciples' question about the sign of Christ's return and the end of the age. Detaching the Parable of the Talents from that frame — and reading it instead as a general productivity principle or a theology of spiritual gifts — drains it of what Jesse calls its "gravity." The master going away and returning after a long time is a direct image of the ascended Christ and his parousia. The servants' task during the interval is not self-improvement or career stewardship — it is watchful, active discipleship in the time between the first and second comings. Everything in the parable, including the staggering sums of money, is calibrated to that eschatological frame. Memorable Quotes The real difference is that the former servants understood that their master had trusted them with a task and expected something of them, and the unfaithful, wicked, lazy servant had a total misunderstanding of who the master was — and therefore what his role as the master's servant was. That's the point of this parable. — Tony Arsenal Well done, good and faithful servant — that's not a special commendation that only the most amazing Christian servants get. That's the basic commendation that every Christian who enters into glory will receive. Whether you have been the most productive soul-winner in the world... you're going to receive the same commendation as the person who dies, and on their deathbed the last thing that they think is, 'I trust Jesus.' — Tony Arsenal God's measure of faithfulness is proportional, not absolute. The two-talent servant is not judged by the five-talent standard. He is judged by what he received. — Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript [00:00:08] Tony Arsenal: that's not a special commendation that only the most amazing Christian servants get, right? That's the basic commendation that every Christian who enters into glory will receive. Whether you have been the most productive soul-winner in the world, whether you are the most, you know, the most sanctified Christian who's ever lived, whether you are, the most amazing person and millions of people have come to faith because of your ministry, you're going to receive the same commendation as the person who dies, and on their deathbed the last thing that they think is, I trust Jesus." Right. And they've produced no converts, no ministry, and maybe no one even knows that they were justified, because in their final moments before the lights went out, they trusted in Jesus, right? They hear the same well done, good and faithful servant when they enter into glory. Welcome to episode 496 of the Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse.  And I'm Tony, and this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey, brother.  [00:01:19] Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother.  [00:01:21] Parable Teaser [00:01:21] Jesse Schwamb: You know, the parables just keep coming for us, like we've said. And on this episode, to, just to tee it up, to whet everybody's appetites, we've got three servants, one absent master, an uncomfortable amount of money. What could go wrong? Yeah. As it turns out, quite a bit, especially if you're the kind of person who responds to divine generosity by finding the nearest shovel. So we're gonna get to all of that in this, what I call, this now sandwich of eschatological parables or teachings of Jesus in Matthew 25. So hopefully you're curious, hopefully you're stoked. But you can go put your thumb right in the scriptures there, because you're gonna meet us there very, very, very, very shortly. But first we got business. It's always the business we must do, the part of the podcast where we affirm with something or deny against something. And as always, I'm really curious what you have, and now I understand you have a list, or you're keeping a list. So- I do ... never again will there be something like that falls to the cutting room floor, brothers and sisters. Tony is always gonna have for us whatever was- ... what came to his brilliant mind as an affirmation or denial at any point, day or night.  [00:02:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. Do you, Jesse, do you ever have... I know the answer to this question is going to be yes- Yeah. That's good ... but I'm gonna ask it- All right ... mostly for rhetorical effect here. This is good podcasting.  [00:02:38] Psalm 67B Praise [00:02:38] Tony Arsenal: Do you have, do you have those situations where, like, the, the so- a song hits you, and it's just, like, the right combination of words, but also the right combination of, like, musicality?  [00:02:49] Jesse Schwamb: For sure.  [00:02:50] Tony Arsenal: Where it just, like, it just, it just feels- For sure like, right and good in every part of your being. So- All the time, yep ... I, I'm affirming, um, th- this is like the most Presbyterian thing ever. I'm affirming the, the arrangement in the Trinity, uh, psalter hymnal for Psalm 67B. Now, I'm not gonna try to sing it for you, but I wanna read the words, because obviously it's, it's a paraphrase of a psalm. So, like, that's the first thing. Like, people, like, calm down. Like, it's okay to sing paraphrases. It's okay to sing. No one is actually singing the Hebrew psalms. Right. Amen. So, like, just calm down a little bit. Amen. Uh, there is a place for us to dedicate specific focus to psalms and songs that are from the psalms, but that can be something like Better Is One Day. Like, that's a song from a psalm. Anyway, that's a whole different, that's a whole different thing. Yes, I'm affirming psalm singing. Uh, yes, I'm denying overly rigid understandings of what that is. But here's the words for Psalm 67, Setting B. That's important It's, "O God, show mercy to us and bless us with your grace and cause to shine upon us the brightness of your face, so that the whole world over may truly know your way and so that your salvation all nations see displayed. O God, let peoples praise you. Let all the peoples praise. Let nations come rejoicing and songs of gladness rise, raise." Then, um, stanza two, "For you will judge the peoples with perfect equity. To nations of the whole Earth a governor you'll be. O God, let the peoples praise you. Let all the peoples praise. The Earth has brought its bounty throughout its harvest days.  [00:04:24] Why Sing Psalms [00:04:24] Tony Arsenal: Since God our God will bless us, yes, God will blessing send, that all the Earth may fear Him to its remotest end." Now, there are lots of really great, uh, theologically sound, edifying hymns and worship choruses, but there's just something about the Psalms, right? It's inspired- Um- ... it's perfect. Again, like I said, nobody is singing the actual Hebrew Psalms, or even, I shouldn't say nobody, most people are not singing, like, the Psalms from the ESV, right? These are almost all paraphrases. They're, they're translations. But there's just something about the Psalms that I have grown so much to appreciate since joining a Presbyterian church. That's not to say other traditions don't sing Psalms in their own right, and again, like, we would sing Better Is One Day and other songs that were based on Psalms. Um, even, like, real direct translations or real direct versions of Psalms, like Better Is One Day or Create In Me A Clean Heart, there's all sorts of them. But there's just something about singing the Psalms, and this particular musical setting, it's triumphant, but not in the, like, fanfare kind of triumphant. Do you know what I mean, Jesse? Like- Mm-hmm ... it's, it's a triumphant melody, and it has, like, really interesting rises and falls and... So I, I'm gonna probably try to put this at the end of the episode. So listen. Hopefully I'll get the whole thing. Let me just, let me just do this. Hold on a second. It's just gorgeous. It's just beautiful. So I, I, I don't know what it was this morning. Uh, it's, I wasn't, like, promo- particularly emotional. It didn't, like, make me cry. Yeah. But all of that's fine. Like, I've been brought to tears in worship before, and that's, that's all good and well. There was just something about it that resonated, and I was like, "This is just good." Like, this is just good music. It's good singing. Something about hearing, uh, the whole congregation singing together. Like, it was just beautiful. It was just a beautiful moment. So if you are not in a psalm-singing church, first of all, why aren't you in a psalm-singing church? Uh, no worship leader on Earth, no, no person who is worth... Uh, when I say worship leader, I mean the person who's responsible for leading musical worship. No one who's leading worshipful music, worshipful? Worship music, if you approach them and say, "I would like to sing more songs that are based on the Psalms," if they say, "We don't wanna sing Psalms here," then you just go somewhere else. Like, someone who tells you, like, "We don't wanna s- we don't wanna sing God's Word," that doesn't make any sense to me.  [00:06:56] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:06:56] Tony Arsenal: Um, now again, like, there's a way to do it. Sometimes musically they're challenging, especially if you're singing out of something like the hymnal. But again, there are plenty of really good modern style songs and hymn style songs that are either based on the Psalms or are paraphrases, very similar to what you get in the, in the Trinity Psalter Hymnal. Or most, most people who are leading in musical worship are competent enough to just sort of take the sheet music and figure out how to do it on guitar or figure out how to play it on piano. Um, they're not that difficult. So you will be edified if you do this. Your church will be edified. There's probably a lot of people out there responsible for musical worship that actually would really like to do this, and they're kind of probably, like, just waiting for that nudge, so you may even be benefiting them. But yeah, this, this psalm is beautiful. It's just a gorgeous arrangement, and it's, it's perfect, inspired words. Really was a, just a, a balm to my soul this morning.  [00:07:51] Jesse Schwamb: I love it. And o- of course, a lot of that is still happening, which is such a glorious gift to the church. The couple of times that I've had the privilege of writing music for my own church has been right from the scriptures, and for me recently that was, like, Ephesians 1 and Psalm 16. And that's mainly because, like, as a lyricist, I'm not that creative, and I'd rather go direct to the source. And all those end up being a paraphrase, like you said, anyway. Es- especially if you wanna get turn of phrase or if you wanna have a little bit of rhyming, which is always a beautiful thing. I love the Psalter, and my, my hot take on that is I sometimes find that I like, I don't wanna call them, like, the alternate, but, like, the other secondary arrangements-  Yeah and  lyrics better. I don't know why. I don't think that's purposeful, of course. It's probably just my taste. But I always find them to be, like, super fire. I, I don't know why. The, the B and C versions always kinda grab me, especially if... And here's another thing that I appreciate about the Psalter, as you know, is sometimes those B or C versions will be written in an alternate key or a minor key. Yeah. And that's even more awesome, because there's not a lot of, let's say, like, cla- I don't wanna say classic. Classic slash contemporary, uh, Christian music or wors- quote-unquote worship music that's written in minor keys. But it's good to lament, as we've talked about before. So- Yeah ... you're gonna get that full breath and scope in the Psalter there. [00:09:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:09:07] Beyond Music Styles [00:09:07] Tony Arsenal: A- and, you know, maybe let me put in one more little plug here. Um- I am not one of those people that is gonna say that there's like a particular style of music that's more godly than another. I've heard people try to make arguments that there's like certain kinds of rhythms or certain kinds of like beats that are- Right either, either more godly or somehow demonic or less godly. Um, I think there might be an argument to be made that some styles of worship are not suited well for congregational singing, so they may not be appropriate for like a, a congregational worship service. Like, you're probably not gonna go in and do a lot of hip hop and have the congregation be able to like stick with you. Right. That doesn't mean that you can't worship God through that or that it somehow is less like intrinsically beautiful. But, um, there are a lot of Let me just put it this way. In modern contemporary Western Christianity, uh, there's a lot of songs that are basically just the same thing musically. You know, you'll find, um, if you go to, like, YouTube, and, and maybe, like, be careful, 'cause sometimes some of these are, they're funny but they're a little bit crass. But if you look up, like, a video about how, like, every song is Pachel Bell's Canon. Right. Right? Every song follows the same basic arrangement of chords, and this gets even more pronounced when you're talking about modern worship music or contemporary mu- worship music, because it's designed to be able to be very simple and very easily played. Um, a lot of times worship directors are not super classically trained. Um, you think of, like, the youth pastor with the guitar around the campfire. Like, those kinds of songs have to be easy, 'cause they're not, like, classically trained guitar players. They probably picked up a chord book and figured out how to play a couple easy songs like Jesus, Lover of My Soul and things like that. That's how I learned how to play guitar. That's the extent of my skills, so I'm not, I'm not banging on that person. Um, but there are a lot, there's a lot more to music. Um, there's a lot more to singing, and there's a lot more to choral music than, you know, GCDC kind of like worship courses. Uh, and singing something like the Psalter, or even just singing out of a good hymnal- Right will actually expand your musical horizons. And there's something to be said about the creativity of our God being reflected in the creativity of His people that I do think we miss out on when we are locked into really simplistic worship styles. Um, again, like, I interpret Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to mean, like, sing in the vernacular of the people. Um, and I, you know, that's a different episode. We can talk about that sometime. But th- that, that requires the songs to be singable, and I think sometimes, uh, sometimes some of the song- some of the Psalters, some of the songs in the Psalter hymnals, and sometimes hymnals in general, are very difficult to sing. And so I think a congregation, the people leading in music need to be thoughtful of that. But I think you would do well to, like, open your horizons a little bit to something a little bit more challenging and a little bit off the beaten path. Like, this melody, I don't know the chords behind it. It may not be anything crazy, but that, like, musicality and that, that sort of, like, melody is not a typical... And this might be why it resonated with me. It's not a typical kind of melody you're gonna find in contemporary music. Um, it's, it's very different. It's older. It's more classically styled. The, it's, it's meant to sort of bring you up to these crescendos in ways that modern music is not necessarily. So enough about that. I don't know a lot about music theory, so I might be totally wrong and, and- ... people might be rolling their eyes. But I, I do think that there's something to it. Like, a lot of the older hymns- utilize chord progressions and melodies and harmonies and things like that that we're just not used to. You're not gonna get that listening to, you know, even something like, like the more musical kind, uh, more technically proficient music like something like Bethel or Hillsong, which is at times musically very good. Uh, I don't know that I would recommend listening to it, but the music is actually, like, technically very good in some instances. Uh, even there you're not gonna find a lot of this stuff. So instead of going there for, like, really nice sounding musical worship, just go to something like the Trinity Psalter app. You know, for $10 on a- on your iPhone you can sing with it. Um, yeah, enough about that. I, I, I could talk about how great the Psalms are and how great psalm singing is for an entire episode. We should do that episode- We should ... when we're done with the parables, 'cause I know we've done a lot of episodes on, like, uh, on, on, like, the regulative principle and- Right I, I think we're still both in the same spot that, like- Right ... exclusive psalmody is probably not where we would land. Right. But I think I'm coming to the conviction that the psalms should have a much greater portion of our worship diet, uh- Hmm ... than they do in most churches. Um, and I really only came to that conviction when I was in a church where psalm singing was the norm. Uh, I know that we try to have at least one s- one canonical psalm for every single worship service. Usually there's multiple, but, um, even in a, a, a setting where we normally wouldn't be so focused on that, we still try to have at least one, and it's been a, a really huge edifying thing to my soul.  [00:14:06] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. I absolutely love that. You'll find no complaint from me on that. I think that that's a good reminder for all of us.  [00:14:13] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:14:14] Book Sing Recommendation [00:14:14] Tony Arsenal: Jesse, what do you have?  [00:14:15] Jesse Schwamb: Well, it's, we're not gonna stop this conversation, just so you know. Because we don't sync up on these things ever, but it just so happens that I'm affirming with a book that it's a really simple primer on congregational singing-  There you go that has  long been on my list and overdue to read, and I am coming in hot with a recommendation for this, and that is the book entitled Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church by Keith and Kristyn Getty. And really, it covers so many of the things that you already talked about. I, I think at the foremost, it's a reminder that God cares whether in what we sing, but he does not mind how well we sing. Yes. But it is, like, the, this... What's true is that our voices might not be of a professional standard, but they are of a confessional standard. Yeah. And so it is incumbent upon every Christian to sing. And if you need just, like, a little bit of inspiration, so to speak, or a reminder of why that's important, I highly commend this book to you. In fact, in the back they have what's called, like, these bonus tracks. It's like four or five separate chapters that they've written just to particular people in the church, pastors, laypeople, musicians, even the people that help produce the sound. I found that bit to be so lovely and pastoral. It, it's gentle, the tone is encouraging, but it is also strong, and I appreciate that. So a lot of it is some of the themes that we've just talked about, but my conviction grows all the time of just how important congregational singing is, and how everything you just said, the music, the liturgy that we bring forward- has to be of a deliberate kind to strengthen that exercise, to make it easy, so to speak. And that does come into practical things like if you look at the psalter, and I, I don't... I have it on my phone, but I don't know where my phone is, so I was gonna look at the one you were referencing. My guess is it's, it's in probably a key with a couple of sharps in it, because those are the ones that are easiest to sing. So even little things like that matter. What you hear on the radio often is, or radio? People still listen to the radio? What you hear, like, in, like, contemporary music, like, often is not necessarily for congregational singing just in its key, and, and that's okay. And so even in my own church, we transpose things to make it reasonable and approachable. But what I think was, like, the critical question put forward in this book that I absolutely loved as a great reminder was: how did the congregation sing? It's very interesting that they kind of bring forward this thesis that that's how you should be judging your music. How did the congregation sing? And I think if we started asking that, it might slightly tweak or maybe change altogether, to your point, the methods and the practices that we use when we undergo worship by way or through music. So this is really great. It's easily readable, and it's for everybody, and it, there's a chapter on family worship as well, how to bring singing into your home and music into your home all the time as an act of worship so that when you get to the Lord's Day, your kids are like, "Yeah, this is our jam." Uh, especially maybe even recognizing some of the pieces of music and be excited about that. So there was a lot that made me think about here. It's fantastic. And to your point, Tony, I would say the Gettys, especially in, like, "Christ Alone," some of the other things, this is probably the closest to what you're talking about, where they've taken and imported kind of the classical hymn structures-  [00:17:26] Tony Arsenal: Yeah [00:17:27] Jesse Schwamb: but modernized a little bit just the language while without sacrificing any of the theological richness or the musicality that draws your ear to those beautiful rising and falling melodies, the swelling of the vocal there, without, like, distracting from anything that's going on there. It's not emotionalism- Yeah but it certainly is filled with the emotion of what it means to be a Christian and to sing in response as an act of praise to God.  [00:17:50] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:17:52] Family Worship Singing [00:17:52] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I mean, I can't underscore enough the importance of congregational singing. We, we've, we've actually talked about, about it in context of, like, how important it is for the men of the congregation to sing, which is something I, I really appreciate about my congregation, is, is the m- the men just go all out. Like, people are, like- Love it ... nobody is, nobody is ashamed of the fact that they squawk on a note that they're not used to or anything like that. And where this really pays out, um, at least in our congregation, but I'd, I'd be willing to bet if you go to any congregation where the, where the men particularly are passionate and active in musical worship, right? Um, I think where this plays out is you see the children very quickly picking up those songs and learning them and singing them. And the, the favorite part of my day, this is gon- any parent of toddlers is gonna be like, "What are you talking about?" Bedtime is one of my favorite times of day, not just because it means that, like, in a little while I'm gonna get a little peace and quiet. Like, that's part of it, too, but there are two songs that we sing almost every single night, and Augie leads them, which is really great. He always wants to start, and he always wants to sing, and it's the Doxology and the Gloria Patri. And these are songs that he has just picked up from being in the congregation, and, you know, I, I don't remember consciously teaching him any of these songs. And now, now Adeline, who is, uh, my two-year-old daughter, almost two, she's starting to pick those songs up, and she's starting to sing them, and she recognizes them, and she responds very differently to those songs than she does to other songs. Um, it's funny because I don't, I don't know where she got this. Neither my wife nor I are particularly, uh, charismatic, emotive people. Like, we don't raise our hands when we're singing, but she, she does. She, she, when we start singing- My girl ... the Gloria Patri or the Doxology, her hand is in the air, and she's looking at the sky, and she's waving her hands around. Yeah. And, um, she recognizes that those songs have a different place than a Miss Rachel song. She doesn't put her hands in the air and wave and look up at the ceiling when Miss Rachel comes on or when Baby Shark comes on. She knows those songs. She can sing those songs. Um, but she doesn't- Respond to those in the same way. And that is a direct result of the fact that congregational singing is an important thing in the life of our church and in the life of our family. And I think a book like Sing, I haven't read it, but I've heard very good things about it, and the, the Gettys are rock solid, like- Right ... theologically. Yes. Musically. They're, they're well within our Reformed tradition, at least broadly speaking. Um, and, and they have a, they have one of the strongest sort of theologies of praise music that you're gonna find. Mm-hmm. It's not quite like a liturgiology or something like that, but it's, it's, it's a theology of praise worship, praise and worship music. Right. Um, and that's not something that's super common, right? There's a lot of theology of liturgy. There's a lot of practical theology on liturgy. Um, the Gettys have developed a really unique kind of place in things in that they've really developed this idea that congregational singing has a specific theological import, and they've developed it in a way that's approachable. So yeah, I haven't read it and I sh- I probably should, but it, it sounds like a really great book. And, um, I c- just can't underscore it enough. And- Maybe this is my little plug. Like, uh, family worship is really tough, and it's not something I've mastered. Like, we don't, we, we don't have a regular rhythm. But what we do have is we have a consistent, uh, we consistently pray at night before bed, and we consistently sing one or both of those songs. And that by itself, like, the kids are learning and they are, they're absorbing that by osmosis. Um, they're picking up the phrasing, right? Augie can tell you who the three persons of the Trinity are, and that's partially 'cause we do catechism questions, but it's also partially, and I would actually argue probably more, because of the Trinitarian structure of those two songs. Right. He's picked up the language of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son from the Gloria Patri and from the doxology in ways that probably I wouldn't have been able to teach him otherwise. So yeah. Anyway, I, I just co-opted your affirmation. But, um, but yeah. I'm here for it. Congregational worship, family worship, singing, uh, to our Lord is commanded, and it's commanded for our good- Right and for his, his benefit and his blessing. Um, and so any book that is, is solid and will help you do that, I, I'm wholeheartedly behind.  [00:22:17] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. This is... All that is fire. This is fire.  [00:22:19] Reclaim Congregational Song [00:22:19] Jesse Schwamb: God designed our psyche for singing, and we're probably, uh, I would say contractually obligated since Reformed is in the name of the title of the podcast- to remind ourselves and everybody else that one of the things the Reformation did was reclaim the singing of God's word by his own people. Yes. Taking it out of that performatory space back into literally the voice boxes of the people who are sitting in worship together. So sometimes we might have to do that again. You know, there is a little bit, I think, of... There, there is in some places, not everywhere, this kind of tilting of that time of worship through music to be vouchsafed or relegated to those who are, uh, let's say, like, the most, like, talented in doing that, and somehow we participate merely by observing or by- Yeah just, uh, you know, being an audience spectator of that, and that's totally backwards. So I get it. The thing is- We're all singers. We may not all be very good singers, but we're all created to be singers nonetheless. This is what the Bible tells us. So we need to lean into that. We need to invest in that. Yeah. And so I, I like, of course, what you're doing with, uh, your kids because you're not only teaching them to sing, and this makes me so happy, but you're teaching them to love singing to the Lord. Yeah. And so that is, I think, what a lot of our congregations miss, is sometimes we do it, and I'm among them often, but grudgingly. And so to get to a place where we come excited that our reasonable response, our reasonable preparation on the Lord's day is to sing together, to hear that gospel message in melody in the ear of our... You know, the voice of our neighbor in our own ear is a wild thing. It's just, like, un- unheard of. And it's like, uh, we gotta stop, right? It's one of those things also that, like- ... we've, we've talked about how it's just kind of otherworldly. Not, not only in the sense that it gives us this really kind of foundational sense of God's, you know, kind of transcendence, of what it means to participate in the worship of someone who is transcendent because it is all these voices together, but also this is something that rarely happens in any other way, especially in the Western culture anymore. This coming together to express and to participate in something where we're all reading literally from the same sheet music is just an entirely different experience, increasingly relegated to this kind of experience. So we, we must protect it, not only because God says that we ought to, but also because, again, it is, it is our reasonable response. Yeah. And it is something, like you've just said, that brings Him glory and is certainly for our good. So, uh, this is the Singcast, so everybody- ... everybody get to it. You can make your own music. God has commanded us to sing. So the sooner we just understand, like, hey, it's, it's... You know. Uh, but... And the last thing I'll say is this is one of those things that's, like, practice too. A- and I get it. Like, you may say, like, "Listen, I can only hit two notes, and that's all I'm gonna hit no matter what the music is." Well, then belt the two notes, and also know that, like, the more you practice that kind of thing, honestly, the better that you'll get and the more comfortable that you'll become. The voice is an instrument like any other instrument that takes, like, a little bit of practice and a little bit of work. But even that can cause, I think, great benefits and build a little bit of confidence. But just the example of singing and doing it from a heart that is keen to worship God and that is filled with passion to respond to Him with gratitude and, you know, adoration is really the key thing. And so I, I'd rather have a entire group full of worshipers that are singing off-key but, like, with just resounding passion than to have this performance of just a handful of voices because they feel like they're the most capable to do it. Yeah. I think we'd, we'd rather have everybody else, and to hear the congregation mixed as one of those instruments. So sing. Yeah.  [00:26:05] Everyone Can Sing [00:26:05] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and y- you and I have made the point in the past, too, like- I, I don't think, uh, maybe I'm wrong. Uh, we are a top 50 healthcare podcast, so maybe some doctor- I'm sure you're correct ... is gonna... Right. Like, I don't think being tone deaf is actually a physical condition. Like- Mm. I, I mean, I, I mean, obviously, like, some people have hearing problems, and that means they have trouble singing. I hear what you're saying. But, like, the people who are like, "Well, I j- I just can't sing. I'm just not capable of that," uh, like, I think the, the physical conditions that would make you incapable of singing are not usually what people are talking about. Like- Right. Yeah ... you know, some people have, like, vocal fold disorders or they have hearing problems, and I guess maybe, like, if perfect pitch is a thing, which it, it is. Like, perfect pitch is a... I don't know what causes it, but some people are born with perfect pitch. I suppose in theory that means some people must be born with, like, the opposite of perfect pitch. But I think most people who say, like, "Well, I just, I'm just tone deaf. I can't carry a tone," that, that's probably not true. Like, it just means you need practice. Um, and some people's voices, like physically, their bodies are more, more designed by God to produce a pleasant sound than other people. But I, I think actually just about anybody with a little bit of practice, and mostly I think this is probably just the confidence to actually sing and a little bit of practice to learn how your body works, like how your voice works, um, could probably get to a point where singing is not only very relatively comfortable and easy, but it's something that is pleasant and is not overly challenging. This is actually something that I think we've lost in the church. We should... This, I mean, this is about to come the episode, but, um- ... something we've lost in the church when we have sort of changed from a true genuine congregational singing model, which was the norm- And I've heard people make arguments about the importance of hymnals, and I, I agree with those arguments, although I know some people have moved them into almost like a realm of, like, divine mandate- Right that you have to use hymnals because it trains people to teach. But we have lost something with both the sort of commercialization of worship music and the pro- like making it a professional thing, and we've lost congregational singing. The, the people in the church throughout history have learned to sing. Many of them have learned to read, learned the scriptures, learned theology, not in the seminary and not in the monastery, but in the pew as they sing God's word and as they sing- Right ... the great theological hymns of, of the church. There's so much you can learn through that process that I just think we've lost. And I think going back to something like a hymnal or the Trinity Psalter Hymnal or whatever, whatever standard music your church is gonna use, and I mean standard music. Like, whether this is a collection of worship choruses that has been curated for the church or it's a published hymnal or something like that, going back to something like that teaches the church how to sing. And I don't remember who wrote it, but the trellis and the vine, like the worship that we sing, I know Mike Horton makes this point. The worship that we sing is the tre- is the trellis that the vine of our wor- of our- Yes ... faith grows on, right? That's true. Like, what the, what the church lex credendi, lex orandi. Like, the church, what the church prays, the church believes. What the church sings, the church believes. So all of that to say, like, the, the importance of congregational singing can't be under-emphasized, and it's... I, I mean, I don't know that I would I don't know that most theologists say technically s- like, congregational singing is an element of worship, but praising the Lord through song certainly is. Yes. It's, it's evidence. Um, and, and so I think that's definitely something that the church has lost in general. Um, and I know there are churches... I- it's funny, when Ashley and I were between churches, uh, very briefly after, um, our previous church closed down, um, we went to a local sort of, like, high, high, uh, production, seeker-sensitive church, very Steven Furtick-esque, and we only lasted, like, 10 minutes in this, in this service. We went in and the production value was great, and the music sounded great, but we couldn't hear ourselves, we couldn't sing- Right ... and it was very performative, and we just left. We were only there for a few minutes, and we left. And I think that's something we've lost as we've sort of migrated worship to almost, like, a professional class. So yeah, bring it back to the pews. Bring it back to your- Bring it back ... bring it back to your house, bring it back to your kid's bedroom when you're tucking them in. Everywhere. Bring it back to the car on the way to work, in the bus. Right. Like, just let's everywhere we go, let's sing and worship the Lord. [00:30:30] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's right.  [00:30:31] Train Your Voice [00:30:31] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, so as a final thing, let me compound your hot take and say that I agree with you, that I... And I think professionals would as well, and I'm gonna stand on a resource that I'm gonna recommend to everybody here in a second, that in fact the Getty say, "If you can speak, you can sing." And there are a f- a few conditions that would prevent you from doing that, of course. And even there, they wanna explore opportunities for you, for instance, signing, for instance, to ensure that you can participate in worship. Uh, the hot take is I do think that because the instrument that God has given us in the vocal cords is exactly that, that it can be trained, and that actually most people can sing. And if you're serious about that, if you think, "You know what? I'd like to be able to do that. How can I explore that?" Here's a book for you. It's called Set Your Voice Free by Roger Love. The full title is How to Get the Singing or Speaking Voice You Want. Roger Love is, like, this amazing behind-the-scenes vocal coach. He has coached, like, a ton of really talented recording artists, and this is his very contention in the book, is that everybody can sing. It's really about how much or little work you wanna put into it. And in fact, this book comes with, like, these exercises that you can listen to and then record yourself. And then he, from a distance basically, can give you some pointers based on allowing you to kinda evaluate what you hear in your own recording back. So if you really are the kind of person that's like, "Listen, I, I dare you. I cannot sing," I would challenge you, I would double dog dare you to get this book, Set Your Voice Free, and if you're really serious about wanting to try and see if it can make a difference, I, I think it can. And I've, I myself have enjoyed this book, gone back to it many times, use it in my own work and practice because I found it to be helpful. So there you go. Sing, sing, and sing again.  [00:32:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:32:07] Singing Apps and Practice [00:32:07] Tony Arsenal: And if you're not a reader, first of all, why are you listening to the podcast? But second of all, if for some reason you're not a reader I'm, I'm joking. I'm sure there are people that are listening to the podcast who are not readers. That was, like, a super smug thing to say. How dare you. I'm sorry about that. How dare you. Um, if for some reason you don't wanna read that book or you're not a reader, um, y- you can do something as simple as looking up Yousician on your Yousician, Y-O-U- Yeah ... S-I, like the word musician, but U instead of, like, Y-O-U instead of, uh, musician. Um, there are plenty of apps out there. I just, I mention Yousician just because I've used that on, like, a free trial basis with some guitar teaching, and it's a reputable source. They also have a vocal module. So, like, if you wanna learn to sing, there are plenty of resources out there who can help you train your voice. A- and it- Again, I'm not a doctor, I'm not a vocal coach, I'm not a professional singer. I'm not even that great of a singer, and I, I probably could be a better singer if I wanted to devote the time to it. Um, it doesn't take much to, to be able- Right ... to become a competent singer. Um, I think most of us, you pick up one s- just like I learned guitar, you pick one or two songs that you really like and you wanna learn, and you learn to sing those songs, and then those skills will develop over time. So enough about that, Jesse. We've got, speaking of talents- ... we've got some talents to talk about. There it is. Boom, bazinga. Baza-bazom. I'm  [00:33:27] Jesse Schwamb: back. There it is. Yeah, so- I was excited  [00:33:31] Tony Arsenal: about that one ...  [00:33:32] Jesse Schwamb: that, that was really good. And, and we should just h- honor everyone. That's it.  [00:33:37] Tony Arsenal: That's it. Tip your waiters and waitresses, folks. It  [00:33:39] Jesse Schwamb: was so good. We're here all week.  [00:33:41] Parable Context Setup [00:33:41] Jesse Schwamb: So we're in Matthew 25, uh, verses 14 through 28, and this is at least gonna be a two-parter for us. This goes by the name you might be familiar of, which is The Parable of the Talents. But before we get to it, just a quick reminder that we've been speaking about this parable, not like in a special way, but hopefully in the more contextual sense. So this is the second of three eschatological parables in Matthew 25. So the first was The 10 Virgins, which we went through. We're in The Talents, and then we're coming up to everybody's favorite, The Sheep and the Goats. All three are part of this Olivet Discourse, which is, of course, Jesus' final teaching block before his Passion. And I think it h- behooves us so that we do not get distracted from, like, the center of gravity of this thing, that this is delivered in response to the disciples' question about the sign of his coming and the age to come. Because I've heard so many, like, little talks, maybe homilies is more the right word, on this particular parable that lack gravity. So little gravity that basically NASA could train their astronauts in it. So we wanna stay away from that and I think get into, like, the, the proper context. So Tony, do you have it in front of you by any chance? And would  [00:34:50] Tony Arsenal: you- I do. I do, yeah. Yeah. Read it for us? I'll read it here.  [00:34:52] Reading the Parable [00:34:52] Tony Arsenal: So this is, uh, starting in, uh, Matthew 25 verse 14, and I'm gonna read down through, uh, the end of verse 30 here. So it, it reads here, "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them, entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents. Here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, "Master, you delivered to me two talents. Here I have made two talents more." His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." He also who had received one talent came forward, saying, "Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours." But his master answered him, "You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him who gave it, who give it to him who has 10 talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. For, uh, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness in that place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  [00:36:56] Watchfulness and Stewardship [00:36:56] Jesse Schwamb: So it starts with that amazing connective, which we really spoke about in the last episode, in verse four- 14, starting with four. So it's tying, like we said, this parable directly to verse 13, which we know is in the, the parable of the ten virgins. But it's this idea of watchfulness. "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." So th- I think this is the point we really drove last time, that we really felt highly convicted about, that this parable is not like a detached economic lesson, but it's really like an expedition, exposition, not expedition- ... of what watchful discipleship actually looks like during the interval of the master's absence. Like, that's the whole setup here. So it's starting with this idea of like the master goes away, but here we have these slaves or these servants who are entrusted. And to me, again, that's like such a linchpin in this whole thing, 'cause it's, it's carrying the sense that of course, like, he's handing over stewardship. It's a deposit held on another's behal- I love this parable because it has some banking language in it. It's, it's a deposit held on another's behalf, and that's like the key covenant concept of the entire thing. Ownership remains with the master. The servants are stewards. They're not proprietors. And that language, I think, really anticipates, like, the entire New Testament theology of stewardship, which is developed by Paul. So like when Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." So like all of that, that's like just one verse for me. Like, that's an incredible setup.  [00:38:27] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:38:28] Common Misreadings [00:38:28] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and you know, I think it bears saying, too, um, I wanna be careful how I say this because I don't wanna impugn, uh, poor motives or anything like that on, on the, the people that I'm about to speak to. And I say this a little bit tongue in cheek, but also I say this as someone who used to be deeply involved in youth ministry. There's kind of like a, a youth ministry, um- international version of the Bible, I guess, if you wanna put it that way, where, like, there are certain, certain passages and parables that s- for some reason seem really prone to misapplication- Sure in, in some context. And I would say, like, youth ministry is the one I have in mind. Like, um, one of them is, like, in Matthew 18 where it's like, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them." Like, that's a, that's a statement about God's, God's presence in the judgment of the church and excommunicating an un- like, a, an unrepentant, uh, person who identifies with Christ. And, and ironically here, maybe not ironically, but, like, casting them into the outer darkness of excommunication, which is representative of casting them out into the actual inner darkness of damnation. Right. Like, th- there's a, there's a misapplication of that, that like, well, you know, like, if only a couple people came to youth group tonight, like, it's still worth meeting because where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them. Um, this, this parable has a very similar kind of misapplication that is maybe a, a little bit less of a misapplication. Like, I think there is something to say in this parable about the fact that God entrusts us with abilities, talents, treasure, t- our time. Like, He's entrusted us with resources, and He does expect us to use those resources, uh, in a way that is honoring to Him and beneficial for the, for the gospel and for the kingdom. Um, that's true in a broad sense, but I don't think actually that this is what that... But, like, that's not what this passage- Mm ... is teaching. Right. I think I, I kinda joked last time, but, like, I've heard more than one sermon that draws the parallel between the word talent here and our talents in terms of, like, our spiritual gifts or our ability to play guitar or, like, to bounce a basketball and, like, thr- like, throw a free throw. Like, that's not the kinda talent we're talking about here. So I wanna, I wanna sorta, like, point that out just to sort of exclude that from the conversation. Yes, God gifts His people, and He expects His people to use those gifts for His glory and for their own benefit. Um, but that's not what this parable is talking about. This is a parable about the fact that God has entrusted the kingdom of heaven on Earth to His people.  [00:41:08] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:41:08] Tony Arsenal: And He expects His people to make use of that in a way that expands the kingdom and also in a way that does not... And this is, this is, I actually think, the main point of the parable. In a way that properly understands the nature of the king. The, the punchline or the main point of the parable here, it, just to sort of, like, I don't know, give away the ending or, like, unbury the lead, I don't know, whatever that is. The point of this parable- It's not that, like, it's a really good thing to double what God has resourced you with. The point of the parable, the reason that, just like the, um, just like it wasn't the virgins falling asleep in the last parable that was the problem because everybody fell asleep, in this instance, uh, the amount of money or the amount of return on investment that the servants produce is not the point of the parable. That's not the real difference between them. The real difference is that the former servants understood that their master had trusted them with a task and expected something of them, and the, the unfaithful, wicked, lazy servant had a total misunderstanding of who the master was- Right ... and therefore what his role as the master's servant was. That's the point of this parable, and I think, this is the last thing I'll say before I, I, I take a breath here. There's a lot of people that would look at this parable and might read some sort of works righteousness or, um, and this is more understandable and I think has a place within the Reformed tradition, although I don't necessarily hold this view. But would look at this as sort of like a theology which would, would argue that we receive some sort of enhanced rewards in heaven based on our faithfulness. There's plenty of good, faithful Reformed Bible teachers that would hold that position. I actually think whether or not that's true, this is still also not what this passage is getting at. [00:43:00] Jesse Schwamb: I, I totally agree with you there.  [00:43:02] Talents as Huge Wealth [00:43:02] Jesse Schwamb: I, I think one of the reasons that we know that is because we can look at some of these details and let the details speak to us about the magnitude in their representation, why they're given. So of course, whenever the scripture gives us detail, especially in a context like a parable, it can be helpful of cour- of course not to overanalyze them, but to respect their place in the context of the story, and that's why verse 15 I think is so important. So to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability, then he went away. Now, this, this varies slightly, but there's a lot of, I think, very common historicity here that points us to understanding, like, the talents as a unit of monetary weight, and there is some discrepancy about its exact weight. But what we can say for sure is this: that we're talking about, as I teased at the beginning, a huge sum of money. So in other words, like, this is a gift from God himself. It's a divine gift. Yeah. It's something that's not earned. It's something that's given and something that's entrusted. So in the first-century Roman world, a talent was roughly equivalent to, like, 6,000 denarii, depending on who you talk to, which would mean that a single talent represented approximately, like, 20 years on average of a laborer's wages. So the sums then here we're talking about are staggering even at the lowest one. So the five-talent servant is receiving essentially approximately equivalent of a century's wages, and the one-talent servant is receiving 20 years' worth. There's no such thing as a small gift in Christ's economy, I think is the point here, and even the least endowment is immense beyond our reckoning. Yeah. So the distribution also is deliberately unequal. It's five, one, two, and the text doesn't offer any apology for this inequality. The master distributes to each according to his ability, which as I say that, I realize that could probably be its own episode, that we could talk about what that even means. Yeah. But he is matching and entrusting to capacity, and that's not arbitrary. Of course, that's wise and personal, and even the Greek here for this idea of capacity or power suggests the master knows his servants intimately and calibrates the stewardship accordingly. But nonetheless, it proves the point you're making here, which is not just about, like, well, do you have some kind of innate ability that's above average that God has endowed you with here? That's not even what we're talking about. Again, the whole point of this is to answer the question eschatologically about what the end means and when the time is coming and what good discipleship looks like. And so in that way, we understand then these talents to be these divinely appointed and massively generous gifts of God, essentially, like you said, the stewarding of the gospel in the story of salvation itself unto his people, and then to make something of that, so to speak, by the power of the Holy Spirit that earns a return for the kingdom, that is all empowered by God, that is under the volition of the person, uh, the Christian who says, "As a disciple, it is my responsibility to steward these gifts." That is really what we're after. So we do kind of get in this place where when you take this and say, "Well, what are you doing with," let's say- your home, if you have a nice home, are you being hospitable enough? If you have, let's say, a good singing voice by talent, are you using that to make sure that you're on the, quote-unquote, "praise and worship team," is not, like, entirely wrong, but it's not right either- Yeah to use this passage- Yeah ... for that purpose. There's a bigger theme here. There is, there's a much stronger and widescale framework that God is drawing us to and examine, and it's about the stewardship of the church itself.  [00:46:30] Tony Arsenal: Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.  [00:46:31] The Foolish Servant Exposed [00:46:31] Tony Arsenal: That's really key, and this is what struck me as, as you were speaking about that, is like we see in so many of the kinda like, uh, like the chump in the parable. Like, there's- Yeah ... a lot of these parables have like a chump- Right ... where like you're looking at and you're like, nothing about what you've decided to do makes any sense. We're talking about people who've been given, in the first case, 100 years worth of, worth of wages. Right. Right? Any one of these people, and again, we're talking about a timeframe where, like, you could just take that money and run and, like, nobody's gonna find you. There's no digital trail on any of this, right? If I stole, if I stole 100 years worth of labor from my manager or from my, my employer, they would find me, right? That's not the situation we're talking about. So even the chump who decided, "I'm not gonna do anything with this," he could've just take- taken off with the money and had 20 years worth of labor. Right. Just 20 years worth of wages. Right. This is a, this is a sum of money that makes all f- all three of these servants unimaginably wealthy instantly, right? The point of this is, in part, that the final servant has no idea the amazing blessing and responsibility that he's been given. And again, I come back to this. It's not because he is dumb or because he is, um, somehow less competent in a strict sense, right? It, it's so funny to me, like, we also gloss over the fact that, like, the guy who has five talents, he's got 100 years worth of money, 100 years worth of wages. Right. And he just goes and gets 100 more. Like- Right he just goes and trades and- Right ... comes up with 100 years worth of wages that he brings back. Like, that's, in itself is, like, phenomenally, amazingly outrageous. We ran into this too with the, um, the parable of the unmerciful servant, right? We've, we've got one guy who's got this unimaginable debt, like, like, thousands of years worth of, uh, worth of wages that he could never make up, and he thinks he's gonna somehow come up with it if you just give him enough time. It's kind of like the opposite here. This guy's got this unimaginable amount of instant wealth, and he just buries it in the ground. First of all, how much... We're also talking about an era where money was a physical, entirely physical.  [00:48:53] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:48:53] Tony Arsenal: There were no, there were no digital banks. Like- No zeros and ones most of our money exists as ones and zeros in a computer program right now. Right. Like, in reality, like- Right ... my money doesn't exist. We don't have, like, a physical gold standard anymore in America. Jesse could probably s- I'm probably making dumb things up right now. No, that's that's- Like, it used- Right on to be that, like, every dollar that the United States government printed had, like, a piece of gold sitting at Fort Knox- Yes ... uh, like backing it up, but we just don't have that anymore. Most of the money that exists in our system is entirely imaginary. It's an entirely, like, made-up digital currency way before, like, Bitcoin was a thing. That's not the case in this timeframe. This dude who buried 20 years worth of money in the ground, that's a significant amount of labor in and of itself- Right ... to even be able to do that. So we're not talking about, like... And I think this is the thing we miss when we, when we read the word talents, and one, when we obscure it and we, like, we misappropriate the word talent to mean, like, abilities, 'cause it, that's a convenient, like, illustration tool. We're talking about a huge sum of probably gold or silver that this dude just buries in the ground, and then, like, digs it up when the master comes back.  [00:50:01] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:50:01] Tony Arsenal: And I think, like- When we don't realize how much money this is, we miss the force of the master's like, "You stupid, dumb, wicked, slothful servant." Like, if you had even taken this money to the bank and done the least imaginable- Yes ... effort. Exactly. Like, if you had done anything at all, like how mu- how difficult, granted more difficult back in this age than it is now, but like if you had even done something as simple requiring as little labor as possible and just brought this to the bank and let them collect interest on it, we'd still be talking about a huge return. [00:50:35] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:50:36] Tony Arsenal: And he doesn't even do that, and that's, that's the point. There's the people who do, and they gloss over this. The parable totally glosses over the amazing effort and work that it must have taken to take 100 years worth of la- of wages and turn it into 200 years worth of wages. Right. Or to take 40 years worth of wages and turn it into 80 years worth of wages. That's an amazing, probably almost miraculous return on, on investment. Whatever they did is amazing, and the parable's like, "Yeah, they did that." They just took it to the traders and they brought back five more talents. Like, it's nothing. And then this idiot, and I say idiot in like the most like, like exegetically sound, idios, like, like foolish idiot person. [00:51:20] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:51:20] Tony Arsenal: This idiot just buries it in the ground and doesn't even bother to bring it to the bank where he's gonna get some return on it. This is the picture of the fool who does not make use of the means of salvation. This is the picture of the fool who refuses to receive Christ as savior, who refuses to make use of the benefit and blessing of salvation that is available to all who will trust in Christ and turn to him. This is the same picture as the idiot virgins who didn't buy enough oil and just fell asleep when they knew that the bridegroom was coming, right? Right. It's not that they fell asleep, it's that they didn't do the most obvious, simple,

What happens when creativity becomes more than a hobby — and turns into a lifeline, a healing tool, and a business?In this episode of Midlife Badassery, I'm joined by Katya McEwen, creator of Oracle Connections and Oracle Cards Magic, mindset coach, hypnotherapist, and soulful creative guide. I also fully confess that I am basically Katya's biggest fan. Badge included.

What if we stopped treating sport like entertainment and started treating it like healthcare? That's the question at the center of this conversation with Mary Cain: professional middle-distance runner, Stanford medical student, and New York Times Bestselling author of the new memoir This Is Not About Running. Host Heather Caplan, RDN, and Mary Cain talk about what it would actually take to change sports culture, including how we coach youth athletes, how providers diagnose and treat REDs, and what it means to find yourself outside of sport.  Chapters 09:10- What hope actually looks like in women's sports right now 11:32- Reframing athletics through a healthcare lens 14:01- What is an athlete? Rethinking youth sport, PE, and why kids drop out 18:49- Detaching from outcomes- what coaches, parents, and teammates can actually do to support athletes 23:28- Periods, pressure, and getting her first period in 10th grade  29:59- Flexibility and fueling across seasons  31:37- REDs vs. the Female Athlete Triad 32:34- Talking to athletes with body dysmorphia: a more trauma-informed approach  38:36- How Mary got diagnosed with REDs and navigated the healthcare system 44:47- When a non-sport therapist was exactly the right call 47:44- Writing This Is Not About Running while in med school Resources mentioned: This Is Not About Running by Mary Cain is available now The Rich Roll Podcast Another Mother Runner Podcast Follow Mary on Instagram: @runmarycain Connect + get support: Are you an athlete? Find a sports dietitian, DPT, therapist, or coach who understands athletes at lane9project.org/directory. Are you a clinician or coach? If this conversation resonated with you professionally, Lane 9 Membership was built for you. Join a community of dietitians, DPTs, psychologists, sports medicine providers, and coaches who are doing this work, and get listed in the Lane 9 Directory so athletes can find you. Future clinicians and coaches are welcome too. Follow us on Instagram and get in touch anytime!

Is drinking really tied to our cultural roots, or is it a habit we can choose to reshape? Since 2018, Karolina's been crisscrossing the globe, proving that you can experience the vibrant charm of cities like Paris, Madrid, and Tokyo without a drop of alcohol. Imagine enjoying the same joys of a wine country weekend or a sunset dinner on the patio without the next day fog. Detaching from alcohol not only enriched Karolina's travel experiences, but propelled her to a path of radical fulfillment and empowerment. If you're curious about redefining your drinking rituals without feeling left out, this episode is your guide to navigating an alcohol-free lifestyle, even while jetsetting across the globe and having all the cultural experiences.  IN THIS EPISODE: What makes drinking cultural? Karolina shares the two elements and how can we take the good and leave out the bad Inside the booming alcohol-free movement in Europe Karolina's candid reflections on shedding the subconscious need for alcohol during her global travels (and how it catalyzed profound personal growth!) Unpacking Spain's paradoxical position as both a nightlife haven and the world's largest consumer of alcohol-free beer How going alcohol-free will beautifully impact future generations and change the culture   LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED: Karolina's book is available in hardcover, Kindle, and as an audiobook. When you get your copy of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You today, you'll also unlock tons of resources to support you on your journey.  Loved the book? We'd be honored if you left a review!  Tune in to Episode 229: Have the Best Alcohol-Free Summer Ever Check out some of Karolina's favorite alcohol-free beverages: Wild AF and Oddbird Follow @euphoric.af on Instagram. And as always, rate, review, and subscribe so we can continue spreading our message far and wide.

This episode is brought to you by Audible, Fatty15 and Z Biotics. Sperm counts are down 50%. Fertility rates are collapsing. Miscarriages, hormone dysfunction, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, environmental toxins, sleep deprivation, cannabis use, and modern stress are all colliding into what fertility physician Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD, author of The Fertility Formula, calls a growing reproductive health crisis. This conversation breaks down why fertility is one of the strongest indicators of overall health, how inflammation damages eggs, sperm, mitochondria, and hormones, why "healthy" people are still struggling to conceive, and the exact lifestyle, nutrition, testing, and environmental changes that can dramatically improve fertility outcomes for both men and women. Chase and Dr. Crawford also share deeply personal stories about pregnancy loss, the emotional toll of infertility, and how couples can better support each other through one of life's hardest journeys. You will learn: Fertility is a powerful marker of overall metabolic and cellular health Chronic inflammation is one of the biggest hidden drivers of infertility Sperm counts have dropped 50% over the last 50 years Cannabis use is strongly linked to sperm DNA damage and miscarriage risk TRT can significantly suppress or permanently impair sperm production Sleep may be the single most powerful fertility intervention available Women and men respond differently to fasting, cold exposure, and stress Insulin resistance is affecting far more "healthy" people than they realize Environmental toxins and endocrine disruptors are major fertility disruptors Men can dramatically improve fertility in as little as 90 days Pregnancy loss requires emotional support, community, and medical follow-up Follow Natalie @nataliecrawfordmd Follow Chase @chase_chewning -----  00:00 - The fertility crisis nobody is talking about 02:24 - Why fertility rates are rapidly declining 03:54 - Fertility as a marker of overall health 05:14 - Chronic inflammation explained 07:33 - The "walkie talkie" theory of hormones 10:10 - Detaching from the identity of being "healthy" 13:00 - TRT and male fertility risks 17:09 - Why men are 50% of the fertility equation 18:54 - Cannabis and sperm DNA damage 22:01 - Plastics, fragrances & endocrine disruptors 24:48 - Why men need to show up during fertility journeys 32:25 - Sauna use and sperm health 35:00 - Cold plunges, fasting & female hormones 37:34 - Best fertility-supporting nutrition strategies 43:53 - Why men can improve fertility in 90 days 44:44 - Women, egg reserves & aging explained 52:43 - The #1 thing you can do for mitochondrial health 55:11 - Fertility tests every person should know 01:00:17 - Why every man should get a semen analysis 01:04:11 - Should everyone freeze eggs and sperm? 01:09:15 - Chronic inflammation & insulin resistance explained 01:17:13 - How stress directly impacts fertility 01:19:11 - Practical ways to reduce inflammation 01:21:43 - The emotional reality of miscarriage & pregnancy loss 01:26:29 - What to do medically after pregnancy loss 01:29:08 - What "Ever Forward" means to Natalie ----- Episode resources: Audible - Get a FREE 30-day trial and start listening to your next favorite audiobook today ZBiotics - Use code EVERFORWARD10 to save 10% on the probiotic drink before drinking Fatty15 - Use code EVERFORWARD for an additional 15% off the 90-day starter kit Get Natalie's new book "The Fertility Formula"

What if the biggest breakthrough in your golf game had nothing to do with your swing? In this fascinating conversation, former PGA Tour winner Richard Zokol shares the mindset shifts that helped him compete at the highest level — and why reducing emotional attachment to outcome could completely change your relationship with golf. Richard, author of Zokology – Change Your Perspective, Not Your Swing, opens up about tour life, mental performance, process thinking and learning to quiet a noisy mind. Nicknamed "Disco Dick" for listening to music on a Sony Walkman between shots, Richard developed unconventional ways to stay calm, creative and competitive under pressure. We explore: • Why process matters more than results • How emotional detachment can improve performance • The difference between logical and spatial thinking in golf • Why understanding your personality type matters • Using music to quiet mental noise on the course • The lost art of wedge play • How to score your mental game • Why technical coaching doesn't work the same for everyone • Stories from the PGA Tour and Brigham Young University alongside Bobby Clampett • Lessons passed down from his father and a lifetime in the game Richard recorded 20 Top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, including two victories, but this episode goes far deeper than tournament golf. It's a masterclass in mindset, perspective and learning to enjoy the game more. A brilliant conversation with one of golf's deepest thinkers. To become a Certified Mind Factor coach visit: www.themindfactor.com To follow the Mind Caddie journey visit: www.mindcaddie.golf Shop with code : MINDFACTOR10 at checkout for 10% OFF your next order at www.fenixxcell.com @fenixxcell  

When life hits you with something you didn't see coming what comes out of you reveals what's been formed in you. In this message, we look at Luke 7 and the story of the Roman centurion whose faith made Jesus stop in His tracks and marvel, "I have not found such great faith even in Israel." What was it about this man that caused Jesus to pause? And how do we develop a faith like his? Discover what it means to surrender control to the Holy Spirit, detach from a spirit of entitlement, and trust the authority of God's Word even when you don't understand His activity.0:00 - Life's Pop Quizzes2:27 - The Holy Spirit Forms Us5:21 - Surrendering Instead of Running8:12 - The Centurion's Story (Luke 7)11:25 - Faith That Expects Yes, Endures No17:42 - Detaching from Entitlement21:02 - You Can't Earn a Miracle24:41 - Just Say the Word26:37 - All Authority Belongs to Jesus30:18 - Come, Holy SpiritSupport the showMade a decision to follow Jesus? We want to know about it! Fill out our connect card here: https://local.churchcenter.com/people/forms/115766Thank you for your generosity. For information on how to give, visit https://localvineyard.church/give.

In this solo episode, I'm unpacking comparison culture in the creative industries and the impact it can have on our confidence, creativity, and how we show up online. After seeing some negativity and public mocking circulating online recently, it got me thinking about how easy it is for comparison to spiral into jealousy, criticism, or self-doubt; especially in creative work that feels deeply personal. I share my own experiences of navigating negative comments, the fear of sharing work publicly, and the mindset shifts that help me channel comparison into something healthier and more constructive. If you've ever felt discouraged by someone else's success or found yourself questioning your own work after scrolling online, this episode is for you.   Key Takeaways 1. Comparison is normal but how we respond matters It's natural to compare ourselves to others, especially in creative industries. The important thing is how we process those feelings. 2. Sharing your work online comes with vulnerability Putting yourself and your creativity out there means opening yourself up to opinions, criticism, and misunderstanding. 3. Jealousy can reveal what you truly want Sometimes comparison highlights desires or goals you haven't fully acknowledged yet. 4. Someone else's success doesn't take away from yours Creative opportunities aren't finite. Another person's win doesn't mean there's less available for you. 5. Turning comparison into encouragement changes everything Using those feelings as a prompt to encourage others, or focus on your own growth, creates a much healthier mindset.   Episode Highlights 00:30 – Why comparison culture in creative industries has been on my mind 02:00 – The fear of sharing work online & dealing with criticism 05:30 – Jealousy, social media & asking yourself better questions 08:00 – Scarcity mindset vs abundance mindset in creative work 10:00 – Detaching your self-worth from your creativity   I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

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Episode 08: How to Change Your Self-Concept, and BE the Person Who Manifests What You WantYou know a lot of the work, that identity manifests and what your self-concept means, but how do you change it? This episode is about how to apply it in real life.In this episode, we explore:— Who you are being, and how identity always manifests— How to change who you've been being so you can experience a different reality— Techniques to manifest and whether they work or not— Making the decision to be the version of you that you want to be and living your life as you are now— The now moment is all there is— How the past keeps creating your now— Creating a different story of who you've been to create a new reality— Changing your self-concept - how to do it— Detaching from the outside world and placing emphasis on the inner world

What if the key to lasting love wasn't just about finding the right person, but about growing the right partnership? Too often, couples step into long-term relationships without the relational tools, shared vision, or understanding of virtues that make for true unity. Instead of connection, misunderstandings and unresolved conflicts take root—leaving even the most committed couples wondering how to sustain harmony and joy in the face of life's everyday challenges. In this episode, listeners are guided through a practical roadmap for cultivating deeper unity within their relationships. Drawing on decades of experience and research, the conversation unpacks how virtues like respect, kindness, and flexibility serve as foundational elements to thriving partnerships. Listeners will hear about the stages of relational growth, learn tangible practices for resolving differences, and discover how to create a shared language and vision that brings them closer—not only to each other, but to a happier, more resilient family life. Susanne M. Alexander is a relationship and marriage educator and coach with her company, Marriage Transformation. She is certified to offer couples assessments and coaching through Prepare-Enrich® and for individuals with the Character Foundations Assessment™. Susanne has written/co-written over 30 books, including the most recent "Growing Our Unity: 19 Vital Practices for a Thriving Relationship". Susanne is co-lead on Accordia Way, a project that assists couples with excellent communication and decision-making skills.   Episode Highlights 04:05 The Importance of character and virtues in relationships. 08:27 Developing and sustaining virtues: Tools, assessments, and early influences. 12:16 Virtues Project origins and the concept of unity as a relationship virtue. 15:33 Practicing unity without losing individuality. 17:54 The process of reaching unified decisions in relationships. 20:50 Navigating individualism and control dynamics in partnerships. 23:31 Balancing autonomy, collaboration, and flexibility. 27:49 The impact of unity on family, children, and community. 29:52 The 19 vital practices and applying virtues in everyday life. 35:11 Restoring connection and humor under relationship stress. 38:15 Consultation process: Detaching ego and co-creating solutions. 41:24 Symbolism in relationships and making unity a daily practice.   Your Checklist of Actions to Take Schedule regular times to discuss important topics as a couple, allowing the conversation to flow naturally rather than treating it like a formal meeting. Identify and openly share your individual strengths and growth areas in relational virtues such as kindness, patience, and responsibility. Observe and assess your partner's demonstration of key virtues in various situations to gauge character compatibility and growth potential. Work on developing one or two virtues at a time rather than overwhelming yourselves with too many at once; focus on practical application each month. Prioritize unity during decision-making processes by listening to each partner's perspective and postponing decisions if mutual agreement isn't reached. Incorporate rituals or symbols (like a decorative bowl during conversations) to facilitate ego detachment and emphasize shared goals. Reflect as a couple on the integrity and unity of your relationship before individually committing to new community or family obligations. Participate in couples' groups or study circles to learn from and support each other in practicing relational virtues and building unity.   Mentioned Growing Our Unity (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) Marriage Can Be Forever - Preparation Counts! (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) Accordia Way Relationship Map To Happy, Lasting Love (Free guide)   Connect with Susanne Alexander Website: marriagetransformation.com Facebook: facebook.com/MarriageTransformation YouTube: youtube.com/user/SusanneMAlexander Instagram: instagram.com/coachsusannealexander LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/marriage-transformation  

Happy Mindful Mobday Everyone!   What happens when the life you've built on paper—complete with a high-powered career in finance and consulting—no longer matches the truth of who you are? In this episode, Allie sits down with Alexis Leigh, a writer and advocate who walked away from the corporate grind to pursue a life of radical transformation. We dive into the core message of her debut book, Pain Is a Portal to Beauty, exploring how unconventional methods of self-healing can lead us back to ourselves. Alexis shares her perspective on the "Homecoming" process—returning to your true essence by embracing the unknown and allowing yourself to feel deeply. We discuss the bravery it takes to pivot, the power of unconventional healing modalities, and how to view your deepest struggles not as roadblocks, but as gateways to a more beautiful, authentic life. Meet Alexis Leigh Alexis Leigh is a writer, advocate, and the author of Pain Is a Portal to Beauty. With a professional foundation in finance and consulting, Alexis experienced a profound personal shift that led her toward a mission of self-healing and deep inner work. Today, she uses her voice and her writing to champion authenticity and transformation, guiding others to find the beauty on the other side of their pain.   In this episode, they discuss; The Sinking of the "Perfect" Life: Identifying the specific emotional and physical warning signs that signal it's time to stop pretending and acknowledge the truth. Detaching from the Success Mask: Navigating the profound fear and identity crisis that comes with letting go of a high-powered financial identity to prioritize healing. The Unconventional Path: How unconventional modalities and psychedelics can reveal layers of the subconscious that traditional talk therapy might never reach. The Practicality of Inner Work: A real-world look at what "unearthing buried pain" actually looks like for a beginner, moving from theory to daily practice. Miracles in the Mess: Stories of the unexpected gifts and breakthroughs that only appear once you stop resisting your deepest struggles. Pain as a Bridge to Intimacy: How the willingness to embrace your own suffering fundamentally changes and deepens your capacity for connection with others. Threshold Mindset Shifts: The essential shift in perspective needed to stop viewing pain as a problem to be solved and start seeing it as a portal to be entered. The Courage to Stay: A final call to action for the woman ready to stop running and finally welcome the full, unedited spectrum of her existence. How To Connect w| Alexis Website The Growth METHOD. FREE Membership◦ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 1:1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GROWTH MINDSET COACHING PROGRAMS!◦ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Application Form ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ What are the coaching sessions like?⁠⁠• Tailored weekly discussion questions and activities to spark introspection and self-discovery.• Guided reflections to help you delve deeper into your thoughts and feelings.• Thoughtfully facilitated sessions to provide maximum support, accountability, and growth.• Please apply for a FREE discovery call with me!• Allie's Socials• Instagram:@thegrowthmindsetgal• TikTok: @growthmindsetgal• Email: thegrowthmindsetgal@gmail.comLinks from the episode• Growth Mindset Gang ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Broadcast Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Growth Mindset Gang ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Growth Mindset Gal ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Better Help Link: Save 10%SubstackDonate to GLOWIGloci 10% off Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We have reached the final episode of the series:”Trans Men: In Their Own Words”.This conversation began with Episode #1, looking at the collective cultural moment with The Seed and the Soil. We explored how trans folk represent a trickster figure, troubling the psychic architecture of the binary many of us were raised with. We talked about the urge to ‘monster' the other, but we also looked at the history of how gender has been used as a tool of social control.In Episode #2, we moved past the intellect and into Stories of Transition. My guests shared the intimate vulnerability of their own journeys - the grief, joy and reckonings that bind us all in the search for a place in the Book of Life.And now in this final episode, Emmanuel, Kanoa, Lev, and Aliko move beyond individual stories to examine the architecture of men's work. We address the faultline currently trembling modern men's spaces: the tension between a masculinity fixed in biological certainty and one defined by collective stewardship.For men's work facilitators, this conversation serves as a guide for understanding how and why to consider including trans men, as well as the broader transition of men's work itself. We are tasked with moving from a narrow focus on ‘personal wellness' toward the regeneration of culture - calling forth a masculinity that is aware, regulated, and in service to thriving life.You can find the full guest bios & links to their work on the Series Page.I'd love to hear your comments & reflections below. Heads up, if you are a man seeking to explore the mythopoetic path, you are invited to check out The Archetypal Compass. This mini-guide is designed to help you navigate the internal archetypes of the soul, providing a map for those ready to move beyond personal inquiry and toward a more conscious stewardship of their lives and the world.Also, the next cohort of The Deep Masculine, my 3 month online journey for men begins May 19th. Join a mythic brotherhood aimed at repatterning your relationship to sex, soul and purpose.SHOW NOTES: 02:43 - The Faultline at the Mankind Project: Ian addresses the recent friction at the MKP 40th anniversary and how it exposed the tension between biological essentialism and the evolution of modern men's spaces.06:46 - The Code of Testosterone: Aliko challenges the definition of manhood, shifting the inquiry from physical genitalia to the codes and blueprints of masculine presence that trans men share with cis men.11:23 - The Shadow of the Phallus: Exploring how the presence of trans men acts as an accountability mirror for cis men, forcing a reckoning with the historical harm done to the feminine that many circles try to escape.13:50 - Restoring the Sacred Tapestry: Emmanuel discusses the eco-spiritual paradigm of men's work, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all manhood box into the authentic restoration of a sacred and divine masculinity.18:48 - The Responsibility of the Elder: A call to ensure that the wisdom, initiation, and depth of practice found in legacy spaces are made accessible across the entire masculine spectrum.21:42 - The Unique Messenger: Kanoa explains why the message of accountability lands differently when it comes from a man who has navigated the world perceived as a woman and survived the violence of the patriarchy.23:12 - Purity Myths and White Supremacy: How the hyper-focus on purity in affinity spaces mirrors white supremacist structures and why intersex folks are vital to breaking the patriarchal archetype.27:17 - Investigating the Fear: Lev reflects on the assumption of difference and invites cis men to look at where their fear of losing their masculinity actually originates.32:36 - Detaching from Biological Essentialism: A deep dive into the question of safety, identifying that patriarchy-not transness-is the root of violence in both men's and women's spaces.37:19 - The Seed and the Sword: Addressing the mythic dimension of anatomy and the responsibility of stewards to ask how they are using their sword to protect or to manipulate.46:36 - Activation in the Great Collapse: Emmanuel pivots from internal healing to the external harvest, asking what masculinity is called to bring to a world currently undergoing ecological and social breakdown.50:31 - The Facilitator's Tactical Guide: Emmanuel and Aliko offer a framework for conveners on self-inquiry, group reconciliation, and how to issue a transparent, sovereign invitation to trans men.55:46 - Relaxing into Enoughness: How decoupling biology from gender allows all men to step out of the rigid expectations of patriarchy and recognize their inherent value.1:06:48 - Reporting the Patriarchal Crime: Invoking bell hooks' vision from The Will to Change to reconsider male desire and heal the mental illness of patriarchal violence.1:13:46 - Embracing the Chaos: Final reflections on opening the circle to meet the collapsing structures of our time with a more diverse, loving, and whole masculinity. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

What if chasing results is the very thing holding you back?In this episode, Jonathan Cohen breaks down how to fall in love with the process, build discipline, and stay consistent — even when progress feels slow or outcomes don't go your way.Using his journey training for a sub-3-hour marathon, Jonathan shares how missing his goal twice became one of his biggest growth moments. From developing self-awareness and curiosity to learning how to “hold results with softness,” this episode dives into the mindset shift that drives real resilience and long-term success.You'll also learn why over-identifying with outcomes can lead to burnout, how to balance different layers of identity, and how focusing on the process helps you perform better across every area of life.

In tonight's sleep hypnosis with Jessica, we're revisiting the nature of worry - and how it can build into a restless loop between mind and body. By separating worry from what needs to be focused on, this session helps you step out of that cycle, creating space for a calmer, clearer perspective as you settle into rest. As always, tonight's episode will start with a relaxing introduction from Jessica, before we sink into tonight's Sleep Hypnosis. If you'd like an extra immersive experience, you can also watch this episode on Spotify, complete with soothing visuals

Do you feel trapped in a loop of racing thoughts? If your mind won't stop and you feel like you're losing control, this episode is your emergency reset button. In this 10-minute guided session, Martin—a clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic—shares the exact physical tools used by emergency responders to silence intrusive thoughts and ground the body. We move beyond "just thinking positive" and dive straight into the biology of your nervous system. What You'll Discover in This Episode:The Science of Calm: Why shallow breathing affects your carbon dioxide levels and keeps your brain on "high alert."Box Breathing for Anxiety: A step-by-step walkthrough of the 4-4-4-4 technique used to signal your brain that the emergency is over.Detaching from Intrusive Thoughts: Learn to acknowledge racing thoughts like passing cars without getting caught in the traffic.Nervous System Regulation: How to move out of your head and back into your body to find safety in the present moment.About Your Host: Martin is a clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic dedicated to providing fast, effective relief for those struggling with panic and stress. For a deeper transformation, explore the Anxiety Breaker Course at calminganxiety.fm How to stop overthinking, anxiety relief, box breathing for panic, intrusive thoughts help, nervous system reset, calming anxiety, guided meditation for overthinking, clinical hypnotherapy.Remember: Be kind to yourself today.Connect with us: www.calminganxiety.fmThe Anxiety Circuit Breaker Couse - 5 Wonderful Hypnotherapy Sessions https://calminganxietypodcast.systeme.io/letter

You've likely seen movies that depict someone having an accident and getting amnesia, not being able to remember any, or aspects, of their past. Imagine waking today and you know everything about yourself in the present moment, and are even aware of what you do and your future. But you can't remember any of the hurts and pains and disappointments of your past. Who and how would you be? This isn't possible of course, and I for one don't want to forget the past, but my guest in this episode is really calling us to detach from how much we let the past handicap us. Truly, through our memories alone, we inadvertently let the past limit us. My guest is renowned therapist, Katherine Woodward Thomas. Katherine was the New York Times bestselling author of Calling in “The One” and Conscious Uncoupling. She is literally credited with teaching hundreds of thousands of people in her virtual and in-person programs, and also trained thousands of other professional therapists in her methods. I can't believe how many people who have read and followed Katherine's counsel. Her brand new book is, What's True About You: 7 Steps to Move Beyond Your Painful Past and Manifest Your Brightest Future. At the end of her career, this is the climactic message she wanted to bring the world. I had the distinct honor of talking with Katherine on March 30th, 2026. We had previously rescheduled due to her treatments regarding late stage ovarian cancer. On April 27, not even a month after our conversation, Katherine passed away. She knew the cancer was serious, but as she told me, she was doing everything possible to fight it, and was hopeful. Katherine and I really connected, and were planning on following up together about a project I'm working on. We traded text messages and I inspired myself to think of collaborating with not only a profoundly accomplished and influential professional in the self-help space, but with someone I experienced as a truly bright light and tender, insightful soul. I'd like to think now that our conversation that follows was influenced by the mysteries of her leaving this earth only 28 days later. I ask you to tune in with special attention and an open spirit to what Katherine has to offer us regarding truly letting go of the past constructs of ourselves that we are holding onto and believing in and keeping us from progressing in the miracle that is our lives. The miracle of living. Sign up for your $1/month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to start your free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Your Leadership Legacy, host Tina Krause sits down with Karen Seltz, a certified rapid resolution therapy specialist, to explore how healing trauma can unlock your true potential.   Karen shares her personal journey through abuse, addiction, and anxiety, and how rapid resolution therapy became her breakthrough.   She explains how this powerful method works at the subconscious level to clear trauma quickly, often in a single session, without requiring clients to relive painful experiences. If you are ready to release what has been holding you back, this conversation offers real hope and a clear path forward.   Karen Seltz, M. Ed. gets people clear from past trauma and current blocks using Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT). She supports her clients to resolve the underlying causes of anxiety, depression, anger, childhood and sexual trauma, abuse, shame, guilt, physical and emotional pain, PTSD, grief, and more quickly and PAINLESSLY so they can live happy, peaceful, productive lives that they love! Karen combines her wisdom and experience as an entrepreneur and life coach, triumph over addiction and depression, love of spirituality, neuroscience, and meditation, with her contagious humor to create a safe, fun environment where people can let their guard down, develop unshakable courage, and learn to trust themselves and the Divine. Karen has a Master's of Education in Counseling, is a Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT) Specialist (One of only 33 worldwide!), a Certified Life Coach (CLC), a Licensed Brain GymⓇ Consultant, former host of the weekly live TV show Irresistible YOU: Ignite Your Passion & Purpose, Founder of the Total Subconscious Reboot Framework, inspirational speaker, and author with more than 25 years of experience.     Website https://karenseltz.com     Social Media https://www.facebook.com/Karenseltzsacredpurpose https://www.facebook.com/karen.seltz/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNchyaTjHb22lguEzwFLTOg https://www.instagram.com/karenseltz/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-seltz-m-ed-64469093/ https://tiktok.com/@karenseltz9     Additional Link https://karenseltz.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c12a1c94a9adc8c53ce37cc00&id=7a17e7c95a   Timestamps: Introduction (00:00:00) Host Tina Krause introduces the "Your Leadership Legacy" podcast, dedicated to high performers who want to reinvent themselves. Introducing Karen Seltz (00:00:29) Tina welcomes guest Karen Seltz, a certified rapid resolution therapy specialist, and reads her impressive professional bio. Karen's Personal Journey (00:02:02) Karen shares her personal history of trauma, abuse, addiction, and low self-worth, which led her to discover rapid resolution therapy. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (00:03:48) Karen describes her experience with imposter syndrome and how rapid resolution therapy helped her overcome subconscious blocks and fears. Becoming a Specialist (00:05:25) Karen explains her seamless transition from being a client to becoming a certified specialist, implementing the techniques with her own clients. The Importance of Healing Trauma Now (00:07:21) The discussion shifts to the current global climate and the importance of healing trauma, especially sexual abuse, in today's world. How Rapid Resolution Therapy Works (00:08:15) Karen explains that the therapy works at a subconscious level, clearing trauma without forcing clients to relive painful experiences. Detaching from the Trauma (00:11:07) Karen clarifies that the therapy helps the subconscious mind understand the trauma is over, rather than just consciously "letting it go." Reaching Out for Help (00:14:54) Karen offers advice to those sitting in silence with their trauma, explaining how the mind's survival instinct keeps them stuck. The Total Subconscious Reboot Program (00:17:15) Karen describes her three-session program, which often starts with clearing foundational sexual trauma to restore a person's inner light. Client Success Story: Chronic Pain (00:20:11) Karen shares a powerful story of a client whose chronic pain of 47 years was drastically reduced in one session. The Legacy of Eliminating Suffering (00:22:42) Karen discusses her legacy: to eliminate suffering by removing subconscious blocks so people can become the best versions of themselves. Sustaining Transformation After Therapy (00:24:37) Karen explains that once trauma is cleared it's gone, but she provides tools to help clients build new habits. Where to Find Karen (00:27:37) Karen shares her website and social media handles where listeners can find her content and connect with her for support. Podcast Outro (00:28:46) Tina Krauss thanks Karen for the conversation and concludes the episode of "Your Leadership Legacy."

Send us Fan MailThis week, in Episode 112 of the Inspired Writer Collective podcast, Elizabeth sits down with returning guest Jared Glenn for a candid conversation about one of the most overlooked parts of the writing journey: learning to detach from your story.Elizabeth shares a revealing moment from her own beta reader process when one piece of feedback had her so concerned she went straight to her editor. You'll have to listen to find out what her editor told her, and it might surprise you.If you're writing anything, you pour so much of yourself into every word, and the thought of putting it out into the world is equal parts exciting and terrifying.Whether you write fiction, memoir, or anything in between, this episode encourages you to look at your work through a new lens and helps you consider what it means to you to share it with readers. Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing. You're invited to connect with us by joining our Embodied Writing Experience where you'll get a writer's retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. Whether you're working on a memoir, a novel, or journaling for yourself, this is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.   Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you'll get a writer's retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.   Work 1:1 with Memoir Coach Elizabeth Wilson. Book a session here.Feel Good Marketing with Stephanie. Book a session here.If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.You can find us on Instagram and Threads

If you're not hitting your sales goals… it's probably not your offer. It's not your pricing. It's not your funnel. It's the one thing most people avoid: prospecting. In this powerful conversation, George and Doug C. Brown dive deep into the real drivers of sales growth and why most entrepreneurs are focusing on the wrong things. Doug shares decades of experience building and scaling businesses, including his work with Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes, where he helped generate massive increases in revenue and performance. Together, they unpack the psychology of selling, the fear of rejection that keeps most people stuck, and the math-based approach Doug uses to create predictable, scalable sales systems. This episode is a masterclass in detaching from outcomes, increasing volume, and building a sales process that actually works. What You'll Learn In This Episode: Why prospecting, not closing, is the real driver of sales growth The hidden fear that keeps entrepreneurs from consistent outreach How to detach from rejection and fall in love with the process Doug's “6 ways” strategy for generating new business daily The difference between high-performing vs low-value sales activities Why most people overcomplicate selling (and how to simplify it) How to create a predictable, measurable sales system The mindset shift required to scale revenue consistently   Key Takeaways: ✔️The master prospector always outsells the master closer. ✔️Avoiding rejection = avoiding revenue. ✔️Consistency in outreach beats perfection in messaging. ✔️Selling is a process, not a personality trait. ✔️High-performing activities are the only ones that matter. ✔️Sales can (and should) be measurable and predictable. ✔️Detachment from outcomes is the key to long-term success. ✔️Systems > hustle when it comes to scaling sales.   Timestamps & Highlights: [00:00] – The biggest mistake people make in sales [03:30] – Why prospecting beats closing every time [07:00] – The fear of rejection and how it shows up [12:00] – Detaching from outcomes and focusing on process [18:00] – Doug's “6 ways” to generate consistent business [25:00] – High-value vs low-value sales activities [32:00] – The math behind predictable sales growth [40:00] – Why most people fail at follow-up [48:00] – Building systems that scale revenue [55:00] – Final mindset shifts for sales success Connect with Doug C. Brown CEO of CEO Sales Strategies and a world-renowned expert in sales revenue and profit growth. Doug has worked with companies like Intuit, CBS, Procter & Gamble, and Enterprise and previously served as President of Sales and Training for Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes. He is the creator of a math-based system for predictable sales growth and the founder of Vibitno, a sales automation platform designed to improve follow-up, retention, and performance. Instagram: @dougcbrown_ YouTube: Doug C Brown LinkedIn: Doug Brown Website: vibitno.com Your Challenge This Week: If this episode challenged you… Ask yourself: Where am I avoiding the reps that would grow my business? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it DM @itsgeorgebryant with your biggest takeaway And most importantly, go take action. One conversation today can change everything. Live Event: April Retreat Join us April 23–25 (VIP Day on April 26) for an immersive experience designed to help you simplify, scale, and build a business rooted in connection. Grab your ticket now: mindofgeorge.com/retreat Join The Alliance: The Relationship Beats Algorithms™ community for entrepreneurs who scale with trust, connection, and retention. Apply for 1:1 Coaching: Ready to build a predictable, scalable business without burnout? Apply to work directly with George.

#143: On today's episode, Lindsay Arnold, professional dancer, Dancing with the Stars pro, and founder of The Movement Club, shares what it really looks like to evolve. From achieving her goals at 19, to stepping away from Dancing with the Stars to pursue something different, Lindsay opened up about identity, growth, and her journey through entrepreneurship and motherhood. The girls get into:why “making it” is a moving target and can leave people feeling stuck evolving without losing who you are at your coreletting go of control and trusting the unknownstaying authentic in high-pressure environmentsseparating your worth from your careermaking decisions that feel right but still uncomfortablestepping away from a dream to step into a new chapteridentity shifts through motherhood and personal growthpostpartum, body image, and redefining movement building a business from a place of lived experiencecreating space for all phases of life in fitnessbalancing ambition with being present in your lifewhy evolution is necessary for long-term fulfillmenttrusting yourself without needing guaranteesallowing your dreams to change as you growThis episode is for anyone who has to leave an identity behind, who is struggling to evolve and push through discomfort, or who is going through a major life transition; whether you're pushing through your mental health, entrepreneurial journey, or motherhood.CONNECT BELOW:Follow Lindsay here Follow The Movement Club hereCONNECT with HAN:follow Han ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow HOW I SEE IT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shop the podcast merch ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠work with Han: howhanseesit@gmail.comCHAPTERS:00:00 Why growth requires evolution04:30 Achieving her dream at 1908:05 Control vs happiness11:00 Walking away from Dancing with the Stars14:00 Why the right decision can still feel hard17:45 Detaching identity from career success25:50 Creating The Movement Club27:20 Pregnancy, postpartum & body changes32:30 “Show up as you are” approach to fitness36:30 Balancing motherhood and ambition40:40 Movement, discipline & mental health44:15 Identity shifts through motherhood51:20 Failure, growth & starting again56:50 Letting your dreams evolvepersonal growth podcast, redefining success, identity shift, leaving your career, motherhood and ambition, self trust, letting go of control, dancing with the stars lindsay arnold, fitness and mental health, evolving as a woman

You've been lied to.Not directly—but constantly.Every ad, every promise, every “success story” has conditioned you to expect results right now. And when they don't come fast enough, you assume something is wrong—with your strategy, your effort… or you.But the truth is far more dangerous:You're not failing.You're just playing the wrong timeline.Key Takeaways:The cultural obsession with instant gratification and short-term thinkingWhy “right now” thinking creates anxiety, fear, and poor decisionsThe difference between short-term survival and long-term creationHow real success is built through time, pressure, and consistencyThe emotional and mental cost of living in panic modeWhy most people sabotage themselves chasing speed over alignmentThe concept of SPEm (spiritual, physical, emotional, mental alignment)Detaching from “manner, size, and time” expectationsWhy frustration and urgency create “poison” in your systemHow to shift from frantic energy to intentional creationThe power of loving your life while building your futureMeasuring success through alignment instead of speed or moneyWhy your mission should energize you daily—not exhaust you

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREWhen a major system upgrade fails, what should leaders do — push through or pivot fast? In this episode, Tyson Mutrux shares a candid behind-the-scenes look at a recent technology rollout that didn't go as planned, and the leadership decision required to protect the team, client experience, and long-term outcomes. Rather than defending a poor decision due to time or money already invested, Tyson explains why quickly pivoting can often be the smartest strategic move.Tyson explores the concept that failure itself isn't the problem — hesitation is. Drawing from real-world leadership experience, he discusses the danger of the sunk cost fallacy, the ripple effects a broken system can have on team morale, and why leaders must detach emotionally from decisions and instead focus on desired outcomes. He also shares how feedback loops, communication, and accountability play a key role in maintaining a strong team culture even when things go wrong.Listen in.2:12 The real danger is hesitation, not failure itself5:21 The sunk cost fallacy and knowing when to walk away7:26 Making leadership decisions that protect the team8:31 Owning mistakes and removing ego from decisions10:32 Detaching from decisions and focusing on outcomes12:33 Opportunity cost and the law of diminishing returns16:31 Accountability as a leadership responsibility18:37 Building a company that can pivot quickly21:20 Why failure provides valuable information for future successTune in to today's episode and checkout the full show notes here. 

Jane Doughtery writes magical, often apocalyptic fiction. She's been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and is inspired by myth, history and classical tradition. Also, she's a poet, seeking to capture the moment in a spark of creativity. Her new novel is 'Pasiphae'. It's a re-imagining of the Greek minotaur myth, a bid to reclaim one of its most maligned women. From the perspective of his mother, it's inspired by how women's roles are distored in Irish and Greek mythology. Jane is putting that right.We talk about why she's detached from technology, also about the intention of poetry and what living in the country means for her idea.You can hear why she just wants to live in the world of her novels, what she needs to know to start, and how she wrestles with the fear of rejection.Get a copy of the book at uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutineSupport the show - patreon.com/writersroutineko-fi.com/writersroutineRead the newsletter - writersroutine.substack.comThis episode is supported by the 'Quick Book Reviews Podcast' by Philippa Hall. @writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send Dr. Li a text here. Please leave your email address if you would like a reply, thanks.Episode 276 of the Make Time for Success podcast kicks off a 3-week miniseries exploring hidden patterns that drain time, energy, and progress. In this episode, host Dr. Christine Li dives deep into perfectionism, revealing how it can secretly sabotage productivity by fueling control, avoidance, and exhaustion. She shares insights on why striving for perfect results often leads to mental fatigue, procrastination, and lost opportunities, and offers practical strategies to help listeners step back from perfectionism, reclaim their energy, and get work done with greater ease. The episode encourages embracing progress over perfection and reconnecting with genuine satisfaction and self-esteem in your work and life.Timestamps00:00:00: Dr. Christine Li introduces the miniseries and today's topic perfectionism.00:01:04: Dr. Christine Li shares her background and podcast purpose.00:01:47: Perfectionism's impact on productivity begins.00:03:23: Fears driving perfectionism are discussed.00:04:31: Negative consequences of perfectionism outlined.00:06:51: Signs of perfectionism in work habits explained.00:09:07: Mindset shifts to let go of perfectionism offered.00:13:09: Detaching self-worth from work and focusing on progress.00:14:34: Final advice and preview of next episode.To get the free download that accompanies this episode, go to: https://maketimeforsuccesspodcast.com/perfectionismTo sign up for the Waitlist for the Simply Productive Program, go to: https://maketimeforsuccesspodcast.com/SPFor more information on the Make Time for Success podcast, visit: https://www.maketimeforsuccesspodcast.comGain Access to Dr. Christine Li's Free Resource Library -- 12 downloadable tools and templates to help you bypass the impulse to procrastinate: https://procrastinationcoach.mykajabi.com/freelibraryTo work with Dr. Li on a weekly basis in her coaching and accountability program, register for The Success Lab here: https://www.procrastinationcoach.com/labConnect with Dr. Christine LiWebsite: https://www.procrastinationcoach.comFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/procrastinationcoachInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/procrastinationcoach/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@procrastinationcoachThe Success Lab: https://maketimeforsuccesspodcast.com/labSimply Productive: https://maketimeforsuccesspodcast.com/SP

Confidence is not automatic when you earn the title doctor. It is built. Dr. Eric DiMartino joins Dr. Lona to unpack the identity shift from graduate to leader and why so many chiropractors shrink instead of stepping fully into the doctor role. They confront the fear of being disliked, the habit of watering down recommendations, and the trap of running a pain-based practice while believing in lifetime wellness care. If you want stronger conversions, deeper conviction, and a practice built on certainty rather than approval, this episode will challenge you to lead with clarity and integrity. Key Highlights 03:23 – Dr. Eric challenges chiropractors to stop telling patients what they want to hear and start telling them what they need. 05:02 – The 10-80-10 rule reframes rejection and where to focus your energy in conversion. 06:24 – Integrity is defined not only by over-recommending care but also by under-recommending it. 08:13 – Empathy, certainty, and passion emerge as the traits patients actually want in healthcare providers. 09:29 – Day one and day two are reframed as a filter for the doctor, not just the patient. 10:38 – The shift from being liked to being respected becomes a turning point for leadership. 13:02 – Systems are positioned as the foundation for freedom and consistent authority. 16:01 – Detaching from money and outcome increases both certainty and conversion. 18:18 – The oncology comparison that drives home what confident recommendations actually look like. 23:15 - Dr. Rachel Hovey is joined by Dr. Naota Hashimoto to explore how Success Partner, TrackStat helps chiropractic practices operate smarter. From AI-driven workflows and no-show automation to real-time stat tracking and recall prioritization, the platform streamlines operations, strengthens accountability, improves retention, and empowers teams to make confident, data-driven decisions that fuel sustainable growth. Resources Mentioned For more information about TrackStat please visit: https://www.trackstat.org/    To schedule a Strategy Session with Dr Lona: https://go.oncehub.com/DrLonaBuildPodcast To schedule a Strategy Session with Dr Bobby: https://go.oncehub.com/DrBobbyBuildPodcast Learn more about the Remarkable CEO Podcast:  https://theremarkablepractice.com/podcast

Why is emotional intelligence (EQ) the #1 quality modern women are looking for in a partner? In this episode of the Cupid's Coach Podcast, host Julie Ferman sits down with fabulous dating and relationship coach Chris Gillis. Known for his deep understanding of human consciousness and "emotional fluency," Chris explains how men can move past "spreadsheet logic" to create real, lasting chemistry.Julie and Chris explore the "empathy loop" and why acknowledging feelings must always come before trying to fix problems. Whether you're a "nice guy" struggling to get a second date or a high-achieving professional looking to deepen your connections, this conversation provides the tools to shift from performing to actually being seen.Inside this Episode:Spreadsheets vs. Soul: Why treating a woman like a problem to be solved kills chemistry and how to prioritize empathy instead.The Empathy Loop: Mastering the art of vulnerable disclosure and responding with validation.Childhood "Cheat Codes": Using early memories to bypass defensive walls and build instant comfort on a first date.Masculine & Feminine Energy: Understanding the "king and queen" dynamic and why men must lead with emotional safety.The "I'm Sorry" Test: Why the ability to admit fault is a marker of high-level emotional maturity.Detaching from the Outcome: How showing up with curiosity rather than an agenda can lead to unexpected romance.Connect with Chris Gillis: Find more coaching resources at ConsultantChris.com or follow him across all platforms @ConsultantChris.Connect with Julie Ferman: Ready to find your person? Register for free and private matchmaking at JulieFerman.com.#CupidsCoach #ChrisGillis #EmotionalIntelligence #DatingAdvice #RelationshipGoals #EQ #Masculinity #DatingStrategy

Have you ever felt like you just can't calm down? When your chest feels tight and your mind is racing, you don't need theory—you need a biological reset. In this 5-minute "Pocket Podcast," Martin (Clinical Hypnotherapist and former paramedic) guides you through a tactical breathing technique designed to act as a "brake pedal" for your nervous system.By using the 1:2 ratio breathing method (inhaling for 3 and exhaling for 6), we signal to your brain that the danger has passed. This isn't just meditation; it's a biological shift to bring you back to yourself.Inside this Micro-Reset:The 3-6 Breath: A guided walkthrough of the 1:2 ratio to slow your heart rate.Somatic Grounding: Phrases to help you detach from stormy thoughts and find your "steady ground".3 Daily Caring Tips: Practical advice on "lowering the bar," intentional hydration, and releasing physical tension."Physical softness leads to mental softness." Give yourself five minutes to release the tension you no longer need to carry.Timestamps & Chapters:0:00 – The Emergency Reset: Why you can't "think" your way out of panic.0:30 – The 1:2 Ratio: Using your breath as a nervous system brake pedal.1:45 – Affirmations for Detaching from Racing Thoughts.3:25 – 3 Acts of Kindness: Practical tips for a heavier day.4:30 – Next Steps for Your Calm Journey.Resources & Support:The Anxiety Circuit Breaker Course: Get deeper, lasting relief at calminganxiety.fm.Explore the Archive: Dive into over 2,300 episodes designed to help you breathe easier.Join the Community: Subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs to hear, "You are safe here." Be kind to yourself today.

Hey, Survivor! Detaching from unhealthy relationships can feel impossible—especially for survivors of narcissistic abuse who were conditioned to fix, manage, or absorb other people's behaviors, emotions, and thinking. In this episode, we explore detachment, inspired by the classic recovery book Codependent No More by Melody Beattie.  Detachment helps survivors stop reacting to relationships and situations, focus on their healing, and protect their peace while staying present.  Creating space and healthy living are key. If you've ever felt the stress of trying to control others or outcomes that aren't your responsibility, this episode is for you.

Welcome back to the pod! Today I am discussing why detachment is such an important skill to learn on your fitness journey, where it is most important, and practical strategies on becoming more detachedChapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates10:00 Mastering Detachment in Bodybuilding26:20 Detaching from Body Image29:28 The Importance of Training Detachment32:22 Understanding Emotional Reactivity36:14 The Role of Consistency in Bodybuilding39:17 Cultivating Psychological Flexibility43:52 Shifting Identity and Mastering DetachmentI hope you enjoy, and don't forget to share and tag me on insta @emma.currivan xoxo⁠⁠⁠CHAT TO ME ABOUT COACHING ON WHATSAPP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN MY PATREON HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - just 5.99 a month hehe xTo submit a question for a Q&A episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Catch you in the next one xo

In this episode, we explore what unbothered energy actually is and how it's rooted in presence, self-trust, and nervous system regulation rather than avoidance or shutdown. This is a conversation about staying connected to yourself while life unfolds, and learning to respond from clarity instead of reactivity.Things Mentioned:⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 Life Coaching with Zoey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kambo Ceremonies in Toronto⁠⁠⁠⁠If you enjoyed this episode please rate & review it on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. More from Zoey: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Main Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Vlog Channel

There's a version of pain nobody talks about—the quiet, grinding kind that shows up when you're building from nothing. In Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, hosted by Yusuf, entrepreneur Chris McManus shares what “pushing through the pain” actually looks like behind the scenes. This episode is for founders, builders, and high-responsibility people carrying more than others realize. You'll hear how pressure evolves as success grows, why identity can trap you, and what it takes to stay steady—without burning out or becoming harsh with yourself. About the Guest: Chris McManus is an entrepreneur based in North Carolina. He grew a landscaping business into a multi-seven-figure company in seven years, starting right out of high school, while also building in real estate and retail. Episode Chapter: 00:01 — What “pushing through pain” really means 00:03 — Pain as dissatisfaction and frustration 00:04 — Why scaling makes problems bigger, not smaller 00:07 — Detaching identity from the business 00:09 — Control, delegation, and working on the business 00:10 — Imposter syndrome and learning to quiet the loud voice 00:13 — Burnout, self-care, and the long-game mindset Key Takeaways: Pain doesn't end with success—it changes shape, and you build capacity to handle it. Separate your identity from your business so you can make clearer decisions. Hire or train people to solve what you can't—control can become your biggest bottleneck. When impostor thoughts get loud, zoom out and track what you've already built. Discipline matters, but neglecting yourself eventually costs you focus and joy. Respond to setbacks with a breath + a plan, not anger—and don't carry it into tomorrow. How to Connect With the Guest: Instagram: @chrismcmanus151 Business: https://gclandscapinginc.com/    Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate. With over 6000+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.

The Respectable Addiction: When Work Becomes the Coping Mechanism A reflection on burnout, identity, and recovery — plus practical action steps There's an addiction we rarely talk about because it looks like ambition. It earns praise. Promotions. Respect. It hides behind phrases like "driven," "productive," and "hard-working." But for many high achievers, work isn't just effort — it's a coping mechanism. In this episode, Dawn shares her story of a "workaholic blackout" — the moment she realized work had become her drug. After years of recovery from substances, she found herself caught in a new cycle: overwork, anxiety, identity tied to productivity, and eventual burnout. At one point, she drove home from work and had no memory of the drive. That was the moment everything shifted. What followed was a diagnosis of extreme burnout and a realization that she wasn't just "busy" — she was addicted to working.     When Work Stops Being Healthy One of the most powerful distinctions Dawn shared is this: Working hard doesn't make someone a workaholic. External pressure doesn't equal addiction. Workaholism comes from the inside. It's marked by: An internal compulsion to keep working Self-worth tied to productivity Constant thoughts about work Anxiety or guilt when not working Difficulty detaching — even during rest You can meet deadlines, put in long hours, and still be healthy. But when work becomes how you manage fear, grief, identity, or anxiety — it shifts from effort to escape.     Burnout Isn't Just Exhaustion Burnout isn't just being tired. It's a full-system collapse: Physical Emotional Mental Spiritual For many high performers, burnout mirrors an addiction "bottom." You keep pushing… until your system can't. And then something breaks. Relationships suffer. Health declines. Meaning fades. And the work that once energized you begins to feel like pressure, obligation, or proof of worth.     The Cultural Trap Our culture celebrates overworking. We glorify: Hustle Sacrifice Endless productivity "Grinding" for success But we rarely talk about the cost: Anxiety Family strain Loss of identity outside work Chronic stress Emotional detachment Workaholism is often called "the respectable addiction" because it looks admirable from the outside. Until it doesn't.     Recovery Isn't About Quitting Work Unlike substances, you can't abstain from work. Recovery is about boundaries, awareness, and redefining your relationship to productivity. Dawn shared practices that helped her rebuild balance: Under-scheduling instead of over-planning Creating "top lines" (healthy behaviors to commit to) Creating "bottom lines" (behaviors to avoid) Protecting time for joy, relationships, and rest Spiritual grounding and daily reflection Detaching self-worth from output It's less about doing less — and more about working from a different place. Not fear. Not "not enough." Not urgency. But intention.     Action Steps: Rebuilding a Healthy Relationship With Work If this episode resonated, here are simple starting points. 1) Notice the fuel behind your productivity Ask yourself: Am I working from joy… or fear? Is this aligned… or avoidance? Am I creating… or proving? 2) Separate urgency from importance Not everything urgent is important. And not everything important feels urgent. Pause before reacting. 3) Identify your "bottom lines" Examples: No work after a certain hour No phone during family time No checking email first thing in the morning 4) Define your "top lines" Healthy commitments like: Movement Hydration Connection Rest Creative time 5) Schedule spaciousness Recovery often begins with: Fewer commitments Fewer calls Fewer goals at once Space allows clarity. 6) Detach identity from productivity Practice this reframe: "I am enough — with or without what I produce today." 7) Watch for the "self-care productivity trap" Even healing can become another project. Self-care isn't something to optimize. It's something to experience.     Reflection Prompts Where is my self-worth tied to achievement? What am I avoiding by staying busy? When do I feel most at peace — and why? What would "enough" look like today?     Resources Mentioned Workaholics Anonymous literature and tools Journaling and recovery reflection practices Byron Katie's "The Work" inquiry process Anxiety and habit research (Dr. Judson Brewer) Recovery communities and peer support spaces (Referenced from episode transcript)     Final Thought You don't have to burn out to change your relationship with work. You don't have to earn rest. You don't have to prove your worth. You don't have to run on fear. There is another way to work — one rooted in clarity, presence, and enoughness. And it starts with one honest question: What's really driving me right now? Guest Contact Info: 

In this Coffee Shop conversation, Rob and Gino trade real questions and honest answers. Rob asks a simple question with big weight: what do you want out of life right now? Gino shares what rises to the top, from being a present grandpa and husband to becoming the most authentic version of himself, and a clear desire to impact 70 million people.They explore the messiness of being human, how perfection used to run the show, and what it looks like to let go and live with more peace. Then the topic turns to naps, permission to rest, and why a 20 minute reset can change the second half of your day. If you like episodes that feel like sitting at the next table over, this one is for you. Honest. Simple. Useful. 00:00 Being Human Is Messy 00:14 Coffee Shop Conversations Explained 01:30 What Do You Want Out of Life? 02:16 Gino on Family, Authenticity, and Impact 03:55 Letting Go of Perfection 05:38 Finding Peace in the Mess 06:51 Rob on Freedom and Ego 08:34 The Beauty and Chaos of Business 09:55 Detaching from the Mess 11:42 Gino's Next Topic: Taking Naps 12:27 The Power (and Permission) of Rest 18:16 Celebrating 101 Episodes ABOUT THE 10 DISCIPLINESThe 10 Disciplines, founded by Gino Wickman and Rob Dube, is on a mission to help one million entrepreneurs realize it's possible to be driven and have peace while making a bigger impact. We want to help you shed the barriers and layers that prevent you from creating the balance between impact and peace, and your True Self. Are you ready to be fully yourself, without the burnout? This space is for driven leaders ready to stop chasing and start aligning. If you're done hiding behind hustle, achievement, and expectations… and you're ready to reconnect with who you really are, you're in the right place. CONNECT WITH US❤️ https://www.instagram.com/the10disciplines❤️ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the10disciplines/ MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOUR INNER WORLD JOURNEY❤️ https://the10disciplines.com/blog❤️ https://www.shedandshinepodcast.com ⭐️ https://the10disciplines.com/shine

Detaching doesn't have to take months. In this video, I break down why attachment feels so intense and how to shift it fast. When you let go of resistance, your energy changes immediately. If you want to join my next in-person live event in Los Angeles on February 28th–March 1st and step into the most magnetic version of yourself, grab your ticket here: https://www.theshiftexperience.com/la 

In this episode of the SuperPsyched Podcast, host Dr. Adam Dorsay chats with returning guest Dr. Guy Winch, a psychologist, TED speaker, and bestselling author, about his new book 'Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life.' They discuss common myths about work, the impact of workplace stress on personal lives, and the rise of workplace bullying. Dr. Winch shares insights on managing job stress, the importance of emotional intelligence, and practical tips for optimizing work-life balance. He also offers actionable advice on making vacations more restorative and the essential practice of detaching from work to improve overall well-being.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched Podcast00:39 Introducing Dr. Guy Winch and His New Book03:10 The Myths and Realities of Work Stress03:43 The Impact of Workplace Stress on Personal Life06:53 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace15:34 The Importance of Communication and Clarity19:38 The Consequences of Chronic Stress and Burnout23:33 Internship Challenges and Stress24:55 The Importance of Taking Breaks26:26 Restorative Activities and Social Connections29:20 Effective Vacation Strategies34:26 Mental and Physical Exhaustion40:34 Detaching from Work for Better Well-being42:00 Final Thoughts and FarewellHELPFUL LINKS:Dr. Guy Winch Website'Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life.' BookDear Therapists Podcast

Send us a text“Have no emotional attachment to the outcome.”-Benjamin DennehyExclusive Insights from This Week's EpisodesWhat if the very moment you want the deal is the moment you give all your power away? In this blunt, high-impact episode, Benjamin Dennehy dismantles the polite lies, false confidence, and outdated sales behaviors that keep entrepreneurs stuck chasing prospects who never buy. Known as the UK's most hated sales trainer, Benjamin explains why most people are not failing at sales because they are unethical, but because they are emotionally attached, approval seeking, and afraid to take control. This conversation exposes how prospects manipulate the sales process, why free demos destroy authority, and how confidence without attachment instantly changes outcomes. If you sell anything high stakes and want results without selling your soul, this episode is mandatory listening.Episode Highlights00:06:30 Why most salespeople are in sales by default, not by design00:10:45 The hiring test that instantly exposes fake salespeople00:17:10 Why prospects lie, steal ideas, and ghost you00:23:40 How “free demos” quietly destroy leverage00:28:50 The mindset shift that makes buyers respect you00:33:20 Why needing the deal guarantees you lose it00:46:10 Detaching emotionally and winning more consistentlyFull show notes, transcript, and resources for this episode:https://podcast.deepwealth.com/513BONUS: DM Benjamin and say DEEP WEALTH for access to a free course.The Deep Wealth Podcast Most entrepreneurs do not fail.They just carry too much for too long. The business grows. Pressure grows faster. Profits get harder to predict. Decisions cost more energy. Over time, focus slips and health takes the hit. The Deep Wealth Podcast and Deep Wealth Mastery are built from real experience. We're the only system based on a 9-figure exit. This system exists because guessing gets expensive.

If you've ever felt stuck in your thoughts-overanalyzing, spiraling, or assuming every anxious thought must mean something...this episode is for you. The Chicks are breaking down one of the most important CBT skills for anxiety: learning to detach from your thoughts instead of believing them. You'll learn how to observe your thoughts as mental events—not facts—and how this shift alone can reduce anxiety, rumination, and emotional overwhelm. This isn't about stopping thoughts or “thinking positively.” It's about learning how to change your relationship with your thoughts so they have less power over your nervous system. SINGLE LADIES 40+ Join The Single Sisters Circle for FREE! Don't forget to rate and review The Chicks!

Are you ready to open your Soul's plan with the upcoming solar eclipse in Aquarius on February 17th, at 28 degrees? Explore this eclipse's impact based on your house placement in astrology, highlighting themes of new beginnings, soul growth, and karmic lessons. The influence of major planetary alignments, such as Pluto's role in bringing hidden aspects to light and catalyzing transformation, and Neptune and Saturn returning to 0 degrees of Aries birthing the new version of your Soul led Self, provides an epic eclipse season. Detaching from old structures, embracing futuristic visions, and the integration of higher consciousness are all themes of this Aquarian solar eclipse. Harness this potent energy through rituals and spells aligned with the eclipse's transformative power. Allow the ring of fire to bring new energy to your life, your divine plan, and your connection to the oneness! If you are loving this podcast and you feel really motivated or compelled to share, please donate to this podcast: Donate here Connect with the Goddesses:  https://www.goddesswitchwomb.com  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goddesswitchwomb/  Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@goddesswitchwomb

Joy Pullmann of The Federalist Joy Pullmann’s Columns at The Federalist False Flag: Why Queer Politics Mean the End of America The Education Invasion: How Common Core Fights Parents for Control of American KidsThe post Elon Musk and Detaching Children from Marriage and Sex – Joy Pullmann, 1/23/26 (0232) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Most people think growth is about momentum. This episode proves it is about endurance.In today's episode of High Voltage Business Builders, Neil sits down with Sahil Patel, a second-time CEO who has lived through the realities most founders never post about. Payroll on credit cards. Empty bank accounts. Identity tied too closely to the business. And the long seasons spent in the valley.Sahil shares what he learned building his first company, how those lessons shaped his leadership at Spiralize, and why experienced operators focus less on outcomes and more on controllables.In This Episode, We Cover:✅ Why most founders spend more time in the valley than at the peak✅ The danger of tying your identity to your business outcomes✅ Detaching self-worth from results without losing ambition✅ Getting professional help before burnout forces the issue✅ How experienced CEOs make decisions with no guaranteed outcome

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Welcome to the The Achievers Podcast. I'm your host Amber Deibert, Performance Coach. I help enterprise sellers unlock their full potential by aligning their work with how they workout and cleaning up mindset trash, so they can sell more, stress less, and take back control of their time and success. If you've ever assumed top reps are just built differently, this episode is going to be a relief. I was on a call with a client recently and told them I experience imposter syndrome, too. Their reaction was basically, "Wait… YOU?" And honestly, that's exactly why I wanted to record this. Because I've coached hundreds of enterprise and strategic AEs over the past eight years, including reps who became #1 on their team, #1 in their org, hit President's Club, closed mega deals, and earned seven figures in commission. And here's the truth: they're not robots. They're normal humans with self-doubt, insecurity, and imposter syndrome… they've just learned how to work with their brain instead of letting it run the show. In this episode, I'm breaking down what's actually happening inside the heads of top performers, and the simple mindset shifts they use to stay consultative, confident, and consistent even when their inner critic is loud.  

TDC #081: Feeling Stuck? You're Closer to a Breakthrough Than You ThinkThe moment you feel most stalled might be the exact moment you're closest to your next big shift.Episode Summary:In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque explores the surprising pattern behind how breakthroughs actually happen—and why they rarely arrive when you're grinding hardest.You'll learn why creative block often precedes insight, what a 200-year-old sugar maple teaches about adversity, and three reflection questions to turn your current setback into your next breakthrough.Question of the Day:What's a recent setback you've faced—or a breakthrough you've just experienced? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.Key Take-awaysFeeling stuck is often a signal you're close to a breakthrough, not far from oneBreakthroughs appear after frustration—sometimes only when you finally let goModerate adversity strengthens us (the science proves it)Creative block frequently precedes your biggest insightsLooking at the problem from a new angle unlocks what grinding couldn'tTimestamped Outline0:00 – The Surprising Nature of Breakthroughs 0:29 – Trudy Ederle's Story: Courage, Grit & Breakthroughs 0:44 – My Recent Manuscript Breakthrough (Return to Real) 1:10 – The Open Heart Surgery Phase of Editing 1:32 – Focus: The Contrarian Canon Part Two 2:00 – How to Turn Your Setback Into Your Next Big Breakthrough 2:26 – When Feeling Stalled Means You're Close to a Shift 2:40 – Setbacks, Flow & Detaching from the Outcome 3:02 – Why Creative Block Frequently Precedes Insight  3:29 – Engagement Prompt: Share Your Setback or Breakthrough 3:40 – Back to Manuscript Editing: No Food, No Water, Just Words 3:48 – Remember to Hug the Ones You LoveLinks & ResourcesIssue 051 of The Digital Contrarian – "How to Turn Your Current Setback Into Your Next Big Breakthrough" → https://ryanlevesque.net/setbacks-breakthroughs/Issue 051 Video → https://youtu.be/XQTjQZ6cwf8Return to Real Book Waitlist → https://ryanlevesque.net/return-to-real-book/The Digital Contrarian Newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.comConnect & CTAEnjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Join 100,000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan Levesque's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://thedigitalcontrarian.comCredits:Host: Ryan Levesque © 2026 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

In today's episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros challenge the way most people think about failure, consistency, and progress. This conversation cuts through common self-improvement myths and exposes why early results often lie, why discipline beats motivation, and why long-term personal development demands a different approach to decision-making. If you are serious about building real confidence, sustainable habits, and a mindset that can withstand setbacks, this episode will recalibrate how you measure success and stay in the game. _______________________Learn more about:Your first 30-minute “Business Breakthrough Session” call with Alan is FREE. This call is designed to help you identify bottlenecks and build a clear plan for your next level. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session_______________________NLU is not just a podcast; it's a gateway to a wealth of resources designed to help you achieve your goals and dreams. From our Next Level Dreamliner to our Group Coaching, we offer a variety of tools and communities to support your personal development journey.For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below.

Today's episode explores why so many people feel "behind" in life. The truth is that most of this pressure comes from comparing ourselves to others. This episode offers a shift in perspective to help listeners appreciate their own pace and progress. Key Points: – The illusion of being "behind" – How comparison shapes self-doubt – Why everyone's timeline is unique – Detaching your worth from speed – How to trust your own growth process Takeaway: You're not behind — you're on your timeline.

Send one way text to Rev Rachel What do you do when someone you love is hurting and you cannot fix it?This episode explores one of the most challenging spiritual lessons, learning to detach with love. Through the lens of both Al-Anon and the Recover Your Soul process, we look at how to witness another's pain without absorbing it, rescuing them, or losing yourself in the process.We reflect on trusting each soul's journey, creating compassionate boundaries, and choosing your own peace even when the people you love are struggling. This is tender, sacred work, and it reminds us that we are held by something greater still.This episode is from the Recover Your Soul Bonus Podcast earlier this year, and if this episode resonates with you, I invite you to become an Apple Podcast subscriber or Patreon member. You'll receive an extra Recover Your Soul episode every Friday and have access to an entire library of deeper teachings, meditations, and spiritual reflections.Thank you for being part of the Recover Your Soul community. Start your journey with the FREE Recover Your Soul™ 9-Step Mini-Workbook- A gentle spiritual path to healing, letting go, and awakening. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not allied or representative of any organizations or religions, but is based on the opinions and experience of Rev. Rachel Harrison or guests. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein. Take what you need and leave the rest.Support the showRev Rachel & Recover Your Soul www.recoveryoursoul.net FREE Support Group on Zoom 6-7PM MT on the 1st Monday of the Month Work the Process with Rev Rachel TRYASESSION for 40% off 1st session Working the Steps Program WORKSTEPS%50 Instagram, Insight Timer, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook private Facebook group RYS Bonus Podcast Patreon Member or subscribing on Apple Podcasts. Transcripts

In the sixth installment of the "Becoming the Protégé" series on Power Producers Shop Talk, host David Carothers speaks with contestant Jacob Brawner of Brawner Insurance, based in Iowa and serving the Midwest. Jacob shares his unconventional path from being a teacher to joining his family's agency, originally focused on crop insurance. The conversation highlights Jacob's educational background as a key asset in his sales process, allowing him to patiently teach clients rather than just sell to them. They also discuss the importance of detaching from the outcome, the value of building a consistent pipeline, and how Jacob plans to leverage the mentorship and networking opportunities within The Protégé to accelerate his agency's growth. Key Highlights: From the Classroom to Commercial Insurance Jacob Brawner explains his transition from teaching to insurance, driven by a desire to continue his father's legacy after his brother purchased the agency. He discusses the steep learning curve of moving from a specialized crop insurance focus to a broader commercial portfolio and how his teaching background gives him a unique advantage in educating clients. Sales as an Educational Process David and Jacob dive into the philosophy that sales is actually education. They agree that taking the time to explain the "why" behind coverages, renewal processes, and loss runs builds trust and leads clients to ask the right questions, ultimately making the sale a natural conclusion rather than a high-pressure pitch. Detaching from the Outcome & Pipeline Strategy The conversation emphasizes the power of detaching from the outcome. David shares his mindset that he enters every meeting already in the "worst-case scenario" (not having the account), so there is only upside. They discuss the critical need for a robust pipeline to remove the desperation from sales, allowing producers to walk away from bad fits and focus on long-term relationships. The Power of Mentorship and Networking Jacob expresses his excitement for the mentorship aspect of The Protégé, noting that the Friday mentor calls alone are "priceless." He shares how the competition has already accelerated his growth and connected him with industry leaders, reinforcing David's point that the real victory lies in the process and the network built, not just the final prize. Identifying the Competition in Protege When asked who he sees as his stiffest competition, Jacob points to Aaron from the Carlyle Agency, citing their reputation as a "big deal" in the region. David offers his own take, noting that while Jacob, Joe, and Sam had the top video submissions, past seasons have shown that grit and execution often outweigh production value. Connect with: David Carothers LinkedIn Jacob Brawner LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Visit Websites: Power Producer Base Camp Brawner Insurance Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes

3. Detaching Emotion and Adapting Plans Mid-Action AUTHOR NAME: Admiral James Stavridis, United States Navy (Retired) BOOK TITLE: To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision Key lessons include not getting emotionally involved, quoting The Godfather: "Never make the mistake of hating your enemies. It clouds your judgment." Bill Halsey failed this by becoming emotional in competition with Admiral Spruance. Stephen Decatur demonstrated preparedness to change his mind in Tripoli when he switched his plan from cutting out the USS Philadelphia to burning the ship.

EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE WhisperVibe™ OR a FREE Rose toy with any Whisper™ order! https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/emilymorse-podcast Join the SmartSX Membership : https://sexwithemily.com/smartsx Access exclusive sex coaching, live expert sessions, community building, and tools to enhance your pleasure and relationships with Dr. Emily Morse. List & Other Sex With Emily Guides: https://sexwithemily.com/guides/ Explore pleasure, deepen connections, and enhance intimacy using these Sex With Emily downloadable guides. SHOP WITH EMILY!: https://bit.ly/3rNSNcZ (free shipping on orders over $99) Want more? Visit the Sex With Emily Website: https://sexwithemily.com/ In this Sex with Emily episode, Dr. Emily sits down with Violet Benson. Violet opens up about her intentional decision to step back from penetrative sex while working through attachment patterns that clouded her judgment in relationships. How do you know when sex is creating unhealthy emotional attachment versus genuine connection? Violet shares her realization that sleeping with someone too quickly led her to ignore red flags and chase unavailable partners who mirrored her childhood feelings of being "not enough." The conversation dives into Violet's egg freezing experience, including the intense hormonal and emotional effects that doctors failed to prepare her for. Violet takes Emily's Sex IQ quiz from the book Smart Sex, reflecting on how much her relationship with her body and pleasure has evolved. They tackle a listener question about pursuing someone with major red flags just for physical chemistry, with both hosts emphasizing the importance of honest self-reflection over justification. The episode explores embracing "clinginess" in dating, why vulnerability beats playing games, and how foreplay truly starts outside the bedroom. Throughout, Emily and Violet reinforce that understanding your patterns is the first step to breaking cycles that don't serve you. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 2:13 - Violet's dating hiatus 5:42 - Turning fears into boundaries 8:37 - Understanding attachment styles and childhood trauma in relationships 11:43 - Egg freezing experience 16:17 - Managing mental health during hormonal changes 21:00 - Sex IQ Quiz 26:31 - Listener question: Detaching emotions from physical intimacy 30:30 - Why being vulnerable beats playing games 35:41 - Why people are having less sex and connection 38:15 - Top 3 tips for authentic dating and better relationships 40:42 - Rapid-fire questions: Turn-ons, turn-offs, and relationship advice