Podcasts about Facing Fear

What do you do when you are the only thing between you and the line you know you can run? Abby Holcombe, world champion freestyle kayaker, four-time USA national champion, and three-time USA team member, joins Anna Levesque on The Discomfort Zone Podcast to talk about the fear she knows is irrational, but still gets in the way.  This conversation is a replay, and since it first aired, Abby has joined the Mind Body Paddle team as Content and Marketing Coordinator. We're thrilled for her to join the team, and bring the authenticity, courage, self-awareness and experience you hear in this conversation to our work. If you have ever talked yourself out of something you were ready for, or spent sometime cry-yaking, this one is for you. In this episode: The three hours Abby spent scouting Lava Falls before she ran it a twelve years old Why she hiked her boat into Oh Be Joyful and then hiked back out What she started filming after noticing every river beta video she watched was of men The mantra she picked up after winning Worlds and getting torn apart on Instagram What it was like to live van-life as a kid, and adventure-life as a family Listen now if you want a reminder of how to get out of your own way and stay true to yourself.

You know that feeling when you're dismissed, underestimated, or downright disrespected, and you start to wonder if you're the problem… or if the world is just stacked against you? Homie, THIS is your episode.I'm sitting down with Tracy Walder: Ex-CIA and FBI, one of the only women in history to serve as a special agent in both agencies, and literal expert at uncovering the truth when lives are on the line. But today isn't just about spy stories. It's about training YOU to stand your ground, outsmart manipulation, and build unbreakable emotional resilience…no matter who tries to make you small.From surviving toxic workplaces and “Malibu Barbie” insults to resisting gaslighting from the world's most powerful men, Tracy shares the mindset, boundaries, and psychological tools you need to protect yourself and rebuild your confidence.Here's exactly what we dive into:How to spot (and survive) subtle disrespect, from the boardroom to the bedroomReal-life “spy tactics” any woman can use to stay in control under pressureHow to recognize and resist manipulation, even when it's weaponized kindnessHandling gaslighting, shrinking to “fit in,” and dealing with toxic womenChapter TitlesMale Allies: When Do You Clap Back, And When Do You Play the Long Game?Managing Emotions Under Fire: Should You Shut Down or Speak Up?The Art (and Cost) of Compartmentalization,And When It BackfiresManipulation Tactics: When “Kindness” Is Actually ControlGaslighting on the World Stage, And How to Hold Your Reality FirmThe Power of Evidence: Staying Grounded With Facts (Not Just Feelings)How Not to Shrink: Advocating for Yourself and Naming DisrespectWhen Women Tear Down Other Women: Isolation, Rumors, and Self-EsteemThe Secret to Building Resilience: Naming Emotions, Facing Fears, and Finding Your CrewFollow Tracy Walder:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunexpectedspyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theunexpectedspyYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@theunexpectedspy Follow Me, Lisa Bilyeu:Website: https://www.lisabilyeu.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabilyeuThank you to today's sponsors:Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/lisaOneSkin: 15% off with code LISA at https://oneskin.co/lisaMonarch: 50% off your first year with code WOI https://monarch.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Facing Fears and Finding Friends: Kari's School Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-08-10-22-34-01-no Story Transcript:No: Kari sto ute foran den store, røde skolebygningen.En: Kari stood outside in front of the large, red school building.No: Solen skinte gjennom de grønne trærne i skolegården, og en lett sommerbris blåste gjennom håret hennes.En: The sun shone through the green trees in the schoolyard, and a light summer breeze blew through her hair.No: Sommerferien var over, og i dag var hennes første dag på den nye skolen.En: Summer vacation was over, and today was her first day at the new school.No: Klasserommet var lyst, takket være de høye vinduene som slapp inn mye lys.En: The classroom was bright, thanks to the high windows that let in a lot of light.No: På veggene hang det fargerike plakater om Norges historie og natur.En: On the walls hung colorful posters about Norway's history and nature.No: Pultene var ordnet i pene rader, og luften var full av forventning.En: The desks were arranged in neat rows, and the air was filled with anticipation.No: Kari visste at hun skulle holde en presentasjon foran hele klassen.En: Kari knew she was supposed to give a presentation in front of the whole class.No: Hjertet hennes slo raskere bare ved tanken.En: Her heart beat faster just at the thought.No: Kari var sjenert av natur.En: Kari was shy by nature.No: Tanken på å stå foran klassen og snakke skremte henne.En: The thought of standing in front of the class and speaking frightened her.No: Hun så for seg ansiktene til de nye klassekameratene, alle stirrende på henne.En: She imagined the faces of the new classmates, all staring at her.No: Det var en spesielt som hun var nervøs for, Lars.En: There was one in particular she was nervous about, Lars.No: Han virket alltid så trygg og selvsikker.En: He always seemed so confident and self-assured.No: Kari ønsket å gjøre et godt inntrykk, men frykten for å snakke var overveldende.En: Kari wanted to make a good impression, but the fear of speaking was overwhelming.No: Mens hun satt ved pulten sin, merket Kari noen sette seg ved siden av henne.En: As she sat at her desk, Kari noticed someone sitting next to her.No: Det var Ingrid, en av de første hun hadde møtt.En: It was Ingrid, one of the first she had met.No: Ingrid var vennlig, med et varmt smil.En: Ingrid was friendly, with a warm smile.No: "Hei, er du klar for presentasjonen din?En: "Hi, are you ready for your presentation?"No: " spurte Ingrid.En: asked Ingrid.No: Kari trakk på skuldrene, noe nølende.En: Kari shrugged, somewhat hesitantly.No: "Jeg er så nervøs," innrømmet hun.En: "I'm so nervous," she admitted.No: Hun fortalte Ingrid om frykten sin, og Ingrid lyttet oppmerksomt.En: She told Ingrid about her fear, and Ingrid listened attentively.No: "Hvorfor får vi ikke sammen øve?En: "Why don't we practice together?"No: " foreslo Ingrid.En: suggested Ingrid.No: "Jeg kan høre på deg, gi deg noen tips.En: "I can listen to you, give you some tips."No: "Senere den dagen møtte de to på skolebiblioteket.En: Later that day, the two met at the school library.No: Kari begynte å lese presentasjonen høyt, noe usikkert.En: Kari began to read the presentation aloud, somewhat uncertain.No: Ingrid lyttet og oppmuntret henne forsiktig, delte noen enkle råd.En: Ingrid listened and encouraged her gently, sharing some simple advice.No: Med Ingrids støtte begynte Kari å få litt mer selvtillit.En: With Ingrid's support, Kari began to gain a little more confidence.No: Neste dag, med hjertet i halsen, stod Kari foran klassen.En: The next day, with her heart in her throat, Kari stood in front of the class.No: Hun nølte litt, men husket Ingrids råd.En: She hesitated a bit but remembered Ingrid's advice.No: Øynene hennes møtte Lars sine, og han smilte oppmuntrende.En: Her eyes met Lars's, and he smiled encouragingly.No: Med et dypt pust startet Kari presentasjonen.En: With a deep breath, Kari started the presentation.No: Ordene kom nølende i begynnelsen, men med tiden ble de sterkere.En: The words came hesitantly at first, but over time they grew stronger.No: Hun presset frem et lite smil mot de oppmuntrende ansiktene.En: She managed a small smile at the encouraging faces.No: Da hun var ferdig, brøt klassen ut i applaus.En: When she finished, the class broke into applause.No: Kari trakk pusten dypt, fylt med en følelse av lettelse og stolthet.En: Kari took a deep breath, filled with a sense of relief and pride.No: Hun hadde faktisk gjort det.En: She had actually done it.No: Hun hadde overvunnet en del av frykten sin.En: She had overcome a part of her fear.No: I løpet av de neste dagene på skolen merket Kari en ny følelse av tilhørighet.En: Over the next few days at school, Kari noticed a new feeling of belonging.No: Hun visste nå at med litt hjelp og mot, kunne hun håndtere utfordringer.En: She now knew that with a little help and courage, she could handle challenges.No: Samtidig hadde hun fått en ny venn i Ingrid, og brukt Lars som en kilde til inspirasjon.En: At the same time, she had gained a new friend in Ingrid and used Lars as a source of inspiration.No: Kari så ut gjennom vinduet, hvor lyset fortsatt strømmet inn, og hun visste at hun hadde gjort et viktig skritt fremover.En: Kari looked out the window, where the light still streamed in, and she knew she had taken an important step forward.No: Det var en ny start for henne, og hun var klar for hva som skulle komme neste.En: It was a new start for her, and she was ready for whatever came next. Vocabulary Words:stood: stobreeze: brisschoolyard: skolegårdenarranged: ordnetneat: peneanticipation: forventningpresentation: presentasjonshy: sjenertnervous: nervøshesitantly: nølendeadmitted: innrømmetattentively: oppmerksomttips: rådaloud: høytencouraged: oppmuntretconfidence: selvtillitthroat: halsenhesitated: nølteinspiration: inspirasjonfilled: fyltrelief: lettelsebelonging: tilhørighethandle: håndterechallenges: utfordringersupport: støtteencouragingly: oppmuntrendeapplause: applausimportant: viktigovercame: overvunnetstep: skritt

Ps Genevieve Hays

Episode Summary In this episode of the Work at Home Rockstar Podcast, Tim chats with Matt O'Neill, owner of Matt O'Neill Real Estate and Tide Property Management, and a happiness coach. Matt shares his path from hating engineering and a soul-crushing nine-to-five sales job to becoming a real estate agent, only to realize that client work had given him "40 bosses" instead of one. That realization led him to hire and train agents, and eventually build a property management company designed for recurring cashflow he could own without operating it day to day. Matt also opens up about a major setback: an overleveraged home-flipping business that nearly cost his family their home when interest rates doubled in 30 days. He shares what he learned from Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money about never risking survival money and being able to withstand a 30 percent drop. The conversation covers his obsession with sales and marketing, testing channels like YouTube, hiring by core values, protecting company culture, and his decision to work less so he can spend more time with his four kids. Matt also talks about his book, The Good Mood Revolution, and his approach to happiness coaching. Who is Matt O'Neill? Matt O'Neill teaches that happiness is a choice, even when life gets tough. His work has positively impacted over 100,000 people worldwide. His book, Good Mood Revolution: Igniting the Power of Conscious Happiness, became a #1 bestseller in seven categories on Amazon and has earned over 140 five-star reviews. Matt emphasizes the power of conquering negative thought patterns, and shares that there are eight bad moods, and that understanding these emotions is key to moving through them and returning to joy. Matt and his wife have four young children while running two successful businesses with $8 million in revenue and over 80 employees. His company has been recognized as the #1 place to work among 470,000 companies in South Carolina. Connect with Matt O'Neill Website: https://www.mattoneill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodmoodmatt/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodmoodmatt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-o-neill-02528057/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpPkoHyB_z57WPEWZtPbg7g TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodmoodmatt Host Contact Details Website: https://workathomerockstar.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workathomerockstar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workathomerockstar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmelanson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkAtHomeRockStarPodcast Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/workathomestar Email: tim@workathomerockstar.com Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:30 From Engineering to Sales 03:06 Real Estate Freedom Myth 04:23 Building a Real Business 06:54 Facing Fear and Risk 11:31 When Plans Go Wrong 14:53 Leverage Lessons and Barbell 22:34 Sales and Marketing Obsession 26:19 Hiring and Culture Fit 33:45 Working Less for Family 38:38 Happiness Coaching and Book 39:16 Favorite Band and Wrap Up Disclaimers Personal Experience, Not Financial Advice This episode includes personal stories about business loans, leverage, and investing decisions. These reflect one guest's experience and aren't financial advice, so please check with a professional before making financial decisions of your own. Coaching and Mindset Perspective Our guest shares his own approach to happiness and mindset coaching. These are his personal views and methods, not medical or psychological treatment.

Today we are joined by Sarah Vie, manifestation expert, speaker, and mindset mentor, for a powerful conversation about creating the life you truly desire. Sarah shares the principles of manifestation and practical tools to help you shift your mindset, overcome self-limiting beliefs, and align your thoughts with your goals. Whether you're a busy mom, entrepreneur, or simply looking for motivation and personal growth, this episode is filled with wisdom and actionable insights to help you move forward with confidence and purpose.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/inside-the-moms-club--4709676/support.

Tag Team: Lisa Dallin & Ps Tom Hawkes

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Facing Fears: A Marine Journey of Friendship and Courage Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-07-31-07-38-19-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 햇살이 따뜻하게 내리쬐는 어느 여름날, 서울 코엑스 아쿠아리움은 고등학생들의 들뜬 소리로 가득 찼습니다.En: On a summer day when the sunlight was warmly shining, the Coex Aquarium in Seoul was filled with the excited chatter of high school students.Ko: 지호는 친구 민서와 함께 학교 여행으로 아쿠아리움을 방문했습니다.En: Jiho visited the aquarium with his friend Minseo on a school trip.Ko: 민서는 해양 생물에 관심이 많아서 이곳에 오는 걸 손꼽아 기다렸습니다.En: Minseo was really interested in marine life and had been eagerly looking forward to this visit.Ko: 반면, 지호는 깊은 물에 대한 두려움 때문에 걱정이 앞섰습니다.En: On the other hand, Jiho was more worried due to his fear of deep water.Ko: "지호야, 저기 봐! 저게 바로 조류 수조야!" 민서는 신나는 표정으로 지호를 이끌었습니다.En: "Jiho, look over there! That's the bird tank!" Minseo led Jiho excitedly.Ko: 그런 그녀를 따라가면서도 지호의 마음 한편엔 두려움이 싹터 있었습니다.En: Following her, Jiho still felt a hint of fear growing inside him.Ko: 큰 상어 수조 앞에 서있을 생각에 지호는 살짝 얼굴이 굳어졌습니다.En: Thinking about standing in front of the large shark tank, Jiho's face slightly tensed up.Ko: 학생들이 하나둘씩 상어 수조로 향하면서, 지호의 마음은 더욱 조여왔습니다.En: As the students headed one by one towards the shark tank, Jiho's anxiety grew even stronger.Ko: 그러나 민서의 행복한 얼굴을 보니 어쩐지 용기가 생겼습니다.En: However, upon seeing Minseo's happy face, Jiho somehow felt courage building up.Ko: '그래, 이번 기회에 내 두려움을 극복해보자,' 지호는 속으로 다짐했습니다.En: 'Alright, let's use this opportunity to overcome my fear,' Jiho resolved internally.Ko: 두 친구는 손을 잡고 터널 속으로 들어갔습니다.En: The two friends held hands and entered the tunnel.Ko: 물고기가 머리 위로 헤엄쳐 다니는 모습은 그야말로 장관이었습니다.En: The sight of fish swimming overhead was truly a spectacle.Ko: 하지만 그 순간, 크고 무서운 상어가 지호와 민서 머리 위로 유유히 지나갔습니다.En: But at that moment, a large and scary shark leisurely swam over Jiho and Minseo's heads.Ko: 지호는 순간 숨이 막히는 듯 했습니다.En: Jiho felt like he couldn't breathe for a moment.Ko: "지호, 괜찮아? 상어는 그냥 물고기일 뿐이야. 괜찮아, 함께 하잖아." 민서가 진지하게 말했습니다.En: "Jiho, are you okay? A shark is just a fish. It's alright, we're here together." Minseo spoke sincerely.Ko: 지호는 민서의 말을 들으니 마음이 조금씩 편해졌습니다.En: Hearing Minseo's words, Jiho gradually felt more at ease.Ko: 그녀가 손을 꼭 잡아주자 지호는 마음을 다잡고 다시 수조를 바라보았습니다.En: As she held his hand tightly, Jiho gathered his thoughts and looked back at the tank.Ko: 시간이 흐르면서 지호는 이곳이 얼마나 아름다운지 느낄 수 있었습니다.En: As time went on, Jiho began to realize how beautiful this place was.Ko: 환상적인 물속 세상이 두렵기보다 신비롭다는 생각이 들었습니다.En: The underwater world seemed more mystical than frightening.Ko: 민서는 지호에게 미소를 지었고, 지호는 자신도 모르게 미소로 답했습니다.En: Minseo smiled at Jiho, and he unknowingly returned the smile.Ko: 그날 이후 지호는 물에 대한 두려움을 조금씩 극복하기 시작했습니다.En: After that day, Jiho slowly began to overcome his fear of water.Ko: 민서의 도움으로 그는 두려움이 아닌 아름다움에 집중할 수 있게 되었습니다.En: Thanks to Minseo's help, he was able to focus on the beauty rather than the fear.Ko: 두려움을 친구와 나누니 오히려 마음이 가벼워지는 기분이 들었습니다.En: Sharing his fears with a friend made him feel lighter in spirit.Ko: 아쿠아리움을 나온 지호는 민서에게 말했습니다. "다음에 또 오자! 이번엔 더 많은 것들을 보자."En: As they left the aquarium, Jiho said to Minseo, "Let's come again next time! Let's see even more things."Ko: 민서는 크게 고개를 끄덕였고, 두 친구는 함께 나란히 걸어나갔습니다.En: Minseo nodded enthusiastically, and the two friends walked out side by side.Ko: 그렇게 지호는 두려움도 친구와 나눌 수 있다는 것을 배웠습니다.En: In this way, Jiho learned that fears could be shared with a friend.Ko: 그리고 그 친구 덕분에 더 큰 세계를 경험하게 되었습니다.En: And thanks to that friend, he was able to experience a larger world. Vocabulary Words:sunlight: 햇살excited: 들뜬chatter: 소리marine: 해양eagerly: 손꼽아overcome: 극복anxiety: 두려움resolve: 다짐spectacle: 장관leisurely: 유유히sincerely: 진지하게ease: 편해mystical: 환상적인enthusiastically: 크게larger: 더 큰hand: 손tunnel: 터널thoughts: 마음gradually: 조금씩held: 잡고breathe: 숨students: 학생hint: 한편엔shining: 내리쬐는fear: 두려움courage: 용기beautiful: 아름다운realize: 느낄experience: 경험focus: 집중

NIECES KNOW BEST: Why Are People Scared To Try New Things? full 318 Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:33:21 +0000 BqSTWu2yFQQgjfoDi6vrfSDTeg82p5MO advice,metallica,nieces know best,kid advice,facing fears,trying new things,music,society & culture,news Kramer & Jess On Demand Podcast advice,metallica,nieces know best,kid advice,facing fears,trying new things,music,society & culture,news NIECES KNOW BEST: Why Are People Scared To Try New Things? Highlights from the Kramer & Jess Show. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Music Society & Culture News https://player.amperwavepodcasting.c

Ps Emma Schroeder

An MS diagnosis can bring fear, uncertainty and difficult questions about the future.  In this episode of Living Well with MS, Geoff Allix speaks with Patrick Bevan, who spent 16 years hiding from his multiple sclerosis diagnosis before embracing a lifestyle approach that transformed how he thinks about living with MS.  Patrick shares how fear, anxiety and denial shaped his decisions for years, why a relapse became the catalyst for change, and how exercise, healthy eating, community and self-compassion helped him regain a sense of control.  They also discuss living with ADHD alongside MS, the challenges of building sustainable habits, and why connecting with others can make such a difference after diagnosis.  Whether you're newly diagnosed with MS or have been living with it for many years, Patrick's honest reflections offer hope, practical encouragement and a reminder that a diagnosis does not define your future.  Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Patrick's bio.   00:00 Patrick's MS diagnosis and the beginning of his journey  03:34 Living with hidden fear for sixteen years  05:18 Why fear delayed lifestyle changes and treatment  07:02 The turning point that changed everything  10:19 Challenging public perceptions of living with MS  11:39 How fear shaped work, confidence and relationships  13:18 Living with both ADHD and multiple sclerosis  15:00 Finding motivation through the Overcoming MS Exercise Circle  18:03 Which lifestyle changes were easiest—and hardest—to sustain  21:11 Balancing entrepreneurship with protecting long-term health  25:02 Patrick's advice for anyone newly diagnosed with MS  Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn  Learn more about Change Alchemy  New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub Visit the Overcoming MS website Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Don't miss out: Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here. Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Grab the GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY Prompt Vault HERE Welcome to the Las Vegas edition of the You Can Call Me Bossy Podcast, recorded live from the Hypnotherapy Conference. This episode dives into the transformative power of stepping outside your comfort zone, as the conversation explores the journey of mastering new hypnotherapy techniques, confronting imposter syndrome, and experiencing a breakthrough moment in front of a live workshop audience. You will hear first hand about the challenges of learning fast hypnosis inductions, overcoming self doubt, and making quantum leaps in confidence and skill all while navigating the high energy world of a multi day conference. Whether you're a seasoned coach, a hypnotherapy enthusiast, or simply interested in personal growth, this episode offers an inspiring look at what can happen when you choose to show up, trust yourself, and take action. Key Takeaways: Growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone. Pushing through fear and self doubt is often where the biggest breakthroughs occur. Take imperfect action. You can learn by doing sometimes you have to “just keep talking,” trusting your instincts and training to guide you. Be, Do, Have. Decide who you want to be, take aligned action, and the confidence will come with the evidence of what you accomplish. Episode Resource: My Hypnosis At The Conference: https://www.instagram.com/mary.theresa.tringale/ Don't Forget To Follow Julie: @Julie.m.costa If you enjoyed this episode and are excited for more, please be sure to SUBSCRIBE and write a review to help build momentum and support the show (5-stars would be AWESOME!) _____________________________________________ JOIN US IN - THE CLUB - An annual membership where high-achieving women come together to unapologetically OWN THEIR “BOSSY” in order to rise to the top, make massive impact, and not burn out while doing it. Join TODAY to get access to all past workshop replays and past group coaching calls - always incredible takeaways and AHA moments from reviewing these sessions! Grab your spot in THE CLUB today by CLICKING HERE! _____________________________________________ LET'S FREAKING GO!GRAB THIS FREE DOWNLOAD: GRAB 100 FREE JOURNAL PROMPTS TO OWN YOUR BOSSY BY CLICKING HERE LET'S CONNECT: Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or join my STAND IN YOUR POWER FACEBOOK GROUP Grab a signed copy of my bestselling book STAND IN YOUR POWER HEREWatch my TEDx Talk “The Wisdom of Your Ancestors Should Be Ignored” HERE

Ps Tom Hawkes

Most men move through life on a script they never chose to write. Job, routine, expectations, repeat. Madhav Nakar questioned that script and found something worth talking about on the other side of it.Madhav works full time in cybersecurity, a career built on staying calm under constant threat, but his real curiosity lives in spirituality, fear, and presence. He shares how he faced his fear of visibility by challenging himself to dance in public, why he explores different religious traditions with curiosity instead of certainty, and what he hopes to uncover through his upcoming documentary, Where's God.Chris and Madhav talk honestly about anxiety, hyper vigilance, and mortality, drawing from Chris's background in close protection work and Madhav's approach to staying solution focused instead of spiraling into worst case thinking. This is a conversation about waking up from autopilot and choosing your direction on purpose.Connect with Madhav NakarInstagram@thefireofknowingConnect with Motivated Masculine MenInstagram@the_motivatedmenWebsitewww.motivatedmasculinemen.comEmailbrotherhood@motivatedmasculinemen.comIf you'd like to be a guest on the podcast, or know someone who would be a great fit, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch by email.What You'll LearnIn this conversation you'll learn:Why many men live on autopilot, following societal scripts without ever questioning themHow Madhav overcame his fear of visibility by challenging himself to dance in publicWhy curiosity, not certainty, is the starting point for real spiritual explorationHow to stay solution focused in high pressure work instead of spiraling into worst case thinkingThe connection between hyper vigilance in high stakes roles and irrational fear in everyday lifeWhy slowing down and creating structured time constraints can help build patience and new skillsHow seeking new experiences can make time feel slower and life feel more presentWhat meditating in cremation grounds and accepting mortality can teach us about living fullyThe idea of spiritual age and why increased connectivity has not solved modern disconnectionWhat the blank slate mindset is and how it helps men move past fear and old limitationsDetails on Madhav's documentary project Where's God and what he hopes to explore through it

Dr. Gregory Bottaro – Catholic psychologist, author, and founder of the CatholicPsych Institute joins Trending with Timmerie Episode Guide Difficult Conversations: principles for listening that transform a conversation. (1:26) Acknowledging Pain: How do we acknowledge another person's pain and help move them from despair toward healing? (23:00) Would someone know I am Catholic by my actions? (36:43) Our Lady of Mount Carmel & the Brown Scapular – the promises of the scapular (46:39) Friday on Trending (50:58) Resources mentioned: Catholicpsych Institute https://catholicpsych.com/ Book: The Power of Listening Well: How Holy Curiosity Can Build Trust and Restore Relationships https://sophiainstitute.com/product/the-power-of-listening-well/ Laughter, Facing Fears, & Morning Prayer Routines https://relevantradio.com/2021/04/laughter-facing-fears-morning-prayer-routines/

Join us on Wednesday, Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00 PM ET for our free webinar on Trail Running with Confidence: Facing Fears with Focus. In this webinar, The Trail Therapist Sarah Strong, LCSW, will guide you through exploring your trail fears and developing strategies to manage them effectively. We'll work with the circle of control to focus on what we can influence and learn how to distinguish between actionable tasks and what is best to let go. This webinar is ideal for runners who want to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and approach their training and adventures with a clearer, calmer mindset. https://www.thetrailtherapist.com/https://www.instagram.com/the_trail_therapist/

Joel shares reflections on Pema Chodran's book “How We Live is How We Die” and Tibetan Buddhists' work to live life to prepare for the transition from life to death. Joel also reads from Stephen Levine's book “A Year to Live.” We hear a reading from the chapter titled “Fear of Fear." Joel leads us in Levine's “soft belly meditation.”

Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Facing Fears: Luz's Journey to Health and Renewal Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2026-07-07-07-38-19-es Story Transcript:Es: Bajo el cielo azul y nítido del invierno del hemisferio sur, el suburbio moderno brillaba.En: Under the clear, blue sky of the southern hemisphere's winter, the modern suburb shone.Es: Las casas, todas en fila, se erguían imponentes, sus tejados cubiertos de una ligera capa de nieve.En: The houses, all in a row, stood imposing, their roofs covered with a light layer of snow.Es: Las calles mantenían un zumbido silencioso, interrumpido solo por el chirriar de una puerta o el hervir de la sopa en alguna cocina cercana.En: The streets held a silent buzz, interrupted only by the creaking of a door or the bubbling of soup in some nearby kitchen.Es: Luz vivía en una de esas casas con su esposo, Carlos, y su hija, Marta.En: Luz lived in one of those houses with her husband, Carlos, and their daughter, Marta.Es: Luz siempre había sido conocida por su energía y entusiasmo.En: Luz had always been known for her energy and enthusiasm.Es: Ella participaba activamente en la comunidad, organizando eventos y ayudando a sus vecinos en lo que necesitaban.En: She actively participated in the community, organizing events and helping her neighbors with whatever they needed.Es: Sin embargo, últimamente había algo que perturbaba su sonrisa.En: However, lately, there was something troubling her smile.Es: Desde hacía unas semanas, Luz comenzó a sentir una extraña fatiga.En: For a few weeks, Luz started to feel a strange fatigue.Es: Acompañada de dolores inexplicables y pequeños mareos, su brillo característico empezó a apagarse.En: Accompanied by unexplained pains and slight dizziness, her characteristic glow began to fade.Es: Aunque intentaba ocultarlo, el miedo crecía dentro de ella.En: Although she tried to hide it, fear was growing inside her.Es: Se preocupaba por su salud, pero aún más, por su familia y los planes que tenían de remodelar su hogar aquella primavera.En: She worried about her health, but even more about her family and their plans to renovate their home that spring.Es: Carlos, aunque ocupado con su trabajo, notó el cambio en Luz.En: Carlos, although busy with his work, noticed the change in Luz.Es: "No te ves como siempre", le decía a menudo, preocupado.En: "You don't look like you always do," he often said, concerned.Es: Marta, aunque joven, también percibía la preocupación de su madre y trataba de hacerla reír con sus payasadas.En: Marta, though young, also sensed her mother's worry and tried to make her laugh with her antics.Es: Finalmente, un frío martes por la tarde, Luz reunió el valor para enfrentar sus temores.En: Finally, on a cold Tuesday afternoon, Luz summoned the courage to face her fears.Es: Decidió ir al médico y programar una cita.En: She decided to go to the doctor and schedule an appointment.Es: El consultorio estaba cerca, a la vuelta de su casa, en una esquina bordeada de árboles desnudos por el invierno.En: The clinic was nearby, around the corner from her house, on a street lined with trees bare from winter.Es: El día de la cita llegó rápido.En: The day of the appointment came quickly.Es: Luz sentía una mezcla de nervios y determinación.En: Luz felt a mix of nerves and determination.Es: Caminó hacia el consultorio, con Carlos a su lado, tratando de mantener su espíritu en alto.En: She walked to the clinic, with Carlos by her side, trying to keep her spirits up.Es: Ya en la sala de espera, el tiempo se detuvo.En: Already in the waiting room, time seemed to stand still.Es: Las noticias sonaban de fondo, pero Luz apenas podía concentrarse, pensando en lo que la doctora le pudiera decir.En: The news played in the background, but Luz could hardly concentrate, thinking about what the doctor might say.Es: Finalmente, la doctora salió con los resultados.En: Finally, the doctor came out with the results.Es: Luz sentía que su corazón latía fuerte en su pecho.En: Luz felt her heart beating strongly in her chest.Es: La conclusión fue un alivio.En: The conclusion was a relief.Es: Se trataba de una enfermedad manejable con tratamiento y unos cambios menores en su estilo de vida.En: It was a manageable illness with treatment and some minor lifestyle changes.Es: Luz salió del consultorio sintiéndose más ligera.En: Luz left the clinic feeling lighter.Es: No solo porque la enfermedad era tratable, sino porque había enfrentado y vencido su miedo.En: Not only because the illness was treatable, but because she had faced and conquered her fear.Es: Al llegar a casa, compartió la noticia con Carlos y Marta, quienes la abrazaron con fuerza.En: Upon arriving home, she shared the news with Carlos and Marta, who hugged her tightly.Es: Con el tiempo, Luz se volvió más consciente de su salud y animó a sus amigos a hacer lo mismo.En: Over time, Luz became more aware of her health and encouraged her friends to do the same.Es: Ella sabía que el apoyo de su familia había sido fundamental y nunca lo daría por sentado.En: She knew her family's support had been essential and she never took it for granted.Es: Y así, mientras las tardes de invierno se volvían más largas y las primeras flores de primavera comenzaban a pintar las aceras, Luz no solo planeaba la remodelación de su casa, sino también la de su vida, más fuerte y decidida que nunca.En: And so, as the winter afternoons grew longer and the first spring flowers began to paint the sidewalks, Luz not only planned to renovate her house, but also her life, stronger and more determined than ever. Vocabulary Words:the hemisphere: el hemisferiothe suburb: el suburbiothe roof: el tejadothe layer: la capathe creek: el chirriarthe soup: la sopathe fatigue: la fatigathe dizziness: el mareothe glow: el brillothe appointment: la citathe street: la callethe illness: la enfermedadthe fear: el miedothe strength: la fuerzathe determination: la determinaciónthe clinic: el consultoriothe result: el resultadothe conclusion: la conclusiónthe relief: el aliviothe lifestyle: el estilo de vidathe support: el apoyothe renovation: la remodelaciónthe winter: el inviernothe snow: la nievethe doctor: la doctorathe corner: la esquinathe sidewalk: la acerathe news: las noticiasthe afternoon: la tardethe kitchen: la cocina

In this conversation, we delve into the themes of fear, bravery, and the importance of taking action in life. We discuss how fear can be a constant presence but can be transformed into bravery through experience and action. The conversation also touches on the complexities of masculinity and mental health, emphasizing the need for balance between vulnerability and strength.  - Timestamps:  00:00 Facing Fear and Embracing Bravery 22:22 The Importance of Taking Action 27:23 Navigating Masculinity and Mental Health 39:56 Pursuing Dreams and Personal Growth 49:11 Compassion and Life Lessons 01:05:57 The Wonder of Parenthood -

Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams Outcry, Healing, and the Courage to Face What Fear Has Hidden Guest, JoDee Neil, Owner of Neil Now Legal, Prosecutor, Attorney and Author of "Outcry Witness: A Former Prosecutor's Guide to Healing and Justice After Sexual Violence" This week's guest is back by popular demand. JoDee Neil is an acclaimed trail attorney and author of the new book: "Outcry Witness." She owns Neil Now Legal, PLLC. She has served as a prosecutor of sexual abuse cases and specializes in Crimes Against Children cases. Interested in our guest? Visit their Website at: https://www.jodeeneil.com/ Don't forget to check out her book: "Outcry Witness: A Former Prosecutor's Guide to Healing and Justice After Sexual Violence" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1965766196/ Opening From Houston With Gratitude and Hope In this episode of Breaking the Silence, host Dr. Gregory Williams welcomes listeners from his home in Houston, Texas, and reflects on the city, the Texas Medical Center, the approaching Fourth of July weekend, and gratitude for military service members and veterans. He then introduces the evening's guest, JoDee Neil, attorney, author, advocate, and returning guest. The episode centers on trauma, anxiety, disclosure, recovery, workplace harm, and JoDee's book Outcry, Witness. A Practical Game Plan for Anxiety and Triggers Before bringing JoDee into the conversation, Dr. Williams shares a practical ten-step approach for dealing with anxiety when a traumatic trigger appears. He encourages listeners to recognize and name the trigger, breathe slowly, ground themselves through the five senses, challenge fearful thoughts, relax the body, replace fear with truth, take one small action, reduce outside stimulation, practice gratitude, and, for those who believe, turn to God in prayer. He explains that these steps can help move the brain out of panic and into a more rational, grounded state. JoDee Neil on Becoming Unfrozen JoDee responds by describing anxiety and trauma response as a kind of frozen state, where a person may feel unable to move, think clearly, or act. She affirms Dr. Williams' grounding tools and adds that writing can also help people come out of that frozen condition. She speaks candidly about her own past reliance on pills and other numbing methods, explaining that many people try to avoid discomfort rather than face the pain underneath. For JoDee, healing required learning to feel, endure, and move through the truth rather than continually medicating it away. Disclosure, Truth, and the Possibility of Joy The conversation turns to disclosure, which JoDee defines as first admitting the truth to oneself and then saying it aloud to someone else. She explains that healing begins when a person recognizes that present pain may be connected to something that happened long ago, and that a joyful life requires facing that reality. Dr. Williams asks whether she once believed she was worthy of happiness, and JoDee says happiness felt distant and almost imaginary until she began accepting the truth and healing from it. From Courthouse Healing to a Wider Calling JoDee reflects on her career as a trial attorney, particularly her work with sexual abuse cases and crimes against children. She describes how helping others in court once made her feel whole and purposeful, but after writing Outcry, Witness, she no longer feels the same need to keep healing inside courthouses. Instead, she now sees a broader calling to bring her experience, communication skills, and trauma-informed understanding into businesses, schools, boards, leadership groups, and public speaking settings where she can reach more people at once. Workplace Trauma, Retaliation, and Better Leadership A major part of the interview focuses on how JoDee's legal and survivor experience can help organizations. She discusses workplace sexual harassment, retaliation, human resources failures, and the need for better reporting protocols. JoDee says retaliation often causes additional harm and liability, and she argues that organizations should create clearer, safer processes before matters escalate into legal battles. She also discusses de-escalation, communication, chain of command, listening, smiling, reducing tension, and creating healthier workplace cultures that protect both people and organizations. Facing Fear and Choosing Life As the interview closes, JoDee describes her dream of speaking widely, including a future TED Talk, and says she wants people to hear her and decide that life is worth truly living. She encourages listeners who are trapped in despair, addiction, or avoidance to take the first step toward healing, saying that the fear of facing pain is often worse than the act of beginning. Dr. Williams and JoDee also discuss a possible future Houston event connected to their books and nonprofit fundraising. The episode ends with Dr. Williams reminding listeners that both he and JoDee have survived deep pain, that help begins with a first step, and that as long as there is breath, there is hope.

For more than 25 years, Emmy-winning actress Mariska Hargitay has captivated audiences as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU. But in this deeply personal chapter, Mariska is turning the camera on herself. She sits down with Hoda Kotb to open up about her vulnerable documentary My Mom Jayne, where she explores the childhood loss of her mother, long-held family secrets, and healing past wounds. Mariska also shares what it is like to make her terrifying yet exhilarating Broadway debut at age 62 in Every Brilliant Thing, revealing how local heroes like Jalen Brunson inspire her work ethic, and how training ourselves in gratitude can fundamentally shift how we see the world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Facing Fears: A Health Check-Up Tale of Courage and Friendship Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-06-18-22-34-01-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 東京の中心にそびえるモダンなビル。En: A modern building towering in the center of Tokyo.Ja: そのビルの中には、少し緊張感が漂っていた。En: Inside this building, a slight tension was in the air.Ja: 時は春の終わり、恒例の健康診断の日だった。En: It was the end of spring, the day of the annual health check-up.Ja: 社員たちは次々に診察室へと入っていく。En: Employees were entering the examination room one after another.Ja: 広々としたオフィスには、活気ある雰囲気が漂っていた。En: The spacious office was filled with a lively atmosphere.Ja: 植物で飾られた壁、そしてモチベーションを高めるためのポスターが所々に貼られている。En: Walls decorated with plants and posters put up here and there to boost motivation.Ja: オフィスの隅に、カイトはデスクに座り、書類をじっと見つめていた。En: In the corner of the office, Kaito sat at his desk, staring intently at some documents.Ja: 彼の頭の中は、家族の健康問題のことがぐるぐると回っている。En: His head was swirling with thoughts about his family's health issues.Ja: どうしても不安になってしまう。En: He couldn't help but worry.Ja: 「もし悪い結果が出たらどうしよう」と彼は思う。En: "What if the results are bad?" he thought.Ja: そんな時、元気な声が聞こえた。「おはよう、カイト！」En: Just then, a cheerful voice called out, "Good morning, Kaito!"Ja: それは同僚で友人のユミだった。En: It was his colleague and friend, Yumi.Ja: いつも明るい彼女を見ると、カイトの気持ちも少し和らぐ。En: Seeing her always brightened his mood a bit.Ja: 「ユミ、実はちょっと心配なんだ」とカイトは静かに話しかけた。En: "Yumi, to be honest, I'm a bit worried," Kaito spoke quietly.Ja: 「家族に健康の問題があったから、自分も不安で…En: "There's been health problems in my family, so I can't help but worry for myself...Ja: どうしたらいいのか分からない。」En: I don't know what to do."Ja: ユミは少し驚いたが、すぐに優しく答えた。「分かるよ、カイト。En: Yumi was a bit surprised but quickly responded kindly, "I understand, Kaito.Ja: 大丈夫、きっと何とかなるよ。En: Don't worry, everything will be alright.Ja: きちんと健康を管理すれば大丈夫。」En: As long as you manage your health properly, you'll be fine."Ja: 彼女の言葉にカイトは少し勇気をもらった。En: Her words gave Kaito a bit of courage.Ja: その時、ショウ課長がやってきた。En: Just then, Manager Shou came over.Ja: 「みんな、健康診断の結果が届いたよ。」En: "Everyone, the health check-up results have arrived."Ja: 会議室で開かれる結果発表の場には、少し緊張が走る。En: A slight tension filled the conference room where the results were to be announced.Ja: カイトは自分の名前が呼ばれるのを待つ間、心の中でパニックになりかけていた。En: Kaito felt himself starting to panic as he waited for his name to be called.Ja: しかし、ユミがそばにいることを感じ、少し落ち着きを取り戻した。En: However, sensing Yumi's presence beside him helped him regain some composure.Ja: ついにカイトの名前が呼ばれた。En: Finally, Kaito's name was called.Ja: 彼はゆっくりと結果を確認した。En: He slowly checked the results.Ja: 「あ、これは…」En: "Ah, this is..."Ja: 気になっていた最悪のシナリオは回避できた。En: The worst-case scenario he was worried about was avoided.Ja: しかし、改善が必要な小さな問題があることが指摘された。En: However, it was pointed out that there were minor issues that needed improvement.Ja: 彼はショウ課長にも聞き、専門家のアドバイスを受け、ライフスタイルを少しずつ変えていくことを決心した。En: He decided to consult with Manager Shou, get advice from a specialist, and gradually change his lifestyle.Ja: 「これからはもっと体に気をつけるよ」とカイトはユミに話した。En: "From now on, I'll take better care of my health," Kaito told Yumi.Ja: 「ありがとう、聞いてくれて。本当に助かったよ。」En: "Thanks for listening. It really helped."Ja: そんなカイトを見てユミは微笑んだ。En: Yumi smiled at seeing Kaito like this.Ja: 「大変な時はいつでも言ってね。En: "Feel free to talk anytime when things get tough.Ja: お互い助け合おう。」En: Let's support each other."Ja: この経験を通じて、カイトは不安を乗り越える強さと、誰かに頼ることの大切さを学んだ。En: Through this experience, Kaito learned the strength to overcome anxiety and the importance of relying on someone else.Ja: 彼はこれからの生活の中で、心と体のバランスを大事にし、より良い方向に進んでいくことを決意した。En: He resolved to cherish the balance of mind and body in his future life and move in a better direction. Vocabulary Words:towering: そびえるtension: 緊張感annual: 恒例examination: 診察spacious: 広々としたboost: 高めるstaring intently: じっと見つめてswirling: ぐるぐると回ってworried: 不安cheerful: 元気なcomposure: 落ち着きscenario: シナリオminor: 小さなimprovement: 改善consult: 聞くspecialist: 専門家lifestyle: ライフスタイルcherish: 大事にresolve: 決意したanxiety: 不安relying: 頼るbalance: バランスintently: じっとregain: 取り戻したpresence: そばにいることconference room: 会議室employee: 社員motivation: モチベーションdecide: 決心したsupport: 助け合おう

And there we are. The final four chapters. The story concludes. Do we get a happy ending? or is it just happy enough? Miracle of Sound Music Video: https://youtu.be/peVzdtm4iZ4 The New Century Multiverse Website: https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed: https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/ The Fireside Alliance Podcast Network:  https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/ Intro is "Facing Fears" by Beat Mechanik Other tracks: "Warmth and Respect", "Leaves Dancing"- Wanderstop OST "Five Armies", "Dangerous", "Private Reflection", "Babylon", "Shores of Avalon", "Heavy Heart", "Anguish", "Gaslamp Funworks", "Truth in Stones"- Kevin MacLeod "Letting Go", "To Forgive or Kill - Bear McCreary "Main Theme", "Warlock Combat" - XCom 2 OST "How Can I Heal" - David Julyan "The Scientist (Instrumental) - Original by Coldplay, cover by Brooklyn Duo "Knights of Guenivere - Main Theme" by Aaron Olson and Leland Cox "Come Home","Foundation" -  The Newton Brothers "All Star" - Smash Mouth "Outro" by Evgeny Teilor and "Moonrise" by Chad Crouch Also, multiple tracks from the Princess Thieves OST. Outro is "London Town 2026" by Miracle of Sound

Originally recorded in October of 2025, finally we are finishing our work with Season 6, and the third act of The Princess Thieves. Today we cover Chapters 20-23... and a little extra besides. Be warned after the 2 hour mark: the glass shards of Kaleidoscope might be cutting... at least emotionally. The New Century Multiverse Website: https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed: https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/ The Fireside Alliance Podcast Network:  https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/ Intro is "Facing Fears" by Beat Mechanik Other tracks include: "Wounded", "Scheming Weasel","Private Reflection", "Resignation","Despair and Triumph","Shores of Avalon", "Vision of Persistence", "Long Road Ahead","The Dread","Promises to Keep"- Kevin MacLeod "Family Ties" - Telltale's The Walking Dead OST "Olympus "  - Ross Bugden "Evil Eye" -Hades 2 OST "Let Me Sleep" - David Julyan "The Way It Is" originial by Bruce Hornsby, cover by Uwe Karcher "Miss Claire Remembers" - Enya "True Greatness" - Bjorn Lynne "Outro" by Evgeny Teilor and "Moonrise" by Chad Crouch Also, multiple tracks from the Princess Thieves OST.

Disrupt Yourself Before Someone Else Does: How Thomson Reuters CTO Anuradha Turned Fear, Bias, and Discomfort Into Career Fuel She grew up in a small town in India, first daughter in a middle-class family, educated in her mother tongue through 10th grade. She was culturally trained to listen more and speak less. Then she accepted a role as an assistant professor straight out of university, in front of 60 students, because she needed a job and couldn't say no to an opportunity. She showed up for her first class and trembled for the entire 60 minutes. She didn't quit. She went back. She sat in her colleagues' classes to watch how they taught. She asked hard questions. She sought feedback from the students whose faces told her everything. Eventually, students started telling her: "No one ever taught this subject the way you do." Anuradha is Head of Engineering and CTO of the Corporate Tax and Trade Technology Group at Thomson Reuters. She has since moved internationally alone, changed industries multiple times, and built a leadership philosophy around one core principle: disrupt yourself before someone else does it for you. In this episode, she breaks down how. You'll learn: She asked for a Senior Director role and was told not only no, but "even if you applied, they wouldn't hire you." What she said next, why she didn't confront him, and how she used that conversation to get clarity about whether the problem was her or the environment around her. The mental model she uses every time she gets a no: is this about me not having the skills, or is this about the climate in this organization not being ready for someone like me? Both are valid answers, but you have to know which one before you decide what to do next. Why she deliberately paced herself after that conversation, asked for names of other people to speak to, and processed it over days rather than trying to resolve it all in one go. Why running away from fear doesn't make fear disappear. It just means you'll face it later, under higher stakes, with fewer second chances. How she built confidence and humility simultaneously by changing industries repeatedly: retail, financial services, banking, payments, tax and trade. The more she learned, the more she understood how much more there was to learn, and why she sees that as a leadership asset, not a liability. What she means by "disrupt yourself before someone else does" and why it applies equally to personal growth, career management, and technology leadership at scale. Her model for leading through failure: look forward first, understand what went wrong second. And why leaders who impose their own stress on a team under pressure take everyone down with them. About Anuradha: Head of Engineering and CTO of the Corporate Tax and Trade Technology Group at Thomson Reuters, Anu is a recognized tech executive and speaker at women's leadership and technology conferences. She has built her career across multiple industries and continents.

Welcome to another episode of Rick's Rambles Podcast — a fast-paced, uplifting mix of fun facts, nostalgia, music history, mental health encouragement, and quirky holidays! This week, Rick takes a nostalgic look at the history of the Yo-Yo, including fun facts, surprising trivia, and how this classic toy became a worldwide craze. In our Mental Health segment, we talk about how fear often keeps us from trying new things — and why taking a chance, even if we fail, can open the door to growth, confidence, and unexpected joy. In Story Behind the Song, we dive into the fascinating history of “Mack the Knife,” exploring its origins, famous recordings, and how it became one of the most recognizable songs of the 20th century. Plus, we wrap things up with this week's fun and quirky holidays you probably never knew existed! If you enjoy positive podcasts, classic music stories, nostalgia, uplifting conversations, fun trivia, and encouraging mental health discussions, this episode is for you. Topics in this episode include: • Yo-Yo history and trivia • Overcoming fear of trying new things • Mental health encouragement • The story behind “Mack the Knife” • Classic music history and fun facts • Quirky and unusual holidays • Positive and wholesome podcast content Be sure to follow Rick's Rambles Podcast for new episodes filled with fun, encouragement, nostalgia, and interesting stories every week!

Fluent Fiction - Danish: Facing Fears and Finding Strength: A Love Story Over Distance Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2026-06-01-07-38-19-da Story Transcript:Da: Solen strålende ind gennem vinduerne i Frejas hyggelige lejlighed i København.En: The sun shone brightly through the windows of Freja's cozy apartment in København.Da: Friske blomster prydede bordet, og lysene var klar til at blive tændt.En: Fresh flowers adorned the table, and the candles were ready to be lit.Da: Det var Sankt Hans Aften, og alt virkede perfekt udefra.En: It was Sankt Hans Aften, and everything seemed perfect from the outside.Da: Freja kiggede på skærmen.En: Freja looked at the screen.Da: Snart skulle hun tale med Mads over en videoopkald.En: Soon, she was scheduled to talk with Mads over a video call.Da: Normalt glædede hun sig til disse øjeblikke med ham, men denne gang bar hun en tung hemmelighed.En: Normally, she looked forward to these moments with him, but this time she carried a heavy secret.Da: Hendes læge havde ringet tidligere på ugen med uventede resultater fra nogle rutineprøver.En: Her doctor had called earlier in the week with unexpected results from some routine tests.Da: Selvom lægen sagde, at hun ikke skulle bekymre sig før flere tests, kunne hun ikke slippe den nagende frygt.En: Although the doctor said she shouldn't worry until more tests were done, she couldn't shake the nagging fear.Da: Fra Australien sendte Mads hende en besked, "Klar til Sankt Hans fejring?"En: From Australien, Mads sent her a message, "Ready for Sankt Hans celebration?"Da: Forestillingen om at fortælle ham, kastede skyer på hendes optimisme.En: The thought of telling him cast a shadow over her optimism.Da: Hun besluttede at holde sig sammen, indtil hun kunne se ham.En: She decided to keep it together until she could see him.Da: Timerne sneglede sig afsted.En: The hours crawled by.Da: Freja arrangerede alt for aftenen, men tankerne om testresultaterne gled ustandseligt tilbage.En: Freja arranged everything for the evening, but thoughts of the test results drifted back incessantly.Da: Endelig ringede lyden af indgående videoopkald.En: Finally, the sound of an incoming video call rang out.Da: Skærmen blussede op med Mads' smilende ansigt.En: The screen lit up with Mads' smiling face.Da: "Hej min skat!"En: "Hey, my darling!"Da: sagde Mads.En: said Mads.Da: Bag ham kunne Freja se det australske landskab, lyst og åbent.En: Behind him, Freja could see the Australian landscape, bright and open.Da: "Hej Mads," svarede Freja, hendes stemme var lettere rystende.En: "Hi Mads," replied Freja, her voice slightly shaky.Da: De talte om alt og intet; vejret, deres daglige rutiner, planerne for sommeren.En: They talked about everything and nothing; the weather, their daily routines, summer plans.Da: Men Frejas hjerte bankede hårdt i takt med de usagte ord.En: But Freja's heart pounded hard in rhythm with the unsaid words.Da: Hun kunne ikke bære mere; hendes facade begyndte at smuldre.En: She couldn't bear it any longer; her facade began to crumble.Da: "Mads, der er noget jeg skal fortælle dig," begyndte hun forsigtigt.En: "Mads, there's something I need to tell you," she began cautiously.Da: Han så straks bekymret ud.En: He immediately looked concerned.Da: "Hvad er der?"En: "What is it?"Da: Freja trak vejret dybt.En: Freja took a deep breath.Da: Hun fortalte ham om opkaldene fra lægen, om hendes frygt og tvivl.En: She told him about the calls from the doctor, about her fears and doubts.Da: Mads lyttede stille, og da hun var færdig, sagde han roligt, "Freja, vi skal nok klare det.En: Mads listened quietly, and when she was finished, he calmly said, "Freja, we will get through this.Da: Sammen.En: Together.Da: Jeg er her for dig."En: I am here for you."Da: Hans ord lagde sig som varmt tæppe over hendes bekymringer.En: His words felt like a warm blanket over her worries.Da: Hun kunne for første gang denne uge trække vejret frit.En: For the first time that week, she could breathe freely.Da: Sankt Hans bålet blussede op på skærmen, en skulptur af lys og håb.En: The Sankt Hans bonfire flared up on the screen, a sculpture of light and hope.Da: Freja vidste nu, at det er vigtigt at dele hendes byrder, at styrken ligger i fællesskabet.En: Freja now knew it was important to share her burdens, that strength lies in togetherness.Da: Med lysenes dans i baggrunden, følte hun sig pludselig hjemme med Mads, trods afstanden.En: With the dance of the lights in the background, she suddenly felt at home with Mads, despite the distance.Da: De to, sammen stærkere, spændte over klodens omkreds.En: The two of them, together stronger, spanning across the globe. Vocabulary Words:shone: strålendecozy: hyggeligeadorned: prydedecandles: lysenescheduled: skullesecret: hemmelighedroutine: rutineprøverunexpected: uventedenagging: nagendeconcerned: bekymrettogetherness: fællesskabetlandscape: landskabsmiling: smilendeshaky: rystendepounded: bankedecrumble: smuldreburdens: byrderstrength: styrkenfare: klarthought: tankecautiously: forsigtigtbreathe: trække vejretincoming: indgåendefacade: facadesculpture: skulpturoptimism: optimismeMads: Madsapart: trodsopen: åbentdespite: trods

In today's episode, Gina responds to a listener question regarding grief and anxiety. Gina offers strategies for coping with the generally disturbing combination of grief and anxiety, particularly in the case of losing someone close to you. Gina underlines the particular emotions that are exhibited when experiencing grief as well as techniques that can be used to enhance and maintain support and self-care.Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that's different from what I share on the podcast.If you'd like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here: http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.comJoin our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One CoachingIf you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for AnxietyQuote:Grief and gratitude are kindred souls, each pointing to the beauty of what is transient and given to us by grace.-PATRICIA CAMPBELL CARLSONChapters0:28 Grief and Anxiety Support3:47 Common Grief Emotions5:48 Facing Fear and Sadness8:17 Physical Effects of Grief10:17 Self-Care and Support13:20 Letting Feelings Flow15:41 Grief and GratitudeSummaryIn this episode we respond to a listener who is dealing with long-term anxiety and the recent death of her older brother. We focus on how grief can intensify anxiety and panic, and we discuss ways to stay supported during this time.We explain that grief is individual and does not follow a fixed timeline. We note that people may grieve differently depending on the relationship, the type of loss, and their own resilience. We also say that grief can apply to many kinds of losses, not only death.We then describe common grief reactions, including shock, numbness, anger, sadness, fear, and anxiety. We mention that physical symptoms can include insomnia, fatigue, and changes in appetite, and we encourage listeners to notice these responses without judging them.We offer practical ways to cope, including meditation, short stress breaks, music, aromatherapy, prayer, and other calming rituals. We also encourage maintaining social support, reaching out to others when needed, and paying attention to sleep, exercise, food, and rest.We close by encouraging journaling, doodling, crying, and other forms of emotional release. We emphasize that allowing feelings to move through can help the nervous system settle and support a return to calm.#Grief, #Anxiety, #PanicAttack, #Loss, #Bereavement, #Mourning, #MentalHealth, #EmotionalWellness, #GriefSupport, #AnxietyRelief, #OvercomingPanic, #ShockAndNumbness, #GriefAnger, #DealingWithSadness, #OvercomingFear, #DealingWithUncertainty, #InsomniaRelief, #Fatigue, #SelfCare, #DailyRoutine, #StressManagement, #StressRelief, #Meditation, #Mindfulness, #StressBreaks, #Aromatherapy, #PetTherapy, #InspirationalQuotes, #SocialSupport, #TherapyWorks, #GriefCoaching, #SupportGroups, #PhysicalHealth, #ExerciseForMentalHealth, #Journaling, #CreativeRelease, #EmotionalExpression, #LetItFlow, #CopingMechanisms, #HealingJourney, #NervousSystemRegulation, #EmotionalRelease, #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #ACPSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this solo episode, Travis breaks down some of his biggest takeaways from his conversation with former Air Force fighter pilot and Thunderbird lead solo pilot Michelle Curran. Known by her callsign “Mace,” Michelle built an extraordinary career flying F-16s in high-pressure combat environments before transitioning into public speaking and authorship. Travis reflects on the lessons Michelle shared about fear, imposter syndrome, high achievement, and what it really takes to pursue a meaningful life. On this episode we talk about: How one visceral moment completely changed Michelle's career trajectory Why competence is only the baseline in high-performance environments The truth about imposter syndrome and why nearly everyone experiences it How misapplied fear keeps people from taking action in everyday life The downside of relentless ambition and constantly moving the goalpost Top 3 Takeaways Fear is often misapplied in modern life. Most of the things we fear today are uncomfortable—not life-threatening—and learning to distinguish between the two is critical for growth. Imposter syndrome is a universal human experience. The people who succeed aren't fearless—they act despite the fear and build confidence through repeated action. High achievement and dissatisfaction often come from the same internal drive. Ambition can fuel incredible success, but it can also rob you of celebrating meaningful wins along the way. Notable Quotes “The doubt isn't the problem. Pretending it isn't there—that's the problem.” “Anything worth having in life is going to be difficult to get. That's what makes it worth having.” “The drive and the discontent are the same engine.” Connect with Michelle “Mace” Curran: Instagram: @mace_curran Other: Michelle Curran Official Website A Word from Our Sponsors: - Are you ready to start your own creatorjourney and make it big? Visitwww.fanvue.com today and launch yourcareer!- To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go tohttps://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney-Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Dr. Megan McElheran, a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with uniformed service personnel delves into Dr. McElheran's development of upstream training programs aimed at preparing military and public safety professionals to manage stress before it becomes overwhelming. Marcus and Dr. McElheran explore the concepts of post-traumatic growth, the importance of action-oriented stoic philosophy, and practical steps for emotional regulation. Dr. McElheran shares her journey into psychology, the creation of the Before Operational Stress (BOS) program, and data-backed evidence of its effectiveness. Episode Highlights: 12:45 The Role of Stoicism in Uniformed Services 24:28 The Importance of De-escalation and Self-Care 25:26 Training Gaps and Operational Stress 26:15 The Duality of Tactical Skills and Trauma 32:43 Facing Fear and Taking Action Dr. Megan McElheran is a dedicated trauma therapist specializing in helping first responders, active-duty members of the Canadian Forces, and community members navigate the aftermath of traumatic events. With expertise in evidence-based practices such as Prolonged Exposure, EMDR, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Megan provides a safe, structured environment for clients to process and heal. Her work emphasizes resilience and the profound capacity for change, as shared in her 2011 TEDx talk, Trauma, Change, and Resilience. Megan’s compassionate approach empowers individuals to rebuild their lives, transforming the impact of trauma into growth and strength. You can learn more about Dr. McElheran here: https://www.wayfound.ca/dr-megan-mcelheran Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PSR Podcast is a listener supported outreach of Be Broken Ministries. Partner with us through giving at BeBroken.org/donate. Thank you for your support!----------In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Karla Downing to tackle one of the most challenging topics in marriage — recovering from sexual betrayal. Karla breaks down how fear and anxiety affect both partners after betrayal, explaining the push-and-pull patterns of hyper and hypo-reactivity that can make healing so difficult. She offers practical, compassionate steps for couples to identify and manage their fears, rebuild trust, and communicate more openly. We also explore how leaning on Christ together can serve as a steady anchor throughout the healing journey. To learn more about Karla and her resources, visit ChangeMyRelationship.com. Karla also provided us with a handout for today's podcast. You can access it at Bebroken.org/anxietyhandout.Topics Covered in this Episode: The impact of sexual betrayal on couples' relationships.Common fears and anxieties experienced by both spouses after betrayal.The emotional dynamics of hypo-reactivity and hyper-reactivity in relationships.The importance of recognizing and managing fears in the healing process.The role of faith and trust in God during recovery from betrayal.The effects of fear of rejection and loss on both partners.Communication strategies for expressing fears and emotions.Practical steps for couples to handle their fears and promote healing.The significance of awareness in identifying and addressing fears.Resources available for couples seeking support and guidance in healing relationships.More Resources:10 Relationship-Changing PrinciplesSelf-Esteem QuizChange My Relationship* by Karla DowningRelated Podcasts:8 Practical Steps of ForgivenessHelping Men Understand a Woman's Grief ProcessHow Couples Can Navigate the "Messy Middle" After Betrayal Trauma*This is an affiliate link. Be Broken may earn referral fees on purchases through this link.----------Please rate and review our podcast: Apple and SpotifyFollow us on our Vimeo Channel.

Legendary traditional bowhunter Fred Eichler joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to share jaw-dropping stories from a lifetime in the wild — including being charged by grizzlies and brown bears, a terrifying political situation in Zimbabwe, and the moment he thought he wouldn't make it home. He talks about growing up with a Green Beret dad, going all-in on recurve bows, the mental game of true bowhunting, passing the torch to his sons, and why challenge and risk are what make hunting (and life) meaningful. Raw, authentic, and full of hard-earned wisdom from one of the most respected voices in the hunting world.Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4005: Irene Elias explores how fear often masks the very path your soul is urging you to take, and why choosing growth over comfort leads to a more fulfilling life. By reframing fear as a mental story and taking small, consistent actions, you can build confidence and move toward what truly matters. Listening closely reveals how to transform doubt into momentum and live with fewer regrets. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://selflovejunkie.com/how-to-follow-your-heart-even-though-youre-scared/ Quotes to ponder: "Most of the fear you feel is only a story that you've made up in your mind." "Stepping into the unknown can be scary but what's scarier is living with regrets and fighting with the what-ifs." "You gain strength courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stopped to look fear in the face." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4005: Irene Elias explores how fear often masks the very path your soul is urging you to take, and why choosing growth over comfort leads to a more fulfilling life. By reframing fear as a mental story and taking small, consistent actions, you can build confidence and move toward what truly matters. Listening closely reveals how to transform doubt into momentum and live with fewer regrets. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://selflovejunkie.com/how-to-follow-your-heart-even-though-youre-scared/ Quotes to ponder: "Most of the fear you feel is only a story that you've made up in your mind." "Stepping into the unknown can be scary but what's scarier is living with regrets and fighting with the what-ifs." "You gain strength courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stopped to look fear in the face." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4005: Irene Elias explores how fear often masks the very path your soul is urging you to take, and why choosing growth over comfort leads to a more fulfilling life. By reframing fear as a mental story and taking small, consistent actions, you can build confidence and move toward what truly matters. Listening closely reveals how to transform doubt into momentum and live with fewer regrets. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://selflovejunkie.com/how-to-follow-your-heart-even-though-youre-scared/ Quotes to ponder: "Most of the fear you feel is only a story that you've made up in your mind." "Stepping into the unknown can be scary but what's scarier is living with regrets and fighting with the what-ifs." "You gain strength courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stopped to look fear in the face." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Wright II interviews entrepreneur and speaker Ben Kjar, who was born with Crouzon syndrome and overcame bullying and medical adversity to become an NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, flip over 200 homes, and release the film “Standout: The Ben Kjar Story.” Ben shares a pivotal grocery-store incident that led his mother to reframe his difference as a purpose—“born to make a difference” and “born to stand out”—shaping his identity and gratitude. He explains why wrestling helped him create control through effort and attitude, and outlines his 3XSC framework: call your shot (clear goals), enlist “shot callers” for accountability, and set an expiring timeline (“shot clock”). They discuss disobeying averages across all life areas, daily discipline such as protecting mornings for family and routines, and Ben fulfilling a 20-year goal of speaking on stage with Tony Robbins.01:58 Ben's Early Challenges02:42 Confidence Through Effort05:02 Grocery Store Turning Point07:49 Identity and Support System09:53 Why Wrestling Chose Him13:43 Introducing 3XSC17:17 Breaking Down 3XSC17:56 Facing Fear to Call Shots18:33 Fear Of Being Seen19:02 Losing Still Inspires20:26 Why Call Your Shot20:59 Finding Shot Callers21:40 Half Marathon Support23:06 Lets Go Theory24:08 Disobey Average Mindset26:02 Raising Kids Standards28:50 Daily Rituals Discipline30:43 Stop Being 2.032:08 Adversity As Leverage33:22 Tony Robbins Long GameThanks for listening, and Please Share this Episode with someone. It would really help us to grow our show and share these valuable tips and strategies with others. Have a great day.George Wright III“It's Never Too Late to Start Living the Life You Were Meant to Live”FREE Daily Mastermind Resources:CONNECT with George & Access Tons of ResourcesGet access to Proven Strategies and Time-Test Principles for Success. Plus, download and access tons of FREE resources and online events by joining our Exclusive Community of Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, and High Achievers like YOU.Join FREE at DailyMastermind.comFollow me on social media Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin | TikTok | YoutubeGrow Your Authority and Personal Brand with a FREE Interview in a Top Global Magazine HERE.About Guest: Ben KjarBen Kjar was born with Crouzons syndrome (a craniofacial anomaly), and as a young boy, the doctors told him that he would live a different life.....and that's exactly what he's done! He has risen above any of life's challenges and become a Victor, not a victim. Ben is Utah Valley University's first-ever NCAA Division 1 Wrestling All-American and has represented the USA team internationally. Ben is an international professional speaker and has told his story to millions around the globe, in front of crowds of up to 10,000 people!Guest Resources:Website: https://www.benkjar.com/Instagram: @benkjarFacebook: Ben KjarX (formerly Twitter): @benkjarLinkedIn: Ben KjarFilm Website: https://standoutfilm.com/

Fear is a common emotion in many clients and especially in those who are dealing with pain. As an instructor, learning to create trust, manage expectations, refer when needed and maintain your center with difficult clients are important skills to cultivate. Brian and Nora talk through several common scenarios, share case studies and encourage you to cultivate compassion without losing your center. Moving Conversation Socials    Brian's Book on Low Back Pain and Conditions:  Back Exercise; Stabilize, Mobilize and Reduce Pain  https://a.co/d/8IUb7L6    YourTube: BrianRicheyEmail: movingconvos@gmail.com  IG: @movingconvos  FB: Moving Conversations    Brian  IG: @fit4lifedc  FB: https://www.facebook.com/brianrichey/     Nora  IG: nora.s.john.7  FB: https://www.facebook.com/nora.s.john.7 

►► GET MY FREE VIDEO & WORKSHEET - SHATTERPROOF YOURSELF LITE!7 SMALL STEPS TO A GIANT LEAP IN YOUR CONFIDENCEAs entrepreneurs, the biggest thing holding us back isn't lack of strategy, it's the tough conversations we keep avoiding. In this episode, I break down three leadership decisions that change everything: stay out of the drama and get to the core issue, mine for conflict instead of dodging it, and choose to lead with clarity instead of just reacting or withdrawing. Your legacy is shaped by the actions you take today, so stop overthinking, stop waiting for perfect conditions, and take bold action. Decide, act, and repeat. You own your legacy.CHAPTERS:00:00 Facing challenges and growing confidence03:34 Struggling with accountability08:08 Addressing fear of conflict11:09 Decisions for leaders under stress13:36 Making better conversation choices

In this episode, I share how competing against a two-time world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu shaped my understanding of leadership and personal growth. I highlight the significance of hard work and preparation, drawing parallels between competition and leadership challenges in business. I discuss overcoming fears, resilience, and the continuous journey of growth, likening the path to success to the pursuit of a black belt. I outline three key lessons: growth knows no limits, preparation is vital, and the most significant battles occur within our minds. I hope to inspire listeners to embrace their leadership journeys with courage and resilience. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 3:26 Lessons from Competing 6:32 Facing Fear and Doubt 8:14 Key Takeaways for Leaders 9:41 Creating Better Leadership Teams

Welcome back, Empowered fam! In this episode of The Empowered w/ Deanna Merlino Podcast, I dive deep into the concept of desiring more out of life and not shrinking back from your gifts. Drawing inspiration from a powerful parable about the bags of gold, I explore how gratitude for what we have doesn't mean we need to stop growing. I share my own personal journey - of overcoming a fear of public speaking, launching this very podcast, writing as a published author, and creating courses that have changed lives worldwide. Tune in to be inspired as I encourage you to face your fears, rise to your calling, and step into the abundance you're meant for. If you know you're meant for more, this episode is for you!The book I referenced: Million Dollar Micro Business by Tina TowerMy Reiki level 1, 2 & 3 Master/Teacher Course: Info & Enrollment. --Let's connect! To see what else I'm up to, get more info on my latest offerings, and updates on my life and the podcast, follow me on Instagram: @thedeannamerlinoDon't forget to leave the podcast a written review wherever you listen and take a screenshot of it (do this before you hit send or it will disappear for a few days!) and email it to me at theempoweredcoach333@gmail.com to receive my FREE & potent Manifestation Vault with 15 tools!!!Sign up for my hybrid group mentorship - The Expansion Room waitlist here before it expires! All other programs/offerings: www.deannamerlino.com

At just 25 years old, Ali Truwit has already lived several lifetimes' worth of pivots. A Yale graduate and competitive swimmer, Ali was on the cusp of launching her consulting career when a shark attack during a celebratory beach vacation changed everything, costing her part of her leg and forcing her to reimagine her future. In this episode of She Pivots, Ali shares how she fought her way back to the water and earned a silver medal on one of the world's biggest stages, all while still starting her career in consulting. She also opens up about running a marathon and the deeply personal mission behind her work supporting women and girls with limb loss and advocating for water safety. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to She Pivots 01:02 A Young Athlete's Journey Begins 01:47 Swimming: A Lifelong Passion 06:20 College Dreams and Career Aspirations 10:29 The Shark Attack: A Life-Changing Moment 13:46 Facing Fears and Setting New Goals 18:40 Answering Questions: Setting Boundaries 24:25 The Road to the Paralympics 29:23 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Change 33:41 Ali on Team USA at the Paralympics 35:06 Using Her Story for Good 36:30 You Are Stronger Than You Think 39:28 From Swimming to Running 41:15 Ali's inspiration for her Nonprofit 42:39 Pivoting and Embracing Change 43:20 Low Point to Launch Point 45:29 Do You Think You'll Pivot Again? 46:01 Closing Thoughts on Ali's Impact 46:47 She Pivots Podcast Production Notes You can find Ali on Instagram @AliTruwit www.StrongerThanYouThink.com Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a pivot story, leave us a rating (it really helps!), and share this episode with a woman in your life who you think needs a little inspiration. She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success. Join our Substack community! Subscribe here for exclusive content and to connect with other pivoters: shepivots.substack.com Learn more about the inspiring women in our pivoter community by following us on instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast, and check out our website shepivotspod.com for resources and updates. She Pivots is proud to be an iheart podcast.Support the show: https://www.shepivotsthepodcast.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Don't give up. Allow yourself to breathe, laugh, and dream again. Healing is possible, and you are not alone." ~Mary HendersonMary Henderson sits down with us this week for an honest, heartfelt conversation about love, loss, and rebuilding life after unimaginable grief. She shares the traumatic story of losing her husband during the COVID pandemic, the raw challenges of navigating grief, and the struggle to rediscover her self-worth and identity. Mary opens up about:~ moving through anger and numbness, and still leaning on faith~journaling to find her identity after wondering "Who am I now?"~having an amazing therapist to guide her through grief~daring to dream again! ~ building a house in Honduras~starting a blog called "Dream Big, Girl" to encourage women~writing faith-filled romance novels that always have a happy ending!If you are in the early stages of grief or feeling lost, you'll find inspiration, practical advice, and a message of hope here. Mary Henderson offers encouragement to take your “stone” from the floodwaters of pain and carry it to healing—reminding listeners that joy and purpose can be found again, and you are never truly alone.You can reach Mary at www.maryhendersonauthor.comHer blog is "Dream Big, Girl"Widow 180 Resources and all Widow 180 Workbooks can be found at www.widow180.com/workbooks Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQFor more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.comQuestions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

In this episode of The Business Method Podcast, host Chris Reynolds sits down with entrepreneur and CEO Angelica, who shares the remarkable story of stepping into leadership when her family's company was on the verge of collapse and turning it into a billion-dollar turnaround. Angelica opens up about saying yes to the scariest opportunity of her career: becoming CEO of OmniLife and Chivas at a time when the company was nearing bankruptcy. Faced with enormous pressure, she restructured leadership, rebuilt operations and supply chains, unified branding across international markets, and made difficult decisions including layoffs while implementing a bold people-first culture. Throughout the conversation, Angelica reveals how fear can actually be a powerful signal for growth and why she encourages entrepreneurs, especially women to take action even when they feel afraid. She also shares her early experiences working in her family's energy business, the discrimination she faced as a woman in leadership, and the inner work that helped her build resilience, confidence, and clarity. Beyond business, Angelica introduces NOWFUL, her wellness system designed to help people reconnect with themselves through simple daily rituals. The system includes AI-powered affirmation cards, a mushroom complex, anchoring oils, magnesium sleep cream, and a 30-day challenge focused on breathing, gratitude, and positive habits. This episode is a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, fear, wellness, and the mindset required to rebuild companies and transform lives.

What makes a character so compelling that readers will forgive almost anything about the plot? How do you move beyond vague flaws and generic descriptions to create people who feel pulled from real life? In this solo episode, I share 15 actionable tips for writing deep characters, curated from past interviews on the podcast. In the intro, thoughts from London Book Fair [Instagram reel @jfpennauthor; Publishing Perspectives; Audible; Spotify]; Insights from a 7-figure author business [BookBub]. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community and get articles, discounts, and extra audio and video tutorials on writing craft, author business, and AI tools, at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn This episode has been created from previous episodes of The Creative Penn Podcast, curated by Joanna Penn, as well as chapters from How to Write a Novel: From Idea to Book. Links to the individual episodes are included in the transcript below. In this episode: Master the ‘Believe, Care, Invest' trifecta, how to hook readers on the very first page Define the Dramatic Question: Who is your character when the chips are down? Absolute specificity. Why “she's controlling” isn't good enough Understand the Heroine's Journey, strength through connection, not solo action Use ‘Metaphor Families' to anchor dialogue and give every character a distinctive voice Find the Diagnostic Detail, the moments that prove a character is real Writing pain onto the page without writing memoir Write diverse characters as real people, not stereotypes or plot devices Give your protagonist a morally neutral ‘hero' status. Compelling beats likeable. Build vibrant side characters for series longevity and spin-off potential Use voice as a rhythmic tool Link character and plot until they're inseparable Why discovery writers can write out of order and still build deep character Find the sensory details that make characters live and breathe More help with how to write fiction here, or in my book, How to Write a Novel. Writing Characters: 15 Tips for Writing Deep Character in Your Fiction In today's episode, I'm sharing fifteen tips for writing deep characters, synthesised from some of the most insightful interviews on The Creative Penn Podcast over the past few years, combined with what I've learned across more than forty books of my own. I'll be referencing episodes with Matt Bird, Will Storr, Gail Carriger, Barbara Nickless, and Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer. I'll also draw on my own book, How to Write a Novel, which covers these fundamentals in detail. Whether you're writing your first novel or your fiftieth, whether you're a plotter or a discovery writer like me, these tips will help you create characters that readers believe in, care about, and invest in—and keep coming back for more. Let's get into it. 1. Master the ‘Believe, Care, Invest' Trifecta When I spoke with Matt Bird on episode 624, he laid out the three things you need to achieve on the very first page of your book or in the first ten minutes of a film. He calls it “Believe, Care, and Invest.” First, the reader must believe the character is a real person, somehow proving they are not a cardboard imitation of a human being, not just a generic type walking through a generic plot. Second, the reader must care about the character's circumstances. And third, the reader must invest in the character's ability to solve the story's central problem. Matt used The Hunger Games as his primary example, and it's brilliant. On the very first page, we believe Katniss's voice. Suzanne Collins writes in first person with a staccato rhythm—lots of periods, short declarative sentences—that immediately grounds us in a survivalist mentality. We care because Katniss is starving. She's protecting her little sister. And we invest because she is out there bow hunting, which Matt pointed out is one of the most badass things a character can do. She even kills a lynx two pages in and sells the pelt. We invest in her resourcefulness and grit before the plot has even begun. Matt was very clear that this has nothing to do with the character being “likable.” He said his subtitle, Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love, doesn't mean the character has to be a good person. He described “hero” as both gender-neutral and morally neutral. A hero can be totally evil or totally good. What matters is that we believe, care, and invest. He demonstrated this beautifully by breaking down the first ten minutes of WeCrashed, where the characters of Adam and Rebekah Neumann are absolutely not likable, but we are completely hooked. Adam steals his neighbour's Chinese food through a carefully orchestrated con involving an imaginary beer. It's not admirable behaviour, but the tradecraft involved, as Matt put it—using a term from spy movies—makes us invest in him. We see a character trying to solve the big problem of his life, which is that he's poor and wants to be rich, and we want to see if he can pull it off. Actionable step: Go to the first page of your current work in progress. Does it achieve all three? Does the reader believe this is a real person with a distinctive voice? Do they care about the character's circumstances? And do they invest in the character's ability to handle what's coming? If even one of those three is missing, that's your revision priority. 2. Define the Dramatic Question: Who Are They Really? Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling, came on episode 490 and gave one of the most powerful frameworks I've ever heard for character-driven fiction. He explained that the human brain evolved language primarily to swap social information—in other words, to gossip. We are wired to monitor other people, to ask the question: who is this person when the chips are down? That's what Will calls the Dramatic Question, and it's what he believes lies at the heart of all compelling storytelling. It's not a question about plot. It's a question about the character's soul. And every scene in your novel should force the character to answer it. His example of Lawrence of Arabia is unforgettable. The Dramatic Question for the entire film is: who are you, Lawrence? Are you ordinary or are you extraordinary? At the beginning, Lawrence is a cocky, rebellious young soldier who believes his rebelliousness makes him superior. Every iconic scene in that three-hour film tests that belief. Sometimes Lawrence acts as though he truly is extraordinary—leading the Arabs into battle, being hailed as a god—and sometimes the world strips him bare and he sees himself as ordinary. Because it's a tragedy, he never overcomes his flaw. He doubles down on his belief that he's extraordinary until he becomes monstrous, culminating in that iconic scene where he lifts a bloody dagger and sees his own reflection with horror. Will also used Jaws to demonstrate how this works in a pure action thriller. Brody's dramatic question is simple: are you going to be old Brody who is terrified of the water, or new Brody who can overcome that fear? Every scene where the shark appears is really asking that question. And the last moment of the film isn't the shark blowing up. It's Brody swimming back through the water, saying he used to be scared of the water and he can't imagine why. Actionable step: Write down the Dramatic Question for your protagonist in a single sentence. Is it “Are you ordinary or extraordinary?” or “Are you brave enough to love again?” or “Will you sacrifice your principles for survival?” If you can't answer this with specificity, your character might still be a sketch rather than a person. 3. Get rid of Vague Flaws, and use Absolute Specificity This was one of Will Storr's most important points. He said that vague thinking about characters is really the enemy. When he teaches workshops and asks writers to describe their character's flaw, most of them say something like “they're very controlling.” And Will's response is: that's not good enough. Everyone is controlling. How are they controlling? What's the specific mechanism? He gave the example of a profile he read of Theresa May during the UK's Brexit chaos. Someone who knew her said that Theresa May's problem was that she always thinks she's the only adult in every room she goes into. Will said that stopped him in his tracks because it's so precise. If you define a character with that level of specificity, you can take them and put them in any genre, any situation—a spaceship, a Victorian drawing room, a school playground—and you will know exactly how they're going to behave. The same applies to Arthur Miller's Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, as Will described it: a man who believes absolutely in capitalistic success and the idea that when you die, you're going to be weighed on a scale, just as God weighs you for sin, but now you're weighed for success. That's not a vague flaw. That's a worldview you can drop into any story and watch it combust. Will made another counterintuitive point that I found really valuable: writers often think that piling on multiple traits will create a complex character, but the opposite is true. Starting with one highly specific flaw and running it through the demands of a relentless plot is what generates complexity. You end up with a far more nuanced, original character than if you'd started with a laundry list of vague attributes. Actionable step: Take your protagonist's flaw and pressure-test it. Is it specific enough that you could place this character in any situation and predict their behaviour? If you're stuck at “she's stubborn” or “he's insecure,” keep pushing. What kind of stubborn? What kind of insecure? Find the diagnostic sentence—the Theresa May level of precision. 4. Understand the Heroine's Journey: Strength Through Connection Gail Carriger came on episode 550 to discuss her nonfiction book, The Heroine's Journey, and it completely reframed how I think about some of my own fiction. Gail explained that the core difference between the Hero's Journey and the Heroine's Journey comes down to how strength and victory are defined. The Hero's Journey is about strength through solo action. The hero must be continually isolated to get stronger. He goes out of civilisation, faces strife alone, and achieves victory through physical prowess and self-actualisation. The Heroine's Journey is the opposite. The heroine achieves her goals by activating a network. She's a delegator, a general. She identifies where she can't do something alone, finds the people who can help, and portions out the work for mutual gain. Gail put it simply: the heroine is very good at asking for help, which our culture tends to devalue but which is actually a powerful form of strength. Crucially, Gail stressed that gender is irrelevant to which journey you're writing. Her go-to examples are striking: the recent Wonder Woman film is practically a beat-for-beat hero's journey—Gilgamesh on screen, as Gail described it. Meanwhile, Harry Potter, both the first book and the series as a whole, is a classic heroine's journey. Harry's power comes from his network—Dumbledore's Army, the Order of the Phoenix, his friendships with Ron and Hermione. He doesn't defeat Voldemort alone. He defeats Voldemort because of love and connection. This distinction has real practical consequences for writers. If you're writing a hero's journey and you hit writer's block, Gail said, the solution is usually to isolate your hero further and pile on more strife. But if you're writing a heroine's journey, the solution is probably to throw a new character into the scene—someone who has advice to offer or a skill the heroine lacks. The actual solutions to writer's block are different depending on which narrative you're writing. As I reflected on my own work, I realised that my ARKANE thriller protagonist, Morgan Sierra, follows a hero's journey—she's a solo operative, a lone wolf like Jack Reacher or James Bond. But my Mapwalker fantasy series follows a heroine's journey, with Sienna and her group of friends working together. I hadn't consciously chosen those paths; the stories led me there. But understanding the framework helps me write more intentionally now. Actionable step: Identify which journey your protagonist is on. Does your character gain strength by being alone (hero) or by building connections (heroine)? This will inform every plot decision you make, from how they face obstacles to how your story ends. 5. Use ‘Metaphor Families' to Anchor Dialogue and Voice One of the most practical techniques Matt Bird shared on episode 624 is the idea of assigning each character a “metaphor family”—a specific well of language that they draw from. This gives each character a distinctive voice that goes beyond accent or dialect. Matt explained how in The Wire, one of the most beloved TV shows of all time, every character has a different metaphor family. What struck him was that Omar, this iconic character, never utters a single curse word in the entire series. His metaphor family is pirate. He talks about parlays, uses language that feels like it belongs in Pirates of the Caribbean, and it creates this incredible ironic counterpoint against his urban setting. It tells us immediately that this is a character who sees himself in a tradition of people that doesn't match his immediate surroundings. Matt also referenced the UK version of The Office, where Gareth works at a paper company but aspires to the military. So all of his language is drawn from a military metaphor family. He doesn't talk about filing and photocopying; he talks about tactics and discipline and being on the front line. This tells us that the character has a life and dreams beyond the immediate scene—and it's the gap between aspiration and reality that makes him both funny and believable. He pointed out that a metaphor family sometimes comes from a character's background, but it's often more interesting when it comes from their aspirations. What does your character want to be? What world do they fantasise about inhabiting? That's where their language should come from. In Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a spiritual hermit, but his metaphor family is military. He uses the language of generals and commanders, and that ironic counterpoint is part of what makes him feel so rich. Actionable step: Assign each of your main characters a metaphor family. It could be based on their job, their background, or—more interestingly—their secret aspirations. Then go through your dialogue and make sure each character is consistently drawing from that well of language. If two characters sound the same when you strip away the dialogue tags, this is the fix. 6. Find the Diagnostic Detail: The Diagonal Toast Avoid clichéd character tags—the random scar, the eye patch, the mysterious limp—unless they serve a deep narrative purpose. Matt Bird on episode 624 was very funny about this: he pointed out that Nick Fury, Odin, and eventually Thor all have eye patches in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Eye patches are done, he said. You cannot do eye patches anymore. Instead, look for what I'm calling the “diagonal toast” detail, after a scene Matt described from Captain Marvel. In the film, Captain Marvel is trying to determine whether Nick Fury is who he says he is. She asks him to prove he isn't a shapeshifting alien. Fury shares biographical details—his history, his mother—but then she pushes further and says, name one more thing you couldn't possibly have made up about yourself. And Fury says: if toast is cut diagonally, I can't eat it. Matt said that detail is gold for a writer because it feels pulled from a real life. You can pull it from your own life and gift it to your characters, and the reader can tell it's not manufactured. He gave another example from The Sopranos: Tony Soprano's mother won't answer the phone after dark. The show's creator, David Chase, confirmed on the DVD commentary that this came from his own mother, who genuinely would not answer the phone after dark and couldn't explain why. Matt's practical advice was to keep a journal. Write down the strange, specific things that people do or say. Mine your own life for those hyper-specific details. You just need one per book. In my own writing, I've used this approach. In my ARKANE thrillers, my character Morgan Sierra has always been Angelina Jolie in my mind—specifically Jolie in Lara Croft or Mr and Mrs Smith. And Blake Daniel in my crime thriller series was based on Jesse Williams from Grey's Anatomy. I paste pictures of actors into my Scrivener projects. It helps with visuals, but also with the sense of the character, their energy and physicality. But visual details only take you so far. It's the behavioural quirks—the diagonal toast moments—that make a character feel genuinely alive. That said, physical character tags can work brilliantly when they serve the story. As I discuss in How to Write a Novel, Robert Galbraith's Cormoran Strike is an amputee, and his pain and the physical challenges of his prosthesis are a key part of every story—it's not a cosmetic detail, it's woven into the action and the character's psychology. My character Blake Daniel always wears gloves to cover the scars on his hands, which provides an angle into his wounded past as well as a visual cue for the reader. And of course, Harry Potter's lightning-shaped scar isn't just a mark—it's a direct connection to his nemesis and the mythology of the entire series. The rule of thumb is: if the tag tells us something about the character's interior life or connects to the plot, it's earning its place. If it's just there to make the character visually distinctive, it's probably a crutch. Game of Thrones takes character tags further with the family houses, each with their own mottos and sigils. The Starks say “Winter is coming” and their sigil is a dire wolf. Those aren't just labels—they're worldview made visible. Actionable step: Start a “diagonal toast” notebook. Every time you notice something strange and specific about someone's behaviour—something that feels too real to be made up—write it down. Then gift it to a character who needs more texture. 7. Displace Your Own Trauma into the Work Barbara Nickless shared something deeply personal on episode 732 that fundamentally changed how I think about putting pain onto the page. While starting At First Light, the first book in her Dr. Evan Wilding series, she lost her son to epilepsy—something called SUDEP, Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy. One day he was there, and the next day he was gone. Barbara said that writing helped her cope with the trauma, that doing a deep dive into Old English literature and the Viking Age for the book's research became a lifeline. But here's what's important: she didn't give Dr. Evan Wilding her exact trauma. Evan Wilding is four feet five inches, and Barbara described how he has to walk through a world that won't adjust to him. That's its own form of learning to cope when circumstances are beyond your control. She displaced her genuine grief into the character's different but parallel struggle. When I asked her about the difference between writing for therapy and writing for an audience, she drew on her experience teaching creative writing to veterans through a collaboration between the US Department of Defense and the National Endowment for the Arts. She said she's found that she can pour her heartache into her characters and process it through them, even when writing professionally, and that the genuine emotion is what touches readers. We've all been through our own losses and griefs, so seeing how a character copes can be deeply meaningful. I've always found that putting my own pain onto the page is the most direct way to connect with a reader's soul. My character Morgan Sierra's musings on religion and the supernatural are often my own. Her restlessness, her fascination with the darker edges of faith—those come from me. But her Krav Maga fighting skills and her ability to kill the bad guys are definitely her own. That gap between what's mine and what's hers is where the fiction lives. Barbara also said something on that episode that I wrote down and stuck on my wall. She said the act of producing itself is a balm to the soul. I've been thinking about that ever since. On my own wall, I have “Measure your life by what you create.” Different words, same truth. Actionable step: If you're carrying something heavy—grief, anger, fear, regret—consider how you might displace it into a character's different but emotionally parallel struggle. Don't copy your exact situation; transform it. The emotion will be genuine, and the reader will feel it. 8. Write Diverse Characters as Real People When I spoke with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer on episode 673—Sarah is Choctaw and a historical fiction author honoured by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian—she offered a perspective that every fiction writer needs to hear. The key message was to move away from stereotypes. Don't write your American Indian character as the “Wise Guide” who exists solely to dispense mystic wisdom to the white protagonist. Don't limit diverse characters to historical settings, as though they only exist in the past. Place them in normal, contemporary roles. Your spaceship captain, your forensic scientist, your small-town baker—any of them can be American Indian, or Nigerian, or Japanese, and their heritage should be a lived-in part of their identity, not the sole reason they exist in the story. I write international thrillers and dark fantasy, and my fiction is populated with characters from all over the world. I have a multi-cultural family and I've lived in many places and travelled widely, so I've met, worked with, and had relationships with people from different cultures. I find story ideas through travel, and if I set my books in a certain place, then the story is naturally populated with the people who live there. As I discuss in my book, How to Write a Novel, the world is a diverse place, so your fiction needs to be populated with all kinds of people. If I only populated my fiction with characters like me, they would be boring novels. There are many dimensions of difference—race, nationality, sex, age, body type, ability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, class, culture, education level—and even then, don't assume that similar types of people think the same way. Some authors worry they will make mistakes. We live in a time of outrage, and some authors have been criticised for writing outside their own experience. So is it too dangerous to try? Of course not. The media amplifies outliers, and most authors include diverse characters in every book without causing offence because they work hard to get it right. It's about awareness, research, and intent. Actionable step: Audit the cast of your current work in progress. Have you written a mono-cultural perspective for all of them? If so, consider who could bring a different background, perspective, or set of cultural specifics to the story. Not as a token addition, but as a real person with a real life. 9. Respect Tribal and Cultural Specificity Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer on episode 673 was emphatic about one thing: never treat diverse groups as monolithic. If you're writing a Native American character, you must research the specific nation. Choctaw is not Navajo, just as British is not French. Sarah described the distinct cultural markers of the Choctaw people—the diamond pattern you'll see on traditional shirts and dresses, which represents the diamondback rattlesnake. They have distinct dances and songs. She said that if she saw someone in traditional dress at a distance, she would know whether they were Choctaw based on what they were wearing. She encouraged writers who want to write specifically about a nation to get to know those people. Go to events, go to a powwow, learn about the individual culture. She noted that a big misconception is that American Indians exist only in the past—she stressed that they are still here, still living their cultures, and fiction should reflect that present reality. I took a similar approach when writing Destroyer of Worlds, which is set mostly in India. I read books about Hindu myth, watched documentaries about the sadhus, and had one of my Indian readers from Mumbai check my cultural references. For Risen Gods, set in New Zealand with a young Maori protagonist, I studied books about Maori mythology and fiction by Maori authors, and had a male Maori reader check for cultural issues. Research is simply an act of empathy. The practical takeaway is this: if you're going to include a character from a specific cultural background, do the work. Use specific cultural details rather than generic signifiers. Sarah talked about how even she fell into stereotypes when she was first writing, until her mother pointed them out. If someone from within a culture can fall into those traps, the rest of us certainly can. Do the research, try your best, ask for help, and apologise if you need to. Actionable step: If you're writing a character from a specific culture, identify three to five sensory or behavioural details that are particular to that culture—not the generic version, but the real, researched, lived-in version. Consider hiring a sensitivity reader from that community to check your work. 10. Give Your Protagonist a Morally Neutral ‘Hero' Status Matt Bird was clear about this on episode 624: the word “hero” simply means the protagonist, the person we follow through the story. It's a functional role, not a moral label. We don't have to like them. We don't even have to root for their goals in a moral sense. We just have to find them compelling enough to invest our attention in their problem-solving. Think of Succession, where every member of the Roy family is varying degrees of awful, and yet the show was utterly compelling. Or WeCrashed, where Adam Neumann is a narcissistic con artist, but we can't look away because he's trying to solve the enormous problem of building an empire from nothing, and the tradecraft he employs is fascinating. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, readers must want to spend time with your characters. They don't have to be lovable or even likable—that will depend on your genre and story choices—but they have to be captivating enough that we want to spend time with them. A character who is trying to solve a massive problem will naturally draw investment from the audience, even if we wouldn't want to have tea with them. Will Storr extended this idea by pointing out that the audience will actually root for a character to solve their problem even if the audience doesn't actually want the character's goal to be achieved in the real world. We don't really want more billionaires, but we invested in Adam Neumann's rise because that was the problem the story posed, and our brains are wired to invest in problem-solving. This connects to something deeper: what does your character want, and why? As I explore in How to Write a Novel, desire operates on multiple levels. Take a character like Phil, who joins the military during wartime. On the surface, she wants to serve her country. But she also wants to escape her dead-end town and learn new skills. Deeper still, her father and grandfather served, and by joining up, she hopes to finally earn their respect. And perhaps deepest of all, her father died on a mission under mysterious circumstances, and she wants to find out what happened from the inside. That layering of motivation is what turns a flat character into a three-dimensional one. The audience doesn't need to be told all of this explicitly. It can emerge through action, dialogue, and the choices the character makes under pressure. But you, the writer, need to know it. You need to know what your character really wants deep down, because that desire—more than any external plot device—is what drives the story forward. And your antagonist needs the same depth. They also want something, often diametrically opposed to your protagonist, and they need a reason that makes sense to them. In my ARKANE thriller Tree of Life, my antagonist is the heiress of a Brazilian mining empire who wants to restore the Earth to its original state to atone for the destruction caused by her father's company. She's part of a radical ecological group who believe the only way to restore Nature is to end all human life. It's extreme, but in an era of climate change, it's a motivation readers can understand—even if they disagree with the solution. Actionable step: If you're struggling to make a morally grey character work, make sure their problem is big enough and their methods are specific and interesting enough that we invest in the how, even if we're ambivalent about the what. 11. Build Vibrant Side Characters Gail Carriger made a point on episode 550 that was equal parts craft advice and business strategy. In a Heroine's Journey model, side characters aren't just fodder to be killed off to motivate the hero. They form a network. And because you don't have to kill them—unlike in a hero's journey, where allies are often betrayed or removed so the hero can be further isolated—you can pick up those side characters and give them their own books. Gail said this creates a really voracious reader base. You write one series with vivid side characters, and then readers fall in love with those side characters and want their stories. So you write spin-offs. The romance genre does this brilliantly—think of the Bridgerton books, where each sibling gets their own novel. The side character in one book becomes the protagonist in the next. Barbara Nickless experienced this firsthand with her Dr. Evan Wilding series. She has River Wilding, Evan's adventurous brother, and Diana, the axe-throwing research assistant, and her editor has already expressed interest in a spin-off series with those characters. Barbara described creating characters she wants to spend time with, or characters who give her nightmares but also intrigue her. That's the dual test: are they interesting enough for you to write, and interesting enough for readers to demand more? As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, characters that span series can deepen the reader's relationship with them as you expand their backstory into new plots. Readers will remember the character more than the plot or the book title, and look forward to the next instalment because they want more time with those people. British crime author Angela Marsons described it as readers feeling like returning to her characters is like putting on a pair of old slippers. Actionable step: Look at your supporting cast. Is there a side character who is vivid enough to carry their own story? If not, what could you add—a specific hobby, a distinct voice, a compelling backstory—that would make readers want more of them? 12. Use Voice as a Rhythmic Tool Voice is one of the most important elements of novel writing, and Matt Bird helped me think about it in a technical, mechanical way that I found really useful. He pointed out that the ratio of periods to commas defines a character's internal reality. A staccato rhythm—lots of periods, short sentences—suggests a character who is certain, grounded, or perhaps survivalist and traumatised. Katniss in The Hunger Games has a period-heavy voice. She's in survival mode. She doesn't have time for complexity or qualification. A flowing, comma-heavy style suggests someone more academic, more nuanced, or possibly more scattered and manipulative. The character who qualifies everything, who adds sub-clauses and digressions, is a different kind of person from the character who speaks in declarations. This is something you can actually measure. Pull up a passage of your character's dialogue or internal monologue and count the periods versus the commas. If the rhythm doesn't match who the character is supposed to be, you've found a mismatch you can fix. Sentence length is the heartbeat of your character's persona. And voice extends beyond rhythm to the words themselves. As I discussed in the metaphor families tip, each character should draw from a distinctive well of language. But voice also encompasses their relationship to silence. Some characters talk around the thing they mean; others say it straight. Some are self-deprecating; others are blunt to the point of rudeness. All of these choices are character choices, not just style choices. I find it useful to read my dialogue aloud—and not just to check for naturalness, but to hear whether each character sounds distinct. If you could swap dialogue lines between two characters and nobody would notice, you have a voice problem. One practical test: cover the dialogue tags and see if you can tell who's speaking from the words alone. Actionable step: Choose a key passage from your protagonist's point of view and read it aloud. Does the rhythm match the character? A soldier under fire should not sound like a philosophy professor at a wine tasting. Adjust the ratio of periods to commas until the voice feels right. 13. Link Character and Plot Until They're Inseparable Will Storr made the case on episode 490 that the number one problem he sees in the writing he encounters—in workshops, in submissions, even in published books—is that the characters and the plots are unconnected. There's a story happening, and there are people in it, but the story isn't a product of who those people are. He said a story should be like life. In our lives, the plots are intimately connected to who we are as characters. The goals we pursue, the obstacles we face, the same problems that keep recurring—these are products of our personalities, our flaws, our specific ways of being in the world. His framework is that your plot should be designed specifically to plot against your character. You've got a character with a particular flaw; the plot exists to test that flaw over and over until the character either transforms or doubles down and explodes. Jaws is the perfect example. Brody is afraid of water. A shark shows up in the coastal town he's responsible for protecting. The entire plot is engineered to force him to confront the one thing he cannot face. Will pointed out that the whole plot of Jaws is structured around Brody's flaw. It begins with the shark arriving, the midpoint is when Brody finally gets the courage to go into the water, and the very final scene isn't the shark blowing up—it's Brody swimming back through the water. Even a film that's ninety-eight percent action is, at its core, structured around a character with a character flaw. This is the standard I aspire to in my own work, even in my action-heavy thrillers. The external plot should be a mirror of the internal struggle. When those two are aligned, the story becomes irresistible. Will also made an important point about series fiction, which is where most commercial authors live. I asked him how this works when your character can't be transformed at the end of every book because there has to be a next book. His answer was elegant: you don't cure them. Episodic TV characters like Fleabag or David Brent or Basil Fawlty never truly change—and the fact that they don't change is actually the source of the comedy. But every episode throws a new story event at them that tests and exposes their flaw. You just keep throwing story events at them again and again. That's a soap opera, a sitcom, and a book series. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, character flaws are aspects of personality that affect the person so much that facing and overcoming them becomes central to the plot. In Jaws, the protagonist Brody is afraid of the water, but he has to overcome that flaw to destroy the killer shark and save the town. But remember, your characters should feel like real people, so never define them purely by their flaws. The character addicted to painkillers might also be a brilliant and successful female lawyer who gets up at four in the morning to work out at the gym, likes eighties music, and volunteers at the local dog shelter at weekends. Character wounds are different from flaws. They're formed from life experience and are part of your character's backstory—traumatic events that happened before the events of your novel but shape the character's reactions in the present. In my ARKANE thrillers, Morgan Sierra's husband Elian died in her arms during a military operation. This happened before the series begins, but her memories of it recur when she faces a firefight, and she struggles to find happiness again for fear of losing someone she loves once more. And then there's the perennial advice: show, don't tell. Most writers have heard this so many times that it's easy to nod and then promptly write scenes that tell rather than show. Basically, you need to reveal your character through action and dialogue, rather than explanation. In my thriller Day of the Vikings, Morgan Sierra fights a Neo-Viking in the halls of the British Museum and brings him down with Krav Maga. That fight scene isn't just about showing action. It opens up questions about her backstory, demonstrates character, and moves the plot forward. Telling would be something like: “Morgan was an expert in Krav Maga.” Showing is the reader discovering it through the scene itself. Actionable step: Look at the main plot events of your novel. For each major turning point, ask: does this scene specifically test my protagonist's flaw? If not, can you redesign the scene so that it does? The tighter the connection between character and plot, the more powerful the story. 14. The ‘Maestra' Approach: Write Out of Order If you're a discovery writer like me, you may feel like the deep character work I've been describing sounds more suited to plotters. But Barbara Nickless gave me a beautiful metaphor on episode 732 that reframes it entirely. Barbara described her evolving writing process as being like a maestra standing in front of an orchestra. Sometimes you bring in the horns—a certain theme—and sometimes you bring in the strings—a certain character—and sometimes you turn to the soloist. It's a more organic and jumping-around process than linear writing, and Barbara said she's only recently given herself permission to work this way. When I told her that I use Scrivener to write in scenes out of order and then drag and drop them into a structure later, she was genuinely intrigued. And this is how I've always worked. I'll see the story in my mind like a movie trailer—flashes of the big emotional scenes, the pivotal confrontations, the moments of revelation—and I write those first. I don't know how they hang together until quite late in the process. Then I'll move scenes around, print the whole thing out, and figure out the connective tissue. The point is that discovery writers can absolutely build deep characters. Sometimes writing the big emotional scenes first is how you discover who the character is before you fill in the rest. You don't need a twenty-page character worksheet or a 200-page outline like Jeffery Deaver. You need to be willing to follow the character into the unknown and trust that the structure will emerge. As Barbara said, she writes to know what she's thinking. That's the discovery writer's credo. And I would add: I write to know who my characters are. Actionable step: If you're stuck on your current chapter, skip it. Write the scene that's burning in your imagination, even if it's from the middle or the end. That scene might be the key to unlocking who your character really is. 15. Use Research to Help with Empathy Research shouldn't just be about factual accuracy—it's a tool for finding the sensory details that create empathy. Barbara Nickless described research as almost an excuse to explore things that fascinate her, and I feel exactly the same way. I would go so far as to say that writing is an excuse for me to explore the things that interest me. Barbara and I both travel for our stories. For her Dr. Evan Wilding books, she did deep research into Old English literature and the Viking Age. For my thriller End of Days, I transcribed hours of video from Appalachian snake-handling churches on YouTube to understand the worldview of the worshippers, because my antagonist was brought up in that tradition. I couldn't just make that up. I had to hear their language, feel their conviction, understand why they would hold venomous serpents as an act of faith. Barbara also mentioned getting to Israel and the West Bank for research, and I've been to both places too. Finding that one specific sensory detail—the smell of a particular location, the specific way an expert handles a tool, the sound of a particular kind of music—makes the character's life feel lived-in. It's the difference between a character who is described as living in a place and a character who inhabits it. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, don't write what you know. Write what you want to learn about. I love research. It's part of why I'm an author in the first place. I take any excuse to dive into a world different from my own. Research using books, films, podcasts, and travel, and focus particularly on sources produced by people from the worldview you want to understand. Actionable step: For your next piece of character research, go beyond reading. Watch a documentary, visit a location, talk to someone who lives the experience. Find one sensory detail—a smell, a sound, a texture—that you couldn't have invented. That detail will make your character feel real. Bonus: Measure Your Life by What You Create In an age of AI and a tsunami of content, your ultimate brand protection is the quality of your human creation. Barbara Nickless said that the act of producing itself is a balm to the soul, and I believe that with every fibre of my being. Don't be afraid to take that step back, like I did with my deadlifting. Take the time to master these deeper craft skills. It might feel like you're slowing down or going backwards by not chasing the latest marketing trend, but it's the only way to step forward into a sustainable, high-quality career. Your characters are your signature. No AI can replicate the specificity of your lived experience, the emotional truth of your displaced trauma, or the sensory details you've gathered from a life of curiosity and travel. Those are yours. Pour them into your characters, and they will resonate for years to come. Actionable Takeaway: Identify the Dramatic Question for your current protagonist. Can you state it in a single sentence with the kind of specificity Will Storr described? Is it as clear as “Are you ordinary or extraordinary?” or “Are you the only adult in the room?” If you can't answer it with that kind of precision, your character might still be a sketch. Give them a diagonal toast moment today. Find the one hyper-specific detail that proves they are not an imitation of life. And then ask yourself: does your plot test your character's flaw in every major scene? If you can align those two things—a precisely defined character and a plot that exists to test them—you will have a story that readers cannot put down. References and Deep Dives The episodes I've referenced today are all available with full transcripts at TheCreativePenn.com: Episode 732 — Facing Fears, and Writing Unique Characters with Barbara Nickless Episode 673 — Writing Choctaw Characters and Diversity in Fiction with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer Episode 624 — Writing Characters with Matt Bird Episode 550 — The Heroine's Journey with Gail Carriger Episode 490 — How Character Flaws Shape Story with Will Storr Books mentioned: The Secrets of Character: Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love by Matt Bird The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr The Heroine's Journey by Gail Carriger How to Write a Novel: From Idea to Book by Joanna Penn You can find all my books for authors at CreativePennBooks.com and my fiction and memoir at JFPennBooks.com Happy writing! How was this episode created? This episode was initiated created by NotebookLM based on YouTube videos of the episodes linked above from YouTube/TheCreativePenn, plus my text chapters on character from How to Write a Novel. NotebookLM created a blog post from the material and then I expanded it and fact checked it with Claude.ai 4.6 Opus, and then I used my voice clone at ElevenLabs to narrate it. The post Writing Characters: 15 Actionable Tips For Writing Deep Character first appeared on The Creative Penn.

What does it look like to bet on yourself, embrace reinvention, and build a YouTube channel that reaches millions?Michelle Khare is the creator and host of Challenge Accepted, the award-winning YouTube series where sherains with elite performers, athletes, and professionals to take on some of the world's toughest stunts and professions. But this conversation goes far beyond spectacle. It's about the psychology underneath the performance: how Michelle prepares for high-pressure environments, how she thinks about failure, and how she's built a serious creative business without losing the joy at the center of it. In this conversation, Michelle shares how her path began at the intersection of two demanding worlds: working as a video producer by day while competing as a professional cyclist at night. Out of that tension, she created something new — a format that blends physical challenge, storytelling, and deep iteration. She talks about the early trial-and-error phase of building her channel, the importance of owning her own IP, and why many creators don't realize they've already become entrepreneurs. Michelle also opens up about what it means to fail in public. She explains why growth often depends on being willing to look unpolished in front of other people, how she identifies her “strategic advantages” in unfamiliar environments, and why the low points — not just the polished outcomes — are what actually make a story worth telling. Along the way, she offers a compelling look at how she built a YouTube channel with over 5.4 million loyal subscribers. In this conversation, we explore:Why courage becomes more useful when it is systematizedHow Michelle built Challenge Accepted by blending athletics, storytelling, and businessWhy willingness to fail publicly can become a competitive advantageHow to identify your “strategic advantages” in unfamiliar environmentsWhy relationships, feedback, and team culture are essential to longevityHow to elevate the YouTube creator space into a respected part of the entertainment industryThis is a conversation about courage, yes, but also about design. How do you build a life where courage is not occasional, but trainable? How do you stay ambitious without burning out? And how you can keep evolving while staying grounded in the people and principles that matter most.__________________________________Links & ResourcesSubscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors! Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindset Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and XSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.