Podcasts about Free Yourself

  All talk. No script. Yep, a little bit of everything to catch up on. Glad this week is officially over. This second cancer research is very different... even the capability to contact/see my team

The lessons that shape us often come from the places we never planned to go and the challenges we never expected to face. In this conversation, I speak with Eric Fisher about the experiences that shaped his approach to mental wellness, resilience, grief, and personal growth. Eric shares how martial arts taught him balance, self-control, and perseverance, and how those lessons now help him guide people through addiction recovery, relationship challenges, and life's hardest moments. We explore the realities of grief, the power of trust, the difference between inpatient and outpatient counseling, and why healing often begins with self-acceptance. Eric also discusses his books, including The Martial Art of Recovery and Buried Alive, revealing how personal experiences and family stories continue to shape his work. If you've ever faced loss, adversity, addiction, or the challenge of rebuilding after setbacks, I believe you will find both practical insights and encouragement in Eric's story. Highlights: 08:10 - Eric shares lessons learned from his FBI internship experience. 18:43 - A friend's crisis leads Eric and his wife to move to New Zealand. 23:38 - Martial arts becomes a foundation for recovery and mental wellness. 37:05 - Eric reflects on grief, loss, and the importance of support. 43:12 - Self-acceptance plays a critical role in addiction recovery. 50:26 - Couples learn to face problems together instead of against each other. About the Guest: Eric Fisher, a Canadian transplant, is a counselling therapist who resides in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Originally from Tennessee, he has over 15 years of experience working outpatient and inpatient treatment settings in the US and Canada. He has two books published at this time: The Martial Art of Recovery: Self-Mastery Practices to Subdue Addiction and Achieve Mental Wellness, and Buried Alive: Four Ways to Free Yourself from the Dirt. Eric is a master practitioner of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and is also trained in EyeMovement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), both of which are evidence-based treatments for trauma. Eric's private practice, Recovery Arts Counselling, serves individuals, couples, and families both locally and remotely. In the past, Eric has supervised masters-level graduate students and counsellors early in their careers. He has won multiple awards for his screenwriting: The Departure - official finalist in biographical/historical genre - 2014 Beverly Hills Screenplay Contest. Only 16 Miles - Finalist - 2014 Horror Screenplay Contest. Universal Escapade (Finalist - Top 25) - WeScreenplay International Screenplay Competition. Hipster Z (co-written) - best feature screenplay - 2017 Action On Film International Film Festival. Hipster Z - Best horror/comedy Screenplay - 2017 International Horror Hotel Film Fest. Additionally, Eric has a black belt in two martial arts styles: American Kenpo and Wadō-ryū. One interesting thing about Eric is that he had the opportunity to be an intern with the FBI -- twice. Eric enjoys hiking and riding his bike outdoors, music concerts, tasting new food dishes to keep his taste buds guessing, travelling near and far, and meeting people. . Ways to connect with Eric: Website: https://www.recoveryartscounselling.com Linktree:  https://linktr.ee/ericfisherauthor  Instagram - @recoveryartscounselling - https://www.instagram.com/recoveryartscounselling/ @ericfisherwriter - https://www.instagram.com/ericfisherwriter Linkedin - Eric Fisher - www.linkedin.com/in/eric-m-fisher-5b83724a Facebook - Recovery Arts Counselling - https://www.facebook.com/RecoveryArtsCounselling About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:03 One of the biggest things holding you back isn't what's in front of you, but rather what you believe. Welcome to Unstoppable Mindset, where inclusion, diversity, and the unexpected meet. I'm your host, Michael Hingson, speaker, author, and advocate for inclusion and possibilities. This podcast explores how the beliefs we carry shape the way we live, lead, and connect with others. Each week, I talk with people who challenge assumptions, face adversity head on, and show what's possible when we choose curiosity over fear. Together we focus on mindset, resilience, and the small shifts that lead to meaningful change. Let's get started. Well, hello there, everyone. I am your host Michael Hinkson, and you have found the Unstoppable Mindset Podcast. Today, we get to chat with Eric Fisher, who is a rather interesting person. I believe he's a counseling therapist, he's a transplant, he now lives in Calgary, but he used to live in Tennessee, very similar. I'm sure we'll have to find out more about that, but I'm really glad that that you're here with us. Eric, welcome to Unstoppable Mindset. Eric Fisher  01:29 Yes, thank you for having me on, Michael. I appreciate it. Glad to be here. Michael Hingson  01:32 Well, I'm going to have to ask, how did you get from Tennessee to Calgary, besides by Claire? But you know, but Speaker 1  01:41 it's a bit to make a long story short. The wife, you know, yeah, she's from Calgary originally, so I surrendered up here. Michael Hingson  01:52 Yeah, well, is there a backstory that you want to tell? Speaker 1  01:57 You know, the quick version would be from Mississippi to New Zealand to Calgary, and that was over a span of, you know, two and a half years, and then finally to Calgary. After those other two places, was she Michael Hingson  02:10 with you during all of those? Mississippi, New Zealand, and then Calgary. Speaker 1  02:14 She was for the long haul. Yeah, yeah, she's experienced humidity and the dryness, all the extremes. Michael Hingson  02:24 When we moved to New Jersey in 1996 my wife didn't really want to go. She was a California native, but it was where the job had to take me, and it was either that or go find a new job, and I really didn't want to undertake a job search, because that's pretty traumatic. So, especially if you happen to be blind, because people think blind people really can't do stuff, and that's why the unemployment rate among employable blind people is in the 70% range. So the bottom line is that we moved to New Jersey, we were there for six years, and then of course the World Trade Center happened, which is kind of a dramatic way to allow us to get back to California, but it worked, so here we are. Speaker 1  03:05 Yeah, that is a lot of different places, and it's unfortunate with that percentage, right? Michael Hingson  03:10 Yeah, well, and she passed. She was in a wheelchair her whole life, and she passed in November of 2022 We were married 40 years, and I'm sure she's monitoring me from somewhere, so I work on continuing to be a good kid, because if I'm not, I'm going to hear about it somehow, Speaker 1  03:27 one way or another. There's, there's still some surveillance happening. There Michael Hingson  03:31 is, I am absolutely sure of it. Well, tell us kind of about the early era growing up, and all that. Speaker 1  03:37 Grew up in Arkansas, yeah, Newport, Arkansas, you know, grew up behind a Walmart in a small subdivision, and moved to Tennessee at an early age. I was around five years old, going over, going on six at the time, I believe, and so I understand what it means to kind of get uprooted from somewhere and place somewhere else, and my dad was in the medical profession, so that's the reason that we moved, and so that's a little bit about that. My mom's family is from Kansas City, so I really did enjoy going up to the city there and being with my mom's family during holiday seasons. That was really my only exposure to, like, a city, like an urban population, more than what I experienced anywhere else. So, and yeah, got one brother, played with him a lot, and a lot of it was being creative outside, getting outside and doing stuff, and having fun outside, you know, little bit different from a lot of kids today, perhaps. Michael Hingson  04:44 Yeah, well, it's also a lot scarier, I think, today, even though there's a lot of value in being outside. There are just so many crazy things going on. It's got to be scarier for kids, and certainly even more scary for parents, and they tend. To want to really monitor their, their children a lot more, and that's got us pluses, minuses, but it still has got to be really scary to let them just go outside. Speaker 1  05:09 Yeah, just, you know, looking at what's on the news and the possibilities of what could happen. Michael Hingson  05:16 Yeah, so where did you, or did you go to college? I assume you went to college. Speaker 1  05:22 I did. Yeah, I went to a small private Christian university in Tennessee called Freed Hardiman, and you know it was interesting because there's this whole thing about townies versus us being called freedies because of Freed Hardman. The course, the joke is, you know, free hardly because of the expense of going to the institution. Yeah. Michael Hingson  05:48 Well, with your experience and your observation in life, what do you think about going to a small college as opposed to a larger college? Speaker 1  05:55 I really enjoyed it, being from a rural area. I mean, it was a good transition for me, and just getting to know people I feel like might have been easier in a more rural setting, as opposed to urban. Michael Hingson  06:10 I went to University of California, Irvine, way back, starting in 1968 and when we started at UCI, there were like 25 2600 students, and I think when I graduated with my bachelor's, it was like a little over 3000 students, but I loved the fact that it was a smaller college. I think it was for me a lot better, and I, I really like the smaller college environment, and I understand why colleges have advantages when they're bigger, but by the same token, for students, if you want to really stand out, it's kind of harder to do with a big college. Well, and now University of California, Irvine, where I went to school, has 32,000 undergrads in it, Speaker 1  06:52 32,000 as opposed to the around, that's a huge jump from like 25 2600 yeah, Michael Hingson  07:00 yeah, and so it's, it's a huge place. I was there last a year and a half ago. I was invited to join. I couldn't do it as an as a student because the chapter was formed just as I was leaving, but Phi Beta Kappa, and they heard about me along the way, and I was invited to join as an alumni member back in 2024 So that's the last time I've been to UC Irvine. What a huge place! Speaker 1  07:29 Wow, yeah. Of course, UC Michael Hingson  07:30 Irvine, UCI really stands for Under Construction Indefinitely, so you know Speaker 1  07:38 they make that, they made that kind of humorous remark up here, with like winter and construction, that's the two seasons of Calgary. Yes, I totally get that. Michael Hingson  07:47 My brother-in-law lives in Sun Valley, Idaho, in Ketchum, and has been a skier for most of his life, and in the summer he's a master cabinet maker. Now he's a general contractor, but he's thinking about retiring, but in the winter everything goes by the wayside for skiing, Speaker 1  08:10 everyone's out on the slopes, you know. Well, and what he did Michael Hingson  08:12 to even make it more fun is he got his professional ski guide status in Europe and became a professional ski guide, taking people to do off-piece skiing in the French Alps, which is, Speaker 1  08:25 that's really nice, awesome. Michael Hingson  08:28 I love to, I love to say that I'm not gonna go skiing, because I know those trees are out to try to get me. Speaker 1  08:35 They start to grow their branches, you know? They just spring Michael Hingson  08:38 out at you when you're not looking. Speaker 1  08:40 Yes, I just.. Michael Hingson  08:42 I've never skied. I don't have anything against it. It's just not one of those things that I've done, but he enjoys it, and I'm sure it's a lot of fun to do. Speaker 1  08:51 Yeah, I can appreciate people that do. Michael Hingson  08:53 Yeah. Well, what did you do after college? Well, you got your undergrad, then you went on. Speaker 1  08:58 Yeah, so after my undergrad, I stayed at the university, and you know, I had a bachelor's in psych, and I was like, well, what do I do with this degree? And so I decided to move forward, since I didn't see too much availability, and did a master's in clinical mental health counseling, and during that time of my master's, I was able to intern with the FBI, which was a great opportunity. Michael Hingson  09:25 What caused you to do that? Speaker 1  09:28 I found, I mean, part of it was just a lot of curiosity, and of course, watching a lot of media and the work that they do. Yet I also found the possibility of implementing the psychology from a law enforcement angle on a federal level with this, so I did interning in my bachelor's FBI, that was really nice at a local office, and then later on in my master's at the FBI headquarters in DC, and just really interested in just the field and this the different. Psychological opportunities, Michael Hingson  10:02 you didn't stick with it, though. Or Speaker 1  10:05 I did the internships, I did the agent exam, and failed. Oh boy, just kind of had my time with it, and then moved on. It was a great experience. Michael Hingson  10:16 What you learned from it, the Speaker 1  10:19 importance of teamwork, the importance of community, the importance of intention to detail, and I can't say how I came to those, because then I have to bring up certain things that I can't talk about, but yeah, just the importance of being able to work with other people from other walks of life, and just seeing everyone's different perspectives is something that I learned, coming from, you know, small town, quite homogeneous, small university, and then being able to meet people from different parts of the country, even different territories, like Wall, it was, it was amazing to branch out and just have that life experience, Michael Hingson  11:06 get a lot of different experiences, and you saw how people in other parts of the world live, which obviously has to be an interesting perspective. Speaker 1  11:18 Yes, yes, it was really interesting, and just seeing how they think and their outlook on the world, and I had to take a polygraph examination for both internships, so the importance of honesty, and not that I didn't think honesty was important before, but definitely when you're under the microscope of being asked yes or no questions, it's an interesting experience. Michael Hingson  11:40 Yeah, well, I guess you must have passed the lie detector test. They didn't throw you away or put you in jail. Speaker 1  11:48 That's right. Neither of those happened. I did have one question asked of me that was a little bit ambiguous. It was coming up that I deceived. It's something that happened earlier in the day, and then they asked me about it, and then I said something that was not the truth, and then I explained the reasoning as to why. And then the agent was like, okay, thanks for letting me know, it's all good. It's like, okay, that's good. Michael Hingson  12:21 Yeah, they have to be pretty skilled interrogators to really be able to do that, and, and ask questions, and I, and I know no matter what's going on with the lie detector technology, they're observing you as well, so they're looking for things, and I suppose it's possible to fool the lie detector technology, but I know that it continues to get better too. Speaker 1  12:45 Yeah, and wondering if that's because, like, people are sociopaths, or they don't have any - they actually believe what they're saying. Yeah, yeah, Michael Hingson  12:54 I've never taken lie detector tests, but I know that for me, I'm not a good fibber, so I've got to tell the truth, and like I said, my wife's watching anyway, so I gotta always be a good kid. Speaker 1  13:06 If you were taking a lie detector test knuckle and you said something, you might get an invisible slap, like, oh, Michael Hingson  13:12 exactly, Speaker 2  13:13 okay, I get it, or Michael Hingson  13:16 a poke or something. Yeah, yeah, no. So, better, better to just be honest about it, but yeah, I understand what you're saying, but it is, it is fascinating. I'd love to experience taking a test sometime, but because I only understand all about it intellectually, having never seen it on television or anything like that, but by the same token, I'm glad that the technology exists, and I'm glad that the people do what they do, and I, I too very much believe in law enforcement. I believe in the value of the FBI and police, and so on. I took a couple of police-oriented courses when I was at UC Irvine. We had an engineering professor who was a reserve deputy sheriff, so we, we got to do ride-alongs, and even went down and visited the Orange County Jail once, and you know, because he, he said it all, so it's kind of fun to be able to do it, and I learned a lot and value that. Speaker 1  14:19 That's awesome. I'm glad you had that experience. Michael Hingson  14:21 Yeah, I think it's kind of cool to be able to have had that. So, you got a master's degree? Did you get a PhD? Speaker 1  14:29 No, you know, I was encouraged to do so, to pilot higher and deeper, as the PhD acronym goes. Yeah, and I just, I decided to not go that route. Michael Hingson  14:40 So, what did you do after you got your master's? Speaker 1  14:43 After the master's, I started to do well. I was doing my practicum during the master's, yet after the master's, I started to work primarily where I did my practicum in Mississippi and started actually doing counseling work. So I was doing what's called a mobile therapist. For this organization, where I would go to people's houses and speak with people, do counseling work, which was pretty cool. I got to be out in the community, meet a lot of folks, made confidentiality sometimes a little bit of a challenge, small town. And then two days a week I was in the office, doing whoever came in through the clinic, so I was in the, I was in the work, I was in the grind, just doing what I had been trained to do. Definitely learning on the job, though, for sure. Michael Hingson  15:27 Where in Mississippi, Speaker 1  15:29 Corinth, Mississippi, which is like right at the state line. Yeah, they actually have a road called State Line Road, where houses on one side, North or Tennessee houses on the other side have Mississippi license plates. Michael Hingson  15:45 That's pretty funny. In New Jersey, when we lived there, there were a number of streets in towns that had a very interesting environment, and that is that every town had its own tax base. There wasn't a statewide thing for property taxes and everything else, or for a lot of taxes, so every town had its own, and you could be on a street where someone may pay 1213, $14,000 a year in taxes, and if you lived on the other side of the street, you were in a different town, and your taxes were like 4800 $5,000 Speaker 1  16:24 Whoa, no, Michael Hingson  16:26 it's crazy. Speaker 1  16:27 That is a sheer difference. Michael Hingson  16:30 It is a huge difference, and the other thing that that we experienced is that a lot of the the work is done by lawyers when you're closing a house, for example. Back there, they didn't really have escrow, was all done through attorneys, and so on. And some of those people were involved in the tax stuff as well. It's kind of a very fascinating and interesting place to be, certainly different than what we experienced in California. Speaker 1  16:57 Yes, that sounds like a very, very different type of experience, for sure. Wow, wow. Okay, Michael Hingson  17:04 but you know things happen. Well, so you, you started doing counseling and therapy, and as you said, and I can appreciate how it must have been difficult sometimes from a confidentiality standpoint, because it is a small town and people overhear or talk about, and that's not always a good thing. Speaker 1  17:24 Yeah, you know, things like that come up. You know, you hear the whispers, and one time I was actually trying to find a place in a lower-income part of town, and I was doing circles in the neighborhood, and a police cruiser started to follow me, and so I stopped my car, got out with my credentials, towed the towed the police officer who I worked for, and then he was just kind of like, oh, okay, carry on. So, did Michael Hingson  17:46 you ask him for directions? Speaker 1  17:49 You know what, I did not know, like that would have made sense. I'm trying to look at find this house, never. Oh, over there, sir? Okay, but no, I did not. Michael Hingson  18:05 So, how long were you in Mississippi? Then Speaker 1  18:09 I was in Mississippi from around 2009 to 2013 I want to say, we left. We left for New Zealand for the whole year 2013 so no, 2012 sorry, the end of 2012 so about three and a half, three or so years. Okay, yeah. How did you Michael Hingson  18:33 meet your wife in all this Speaker 1  18:34 online? Yeah, back when it was clandestine, like you met somebody online, are they an ax murderer? Can you trust them? Do you need to get references, which she did. Yeah, yeah. And we checked you out, huh? She checked me out for sure. She even called people that I gave references for. And then we courted for two and a half years. And then after that, tied the knot in Tennessee, moved to Mississippi. Well, she moved to Mississippi, where I was already living, and yeah, we were there until we went to New Zealand about 10 months later. Michael Hingson  19:06 So she was living in Tennessee at the time, Speaker 1  19:09 she was up here in Calgary, or she was in Calgary. Michael Hingson  19:12 Okay, Speaker 1  19:12 we, we got married in Tennessee, Michael Hingson  19:14 okay. Well, that's that's cool though. What, what prompted the trip and moving to New Zealand for a year, I've been there, and I actually spent three weeks there, and very much enjoy it. Speaker 1  19:28 Whereabouts? Well, I wanted to ask, all over New Michael Hingson  19:30 Zealand, I mean, I was there with the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind. They asked me to come and speak in 2003 talk about September 11, and so on, and they were trying to raise funds, so we helped them raise something like over $375,000 in a three week period, and literally I had 21 speaking events in 13 days all over both islands. Speaker 1  19:55 Wow, that's that's a, that's a lot of speaking events, and a certain amount of days. Days you've been, you probably been close more than I've been, more places than I've been. So, what, what prompted the move was a friend of mine I had made previously being there. He reached out to me through just electronic media. He was having a spiritual emergency, and he asked me, he asked me to come to come help him, and so I just said, "Sure, let's do it. My wife and I left the rental unit, the rental house where we were staying, and left furniture behind, two cars behind, appliances, and we just, just left him, or there for 13 months, didn't look, didn't look back. Michael Hingson  20:45 Did you spend any time in Dunedin while you were there? Speaker 1  20:49 We didn't spend any time in Dunedin. We weren't only there for like a week when we did some vacation time. Michael Hingson  20:57 Yeah, I, they gave me literally a half, three quarters of a day off from speaking. In fact, they said you can play in Dunedin, and so we were there, and it was one, I guess, was a one full day. They had some unique toys to play with in New Zealand. They had a thing called a bungee rocket. Have you ever heard of that? Speaker 1  21:22 A bungee rocket. No. So, Michael Hingson  21:24 you know what bungee cords are, and you stretch them out and all that. Well, the bungee rocket, you attach bungee cords to this platform, this cage, but the bungee cords are attached to a device way up high, and then they're also attached to this plat, this cage, then they pull the cage down, and they fasten it, so the bungee cords are very stretched, and then people get in, and they sit down, and they fasten seat belts, and then when everybody's all secure, they loose the platform, and the bungee cords pull this thing up like a rocket. Speaker 1  22:01 Whoa, yeah. I wasn't about to do that. I was with someone who Michael Hingson  22:05 did, and he came off apparently as white as a sheet. He said, "I'm never gonna do that. Speaker 1  22:10 It was a one and done experience for him. It was Michael Hingson  22:16 for me. It was, "I'm not gonna do that, brother. And I had my guide dog, and somebody would have held the dog, but I wouldn't do that. I have other memories, which are more fun, I think, and probably for me more pleasurable. Speaker 1  22:31 Yeah, one of the things we did down on the South Island was some knife making, and it was really.. it was something I surprised my family with. They didn't know we were doing that day, and this guy was hilarious. I mean, something straight out of a documentary about New Zealand, as far as, like, locals, you would see he had a witty sense of humor, and he would, he would like, finish off the knives for us after we did the preliminary steps, just to make them look nice. Yeah, that was one of my favorite memories down there. Michael Hingson  23:00 Wow, yeah, I've, I've got a lot of memories, even though it was back in 2003 so 22 years, 22 and a half years, but I love the memories, and love being down there was a wonderful place, Speaker 1  23:13 awesome, so that was pretty cool. Well, so you, you came back, and, and you eventually ended up in, in Calgary, which is, which is great. So, what do you do now? Got a few hands in a few honey jars. I have a private practice for the counseling. I work for a retreat center company out of a place called Brad Creek, called Vita Wellness. I work for a nonprofit up in a place called Erdrie as a consultant. I work for a clinic remotely that's in the city as an associate. Am I forgetting anything? I think that's the main ones right now. Also, work doing like couples therapy for a relationship-based app. Yeah, so that's a lot of people that are in the States, there. So, it's yeah, few things to keep me busy. Speaker 3  24:13 If you enjoy Unstoppable Mindset and would like to help us continue bringing these conversations to you each week, we've created a way for you to support the show. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and continue sharing stories, insights, and ideas that inspire people to live with purpose and possibility. If supporting the podcast feels right for you, you'll find the link in the show notes. Thank you for being part of the unstoppable mindset community, Michael Hingson  24:47 they do well. You also write Speaker 1  24:50 that as well. Yeah, Michael Hingson  24:52 you've written a couple of books, and I guess you've also done some screenwriting and all that, and love to hear more about all that. Tell. You bought your books. Speaker 1  25:01 Yeah, the first book that I published, self-published, and that was two years ago now. That was called, that is called The Martial Art of Recovery: Self Mastery Practices to Subdue Addiction and Achieve Mental Wellness. Say three times real fast. So, yeah, that book is all about the intersection of martial arts concepts with addiction and mental health treatment, so that has personal experiences, and my times in the martial arts, and also I just bring in like holistic health techniques, and also I get some interviews, some of them are a little bit shorter than others, but at least some some chunks from people that I know in different disciplines, different fields, like an old martial arts teacher, a medicine family medicine doctor here in the Calgary area, people like that. So that was that was about a 14 month writing experience before it was published. Michael Hingson  25:57 When was it published? Speaker 1  26:00 Back in March of 2023 Michael Hingson  26:05 Okay, not your first book. Speaker 1  26:07 Not that's my first book. Yes, Michael Hingson  26:09 yeah, Speaker 2  26:10 yeah. Michael Hingson  26:12 What do you, what do you think of being an author and the whole experience of writing? Speaker 1  26:19 There was not. there was a lack of faith, for sure. I had a really difficult time, even acknowledging, "Hey, this is something I could do. Had a lot of self-doubt, and so even the process I found pretty daunting, pretty, like pretty challenging, for sure. And I do enjoy the process. It's like a double helix, though. I, I enjoy it, yet it kind of puts the screws to me, as far as enjoyment, but also challenge, yet I do enjoy the experience and being able to get my voice out there, yet I listen to someone else talk about publishing, and the person said, you know what, when you publish it, now it's that person's turn to take it on and they can make it their own, Michael Hingson  27:04 yeah. Speaker 1  27:04 So I found that to be a really cool way to look at it. So yeah, and I enjoy it. It's been, it's been good, it's been fun. Michael Hingson  27:13 And then you wrote a second book, Speaker 1  27:15 I did. Yeah, that one's called Buried Alive: Four Ways to Free Yourself from the Dirt. It's a lot more personal, I think, because it is about a true story that happened to my dad, and something that was quite harrowing for him, which, yes, as the book title suggests, is what happened, and part of the book is about the interviews I did with the three men involved with this very scary incident back in February of 2000 so 25 years now, and talks about their different perspectives on what happened that day when they were digging for Native American artifacts, arrowheads, and I bring in some self-help concepts that apply to what happened that day, and also just for anyone that's looking to bring those into their own lives, Michael Hingson  28:03 what happened? Speaker 1  28:05 Yeah, so they were digging at what's called an overhang, which is like a cliff face that shuts out small little, I don't know if you would even call it a cave, but there was a place underneath the overhang that kind of came in anyway, when Native Americans would come to an area, they wouldn't ever bring dirt out, they would always bring dirt in, and so there was so much dirt that was piled up over the years that my dad and the people that were digging with him, I was there six months to the day before this incident happened, we would, we would have to dig, they would dig to get to their arrowheads that were quite far down underneath the dirt, Michael Hingson  28:46 yeah, Speaker 1  28:47 yeah, yeah, and so this unfortunate day, my dad was in a hole, probably I don't know, eight or nine feet, and a little dirt fell on him, and you know, he kind of joked with his friend Jason, who was further up this hall, and a few seconds later all that dirt just came in, just, just quickly, automatically. He was vanished without a trace, and then a big rock came down on that dirt. If it wasn't for that third person that decided to come that very morning, they did not come before. His name's Jerry. Then I'm sure that my dad would have died, Michael Hingson  29:25 because Speaker 1  29:25 there was no way that Jason, who also was stuck up to like his knee in dirt, could have got out in time to get the rock and then to unearth my dad. So, Michael Hingson  29:39 yeah, a fascinating book. Now, you, you self-published that one as well. Speaker 1  29:43 I did, didn't wait around, just went ahead, and yeah. Michael Hingson  29:49 Do you have other books in you? Speaker 1  29:51 I have one done. I needed to get it edited, and editorial reviews, and get my book cover designer over in Italy to do her magic. She did on the last two books, so yeah, I do have one in the, in the oven. Michael Hingson  30:05 Can you tell us a little about what it will be about, or what it's called, or anything? Speaker 1  30:08 Sure, the book right now is called I'm Listening, and it's all about my experiences, my pitfalls, my learnings as a therapist, and so it's a bit of a memoir of my professional work in the field, and some, some personal experiences. Michael Hingson  30:25 I think one of the most powerful things about books, especially when you're, when you're dealing with more nonfiction, because fiction books usually have stories with them, but a lot of nonfiction books don't really provide enough, I think, of a personal inroad to the individual who wrote the book. One of my big beliefs, one of my pet peeves, is I think textbooks are so boring, like physics. My master's degree is in physics, and I maintain that the big problem is that none of the physics professors who are writing all these books ever put anything in about their own personal experiences to really get people excited because of of their their stories and what they can teach through their stories. It's just all math and equations and and words, just about the physics, but never the other part. I think that textbooks would be better if they put some stories in them, Speaker 1  31:22 I think. So, too, I think people's eyes wouldn't come out of their sockets, and they wouldn't, you know, be comatose. You know, they can actually keep up, and they can be engaged and involved with the material. Yeah, Michael Hingson  31:35 I had a colleague when we were at UC Irvine. We were in the same physics class together, and he had this one book, and he noticed that there didn't seem to really be any typos or whatever in it, and he meticulously, through the whole quarter, went through that whole book, and I think he finally found one misspelled word, and he was so proud of both that there were there were no others other than the one, but that he found one misspelled word we do with our lives. Speaker 1  32:07 What people do sometimes for kicks. Well, I'm glad. I wonder where that word was. Like, did he go through the whole book, and it's like on the last page, or you know, where is that at? It was Michael Hingson  32:22 near the end, but it wasn't on the last page, but it was.. it was.. it took him a long time to find it. Speaker 1  32:29 I wanted to do that with my first book. I could have easily done a book about the intersection of martial arts themes with, you know, mental wellness, but I mean, why not? I mean, I had that experience for over four years in the martial arts. Why not do that? Michael Hingson  32:48 So, tell me about that. You've mentioned martial arts several times, so obviously you've had some involvement with martial arts. Speaker 1  32:54 I have. Yeah, so when I was a preteen, I got a black belt in what's called a Water Rule Karate, so it's like W A D O R Y U, and when I was a teenager, like 16 to 18, I was doing what's called American Campo, and that did have a little bit of Jiu Jitsu thrown into the mix, Michael Hingson  33:16 so what prompted the interest in doing that Speaker 1  33:20 first was my dad, you know, part of my family was interested, so the guy, why not? And I don't know at that time whether I was experiencing bullying. Unfortunately, I experienced bullying like going to church before church started, which was unfortunate, say. So I mean, I think it was just a really good experience for me, looking back for balance and discipline in that way, and getting to meet people in the community. I can't, I can't initially remember what prompted that. My dad was interested, my brother was too, so was I. And then when I was 16, I was like, let's pick it up, let's do something different, let's try something new, and so we were able to go to this really small outfit, which was called the Snake Pit at the time, very different from the more like larger dojo in the community from my early years. Michael Hingson  34:14 What has being involved with the martial arts done to help you or to you or for you in dealing with mental wellness and the whole issue of what you do today. How is martial arts affecting all of that? Speaker 1  34:35 Yeah, it's a really good question. Martial arts showed me the importance of balance when we're doing sparring, when we're doing more, so when we're doing training on techniques, I can't be too far away when I'm sparring someone, because then it's not natural, it's not organic, nor, but I can be so close that I might hit them, so there needs to be some type of balance and self control, and that's. Something else, as well as being out of some self control. Yeah, Michael Hingson  35:05 well, martial arts is, I understand, it seems to me, as much about your mental being as learning physical techniques, because there is a whole lot that really comes down to how you approach it mentally. Am I correct? Speaker 1  35:24 Yeah, there's a big piece when it comes to stamina. When I was doing sparring, I actually had to find a place between being so passive, but also not being super aggressive. Like, how do I get that mental, emotional stamina to do this powering, you know, in a way that was quite balanced. Yes, but there is a lot when it comes to being in touch with my body, being in touch with where my mind is, with focus, with being not beating myself up, not really being perfect, or trying to achieve perfection. Yet, there's a certain vulnerability that comes with that in the mind, and also when it comes to the body, Michael Hingson  36:06 how so Speaker 1  36:10 well, there's vulnerability just simply with doing different techniques, because if you don't, if you don't like being touched, then it's going to be really difficult, because there's often a lot of touch happening, and and when it comes to the mind, it's there's vulnerability with putting myself out there and being seen by others, because we're often watching one another with training, and so there is this piece around vulnerability around, hey, you know what, whatever they think, okay, they can think I'm still working on this technique, Michael Hingson  36:40 mm and it, and it does, as you grow mentally with, with martial arts, I'm sure that it also helps in terms of your resilience. Speaker 1  36:55 Resilience plays a key factor, indeed, because you know, when it comes to even with sparring, you know, getting hit, I can't just kind of, oh, I got hit and I want to go back and I want to go in the corner. Well, no, I've got to keep going. Yeah, gotta keep moving, gotta keep walking and deflecting, and you know, going with the punches. And I, there was one experience with a young man, at least two years younger than me, he was a silver glove boxer, like a champion silver glove, and there had to be some resilience for me there, because I was getting clobbered, I was getting, I was getting hit over and over, because he was using a boxing type of, you know, boxing moves I wasn't used to defending against, and he was quick, and there comes a certain level of humility when it comes to being in the martial arts as well, because there's going to be experiences like that. Michael Hingson  37:49 Well, did you eventually get to the point where you could defend yourself against him? Speaker 1  37:55 He wasn't there for too long. Yeah, the more yet, the more that I was able to work with him, the more I was able to, you know, understand a little bit more where he was coming from with the moves, Michael Hingson  38:05 right. Well, in your life and all the things that you've done, have you experienced grief in any way? And kind of, what was that? Speaker 1  38:14 Yeah, there was a moment, there wasn't an issue when it came to a disenfranchised loss. My wife had a silent miscarriage, and so that was pretty brutal. How that turned out for her, and vicariously for me, and seeing her go through that really difficult, emotionally painful situation was hard. And so I mean, I've sure I've lost all but one grandparent at this point, and I did lose some child, like one childhood friend, when I was 16 to a car accident that was pretty brutal. Yet this loss was, yeah, was really difficult, because it's something that a lot of people don't understand, they don't want to talk about, they don't know what to say, or it's really difficult just to listen, and that was hard. Michael Hingson  39:09 Yeah, but at the same time, as you well know, from all that you've experienced, God doesn't give us things that we can't handle, and we have to learn to move forward Speaker 1  39:22 with resilience, with God's help. Michael Hingson  39:24 Yeah, Speaker 1  39:24 yeah, with prayer, perseverance. Yeah, Michael Hingson  39:27 I lost my father, actually, on November 1 of 1984 and my mother in May of 1987 and then my brother actually developed breast cancer in 2011 and they, they dealt with it, and he went into remission, but it came back, and he didn't take care of himself very well, as I understand it, because he lived in Florida, and we were in California, but anyway, it came back, and it metastasized, and so we lost him in 2015 so at the same time. Yeah, there were relatives on my wife's side that we lost a couple very unexpectedly, and yeah, you do learn to deal with grief, but you learn that you got to go forward, and so when Karen passed in 2022 at least it wasn't totally all of a sudden, so I had some time to prepare, but you know, I still miss her, and I wouldn't want it any other way. Speaker 1  40:23 Yeah, for sure. I, and I mean, losing your parents around two and a half or so years apart, and with your brother, and then with your wife, that's a lot. That's a lot. Yet I hear that even though there was some preparation time for you, it can still be, it can still be difficult, it can still hit the nail, you know. I was doing some grief work, a grief course, and they showed us this poem called Whose Whose Grief Is Worse, basically. And there were these two experiences of someone that lost someone suddenly and someone that knew, and at the end of the poem. Basically, it's both are painful. There is no worse grief. Michael Hingson  41:05 There's no, there's no wrong or right answer to all of that. It's, it's different, but we all can learn to deal with it. I know when the events of September 11 happened, for me, ironically, the greatest blessing I had was that the media got my story and we started getting a lot of requests for interviews and my wife and I decided we would accept them and I got asked so many questions by so many different reporters, some dumb questions were absolutely stupid, idiotic questions, but some that were very insightful, and so I probably was able to move on from that day much more because of all of the questions and getting used to dealing with those questions than anything else that could have come along. It Speaker 1  41:58 was a choice, and you probably appreciated those reporters that took the time to ask those carefully planned questions. Michael Hingson  42:06 I've had some people, no matter how many times the story gets repeated, who still say, "What were you doing in the World Trade Center, anyway? And I'm sitting there going, "Have you read Thunderdog? Have you read any of the stories in the press? What do you mean, what was I doing in the World Trade Center? Speaker 1  42:23 It's not like, you know, it's out there, you know, it's been published, you can read it. Yeah, Michael Hingson  42:30 I wasn't a spy for the terrorists, I can tell you that. Speaker 1  42:36 I wouldn't, I wouldn't have thought that for a second, Michael Hingson  42:41 but but, but you know, things happen, and you never know where you're going to be, you never know what might come up, and it's just one of those things that we, we all really need to deal with in one way or another, and that's just what's so important. Speaker 1  42:56 Absolutely, you know, one of the quotes I heard from my training was, and I take it with me, and I, I definitely relate to it personally. Is joy shared is joy doubled, and grief shared is grief halved, and the stuff we're doing, even today, and even those listening that might have been through grief, is as long as we're able to talk about it, and just talk about something that does not make any sense whatsoever to us, that's part of the healing process. Michael Hingson  43:23 Yeah, it's important to talk about it. It's important to share, and I understand you want to be careful. You don't want to just talk necessarily about it with anyone, but you do need to find people that you can share with and that you can talk to about Speaker 1  43:39 it. Totally, yeah, the grocery store clerk, you know, that I'm getting my bread and butter from, maybe they're not ready for that, that particular topic, Michael Hingson  43:48 yeah, Speaker 1  43:48 yeah, Michael Hingson  43:50 and and the thing that we all need to do is to really, I think, do a lot more to listen to our inner voice, it'll tell us what we need to do if we listen, Speaker 1  43:58 yes, I believe that for sure, I've seen, I've seen that. Yeah, Michael Hingson  44:03 so you've dealt with all the, this, the psychological work that you do. You dealt with addiction, and so on. How does martial arts play into that? What have you learned from martial arts that helps you in dealing with recovery from addiction? Speaker 1  44:16 Oh, well, where to start. I think that one piece to really focus on is this concept of self love, and I don't mean self love like I'm better than other people out there, but just being okay with where I'm at for myself, but still pushing myself to learn new things, so some acceptance about where I'm at when it comes to martial arts, that has to be there. I might not be doing the technique perfectly, and I, there was times where I could really easily beat myself up mentally, like, "Oh, why can't I get this? Yet it's just trying to take a step back and see that I'm worthy enough to make the. Approach to make these changes when it comes to addiction. I'm worthy enough to seek out help. These feelings I have that they're okay to feel, and I don't have to beat myself up for this. Michael Hingson  45:11 Yeah, because addiction is is a disease, and I think anyone who condemns somebody just because, for example, they use drugs, and, well, they shouldn't do that. They're dumb for doing it. They really miss assess what's going on. Speaker 1  45:28 People that have that mindset that it's more of a mere choice, they don't understand that if you put, you know, a shot of alcohol in front of someone and you tell them not to drink it, and you put a gun on them, they're going to be wondering, maybe he'll slip his hand off the trigger, you know, that kind of thinking, that's that's the disease aspect. And I recommend anybody that wants to know more about addiction being a disease, check out Kevin McCauley's documentary, Pleasure Unwoven. It's a really good documentary that shows the different aspects of the disease. Yeah, Michael Hingson  46:08 I have never taken drugs in that way, and don't want to, but again, that's my choice, and I've learned enough from other people that I know that if, if I'm having a problem, taking drugs isn't going to help me solve the problem, and it isn't going to even really help me hide from it, but I guess that's just my makeup that I know that I have to face whatever comes along head on. Speaker 1  46:33 Yes, the resilience piece, Michael Hingson  46:36 the resilience piece, and I've wanted to do that. Speaker 1  46:39 Awesome, I can see with everything you've been through, Michael, you've definitely lent in, you've leaned in, you've pushed forward. Michael Hingson  46:47 Well, I think that part of the issue is as a, as a blind person who's faced a lot of challenges and seen things, what I choose to do whenever anything happens to me is I want to learn from it, so I don't want to ignore it, even if it's something that's totally not related to me in any way. I want to learn from it, if I'm involved, because I think that's the only way I'm going to be able to make sure that I deal with anything like that, any kind of surprise. The next time I talk about a lot when I am talking to people about blindness, about surprises, and I talk about the fact that I could be crossing a street, I could get to the corner and listen to the traffic, and when I hear the traffic going the way I want to go, then I'll cross the street. So I start crossing a street, and all of a sudden I hear a car from behind me, and it's not going the way I want to go, suddenly it's, it's turning, or there's somebody that is is across the street from me, not the way I'm going, and I start to cross the street when it's supposed to be my turn, and they decide they're going to go, and so I am, I've learned to constantly be alert, but at the same time, what I have to do is figure out very quickly, do I want to go forward or do I want to go backwards to have the best chance of getting away from this, Speaker 1  48:11 which way do I move in my direction with my spatial awareness with your spatial awareness, and that, and that brings me to another, I think, actually, another piece with martial arts and how it intersects is treating the addiction like an opponent that may be sauntering around that corner at any moment in time, and being able to see that I need to be on the alert, I need to know more than one direction, as you mentioned a moment ago, more than one direction that I could go, rather than just the free, the ability to have choice. Yeah, Michael Hingson  48:51 can addiction truly be cured? Not the reason I asked the question is I know so often I hear when I hear people talking about alcoholism, you can't really cure alcoholism, and maybe that's true. I don't know, Speaker 1  49:10 you know, it depends on how you ask, from a medical standpoint, from a disease standpoint, since we see it as a chronic progressive primary condition, which means nothing necessarily causes it every time. The answer would be no, because of its progression. However, can it can addiction, whether it's alcoholism, whatever, be stunted as far as its progression? Absolutely. Can be, can people live fulfilling lives? Absolutely. Can there be reversal of certain symptoms and signs. Yes, however, just I think that to say, you know, one day someone's gonna wake up and they no longer have cravings or the warning signs or the the neurobiology. Logical strings, it's tough to say that's a no. Michael Hingson  50:04 Yeah, thanks. That's the makeup of the individual that brings that about. I, I have.. I take an occasional drink. In fact, Karen and I used to have a drink on Friday night, one drink, and I kind of honor her by having a bourbon and seven every Friday night when I make, when I cook dinner, but one, because I've never been a great fan of the taste of alcohol, but I understand there are a lot of people who really like the taste of it, and that has led them into pretty dark places, which is unfortunate. Speaker 1  50:36 Yeah, still Michael Hingson  50:37 happens. Speaker 1  50:38 It does still happen, for sure. And I appreciate you liking bourbon. We make a bourbon walnut ice cream, and I don't ever drink the bourbon by itself. It's been in the cupboard for months now. And anyway, Michael Hingson  50:55 well, my bourbon and seven is a whole lot more seven up than bourbon. Speaker 1  50:59 Totally right, and good for you for having that ritual, you know, for you and for Michael Hingson  51:06 her. That's kind of neat to be able to do that, but I've just never felt that I need to, and I'm, and I'm glad. So it's continuing to share that. Well, you do a lot of couples therapy. How does all that go, and what kind of challenges does that make for you and for them? Speaker 1  51:29 Well, I'll give you this short story. We were eating at Denny's with this man, and just a friend of a friend, and he said to us, he asked me about my work, and I told him, yeah, I'm working with, you know, a lot of addiction, and with couples, he's like, I heard from another counselor, Eric, that if you really want to make it hard on yourself, you work in addiction, and you work with couples that always make it have a challenge, and, like, yeah, true. And so, when it comes to working with couples, it is challenging. There's something about having two people to work with, there's so many dynamics at play, different than perhaps being with just one person, you know, coming from two different histories, biographically different life upbringings, family upbringing, personalities. It can be really challenging. I do appreciate challenge. I've learned so much. I learned from each couple that I work with, and it's a whole different beast. Michael Hingson  52:29 Yeah, and, and it is. I like what you said, though. You learn from it, and that's probably the most important thing that any of us can do with anything in any endeavor that we undertake is that we learn from it. Speaker 1  52:44 If I can't learn from something, what am I, what am I doing there? And if I'm not learning from something, how can that benefit other people that I'm trying to help support? So, yeah, I tried to get the couple to start to be, you know, them versus the concern, rather than you versus me. That's a big goal of couples therapy. Michael Hingson  53:08 That's an interesting way to put it. That makes a lot of sense. I've never thought of it that way, but it's them. It does have to be them, but them versus the concern. That, that's interesting. Speaker 1  53:18 Yeah, yeah. Then they start, they start looking at how can we collaborate rather than trying to annihilate each other. Michael Hingson  53:26 Yeah, Speaker 1  53:27 metaphorically speaking, Michael Hingson  53:31 so you've talked about the work that you did when you were in Mississippi, when you worked in small towns, and so on, and you worked in probably some fairly substantive places as well. What do you find that's different about outpatient versus inpatient work, and in terms of what you do and how you approach it? Speaker 1  53:52 Well, I'll just say that doing inpatient work is kind of like raising kids, so not.. I mean, I don't have any experience, because I don't, I don't have kids, I got nieces and nephews yet. I know that feeling well. Yeah, there's just something about being around someone more than just like that hour, hour and a half, seeing them like eight or nine hours a day, you get to know them pretty well, as opposed to, you know, once an hour every one or two, three weeks, that in that comes some benefits with the inpatient work. Yet also it can be really difficult when it comes to boundaries. They feel like you can do things that maybe you're not able to do professionally with them, maybe like as far as like self-disclosure wise or things like that, and there's just there's just a thing around boundaries, and even with the inpatient work, you know, I'll have one client come and say, 'Hey, this other counselor said I could do this, and I would be like, 'Okay, and then I found out later the counselor didn't say that at all, so there's that type. The drama got to deal with, with it, with the inpatient work, Michael Hingson  55:04 but you don't find that as much without patient, because you tend to be able to get closer to the individual, and that probably also develops a higher trust level. Speaker 1  55:14 There is a higher trust level if you mean, like, doing outpatient work, or outpatient, but we have the outpatient, for sure, because I am solely with them, and they know that time is of the essence, whether it's weekly or bi-weekly, whatever, and I'm being able to focus on them, for sure, yeah, Michael Hingson  55:35 and it's a lot harder to do that when it's an impatient kind of situation Speaker 1  55:40 in my two experiences, both up in Calgary and also Mississippi, with inpatient, there's so many other things in the inner workings of doing inpatient going on that sure I can still add that time with somebody, yet I'm also thinking about, you know, the next class and next group offering other logistical duties, it's a little bit easier to do that one on one. Yeah, indeed, indeed. Michael Hingson  56:10 Do you think that you can develop? I assume the answer is yes, but I'll ask, do you think that it's possible to develop the same level of trust in doing inpatient work, or it may be harder, but can you do it? Speaker 1  56:28 That can happen on a case by case basis, depending on my relationship with someone. Yes, I can get there, and you know, just.. and sometimes, paradoxically, it can happen even quicker than outpatient, depending on the situation, because I am with them. There is a positive with that. Yes, Michael Hingson  56:48 it's.. it's a matter of working to build it, you know. And, unfortunately, human beings, especially nowadays, are so mistrustful of so many things, we've learned not to trust, and so in my latest book, Live Like a Guide Dog, I talk about that a lot, because while I think dogs love unconditionally, they don't trust unconditionally, but they're open to trust, they want to develop trusting relationships, and we just assume everyone has their own hidden agendas, and it's so hard to develop trusting relationships, Speaker 1  57:24 very hard, very difficult. It takes time and effort and patience, tolerance for myself, the other person, and that makes sense with dogs, because I mean, enough's, you know, when a dog's been abused, they don't want to trust right away, no, for sure. Michael Hingson  57:38 Well, but even even dogs that aren't abused, like I believe it takes for me, and I think if you really analyze it, for most people with a guide dog, I think it takes a good year to develop such a working relationship that you develop such a trust that essentially you each know what the other is thinking and you really know how to work it. It's not that they're not mistrustful, but they're open. They're open to trust, but you've got to, you've got to gain their trust, and that's my job as the team leader. And I'm supposed to be the team leader, but it also means that I have to agree, well, earn or gain their trust. The neat thing, and what makes it possible to do that, assuming that you approach it the right way and don't assume a dog is just a dumb animal, which they're not, is that in fact working with a dog, you know that they're more likely to be open to trust, and that makes it a little bit easier than our prejudice that says everybody's got a hidden agenda that we got to focus on, Speaker 1  58:47 yeah. And appreciate you sharing that, and it shows just the amount of work that comes into play with trust. Michael Hingson  58:54 Yeah, it's it's a challenge, but it is doable. Well, so what's next for you? Speaker 1  59:01 Yeah, just doing some work after this with the work that I do, and yeah, it's starting to get that book into the place of having editorial reviews and starting to get that edited professionally. Michael Hingson  59:14 Have either of your books been converted to audio? Speaker 1  59:17 The second one has. Yes. Michael Hingson  59:22 Is it? Where is it available? Audible, or how is it available? Speaker 1  59:25 It's my own special design. It's actually got a, it's got a Texan man, a doing it. He's got a nice voice, pretty soothing. Yet it's through what's called the Hero app, H I R O. And I can send you the link if you're interested. For that, Michael Hingson  59:40 love to, yeah, Speaker 1  59:42 yeah. Michael Hingson  59:44 Well, this has been enjoyable, certainly by any standard. If people want to reach out to you, maybe use your services or talk with you. How do they do that? Speaker 1  59:53 They can find me, Michael, through Recovery Arts counseling.com and that's Counseling with 2l's since I'm up here in Canada. You can find me through Instagram at Eric Fisher Writer or Recovery Arts Counseling. You can find me Facebook the same way on LinkedIn, just type in my name. You can look for, like, Calgary, like counselor recovery counseling. What do else? That's right, everybody learned something new today, if they did not, if they didn't already. So, those are a few Michael Hingson  1:00:25 ways. Well, that's great. Well, I really appreciate you taking the time to be here, and I value greatly your insights. I've learned things, and I always enjoy doing that. And I hope all of you out there listening have as well. Love to get your thoughts, so I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to email me at Michael M I C H A E L H I at Accessi B A C C E S S I B e.com Wherever you're listening or watching, or both, this podcast, please give us a five star review. But even more important than a review, a rating, five star rating, give us a review. We really value reviews and people who might be interested in listening to our podcasts, are going to read those reviews. I can tell you for sure that people love to know what others think. So, we value your reviews a great deal. And if any of you, including you, Eric, know of anyone else who ought to be a guest on Unstoppable Mindset, we'd love an introduction, because we're always looking for people who want to come on and tell their stories, so I hope that that we'll find ways to do that, and definitely value you being here, Eric, and doing all this, and I want to thank you again for being here. This has been a lot of fun. Speaker 1  1:01:37 Thank you, Michael. Happy to be on you. thank Michael Hingson  1:01:43 you for being here with me on Unstoppable Mindset. I hope today's conversation left you with a fresh perspective, a new insight, or at least something worth thinking about. If you're ready to go deeper into the ideas that shape how we see ourselves and others. I have a free gift for you. Head over to Michael hingson.com and download my free ebook, Blinded by Fear. It explores the invisible beliefs that hold us back and shows you how to reframe them, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share this show with someone who can use a reminder that growth starts with mindset. When people think differently, we all move forward together. Thanks again for listening. Keep learning, keep questioning, and keep choosing to live with an unstoppable min

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  99.9% your man WILL cheat again IS better odds than hitting the casino!

  Podcast/Movie title/Information *** Love Again is about a woman whose world is turned upside down when her husband is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. *** McDonald's 2 new drinks. Tried both.. favored one more than the other

  *Episode correction....14 years* ...  NEVER would I miss talking about the 1st of many yearly events to come!

  Another long weekend with this last and final construction of my lifetime... This house. After a nice warm shower. I did the typical. Lay down to watch some TV and pure over-exhaustion kicked in. Didn't get this podcast published and didn't catch up on any past 2 weeks of favorite shows either. Until this house is sold. Until, I'm actually handed a closing date... there is no rest. Just lots of work. No matter how tired a body. Reality.  It's no wonder podcasting for so many, brings with it a great release. Here's to another working weekend. (Bank admittance to follow because I don't believe in talk without facts.)

  Each health scare, episode should change you... make appropriate changes as needed. ❤️

  You know that undeniable feeling... When you feel the presence of someone... something. However, you visually do not see anyone present... spiritual energy.

  The real estate market isn't coming out of the gate as HOT as it usually has been over the last decade... Most folks are taking out equity to make their home, a personal oasis.  While others like myself... are taking a gamble. Leap of faith if you will?!.

 | Rise In The Rhythm  | Midnight Soul Session | I'm Here For That (Upbeat Soul Mix)  | Danny Foster, Rogue, Beverley Skeete | Show Me  | JC Sol | From East To West (Radio Edit)  | Walter G, Jay Caruso | Mama Going Out  | Kyra, Jackson Mathod | Down At The Trailride  | Willie Clayton | Love Town  | The Open Vibe Project | Password  | Agentic Orange | Uh Huh (Interesting)  | Agentic Orange | No Loving On Your Side  | Winta | Give Me More Love  | Liora Twani | Your Words  | Liora Twani | Tear It Up  | 90s Night Fever, Terrence Ford | Don't Play Me Slow  | 90s Night Fever, Simone Vee | Coastin'  | 90s Night Fever, Layla J | Still On The Floor (80s Remix)  | DJSoulBr feat. Arissa Johnson | Silence Screams Your Absence  | Cut Davis | Back To Love  | Link | All My Life  | Em-Cee | Lose It (Linslee Remix)  | Em-Cee | When You Tell Me  | Em-Cee | I Saw You (Radio Edit)  | Windy Karigianes | I Love You Babe (feat. Bobby Bonev & Paul Booth)  | Zed Soul | Games We Play (In Love) (feat. Chris Ballin)  | Zed Soul | You're My Sunshine (London Remix)  | The R.D. Project | Free Yourself  | MsVal | Ready  | Terry L Wydtrack, Rain Stevens | Ride  | Kym Swain | Arrival  | Randy Sloan | The Phoenix  | Euge Groove | Ascension  | G. Fields | You Remind Me  | G. Fields | Find Your Way  | G. Fields | Keep It Moving  | JJ Sansaverino | Simpatico  | Jazz Funk Soul | Come Into The Open (Soul Room Version)  | P.G.F. (Poetic Groove Foundation) | Ride With Me Tonight (feat. Layla J)  | Lalib | Thinking  | Nardia | With You  | Hil St Soul  | I'm Done  | Hil St Soul  | Roll On  | Hil St Soul  | Magazine Girl (feat. Donnie Williams) (The Catwalk Mix)  | Park Place with Paul Tillman Smith | Simple Love Life (feat. Terrill Carter)  | Park Place with Paul Tillman Smith | Teach Me (Best Friend)  | DJ Mpress | Choosing You  | DJ Mpress | How Does It Feel  | Hillari | I've Got A Feeling (We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again)  | Homer Banks | My Sunshine  | Debbie Ryvers | Supposed To  | Joy Rhodes | This Saturday  | Ken G Muzik

  This picture feels like eons ago... although for sentimental reasons. I still have that green winter turtleneck. My beloved Crystalblue

  There is much more to Narcissistic Personality Disorder such as the undeniable behavior of an Overt Narc

  "Living in the 80's" Concerts were totally different.. a completely DIFFERENT concert experience! Raw, unfiltered energy that couldn't be denied! Affordable ticket prices that weren't controlled by scalpers or third party resale companies. Concert life that had fans FULLY living in the present moment! That moment was a "WILD" experience focusing purely on the live performance... rather than recording it for social media.

  Narcissistic projection is a psychology defense, where a person with NPD/Narcissistic Personality Disorder or strong traits disowns their uncomfortable, negative emotions, flaws, or behaviors by attributing them to their target/someone else. Essentially, they "project" their internal shame or toxic behavior onto you, accusing you of the very things they are or were doing.

  The new wallpaper, coastal theme/design still keeping with the house

You can have the strategy, the roadmap, and the results to prove it, and still feel completely disconnected from your own leadership.   That's the quiet tension Jamelle Lindo has seen time and time again. After a decade in leadership roles, he realized something most organizations overlook: success isn't just built on intellect or execution - it's built on humanity. And when that piece is missing, even the highest performers can feel emotionally powerless.   As the creator of the Emotional Empowerment Process™, Jamelle works with leaders to help them reconnect with themselves in a way that fuels resilience, strengthens relationships, and sustains performance, especially in a workplace that's evolving faster than ever with AI. Because in a world driven by data and automation, the real advantage isn't more logic - it's deeper emotional connection.   On this episode of The Workplace Communication Podcast, we're talking with Jamelle Lindo, EQ Executive Coach and Founder of PARADIGM People Development, about leading with emotional empowerment in the age of AI. Join us as we explore how emotional avoidance quietly impacts decision-making, why high performers often tie their worth to achievement, and what it takes to stay grounded and human as the pace of change accelerates.    Leadership tips you won't want to miss: 

  Narcissists typically avoid, deflect, or deny accountability to protect a fragile ego and maintain control, often viewing responsibility as a threat that triggers extreme shame or guilt. They commonly use tactics like gaslighting, blame-shifting, rewriting history, and DARVO. (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) All to avoid accountability and consequences.

  Never use death as a excuse to cover lying to a customer. This really applies to any professional, business or personal relationship. Using a sensitive subject like death to cover up a lie is generally considered a severe breach of trust... integrity. Especially if you are a business/owner. Instead...*Be honest* Express transparency over excuses for lying. Honesty, even when difficult, protects your long-term reputation/personal and business/relationships.  

  Spending quality time is important for both of us. The simple things in life, happy memories

  Trust in banks and realtors is strained in 2026 due to high affordability walls (price-to-income ratios at record high) and a payment shock from 6%+ mortgage rates. Banks face fragile trust due to increased cyber threats, AI-driven fraud, and ongoing bank mergers, while realtors navigate a slow-moving market with tight supply and high demand. Everyone is out looking for the best interest of 1 person... Themselves.

  Parents who engaged in gross negligence, failing to care for their children during sickness in infancy or adulthood, often continue to absent themselves when those children are sick as adults, sometimes driven by guilt, shame, or an ingrained pattern of avoidance. Research suggests that this behavior is not necessarily a sudden realization of guilt, but often a continuation of neglectful or uninvolved parenting styles (also known as apathetic or detached parenting) where the parent prioritizes their own comfort over the child's needs.  Parents who neglected their children may feel deep shame or guilt when faced with the consequences of their actions (i.e., their sick adult child), leading to avoidance as a way to manage their own emotional discomfort. Neglectful parents often lack emotional involvement and empathy, treating children as a "burden" rather than a responsibility. If they failed to respond to the child's needs in the past, they are unlikely to develop that capacity later, especially during taxing events. Neglectful parents frequently come from families where they were neglected themselves, often lacking the tools to provide care, or they may be emotionally "blind" to the needs of others. These parents may "numb" themselves or use detachment as a survival mechanism, preferring to stay away rather than confront the reality of their child's vulnerability, which may make them feel inadequate or unloving. Neglectful, sometimes called "narcissistic" or self-absorbed, parents often prioritize their own needs and view caring for a sick adult child as a stressful, unwanted imposition. Adults raised in these environments often learn to rely only on themselves and may struggle with the "resentful love" dynamic, where they crave care from their parent while simultaneously experiencing the pain of abandonment.

  This was left, intentionally

"5 Principles to Free Yourself from the Cult of Overwork"

We're so glad you're joining us at New Covenant Church! This weekend, Pastor Stephen continues our message series RedTalks with this week's message, “Free Yourself."Message Notes:http://bible.com/events/49593520Join us in person at 9:00am or 10:30am at our North or South Locations, or tune in to our online service at 10:30am. For more information, visit wearencc.com

  Will need to get current photos/front of property as well... however, you get the point, photos taken back of property last month

  *Podcast correction-"My" father was in the military... not Eric's *** homes.com 

  I'd much rather wait to celebrate any holiday... when the vibes are positive!

  Once you listen to the podcast. These photos will make sense

  Sometimes... Even this is hard to ignore. However, addiction is like walking around a human yo-yo. One moment their mood is up... and next they are down. Mix it up with some narcissism... it's only worse. The self-righteous entitlement, and even so... catching one literally speak of entitlement is mind blowing behavior!. Word of continued advice? Ignore. Ignore. Ignore. The universe and karma ALWAYS keeps tabs. It will handle matters for you. It happens every, single, time.

  You should never be that familiar with comfort, end-of-life care. Nor... adding something else on a overwhelming, overflowing plate.

  Family abandonment, lasting over a decade, usually stems from severe, long-term dysfunction rather than minor disagreements. "Generational Dysfunction" Common reasons include entrenched toxic dynamics, significant unmet expectations, irreconcilable values. To stop the cycle, includes an entire family that is ready and willing for change. If not broken, this type of dysfunction continues on for indefinite... generations. ⛵️

Wayne Dyer invites you to reconnect with your true nature and release the beliefs that limit your life. By shifting from fear to curiosity, from control to trust, and from ego to inner knowing, you can live with greater freedom and purpose. This powerful message reminds us that fulfillment begins when we trust the wisdom already within us.Want Ad-Free Episodes? Join QOD Club and hear zero ads inside our Circle community. Plus, book clubs, mentorship calls, weekly business trainings, and new likeminded friends. Get started for only $9.Source: How to Free Yourself from Suffering – Wayne Dyer's Greatest LessonHosted by Sean CroxtonFollow me on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Free Yourself from the Tyranny of the Automobile!! That's the subtitle of the new book Life After Cars, written by the hosts of the popular podcast "War On Cars." And listen, I am 100% on board: this quasi-hippy spent most of her 20s trekking around college towns on a crappy commuter bike. But like a lot of you, I also live in a place where the infrastructure has refused to catch up to my desire to have fewer cars on the road. So here's what I absolutely loved about this conversation: we talked at length about all the ways that cars make our lives worse... and also talked about the ways that we need them (particularly in rural areas) and the movement they afford people whose freedoms are otherwise circumscribed. There is absolutely nothing fixed about our current car-contingent culture, and Sarah and Doug were so good at fostering a funny (and super smart) conversation about what sucks, what doesn't have to suck, and places that are working to make it suck less. This was one of those eps were Melody and I finished recording and couldn't stop texting about how good they were — so let's keep the conversation going in the comments. GREAT NEWS: WE HAVE VERY GOOD EPISODE TRANSCRIPTS NOW! They come out within 24 hours of the pod — just come back and click here. We pay an actual human for help with these, so thank you for either being a paid subscriber or listening to the ads that make this model possible!If you're a paid subscriber and haven't yet set up your subscriber RSS feed in your podcast player, here's the EXTREMELY easy how-to .And if you're having any other issues with your Patreon subscription — please get in touch! Email me at annehelenpetersen @ gmail OR submit a request to Patreon Support. Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode!Get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/CULTURE Wake up with clearer skin, smoother hair, and cooler sleep. Use code CULTUREPOD for an extra 30% off at blissy.com/CULTUREPODFeed the obsession by going to ollie.com/culture and using code CULTURE to get 60% off your first box!Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your door. Go to:  https://www.wildalaskan.com/CULTUREShow Notes:Buy Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile here!Listen to the War on Cars podcast (and if you love it, subscribe to their Patreon)You can also sign up for their newsletter hereFollow War on Cars on IG hereOh and check out all of the great War on Cars merch hereFor more on the creative traffic solutions in Ghent, watch this YouTube videoWe're currently looking for your questions for future episodes about:HISTORICAL GOSSIP! We're talking with Nichole Hill, host of Our Ancestors Were Messy, about hot, messy, ideologically fascinating world of Black gossip columns during the golden era of Black newspapers (1930 to 1960). What do you want to know about how the Black press worked during this era — and how gossip in particular worked (both about stars, local celebrities, and normal people?) There's so much here!!!Conversion Therapy (how it affects people late into life, how it still exists, etc. etc — we're talking to Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez about his new book, Conversion Therapy Dropout, and there are so many connections to the ways the current administration is currently trying to "de-trans" people in custody) Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything, it's literally the name of the segment.As always, you can submit your questions (and ideas for future eps) hereFor this week's discussion: THOUGHT EXPERIMENT: How would your life change with fewer cars on the road? If you have a car, what infrastructure improvement would make it easier to let it go?

With Louis Diamond and Mindy Diamond Overview They've built thriving businesses. Strong production. Loyal clients. Growing teams.So why do so many successful advisors quietly wonder, “Why doesn't this feel as good as I expected?” This episode tackles the psychology of success and what comes after it. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. Watch… https://youtu.be/nrmtRBlJJVs About this episode… We often speak with advisors who, by every external measure, are exceptionally well-performing. They've built real businesses, with strong production, loyal clients, and teams that continue to grow. Yet behind closed doors, many of these same advisors are quietly asking a different set of questions. Not “How do I fix what's broken?” but “Why doesn't this feel as good as I expected?” That tension is showing up more often than it did five or ten years ago. It's not because advisors are failing. In many cases, it's because they've won and now face another 15 or 20 years of “more of the same,” unsure whether comfort has replaced energy. This Industry Update is about that moment. Louis and Mindy Diamond unpack what we're hearing from successful advisors across the industry: What feels different for successful advisors vs. five or ten years ago. Why success itself can become a constraint. How fear of change competes with fear of standing still. What the reality is regarding freedom and control. Why record valuations, longer careers, and the maturity of the independent space are changing the psychology of decision-making. They also discuss the right questions to ask before considering a move – questions about control, enterprise value, legacy, and time horizon – and how all advisors can create clarity without forcing a decision. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002. Related Resources How to Free Yourself from the “If Only” MindsetHere are the 5 most common self-limiting statements that advisors share—and ways to reframe your thinking. Limitless Growth: Building the Business You Want and the Life to MatchStephanie Bogan, founder of Limitless Advisor, offers a glimpse into the advice and perspective she shares with advisors and business leaders in the wealth management world, focusing on mindset and methods, and their relationship to achieving one's best business life.  

Change at work is often treated like a checklist: new strategy, new structure, new expectations. But what rarely gets named is what people are actually losing along the way: certainty, identity, trust, and sometimes even a sense of belonging. When leaders move too fast and skip the human side of organizational change, the cost shows up quietly through employee burnout, disengagement, and resistance that feels hard to explain.   That's where Myriane Ouellette comes in.    As a leadership strategist at O Strategies, she helps leaders across sectors navigate complex change management while supporting their teams' well-being and resilience. Drawing from deeply personal experiences and years of supporting organizations through transformation, Myriane reminds us that change is never just technical - it's emotional, relational, and human-centered.   On this episode of The Workplace Communication Podcast, we're talking with Myriane Ouellette, Owner and CEO at O Strategies, about why so many change initiatives fail when leaders ignore the human experience behind them. Join us as we learn how grief and loss show up at work, why "resistance" is often a signal rather than a problem, and how shifting from control to stewardship helps teams adapt more sustainably.    Leadership tips you won't want to miss: 

What if the freedom you're searching for begins with fully being yourself? Tune in for G. Brian Benson as he discusses Be Yourself to Free Yourself, A Journey Back to Wholeness, Voice, and Truth.Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate!  https://www.kmet1490am.comG. Brian Benson is an intuitive consciousness bridge who is an award-winning and #1 best-selling author, poet, podcast host, mentor, filmmaker, producer and TEDx speaker. Brian creates to amplify hearts, spark self-discovery, and remind others of their own light. As a 4x Ironman triathlete, cross-country bicyclist and cancer survivor, Brian knows the value of hard work and never giving up on his dreams, a message he shares with audiences through each of his creative expressions. https://www.gbrianbenson.com www.habitsforsuccessbook.com  For more show information visit: https://www.mariannepestana.com/

This episode is different.Recorded on February 1st, Free Yourself is a raw, reflective, and deeply personal conversation about completion, release, and stepping into freedom without apology.After a quiet January marked by healing, focus, and finishing sacred work, this episode captures what it feels like to finally exhale. Not because everything was easy, but because the assignment was honored.In this episode, Lady O reflects on what it truly means to free yourself:From the opinions of othersFrom self-sabotaging thoughtsFrom guilt, shame, and regretFrom living in the pastFrom environments and seasons that have already served their purposeThis is not an episode about quitting or running away.It is about graduating.It is about releasing without resentment.It is about trusting your timing and choosing peace.If you have ever felt the tension between holding on and letting go, this conversation will meet you right where you are.This is 30 minutes of truth, transparency, and freedom.

Many of us indulge in escapist or addictive behaviours that fall short of what society would define as problematic addictions. According to author CECILY MAK, however, such behaviours can dim the good parts of life along with the bad. If you want to live life with clarity and purpose, identifying and addressing your “dimmers” can make an excellent starting point.  In this episode, Andrew and Cecily discuss: Cecily's own experience of giving up alcohol. What happens when we avoid difficult feelings. The Eight Awarenesses - a set of principles we can use for inspiration and guidance on the path to embodying a clear life.  Why dimmers are not always a substance: they may also include excessive exercise, disordered eating, or overworking.  Cecily Mak is a mother, investor, advocate, and founder devoted to helping people live dimmer-free—with clarity, courage, and the freedom to change without stigma or shame. She is also the co-founder of Wisdom Ventures, a bold fund investing in a future of deeper human connection and well-being. If You're Looking for More…. You can subscribe to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts) and hear a bonus mini-episode every week. Or you can join our Supporters Club on Patreon to also access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests  and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50 This week supporters will hear: Free Yourself from Unwanted Habits Three Things Cecily Mak knows to be true.  AND subscribers also access all of our previous bonus content - a rich trove of insight on love, life and meaning created by Andrew and his interviewees. Follow Up Attend Andrew's men's retreat near Berlin in April 2026: details here  Read Cecily Mak's new book, Undimmed:  The Eight Awarenesses for Freedom From Unwanted Habits  Listen to Cecily Mak's Undimmed podcast  Subscribe to Cecily Mak's Clear Life Substack  Follow Cecily Mak on social media:  Instagram | LinkedIn Get Andrew's free guide to difficult conversations with your partner: How to Tell Your Partner Difficult Things  Take a look at Andrew's new online relationship course: My Best Relationship Tools  Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall   

TEATIME WITH MISS LIZ —December 9th, 7 PM ESTFeaturing: ERIC FISHER — Canadian Certified Counsellor, Trauma Specialist, Author & Award-Winning ScreenwriterTeatime with Miss Liz Serves: Eric Fisher — Trauma Therapist, Recovery Expert & Award-Winning Screenwriter December 9th, 7 pm EST Transformation begins where truth, courage, and healing meet. Miss Liz doesn't serve a beverage — she serves real-life changemakers.Tonight, she serves Eric Fisher, a Canadian Certified Counsellor originally from Tennessee, now residing in Calgary, Alberta — a compassionate, trauma-informed therapist with over 15 years of experience helping individuals and families reclaim their lives. Eric is the author of The Martial Art of Recovery and Buried Alive: Four Ways to Free Yourself from the Dirt, blending mindfulness, trauma healing, martial arts discipline, and mental wellness into powerful, practical tools for recovery. He is a master practitioner in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and trained in EMDR, both evidence-based trauma treatments used worldwide. Eric's private practice, Recovery Arts Counselling, serves clients locally and remotely, offering recovery support, trauma therapy, couples work, and emotional healing. Beyond therapy, Eric is an award-winning screenwriter, a black belt in two martial arts, a two-time FBI intern, and a man driven by curiosity, adventure, and mindfulness. His story proves that healing is both an internal art and a lifelong journey. Watch LIVE or catch the replay on all Miss Liz Teatime platforms. Miss Liz will pour a cup of resilience, awareness, and recovery with Eric Fisher, a Canadian Certified Counsellor, trauma specialist, martial artist, writer, and a man who has devoted his life to helping others heal. Eric brings over 15 years of experience in outpatient, inpatient, and private practice settings across both the United States and Canada. His mastery in ART and his training in EMDR make him a powerful guide for survivors of trauma, addiction, emotional overwhelm, and life transitions. His books, The Martial Art of Recovery and Buried Alive, merge the discipline of martial arts with the internal work of mental wellness — showing that healing is not just a process but a practice of self-mastery. With award-winning screenwriting accolades, two black belts, and even two FBI internships behind him, Eric's story blends curiosity, adventure, compassion, and deep mindfulness. We will explore transformation, trauma recovery, identity, storytelling, and how choosing healing can reshape a life from the inside out. We will have a powerful and soul-shifting Teatime with Eric Fisher — a conversation grounded in truth, compassion, and the courage to face what lies beneath the surface. Eric will remind us that healing is a journey of curiosity, mindfulness, and self-respect. Through trauma therapy, martial arts discipline, and emotional recovery, he offers tools that help individuals break cycles, integrate pain, and reclaim their inner strength. His insights on ART, EMDR, addiction recovery, emotional resilience, and the mind-body connection provided deep value, clarity, and hope. Thank you, Eric, for bringing your compassionate heart, expertise, and adventurous spirit to the Teatime table. And to everyone joining live or watching the replay — thank you for continuing to support the ripple of healing and humanity Miss Liz serves each evening. Eric Fisher, MS, CCC, is a Canadian Certified Counsellor specializing in trauma recovery, addiction, and emotional wellness. Based in Calgary, he integrates ART, EMDR, and martial arts principles into therapy. An award-winning screenwriter and author, he brings curiosity, compassion, and mindfulness to every aspect of his work.#TeatimeWithMissLiz#TraumaHealing#RecoveryJourney#MentalWellness#EricFisherCounselling New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount

Some bosses don't just manage - they control, manipulate, and undermine, leaving employees walking on eggshells every day. The stress, self-doubt, and exhaustion can build quietly, often making people question themselves more than the toxic dynamics around them. Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett has spent years helping people break free from these harmful work environments. Drawing on her research and experience, she explains how to spot toxic leadership patterns, understand the impact on your well-being, and take practical steps to protect yourself, set boundaries, and plan a way forward with confidence. On this episode of The Workplace Communication Podcast, we're talking with Dr Laura Hambley Lovett, Organizational Psychologist and Author of I Wish I'd Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss, about practical strategies for navigating and escaping a toxic boss. Dr. Lovett shares how to distinguish a truly toxic leader from a merely difficult one, maintain control over your work life, and create actionable steps for recovery or exit.    Leadership tips you won't want to miss: 

After surviving Thanksgiving and the subsequent biting cold, we jumped into the FOLLOW UP with news that Malaysia is joining the trend by taking steps to ban social media for children under 16, mirroring similar actions in Australia and Denmark—it seems the world is finally realizing the internet is a toxic wasteland for the kids. We also discussed Apple's photo AI, which is apparently still in beta, if the results are anything to go by. The bulk of our discussion centered on the spectacular, flaming death of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is Officially Dead. We broke down a brief rundown of the damages this vanity project caused, from humanitarian disasters overseas to administrative chaos and the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs domestically, proving the "savings" were pure illusion. Now, with the collapse, the 'Suddenly exposed' DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them, learning the hard way that billionaire guardianship has an expiration date.The job market is just great, with both Apple laying off part of its sales team despite record revenue, and HP joining the List of Tech Companies Cutting Jobs and pointing to AI as the convenient scapegoat for laying off 10% of their workforce. Meanwhile, we found out the most popular social media platform among US adults isn't Instagram or TikTok—it's YouTube—while Meta allegedly buried research showing its products are harming users, confirming what we've known all along: they're evil, but they already got your grandma hooked. Adding to the misery, An Alarming Number of Teens Say They Turn To AI For Company, Study Finds, because why talk to a real, messy human when a bot can gaslight you more efficiently? Sam Altman's financial troubles are spilling over, with Sam Altman's Business Buddies Are Getting Stung (sorry, SoftBank and Oracle), and analysts estimate OpenAI Is Just $200 Billion Away From Still Losing Money, HSBC Says, a comical hole they plan to fill by asking for more free money. Legally, OpenAI can't use the Word ‘Cameo' in Sora now, thanks to a trademark suit, and Warner Music is playing both sides by dropping its lawsuit against Suno in exchange for a licensing agreement. Finally, in some truly dark news, a Marc Andreessen-backed Super-PAC Pours Millions Into Fighting State AI Regulations, and X's new location feature reveals that New X Feature Reveals Many MAGA Patriots on X Are Not Even Based in the U.S.After ranting about my misery dealing with the Open Dialogue bug in a beta build and declaring my return to "pedestrian releases," we got into APPS & DOODADS. Spotify is actually doing something cool with its new SongDNA feature, which shows you who sampled what (and they bought WhoSampled to do it). They're also testing Spotify's New AI-powered audiobook Recaps to remind you where you left off—Amazon is doing the same with AI-powered series Recap Videos for Prime Video. Amazon is also rolling out Alexa Home Theater surround sound for Echo speakers, making those budget speakers slightly more useful. We ran through some great stocking stuffers in Jason's Holiday Gift Guide, including Velcro cable ties and the Contigo travel mug, before moving on to MEDIA CANDY, which included Dan Carlin's Common Sense, Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk's new podcast Once We Were Spacemen, and a discussion on why Stranger Things Lost the Plot. We then got deeply uncomfortable talking about a Toronto ASMR spa that offers doctor roleplay, and closed out by talking about the documentary Quiet Please… about the neurological disorder misophonia. The episode finished with the AT THE LIBRARY segment, covering the Milli Vanilli memoir You Know It's True and the sci-fi short story collection The Time Travelers Passport.Show notes at https://gog.show/724Watch now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PoMa9FM5QEE?si=4r25yqv_0u8aXHF7Sponsors:MasterClass - Get up to 50% off at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKSGusto - Try Gusto today at gusto.com/grumpy, and get three months free when you run your first payroll.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordFOLLOW UPMalaysia takes steps to ban social media for children under 16IN THE NEWSDOGE Is Officially Dead'Suddenly exposed' DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them: reportApple lays off part of its sales teamHP Joins List of Tech Companies Cutting Jobs and Pointing to AIThe most popular social media platform among US adults isn't Instagram or TikTokMeta allegedly buried research showing its products are harming usersAn Alarming Number of Teens Say They Turn To AI For Company, Study FindsSam Altman's Business Buddies Are Getting StungOpenAI Is Just $200 Billion Away From Still Losing Money, HSBC SaysOpenAI Can't Legally Use the Word ‘Cameo' in Sora NowWarner Music drops lawsuit against AI music platform Suno in exchange for licensing agreementMarc Andreessen-Backed Super-PAC Pours Millions Into Fighting State AI RegulationsNew X Feature Reveals Many MAGA Patriots on X Are Not Even Based in The U.S.MEDIA CANDYCommon Sense 325 – Who's the Boss?Once We Were SpacemenHow Stranger Things Lost the PlotBeing EddieThe Beast in MeThe RosesAt Toronto's new ASMR spa, sensory stimulation slips out of the internet and into real lifeQuiet Please…APPS & DOODADSSpotify's SongDNA feature will show you which songs are sampled on a trackMaking of "The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up" in Ableton by Jim PavloffSpotify's New AI-Powered Audiobook Recaps Will Remind You Where You Left OffAmazon Launches AI-Powered Series Recap VideosAlexa Home Theater surround sound for Echo speakers is rolling out nowDashaun No Sadè - Episode 13 Durand BernarrGuermok Video Capture Card, 4K USB3.0 HDMI to USB C Capture Card for Streaming, 1080P 60FPS, Compatible with iPad Mac OS Windows, Quest 3, OBS, PS5/4, Switch2/1, Xbox, Camera (Silver)Meike 35mm F2.0 Auto Focus Full Frame STM Stepping Motor Lens Compatible with Nikon Z Mount CamerasOBS StudioRogue Amoeba LoopbackScientists Reveal What Black Friday Is Doing to Your BrainVELCRO Brand 150pk Cable Ties Value Pack, 8in | Stocking Stuffer Gifts for Tech Lovers | For Wire Management and Cord Organizer | Replace Zip Ties with Reusable Straps, Reduce WasteHand Holder Strap for ipad, Tablet Hand Holder Strap, Universal Handle Grip for iPad Kindle, Mini Tablets and Cases (Black)Anker USB C Hub, 7-in-1 Multi-Port USB Adapter for Laptops, 4K@60Hz USB C to HDMI Splitter, 85W Max Power Delivery, 3xUSBA & C 3.0 Data Ports, SD/TF Card, for Type C DevicesContigo AUTOSEAL West Loop Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug with Easy-Clean Lid 20 ozScotty Peeler Label and Sticker Remover - Single Metal Peeler -SP2Slipdrive - Portable Hard Drive Sleeve for Laptop - HDD Hard Disk Drive - Reusable Adhesive - 5.5” x 4.5” Stick on External Hard Drive Carrying Case - Travel Pocket Pouch (Large, Black)Slipdrive - Portable Hard Drive Sleeve for Laptop - SSD Solid State Drive - Reusable Adhesive - Stick on External Hard Drive Carrying Case - Pocket Pouch (Small, Black)Carlashes 1001UB Classic BlackAT THE LIBRARYYou Know It's True - The Real Story of Milli VanilliThe Time Travelers PassportThe Courage to Be Disliked: How to Free Yourself, Change Your Life, and Achieve Real Happiness by Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake KogaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#114 [Inside the Mind] Chris Petefish: Play Unapologetic Golf and Using Data to Free Yourself from Emotional Decision-making What do you do when your biggest opportunity collides with your worst nightmare? For Chris Petefish, that moment came two weeks before Second Stage of Q School—when he woke up unable to get out of bed, let alone swing a golf club. No practice. No prep. Just pain, uncertainty, and a ticking clock on what might be his last real shot at securing status. Most players would withdraw. Chris got on a plane. In this conversation, we break down the mindset, decision-making, and mental toughness that carried him from "I might have to quit" to T8 at Second Stage—and eventually to winning on the Korn Ferry Tour.  Whether you're chasing a club championship, a Korn Ferry card, or a seven-figure business year, the principles are the same: expectations, routines, self-talk, and a willingness to play unapologetically free. In this episode, you'll learn: The mindset that helped Chris qualify at Q School while barely able to swing a club. How to turn panic, fear, and "why me?" moments into problem-solving and clarity. How to identify and dismantle the destructive belief: "I only perform well with my back against the wall." Why routines, awareness, and data are non-negotiable for peak performance. How to cultivate a flow state, lower expectations, and raise execution under pressure. What a bogey-free tournament taught Chris about confidence, acceptance, and fearlessness. Why embracing—not suppressing—pressure is the key to performing when it matters most. Get your pencils ready and start listening.  P.P.S. Curious to learn more about the results my clients are experiencing and what they say about working with me? Read more here. More About Chris Chris Petefish is a professional golfer and performance coach based in Georgia. A former Georgia Tech standout, he was an All-ACC Academic selection, All-America Scholar, and winner of the 2018 General Hackler Championship.  Since turning professional in 2018, he's competed on the Korn Ferry Tour and qualified for the 2024 U.S. Open. Off the course, he runs Course of Action Golf, where he coaches players of all levels in course strategy, mindset, and performance using strokes gained analytics and mental conditioning frameworks.  His philosophy blends data-driven strategy with mental resilience — helping golfers and high performers think clearly, compete freely, and execute under pressure. Course of Action Golf Instagram (@chrispetefishgolf) Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter Download my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course.  Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist  Twitter: @parsoverbogeys Key Takeaways: Pressure is not the enemy- you must acknowledge it to master it. Pretending pressure doesn't exist only amplifies it. Naming it neutralizes it. Your routine is your anchor. Any deviation in your pre-shot routine is a signal your inner world is unraveling. Expectations kill performance. Preparation builds confidence; expectations destroy it. Play unapologetically. Fear-based golf leads to steering, tension, and poor decisions. Confidence and fear can coexist. The goal isn't removing fear; it's performing with it. Data frees you from emotional decision-making. Golf is a math contest with variance baked in. Resiliency compounds. Your worst stretches often create the biggest breakthroughs. Key Quotes: "When my back's against the wall, that's usually when I'm at my best." "I'd rather hit a poor shot with confidence than a poor shot from fear." "The expectations on the course will kill you." "You can't pretend pressure doesn't exist—you have to acknowledge it to handle it." "My routine tells me everything about my inner state." "Golf is a math contest. Trust the numbers, trust your skills." "Sometimes hitting rock bottom is a blessing—it forces change." Time Stamps: 00:00: Overcoming Adversity in Golf 06:04: Mental Resilience and Self-Discovery 10:14: Playing Smarter, Not Harder 13:26: Achieving a Bogey-Free Tournament 19:31: Navigating Expectations and Acceptance 22:58: The Journey of Mental Training 23:49: Understanding the Mental Game of Golf 26:57: The Importance of Routine and Mindset 29:04: Balancing Expectations and Confidence 31:42: Data-Driven Decision Making in Golf 33:57: Resilience and Overcoming Adversity 38:08: The Role of Reflection and Support 41:46: Coaching Insights and Personal Experience

Send us a textMONEY? FREE YOURSELF. Stocks Last Frontier For You. Financial Freedom?❤️️Grants from states and local governments: https://findhelp.org/❤️️Caregivers, Mental Health: https://www.211.org

Unleash Your Potential And Win At A Higher Level is covered in this video, along with the following subjects:- Breaking the Capacity Ceiling- Building Scalable Systems That Grow Profits While Reducing Your Involvement- Mastering Delegation to Free Yourself for Strategic Leadership and Growth***************************************Unleashing your potential is all about recognizing the immense capabilities that lie within you and actively working to bring them to the forefront. It's an exciting journey that invites you to step outside of your comfort zone, embrace challenges, and cultivate a mindset geared towards growth and achievement. Remember, every small step you take towards harnessing your skills and passions contributes to a larger transformation.Justin Lund is a seasoned entrepreneur, business coach, and founder of Propel, specializing in helping small business owners break through their capacity ceiling and reclaim their time. Drawing on years of experience building businesses, one of which he scaled to nearly nine figures, Justin empowers entrepreneurs to elevate their results by unlocking their mindset, installing scalable systems, and mastering delegation. He's committed to guiding leaders in avoiding pitfalls and bottlenecks, streamlining operations, and achieving sustainable business growth.

From coaching a four-star general to navigating a toxic corporate culture where retaliation, exclusion, and silencing were part of daily life, Kelly Meerbott has seen leadership at its most extreme. Just like most leaders and employees, she has experienced what it feels like when ideas are dismissed, confidence erodes, and fear quietly takes over the workplace.   Kelly's journey shows how the absence of psychological safety can crush potential and morale, and how fostering it can transform teams, spark innovation, and bring out the very best in people. Her story proves that when leaders prioritize trust, empathy, and open communication, extraordinary results are possible. On this episode of The Workplace Communication Podcast, we're talking with Kelly Meerbott, Award-Winning Executive Coach and Founder at You - Loud & Clear, about unlocking leadership excellence through psychological safety. Kelly shares practical strategies for leaders to foster trust, empathy, and open communication, and explores the personal and organizational barriers that often prevent teams from thriving.    Leadership tips you won't want to miss: 

STOP Leading Backwards! Transform Your Coaching from the "Dance Floor" to the "Balcony" with Executive Coach Zafer AchiEver feel like you're doing everything right—you've got the technical expertise, the tools, the game plan—but your team still feels disconnected? You're not alone. In this electrifying episode, we dive deep with Zafer Achi, a veteran executive coach and Co-Chair of Cultivating Leadership, who reveals the single biggest mistake most leaders and coaches make: trying to lead others before truly knowing and leading themselves.Zafer breaks down his own powerful journey from being a technically brilliant leader who puzzled his teams ("We don't know who he is") to becoming a master of developmental coaching. This isn't just theory; this is the tactical framework you need to accelerate growth—both for yourself and your athletes/team members.What You'll Discover in This Must-Listen Episode:The "Backward" Leadership Trap: Why focusing on team management and technical fixes before self-awareness leaves your team feeling unheard and generates "scar tissue."Trust vs. Transparency: The crucial difference between sharing everything you know and sharing who you are—and why only one builds deep trust and connection.The Player-Coach Mindset: Learn the game-changing metaphor of the "Balcony and the Dance Floor" (coined by Ron Heifetz) and how to instantly shift from being caught up in the action to observing the dynamics.Free Yourself from Rigid Beliefs: Discover how to identify values and principles you are "subject to" and learn the profound liberation that comes from holding them as options for choice.The 3 Pillars of Self-Awareness: Zafer reveals the simple, daily practices (mirrored by top performance psychologists) that leaders can use to "take the balcony on their inner life."Turbocharge Team Development: Find out why a functional team is actually the ultimate accelerator for individual growth and how to structure collective "Balcony Moments" that metabolize conflict and unlock collective potential.Whether you're a sports coach, a CEO, or a team captain, this conversation is your blueprint for moving beyond the mechanics of leadership to the mastery of human development. Hit play and start leading from the Balcony!

In today's collaborative workplaces, outdated “command and control” policy language feels completely out of step. Instead of encouraging cooperation, it often creates resentment and disengagement.   That's why Lewis Eisen, author of Rules: Powerful Policy Writing to Maximize Engagement, has been challenging the traditional way organizations write policies. Drawing on his background as a lawyer, IT professional, and senior government policy advisor, Lewis shows leaders how respectful, plain-language policies can inspire genuine cooperation, strengthen employee engagement, and reflect organizational values.   On this episode of The Workplace Communication Podcast, we're talking with Lewis Eisen, author of Rules: Powerful Policy Writing to Maximize Engagement, about how to move away from rigid, adversarial wording and instead create policies that employees want to follow. You'll learn how language choices shape culture, how to separate policies from procedures, and why policies are a key part of your organization's brand.   Leadership tips you won't want to miss: