Ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge
POPULARITY
Hey everybody, Liam “TAKU” Bauer here, and welcome back to another powerful installment of the Truth Not Trends Podcast — where we teach you how to maximize your strength safely and efficiently in just two 30-minute workouts per week! This week we're keeping the TNT Strength Success Series rolling with a very special guest: David C. Berliner — world-renowned educational psychologist, author, researcher, and now… a dedicated strength training enthusiast! You might know David for his groundbreaking work in education, but what you might not know is that in his 80s, he decided to walk the walk when it comes to lifelong learning by stepping into the gym and taking control of his health and vitality. That's right — David's not just schooling people in the classroom, he's also getting stronger by the day with High Intensity Strength Training. In this episode, we dive into David's personal journey — what drew him to TNT Strength, how he's embraced the process, and what surprising lessons this seasoned scholar has uncovered about strength, aging, and resilience. Trust me, you do not want to miss his insights on how mental and physical strength go hand in hand. So whether you're a student of life, a fan of education, or just someone looking for a dose of inspiration — tune in to hear how David C. Berliner is proving that it's never too late to get stronger and live better. Let's hit it! Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave us a review!
Full Service is Available on Facebook and YouTube Meridian Church of God Facebook PageMeridian Church of God YouTube Channel
Hi there, I'm so excited to share this week's episode — it’s a good one! This time, I’m joined by the incredibly inspiring Dr. Anna York-Weaving, a Cambridge PhD scientist, academic coach, podcaster, and fellow lifelong learner. Anna's passion for learning and growth is contagious, and I just knew I had to bring her on to share her real-life experience and wisdom with our community. In this insightful conversation, Anna shares her journey from growing up in Ukraine to earning a scholarship to study in the UK — eventually achieving her childhood dream of studying at Cambridge. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing [is it ever?!] She opens up about her early struggles at university, how she overcame failure, and the pivotal moment she decided to transform not just her results but her entire approach to learning. Here’s what you’ll take away from this episode: How to learn smarter, not harder — and why reviewing information matters more than cramming it in. The power of visualisation and writing down your dreams — with a surprising story involving one of my books! Why setbacks are not failures but stepping stones to your future strengths. How to build habits like morning rituals that support your dream life (even with toddlers in tow!). It's an episode full of practical strategies, inspiring mindset shifts, and warm encouragement. If you're feeling a little stuck or unsure of your next step, Anna’s story will give you a beautiful nudge forward. Tune in — and let’s keep dreaming big, together. As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonates with you from this episode and what you plan to implement after listening in. So please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here. Have a wonderful weekend …and remember, it all starts with a dream
When life is busy and homeschooling feels overwhelming, it's easy to fall back on textbooks just to get through the day. But if you're ready for a more meaningful approach, this episode will show you how to be a lifelong learner—and raise kids who love learning too.We're breaking down the mindset shifts and practical steps that help you get off the educational conveyor belt and spark curiosity, creativity, and deep thinking in your homeschool.✅The real reason textbooks feel safe—and what to use instead✅How curiosity fuels lasting learning far beyond any test✅Easy ways to integrate your child's interests into daily lessons✅The 4-step method to develop real-world learners and leaders✅Why boredom might be the best gift you can give your kidsGrab the free class mentioned in the episode to go even deeper!Resources Mentioned:Homeschool Freedom Bootcamp - May 13-234 Steps to Raising Christian Leaders in Your Homeschool (FREE Masterclass)Want help starting these conversations? Grab my free 3-Step Chart to Develop Critical Thinking Skills.Use Read Aloud Book List for suggested readingsShow Notes:
In this Out of Class edition of the Lifelong Learner podcast, Gines and Ben reunite after a short break with an episode that dives deep into leadership, resilience, and the unexpected power of doing hard things.Fresh from an off-track, high-stakes mountain adventure in Tasmania, Ben unpacks what it was like organising and leading a group of 11 men—many of whom had never hiked before—through sleet, steep boulder-strewn climbs, and moments of real physical and mental challenge. But this isn't a story about gear or maps. It's about people. What happens when pressure is on? When the path disappears? When fear kicks in?We explore:Why a beginner's mindset isn't just for kids—it's essential for great leadersHow we all show up differently under pressure: some lead, some help, and some freezeThe surprising difference between doing something hard vs. doing something riskyWhat contrast teaches us—about ourselves, about joy, and about what really mattersWhy comfort might be killing your growth (and what to do about it)We also zoom out to reflect on how this plays out in parenting, business, and life. Gines shares what it felt like to walk away from a big client instead of compromising core values. It wasn't easy—but it was worth it. We discuss the cost of avoiding discomfort, the epidemic of “pandering” to ease, and the truth that learning—real, deep, human learning—comes when we stretch.Whether you're hiking mountains, building businesses, or raising kids in a world that loves to avoid discomfort, this conversation is a timely reminder that:
Episode 95 features former pro beach volleyball players turned coaches and podcasters: John Mayer of LMU Beach Volleyball, Billy Allen of Stanford Beach, and Travis Mehwriter of Florida State Beach! John & Billy co-host a great podcast called Coach Your Brains out, and Travis hosts the Sandcast podcast with Tri Bourne. This episode is a part 2 to a great episode of Sandcast meets coach your brains out meets Within The Game!Pt 1 - Coaches Roundtable on Sandcast: https://youtu.be/WyDfj7jlvGU?si=VCUr_ng3-vmD8zNy @SANDCASTPodcast (Travis Mewhirer & Tri Bourne) @coachyourbrainsout (John Mayer & Billy Allen)IG: @sandcast_podcast @coachyourbrainBlenders Sunglasses 20% Off! Use Code "WCB20" www.blenderseyewear.com
Show Notes1:50 – Felicia Mayfield - the noble field of education 2:45 – George Wurtzel - blindness is not the loss of your knowledge and skill5:20 – Cassidy Magill Evans - a great teacher...6:45 – Anjelika Riano - support students and keep them focused on a vision7:55 – Tylan Bailey - treat others well and make a difference9:55 – Amy Gropper - challenge students to intrigue them12:15 – David Reynolds - go against the grain every now and then14:35 – Christy Todd - persistence, not perfection15:55 – Vlada Galan - world leaders or educators? In order of appearance, here are links to the full episode for each guest featured in Episode 57 - Great Teachers Matter Greatly.Episode 12 - Felicia MayfieldEpisode 37 - George WurtzelEpisode 56 - Cassidy Magill EvansEpisode 2 - Anjelika RianoEpisode 48 - Tylan BaileyEpisode 44 - Amy GropperEpisode 52 - Christy ToddEpisode 6 - Vlada GalanLead. Learn. Change. main podcast page (access to all episodes)Other Teacher Appreciation Episodes:2024 – episode 55 – What Great Teachers Do – May 2, 2024 – 15 minutesEpisode SummaryWe all have stories about our favorite teachers. Sometimes those memories are about how they led their classes, making everyone feel accepted and valued, and sometimes we recall a humorous moment, or maybe a hat or other accessory that became that teacher's "brand." More often, however, we look back fondly on how that teacher made us feel, what he or she did to help us learn, or the way their concern and understanding was conveyed to us. If you are a great teacher now, you are also building a storehouse of memories. Thank you. If you don't serve in a teaching role, you know someone who does, regardless of their job title. Take a moment to share a word of appreciation with that person. Great teachers make a difference. Let them know that you've noticed. 2023 – n/a 2022 – episode 38 – Great Teachers – Everyone Knows One – May 6, 2022 – 13 minutesEpisode SummaryReleased for Teacher Appreciation Week, but pertinent at any time, this episode consists of a brief compilation of comments from Lead. Learn. Change. podcast guests who highlight the importance of teachers and remind us of the impact that great teachers can–and do–have on the lives of those they serve. If you are an educator, listen and be inspired to keep making a difference. Whatever your role, consider taking a few minutes today to contact a current or former teacher and say, “Thank you.” 2021 – episode 34 – Many Voices, One Message – Teachers Matter – April 30, 2021 – 15 minutesEpisode SummaryReleased for Teacher Appreciation Week, but pertinent at any time, this episode consists of a brief compilation of comments from Lead. Learn. Change. podcast guests who highlight the importance of teachers and remind us of the impact that great teachers can–and do–have on the lives of those they serve. If you are an educator, listen and be inspired to keep making a difference. Whatever your role, consider taking a few minutes today to contact a current or former teacher and say, “Thank you.” Music for Lead. Learn. Change. is Sweet Adrenaline by Delicate BeatsPodcast cover art is a view from Brunnkogel (mountaintop) over the mountains of the Salzkammergut in Austria, courtesy of photographer Simon Berger, published on www.unsplash.com.Professional Association of Georgia EducatorsDavid's LinkedIn pageLead. Learn. Change. the bookInstagram - lead.learn.change
We hope you enjoy this shiur. If you would like to sponsor or dedicate any of our shiurim or help with the running costs please do not hesitate to get in contact with us at office@rabbiroodyn.com or WhatsApp +447791221449May Hashem heal the wounded, free the captives and lead our soldiers to a swift and painless victory.#jew #jewish #torah #torahfortoughtimes #rabbiroodyn #bringthemhome #rabbi #torahanytime #Judaism #Israel #shiur #responsetotragictimes #jewishunderstanding #pesach #celebrations #passover #omer #sefira #The48Ways
This is it. The final chapter of Make Change That Lasts, and it's the most important one.Why? Because this chapter completes the loop. We started this journey by talking about how our lives are shaped by invisible reliances—habits, thought patterns, and societal expectations we don't even realize we depend on. We've worked through breaking free from the ones that hold us back, building resilience, and reclaiming our time, energy, and well-being. But here's the thing—none of it matters if we don't connect back to the people around us.This final episode is about one of the biggest paradoxes in life: The more you give, the more you thrive. The stronger you become, the more you can support others—and that, in turn, lifts you even higher. This is the gift of reliance.References:“Make Changes That Lasts. 9 simple ways to break free from the habits that hold you back.”Dr. Rangan Chatterjee Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
This is a guided meditation for anyone who's ever doubted themselves...…for anyone who's ever looked at the mountain ahead and thought, "Who am I to do this?"Whether you're launching a new business, committing to your health, starting something creative, or just trying to live a better life — imposter syndrome can creep in and make us feel like we're not enough.But let me tell you something up front:If someone else has done it, it means it's possible.And if it's possible — then why not you?Let's take some time to quiet the noise, reconnect to your truth, and come back to that part of you that knows you're ready. You're worthy. You're capable.Resources:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
In today's Throwback Thursday, we're reaching into the vault to revisit one of the most downloaded, most talked about, most mind-blowing episodes we've ever dropped… and if you're new here, trust me — be prepared, you might have some of your core beliefs challenged.
In this episode, we're tackling a BIG topic that I know so many of you care about: how to actually get lean — and more importantly, how to stay lean.Because here's the reality: for every 10 people who try to get lean, only 2 succeed. But get this — only 1 keeps it off for good. And I'm here to help you be that ONE.This episode is not about gimmicks. It's not about hacks. It's not about crash diets or magic supplements. It's about building a lifestyle — through 5 simple, powerful, sustainable habits.These are habits that have worked for me, for my clients, for athletes, and for people just like you. And by the end of this episode, you'll know how to apply each one to your own life — without burning out, starving yourself, or spending hours on the treadmill.Let's dive in.Resources:Brain.fm App (First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
Haydee Rojas-Judd is a senior lawyer with an impressive approach to being a lifelong learner. Haydee has a Diploma of Counselling and is part way through a Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture Therapies) motivated by her love of learning. She had also taken singing lessons for a few years as a way to challenge herself. This conversation will be of interest to you if you're starting out in your vocational life, if you're considering a mid-career change, or if you're looking for inspiration to learn for non-vocational reasons.
If your neck is stiff, your shoulders are tight, or reaching overhead feels more like a challenge than it should — then today's episode is exactly what you need.We are going to talk about Shoulder Health, Postural Hygiene, and Upper Body Mobility Matter More Than You ThinkLet's get into it.Resources:SHOULDER CLINIC PDF (Follow along videos, and 5 minute daily routine)https://coachdamienevans.gumroad.com/l/shouldermobilityBrain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
In this episode, we're diving into a topic that's at the core of living a fulfilled and resilient life: the art and science of doing hard things.We'll explore why stepping outside your comfort zone is essential for a happier, healthier, more fit, and longer lifespan. We'll tie in Andrew Huberman's research on the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC), which he calls the "willpower muscle." We'll also unpack Michael Easter's concept of "comfort creep" from The Comfort Crisis, and why modern convenience is holding us back. Lastly, I'll give you actionable strategies to start embracing discomfort today.So, buckle up and let's dive into why doing hard things isn't just worth it—it's necessary.Resources:Huberman Lab Podcast w/ Professor Andrew HubermanThe Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
In this episode, we're diving into Chapter 8 of Make Change That Last, by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee "How are you?"When was the last time someone asked you that?And when was the last time you answered:"Oh, I've just been so busy."or"Nonstop, man. Just grinding, trying to get everything done."Sound familiar?We live in a world where busyness is the default.We're taught that if we're not constantly working, rushing, producing… we're somehow falling behind.But let me challenge you on this:
In this episode of Why Am I, I sit down with the endlessly fascinating Steve Davis – a sidemount cave diver, podcast host, entrepreneur, and former Navy engineer. We dig deep into how Steve found his way from corporate life in Silicon Valley to running a coffee shop in New Zealand, exploring underwater caves, and hosting one of the most niche diving podcasts out there. He shares gripping cave diving stories, lessons from failure, and thoughts on reinvention, discipline, and what it really means to be calm under pressure.
We all have moments from our past that have shaped us—some good, some painful. But when we let those experiences define us, when we hold on to resentment, regret, or shame, we chain ourselves to something that no longer serves us. And the reality is, holding onto the past can literally make us sick.This isn't about blame. It's about awareness. It's about realizing that our emotional health is deeply connected to our physical health—and if we want to thrive, we have to let go of what's holding us back.References:“Make Changes That Lasts. 9 simple ways to break free from the habits that hold you back.”Dr. Rangan Chatterjee Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
I'm having my friend and mentor, Kenneth Samples, back on the show to talk about how to develop a robust life of the mind for the glory of God. We also discuss reading tips on how to work through your pile of books. Watch our previous discussion about Ken's unique career in Christian apologetics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAmFAzvy3y4 Ken's book, Clear Thinking in a Messy World: https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Thinking-Messy-World-Christian/dp/B0DJZ6JNDP/ Be sure to stay connected by downloading the CFBU app! With the CFBU app, you'll have all our resources (Theology Mom, All the Things Show, and CFBU) at your fingertips. Search for "center for biblical unity" in your app store.
Let me ask you something—have you ever felt like you're making progress in life, only to suddenly hit a setback and think, What the hell? I thought I was on the right path! Why is this happening to me?Maybe you've been training consistently, eating well, and then—boom—you get sick, or injured. Maybe you've been saving money and budgeting, then suddenly your car breaks down and eats up your emergency fund. Maybe your relationship has been smooth sailing, then out of nowhere, an argument shakes your confidence.We all experience this, and yet we constantly act shocked when things don't go our way. Why? Because most of us have been conditioned to believe that progress should be linear. That once we start improving in an area of life, it should be like stepping onto an escalator that smoothly takes us upward. We expect steady gains, predictable progress, and minimal resistance.But the truth? Life does not work that way.Progress is nonlinear. And if you don't learn to expect adversity, to factor in setbacks, you're setting yourself up for stress, frustration, and failure.This chapter dives into why we must stop expecting smooth sailing and instead build resilience for the inevitable ups and downs. Because adversity isn't the problem—your reaction to it is.References:“Make Changes That Lasts. 9 simple ways to break free from the habits that hold you back.”Dr. Rangan Chatterjee Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
Today, we're diving into Chapter 5 of Make Change That Last, by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee We live in an age where everyone has an opinion, and with social media, those opinions are louder than ever. But what happens when someone disagrees with you? Do you get angry, defensive, and frustrated? If so, you might be relying too much on being right. And this reliance is holding you back more than you think.Today, we're breaking down why taking offense is a choice, why our brains crave validation, and how letting go of the need to be right will make you calmer, healthier, and more in control. This is one of the most powerful mindset shifts you can make—not just for your own well-being, but for your relationships, career, and overall happiness.References:“Make Changes That Lasts. 9 simple ways to break free from the habits that hold you back.”Dr. Rangan Chatterjee Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
In this sermon by Doug Pratt, the emphasis is on living a fruitful life, particularly as one grows older. Pratt addresses those already in their later years and those who hope to reach them one day. Drawing from Psalm 92, he challenges the cultural allure of remaining "forever young," as epitomized in Bob Dylan's song. Instead, Pratt proposes that being "forever fruitful" is the attainable and desirable goal. Using the metaphor of the date palm tree, which produces sweeter fruit as it ages, he suggests that life's best contributions may come later with experience. The sermon urges personal growth in faith and kindness and emphasizes making meaningful impacts on others. Pratt highlights seven aspects of a fruitful later life, including lifelong learning and deepening relationships, as integral to a full and balanced life beyond just wealth and health. The sermon concludes with a reimagined blessing, aiming for listeners to add life to their years. Pratt's prayer seeks God's guidance for leading a fruitful life reflecting divine intent.
The Pearl of Continuing to Learn: What can one learn or continue to learn? You are not too old or too young Watch here: https://youtu.be/N54oxzD0Pok
The Pearl of Continuing to Learn: What can one learn or continue to learn? You are not too old or too young Watch here: https://youtu.be/N54oxzD0Pok
Let me ask you something—how much of your day is actually uncomfortable?Not inconvenient. Not slightly annoying. Truly, physically or mentally uncomfortable.For most people, the answer is almost never.We live in a world that worships comfort. Everything is designed to make life easier, smoother, more convenient.Hungry? Food delivery to your door.Tired? Temperature-controlled beds.Bored? Infinite entertainment, 24/7.It's tempting to believe that comfort equals happiness. That the easier life gets, the better we feel. But that's a lie.In reality, comfort is making us weaker.We are getting physically softer. Chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease are skyrocketing because we move less than ever.We are getting mentally softer. The slightest inconvenience—slow WiFi, a late Uber, a text left on read—sends us into stress spirals.We are getting emotionally softer. When life throws challenges at us, we break down instead of rising up.We have lost our edge.But here's the thing—discomfort is not the enemy.Discomfort is how we grow.And if we want to thrive in life, we need to stop avoiding discomfort and start seeking it out.That's exactly what this chapter is about.References:“Make Changes That Lasts. 9 simple ways to break free from the habits that hold you back.”Dr. Rangan Chatterjee Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
In this episode, we're tackling something that holds so many people back from living authentically—the need to be liked.If you've ever:✅ Said “yes” when you really wanted to say “no”✅ Avoided conflict just to keep the peace✅ Felt like you had to shrink yourself to fit inThen this episode is going to hit home.In Chapter 3 of Make Change That Lasts, Dr. Chatterjee shares his own struggles with people-pleasing and how breaking free from the need for validation changed his life. And today, we're diving into why relying on the approval of others is keeping you stuck—and how to finally set healthy boundaries that serve you.Let's get into it.References:“Make Change That Lasts. 9 simple ways to break free from the habits that hold you back.”Dr. Rangan Chatterjee Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
As our guest, Abby Havermann will tell you, not only teachers, but all of us should be life-long learners. Abby grew up in Boston and then made an attempt to leave the cold for Southern California and USC. However, after a year she decided that the USC and LA lifestyle wasn't for her and she moved back to the Boston area. She graduated college with a degree in Social Psychology. She also holds a Master's degree which she will talk about with us. Abby held jobs in the therapy and social work arena. She was married along the way, but ended up getting a divorce. She later remarried and worked for 12 years with her husband in the financial world. In 2018 she decided that talking with people about money wasn't for her. She left Finance and began her own business and now she teaches business and other leaders how to “unlearn what no longer serves them”. My conversation with Abby discusses fear, self perception and how to develop the skills to overcome fear and our own inner lack of confidence. Abby uses a variety of techniques including some “ancient methods” to work with her clients. You will hear about Abby's Ted Talk entitled “Women's Liberation is an inside job”. I will leave it to Abby to explain. I very much believe you will find this episode enthralling and relevant to our lives today. About the Guest: On the outside, Abby Havermann was leading what could easily be described as an enviable life - a respected couples therapist, adjunct faculty at the graduate level, married with an adorable child, and a white picket fence to boot. But many of her life choices had unconsciously been made through the lens of unworthiness - choices that weren't aligned for her. The Universe often does for us what we're unable to do for ourselves, and Abby's wake-up call was mortifying. She spent a long, dark night of the soul in an overcrowded jail cell when her relapsing addiction counselor husband had her bogusly arrested for domestic violence the day before she was scheduled to move out. That's when Abby identified the myriad of ways she'd betrayed herself and shifted her focus from what she was doing in the world to who she was being. Through this process, she took back her power and, through the ensuing decades, has delved deeper into the human potential movement, trained with world-renowned thought leaders, and the rest is history. A lifelong learner, Abby's singularity resides in combining her psychology, neuroscience, spiritual, and coaching experience with her ability to transform difficult life experiences into a gratitude-worthy self-evolutionary tool — awareness done right can breed transformation. Now, she teaches mission-driven, insight-oriented people to unlearn what no longer serves them through 1:1 and group coaching, speaking, training, and a soon-to-be-launched online course. Abby's direct signature style challenges clients to up-level while witnessing and holding compassion for the complexity of their multifaceted inner and outer worlds. Ways to connect with Abby: Website: https://www.abbyhavermann.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-havermann-93a915165 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abby.havermann Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyisworthy 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/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ 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 ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, hi everyone. I am your host, Mike Hingson, and welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset. And today we get to talk with Abby Havermann. Abby is I find a very interesting person. She teaches mission driven, purpose oriented inside executives to unlearn, and we won't go into the unlearning, because Abby's going to talk to us about that. And so I don't want to give anything away. I've read her bio, so I know, but at the same time, what I want to do is to let her do that. So Abby, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here. Abby Havermann ** 02:01 Thanks so much. I love your podcast, so I'm happy to be here as well. Well, Michael Hingson ** 02:05 we love it too, and we appreciate the fact that you do well, why don't we start, as I love to do, by you telling us maybe something about the early Abby, growing up and all that, and I know that we were comparing notes, and you grew up in Boston. Love to hear about that, and Steve's ice cream parlor and all the other wonderful things about Boston. But anyway, and, and I guess one of my favorite places in Boston, Durkin Park, closed during the pandemic. Abby Havermann ** 02:29 Ah, yeah, I'm not even, I know it's terrible. I'm not familiar with Durkin park Michael Hingson ** 02:33 because I was in Quincy Market. And Abby Havermann ** 02:35 Quincy Market, okay, yeah, for sure, the chip yard in Quincy Market is my favorite. Oh, I didn't go Michael Hingson ** 02:43 there, but I went to Durgan Park several times, and I heard that they they closed. But, oh, sad, sad. But, well, tell us about the early Abbey. Abby Havermann ** 02:56 Yeah. So, I mean, I grew up in, like you said, outside of Boston, and and I think just from a young age, I kind of came out pretty scrappy, and I had a big personality. I I always seemed to have something to say, and it wasn't always in favor of what people wanted to hear. I felt like I I noticed things. I kind of always wanted to talk about the elephant in the room, and that didn't really go over that well, but I had, you know, a close, you know, extended family, and spent lots of times with my grandparents and my cousins and my parents and siblings. And, you know, I mean, I don't think it was that unusual of a childhood, so to speak, but Boston is bone chilling cold. If you've lived there, you know that. And so I wanted to get out as quickly as I could. And so after high school, I hightailed it out and moved, actually, across the country to spend a year at University of Southern California. Yeah, yeah. But that was such a culture shock, you know, being on the west coast from the East Coast, that I just went right back. I went back to the East Coast. Until later, I moved to Colorado, and yeah, that's where I spent about 30 years. Well, Colorado Michael Hingson ** 04:19 has its share of cold, I would point out, not Abby Havermann ** 04:23 bone chilling cold, not bone chilling cold, you're right with a dry air. It's a totally different cold. Michael Hingson ** 04:30 But the culture shock of being at fight on USC was greater of an issue than the bone chilling cold of being on the East Coast, huh? It was. Abby Havermann ** 04:39 I mean, I just, you know, on the east coast, people like they're harder to get to know, but they say it like it is. They're very direct, you know. And when I went to California, I felt like it was so hard to get to know people, you just couldn't get very deep, you know. Or at least that's how I felt. Plus, I had been, I didn't realize how sheltered I had been. Um. Um, and it was a very big school, and in the middle of watts, and it was, it was a culture shock for for sure. And I wasn't a PAC 10 athlete, and I wasn't, you know, in sororities, and all the things that you know are, you know, very popular in that particular area. So it just it. And I, I, I, I was so insecure at that time in my life that I think I I could not have broken into either of those, even if I had wanted to. I just in my own way constantly. So I pretty much just came running back and, you know, flew out a white flag of defeat in terms of individuating. And Michael Hingson ** 05:42 did you go back to Boston? I Abby Havermann ** 05:44 actually went to Wheaton College, up outside of Boston. All right. Now, Michael Hingson ** 05:48 what did you major in at USC? And did you follow through on that when you went back to Wheaton? Abby Havermann ** 05:54 Well, back to my confidence issue when I went to USC, I actually declared a drama major. That's what I really wanted to declare. And I never took a single drama class because I did not have the confidence. And so when I went to Wheaton, I majored in social psychology, which was something that just came very easily to me, and I enjoyed and that's what I did. Ah, Michael Hingson ** 06:15 so social psychology and you got a bachelor's. Did you go beyond that? Abby Havermann ** 06:21 Yeah, I ended up getting a master's in social work at Smith College school for social work. And that's when I after that, I worked in several hospitals as an inpatient psychiatric social worker in Denver, and then shortly after that, I opened my own private practice, and I had that for little over a decade, and that's then I closed my practice and ended up going into business with my second husband as a financial advisor, because he had a financial firm, and I worked in his office with him for 12 years. And that's when I realized I want to talk to people, but not about money. And I had to go back to my roots, and so not as a psychotherapist, but that's when I went back to as a teacher of unlearning and coaching and having learned some about, you know, neuroscience and ancient wisdom practices and things like that that greatly informed the psychology teaching. Michael Hingson ** 07:15 Now, when you say ancient wisdom practices, tell me a little about that, if you would. Yeah. Abby Havermann ** 07:21 I mean, you know, there's so much out there. And you know, whether it's, you know, the thema and the teachings of Buddha, or whether it's, I do a lot of work with a guerrilla teacher, he's a mystic from the early 1900s and it weaves together. You know, the more I learn about all these different things, the more everything is seems to be coming back to the same thing. And science now is sort of uncovering things that they've known for so long, for 1000s of years, whatever the practice is, yoga, science, Buddhas, Buddhism, all of those kinds of things everywhere I turn it's, it all comes back to this. I mean, it comes back to so much. But this, this innate power that's in us to change, you know, this innate wisdom that we have. And this, the more I you know, think about it and learn about it and study with people about it. It's we have gotten so smart over time, but we've really not gotten any wiser. Yeah, and that's why I like going back and looking at some of those practices. Michael Hingson ** 08:33 I was watching a news broadcast this morning, and one of the things that they mentioned was that there has been a study that says that at least one in four people wake up every day and have a bad day, and they know they're going to have a bad day because they wake up with a headache or whatever, and they know they can't Change having a bad day, which is bizarre to me. Yeah, I reject that concept. I think, as you are pointing out, that we do have control over that, but we have so many people, as I would put it, that don't listen to their inner voice. And you can say, listen to God or or whatever. But the bottom line is, we don't listen. And, course, we have a bad day because we don't listen to the answers that are right there in front of us. Abby Havermann ** 09:26 Yeah. And we've been taught not to, right. We've literally been conditioned, you know, from, you know, the industrial age, you know, and all the learnings that we had, you know, with Newtonian physics and all that stuff, to just never, to always look at our outside circumstances. And it's what you're saying is so true, like the innate wisdom is in us, and it's the last place that we ever look, yeah, and, and, and, to your point, it's, it's unbelievable. We we are taught to think it's like, oh. Something happens, we have an emotional reaction to it, and it's like, oh, now I'm just stuck with these emotions. Nothing I can do now. I'm just here with this. And that's the bit, right? Like, that's the dream that people like you and I have to, like, help people understand that. No, no, no, you you have the power to change your brain and body. You don't have to live by that. Michael Hingson ** 10:18 How do we get people to understand that. I mean, obviously that's part of what you do. So how do you, how do you get people to unlearn that kind of, I won't even say it's a concept, because it's not, it's just a bad message. But how do people unlearn that? Abby Havermann ** 10:37 Well, yeah, I mean, first we have to understand like that. We came upon it honestly, right, like that, that we're really in fight or flight so much of the time, that the way we've evolved was for survival. And if you're going to evolve for survival, you're going to be looking into your environment to find out, you know, what you need to do to keep yourself safe. So we're our brains are wired to look outside ourselves and say, Oh, this is the problem. I need to fix that. And if I fix that, I can be safe. And so we're very rarely looking inside ourselves. And in fact, when you're under stress, you physiologically can't look inside yourself, because you're in a state of where you're like, run by your hide. Where do I need to go? You know? How do I need to keep myself safe? You're not looking in yourself and be like, Oh, let me ponder. You know how to evolve myself today, right? So part of it is teaching people, literally, how to physiologically shift, to open up the centers of the brain that are more aligned with curiosity and community and and the empathy circuitry and all of the things where that wisdom we can really plug into the wisdom, the wisdom that's in your heart, right helping people understand that we store emotions in our bodies, and those thoughts and emotions that we're firing are creating our actions unconsciously. And it's not hard to get someone to understand it. As soon as you start talking to them, right, because you can give so many examples, they're like, oh, my god, yeah, you're right. When this happened, then I automatically and unconsciously, you know, had this thought and feeling, and then I acted this way, and before I knew it, you know, the whatever, there was an argument with my co worker, or the team meeting blew up, or, you know, whatever happened. And as soon, as soon as they begin to get curious about how their own behavior, their own thoughts and emotions, can impact the people around them, that's empowering, right? That's when you realize you really do have power. It's not I'm going to empower you to be able to have a voice. No, it's, it's being empowered inside of yourself to recognize the power that's already inherently there. Michael Hingson ** 12:50 I love something you said, though, which is that this is what we're taught, and I think that that's exactly right. I don't think we're born that way, necessarily, but that is what we're taught. Yeah, Abby Havermann ** 13:03 no, we are, and not only that, we're encouraged to, right? I mean, like, I read somewhere, I don't know if it was maybe in the book letting go. I can't remember, but how Freud's was really misunderstood when he talked about expression versus repression, that the idea was not, wasn't intended to be that if you just say your emotions out loud, you will release them. And this is what we've kind of been taught from ancient, you know, like back in the psychology, and even in psychology in school for you know, that degree, it's sort of like all we need to do is just express what's going on. So now we're complaining to each other where, you know, and everybody's going, Oh, you're right. You have a right to feel this way. Yes, this is terrible. This is terrible. And yes, we do have a right to feel this way. I mean, you know, right better than anybody. I have a one of the reasons I was so attracted to your podcast is that I have a child who has a disability. And, you know, there's lots and lots of reasons to feel bummed out or upset or limited, right? That's not the question. The question is, do you really want to Michael Hingson ** 14:11 That's right? The reality is, you may have the right to do it, because you have the right to make choices, but on the other hand, is that really the best choice? And the answer is not really Yeah, Abby Havermann ** 14:25 and not because you're a better person if you don't, not because you get kudos, you know, but because your life is better, because you determine how you know whether you're happy or sad or resentful, you know, or holding a grudge, you know? Michael Hingson ** 14:41 Yeah, I agree. And I see it so often. I remember so many times I'm asked what you were in the World Trade Center and you escaped. Did you go through a lot of therapy? Because you seem like you're pretty normal now, whatever that means. And I point out, no. No, I didn't go through counseling directly, but what I did, and it was a little bit unconscious, at least, I didn't think about this as a reason for doing it, but my wife and I agreed that talking about the World Trade Center attacks and allowing people to hire me to come and do speeches and talk about the lessons we should learn, made me pretty visible, and a lot of reporters wanted to do interviews. And the reality is that my therapy ended up being the media coming into our home literally hundreds of interviews, asking every question from the most inane to the most insightful you can imagine, but that made me talk about it, and that's I think the biggest key is being able to talk about it, and recognizing, as you do that you're thinking about it, and that causes your brain to help you be able to put it all in perspective, whatever that may be and whatever it is, Abby Havermann ** 16:07 yeah, and I think you know what you're talking about is so important, because I think we get mixed up so easily between what is the difference between acknowledging what happened to you and dwelling in what happened to you. And it is so important to be able to talk about it and acknowledge like the feelings that you have, and not deny those. If we just think, well, I should be, I should, in quotes, be able to, you know, be in a great, great mood, even though I feel like crap or whatever, and you just keep trying that it's not going to work you. You have to acknowledge what is. You have to be truthful about what is but understanding that you have the power to overcome and all of that resides inside of you, and it may take, depending on whatever happened, maybe you're over it in 30 seconds. 911 going to take a lot longer, right? Like you have the patience to to to walk through that with yourself, but understanding that it's not what happens to us in our lives that's important. It's it's how we react to it, right, what we think of it. And look at what you've made of that, right? Like, what a phenomenal story, what a horrific, you know, accident and not an accident, horrific event. And look at how many people you've touched as a result, and how many people you've taught and how many lives you've changed well. Michael Hingson ** 17:26 And one of the things I realized at the beginning of the pandemic, and we've talked about it some here on the podcast, is that while I wasn't I won't say I wasn't afraid. On September 11, I had learned to control fear because I prepared for the eventuality that there could be an emergency. And there had been a bombing in the World Trade Center in 1993 in the parking lot. It didn't do a lot of damage, but nevertheless, it caused a lot of people who bought at the World Trade Center. So I came along at a time when I was hired to open an office, and in opening the office, we got a great rent, got a great price for it, and we moved in, and I immediately started spending a good amount of time learning all I could about the complex including what all the emergency and evacuation procedures were, emergency preparedness, what to do, Where the emergency exits were, and how to get anywhere, I needed to go, not just one way, but every possible way to get around. And that was something that, as I mentioned before, about physics and paying attention to details, that's the whole point of it. But what all that did was actually, although I never thought about it for many years afterward. But what that really did was created in me a mindset that you know what to do. Well, an emergency happened, and I was able to let that mindset take over, and as I describe it to people, allowed my fear to be a guide and a device that helped me stay motivated and focused, rather than the fear overwhelming, or, as I put it, blinding me to what was going on, so I couldn't make a decision. And I believe that we do have that capability. We don't need to allow fear to overwhelm us and to make life impossible on it. Yeah, I understand there's a natural reaction, and people have physical reactions when they're afraid and so on. But the reality is, from a mind standpoint, you do have the ability to control that, and so you do have the ability to take that fear and make it a positive thing and not a negative thing that overwhelms you, because you suddenly totally just feel helpless. Abby Havermann ** 19:46 Yeah, I mean, there's so much to unpack in what you just said. I mean, you know, I guess one of, one of the things is that, you know, when I think about it's like, obviously, that's such a feel for situation. But I often think about the degree to which people are in. Fear just on a daily basis. You know, when you talk to business owners and you know the fear that realistic or not, you know that financial ruins going to happen, the fear of, you know, what am I going to look like when I get up on stage and give this presentation, the fear that you know you're not going to be able to, you know, make the quota, the fear that your boss is going to be upset. You know, all of these things are, you know, the fear of what's going to happen with your children. You know, all of this futuristic thinking, like, literally, if you think about it, I feel like we are in fear so much of the time, and it's just an unconscious process at this point. And to your point about it's not just your mind, right? Like, because the mind can't really get us out of fear. The mind just sort of chatters to itself, and the fear is stored in your body. And so really, having an understanding of how the mind and the body work together is so important to be able to overcome those emotions, because emotions are stored in your body. We can talk to I mean, how many times have you talked to people that are talking themselves, trying to talk themselves out of feeling a certain way? You cannot talk yourself out of feeling something? It won't work, and then you'll just end up feeling, you know, deflated because you couldn't do it. It's really a combination of understanding with your mind what you what needs to happen with your body as well. Well, Michael Hingson ** 21:32 what you have to do is to learn how to step back and say, what is that is really a problem for me right now, what do I what am I really afraid of? And should I be afraid of it? One of the things that I have talked about a fair amount regarding September 11 is that I realized that there are a lot of things over which we don't have control, and if we, as we usually tend to do, what if the world to death and worry about everything in the world that goes on, rather than focusing on the things over which we really do have control, we're going to have more and more fear. We're going to just drive ourselves crazy, and we're going to continue to do what we've always done. But the reality is, and I think a lot does have to do with the mind, but it is also communicating with the body. It's a mind body process. But the ultimate issue is that we have to decide and learn how to take that control and focus just on the things that we really have influence over and not worry about the rest of it. So one of the things that I did when the pandemic started was to begin writing a book called, as it turns out, live like a guide dog, true stories from a blind man and his dogs about being brave, overcoming adversity and moving forward in faith. And the idea behind the book is to teach people how to control fear. And I use examples of lessons that I have learned from working with eight guide dogs and my wife service dog, the lessons that I learned from them that when we apply them, will help us really deal with fear in the right way. So it's all about learning to control that fear. And you know, as an example, what if, as I said, we What if everything to death, and most of the time we don't have any control over it, and it isn't going to happen anyway, but we spend so much time worrying about it that we don't focus on the what ifs or the the issues that are directly really relevant to us. Abby Havermann ** 23:40 Yeah, yeah. And that that, what if question that analytic brain is really what separates us from from dogs and animals, right? We have the ability to get stuck in this analysis paralysis, and we've been sort of taught like hanging out in that left brain is really it's the more important place to be. And if we just keep going around and around and chewing on something, we'll get an answer to your point all the way back to the beginning of what you said without looking inside ourselves at all, which doesn't require really any thought. It's more sensory oriented. You know what needs to be done here? And it's really I find, you know what I've learned throughout the years, and what I teach is that, and practice is that it's when you settled your nervous system down, you know, when you stop, you know, feeding into a dysregulated nervous system that those options are available to you, and you're able to kind of stop the fear and just observe, rather than analyze, what's going on Michael Hingson ** 24:46 well, and we really can do that. One of the things that I talk about live like a guide dog, which was published in August of 2024 is that if we would take time. Time at the end of every day to step back as we're falling asleep, even when it's quiet, and look at what happened today, what worked, what didn't work, and and I reject the the concept that anything is a failure. It's a learning experience. And good things that happen to us are learning experiences. How could I have done that better than I did. What else could I have done, but in the case of things that are a problem that we tend to dwell on, why is it a problem? What was I afraid of? How do I deal with that, and really taking the time to start to deal with answering those kinds of questions and doing it regularly, and practicing it is what is going to start to allow us to be able to use our minds to communicate with the rest of us and move forward a much more positive way, and maybe tomorrow, not wake up with a bad day, Abby Havermann ** 25:54 right? And and, like you say, being able to do that from an objective standpoint, I so much of what I see is that people just beat the hell out of themselves. Yup, so that simple exercise of, you know, what do I love, about what, what I did and what, what would I do differently, becomes, you know, a session of self flagellation, of like, I'm so terrible and I did this and that that wrong, and blah, blah, blah, blah, or the opposite, where it's like, I didn't do anything wrong, and we completely, you know, dissociate from the parts of ourselves that are showing up that aren't useful in a situation. And when you can teach people to sort of have more of that objective focus, because they have, you know, they've built a part inside themselves that can be loving and empathic toward themselves and others that they can stop and say, All right, well, let's see what, what do I love about what I did, and what do I need to do differently next time to make it go differently, it's not, it's not a it's not about your horrible person or your great person. It's nothing to do with that right. Michael Hingson ** 26:57 And the issue is, when you talk about, what did I do wrong? You didn't think it was wrong until it didn't go the way you wanted. And so it doesn't mean that that you intentionally made a mistake or anything like that. So you got to be able to step back and say, so what really happened here? What do I learn from it? I've learned that one of the most important things I can say is not that I'm my own worst critic, but rather I'm my own best teacher, which is much more positive anyway. But you know, the fact of the matter is that we worry about so many things so much, the Mark Twain and other people who have made comments about fear point out that most everything we're afraid of or fear will never come to pass, and we just spend way too much time worrying about it, and it drives us crazy. Well, Abby Havermann ** 27:52 yeah, and you know what you were just saying? You know, I mean, one of the things that I bring to teams and organizations, one of the modalities that I use is Positive Intelligence, which was created by Sherzad, you know, he talks about the the sage perspective, which is, everything can be turned into a gift and opportunity, right? And when you're looking at it from that standpoint, if everything can be turned into a gift and opportunity, there is no failure. There is nothing to beat yourself up about. It's just a curiosity of like, okay, what's the gift here? And it's very hard, I think, when people are under intense stress in business and, you know, dysregulated and dealing with all kinds of things, to be able to stop and think there might be a gift in losing this client, or there might be a gift in having to do these layoffs, but there always is. There always is, Michael Hingson ** 28:53 well, and the the other part about it is, when you talk about stress, how much of the stress, if you will, that we feel is induced by us, yeah, because we don't learn to step back and and look at it in a little bit more of an objective way. Abby Havermann ** 29:12 Well, it's reinforced by us, right? Like we we are firing the same thoughts and we're firing the same emotions, and we're doing that over and over and over and over again, and we're dumping more and more cortisol in our bodies, right? Michael Hingson ** 29:24 And we're not learning a thing, or we're not learning a thing, it's there to learn, but we're not learning it. Yeah, Abby Havermann ** 29:32 exactly, yeah. And people are becoming more and more divided, you know? But the great news is that, you know, it doesn't have to be that way, right? It doesn't have to be that way. And that's, you know, why I think you know the message that that you put out there is, is so very, very important. Michael Hingson ** 29:54 Well, I think it is, and I think that we can learn. And that we can progress in a in a much more positive way, and we may discover along the way that we end up doing some of the same things that we did, but for different reasons, and maybe they really weren't such bad things anyway. Abby Havermann ** 30:18 Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I have, you know, I have clients who have had to, you know, lay off people, you know, and when you're a business owner, you're leaning off people. It feels like the worst thing in the world. You feel like, I know I've done it, yeah, right. I mean, people go into they feel like they failed, they feel guilty, they feel worried about the rest of their employees. And when you start to really unpack it, you know the truth of the matter becomes something else. First of all, if you you know are having to go through a layoff or something, you're typically anything that you do, that you're doing right now, next year, you're going to be doing at a bigger you're going to be playing on a bigger stage. So if you're laying off in your businesses this size next year, you're going to avoid whatever the problem was that caused you to have to do that when you're playing with a bigger stage, when there's more money on the line, right? Yeah, you know that there's when you can approach the world and understanding that your failures are your lessons, and sometimes God does for us what we can't do for ourselves. You know, it makes life a lot easier to get through. You know, we don't end up holding on to the same things, and we learn, like you're saying, faster, instead of continuing to do the same thing over and over again and making the same mistakes over and over again, Michael Hingson ** 31:39 life gives us the opportunity to really live an adventure and grow if we choose to do it. Unfortunately, all too often, people just won't do it. Abby Havermann ** 31:51 Yeah, well, I mean, I always say, like not everybody, not every soul is here to evolve. Not every soul is here to do the same thing. And we need, we need everybody here, right? But there's a there's a collective conscious, right? And some people are here to evolve to a certain place. Some people are here to go beyond. Some people are here to just do it all over again, Michael Hingson ** 32:15 well, but those people who do it all over again hopefully eventually get to the point where they can evolve. And that's part of the issue, of course, is, when are you going to decide to do that? Well, Abby Havermann ** 32:26 it's never, it's never ending, right? It's like, there is no evolved. It's we're evolving, right? Like, I hope. I like to think that I'm overcoming things in this lifetime that I won't have to come back and do it another but I'm sure they're saying that I'm not, you know, like, so it's a, it's a never ending process, but I think we are. We're taught, you know, that we're not well. We're not taught that. We're not taught that, you know, life is a playground. You know, Michael Hingson ** 32:56 no, we're not. We're constantly taught that life is hard and so many other things. Rather than Life is an adventure, we can have fun. We ought to have fun. And yeah, there are times to be serious, but still, you can do that in a positive way. Abby Havermann ** 33:13 Yeah, exactly. Michael Hingson ** 33:16 I don't know. Maybe Mark Twain was right. I wonder if God had read a man because he was disappointed in the monkeys, but we won't go there. Well, Abby Havermann ** 33:22 I feel like that now, like, you know, somebody's looking down on us and going, Oh, you guys haven't learned anything yet. Let me throw, let me throw some more things for you to get really upset and divided about and see if you see if you can learn now, and keep kind of proving over and over again that we're not going to learn. We need to keep, we need to keep experiencing all of these things Michael Hingson ** 33:44 well. But he's probably pleased when somebody does learn. And so that's good too, right? Right? Abby Havermann ** 33:50 Because it's a collective right? So the more people that begin to start to look inward instead of outward, and begin to see that, you know, they have that power inside themselves. I always say, like, I always wonder, what would it be like, you know, if, if, instead of, you know, focusing on these external things, we were all always focused internally. So something upsets me, and instead of saying, You upset me, or this thing upset me, I immediately go inward and say, Isn't this curious that this, this upset me so much. I wonder what that's about. And if I'm taking care of all of that inside of me, and you're taking care of all of it that's going on inside of you, there's really nothing to argue about. Yeah, and you have more control over your life because you don't have control over what other people do. You can ask them to do things differently. You can say you're upset about it. You can try and manipulate your life so you don't have to deal with things. But at the end of the day, you ultimately don't have control over it. It might work 50% of the time, maybe, if you're lucky, the only thing you have complete control over is how you react to something, right? And Michael Hingson ** 34:59 that's going to tell. Next steps, and that's what we need to learn to do, is to do a better job of truly reacting, whatever that may mean in any given situation, rather than doing knee jerk reactions to something, and not necessarily doing a very positive or helpful thing. But the reality is, we can learn to listen to that voice inside of us that is there to tell us how to react if we choose to use it and listen to it. Abby Havermann ** 35:27 And I would say, not even react, but respond. Right? The word responsibility, it's the ability to respond. You know, reacting is what I'm doing when I'm my nervous system is already dysregulated. Right? Responding, you know, is something we can train ourselves to be able to do, to stop, and it doesn't, you know, it doesn't happen overnight. And there's different things that that happen that are going to trigger you more than other things, Michael Hingson ** 35:55 right? So, when did you start teaching and doing what you're doing now. Abby Havermann ** 36:03 Well, I after I left my the financial advising, and during that time, I begin to really learn a lot about neuroscience and study under some mentors. And that's when I really realized, like, Oh, this is, this was sort of the missing link for me as a psychotherapist, this is, like it reaffirmed some things that I kind of intuitively knew. And so I began to start doing it in one on one, coaching and teaching in that sense. And then eventually, you know, doing groups and working with teams and things like that since then, so and just kind of bringing all of the modalities that I use together to help people get unstuck, help teams get unstuck, so that, you know, it's possible to to work in ease and flow. And we've all had those times, I hope, where you have a day where you know, you're just running around with your hairs on fire, and you're going from one thing to the next, the next, versus also, you have a day where it's like, gosh, everything just went smoothly. And I didn't worry about time, and I got ended up getting more done than I ever thought I could. You know, like we have control over what kind of day we're going to have. And so it becomes so important, because when we can go into our work or office or our meetings with our clients, instead of being hijacked by all these thoughts of like, Oh, am I prepared? What are they going to think? Oh, my God, that all of these things, instead of going in from, you know, in a place where you're grounded, and what I call inside out instead of outside in, like, worrying about, what do they need? Instead of what am I here to be of service with? It makes everything flow. And I think we need more people in flow and less people in stress and anxiety. So that's kind of when I, when I really started, started to do it. Because I can tell you, in the financial services industry, there's a lot of people in stress Michael Hingson ** 38:10 and anxiety. Yeah, well, having sold on Wall Street for for many years, and watching traders and, oh yeah, all the things that go on. Yeah, I hear exactly what you're saying. What did your husband think when you decided to leave the financial industry and go back into more of what you're doing now? Abby Havermann ** 38:28 Well, I don't think he was thrilled, because it left him with, you know, a lot of extra work. But you know, we had actually transitioned at one point. I mean, we were, I was thinking, God, what do I need to do? Like, something's missing. I thought maybe I needed a hobby. So I started to, you know, I joined a choir, and I started writing, and I started doing all these things, and that's what I kind of realized. It's, it's not that I need a hobby, it's that I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing. And we had, even, you know, started working with women, and I had been running women's seminars, which were really fun, and he had sort of done more of, like, more of the back end stuff, and I was able to talk to women and all of those things. But even that wasn't enough. And so on the one hand, he wasn't thrilled, and on another, he totally understood that I'm here to do something different, you know, and I you, I really believe that you have to do what makes your heart sing in this in this lifetime, you know? So it was a transition. But he, he's my husband's a rock. I'm very lucky. He's, he's, he's always right there, backing me up. So I was lucky, Michael Hingson ** 39:37 and he's coping with it well these days, I assume Abby Havermann ** 39:40 he is, oh yeah, now, yeah. And what we built together, you know, he's able to have the business and the life that that he loves as well. I mean, he's, he was doing it long before me, and, you know, we'll do it long after. So how Michael Hingson ** 39:56 long ago was it that you left the financial. Environment and started what you're doing Abby Havermann ** 40:02 now, that was in 2018 Okay, so I started in psychotherapy in 97 and then I started in the financial industry in 2007 ish, and then left in 2018 Michael Hingson ** 40:17 well, but I bet, if you really think about it. And probably you have, you could point out things that you learned during your time in the financial world that that help you today. Abby Havermann ** 40:27 Oh, of course. I mean, yeah, I mean, right, the whole there was no mistake, right? And I that was, there was lots of gifts that came out of that for me, right? Not, you know, not to mention that I really understand the pressures, the unique pressures of that industry and what people are dealing with, and that informs the work that I do now. But also, even just the self discovery of like, wow, you know it? I didn't need a hobby. I wasn't listening to myself. I was out of alignment? Yeah, no, and that's okay too, because you know what? Doing something for the family, doing something for the people that that I worked with, and being of service in that way was also a gift, you know? So, no regrets for sure, Michael Hingson ** 41:18 no. And I think that's really the issue you're you're comfortable with what you're doing, and so you shouldn't have to have regrets. And again, you learned a lot, and you recognize that, and that's the most important thing. Abby Havermann ** 41:33 Yeah, I think having a perspective in life, that everything is truly happening as it should is is important, and if nothing else, really helps you get through a lot easier, right? Because lots of people find themselves in situations, you know, whether it's a divorce, you know, which I had that too, or, you know, things happen that people will beat themselves up about and just feel terrible. How can I do that? And why did this happen? And all of these things, and it's it, it you don't have to have an answer to that. It just did happen. Yeah, right, so, and, and what, what is the opportunity for you in moving through that? Yeah, Michael Hingson ** 42:14 well, I've never experienced divorce directly. My brother went through one, and I'm not under the circumstances, we weren't too surprised. But, you know, he was where he was and all that. But my wife and I were married for 40 years, and as I mentioned, she passed away. And so now, as I tell people, I have to be a good kid, because I know that somewhere she's monitoring, and if I misbehave, I'm going to hear about it. It's as simple Abby Havermann ** 42:42 as that. And do you? Do you? Do you hear from her? Um, Michael Hingson ** 42:46 oh, I hear from her, but I haven't heard anything negative, so I guess I'm behaving. 42:51 Oh, that's good. That's good. Yeah, Michael Hingson ** 42:54 yeah. I mean, she's she's here, she's monitoring, and, yeah, that's perfectly fine. Abby Havermann ** 43:00 I always love to hear stories of that, you know, particularly for people who've been married a long time, like, what ways the their person shows up, you know, how you know they're here? Because so many people, you know, when I grew up, my grandmother used to say Dead is dead, and it was absolutely terrifying to believe like that was the end, you know. And so I love hearing people talk about, you know, where, where they, where they feel they, where they, where they feel their loved ones, you know, how they know that they're there? About Michael Hingson ** 43:33 six months after she passed, I remember waking up in the middle of the night because someone or something had taken a hold of my hand as an example. And it wasn't the cat, and as soon as I woke up, then it was gone. But I know it was there, so, yeah, she's she's monitoring. It's okay. Yeah, I'm good with that. Now, along the way, you delivered a TED talk. How long ago was that? Abby Havermann ** 43:58 Oh, that was in 2022, Michael Hingson ** 44:01 okay, so, so the pandemic had started to lift and all that. What if you would tell me about the the TED talk, and what that was all about, and and so on. Abby Havermann ** 44:10 Yeah, well, the TED talk really came about. It's something I think I've wanted to do for a long time, but it came about actually as a result of my divorce and what I went through during that time, and that was really when I had this kind of come to Jesus, that I realized that the things that had happened in my life that I was not in favor of were directly related to a self betrayal. In other words, it wasn't anyone else's fault that these things happened to me or that I went through them. It was that I consistently, as we said in the beginning, did not go inside, did not listen to my inner voice, betrayed myself in any number of ways by, you know, deferring to what other people thought or making. Decisions, because I didn't think I was worthy of something else, or whatever it was. And it was like, wow, it hit me in the face. It was sort of like there was nowhere else for me to go but jail. Like, literally, I was already in prison because I was not listening to myself at all. And so I had that experience, and then years later, I actually was at a an assembly for my son, who was like, 10 years later, was then in middle school, and they were doing an assembly on sexting for middle school kids, because there was this pandemic and epidemic of kids sexting. And at the time in Colorado, that was a class three felony, and there was really nothing they could do to get it off somebody's record. So they were doing an Internet safety and I was listening to the cop up there talking about what was happening, and he said something that, you know, just really shook me, which was that, you know the he would ask the boys, why do you why do you make them send Why do you pressure these girls into sending pictures? And the boys would say, well, because I wanted to see a picture of her naked. And then they would ask the girls, why? Why are you sending it? And the girls would always say, and I knew exactly what he was going to say. They they said, because I wanted him to love me. And it really brought me back to all the self betrayals I had had as a young a young woman. And, and I thought, my God, nothing has changed. I mean, that was in 2003 right? I was born in 1970 so I just thought, wow, we are still doing the same thing over and over again. And, and it really spurred me to want to tell that story and spread this word, that we have the ability to get out of our own ways, that we can. We don't need, we don't need new legislation, and not that, I'm not that it's not great, and not that we shouldn't have it, but we don't need other people to empower us. We need to empower ourselves. And so that was kind of what my what my TED talk was about. Michael Hingson ** 47:09 Um, so the title of your talk was, women's liberation is an inside job. Interesting title, Abby Havermann ** 47:14 yeah, well, and that's literally the truth, right? Like, let you know if you think of like, the biggest extremes of this, of course, are people like Viktor Frankl, you know, who you know talks about how he was in the concentration camps. And you know Man's Search for Meaning, you know how he was liberated, even in the most you know, horrific circumstances. And I really believe that liberation is an inside job for all of us. That is not just for women, but for everyone. It's to me doing a TED talk was great. It was a bucket list thing. I'm so happy I did it. But what makes me feel the most proud of myself is when I overcome some part of myself. That is what makes me feel liberated when something goes wrong in my inner in my external world and my inner world doesn't go crazy, I'm like, oh my god, that is freedom. When something happens in my external world and I lose it or I go into a funk, that's prison. To me. Liberation is being able to be in ease and flow, no matter what is happening in our outer world, and no matter who is irritating us, or what life circumstances plopped in my lap. Yeah, that's kind of how I mean that, yeah, Michael Hingson ** 48:36 well, and I gather that the that the talk went well and was well received, I assume, Abby Havermann ** 48:44 yeah, I mean, I think that it, they forced some edits on it, which I understand in hindsight. I wish I had known, but I would could have told the story differently. But no, it was. It was very well received. And I often hear from people who tell me that they that they shared it widely, and it was impactful. So, but you know, if you, if you unpack just one, one other person, you know, like, it's worth it. Yeah, worth it. So it didn't go viral. You know, it didn't, it wasn't as big as, you know, many TED talks are, but that's okay, you know, people came up to me after and said, You know, I'm the person you needed to talk to. And I was like, All right, now my job's done. Yeah, Michael Hingson ** 49:27 you You did. You did well, or, as I like to say, you done good. And, yeah, and that's what's important. You talk about the dark night of the soul. What is that? Well, the Abby Havermann ** 49:39 dark night of the soul is, you know, that come to Jesus moment. And I always say, you know, when I write in my newsletters, I often write about, you know, come to Jesus moments and dark nights of soul. And I always say, you know, if you haven't had one of these, and then you're probably not for me, because, you know, or I'm probably not for you. Is really how that is, because it's the dark night of the soul. Is. Is when you really come face to face with yourself, and you can no longer, you know, blame other people. You can no longer not change. You realize that something's happening and it's requiring you to be a different person, and you see something in yourself that maybe you don't like, you know, or you see something that you realize you can't have. It's not going to work. It's not going to be the way you keep trying to make it be. And you have to come up against yourself and make some really hard decisions and some hard choices and see things in yourself that maybe you don't want to see, you don't want to know about. You'd rather think about yourself in a different way. Yeah, the dark night. Have you had one? I'm Michael Hingson ** 50:44 not thinking of one right off, but I am sure I have, Abby Havermann ** 50:47 yeah, yeah. Michael Hingson ** 50:51 I think that we all have, yeah. Actually, I can. Can think of some where I was behaving in particular ways. And sometimes it's I learn about it because somebody comes along and said, You're a dirt bag, or you misbehaved, or the way you're treating people, and I've had to think about that. But I think for me, although I didn't notice it until somebody mentioned it, when it occurs and somebody says something, my immediate reaction is to think about that and to internalize it, and to go back and look at, well, what, what is the issue? And sometimes I have realized that it wasn't me and somebody's being manipulative, but sometimes it is me, and it is important to be able to get introspective and think about what is occurring and and look at what's going on and what part of it is you, and what part of it is not you, Abby Havermann ** 51:49 yeah. And I think it's, you know? I mean, it's so impossible to really, truly know ourselves and have a really accurate picture of ourselves. We all have a picture of ourselves, but it's, it's never really accurate, because of the way our brains are wired and so continuing to be open and curious like that, I think is is so important. And we, you know, you come to your own truth, right? But I think truth is so important to be truthful to yourself, whether it's whether you're throwing yourself under the bus that's not truthful. You know, whether you're saying, Oh, I suck at this, or whatever I made, you know what? That's not truthful, or whether you're tooting your own horn, and that's not entirely truthful. No, you know. It's a you know, to me, like self introspection, like that's that is where it's at. That, to me, is the most fascinating and the quickest road to success and growth you can possibly have. It's not, it's not what's happening externally. It's, it's, how are you actualizing yourself within? Yeah, Michael Hingson ** 52:58 and that's why it gets back to really learning how to step back and look at situations and looking at all aspects of it to make a final decision about, what do I need to do, if anything, to address the issue, whatever it may be, Abby Havermann ** 53:15 yeah, and I think, you know, there's value in that. Of course there is, but a lot of times that's a that's an analysis, and a lot of times we need to step away from the analysis, and we need to just with it and observe it and just be curious about it. Oh, exactly, and be okay with what is. And that's sometimes when the biggest answers come to us. I think that's why, you know they say that the right brain processes 800 times faster than the left brain, because the left brain is worried. What do I need to do differently? How do I need to analysis, analysis, analysis. Whereas when you can settle your brain and body down, whether it's through a meditation or a heart math practice or a Positive Intelligence practice or what, whatever it is, sometimes the answer is right there it like drops in, you know, just the way you had, you felt your wife hold your hand, right, you know. And it just happened so much faster than all of the thinking and the planning and the spreadsheets and the that you that we put ourselves through trying to come up with the quote right answer, Michael Hingson ** 54:21 yeah. And I don't want to make it really clear, I'm not necessarily advocating just analysis, and I'm not analysis, though, what I think analysis can do is lead to you opening up and dealing with the rest of the issues. So analysis may be a starting point, but it's not the end all solution, Abby Havermann ** 54:43 yeah, and it, and we need to be careful about getting stuck in it, yeah? Oh, absolutely stuck in that place of over, you know, going over and over that, Michael Hingson ** 54:53 because that takes us right back to where we were before. Well, right? Because Abby Havermann ** 54:56 Einstein said, you know, you can't solve a problem from the same level. Level of mind that created it, right? Michael Hingson ** 55:03 Yeah. And so you can go back and look at, well, what what happened? What is it the people are saying and all that, but you've got to go further than that. And so it, it is emotional as well as anything else, which is probably why we haven't met Vulcans like Mr. Spock yet. Abby Havermann ** 55:23 Well, yeah, I mean, and that's the thing, right? It's like people are emotional beings, right? So we think that we need to work things out logically and everything, but emotions are not logical, and so much of life and business is about relationships, right? Michael Hingson ** 55:38 But the but the one thing that we can do, though, is that it gets back to introspection in all forms. We do need to learn how to step back and allow ourselves to listen to that inner voice to come up with the best solution, because that's where the best solution will always be. Abby Havermann ** 55:59 Yeah, yeah. So true. And so many people doubt it. So many people doubt that it's inside them. You know, they'll come and be like, What do you think? What do you think? And I always say it's, I could tell you what I think, but you'll end up working with me far longer than you need to, because it's not what you think. So let's, let's do some let's dive in and find out what your inner wisdom is telling you, because that's the only way you're going to rest, that's the only way you're going to know for certain, right, the right thing to do, because you feel it in your bones. Michael Hingson ** 56:30 How do people who think less of themselves or don't have a lot of self worth? How can you help them move forward to becoming more confident, and I mean that in a positive way, as opposed to just developing an ego, and I'm great, and that's all there is to it. But how do you get people, or how do you help move people from a lack of self worth to self confidence? Yeah, Abby Havermann ** 56:52 I mean, I think that self worth is, like one of the biggest, if not the biggest, problem that we have. And I do think there are a handful of people, I think you might be one of them that just has an inner constitution that, you know, is just a really lucky one. My son is one of them too. You know, he has this disability, and I swear to God, I've never seen a kid, you know, just kind of bounce back, you know, like he's here to be humbled. You know, it's not, it's not, you know, his constitution is just built that way. But I think for the vast majority of people, we're dealing with imposter syndrome. We're dealing with self worth issues. And oftentimes people say, Well, I don't have a worthiness issue because they're they have a great life, they have a great family, they have a great business. They and they can't they like themselves. They can't really relate to feeling a worthiness issue. But when you dial down and really talk to them about, you know, what are their fears, or what's getting in their way, or what's happening, it all comes back to this question of, you know, am I enough and trying to prove themselves and whatnot. And so one of my taglines is, I say, you know, stop, it's time to stop proving your worth and start owning your worth. Because your worth is there. It's always there. Your your validity is always there. The only thing that happened is you turned your gaze away from it. You started looking for it outside of yourself and instead of inside of yourself, and so it's, it's a harder question to answer, because it's, it's an evolution. It's not, you know, well, I just need to say, you know, 10 affirmations every day, and then I'm going to wake up more confident the next day, right? It has to do with acknowledging and being able to catch those if I was going to use Positive Intelligence language, those saboteurs that you know, for example, the hyper achiever Salvatore that wants to tell you that you're worth you're only as worthy as your last achievement. You know it's being able to catch that and being able to say, Wait a minute. Let me once again, sit you down and go back into who I am at the core of me, what is my essence and and aligning with the truth of who we are, which is we are not our body, we are not our mind, we we're much, much more than that. So there's a lot of different practices that we go, that I go through with people, but I do think that part of it is acknowledging that we're all somewhere along the same journey. And so much of the time it's just almost all the time, it's like one ego is talking to another ego. I'm I'm telling you, whatever I'm telling you. From my ego, you're telling me what you're telling me from your ego, very rarely are people actually, truly talking from their hearts. Part of developing confidence, I think, is an ability to align with your authentic self, where you're not putting yourself. Below anybody else. You're not putting yourself above anybody else. You're just aligning with what is real for you and putting yourself out there in that way and getting comfortable with that. And we can make decisions from that place. We feel more confident about our decisions. We never regret a decision that happened truly intuitively, right, Michael Hingson ** 1:00:21 right? Well, you've, you've worked with a lot of clients, and I've had some successes. I'd love to hear maybe a success story where you really made a difference, or you helped someone make their own difference. Abby Havermann ** 1:00:39 Yeah. I mean, I think that, let's see, you know, I mean, there's, there's a lot of different ways I could, I could go with that. You know, sometimes what happens when people can have a shift is everything changes. So I had a client who was going she almost didn't come to our call because she was just covered in shame about something that was happening in her business. And we were able to work on it, not only in that introductory call, but throughout the ensuing year where everything changed for her business. So when I used to ask her, you know, listen, what, what do you what do you want? What is it? Well, I want to be the best. Well, what does that mean? I want to be the best, right? I want to be the best. You know. Again, that goes back to this dysregulated nervous system, that's right, if I'm best, then I'll feel better. Then I'll feel better, right? And after a course of working together and working with her team and really getting her to get in touch with the incredible work that her company does from a real perspective, not where she's just telling herself it or patting herself on the back, but really beginning to see what they're doing, and a close attention to her, watching her inner world. She came up with the most beautiful business statement that I think I had ever heard, and couldn't even really remember the time, where she said, Yeah, I wanted to be the best. It wasn't about that, you know? It's about, I want to make a difference. This is what our team is doing. This is what I'm about in the world. This is what's important to me. And as a result, you know, made some incredible changes, money, you know, pouring in and working a lot on that automatic fear that you know financial ruin is on the other side of the wall, which is just a completely internal fear, and being able to release that so that you release the energetic field around you that's holding those circumstances in place, and having a
If you've ever put someone on a pedestal, compared yourself to a “perfect” role model, or felt like you'll never measure up—this episode is for you.Today, we're diving into Chapter 2 of Make Changes That Last, where Dr. Rangan Chatterjee challenges one of the biggest obstacles to personal growth: the myth of the hero.We all have heroes—celebrities, athletes, influencers, even people in our own lives. But what if idolizing them is actually holding us back? What if constantly comparing ourselves to someone else is the very thing preventing us from thriving?Let's get into it.(Recap of Chapter 2 from Make Change Last by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee)References:“Make Change That Lasts. 9 simple ways to break free from the habits that hold you back.”Dr. Rangan Chatterjee Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
Send us a textThe title of this episode - Raguel and the Wounds - sounds like a sad boy band name, doesn't it?But, this episode, and the messages specific to YOU are anything but sad. They are joy and freedom and support and comfort and love. Let's get into it! Raguel 101Archangel Raguel is new to me, as of the making of last week's episode, when I spoke of the shadow traps of angelic work. I love that I never knew his name, but what I've uncovered as I prepared this outline, is he's been in the front row of my life all my days. I'll explain more about that in a bit.But first, a little Raguel 101 to give us all the juicy details on this angel.Episode Read/Watch/Listen NEXT list! Who is Archangel Raguel from The Black Feather IntuitivePossible Signs of the Angel Raguel's Presence, Learn Religions dot com Angels and Awakening, Julie JanciusDoing the WORK to Forgive (with special guest Leslie Fear), Curious Cat PodcastHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 20 in Supernatural! Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!
In this episode, we're kicking off our recap of the book Make Change That Lasts by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee—one of the best guides out there for making real, lasting change in your life. I loved this book so much that I went through it twice and now I'm going to help imprint and solidify what I have learned from reading it, by summarizing my take-aways with you. Jay Shetty called this book, Dr. Chatterjee's most insightful, inspiring and transformative book yet. Which is saying a lot because I really enjoyed all of the books I've read of his so far, and I have learned a ton from them. This book is packed with powerful lessons, and Chapter 1 lays the foundation with a message we all need to hear: Stop outsourcing your well-being. Start listening to your own body.If you've ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice… stuck in habits that don't serve you… or unsure how to truly tune into what your body needs, this episode is for you. Let's get into it.References:“Make Change That Lasts. 9 simple ways to break free from the habits that hold you back.”Dr. Rangan Chatterjee Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
When you connect deeply to your "why," it creates a sense of purpose that fuels your actions. It becomes your internal compass, guiding you toward your goals even when the road feels tough. A strong "why" can turn obstacles into opportunities, setbacks into lessons, and routines into rituals that support your dream life.This meditation is designed to help you strengthen your motivation.Resources:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
In this episode, we're tackling a topic that's been a source of confusion, fear, and misinformation for decades: cholesterol. I know many of you have heard your doctor say, “Your cholesterol is too high” or “Avoid eggs and fatty foods,” and suddenly, you're terrified of every bite of breakfast. But here's the deal—cholesterol is way more nuanced than “good vs. bad” or “eat this, avoid that.”Today, we're breaking it all down so you can ditch the fear and take back control. My goal is simple: to help you understand what cholesterol really is, how it works, and what you can do to optimize your levels and, ultimately, your long-term health. By the end of this episode, you'll feel empowered to make decisions that support your longevity—no more guesswork, no more stress. Let's dive in!**I misspoke when I said scleroderma. What I meant was atherosclerosis. Thanks for tuning in!**⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Resources:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
This episodes might be from the past, but the lessons still hit hard today. Whether it's a mindset shift, a fitness tip, or a nutrition hack, this throwback is here to remind you just how far you've come—and how much further you can go.We're diving back into one of our most popular and eye-opening episodes: Why Am I Gaining Weight While Working Out?This topic resonated with so many of you because let's be real—there's nothing more frustrating than putting in the work, sweating it out at the gym, and then stepping on the scale only to see that number go up instead of down. But here's the thing—weight gain isn't always a bad thing, and in today's throwback, I break down exactly why this happens.Resources:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
Send us a textEpisode IntroIn a recent conversation with a beautiful mage in a far off mountain range that will remain nameless, we stumbled into a topic I'd been thinking about lately, how anger has been the emotion that's popped me out of periods of malaise. It's also helped snap my focus to something not okay happening in a sea of noise. It's been the kindling in my belly that's burned a path to action. But in western culture, anger is stigmatized. So is anxiety, and even fear. I did a whole show on Gavin De Becker's book, The Gift of Fear, which is still a fantastic useful read after all these years. And yes, fear can be a gift.After that conversation on the mountain, I went on a deep dive into research about emotions and their silver linings. Let's get into it!Show Read/Watch ListAnger and A Call to Preserve Ancient Sacred Site in Florida - Link to Old World Florida video here, YouTube6 Emotions that Differ Between Cultures, Lingoda dot com, Adriana SteinEmotions and Culture, Maricopa Community CollegesAnger, Sadness, Boredom, Anxiety: Emotions That Feel Bad Can Be Useful, Texas A & MThe Positives of Negative Emotion, Psychology Today, Dr. Aditi SubramaniamRepressed Emotions: How to Stop Suppressing Emotions, Positive Psychology dot com, Dr. Angelica AttardThe Real Purpose Behind Your Negative Emotions, The Happiness Doctor, Dr. Sophia GodkinHave you tried the GoodPods app yet? It's free and a fun way to share podcasts with friends and family! Curious Cat Podcast is there, and is sitting pretty in the Top 20 in Supernatural! Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!
As we head into a new year, many of us are thinking about health goals—whether it's eating better, exercising more, or simply feeling more energized. Today, we're diving into the power of small, consistent changes, inspired by James Clear's groundbreaking book Atomic Habits. These principles have transformed lives by showing how tiny adjustments can compound into massive results.In this episode, we'll explore the four laws of behavior change outlined in Atomic Habits and apply them to practical health strategies you can use today. We'll also discuss common pitfalls to avoid, share inspiring success stories in detail, and leave you with a tangible challenge to kickstart your journey. Let's take the guesswork out of building a healthier, happier life!References:James Clear Book: Atomic HabitsBrain.fm App (First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
In this episode, we're diving into the critical connection between exercise and metabolic health. Exercise isn't just about looking good or feeling strong—it's one of the most powerful tools you have to optimize your health, extend your lifespan, and protect against chronic disease.In this episode, we'll break down how exercise impacts your metabolism, how it improves key markers of metabolic health, and what specific strategies you can use to unlock its full potential. Don't worry if some of this sounds technical; I'll break it down into simple, actionable steps so you can apply what you learn today. Plus, I'll share real-life examples, address common barriers, and give you a challenge to kickstart your journey.Let's get started!Resources:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
The topic of this episode? The phrase I hear all too often: “I don't have time.” Whether it's for fitness, eating better, nurturing relationships, pursuing hobbies, or just having fun, this is one of the biggest challenges I see people facing.Let me say this up front—I get it. Life is BUSY. Between work, family, social commitments, and everything else, it can feel like there's just no room left. But here's the thing: time isn't something we find; it's something we make. And today, I want to help you take back control of your schedule, align your priorities with your goals, and become the CEO of your own health and life.By the end of this episode, you'll have actionable strategies to not only make time for what's important but to make it work for your unique lifestyle. Let's dive in!Resources: Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
Today we will be exploring the importance of disconnecting, to connect with what matters.So to get started, I'd like you to find a nice quiet spot, preferably away from any people, where you can sit still without any distractions. When you're ready, let's begin!References:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
In this episode, we're cracking open one of the most controversial topics in nutrition: eggs. Few foods have been as persecuted—and later vindicated—as the humble egg. Is it a villain raising your cholesterol and harming your heart, or is it a nutritional powerhouse?We've all heard the extremes: "Eggs will kill you!" and "Eat as many as you want!" But what does science actually say? If you're confused about eggs, you're not alone. By the end of this episode, you'll know the truth, the myths, and how to make eggs work for you—or not—in your diet.Few foods have been as misunderstood as the humble egg. Are they villains, heroes, or something in between? The truth is more nuanced than the headlines would have you believe. Eggs have been accused of raising cholesterol, celebrated as brain food, and everything in between. But what does the science really say? And how can you make eggs—or not—work for your health goals? So, let's peel back the layers, crack some misconceptions, and get to the yolk of the matter!References:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
Today, we're doing something special—it's Throwback Thursday! On this episode, we're diving back into the archives to revisit one of my favorite past episodes that's just as relevant today as when it first aired.This episode tackles a common misconception that can derail even the most dedicated fitness enthusiasts: Why soreness and sweating are NOT indicators of a good workout.If you've ever left the gym measuring your success by how drenched you were or how sore you felt the next day, this episode is here to shift your mindset. We'll explore what really makes a workout effective, how to train with purpose, and how to align your efforts with your goals—whether it's fat loss, muscle building, or improving your quality of life.Even though this is a throwback, the insights, science, and actionable takeaways are timeless. So sit back, soak it all in, and let's redefine what it means to crush a workout.Alright, Dream Team, let's get into it!
This episode is all about something that impacts every single one of us—our internal clocks.Let me paint a picture for you. It's early November, daylight saving time just ended, and suddenly the sun is setting earlier, your energy feels off, and sleep feels harder to come by. Sound familiar?Or maybe you've been traveling, crossing multiple time zones, and jet lag hits you like a ton of bricks. You're tired when you should be awake and wired when you should be asleep. What gives?Today, we're talking about how to reset your circadian clock, adapt to daylight saving changes, and even conquer jet lag like a pro. By the end of this episode, you'll have actionable strategies to master your internal clock, improve your sleep, and feel more energized than ever before.References:Brain.fm App (First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
This episode might just blow your mind—and your excuses—right out of the water.Let me ask you this: What if I told you there's something you can do every single day to accelerate fat loss, prevent major chronic diseases, and boost your mental and physical health? And no, I'm not talking about hitting the gym or popping some miracle supplement.This simple yet powerful habit is walking. That's right—walking. Today, we'll dive deep into why walking is so much more than just getting from point A to point B. By the end of this episode, you'll know how to unlock the full potential of this underrated habit and stack it with other benefits for your mind, body, and spirit.References:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
Ayana Gardner was recently named as one of "300 Women Making an Impact in B2B SaaS" so it is great that she kick off our first episode of 2025. Ayana is a ZCX Channel Leader at Zoom. We are also starting 2025 with our Q1 sponsor, RapidScale. Ayana has been in sales for a number of years and loves her current position which involves working with Zoom channel partners - a huge opportunity in B2B sales as so many companies sell through channels of one type or another. Because she works for Zoom Ayana is virtual, and does virtual events and enablement within her role. Ayana talks about being a lifelong learner- how our company we work for will provide some foundational training and learning, but it is up to us to learn what we think we need or want so we can grow. More about Ayana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayanagardner702/ More about Women Sales Pros - we have a website, we are on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe to our 2x a month news, and share the podcast with others! We'd love a 5 star rating and comments on iTunes if you are so moved! It really makes a difference. subscribe: https://bit.ly/thewspnews Contribute: https://forms.gle/v9rRiPDUtgGqKaXA6 Past News Issues: bit.ly/past_news_issues https://womensalespros.com/podcast/ Partnerships Unraveled Podcast that Ayana mentions: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/partnerships-unraveled-podcast-7242555185363922944/
It's no secret that stress and anxiety is a natural part of life.We all experience it to varying degrees and at various times.and remembering that even though stress and anxiety are often used interchangeably they aren't exactly one in the sameStress is your body's response to a specific external pressure or challenge, like a deadline or an argument. It's usually tied to a clear cause and can motivate action.Anxiety is an ongoing feeling of fear or worry that may not have a clear cause. It often lingers even when there's no immediate threat and can feel overwhelming or out of proportion.In short: stress is a reaction to something external, while anxiety is an internal feeling that persists even without a clear triggerReferences:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
Today, we're diving into a topic that I know confuses a lot of people: Are you eating wrong for your goals? More specifically, let's tackle the age-old question—what's the difference between eating for performance versus eating for aesthetics?Let's talk about how your nutrition and training style change when you're focusing on performance vs. aesthetics.References:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
In this episode, we're diving into a topic that I know so many of you have been asking about—how to lose fat and keep it off. You've probably set a goal at some point to lose a few pounds, maybe at the start of this year, or perhaps it's something you've struggled with for a long time. But here's the thing: if you follow fitness content at all, you've probably heard that most diets fail in the long run. And that's not just a random claim—it's backed by some pretty staggering research.References:Brain.fm App (First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
In this episode, we're talking about something that can drastically improve your odds of success—hiring a personal trainer. Whether your goal is to lose body fat, build muscle, improve your health, or just feel better overall, hiring a great trainer might be the best investment you could make in yourself.In this episode, we're covering five key reasons why most people should seriously consider hiring a personal trainer. And trust me, if you're listening to this and have ever felt frustrated by your progress or hit a plateau, this episode is for you!References:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
At this very second, you are on a narrow ledge between life and death. You probably don't feel it, but there's an incredible amount of activity going on inside you—and this activity can never stop.Picture yourself as a Slinky falling down an escalator moving upwards. The falling part represents the self-replicating processes of your cells. The escalator represents the laws of physics driving you forward. To be alive is to be in motion but never arriving anywhere. If you reach the top of the escalator, there's no more falling possible, and you are dead forever.Somewhat unsettlingly, the universe wants you to reach the top. How do you avoid that? And more importantly, why are you alive? Why do we fight this uphill battle every second of our lives?References:Brain.fm App(First month Free, then 20% off subscription)Discount Code: coachdamiensdCaldera Lab Skin Carewww.calderalab.comDiscount Code: CoachDLinks:IG:@coachdamien_sd@damienrayevans@livinthedream_podcast YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6VuPgtVsdBpDj5oN3YQTgFB:https://www.facebook.com/coachdamienSD/
Welcome to another inspiring episode of "Mick Unplugged." I'm your host, Mick Hunt, and today we have an incredible story of resilience, leadership, and personal growth with our special guest, Diamyn Hall. Once a star athlete with dreams of the NFL, Diamyn faced a life-altering injury at age 14 that changed his trajectory. In this episode, he shares how he transitioned from football to baseball, eventually building a cutting-edge mental skills and leadership system that led teams to championships and got players drafted. Diamyn's journey is a testament to the power of the "one-day contract mentality" and the importance of hyper-individualization in training. He delves into his return to on-site coaching at IMG Academy, mentorship under Dave Turgeon, and his current role with the Orioles where he works on a "blank canvas" to further his developmental goals. We'll also discuss pivotal moments and influential books that shaped his career and his transformative advice for young athletes. Mick Hunt emphasizes how these lessons extend beyond sports, advocating for everyday excellence in all walks of life. Stay tuned as Diamyn Hall shares exclusive insights and announces an upcoming masterclass on mindset, leadership, and personal growth. This episode is packed with actionable advice and inspirational stories that you won't want to miss. So let's dive in and get unplugged with Diamyn Hall. Takeaways: · The importance of redefining identity after a life-changing event. · Mindset is crucial for success in sports and life. · Generational wealth encompasses more than just finances. Sound Bites: · “Daily actions should reflect a championship mentality. · “Encouragement for Continuous Self-Improvement and Authenticity” Connect and Discover LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diamyn-hall-718184127 Instagram: Instagram.com/diamynhall Facebook: facebook.com/CoachDiamynHall Youtube: @diamynhall See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.